NHC Bulletin Feb 2021

NANUET HEBREW CENTER AFFILIATED WITH THE UNITED SYNAGOGUE OF CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM 411 S. LITTLE TOR ROAD, NEW CITY, NY 10956 (845) 708-9181 Visit us at: http://www.nanuethc.org E-mail address: [email protected] February 2021 Shevat — Adar 5781 Volume 50, Number 6 Maimonides' Purim and Chanukah Message of Peace Both Chanukah and Purim are celebrations of Jewish victory over their enemies. Nevertheless, in the Mishneh Torah, Maimonides, making use of aggada, turns these into holidays of peace. More inside, p. 24 The earliest depiction of people wearing costumes on Purim, from Sefer Zemanim (the Book of Holidays), in Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah From northern Italy, ca. 1470. Original in Vatican City, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana. I mage courtesy of Shalom Sabar. https://jewishstudies.washington.edu February Calendar Inside, p. 19

Nanuet Hebrew Center Please let the NHC office know of all important life events & occasions, including births, Published monthly by the Nanuet Hebrew Center weddings, etc., illness and deaths. CLERGY Rabbi Office: 845-708-9181 [email protected] Paul Kurland Cantor SERVICES 845-623-0407 [email protected] Barry Kanarek SHABBAT Friday evening Shabbat services at 6:00 p.m. [email protected] The 1st Friday of each month is Family Shabbat Gail Kaiser EXECUTIVE BOARD Co-President Saturday morning services at 10:00 a.m. Jeffrey Schragenheim Co-President Please call the office the Wednesday before Shabbat if you would like an aliyah on Saturday David Katz Vice President Andrew Toplitsky Vice President Nathan Schlanger Treasurer Jeffrey Tepper Financial Sec'y MINYAN Sunday thru Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m. Charyl Zweigbaum Corresponding Sec’y Jay Jaffe ARMS Recording Sec’y Wendy Spelman Ritual Comm. Chairperson Please try to attend minyan as often as possible to enable mourners and those who are observing John Fogelman Ritual Co-Chair Emeritus yahrzeits to say Kaddish. Mitchell Spiegel Men’s Club Co-President Eric Zweigbaum Men’s Club Co-President Donna Smith Sisterhood President Other Departments/Contacts Rebecca Bernstein Educational Director [email protected] Cynthia Schneider, Peggy Tepper Catering [email protected] Candle lighting times (New City area) Dates Starts Ends Estelle Eisenkraft Tree of Life/Stones Frieda Levitas Chair, Comm. of Education Esther Spiegel HAZAK Flora Silver Chesed Committee Co-Chair February 5-6 5:00 6:02 February 12-13 5:09 6:10 Marion Fuld Chesed Committee Co-Chair February 19-20 5:18 6:18 February 26-27 5:26 6:26 Gift Shop [email protected] Judy Friedlander [email protected] NOTE FROM THE EDITOR—All articles, photos, OFFICE Hours: ads or other info contributed for publication in the Bulletin must be received by the 15th of the month, Closed during the current crisis. We may be to be published the following month, subject to space reached by email or you may leave a message availability and editor's approval. Contributed on the machine. material may be edited as necessary. Please email your attached word documents, PDF files, or JPG photos as attachments to an email with the Subject line: BULLETIN.” Page 2 NHC Bulletin Shevat — Adar 5781 February 2021

In This Issue: From Co-President Gail Kaiser. . . . . . . . . . 4 February Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 19 USY/Kadima . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Cover story continued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Makom News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Frances Melamed at 100. . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Hazak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Life Cycle . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . 33 Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .18 Tzedakah . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . .37 Getting Together, with Zoom It is encouraging to see so many participating with Zoom in Synagogue meetings and events over the last few months, including the Rabbi’s Monday Study Group, our daily minyanim, pre-Shabbat gatherings, programs for children, USY/Kadima programs, and our new Macom Hebrew School with Montebello Jewish Center. We have been able to attend funerals to mourn with our friends. This is to acknowledge the extra effort of those who have not been particularly comfortable with meeting this way, whether with computer, tablet or cellphone, and are still in the learning curve (present company included). Since on-line meetings will no doubt be an indispensable part of our activities in the short term (and who knows how much in the long term), those of you who are not yet connected are invited to join up and download the program, at Zoom.us. There is plenty of information out there, if you google Zoom, including YouTube tutorials and the like. In this issue find a page of general instructions published by the University of California and a handy page of Zoom ‘Etiquette’ for any occasion supplied by Jeff Schragenheim. If you would like someone to walk you through the download, you may call the office. Once you have the program, it is so easy: You just click on the link provided in your invitation from Rabbi Kurland at the time specified, join the meeting, et voila! February 2021 Shevat — Adar 5781 NHC Bulletin Page 3

From the Co-President According to my reckoning, we are now in our 11th month of the COVID-19 pandemic. As one who has spent very little time outside of my house in all that time, even though I’ve busy all throughout it, I’ve found it has become very difficult to distinguish one day from another, as the weeks just seem to slide by and pile up in the months as they turn from one into another. I know we’re now in the month of February because I see ads and posts for Valentine’s Day all over the print news, email, and social media. Ah, Valentine’s Day. The Hallmark holiday in which red roses, heart-shaped balloons, huge boxes of never-ending chocolates, and mushy cards help to ease the guilt of those spouses, lovers, partners, and significant others who fear they may not have expressed their feelings well or enough during the past year. As kids, those who attended public schools marked the day by filling the shoeboxes of their classmates with cartoon Valentines. Those who attended Jewish day schools grew up without this annual tradition. So, what’s the deal? Are Jews not allowed to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Some calendars still refer to the holiday as St. Valentine’s Day and February 14th has traditionally been associated with Christianity. But is it actually a religious holiday? One of the most universally accepted explanations of where the holiday was derived is the legend of a holy priest and 3rd-century romantic named Valentine, who continued to perform wedding ceremonies for young soldiers and their sweethearts even after the Roman emperor Claudius II forbid them to be betrothed. Valentine was imprisoned and sentenced for execution on February 14th, whereupon he penned a farewell letter to the girl who had captured his heart and signed it, “From your Valentine.” So, that explains the sending/giving of cards to your loved ones. And Valentine was once memorialized as a saint. But in 1969, the Catholic Church removed Valentine’s Day from it calendar as all they could historically corroborate about his was his burial date – February 14th. Thus, although it evokes the legend of a saint, Valentine’s Day is no longer officially recognized as a religious holiday. Despite the non-Jewish origins of this holiday, many Jews do celebrate Valentine’s Day in some fashion. However, what many Jews (especially those outside of Israel) don’t realize is that we have our own Jewish “Day of Love” (Chag HaAhava) – known better as Tu B’Av, which falls on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Av, which this year begins at sundown on Friday, July 23rd. This is the night of the full moon in our lunar calendar, and linking the appearance of the full moon with romance, love, and fertility was not uncommon in ancient cultures and clearly embraced by Judaism. Page 4 NHC Bulletin Shevat — Adar 5781 February 2021

Tu B’Av began during the Second Temple period (before the fall of Jerusalem in 70 CE) and marked the beginning of the grape harvest. It was a matchmaking day for unmarried women who would go out dressed in white and dance in the vineyards. After the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE, the only way that Tu B’Av was celebrated or acknowledged was that the morning prayer service on that day did not include any prayers of penitence (Tahanun), stressing that this was a day of joy. With the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, the celebration of Tu B’Av began a resurgence. Modern Israeli culture began to promote festivals of singing and dancing, and the entertainment and beauty industries popularized this date. It has no formal legal status as a holiday – it is a regular workday throughout the country. However, Israelis mark the day by giving cards and flowers to their loved ones, and it is a popular date for weddings. So, for those of you who can’t get enough of or don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day, mark your calendars – Tu B’Av 2021 is July 23rd! Happy Day of Love in advance to all!! Gail Kaiser, Co-President, Nanuet Hebrew Center February 2021 Shevat — Adar 5781 NHC Bulletin Page 5

USY/Kadima News Rachel Benner, Youth Advisor This Month USY had some exciting events. On January 9th we had an interchapter virtual escape room. CenterRock, New City and Orangetown 30 Kadima and USYers worked together in groups of 6 to escape the Lucky Duck Speak Easy. The groups worked together to figure out who the mobster was. On January 24th, our Co-President from MJC, Harrison, led us in some baking fun. He taught us how to make thumb print cookies. We filled them with different flavors of jam and chocolate of course! Harrison led the group for ice breakers while we got to enjoy the treats we made. On January 30th, another one of our Co-Presents from NHC, Maya, led a fun night of origami. She taught the group how to make a beautiful butterfly out of paper. We spent the evening laughing, and learning about each other. We are excited for the month of February! Unfortunately, due to COVID we are unable to have our annual Purim carnival. However, when life gives you lemons, USY makes Lemonade. CenterRock USY/Kadima has teamed up with Makom to host our first PURIM MUSICAL BINGO! We will be together virtually on February 28th at 4PM for a fun session of music bingo. We will be having a costume contest, prizes, and raffles! Make sure to sign up to see what the fuss is about with BINDANGO! This event will be open to all ages of the congregation. We have received some amazing raffle donations, such as beauty treatments, gym classes, delicious food, and lots more! All proceeds of this event will benefit both the CenterRock USY/Kadima Youth Group and the Makom program. We hope you will all join us! We are putting together some additional programs for the month of February, so watch those emails. Page 6 NHC Bulletin Shevat — Adar 5781 February 2021

February 2021 Shevat — Adar 5781 NHC Bulletin Page 7

Page 8 NHC Bulletin Shevat — Adar 5781 February 2021

Our school has successfully moved to Google Classroom. Teachers are now able to post messages for the upcoming materials needed and lesson documents for students to work on. We had fun learning about Tu B’Shevat. Students received a special visit from their teachers with a planting package. They planted Parsley seeds and will be able to use it in time for Karpas at their seder. Classes also enjoyed a Tu B’Shevat seder. Progress Reports were sent out at the beginning of January. We enjoyed another Family Havdalah Service on January 30th. A special thanks to Cantor Barry Kanarek for leading songs and prayers on his guitar. In addition, Cantor Kanarek has joined our religious school on a regular basis, adding a positive energy to our school. Cantor Kanarek, along with their teachers, are preparing our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students for their Kabbalat Shabbat Service scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 11that 6 PM in Google Meet. It will be an opportunity for their families to see how wonderfully they have progressed and feel much nachas from their amazing children. All the best, Rebecca Bernstein Educational Director February 2021 Shevat — Adar 5781 NHC Bulletin Page 9

Especially during our unsettling environment, why go to a store to buy greeting cards? For just $3.00 each, you can have a personalized, handwritten Leagram sent to a member of our congregation, a relative or a friend. These can be sent for any occasion including, birthdays, anniversaries, Mazel Tovs for weddings, engagements, special events such as Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, get well and condolences. Each month, when the Bulletin is e-mailed, an additional message is sent which includes a Leagram list for the following month. If you don’t have an e-mail address, you can contact the NHC office to have a list mailed to you. Just circle the ones that you would like sent, enclose a check for the total amount and follow the instructions on the bottom of the Leagram list. In addition, you can also send Leagrams to non-members. Just write the name and address to whom it should be sent and the type of message you’re requesting. Please keep in mind that this is an NHC Sisterhood fundraiser which helps support our synagogue. You don’t have to be a member of Sisterhood to participate. Thank you and stay safe. Best regards, Diane Fishman, Leagram Chairperson Page 10 NHC Bulletin Shevat — Adar 5781 February 2021

February 2021 Shevat — Adar 5781 NHC Bulletin Page 11

HAZAK I really don’t like to start this month’s article out with the word unfortunately, but… Unfortunately, we were unable to have our Zoom meeting in January. However, we are now on track to have our next Zoom get-together on February 4th at 12:00 pm. Hope to see you all there. Hopefully, over the next few months everyone will be able to get the vaccine for the covid virus and we will be able to get together in person. I am looking forward to that day. In the meantime, it’s time to meet Hazak’s trip coordinator, in this month’s “Meet the Members of Hazak”, Rhoda Patsner. Rhoda was raised in the Bronx and went to Taft High School. While attending Hunter College, she worked as a secretary at the United Nations. Upon graduation, she became a secretary to the Chief of Printing for the U.N. at Lake Success, Long Island. While working at the U.N., she came in contact with some very important people, such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Margaret Truman, and others. She was also a talent agent for the Arthur Godfrey Show. After retiring, she opened up her own Travel Agency and, of course, did a lot of traveling around the world. Rhoda has three children. Her son Bruce was born in 1953 and became a doctor/lawyer. (Rhoda also worked at Nyack Hospital to be close to her son, “the doctor”.) Her daughter Elisabeth retired as a school teacher. Her other daughter, Susan Black, died at the age of 36. Rhoda has five grandchildren. Everyone knows that: You drive your car on the Parkway and park on your car on the drive way. Here are a few other things to ponder: Which letter is silent in the word “Scent”, The S or the C? The word “swims” upside-down is still “swims”. Do twins ever realize that one of them is unplanned? Have a very Happy Purim. Arthur Fishman Chief Senior Staff HazakWriter, Word Processor and Proof Reader. Page 12 NHC Bulletin Shevat — Adar 5781 February 2021

NOVEMBER 2020 Program Dates: August 7, 2020 - March 13, 2021 Stop & Shop hopes everyone is staying safe and healthy. We thank you for your continued support of local schools through the A+ Program. Remember, our stores offer everything that you'll need for your holiday meals. You can turn your holiday shopping into cash for your school! Below is your school's combined AUGUST, SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER award totals. SCHOOL: 18033 COMBINED TOTAL: $86.36 SUPPORTERS: 44 February 2021 Shevat — Adar 5781 NHC Bulletin Page 13

Page 14 NHC Bulletin Shevat — Adar 5781 February 2021

Be sure to invite your family and friends! February 2021 Shevat — Adar 5781 NHC Bulletin Page 15

Page 16 NHC Bulletin Shevat — Adar 5781 February 2021

Zoom Meeting Etiquette With this new era of video conferencing and online meetings, many have found that there are a new set of guidelines to follow. Let’s face it: attending meetings and minyanim from home is difficult. So here are some suggestions, compiled from Zoom’s own website as well as other sources, which will help you navigate your way through this new technology. Use the video option when possible. It lets people see you and confirm you are not some computer-generated voice. This is particularly important if you are the one hosting the meeting or a speaker, and slightly less so if you are an attendee, Dress appropriately, or Do not wear your pajamas. Times are tough for those sequestered at home, and wearing sweatpants all day, every day is one of the few silver linings. But if you are in a position where you can put on something you would usually wear;it is probably a good idea. You might also find it makes you feel a little more normal. Stage your video area. Keep in mind that people are not just seeing you, they are also seeing whatever the camera is pointed at behind you. Maybe arrange it so that your camera is not facing towards a pile of unfolded laundry? More light is better. Video quality is dramatically improved with more lighting. And don’t you want everyone to see your beautiful face, now that you have gone to all of the trouble to put on actual clothes and stuff? An extra nearby lamp is usually helpful. Just make sure the light is in front of you, not behind you - being backlit makes you harder to see. Try to look into the camera. If you are speaking to the group, looking into the camera will give the appearance of eye contact with whoever you are talking to. It is also definitely better than being forced to stare at your own face and realizing how badly you need a haircut. Do your own tech support before you start. Make sure you do a test run at some point, and that you are aware of your audio and video settings before you start. Most video conference services allow you to see a test of what your camera is recording before you start broadcasting it to everyone else, so have it arranged the way you want it. Zoom, for instance, has a feature that lets you test your settings before your meetings begin: just go to zoom.us/test. You can also usually decide if you come in with audio hot or muted before you accidentally broadcast whatever is on the TV in the next room. And speaking of sound … Stay on mute if you are not talking. Background noise can be really distracting. If you are not sharing anything at the moment, go ahead and hit mute until you do. That way, no one has to listen to the car alarm that goes off in your neighborhood or your neighbor’s perpetually barking dog. Do not eat during the meeting. It can be a little gross to watch other people eat sometimes. Or listen to them chewing, for that matter. Hold off if you can, or if not, maybe turn off the video and audio. Do not do other private things while on a meeting. Having a side conversation with someone in your house, especially if you are unmuted, can be a enormous distraction to others. Stay focused. Keep unnecessary conversations to a minimum. It can get very hard to be productive when several people are all talking at once, and even more so when overlapping audio and shuffling video screens are involved. For more details on how Zoom operates, check out their website and their FAQ page. February 2021 Shevat — Adar 5781 NHC Bulletin Page 17

In Our Mailbox Dear Rabbi Paul, Leket Israel is truly grateful for your support in 2020. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we were able to provide 2.4 million hot meals and 18,500 tons of produce to 246,000 people weekly, many of whom who had never experienced poverty before this year. Hoping for a better year to come, Joseph Gitler Founder and Chairman Dear Rabbi Paul, On behalf of the HIAS Board, staff and clients around the world, thank you for your generous contribution during this extraordinary High Holiday Season. With so much uncertainty everywhere, we are deeply grateful that you’ve heeded the call for renewed compassion for the world’s record numbers of displaced people. In 16 countries across the globe, we deliver legal representation, mental health support, and financial assistance, as well as critical updates about COVID, how to access medical care, and the tools to remain safe and connected. Even as countries are sealing borders and travel restrictions remain in place, HIAS continues to serve men, women, and children in need. Our lifesaving work advocating for the rights of all who seek safety and freedom depends as much as ever on our partnership. Thank you for joining us in bringing new opportunities for safety and renewal to refugees and asylum seekers around the world. With very best wishes for a fulfilling New Year, Miriam Feffer Vice President, Development. Page 18 NHC Bulletin Shevat — Adar 5781 February 2021

Rotate Counter-Clockwise February 2021 Shevat — Adar 5781 NHC Bulletin Page 19

Page 20 NHC Bulletin Shevat — Adar 5781 February 2021

February 2021 Shevat — Adar 5781 NHC Bulletin Page 21

Page 22 NHC Bulletin Shevat — Adar 5781 February 2021

February 2021 Shevat — Adar 5781 NHC Bulletin Page 23

Continued from Cover Connecting the Laws of Megillah and Chanukah From: Prof.Menachem Kellner, https://www.thetorah.com/article/maimonides-purim-and- chanukah-message-of-peace Maimonides combines the laws of Purim and Chanukah into one section, with two chapters on each holiday. A number of reasons may have motivated Maimonides to treat Chanukah together with Purim in the same section. On a practical level, it could be that each was quite short and did not warrant its own section. The status of Chanukah is also like Purim in as much as they are both holidays mentioned in Megillat Taanit, in which it is forbidden to mourn or eulogize, as Maimonides himself states. Additionally, the fact that both are post-Pentateuchal holidays connects them on a halakhic level. Maimonides further includes another technical connection between these two holidays: Everyone obligated to read the Megillah is equally obligated to light a Chanukah candle. These are also the two holidays in which the prayer al hanissim (thanks for the miracles) is added into the Amidah prayer and grace after meals. Nevertheless, beyond these technical-halakhic similarities between the holidays and their respective mitzvot, Maimonides, as we shall see, manages to draw them together with a substantive connection as well. The laws of Chanukah and Purim each end on an unusual note for a halakhic work like the Mishneh Torah. Chanukah: Maimonides ends the section on the laws of Chanukah chapters by stating that a poor person should even resort to begging in order to buy oil for a Chanukah lamp, and emphasizing the importance of this mitzvah in comparison with other mitzvot that could cost money such as saying Kiddush over a glass of wine. But Maimonides continues: If such a poor man has to choose between oil for both a house lamp [on the Sabbath] and a Chanukah lamp, or oil for a house lamp [on the Sabbath] and wine for the Sanctification benediction, the house lamp should have priority, for the sake of peace in the household, seeing that even a Divine Name might be erased to make peace between husband and wife. Great indeed is peace, forasmuch as the purpose for which the whole of the Torah was given is to bring peace upon the world, as it is said, “Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace” (Prov. 3:17). This strange ending uses the law of Chanukah candles as a foil to emphasize the importance of having a lamp lit in one’s house on Shabbat, so that people are able to see, since a dark house would cause strife in the family. Maimonides strengthens this point by making recourse to the aggadic explanation of the sotah ritual (when the bitter waters are administered to a suspected adulteress) and then ends with an encomium to peace, a non-halachic point that seems entirely tangential to the substance of this section. Page 24 NHC Bulletin Shevat — Adar 5781 February 2021

Purim: Maimonides does something analogous at the end of the laws of Purim, which he ends: In messianic times all the Prophetic Books and the Writings will be abolished except the Book of Esther. For this will continue to endure, just as the five books of the Torah and the laws of the Oral Torah will never be abolished. And although all memory of ancient troubles will disappear, in accordance with the verse, “Because the former troubles are for-gotten, and because they are hidden from mine eyes” (Is. 65:16), the days of Purim will not cease to be observed, as it is said, “And that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed” (Esther 9:28). The assertion is surprising given Maimonides’ general insistence on the permanence of halakhah and his concerns lest his views be used to support antinomian tendencies. Admittedly, Maimonides derives this from Resh Lakish’s position as recorded in the Jerusalem Talmud, but it is surprising that he chooses to use this source in this context, considering its possible antinomian undertones. More importantly for our purposes, this passage has no halakhic significance as it focuses only on Messianic times. The same question we asked with Chanukah applies here: why does Maimonides choose to end these laws with an aggadic statement? War and Peace: The key to both endings appears to be Maimonides’ invocation of the theme of peace. The story of the megillah of Esther is that of the Jewish struggle to survive in the diaspora. It ends with a bloody battle between the Jews and the followers of the anti-Semitic Haman. Maimonides adjusts the meaning of the story by suggesting that it has an eternal message even during a time in which anti-Semitism and war are no longer part of the world. Removing the Miracle: The importance of the theme of peace in explaining Chanukah becomes clearer when we look back at the beginning of his discussion of the holiday, in which Maimonides leaves out a key phrase in his retelling of the Talmudic story (b. Shabbat 21b) of the oil that lasted eight days. Maimonides: “The day on which the Israelites were victorious over their enemies and destroyed them was the twenty-fifth day of Kislev. When they re-entered the Temple, they found within its precincts only one cruse of ritually pure oil, enough to burn for but a single day. Yet they kept alight with it the required number of lamps for eight days, until they could press some olives and pro-duce new ritually pure oil.” Vs. Bavli: “For when the Greeks entered the Temple, they defiled all the oils therein, and when the Hasmonean dynasty prevailed against and defeated them, they made search and found only one cruse of oil which lay with the seal of the High Priest, but which contained sufficient for one day’s lighting only; yet a miracle was wrought therein and they lit [the lamp] therewith for eight days.” The phrase “a miracle was wrought,” which appears in the Bavli in both the printed and manuscript editions, does not appear in the manuscript editions of the Mishneh Torah, or in the updated, academic, printed editions. February 2021 Shevat — Adar 5781 NHC Bulletin Page 25

Maimonides’ decision to leave out these words accords with his well-known and barely concealed antipathy to interruptions in the regular order of nature. His phrasing seems to leave open the possibility that the oil lasted based on parsimonious usage or, at most, due to an unexplained lucky break that could or could not have been miraculous. Celebration of War: This leaves the victory of the Hasmoneans over the Greeks as the main reason that the Sages established Chanukah, something also easily explained in naturalistic terms, especially since Maimonides does not mention anything about “the few versus the many.” If so, then like Purim, Chanukah is a holiday celebrating the Jewish defeat of gentile enemies in battle. This makes the ending of these halakhot, which focus on the importance of peace, all the more striking. A Universalist Message for Particularist Holidays: Maimonides takes the opportunity provided him by the laws of Purim and Chanukah, two holidays that hark back to wars between Jews and gentiles, to teach a lesson about the value of peace. It is the point of the whole Torah to bring about peace in the world. In both his ending to the laws of Purim and his ending to the laws of Chanukah, he reminds us that the messianic era is to be a period of peace, not of domination. This is consistent with Maimonides’ intellectualist and universalist account of the messianic era, with its emphasis on peace. The Sotah Ritual – Making Peace between Husband and Wife: To make his point about the importance of peace in the Chanukah laws, Maimonides adds an aggadic flourish. He begins by codifying the Talmudic law (b. Shabbat 23b) that the Shabbat candle trumps the Chanukah candle because of the importance of domestic harmony. “A house lamp or a Chanukah lamp, the house lamp is preferable because of the need for peace in the home.” Maimonides then “proves” this law by codifying an aggadic text from Deuteronomy Rabbah (5:15): Rabbi Akiva said: “You should know how powerful is peace, since the Holy One, blessed be He, said that when a man feels jealous rage against his wife, the holy name of God, which is sanctified in holiness, may be erased in water in order to make peace between the accused woman and her husband. Maimonides applies this aggada in a “kal va-chomer” (a fortiori) style by arguing that if even the sin of erasing God’s name can be performed to make peace between husband and wife, certainly peace in the home trumps the rabbinic, positive commandment to light a Chanukah candle. R. Akiva’s interpretation in Devarim [Deuteronomy] Rabbah is rather counter-intuitive. In the sotah ritual of Numbers 5:11-21, a jealous husband brings his wife before the priests because he suspects her of adultery. To determine whether she has had an affair or not, she must drink a concoction which includes the erased name of God, which will cause her bodily harm if she is guilty. R. Akiva’s statement implies that she always comes out innocent, that she was never really in danger of harm from the ritual. Page 26 NHC Bulletin Shevat — Adar 5781 February 2021

It is likely that this interpretation appealed to the rationalist Maimonides, since he could never accept that the ritual is because of the magical properties of God’s name. Perhaps he did not believe the ritual worked at all, but that it was designed to impress the husband and reconcile him to his wife. Peace in the World: But Maimonides does not stop at peace between spouses and moves on to the larger image of world peace, choosing to close his discussion of Purim and Chanukah in particular, and the Book of Seasons as a whole, with the following statement: “Great indeed is peace, forasmuch as the purpose for which the whole of the Torah was given is to bring peace upon the world, as it is said, “Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace” (Prov. 3:17).” Maimonides’ interpretation of this verse appears to be original, not one borrowed from earlier sources. World Peace in the Laws of Kings: Maimonides’ universalist reading of Prov. 3:17 is emphasized in the only other place where he cites it in the context of a discussion of Jewish-Gentile relations (“Laws of Kings,” 10:12): “Even with respect to heathens [goyim], the Rabbis bid us visit their sick, bury their dead along with the dead of Israel, and maintain their poor with the poor of Israel in the interests of peace, as it is written: “The Lord is good to all; and His tender mercies are over all His works” (Ps. 145:9).” And it is also written, “Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace” (Prov. 3:17). The Torah was given not only to bring peace between husband and wife, but also among all human beings. In his creative use of the verse to cap the laws of Purim and Chanukah, Maimonides takes two holidays that are clearly associated with Jewish-Gentile warfare and turns them on their head, making their ultimate message one of peace among all human beings. REMINDER — TEA and PEANUT BUTTER Multiple synagogues help with the Rhoda Bloom Kosher Food Pantry and provide different types of food. NHC's responsibility is to supply TEA (boxes of tea bags) and PEANUT BUTTER to the Food Pantry families. Please drop off Kosher peanut butter and tea at the box outside of the NHC office. We are always looking for additional volunteers to support the Rhoda Bloom Kosher Food Pantry and distribute food at the JCC-Jewish Family Services. While NHC's turn to provide extra volunteers is every February, you are welcome to participate other months as well. For more information, please contact Susan Saffar at 352-1711 or [email protected]. Thanks for your help in supporting these 250 families! February 2021 Shevat — Adar 5781 NHC Bulletin Page 27

Happy Birthday Frances Melamed! After nearly 10 months spent in quarantine, we know all  too well how much can happen in a year. Imagine what can  happen in 100, for that is the number of years beloved  Congregant member, FRANCES MELAMED, celebrates this  February 15th.  Introduced to the Temple by friend, Lenore Braunfeld, of  blessed memory, Frances and late husband, Monte, joined  the Nanuet Hebrew Center in 1955. The Melameds quickly  became active members in the community, by not only  sending their children, Lynn and Larry, to the Hebrew  School but by taking on various roles over the course of  their years with NHC.  An active member of the NHC Sisterhood, Frances served as a member of its Board of  Directors, participated in its Book Club, the Journal Committee and the Israel Bonds  Committee. Frances’ reach; however, wasn’t confined to the walls of our temple.  In the Jewish community writ large, Frances is also a lifelong active member and former  President of Mid‐Rockland Hadassah, the Rockland Center for Holocaust Studies where  she served on the board, and the Women’s Division of Israel Bonds for which she Chaired  and Co‐chaired the Fashion Show and Sponsor Functions and received honors in 1980 for  her dedicated service. Additionally, Frances was a member of the Rockland Jewish  Community Center and the Rockland Chapter of Brandeis Women.  Ever devoted to the betterment of her community, Frances also gave of her time as a  Facilitator for the Institute for Senior Education at Rockland Community College and as a  Volunteer Administrator for Planned Parenthood of Rockland County.  Frances dutifully served our community all while using her degree from Brooklyn College  as an educator at George Miller Elementary, where she taught for 21 years.  We’ve seen women come a long way over the course of history, and are honored to have  a powerhouse like Frances Melamed, a veritable trailblazer and shining example of the  power of sisterhood, in our midst.  Page 28 NHC Bulletin Shevat — Adar 5781 February 2021

Please join the Nanuet Hebrew Center congregation in wishing Frances a bright Yom  Huledet Sameach.  When we again come together in person, be sure to take a look at the brick  commemorating this joyous occasion gifted by her loving family.  If you would like to reach out to Frances, she would love to  Frances Melamed  hear from the congregation with a card, letter or note sharing  67 Treetop Circle  a story, memory or a way your paths may have crossed.  Nanuet, NY  10954  Mazel Tov, Frances, on a life well lived.  845.425.1422    February 2021 Shevat — Adar 5781 NHC Bulletin Page 29

Page 30 NHC Bulletin Shevat — Adar 5781 February 2021

Please be sure to visit, like and share Nanuet Hebrew Center's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/nanuethc This page is open to all NHC members, family, friends and potential new members. We also welcome you to post information and photos on this page that are appropriate to Nanuet Hebrew Center. Tzedakah Kari Warren For those of you who are not sure of how Tzedakah works — It is really very simple.... The minimum donation is $5.00 (and the dollar amount is NOT included on the card). Pick a fund — General, Rabbi's Discretionary Fund, Cantor's Discretionary Fund, Building Fund, Shabbos Club, Hebrew School, Prayer Books or Bonnie Lynne Scholarship. You can call, mail or e-mail your donation to the office. This is a great way to help your shul and acknowledge life cycle events in someone's life. Nanuet Hebrew Center will send a card to the person letting them know that you made a donation in their honor or sending them condolences. We also will list your donation in the Bulletin. You may also make a donation to someone that is not a member of the shul. They will also receive a note as well, as long as you supply us with their address. If you have any additional questions, please call or e-mail me @ [email protected] February 2021 Shevat — Adar 5781 NHC Bulletin Page 31

Please tell our Carlson Craft, Checkerboard New Trends, Pioneer and others advertisers you Acrylic Sign-Book or Board, Favors saw their ad in Kipot, Wedding Gown Heirloomed the Bulletin. Their generous support helps pay for about 80% of the cost of the Bulletin. Page 32 NHC Bulletin Shevat — Adar 5781 February 2021

February Yahrzeits /‫יזכור‬ 1 Abraham Savitzky 10 Sylvia Pechman 23 Bella Studnitzer Lillie Hecker 11 S ylvia Horowitz Rose Schuman 12 Abraham Hartglass 2 Otti Zollner 20 Shirely Rubinstein Gerald Borsuk Josephine Weiner George Rubin 13 Dorothy Zuckerman Roslyn Porcelli 3 Lillian Schein 14 Moses Shliferstein Sarah Sperber David Slotnick 15 Carl Hans Ida Goldblatt 21 Jay Gregory Fuld Tzvi Frishman Alexander Ellenbogen Abe Pechman Liesel Leib Harry Peskin Fred Ackerman Sherwin Patsner 4 Louis Solomon 16 Adele Tuttle 22 Betty Aloff Margaret Singer Jeffrey Gottschalk Martin Weinstein Jenny Daichman Gustave Fuld 5 Daniel S. Klein Daniel Roher Rose Stelzer Sarah Schwartz 17 Sidney Kantor Mary Kaikow Ida Buchman 24 Ruth Lipnack Harvey Green 18 Celia Kimmel 25 Lillian Kurland Mison Budak Shlomo Azran 26 Elaine Carl Benjamin Kaplan 28 Irma Peskin 6 Dora Pollack Richard Klinger Steven Berkowitz Bessie Sicklick Eleanor Garfinkel PeterWeiss Regina Himmelbrand Irving Hudesman Yetta Moskowitz Shlomo Azran Lillian Warren Hilda Blumberg Harry Reiter 7 Dorothy Green Rose Lehr 8 Paul Estreich 19 Oscar Schenkel Rhoda Roberts Max Estreich Gussie Kshonz 9 Abraham S. Edelman Adelia Peskin Soni Gellis Jean Abrams George Schweitzer Beatrice Shapiro Jerry Richtol Betty Borkon February Anniversaries Mazal Tovs / ‫מזל טוב‬ 6 Louis & Beth Kaplan 19 Michael & Lisa Lieberman 16 Serge & Lois Rotjan 21 Madelaine & William Gallin 18 Richard & Robyn Bollinger 25 Lawrence & Leslie Schiller February 2021 ✡✡✡✡✡ NHC Bulletin Page 33 Shevat — Adar 5781

March Yahrzeits /‫יזכור‬ 1 Bertha Seidenstein 9 Oliver Canton 21 Sheila Schertzer Gussie Reichner Sheldon Stelzer Lily Guinat Benjamin Krieg 2 Benjamin Hurwitz Betty Bloomfield 22 David Klinger Hannah Schoenberg Muriel Rifkin Sol Chernoff 10 Celia Olitsky Marvin Hillman William Kimmel 11 Harry Rubinstein Barbara Harap 12 Shirley Low 23 Julius Reutlinger 24 Nathan Schnur 3 Golan Scwarcz Beckie Kupchik 25 Evelyn Darvin Louis Reiter Leon Schertzer Sol Abrams Albert Siegel Sara Blumenthal Elias Schwartz Beckie Kupchik 26 Emanuel Slotnick Anna Gordon 4 Selma Stelzer 13 Helen Schwartz Louis Pollack Bertha Morenberg Aron Winer 27 Baruch Tuttle Morris Drachman Hilda Reutlinger Beverly Green Esther Wachtel Irving Eisenkraft 14 Benjamin Fogelman Benjamin Schwartz 5 Anna Bernanke Kail Housman Frances Weinstein Naomi K. Newman Lena Luftig Betty Hillman WilliamCasper Hannah Kayem 28 Rachel Reichner Barry Hoffman 15 Stuart Meltzer Jeffrey Ruff Roberta Kaplan Sol Adamsky 29 Charles William Klein Lina Schragenheim 16 Max Schweid Herman Zweigbaum Freida Asinofsky David Guttman 6 Harold Friedman Fred Gottschalk May Roher Rose Strauss 17 Rose Landsman 30 Joseph Kornstein Mathew Wunsch Irving Horowitz Howard Reitzes Stanley Blumenthal Monte Melamed Sylvia Feldman Steven Blau 18 Louis Moskowitz Samuel Applebaum Jacob Zuckerman Michael Flaster 31 Nathan Oberman 19 Betty Solomon Milton Levine 7 Harry Ackerman Victor Adler Melvin Fliss Saul Borakove Ricardo Rabinovich Bernard Farber 20 Myrna Schultz 8 Audrey Roth Hartglass Jon David Morton Max Levine 9 Elliott Kleinberg March Anniversaries Mazal Tovs / ‫מזל טוב‬ 9 Anton & Joy Klein 19 Steven & Shari Winkler 13 Jason & Rachel Meltzer 17 Lawrence & Amy Fox 24 Kieran & Wendy Spelman 18 Joseph & Sybil Weingast 25 Charles & Joy Slater Howard & Rochelle Kowlowitz Helene & Ira Kornstein 26 Bruce & Renee Schnur 31 Amy & Barry Kanarek Page 34 NHC Bulletin Shevat — Adar 5781 February 2021

Bar/Bat Mitzvah Mazal Tovs / ‫מזל טוב‬ Sharyn & Robert Ippolito in the B’nei Mitzvot of their sons Michael & Preston Birthday Mazal Tovs / ‫מזל טוב‬ Frances Melamed, on her 100th Birthday Condolences/ íéîåçðú Sheila Pozensky on the death o f her husband, Lee Pozensky Myrna Price on the death of her nephew Arthur Fishman on the death of his cousin Bernice Beckerman on the death of her husband George Beckerman Carole Rothman on the death of her husband Matthew Rothman Speedy Recoveries/äîìù äàåôø Jill David Bernetta Gordon February 2021 Shevat — Adar 5781 NHC Bulletin Page 35

Now you can pay your membership dues using VISA, MasterCard American Express or Discover card [email protected] Teaching Is Available Upon Request Don’t forget — You can help support the Synagogue at no cost to you — PURCHASE SCRIP — It’s easy: Contact NHC Office @ 708-9181 E-mail - [email protected] Mail - 411 South Little Tor Road, New City, NY We have gift cards for Shop Rite • Stop & Shop • DeCicco Wegmans You can make purchases by cash or check. Page 36 NHC Bulletin Shevat — Adar 5781 February 2021

Tzedakah / ‫צדקה‬ Tzedakah received and recorded by the 10th of the month or the first business day after, will be acknowledged on these pages. If the office is closed because of holidays falling on these days, only donations received before the holiday will appear. Please also note that acknowledgment or lack thereof on these pages does not constitute an official receipt of your donation by the shul. In the event that acknowledgment of your donation does not appear, please let the synagogue office know and we will print it in the next issue of the Bulletin. Planning Ahead Now is the time to start the planning that enhances the work of the congregation by raising the necessary funds so dues need not be raised. Our ongoing fundraisers include the Rabbi's Walk and the Tree of Life. To reserve a brick on the Rabbi’s Walk or reserve a stone or a leaf on the Tree of Life, call Estelle Eisenkraft in care of the office at 845-708-9181. Donations to General fund Nadine & Kenneth Blumberg Condolences to Elayna Kirschtel on the passing of her mother, Phyllis Zakim Marilyn Brenner & Murry Wolf Mazal Tov to Fran Melamed in honor of her 100th birthday Ronnie Drachman Mazal Tov to Phyllis and Ken Benjamin on the engagement of their granddaughter, Gabrielle Benjamin to Ari Solomon Phyllis Fierman In memory of father, Morris Borenstein Diane & Arthur Fishman Mazal Tov to Phyllis and Ken Benjamin on the engagement of their granddaughter, Gabrielle Benjamin to Ari Solomon Rita & John Fogelman Condolences to Elayna Kirschtel on the passing of her mother, Phyllis Zakim Mazal Tov to Myrna Schenkelon the birth of her great granddaughter, Rachel Leah Marion & Milton Fuld Mazal Tov to Phyllis and Ken Benjamin on the engagement of their granddaughter, Gabrielle Benjamin to Ari Solomon Claire Gondelman In memory of grandmother, Clara Berkman In memory of mother, Rose Berkman Arlene & Myron Hecker Condolences to Rabbi Kurland on the passing of his cousin, Cy Booth Get well wishes to Rabbi Kurland Gail Kaiser In memory of mother, Estelle Laufer February 2021 Shevat — Adar 5781 NHC Bulletin Page 37

Michael Kaiser In memory of mother, Laura Kaiser Helene & Ira Kornstein Condolences to Elayna Kirschtel on the passing of her mother, Phyllis Zakim Lesley & Richard Lefkowitz Mazal Tov to Phyllis and Ken Benjamin on the engagement of their granddaughter, Gabrielle Benjamin to Ari Solomon Amy Marchese In memory of mother, Arline K. Vogel Sid Moskowitz Get well wishes to Rabbi Kurland Mazal Tov to Phyllis and Ken Benjamin on the engagement of their granddaughter, Gabrielle Benjamin to Ari Solomon Mazal Tov to Phyllis Fierman in honor of her birthday Mazal Tov to Amy Kanarek in honor of her birthday Mazal Tov to Fran Melamed in honor of her 100th birthday Mazal Tov to Myrna Schenkel on the birth of her great granddaughter, Rachel Leah Mazal Tov to Karen Schragenheim in honor of her birthday Mazal Tov to Barbara Schoenberg in honor of her birthday Eliott Newman In memory of mother, Regina Newman Phyllis Rosenkrantz In memory of father, Carl Gottlieb Adrienne Rubinstein In memory of husband, Walter Rubinstein Beverly & Peter Rymer Mazal Tov to Phyllis and Ken Benjamin on the engagement of their granddaughter, Gabrielle Benjamin to Ari Solomon Mindy & Adam Sayer Condolences to Elayna Kirschtel on the passing of her mother, Phyllis Zakim Flora Silver Mazal Tov to Helene Kornstein, honored as NHC Sisterhood’s Exceptional Woman of t he Year at the MetroNorth Region of Sisterhoods’ annual Torah Fund event Peggy & Jeff Tepper Mazal Tov to Myrna Schenkel on the birth of her great granddaughter, Rachel Leah Marilyn Wechsler Mazal Tov to Phyllis and Ken Benjamin on the engagement of their granddaughter, Gabrielle Benjamin to Ari Solomon Mazal Tov to Myrna Schenkel on the birth of her great granddaughter, Rachel Leah Page 38 NHC Bulletin Shevat — Adar 5781 February 2021

Sybil & Joseph Weingast Condolences to Elayna Kirschtel on the passing of her mother, Phyllis Zakim Mazal Tov to Phyllis and Ken Benjamin on the engagement of their granddaughter, Gabrielle Benjamin to Ari Solomon Ilene Weiss In memory of father, Marvin Sontag In memory of mother, Hortense Sontag Mark Weiss In memory of brother, Peter Weiss Jaqueline White In memory of mother, Clara White Rita Zowader In memory of father, Barnett Blumenthal New Building Fund Phyllis & Kenneth Benjamin Condolences to Elayna Kirschtel on the passing of her mother, Phyllis Zakim In memory of father, Irving Yatchie Thank you Peggy, Cynthia and Kari for organizing Shabbos Dinners Ilse & John Lang Condolences to Elayna Kirschtel on the passing of her mother, Phyllis Zakim Mazal Tov to Myrna Schenkel on the birth of her great granddaughter, Rachel Leah Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund Estelle & Allan Eisenkraft Condolences to Elayna Kirschtel on the passing of her mother, Phyllis Zakim Mazal Tov to Phyllis and Ken Benjamin on the engagement of their granddaughter, Gabrielle Benjamin to Ari Solomon Mazal Tov to Fran Melamed in honor of her 100th birthday Stuart Fierman In memory of father, Theodore Fierman Louis Wasser In memory of aunt, Beatrice Shapiro In memory of father, David Wasser In memory of mother, Shirley Wasser Shabbos Club Margie Wineburgh In memory of brother, Michael Gardner High Holiday Prayer Book – Mahzor Lev Shalem Ilse & John Lang In honor of Fran Melamed's 100th birthday February 2021 Shevat — Adar 5781 NHC Bulletin Page 39

Nanuet Hebrew Center Non-Profit Org. 411 S. Little Tor Road U.S. POSTAGE New City, New York 10956 Paid RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Monsey, NY Permit No. 5409 DATED MATERIAL Do not delay 845-356-8600 15 State Street, Spring Valley, NY 10977