Wednesday, December 9, 2009 - 6:00pm

The Lost Synagogues of Brooklyn
Author: Ellen Levitt

$36 per person. RSVP is a MUST by Friday, December 4, 2009.

Presented by the EMJC Sisterhood. All are welcome to attend.

Sunday, December 6, 2009 - 4:00PM

Free popcorn - $5 contribution

At first, The Secrets is a sober exploration of limited female opportunities in the rigidly patriarchal, orthodox Jewish environment.

But after two French characters are introduced, the movie becomes an intriguing, occasionally discordant hybrid of austere Israeli and voluptuous French filmmaking traditions. Although the story remains in Israel, in spirit the movie migrates from the Middle East to France.

The Secrets plays as a melodrama, and much more: a film about religious and sexual intolerance, about reconciling opposed beliefs, about matching the fervor of feminism against religious patriarchy, and even in some ways a social comedy. It contains an object lesson for the whole genre involving romance and the battle of the generations: such films can actually be serious about something.

When faith meets feminism. This film is rated R.

Friends,

This Sunday at high noon, East Midwood Jewish Center will hold its annual Latke Fry-Off, placing the very best "latke machers" in direct competition with one another.

If you believe that your recipe is a winner, and you are willing to put your potatoes where your mouth is, we need your help on Sunday!

Year after year, this competition has brought out the best in local holiday cuisine, and this year, you too can compete.

Please call or email me as soon as possible, if you are able and wiling to participate in this Sunday's festivities.

Thank you,
Michael Sucher

It may not be a new year in the classically Jewish sense, but a new year it is, and it leads us to ask the question we often ask at this time, which is “Where do we go from here?” The East Midwood Jewish Center has been hard at work, in case you haven’t realized it, and we would like to share with you what form we expect it to take in the coming months and years.

Take the issue of our daily minyanim. Outstanding religious institutions, like families, become great not because of one or more stupendous events that may or not take place within its premises. It is more the accumulation of the quotidian efforts of our members and staff on a daily and weekly basis, the kindnesses and rituals repeated several times a day, that cement us emotionally to each other and to our shul. Rabbi Pomerantz, of blessed memory, understood this to his very core, and set the table by his example for what we are attempting to do today. This is really why our daily minyanim, culminating in our Shabbat services, are so important. How many times in a service do we say yasher koach for a job well done, or shake the hand of a fellow congregant, or engage one another in a conversation of seeming little import? Judaism reminds us on a daily basis that we are social creatures with a humane agenda, and though we practice this ritually with our fellow Jews, the strength and compassion it generates in ourselves overflows to nurture the wider community. So we invite you formally, if you still need such formality, to join us every morning and/or evening and get a re-charge daily at no additional cost.

Moving beyond the spiritual to the physical aspects of our shul, we see the need for major infrastructural repairs, including the front side- walk area, the south side of the building and the courtyard. The grand stairs that highlight our building also need to be water-proofed, and the front doors need to be repaired and reinforced as well. Our beautiful stained glass windows also need extensive repair. All our fund- raising efforts need to be directed in these critical directions. For example, thanks to Toby Sanchez and Joe Rothstein, we have a grant for the windows that repays us $.50 for every $1.00 we spend. This grant (originally a 5 year grant) expires in approximately three years. No time to lose, because the work must be completed within that time frame. But even before that major project starts, the waterproofing project will commence this spring and should be substantially completed by Rosh Hashanah, 2010. You should know that between these two major capital costs, we are looking at as much as $750,000 in expenses in the next two to three years. Our fundraising committee, dinner dance committee, planned giving committee and special events committee are currently addressing these issues, and we count on your participation in body and deed to help resolve them.

We are moving ahead culturally and educationally as well. We continue to work in cooperation with the East Midwood Jewish Day School, and are currently investigating enlarging our after-school program centered in Room J to offer more gym, swim and educational opportunities to a wider group of young people. We are also moving towards further utilization of our "Center" by Brooklyn Jewish artists, musicians and scholars as we continue to evolve into a Brooklyn cultural and arts haven. So many exciting possibilities require devoted people to manage and support them, and we are looking at you, our dearly engaged and dedicated members, for your input and help.

We aim to ensure that the East Midwood Jewish Center remains viable and receptive to all who are ready to receive what she has to offer. This is a multigenerational endeavor which takes advantage of our rich and diverse congregation, clergy and staff, and with all your support, will allow us to construct that metaphorical bridge to uncounted generations yet to come. We wish all a Happy New Year.

Michael Sucher and Larry Isaacson, EMJC Presidents