First Hebrew Congregation of Peekskill

Shevat - Adar 5769 / February 2009

Candle lighting
Meetings and Events
Feb. 6…..... 5:00pm
Sisterhood Breakfast................ Sunday, Feb. 1 @9:15am
Feb. 13.…….5:09pm
Board of Trustees………………Tuesday, Feb.3 @8:00pm
Feb. 20……..5:17pm
Men’s Club Breakfast…………. Sunday, Feb. 8 @9:00am
Feb. 27……..5:25pm
Men’s Basketball……………….Sunday, Feb. 8 @7:30pm
Hadassah meeting……………..Monday, Feb. 16 @1:00pm

Hebrew & Nursery School Events

Siddur Workshop……………..…Sunday, Feb. 1

Shabbat for Everyone

Saturday, Feb. 14
Shabbat Service -- Uptown
Friday Evenings……………7:00 pm “Mah Tovu's Deeper Meaning”
Saturday Mornings………...9:30 am

Family Shabbat Service:

Friday, Feb. 6 @ 6:30 pm

**********************
Tu B’shvat Program:

Good Morning, Good Night

Daily Minyan -- Downtown Sunday, Feb. 8
Monday thru Friday……. 8:00 am
Sunday…………………..
February 09 9:00 am www.FirstHebrew.Org 1
 First Hebrew Congregation of Peekskill
Uptown Synagogue Directory

1821 East Main Street Rabbi ................................ Lee Paskind

Telephone:..............(914) 739-0500 Educational Director ......... Jeffrey Wrightman..................
(914) 788-4657 ....... principal@firsthebrew.org
Fax: ........................(914) 739-0684 Administrator..................... Lisa Segal ........ 845-857-9157
Nursery School Director.... Barbara Kaufman
Nursery School President........................... Jeremy Krantz......... 736-6455
1st Vice President............. Mark Stern .............. 739-4981
Telephone:..............(914) 739-0504 2nd Vice President............ Alice Krochmal . 845-528-1684
3rd Vice President ............ David Kasdan.......... 737-8248
Downtown Synagogue Financial Secretary ........... Carol Gold
813 Main Street Recording Secretary ......... Ilene Zanchelli......... 734-8107
Telephone:..............(914) 737-8155
Committee Chairpersons
Emails Bar/Bat Mitzvah ................ Debby Bleiweis ....... 734-7623
Congregation: ....... fhc@firsthebrew.org Linda Treinish ......... 788-9798
Rabbi Paskind: ..rabbi@firsthebrew.org Beautification/Hospitality... Daniela Rosen ........ 734-7282
Lisa Segal:sapphire5469@hotmail.com Bikkur Holim...................... Daniela Rosen ........ 734-7282
Website:................www.firsthebrew.org Bingo................................. David Shea…………734-8231
Mark Stern .............. 739-4981
Rabbi’s Office Hours Board of Education ...........
Hebrew School ........... Laurie Baskin .......... 736-1227
Please contact office. Buildings & Grounds ......... Mark Stern .............. 739-4981
Bulletin .............................. Masoud Radparvar . 962-6702
Synagogue Office Hours ............................. MRadparvar@hotmail.com
Monday–Thursday: .7 am–12 noon & Capital Improvements ....... Mark Stern .............. 739-4981
1 pm–4 pm Bruce Lindenbaum.. 739-7159
Friday:.....................7 am–2 pm Cemetery .......................... Richard Zorn ........... 671-7546
_____________________________ Fund Raising..................... Steven Cohen ......... 734-2149
First Hebrew Andy Polay.............. 736-2055
Congregation of Daniela Rosen ........ 734-7282
Peekskill is Gift Shop........................... Arlene Kaufman ...... 232-5999
affiliated with the Alice Yasuna ........... 737-7687
United Synagogue Library Committee ............ Fran Olmsted ... 845-424-4077
of Conservative Membership ...................... Frances Weiner....... 734-9602
Judaism, Men’s Club Co-Presidents
Women’s League Steven Cohen ......... 734-2149
for Conservative Paul Schaffer .......... 739-5714
Judaism, Programs .......................... (to be announced)
Federation of Publicity ............................ Lili Kasdan .............. 737-8248
Jewish Men’s Ritual................................. Donald Feldman...... 736-3417
Clubs, and Young Social Action ..................... (to be announced)
Judaea Sisterhood President......... (to be announced)
******************************************** United Synagogue ............ David Kasdan.......... 737-8248
Youth Director................... (to be announced)
Please send additions, comments,
suggestions, corrections, .... to: Bulletin@FirstHebrew.Org
February 09 www.FirstHebrew.Org 2
 Rabbi’s Message Here Comes the Sun
In the category of “Little known facts about
Judaism” I suspect this may be one of the ‘littlest’ – in
addition to the various blessings we say on special
occasions, and on daily necessities (waking up,
eating, etc.) we say a special blessing once every 28
years when the sun returns to the place in the
heavens when it was created! That means most of
us have only several opportunities, at best, to recite
this blessing.
This is also a beautiful reminder that our tradition
is much more aware of the importance of the natural
world in which we live than we used to think. The
renewed interest today in the environment,
particularly the energy we can derive from the sun’s
power, makes the special occasion double important.
Celebrating the sun’s restoration to its pristine state
holds out for us the hope that we may learn how to
use sun-power wisely and safely. COEJL, the
Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Living, of
which the Conservative Movement is an active
leader, has created a special website,
blessthesun.org , with information about the
ceremony and the many environment friendly uses of
the sun.
This moment in the sun’s ‘life’ might also well
remind us to consider Judaism’s interest in the
calendar. We mark time by a combination of the sun
First Hebrew wishes a speedy recovery to:
Friday Night Family Shabbat Service
Morton Bensky
Schedule
Murray Halperin
Friday, Feb. 6 @6:30pm
Friday, March 20; Shabbat Across America
Friday, April 17 @6:30pm
Friday, May 22 @6:30pm
For more information, please call
Frances Weiner @914-734-9602, or
Sharon Memis @914-302-7767
and moon. We bless the moon monthly with a
special blessing and ceremony. If this seems like an
unnecessary ritual – consider: perhaps the purpose
of such ceremonies is exactly to help us maintain or
recover the feeling of closeness to the natural world.
“Modern” people have largely lost that feeling. Yet
today, a new generation seeks to re-discover it.
Perhaps attention to our own calendar will lead the
way.
In the next month we will be looking at some of
the customs associated with blessing the sun on
Shabbat during services. I hope you’ll join me to
explore how our tradition can bring us closer to the
natural world in which we live, and with which we can
enjoy such an intimate connection.
I also hope you’ll mark your calendar for a very
special gathering on the morning of the blessing of
the sun. It takes place this year on Wed. April 8,
2009. That day happens to be as well Erev Pesah,
so it is the day of the Fast of Firstborn and the
Siyyum. I hope we will have a large congregation
gathered this year in the downtown synagogue for
the Sun’s blessing on that morning. Please watch
your Newsletter for further details.
Lee S. Paskind
Get Well
Selda Bloome Luz Corona
Esther Katz Glady Kessler
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Students
Please send your biography to
mradparvar@hotmail.com at least 5 weeks
prior to the first day of your Bar/Bat
Mitzvah month to be placed in the Bulletin.

MAZEL TOV

To Amy & Paul Burckhard on the

engagement of their daughter Ariane to
Peter Braverman, son of Barbara & Bill
Tu B’shvat
Braverman. A 2009 wedding is being
planned. Monday, Feb. 9
February 09 www.FirstHebrew.Org 3
 President’s Message
1 and connection is something a bit different. I would
“Wouldn’t it be nice” if there was a Jewish holiday
dedicated solely to love. I don’t mean a Valentine’s
Day type of love which is light and fun and usually has
a playful or intimate connotation for your significant
other where you buy cards and gifts, chocolates and
flowers. While Valentines Day, which is in this secular
month, and apparently originated from a Christian
saint, and has all sorts of interesting icons such as the
heart, arrows, and cupid, I would like to see a day
dedicated in the Jewish calendar dedicated as a
Jewish Day of Love.
I envision a Jewish day dedicated to love of G-d,
love of family and friends, love of your fellow human
being, love of nature and love of life. I would like to
see a day when we try and remove all anger and hate
and hurt from ourselves and try our best to devote our
feelings to a pure, clean sense of adoration and
appreciation for what forms the foundation of Jewish
love.
Now some would suggest that every Shabbat is
such a day. While that is true, Shabbat entails much
more than thinking about Love. It is a day of rest, a
day of prayer, a day of study. Shabbat is so much
more, yet in certain ways it is lacking what I have in
mind.
Women Writing Prayers: Are the words of the
prayer book the only way we pray?
Join us at a Sisterhood Meeting as we explore
creative, powerful, and personal ways of expressing our
prayers.
Sunday, Feb 2, 2009 (9:15 for breakfast, 10 am meeting)
February 09
‫שכינה‬
Love, a pure unadulterated sense of closeness
like the Jewish Day of Love to embrace all pure
forms of love including goodness, faithfulness,
mercy and kindness; a full and complete love.
Certainly the tenets of a Jewish Day of Love
should not include the love of material things. As
Americans, we can have that experience any time
we want.
I foresee a Jewish holiday dedicated to the
underlying core values of Judaism. A simple
holiday that both Jews and Gentiles could readily
embrace. A Jewish Day of love could remind all
peoples that someone’s particular religion is not
something that is necessarily smarter or better than
another but, at the same time, we can remember
Judaism’s original and fundamental foundation of
love of one G-d embraces all forms of love and that
each and everyone of us can experience for
ourselves, at least for one day, that “love is all you
need”.
Shalom and Hesed,
Jeremy Krantz, President
1
Beach Boys
2
Beatles
www.FirstHebrew.Org 4
 Message from the Hebrew School Principal,
Dear Parents, Students, and Congregants, On another level we are engaged in an ongoing
effort to maximize the potential of our learning time
From time to time in my conversations with
by enriching and renewing our curriculum. One
parents the topic of their own Hebrew school
example is the holiday of Tu’Bshevat. The
experience comes up. This is usually in the context of
Tu’Bshevat Seder is traditionally a meal of fruits
comparing what they learned with what their children
native to Israel which remind us of our deep and
are learning. I enjoy these conversations as they
abiding connection to the land as well as her people.
afford me the opportunity to delve into the
In the Talmud, however, there are many lessons
complexities, challenges, and rewards of twenty first
around Jewish law and the environment such as the
century Jewish education.
following:
The majority of Conservative congregations have
If someone desires to open a shop in a courtyard,
moved from the traditional three day a week six hour
his neighbor may prevent him on the grounds that he
model to the two day a week five hour model. This
will not be able to sleep through the noise of people
results in not only one hour of class time a week less
coming and going. (Baba Batra 20b)
but one day less as well. As a community committed
to Jewish education we must not only recognize the These discussions introduce us through a Jewish
challenge this presents but embrace the opportunity lens to the conflict in values between the need to do
it affords us to re-visit our fundamental ideas business and make a living and the need to take care
regarding the nature of informal Jewish education. of the environment. In our curriculum we explore the
Hebrew, the blessings, and the traditions as well as
On one level there is a greater need to engage
the values based lessons which inform our need to
parents and the community in the educational
move toward a “greener” economy and approach to
process. I am proud that we are on the cutting edge
our daily lives.
in terms of programs which bring faculty, children,
parents, and community members together in fun As always we pray daily for peace and
and creative learning experiences. In addition to security for all of our brothers and sisters in the land
wonderful programs already in place such as the Talit of Israel.
workshop, parent participation programs, and
Bi’Shalom,
Sephardic Day we are regularly experimenting with
new programs such as the Hanukkiadah to expand Jeffrey Wrightman
our ability to engage all members of the community in
learning and celebration.

Wine Sale
Sisterhood's Annual Passover Wine Sale!

Watch your mail for

further information and order forms!

February 09 www.FirstHebrew.Org 5
 Building Our Jewish Home

And First Hebrew Congregation of Peekskill

Invite parents of nursery school-aged children to

Good Morning, Good Night

A special event for parents and children

Kids – Enjoy stories, songs, and an art project

Parents – Learn how you can use Jewish traditions to make mornings
and bedtime easier and more meaningful
Learn how to bring the joy and wisdom of Judaism into your
home

Refreshments will be served

Where: Barnes and Noble, Cortlandt Town Center

(3089 E. Main Street, Mohegan Lake)

When: Sunday, February 8, 2009, 12:30 – 1:30 PM

To RSVP or to find out more about the event, call (914) 739-0500 or email rabbi@firsthebrew.org.

Building Our Jewish Home is a project of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism – METNY Region
and is funded by UJA-Federation.

February 09 www.FirstHebrew.Org 6
On March 20, 2009 tens of thousands of Jews across America will come together to eat, drink,
relax, dance, enjoy, debate and celebrate at the 13th Annual ...

On Friday night, March 20, 2009 hundreds of synagogues across the continent will take part in an historic
national Jewish event to celebrate what unifies
all Jews -- Shabbat! Everyone is invited... singles, couples, families --
all ages.

1-888-SHABBAT
******************************************************************************************************
What is Shabbat Across America

Shabbat Across America/Canada is an unparalleled display of unity and Ahavat Yisrael, created in the
hope of making certain that every North American Jew will have the opportunity to celebrate Shabbat!

Imagine an entire Friday evening dinner devoted to people who want to know more about Judaism! Its
an interactive prayer service, joyous Shabbat dinner complete with song, ritual and lively discussion. It
is fun-filled evening of camaraderie that unifies Jews everywhere as one people. Tens of thousands of
Jews at hundreds of locations across North America will celebrate Shabbat together on March 20, 2009
many for the first time!

February 09 www.FirstHebrew.Org 7
Sisterhood...Women Enjoying Jewish Life
These are difficult times, the most difficult
times many of us have ever seen. Job losses and
job insecurity are staggering. Homes are at risk for
many. Our country is still at war. After an historic
election, on January 20th, the United States swore
in its 44th president. Each Shabbat our
congregation recites a prayer for our country,
excerpted here.
"Our God and God of our ancestors: We ask
Your blessings for our country, for its government,
for its leader and advisors, and for all who exercise
just and rightful authority. Teach them insights of
Your Torah, that they may administer all affairs of
state fairly, that peace and security, happiness and
prosperity, justice and freedom may forever abide in
our midst." (Siddur Sim Shalom)
This seems a good time to reflect on this
prayer and to be heartfelt in reciting it. It is a time to
reflect on the task facing President Obama and the
new administration and those at all levels of local,
state, and federal government. I do not envy them
the work that lies ahead but I wish them all the
strength and wisdom to do that work well.
These difficult times are affecting members
of our First Hebrew family. So as we watch the
larger community, we should also watch out for one
another. Please continue to join us for upcoming
Sisterhood meetings and events. Coming together
as a community, with friends, is an important way for
us all to weather these hard times.
Shalom,
Mindy E. Steinholz Spock
Sisterhood Executive Board
Sisterhood e-mail List
If you would like to be included on Sisterhood’s e-
mail list, please send your e-mail address to Fran
Olmsted at sisterhood@firsthebrew.org
Remember Sisterhood’s Judaica Shop
for gifts, talitot, teffilin, yarmulkes, books, videos,
and song cassettes
Call to make an appointment—
Arlene Kaufman 232-5999
Alice Yasuna 737-7687
February 09
Message from Men’s Club
With winter fully upon us, I wanted to let
you all know about the exciting events that are
upcoming in the Men’s Club in the next few
months.
For our February meeting on the 8th, we
plan to organize a breakfast with our brethren at
the Downtown Shul. A fine breakfast of eggs, lox,
onions and bagels will be served!
On March 8, the Men’s Club plans to run our
annual blood drive in conjunction with the Purim
Carnival. As to the blood drive, we hope that this
will bring out large crowds of volunteers as we all
know that donations are always in high demand by
those in need.
On April 19, we will have a joint Men’s Club
and Sisterhood breakfast. The speaker will be a
representative from an organization that is active in
the area of Ethiopian Jewry. This should be a very
interesting and educational experience and will
provide all with an opportunity to ask questions
about this important issue.
On May 31, we will be hosting the annual
end of year Bar-B-Q.
We hope you will find at least one of these
activities to your liking and come on down to
participate or help out.
Steven Cohen,
Men’s Club co-president
FHC Babysitting Clearing House
Who of us with young children isn’t looking for
a few good babysitters? FHC will continue to
list the names of our teenagers (and others)
who would like to baby-sit for other families in
the congregation. Of course, you will need to
pay these sitters! FHC will provide this service
purely as a convenience to its members and
will take no responsibility for the individuals
who offer their services here for pay.
Email your names and telephone numbers to:
Bulletin@FirstHebrew.org
Babysitters now available:
Marli Kasdan.........
Jessie Meadvin.....
Ariel Rosen............
Jamie Spock……...www.FirstHebrew.Org 8
B i n g o
Important Message
Bingo will re-start on Wednesday,
April 22nd. Please watch the mail;
we are revamping our Bingo worker
Schedule. As always we thank you
for your participation. BINGO
Important Note: Your 2008–2009 dues
Why are we asking you to donate your time to helping out with Bingo? include a surcharge for Bingo. If a
It generates approximately $20,000 in revenue per year to our member family meets its two-bingo
operation of the synagogue. The time commitment is only about three requirement during the year, the family will
hours on a Wednesday night. We now start Bingo at 6:30 pm so you receive a credit. Similarly, if a single
and our customers can get home earlier. If you are opposed to fulfilling member meets his/her one-bingo
your obligation as a member, then pay the $400 Bingo assessment requirement during the year, he/she will
immediately and let Lisa know to take you off the Bingo list. As a receive a credit.
member in good standing it is your obligation to participate in this
fundraising activity. If the congregation chooses not to continue URGENTMESSAGE — NEW POLICY: If
providing Bingo to the community and forfeiting the OPM (other you are unable to attend on your
people’s money), then the congregation will need to be assessed scheduled Bingo night, IT IS YOUR
accordingly to raise the $20,000, or determine what services will be RESPONSBILITY TO GET A
cut. Do your part of fundraising and show up for your assigned Bingo REPLACEMENT.
night. Bring a book or magazine to read (there is time when you are
waiting). If you come late, it is still better than not coming at all. Or, if Thank you for your continued
you choose, send the $400. cooperation!!!! Workers should report to
Bingo by 6:15 pm and are expected to
stay until at least 10:00 pm
Sisterhood Meetings 5769 (2008 – 2009) @ 9:15am

Sunday, Feb. 1…………… General meeting FHC’s Men’s Basketball Schedule

Sunday, March 1…………. General meeting
Sunday, April 19………….. Joint meeting with MC @ 7:30pm
Sunday, May 3…………….General meeting Sunday, Feb. 8
Sunday, March 29
Men’s Club Meetings 5769 (2008 – 2009) @ 9:15am
Sunday, April 19
Sunday, Feb. 8…………….Downtown Synagogue
Sunday,, May 17
Sunday, March 8…………. Purim Carnival
Sunday, April 19………….. Joint meeting with Sisterhood Sunday, June 14
Sunday, May 31………….. BBQ

To sponsor the Bulletin,

February 09 contact Bon Venture @ 800-364-0684 or http://www.bonventure.net/

www.FirstHebrew.Org 9
 Dick Savitt - Self-Made Champ
Dick Savitt never took a tennis lesson in his life.
His first love was basketball, and as co-captain of his
El Paso, Texas, high school basketball team he was
an all-state player in 1944. A year later, Savitt
entered the navy and played on an outstanding service
basketball team. When he completed his tour of duty
in 1946, Cornell University offered Savitt a basketball
scholarship. When two injuries cut short Savitt’s
basketball career, he decided to resume playing tennis,
which he taught himself as a 14-year old boy.
Without the benefit of coaching, in 1950 Savitt
reached the semifinals of the U.S. Championship at
Forest Hills. Then, in 1951, he became the only
Jewish player ever to win the England championship
at Wimbledon, the most prestigious of all tennis
tournaments.
One year later, at the top of his game, after being
snubbed by the United States Davis Cup team, Savitt
retired from competitive tennis, a decision which
remains shrouded in controversy.
Born in 1927, Savitt had burst onto the international
tennis scene. His meteoric rise in tennis was based
on several factors: Clearly, he was a gifted natural
athlete; 6'3" and 185 pounds, his height and strength
gave him the leverage to hit a booming serve which
his opponents found difficult to return. Savitt was
also enormously competitive; his contemporaries
described him as almost driven, a man who hated to
lose. Once he gave up basketball and concentrated
on tennis; he quickly became a world-class player, and
in 1951, was ranked as the #2 American player and #3
in the world.
After winning Wimbledon that year, Savitt was
favored to win the U.S. Championship at Forest Hills.
An infected insect bite on his leg limited Savitt’s
mobility and he lost in the semifinals. The infection
healed in time for the Davis Cup championship round
against arch rival Australia, and American Davis Cup
coach Frank Shields, when asked which players he
would take to Melbourne, replied “All I know for certain
is that Dick Savitt will play singles.” Allison Danzig,
dean of American tennis writers, described Savitt as
America’s best hope for conquering the powerful
Australians, who with players like Frank Sedgman and
Ken McGregor dominated world tennis in the 1950s.
When the American singles players were
announced, however, Savitt was not one of them.
Ted Schroeder, who had lost every on of his Davis
Cup matches the year before and was in
semi-retirement, was chosen instead. Savitt, the
nation’s fiercest tennis competitor, could not represent
America in the world’s toughest team tennis
competition.
The announcement of Shields’ decision to play
Schroeder rather than Savitt generated puzzlement
February 09
and criticism. Some credited the decision to
Schroeder’s influential friends, who put pressure on
Shields. Others saw it as Shields’ not liking Savitt’s
practice habits. Shields himself told the press that his
decision was based on Schroeder’s having beaten Savitt
in 18 out of 19 practice sessions. Savitt responded, “I
don’t know how they figured that 18 out of 19 business.
There wasn’t anything formal about the matches. We
just got out there and practiced. As far as I know,
nobody kept track of how we stood. Besides, what
good would it have done? The team was apparently
picked before we left the States.”
Savitt was bitter and frustrated by his inexplicable
exclusion from Davis Cup competition. He sulked
openly and, before departing Australia for the United
States at the conclusion of the matches (which the
Australians won easily), Savitt made some
uncomplimentary remarks to a member of the Australian
press, to the effect that they distorted his every
comment. When the tennis-mad Australian press
reported Savitt’s remarks, Coach Shields attacked Savitt
in the press.
In February of 1952, Savitt announced that he would
play one more tournament, the National Indoor
Championships, and then retire from tournament tennis -
at age 25! As his farewell statement, Savitt won the
indoor championship.
Savitt entered the oil business, moving to Louisiana
to work for a company. He became a weekend tennis
player, not entering tournaments and declining
invitations from the U.S. Davis Cup committee to
reconsider his retirement from active competition. As
late as 1956, Billy Talbert, the U.S. Davis Cup coach,
called him the best American hope to recapture the
Davis Cup, even though he was no longer in active
competition.
In 1958, business took Savitt back to New York,
where he launched a part-time comeback in tennis.
That year, he won his second National Indoors title and,
in 1961, he captured his third - all this as a week-end
player. Savitt won his final championships at the 1961
Maccabiah Games in both singles and doubles. With
those triumphs, he retired permanently from tennis.
Without ever saying so, Savitt left his victories in a
competition specifically for Jews as his final testament to
the American tennis world.
***************************************************************
I hope these wonderful articles from the American
Jewish Historical Society continue to give pride and
pleasure in the accomplishments of our people. They
are designed to inform and build pride in our children
and in ourselves.
Edith Nissenblatt
Sisterhood VP/Education
www.FirstHebrew.Org 10
 PURIM IS COMING!!!
SISTERHOOD INVITES YOU TO JOIN US
AS WE CELBRATE

PURIM!
WE WILL BE OFFERING
SHALACH MANOT PACKAGES
TO HELP YOU FULFILL THE MITZVOT
OF PURIM.

DON'T LEAVE ANYONE OUT,

(FAMILY, FRIENDS, YOUR KIDS, THEIR FRIENDS,
TEACHERS, NEIGHBORS)
AND DON'T GET LEFT OUT.

FILL OUT THE ORDER FORM

AND RETURN IT TO FHC BY
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2009.
(or send your names by e-mail to
shelrae@optonline.net)

PACKAGES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PICK-UP

FOLLOWING THE READING OF THE MEGILLOT ESTHER
February 09 ON TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 10, 2009. www.FirstHebrew.Org 11
 SISTERHOOD
FIRST HEBREW CONGREGATION OF PEEKSKILL
MAIL TO:
1821 EAST MAIN STREET
PEEKSKILL, NEW YORK 10566
OR E-MAIL YOUR NAMES WITH YOUR ADDRESS, AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT
RECIPROCITY, TO : shelrae@optonline.net

SHALACH MANOT ORDER FORM

Adults: $5.00 for the first name; $2.50 for each name after that. Children: $2.00 per name.
Non-congregation members: $5.00 per name.
ORDER DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 22, 2009
Your name as you wish it to appear:

NAME:
1 9
2 10
3 11
4 12
5 13
6 14
7 15
8 16

CHILDREN's NAMES:

FROM: FROM:
TO: TO:

ANY ADDITONAL NAMES (PLEASE INDICATE IF THEY ARE CHILDREN):

Payment must accompany original order. Please make checks payable to Sisterhood, FHC.

RECIPROCITY OPTION: I WOULD LIKE RECIPROCITY; PLEASE SEND ME THE BILL.

YES (You must provide an original list before we can use this option).

February 09 www.FirstHebrew.Org 12
 Thank You
Thank you to all who participated in the coat drive that
was held on Sunday, December 7th. Although we couldn't
advertise, word of mouth spread the word, we got a mention
on the Lohud blog and apparently
Carol Kuczinski and Sunny Kelner are our advertising
secret weapons! They made a trip over to the Beach
Shopping Center with many pamphlets and the result was
that numerous families ended up with warm coats, some
canned food items and even some inexpensive tag sale
gifts.

The generosity of the congregation in providing and

searching out warm -- and in many cases "like new" winter
gear was impressive. Thanks to your generosity we also
handed out many cans and boxes of food, and at least ten
bags of food were delivered to the Peekskill Food Pantry
on Monday morning.

Thank you to Ann Klein and Francis Weiner who stayed

to help for the duration and also to the kids who organized
coats, unloaded cars and manned the tag sale table.

We helped keep a bunch of people warmer tonight!

Thanks for your support.
Daniela Rosen

If you are homebound and would like books from the First Hebrew Library, please
contact Beth Shea at 734-8231 or the Bikkur Holim committee…

we are happy to deliver to you

=========================================================================================
Share your memories
Everyone has a story to tell. Most of us Edith Nissenblatt
would love to tell about our mom and dad,
One Lakeview Drive, Penthouse Six
our bubie and zadie, a loved tante and fetta,
Peekskill, New York 10566
people who fill our memory no matter how
or if you are on the Internet, send email to:
far back.
ediebaby@verizon.net
Won’t you let us in on your past? Send your
precious memories to:
=========================================================================================

February 09 www.FirstHebrew.Org 13

The following Yahrzeits will be observed during the months of Shevat and Adar as
noted on the memorial plaque in our sanctuary:
Ruth Schulman .................. Shevat 1
Gertrude Brill Roberts ........ Shevat 2
Esther Sara Kessler ........... Shevat 3
Samuel S. Pines ................ Shevat 3
Martin I. Nissenblatt ........... Shevat 4
Sue Goldberg..................... Shevat 5
Nina Golden Halper............ Shevat 5
Max Bergman..................... Shevat 6
Max Rosenbaum................ Shevat 6
Norman Cohen................... Shevat 7
Dorothy Drogy.................... Shevat 7
Oscar Levitz ....................... Shevat 7
Bessie Bergman................. Shevat 8
Betty Drogy ........................ Shevat 8
Daniel Halperin .................. Shevat 8
Jacob Schragis .................. Shevat 9
Sarah Cohn........................ Shevat 11
Bessie Goldstein ................ Shevat 11
Lester Smalheiser .............. Shevat 11
Ernest Feldman.................. Shevat 12
Capt. Julius "Duke" Hersh .. Shevat 12
Dr. Franklin L. Kessler........ Shevat 13
Cheryl R. Lindenbaum ....... Shevat 13
Harriet Nathan.................... Shevat 13
Shirley Silverstein .............. Shevat 13
Ada Halperin ...................... Shevat 14
Yahrzeits
Abraham Goldstein ....Shevat 16
Rose Miller.................Shevat 16
Jack Heck ..................Shevat 17
Frieda Wesler ............Shevat 22
Harry Kaufman ..........Shevat 23
Mildred S. Agunien ....Shevat 24
Fay Katzman .............Shevat 24
Goldie Rosenbaum ....Shevat 24
Shelley Weiler............Shevat 24
Nathan Katz...............Shevat 25
Tillie Silverstein..........Shevat 26
Frank Smalheiser.......Shevat 27
Bessie Richman.........Shevat 28
Aaron Weiler..............Shevat 28
Zalman Grifka ............Shevat 30
Sylvia Seligson ..........Adar 1
Estelle Reif ................Adar 2
Mary Skolsky .............Adar 2
Betty Rubenfeld .........Adar 3
Elias Schneps............Adar 4
Israel Eisenberg.........Adar 5
Dora Brown................Adar 6
Wilbur Krivins.............Adar 7
Seymour Kaplan ........Adar 7
Benjamin Sandberg ...Adar 8
Herbert Cohen ............ Adar 10
Leah Levitz Fishbane .. Adar 11
Irving Langberg ............. Adar 11
Sondra Gold.................. Adar 12
Rebecca Wald............... Adar 14
Samuel Kahn ................ Adar 16
Wilbur Krivins ................ Adar 17
Martin Reiter ................. Adar 17
Julia Rubenfeld ............. Adar 17
Mollie Hurwitz................ Adar 18
Norman Roskin ............. Adar 18
Bertha Weissman.......... Adar 19
Henrietta Cooper........... Adar 20
Beatrice Roskin............. Adar 20
Leonard Rubenfeld ....... Adar 20
Esther Shanhouse ........ Adar 21
Irving Halperin............... Adar 22
Marilyn Halperin ............ Adar 22
Murray Charton ............. Adar 23
Matthew Harris.............. Adar 24
Ruth Golden Pines........ Adar 24
Harold Grosberg ........... Adar 25
Miriam Domowitz .......... Adar 27
Charles Newman .......... Adar 27
Sarah Grifka.................. Adar 28
David Cooperman ......... Adar 30

May their memory be a blessing to all

===========================================================================
Date Converter Shevat 14 ... Sun 8-Feb Shevat 30 ... Tue 24-Feb Adar 16 ..... Thu 12-Mar
Shevat 15 ... Mon 9-Feb Adar 17 ..... Fri 13-Mar
Adar 1 ... Wed 25-Feb
Tevet 29 ... Sun 25-Jan Shevat 16 ... Tue 10-Feb Adar 18 ..... Sat 14-Mar
Adar 2 ... Thu 26-Feb
Shevat 1 ... Mon 26-Jan Shevat 17 ... Wed 11-Feb Adar 19 ..... Sun 15-Mar
Adar 3 ... Fri 27-Feb
Shevat 2 ... Tue 27-Jan Shevat 18 ... Thu 12-Feb Adar 20 ..... Mon 16-Mar
Adar 4 ... Sat 28-Feb
Shevat 3 ... Wed 28-Jan Shevat 19 ... Fri 13-Feb Adar 21 ..... Tue 17-Mar
Adar 5 ... Sun 1-Mar
Shevat 4 ... Thu 29-Jan Shevat 20 ... Sat 14-Feb Adar 22 ..... Wed 18-Mar
Adar 6 ... Mon 2-Mar
Shevat 5 ... Fri 30-Jan Shevat 21 ... Sun 15-Feb Adar 23 ..... Thu 19-Mar
Adar 7 ... Tue 3-Mar
Shevat 6 ... Sat 31-Jan Shevat 22 ... Mon 16-Feb Adar 24 ..... Fri 20-Mar
Adar 8 ... Wed 4-Mar
Shevat 7 ... Sun 1-Feb Shevat 23 ... Tue 17-Feb Adar 25 ..... Sat 21-Mar
Adar 9 ... Thu 5-Mar
Shevat 8 ... Mon 2-Feb Shevat 24 ... Wed 18-Feb Adar 26 ..... Sun 22-Mar
Adar 10 ... Fri 6-Mar
Shevat 9 ... Tue 3-Feb Shevat 25 ... Thu 19-Feb Adar 27 ..... Mon 23-Mar
Adar 11 ... Sat 7-Mar
Shevat 10 ... Wed 4-Feb Shevat 26 ... Fri 20-Feb Adar 28 ..... Tue 24-Mar
Adar 12 ... Sun 8-Mar
Shevat 11 ... Thu 5-Feb Shevat 27 ... Sat 21-Feb Adar 29 ..... Wed 25-Mar
Adar 13 ... Mon 9-Mar
Shevat 12 ... Fri 6-Feb Shevat 28 ... Sun 22-Feb Nisan 1 ..... Thu 26-Mar
Adar 14 ... Tue 10-Mar
Shevat 13 ... Sat 7-Feb Shevat 29 ... Mon 23-Feb
Adar 15 ... Wed 11-Mar

Share your FHC memories;

e-mail your pictures to: Bulletin@FirstHebrew.Org

Visit us on the web: www.FirstHebrew.org

February 09 www.FirstHebrew.Org 14
 Don’t Use Cash!
Shop With SCRIP
and stores will donate to FHC!
At the supermarket … at the movies …
when eating out … buying clothes and gifts…

Make your purchases with the store’s own gift

card purchased through the FHC Scrip Program.

Stores donate a percentage of all gift cards

bought through SCRIP to non-profits like FHC.

Turn Purchasing Power into Fundraising at:

iTunes Macy’s CVS
Starbucks Dunkin Donuts Claire’s
Staples Home Depot Build-A-Bear
Gap Kohl’s Barnes & Noble
A&P Stop & Shop ShopRite
Movies, restaurants, & more!
Order by the end of the month for pick-up after the 10th
Visa & MasterCard accepted on orders over $500
For details call Susan Cohen 734-2149/Lili Kasdan 737-8248
February 09 www.FirstHebrew.Org 15
February 09 www.FirstHebrew.Org 16
Friday, February 6
ONEGS
The Radparvar family in honor of Sara’s birthday on February 7
Irene Reiss in honor of her grandson Jacob Reiss’ birthday on February 7
The Walker family in honor of Jed Trachtenberg’s birthday on February 8
Selda Bloome in honor of her great grandson Idan Krupnik’s birthday on February 10
The Ruff family in honor of Samantha’s birthday on February 12

Friday, February 13
The Yasuna family in honor of Alice’s birthday on February 13
Alice & Joel Yasuna in honor of their wedding anniversary on February 14
Selda Bloome in honor of her great granddaughter Lynette Hope Hersh’s birthday on February 16
Irene Reiss in honor of her grandson Benjamin Hahitti’s birthday on February 17
Sue Weiler in honor of her granddaughter Laini Sohn’s birthday on February 17

Friday, February 20
The Stern family in honor of Phyllis’ birthday on February 21
The Mazeres family in honor of Hy & Miriam Mendelowitz’s wedding anniversary on February 24
The Levy family in honor of Shira’s birthday on February 24
The Schechter family in honor of Irith’s birthday on February 25

Friday, February 27
Michele Singer & Ken Litvin in honor of their son Benjamin’s birthday on February 28
The Rubin family in honor of Seth’s birthday on March 4
Marsha Landsberg in honor of her son Dr. Jay Sokolow’s birthday on March 4
Ella Schwartz Bender in honor of Chaim’s birthday on March 5
Selda Bloome in honor of her son-in-law Asher Krupnik’s birthday on March 5

********************************* Donations:

Yahrzeit: Minnie Abramson, Rachel Schild, Carol Schlacter, Mr.& Mrs. Hyman Mendelowitz,
Ruth Hersh

In memory of:
FRAN KAPLAN BENSKY - Selda Bloome, Carol Schlacter, Mr. & Mrs. Jack Levitz,
Mr. & Mrs. Alan Drogy, Mr. & Mrs. Ira Uffer, Mrs. Susan Weiler
JEAN SHAPESS – Mr. & Mrs. Alan Drogy
LEONARD NOVOR – Mr. & Mrs. Alan Drogy
PHILIP ZAMALOFF – Carol Schlacter
MOLLIE FELDMAN – Carol Schlacter

Help support our Hebrew School when you shop online.

Visit the congregation’s website: www.FirstHebrew.Org for details.

February 09 www.FirstHebrew.Org 17
 First Hebrew Congregation
“O p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r G i v i n g”
Yahrzeit Plaques
(memorial)
In memory of a member……….............................$200
In memory of a non-member………………………$300
In memory of and purchased by a non-member...$500
Chapel Seats
(engraved brass plate on seat backs)
First three rows...........................$1,500/plate
Second three rows……………....$1,000/plate
Last row…………………………..$750/plate

Tree of Life Miscellaneous

(in honor of a birth, Bar or Bat Mitzvah, wedding, special Bricks (exterior near front entrance, for any life event
anniversaries, life events, in memoriam, etc.) or message, engraved)…………………………….$150
Leaf…………….$100 Classroom named for a family member................$25,000
Rock……………$250 Library or lounge named for a family member….. $50,000
Root……………$350 Wall Plaques: please inquire
Memorial Plate..$500
Other Donation Ideas
Books Gifts of highly appreciated stock or real estate—save on
(plate on inside cover recognizes your gift and names income tax while avoiding capital gains taxes!
those you wish to honor) Scholarships—for youth programs and camps and travel
Siddurim........... $35 to Israel.
Mahzorim..........$25 ===========================================
Chumashim...... $50 Note: Recognition for all gifts will be provided in the
Bulletin (as well as on the particular item if warranted).
Library Fund
General Fund Gifts (i.e., purchases at library discretion) All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by
Specific Purchase Gifts (i.e. book series or encyclopedia) law. Please consult your tax advisor for specific advice on
tax savings through charitable gifts.
===========================================
Bikkur Holim Committee

All those interested in joining our

Bikkur Holim/Nihum Avelim committee
and fulfilling the mitzvah of visiting the
sick / comforting the bereaved, please
contact Daniela Rosen @ 734-7282

Send TORAH FUND donation cards for all occasions

$3 per card w/envelope

$25 per 10 cards w/envelopes

We have three additional new cards •Thank you

•Thinking of you Visit us on the web:
• Sympathy

Call to have card sent — $3 per card www.FirstHebrew.org

Torah Fund Chairperson —
Shelley Kessler • 739-0781

February 09 www.FirstHebrew.Org 18
 Interview With G-d

I dreamed I had an interview with G-d.

So you would like to interview me? G-d asked.
If you have the time, I said.
G-d smiled. My time is eternity. What questions do you have in mind for me?
What surprises you most about humankind?
G-d answered:
That they get bored with childhood, they rush to grow up, and then long to be children again.
That they lose their health to make money... and then lose their money to restore their health.
That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that they live in neither the present
nor the future.
That they live as if they will never die, and die as though they had never lived.
I was silent for a while; and then I asked: As a parent, what are some of life's lessons you want your children to
learn.
To learn they cannot make anyone love them. All they can do is let themselves be loved.
To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others.
To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness.
To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in those they love, and it can take many
years to heal them.
To learn that a rich person is not one who has the most, but is one who needs the least.
To learn that two people can look at the same thing and see it differently?
To learn that it is not enough that they forgive one another, but they must also forgive themselves.
"Thank you for your time," I said. "Is there anything else you would like your children to know"
G-d smiled and said; just know that I am here... always.

Visit us on the Web:

www.FirstHebrew.Org
Support for Israel
The Conservative/ Masorti Movement is To sponsor this Bulletin,
providing support for residents of the southern
Israel under constant attack - Sderot, Ashkelon, contact Bon Venture @ 800-364-0684
Ashdod. You can make direct contributions to
Masorti in New York, which will further these or http://www.bonventure.net/
vital support efforts. Contributions should be
sent to the Masorti Foundation, 475 Riverside
Drive Suite 832, New York, NY 10115, 212-870-
2216. Checks should be marked Emergency Babysitting
Appeal. Online contributions can be made at
www.masorti.org. Click on Contributions and
then in Gift Allocation click Emergency Appeal. FREE Babysitting will be available
once a month during the Saturday
Shabbat service.

We need babysitters!
We are offering ten dollars an hour
If you are homebound and would like books from from 9:30am-12:00ish.
the First Hebrew Library, please contact Beth
Shea at 734-8231 or the Bikkur Holim committee… For more information, please
contact Alice Yasuna,
we are happy to deliver to you
Selu@optonline.net

February 09 www.FirstHebrew.Org 19
 Kehilataynu Editorial Policy Email List
and Publishing Information If you’re interested in getting
emails with the weekly
announcements, please visit
The synagogue bulletin is a place not Please keep the following in mind: the website at
only for news and information about • Articles and announcements must be www.firsthebrew.org. If you
FHC and its members, but also a received in the FHC office by the last wish to contact the
forum for members to place week of each month, five weeks before synagogue for any other
information that may be of interest to publication. business, please note that
their fellow congregants. We are • Please submit your article or the e-mail address to use is
happy to consider all articles submitted announcement via e-mail to fhc@firsthebrew.org. To
to Kehilataynu; however, we reserve bulletin@firsthebrew.org. If you do not email Rabbi Paskind directly,
the right to edit for style, and length. In have a computer, and/or your use rabbi@firsthebrew.org
addition, all articles submitted by FHC submission is not available in digital
members are labeled as such and do format, you may fax, mail, or deliver
not reflect the opinion of FHC or the your (typed) submission(s) to the
Did you know that
Board of Trustees. temple office. First Hebrew has a
Please keep the following in mind: • Please provide original copies of flyers website?
Articles and announcements must be and photos (faxed copies are not
received in the FHC office by the last suitable for reproduction)— they will be Visit www.firsthebrew.org for
week of each month, five weeks returned. synagogue information,
before publication. --------------------------------------------- articles, plus current and
archived issues of the
bulletin. The following
Let Everyone Know How Proud month’s bulletin is posted
shortly after it goes to the
We are of Our Children! printer, so you can read it
The Board of Education would like to honor our wonderful Bar/Bat Mitzvah without having to wait for the
students in a special way! post office to deliver it! You
can even view a printable
We would like each student to submit a brief biography (5-7 sentences) to be version of the current
placed in the synagogue bulletin. The biography could include information such as month’s calendar. Come
their Bar/BatMitzvah date, grade, school, outside interests, and should include a check it out! If you have any
short description about his/her service project; you may also include a photograph questions or comments, feel
if you like. The responsibility to write and submit this information belongs to the free to send email to
family of the child. Please do not cause unnecessary disappointment for your bill@firsthebrew.org.
children when they don’t see their names in the bulletin with their classmates. The
biography must be submitted to the editor FIVE WEEKS prior to the first day of
the Bar/Bat Mitzvah month to ensure placement in a timely fashion. Any articles
sent after that time will be placed in the next bulletin, which may be after the
Bar/Bat Mitzvah date. Please submit the biography to the bulletin at bulletin@
FirstHebrew.org or you can mail or fax to the FHC office.

To sponsor the Bulletin,

contact Bon Venture @ 800-364-0684 or http://www.bonventure.net/

If you are interested in assisting with publishing the Kehilataynu as editor, designer, writer, or any
other capacity, please contact Lisa at the office or Masoud Radparvar at mradparvar@hotmail.com.

Articles for the April 2009 Bulletin are due by:

Wednesday, March 4 , 2009
Articles for the March 2009 Bulletin are due by Wednesday, January 28, 2008
February 09 www.FirstHebrew.Org 20
 Bon Venture ads

February 09 www.FirstHebrew.Org 21
 Bon Venture ads

February 09 www.FirstHebrew.Org 22
February 09 www.FirstHebrew.Org 23
FIRST HEBREW CONGREGATION OF PEKKSKILL Non-Profit Organization
UPTOWN * 1821 East Main Street * Peekskill, NY 10566 U.S. Postage
DOWNTOWN * 813 Main Street * Peekskill, NY 10566
Paid
DATED MATERIAL -- TIME VALUE
White Plains, NY
Permit No. 6677

Share your Simchas by Sponsoring an Oneg Shabbat

SISTERHOOD invites you to join in celebrating Shabbat by sponsoring an Oneg Shabbat. There are a
million good reasons to sponsor an Oneg — birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, weddings, bar/bat
mitzvahs, graduations, births, etc.

In order to update our files, we are asking you to fill out this form. If you have never sponsored an Oneg,
now is the time to add your name and your loved ones’ names to the pages that you see in the Bulletin, as
well as having your SIMCHA announced from the Bima.

The cost is minimal — $6.00 for one Oneg, $30.00 for five Onegs, and $36.00 for seven Onegs (one is
free)!

Remember to fill out this form and mail it with a check made out to Sisterhood FHC to:
Beth Becker, 6 Maple Court, Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567
==================================================================================
I would like to sponsor _______Onegs.

My name as I would like to appear__________________________________________________________

Date of Event Honoree's Name(s) Occasion

1. ___________________________________________________________________________________

2.____________________________________________________________________________________

3.____________________________________________________________________________________

4.____________________________________________________________________________________

5.____________________________________________________________________________________

6.____________________________________________________________________________________
February 09 www.FirstHebrew.Org 24