http://www.emjc.org/ Come on in and find out what's going on at EMJC! en Copyright 2008 Thu, 08 May 2008 14:17:47 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss aliyah, the encouragement of American Jews to emigrate to Israel. Indeed, the attitude of the American rabbinate toward aliyah has, for the most part, vacillated over the years. On the one hand, we are aware of the indispensability of an ample quantity of Jews making their home in Israel in order to insure the viability of a Jewish State. On the other hand, if all or most of American Jewry heeded the call to go on aliyah, we would have no one to whom we could speak or with whom we could work. In truth, we have little cause to worry that the bulk of American Jewry will go to Israel. (They may move to Florida or Arizona; but that’s another story!) What’s more, there is no reason to bemoan the fact that most of our co-religionists prefer to remain in this country. The Jews of America have evolved a vital, vibrant, and creative life here. They have erected a most impressive array of institutions which minister, outstandingly and effectively, to the religious, educational, social and health needs of the Jewish community. Over 300 of the finest colleges and universities in the United States have chairs of Jewish studies. To be sure, we have our difficulties, most especially intermarriage and assimilation; but none of the negatives can gainsay the reality that one can most certainly live an authentic and genuine Jewish life in America. To be sure, as good as things are in America, our Jewishness will always be a secondary element of our lives; since the dominant American way must, of necessity, constitute the principal priority of our thoughts and actions. Only in Israel will it ever be possible for Jewishness to be completely natural, without having to compete with conflicting ideologies and orientations towards life. Aliyah is the sole option available to those who desire to live totally integrated Jewish lives, free of intrusive and alien elements. The most potent force that will galvanize the interest of American Jews to make aliyah is the desire to be part of the incomparably exciting and exhilarating drama of a people returning to its home after two thousand years of wandering all over the globe. Jewish history possesses a grandeur and nobility which cannot be adequately grasped by the powers of the human intellect. These qualities can, nevertheless, be most fully experienced in the land of Israel. Although the Middle East is currently the focal point of so much enmity and violence, it continues to arouse the imagination, concern, and involvement of the greatest nations and religions of the Western world, and to constitute a source of inspiration and encouragement to countless millions everywhere. To play a role in establishing amity and harmony in that spot of the globe which is the crossroads of the human race is the kind of challenging aspiration that can fire the idealism of some of our finest young people. Such elevated and noble objectives will probably never motivate more than a minority of our co-religionists in this country. But we American Jews, rabbis and laity alike, have a duty to encourage and support that minority. While most American Jews will elect to stay here, that special and blessed group which makes aliyah will prove that American Jews are not hopeless captives of the fleshpots of wealth and security. These noble and sanctified Jews, finally, have the best chance to succeed in the all-important task of building a living bridge between us and the people of Israel which alone can assure the survival of the Jewish people and the Jewish way of life everywhere. ]]> http://www.emjc.org/2008/05/viewpoint_2008_05.html http://www.emjc.org/2008/05/viewpoint_2008_05.html Viewpoint Thu, 08 May 2008 14:17:47 -0500 Bedikat Hametz - The Search For Leaven After the house has been thoroughly cleaned, it is the traditional practice to make a final ceremonial search for whatever hametz may remain. The search, called Bedikat Hametz, is usually conducted on the evening of the day preceding Passover, and the hametz is burned on the following morning. This year, Bedikat Hametz is conducted on Thursday evening, April 17th, and the hametz is burned on Friday morning, April 18th. Before the search, it is customary to deposit small pieces of bread in strategic places, so that the inspection has a purpose. Traditionally, the search is carried out by the light of a candle, with a feather and a wooden spoon to collect the hametz. Siyum for the First-Born The day before Passover is observed as a fast day for the first-born males in each family. The object of this fast is to remind them that the first-born of the Israelites escaped the doom visited upon the first-born of the Egyptians on the midnight of the first Passover. However, if the first-born participates in a mitzvah, he may take part in the feast which accompanies it, and need no longer fast. Such a mitzvah is a siyum, or conclusion of a portion of Talmudic literature. This year, the special service for the first-born will take place on Thursday, April 17th, following the morning service. All first-born males and their fathers are invited to attend. The services and siyum are meaningful for all parents and children, first-born or not. Kashering of Utensils

1. Earthenware (china, pottery, etc.) may not be kashered. Fine translucent china which has not been used for a year may be used if scoured and cleaned in hot water.
2. Metal (i.e., wholly of metal) utensils used in fire (spit, broiler) must first be thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned and completely immersed in boiling water. Pots should have water boil in them which will overflow the rim. The utensils may not be used for 24 hours between cleaning and the immersion in boiling water. Metal baking utensils cannot be kashered.
3. Ovens and Ranges: Every part that comes in contact with food must be thoroughly scrubbed and cleaned. The oven and range should be heated as hot as possible for 30 minutes. If there is a broil setting, use that. Self-cleaning ovens should be scrubbed and cleaned and then put through the self-cleaning cycle. Continuous cleaning ovens must be kashered in the same manner as regular ovens. Microwave ovens that do not cook the food by means of heat (convection) should be cleaned, a cup of water placed inside, and the oven turned on until the water evaporates. A microwave that has a browning element (convection) cannot be kashered for Passover.
4. Glassware: One way to kasher drinking utensils is to soak them in water for 3 days, changing the water every 24 hours. Another method is to thoroughly scrub before Passover, or put them through a dishwasher cycle.
5. Dishwasher: After not using the machine for 24 hours, a full cycle with detergent should be run.
6. Electrical Appliances: If the parts that come in contact with hametz are detachable, they can be kashered (e.g., if metal, follow the rules for metal utensils). If the parts are not detachable, the appliance cannot be kashered. All exposed parts should be thoroughly cleaned.
7. Tables, Closets, and Counters: If used with hametz they should be thoroughly cleaned and covered.
8. Kitchen Sink: A metal sink can be kashered by thoroughly cleaning and then pouring boiling water over it. A porcelain sink should be cleaned and a sink rack used. If dishes are to be soaked in a porcelain sink, a basin must be used.
9. Hametz and non-Passover Utensils: Non-Passover dishes, pots, and hametz whose ownership has been transferred, should be separated, locked up or covered, and marked in order to prevent accidental use.

Prohibited Foods Prohibited foods include the following: leavened bread, cakes, biscuits, crackers, cereal, coffees containing cereal derivatives, wheat, barley, oats, spelt, rye, and all liquids containing ingredients made from grain alcohol. Most Ashkenazic authorities have added the following foods (kitniyot): rice, corn, millet, and legumes (beans and peas; string beans, however, are permitted). Peanuts and peanut oil are permitted. Some Ashkenazic authorities forbid the use of legumes in a form other than their natural state, corn sweeteners, corn oil or soy oil. Sephardic authorities permit the use of all of the above. Permitted Foods

1. The following foods require no Kosher for Passover labels if purchased prior to Passover: unopened packages or containers of coffee without cereal derivatives, sugar, pure tea, salt (not iodized), pepper, natural spices, frozen fruit juices with no additives, frozen (uncooked) vegetables, milk, butter, cottage cheese, cream cheese, ripened cheeses such as cheddar, muenster, and Camembert, frozen (uncooked) fruit containing no additives, and baking soda.
2. The following foods require no kosher for Passover labels if purchased prior to or during Passover: fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, fresh fish and fresh meats.
3. The following foods must have a kosher for Passover label if purchased prior to or during Passover: All baked products (matzoh, cakes, matzoh flour, farfel, matzoh meal) and any products containing matzoh, canned or bottled fruit juices, canned tuna (only if it is known that the tuna is packed exclusively in water, without any additional additives or ingredients, may it be purchased without a kosher for Passover label), wine, vinegar, liquor, oils, dried fruits, candy, chocolate flavored milk, ice cream, yogurt and soda.
4. The following canned, bottled or frozen (processed) foods must have a kosher for Passover label if purchased during Passover: milk, butter, juices, vegetables, fruit, milk products, spices, coffee, tea, fish, as well as all those products in paragraph III.

Detergents If permitted during the year, powdered and liquid detergents do not require a kosher for Passover label. Medicine Since hametz binders are used in many pills, the following guidelines should be followed: If the medicine is for life sustaining therapy, it may be used during Passover. Capsules are preferable. ]]> http://www.emjc.org/2008/04/passover_guide_20085768.html http://www.emjc.org/2008/04/passover_guide_20085768.html Bulletin Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:18:53 -0500 from autocratic restraint, but one must likewise move forward at the same time and utilize his freedom to achieve something meaningful. Abraham Lincoln once said that truly free men are ready to accept discipline. In his time, that involved the discipline of service in a war to preserve the Union and a national commitment to prevent the spread of slavery. There are those who misunderstand the essence of democracy. They think of it simply as a form of government in which the state does not interfere with the individual’s life. If that’s all there were to it, the fiber of such a society would be soft, weak, and confused. You must go on to ask the next question: “Why doesn’t the state interfere with the life of its citizens?” The state’s self-limitation exists only to enable each person to choose his own ideals and to select restraints that are as free as possible from limitations that he did not choose. However, restraints there must be. Blessed is the state whose denizens accept the restraints set forth by Lincoln which lead to shared goals and cooperative endeavors for the general welfare. The most urgent need of our time is to get past the negative side of freedom, which is consumed by a sense of self and isolated from the community. Freedom may begin with the self but it must move on to positive effort on behalf of the community for whose well-being we are all morally responsible. To reach that august goal we need a maximum of learning and knowledge. Maybe that is why the wise son is so highly esteemed in the Haggadah. The more we know about our past the easier it is to move from the self to the community, from “freedom from” to “freedom to,” from negative freedom to positive freedom. Miryom, Sarah, Lewis and Sarah, Danny and Debby, Judah and Bennett join me in the prayer that our Passover observance will stimulate us all to the realization of our total potential as free, concerned, responsive, and committed human beings. Chag sameach v’kasher! ]]> http://www.emjc.org/2008/04/viewpoint_2008_04.html http://www.emjc.org/2008/04/viewpoint_2008_04.html Viewpoint Tue, 08 Apr 2008 10:20:57 -0500 Andy Statman's rollicking treatment of Dayenu. Missed the show? No worries. You can buy the CD now at Ben's site! -=- Saturday, April 5 - 8:30 PM - $20 Here are some clips from Ben Lapidus' new album Herencia Judía, which was released on March 18th: "This record is the result of many years of exploring a familial and musical Spanish Caribbean connection that has also turned out to be spiritual: my travels have not only placed me in contact with my distant family scattered throughout the Caribbean, but also with the Jewish communities in Cuba, Colombia, and Puerto Rico. Musically, the CD is an imaginary creation that envisions a syncretic Spanish Caribbean Jewish liturgical music from the synagogues of La Habana, Santiago or San Juan. My goal was to combine Afro-Caribbean culture with Jewish liturgy without sacrificing the musical or spiritual qualities of any of these traditions. As a result, there were several moments in the studio when the corriente (spiritual energy) was palpable." - Benjamin Lapidus For more information, visit sonidoisleno.com.]]> http://www.emjc.org/2008/04/coming_soon_herencia_judia.html http://www.emjc.org/2008/04/coming_soon_herencia_judia.html Archived Events Club Oasis Sun, 06 Apr 2008 16:02:11 -0500 kabbalat shabbat service led by Rabbi Alvin Kass and Cantor Sam Levine, followed by a traditional sabbath dinner. Friday, March 28, 2008 - 6:30 PM - at EMJC $20 per person. Reservations must be received by Tuesday, March 25th.]]> http://www.emjc.org/2008/03/singles_shabbat.html http://www.emjc.org/2008/03/singles_shabbat.html Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:48:05 -0500 Reminder: Purim basket orders can be picked up at the Center on: Tuesday, March 18th - 3:00 to 4:00 PM Wednesday, March 19th - 6:30 to 7:30 PM Thursday, March 20th - during the evening carnival. Happy Purim to all! http://www.emjc.org/2008/03/mishloach_manot.html http://www.emjc.org/2008/03/mishloach_manot.html Sun, 09 Mar 2008 08:32:27 -0500 EMJC 2008 Auction Extravaganza and Passover Wine Sale. Over the past several weeks Center members, friends and local area merchants have generously donated a variety of goods and services for the auction, with all proceeds going into the EMJC Building Fund. Artwork, appliances, theater tickets, baseball tickets, home-cooked dinners, barbeques, week-end getaways, legal and other professional services are among the many items “on the block” that evening. The auction will take three forms. A handful of items will be raffle prizes, others will be awarded in a silent auction, and still others will test the mettle of our two skilled auctioneers, Irwin Weintraub and Michael Marcus. It promises to be a fast, furious, and fun-filled evening. But to be a success the most important element will be your enthusiastic – and generous – participation. Come to the Auction Extravaganza on March 8th, and don’t forget to bring your friends, relatives, and neighbors. The Auction Extravaganza is coupled with this year’s Passover Wine Sale. An outstanding selection of kosher-for-Passover wines will be available for you to purchase and get a start on setting your holiday table. Set aside the evening of March 8th for the Auction Extravaganza and Passover Wine Sale, and come ready to bid to better the East Midwood Jewish Center. Up-to-date list of raffle items after the jump.... ]]> http://www.emjc.org/2008/03/march_8th_auction_wine_sale.html http://www.emjc.org/2008/03/march_8th_auction_wine_sale.html Archived Events Sat, 08 Mar 2008 12:05:59 -0500 writeMailTo("ekleibowitz","optonline.net");, if you have any questions regarding planned giving and estate planning. This outline of Estate Planning Basics is part of a series of articles on Estate/Gift Planning being prepared by Mr. Leibowitz and will appear from time to time in the EMJC Bulletin. ]]> http://www.emjc.org/2008/03/planned_giving_estate_planning.html http://www.emjc.org/2008/03/planned_giving_estate_planning.html Thu, 06 Mar 2008 22:30:09 -0500 Tuesday, February 12 - 8:00 PM - $10 Come and experience the talk that has been exciting and inspiring audiences around the world. David Solomon’s innovative and dynamic overview of Jewish History is a performance that will leave you inspired, informed and wanting more. In this extraordinary lecture, David literally maps out the unique scale and amazing contours of Jewish History around the audience, providing a framework that is accessible to people with any level of knowledge. The Whole of Jewish History in One Hour covers everything from the origins of the Jewish people, up to the present day - and even beyond - in one continuous narrative! Audiences have raved about the talk, declaring that it has rekindled a love of and passion for Jewish History and has moved them to pursue their own journey of discovery. The talk is not only entertaining… it’s real teaching! If you’ve ever wanted to understand how the details of Jewish History really fi t together then come and hear one of the world’s most exciting and original teachers speak on what is perhaps the most important topic in the Jewish world today. For more information about David Solomon and his talks please visit inonehour.net.]]> http://www.emjc.org/2008/02/the_whole_of_jewish_history_in.html http://www.emjc.org/2008/02/the_whole_of_jewish_history_in.html Archived Events Fri, 08 Feb 2008 13:03:16 -0500 July 10 - 21, 2008 Tour includes:

• Roundtrip airfare between New York and Tel Aviv on Delta Airlines
• 5 nights at the Dan Panorama Hotel in Jerusalem
• 1 night at the King Solomon Hotel in Netanya
• 3 nights at the Ruth Rimonim Guesthouse in Safed
• All touring and sightseeing per an agreed upon itinerary in a deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach
• 5 Dinners including a special Farewell BBQ Dinner hosted by Miriam and Sandy Goldhaber's children
• 3 Lunches including Shabbat “Lunch and Learn” at the Fuchsberg Center in Jerusalem
• Breakfast daily
• Entrance fees per itinerary
• Transfers upon arrival and departure
• Porterage

Tour highlights include:

• Jerusalem's Old City, including the Davidson Center and fascinating Western Wall tunnels!
• Special meeting with Ethiopian community in Beit Shemesh to donate Torah to their synagogue
• Winery tour and tasting in Zichron Yaakov
• Visit the artists' community at Ein Hod
• Lunch with the members of Kibbutz Hanaton, a Conservative kibbutz in the Galilee
• Masada, Ein Gedi, the Dead Sea and the Qumran Caves
• Tour of the Golan including Katzrin, Har Bental and the beautiful Tel Dan Nature Reserve
• City tour of Tel Aviv including Independence Hall, Rabin Square, the Palmach Museum and the Ayalon Institute
• Yad Vashem's moving memorial
• The armored corps museum at Latrun
• Caesarea’s ancient Roman ruins
• Haifa’s breathtaking views

...and so much more! For more information and a full itinerary, or to reserve your spot on the trip, click here (pdf).]]> http://www.emjc.org/2008/01/join_us_for_an_amazing_tour_of.html http://www.emjc.org/2008/01/join_us_for_an_amazing_tour_of.html Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:25:46 -0500 Paper Clips: a film directed by Joe Fab and Elliot Berlin. February 10, 2008 - 4:00 PM Tickets $5 - free popcorn - discussion following movie. A documentary about a small town's efforts to comprehend the Holocaust. - Whitwell - a tiny, almost exclusively white Christian community - is nestled deep in the mountains of Tennessee. It is pretty much an insular community, but in 1998, something happened in a classroom, launching its students into an unlikely project. During a history lesson on the Holocaust, students learned that Nazis had exterminated over 6 million Jewish people. One student bravely asked what 6 million looked like. He could not conceptualize so large a number. Finding it difficult to explain the loss of life this great figure represented, administrators and students embarked on an inspirational journey of comprehension and remembrance. One principal's desire to help her students open their eyes to diversity and an unfortunate event epitomizing hate and bias, soon transformed into an international effort, breaching the walls of this insulated valley. This movie tells a heartwarming story about a mission to honor each lost soul by collecting - yes - paper clips. One for every life lost. Eventually, this community even managed to procure an authentic German rail car, which would become the container for the millions of paper clips collected. Please join us for this film, and other events throughout the year. We welcome all, men, women, singles, families, young and old. We are committed to serving the spiritual, educational, humanitarian, and social needs of our community.]]> http://www.emjc.org/2008/01/film_paper_clips.html http://www.emjc.org/2008/01/film_paper_clips.html Archived Events Sat, 26 Jan 2008 22:17:15 -0500 The Jewish Theological Seminary 3080 Broadway, New York, NY (map it!) The day will begin with breakfast and Minyan in the Women's League Seminary Synagogue. Rabbi Neil Gillman, Professor of Jewish Philosophy at JTS, will lead the opening session at 9:30 am: Contrasting Images in Judaism: Portraits of God Dr. Ron Wolfson, president and co-founder of Synagogue 2000 and Synagogue 3000 will deliver the keynote address: The Many Paths of Jewish Education: Engraving and Empowering Jewish Journeys There will be a choice of workshops for both the morning and afternoon sessions. Workshop topics will include: how to bridge the gap between day school families and religious school families, technology and Jewish life, the Haggadah, and many others. Workshop facilitators will include Dr. Michelle Lynn-Sachs from JTS, Amichai Lau-Lavie from Storahtelling, Rabbi Arnold Samlan from the Board of Jewish Education, as well other prominent leaders. To register or get more info email METNY at metnyed@uscj.org or call 212-533-7800 x 2161 *Cost is $36/adult and $18/student; the day will include both breakfast and lunch. Books by both Rabbi Neil Gillman and Dr. Ron Wolfson will be available for purchase, as well as other titles related to Jewish life and education. To view the schedule, click here. To register, click here. (Both links are PDFs.)]]> http://www.emjc.org/2008/01/uscj_metny_day_of_learning.html http://www.emjc.org/2008/01/uscj_metny_day_of_learning.html Archived Events Wed, 09 Jan 2008 10:49:08 -0500 Blood Drive: The East Midwood Jewish Center's annual blood drive will take place on Sunday, January 13th from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm in the Grand Ballroom. In the Torah, we are exhorted to "choose life" (Deuteronomy 30:19-20). Donating blood is making that choice, and more. To donate blood is to give life. A single donation of blood can give the gift of life to as many as five persons. It is a mitzvah, and one of the highest levels of charity we can perform. Anyone between the ages of 17 and 76 and in good health can donate blood. Donating blood is safe, easy, and fast. An hour of your time can mean a lifetime of health for another person. Take part in the EMJC blood drive. Call the Center office today to schedule an appointment. Food Pantry Donations: Recent reductions in funding by the federal government has created a pressing need for donations of canned and packaged food for the Our Lady of Refuge Roman Catholic Church food pantry. The food pantry provides weekly food packages to close to 200 individuals and families in our Midwood/Flatbush neighborhood. Packages of food are prepared on Tuesday afternoons and distributed on Wednesday mornings. Any donations would be greatly appreciated. You may bring the cans or packages to the EMJC office or to OLR, on the corner of Ocean Avenue and Foster Avenue. You can also volunteer and help on Tuesday afternoons or Wednesday mornings. Get involved...the need is great! Women's Shelter Volunteers: Fulfill that New Year’s resolution to get involved with volunteer work, and help out on Sunday evenings from 8 pm to 10 pm at the Our Lady of Refuge Women's Shelter. You can help set up cots, lay out the linens, prepare a light meal, and greet and chat with eight women who will be spending the night at the church. You can also bring warm women’s clothing, coats, jackets, shoes and boots when you come to volunteer. It’s a wonderful opportunity to help those in need and it is greatly appreciated. For more information ask Sally Hipscher or Toby Sanchez. ]]> http://www.emjc.org/2008/01/volunteer_opportunities.html http://www.emjc.org/2008/01/volunteer_opportunities.html Mon, 07 Jan 2008 13:48:27 -0500 See more in our photo gallery.]]> http://www.emjc.org/2007/12/latke_bakeoff_photos.html http://www.emjc.org/2007/12/latke_bakeoff_photos.html Tue, 11 Dec 2007 11:48:42 -0500 Audrey]]> http://www.emjc.org/2007/12/from_the_principal_youth_activ.html http://www.emjc.org/2007/12/from_the_principal_youth_activ.html Mon, 10 Dec 2007 10:19:43 -0500