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Conservative Yeshiva Alumni E-News
September/October
2006
E-CONTENTS:
1. A New
Year Blessing for Our Yeshiva Family - Rabbi Pesach Schindler
1. A New Year Blessing for Our Yeshiva Family Rabbi Pesach Schindler, Rosh Yeshiva
To all of our Talmidim over these past eleven years, may this forthcoming year be a blessing to you. May your experiences with us at the Conservative Yeshiva enrich your lives and help you discover the newness of each day that this year brings.
Above all, may all of Israel and humanity be blessed with Shalom.
2. A Vision for the New Year Rabbi Jerome Epstein, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
The Conservative Yeshiva was created by the United Synagogue with the vision of developing a learning and learned laity committed to life-long Jewish growth and Jewish learning. We commend you, the Yeshiva alumni, for helping make this vision more of a reality each day. The difference you are making is felt in our Conservative congregations and elsewhere.
In order for the dream to be more fully realized, we all must increase the effort, in an active partnership, to inspire others to experience the Conservative Yeshiva and to enable it to grow. I ask you to continue serving as models for the importance of learning and to give the Yeshiva your ongoing support. Together, we will conserve and re-invigorate the Jewish future.
Shana tova!
3. A Dvar Tefila for the High Holidays Rabbi Daniel Goldfarb, Yeshiva Director
Unetanah Tokef, which introduces the Kedusha of Musaf on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, is perhaps the most dramatic moment of the High Holiday liturgy. It portrays the Divine Judgment of the day very vividly – the great shofar sounding (a kind of "order in the court"), the Angels quaking in fear. But it balances the intimidating image immediately, quoting the Mishna (RH 1:2) that on Rosh Hashanah "all mankind passes before Him like a sheep in a flock" and continues the metaphor: k'bakarat ro'eh edro "as a shepherd seeking his flock [that's strayed]," a quote from Ezekiel 34:11-12, of which there is no warmer image of God's love and care for Am Yisrael.
The next paragraph builds on the Talmudic statement that judgment is inscribed on Rosh Hashana and sealed on Yom Kippur (RH 16b). A list of 26 fates awaiting us – 18 bad, 8 good, most drawn from Biblical or rabbinic sources. The odds are not favorable. But t'shuva, tefilla u'tsdaka can take the sting out of the evil decree we rightly deserve – deep self-reflection, improving our communication with God and helping our fellow man. The trio is based on Midrash Rabbah, where it appears in a different order (t'shuva last). The subtle irony is wonderful, and perhaps the real source of the power of this piyyut. On this "awesome and frightening day," before the Divine Judge sitting on His throne "in truth," we are empowered. God's love and warmth prevail again. May we be able to take advantage of it.
Shana tova!
4. Approaching the "Days of Judgment" Rabbi Shmuel (Richard) Lewis, Rosh Yeshiva
As we approach the "Days of Judgment" (both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are called "Day of Judgment"), we immediately think of doing what we call heshbon hanefesh, that inward reckoning that anticipates what the One Who Judges is likely to see. We do this partly in order to beat Him to the punch, to judge ourselves as wanting before He does, so that we can set out to do t'shuva and direct ourselves onto a better path before He sits in judgment of us. This process sometimes spills over into doing heshbon hanefesh for others as well, seeing their faults, especially those directed against us. These two sorts of reckoning, however, are in deep tension. For we do our own heshbon hanefesh not only to prepare for judgment in the sense of making t'shuva, but also to arouse G-d's compassion: just as we seek to arouse G-d's compassion for ourselves, so we should arouse our own compassion for others. We hope that our failings will be seen as weakness and not as evil, so too we should see others' failings. Standing in judgment before G-d on the days of judgment is not merely something that happens to us, it is something we do. The active standing in judgment we are called upon to do on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur entails our committing ourselves to do in the future that which will be judged positively. That commitment is part of the active aspect of standing in judgment, but not less than our forgiving those who have wronged us.
In the words of Rava (Rosh Hashanah 17a): "Kol hama'avir al midotav ma'avirin lo al kol p'sha'av". [ Rava said: Anyone who passes over his measures (i.e., passes over, relinquishes, judging those who have wronged him), they (i.e., G-d) pass over all of his sins.]
G'mar hatimah tovah l'kulchem R' Shmuel
5. 2006 Summer Program: Coming Together during Difficult Days Rabbi Daniel Goldfarb, Yeshiva Director
"It was the best of times; it was the worst of times," opens Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, and indeed that would be a good way to describe the Conservative Yeshiva's recent Summer Program. Some 115 people took part, 29 of them community leaders (Hillel and federation workers, synagogue officers and administrators and youth workers/advisors). Their participation was funded by a wonderful grant from the Legacy Heritage Foundation. And the numbers would have been even higher, were it not for the Lebanon war.
The Summer Program included intensive Ulpan 5 mornings a week (five levels of Hebrew) and text classes, including Advanced Gemara. During the first session there were seven classes going on simultaneously; three in the afternoon. The Yeshiva's facilities, including the new Beit Midrash, were "maxed out." We had to hold the opening orientation in the Moreshet Israel synagogue next door to accommodate the large number of students.
"The Yeshiva fulfilled one of my dreams. I cannot thank you all enough for your graciousness, hospitality, education, and for making me feel comfortable," wrote one student. Credit goes not only to the faculty but also to the students, who either remained in Israel or came, despite the war that broke out in Lebanon and the pressure of friends and family at home. They learned seriously and were the key to the success of this wonderful program.
6. Upcoming Alumni Events!
Shabbat Tshuvah, September 30, 5:45 pm Mincha & Seudah Shlishit Congregation Shaare Zedek, 212 West 93rd Street New York City
Details to follow on our Learning Events in Washington DC and NY and the Spring Alumni Shabbaton
7. "Yeshiva Family" Announcements
The Conservative Yeshiva would like to extend a warm mazal tov to the following Yeshiva family members on their smachot ! Please send us your news so we can share in your joy! ( Yeshiva@uscj.org)
Mazal tov to…
Avi Hein (2002-03) who recently finished a Masters Degree at Hebrew University in the Israeli Society and Politics program.
Sarah Bier (Nativ 2001–02) on her marriage to Matan Ring on August 6, 2006.
Marc Schlesinger (2001-02) and Robin Moore who were married on May 28, 2006.
David Baum (2002–03) and Alissa Solom (2006–07) who were married on August 13, 2006.
Michelle Gur Aryeh (2004-06) and Adam Shain who were married on September 3, 2006.
Carmiya Kasse (Summer 2004) and Michael Weinraub who were married on November 27, 2005, at Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in Connecticut
Rabbi Gail Diamond and Alen Kacal on the birth of Alexander (Sasha) Yakov on April 25, 2006.
Matt Plen and Atira Winchester on the birth of their son Micha Isaac Winchester on February 10, 2006 (the 13th of Shvat).
Sara Levene Okrent (2001-02) and Leor Okrent on the birth of Eitan Shalom on Saturday/Shabbat April 8, 2006.
Rebecca Morton Zweibel (2002-03) and Shane Zweibel on the birth of Samuel Meyer, on Wednesday, May 24, 2006.
Hazzan Joanna Selznick Dulkin (2001-02) and Rabbi Ryan Dulkin on the birth of Jesse Meir on April 21, 2006.
Ayelet Piatigorsky (2004-05) and Misha Piatigorsky on the birth of Rafael on March 19, 2006.
Michal Michelson (1997-99) and Bill Shackman (1996-99) on the birth of Joseph (Yosef Moshe), December 26, 2005, the second night of Chanukah.
Elana Slutsky (Nativ 2001-02), Dani Fogel (Nativ 2001-02) and Alex Stein (2003-04) on their aliyah to Israel.
New Rabbinical Assembly members, JTS ordainees, Amichaim Abramson (2000-01), Julia Andelman (1998-2001), Lowell Applebaum (2000-01), Matthew Earne (2000-01), Marci Jacobs (2000-01), Helene Kornsgold (1999-2000), David Siff (1997-98), Peter Stein (2000-01), and Ziegler School ordainees, Aaron Alexander (1999-2001), Nelly Altenburger (2004-05), Jennifer Flam (1997-99) and David Kosak (2003-04).
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