Summer 5777 at PAS '7-V FROM THE OFFICERS ARTHUR PENN, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD 135th Annual Meeting A ddressing the congregation on community, we identified five key May 16,1 said that although focus areas. We are looking forward to our institution may be old the implementation of this vision. (See in years, our lay and professional p. 20.) leadership always bring excellence to our members with a Since the first congregational trip fresh perspective. I to Israel about 15 years ago, Travel am thrilled that we with PAS has continually grown Park Avenue Synagogue Bulletin are living up to our because it not only widens education leadership culture of but also deepens community bonds. VOLUME 69 • NO. 10 respecting tradition This past year saw an adult learning JUNE/JULY/AUGUST 2017 SIVAN/TAMMUZ/AV/ELUL 5777 and encouraging trip to Prague and Budapest and a tniw-iN-nori-ypD innovation. Bnei Mitzvah trip to Israel. We have a young family trip to Israel in June The Sanctuary and a Women’s Poland Trip in late From the Chairman.2 Task Force and our clergy have October. In February there will be a High Holidays 5778.3 made Shabbat at PAS the focus of Civil Rights Mission to the South. We Capital Campaign.4 Schedule of Religious Services.6 our congregational life. Under their recently announced the December High Holidays: Shofar.9 guidance, our services are lively, 2018 Congregational Trip to Israel, Synagogue Family.10 relevant, and moving. Our Shabbat celebrating Israel at 70 and PAS Caring Network.11 programming is robust, from musical at 136! This trip will have multiple From the Education Team.12 preludes and conversation before tracks that will appeal to all of our Adult Classes & Events.13 Gallery.17 Kabbalat Shabbat to late afternoon congregational demographics from Shapiro Audio Archive.18 study for parents and teens with Rabbi young families and bnei mitzvah to Youth Education & Events.19 Cosgrove. Shabbat at PAS may offer teens, college, young adults, and adult Young Family Education.19 Friday evening dinners, discussions learners. Each track will have a unique PASECC.19 Congregational School.20 on Israel, parashah study, family itinerary and all will join together for a Camp.20 services, study with visiting scholars, community Shabbat. (See p. 24.) Youth/RJNHS.21 and singing with Cantor Schwartz. The College Connections.21 strength of our community is evident Consistent with our goal of meeting PAS 20s & 30s.21 every Shabbat. We encourage each of members where they are and our Contributions.22 Travel with PAS.24 you to find the gateway that is right commitment to being inclusive while Calendars.25 for you and to make Shabbat at PAS a remaining true to our Conservative A Look Ahead.Back cover habit for yourself and your family. traditions, we have formed an Interfaith Families Committee. The One of the most visible innovations committee is working on educational this past year was the High Holiday initiatives, developing pathways Family Service for families with to conversion, and studying best Kindergarten through 7th grade practices in serving the needs of children, with close to 300 participants interfaith couples and families. on Yom Kippur. Last year’s experiment will become a tradition in the fall. Within our Caring Network we have launched an initiative called “What Another new initiative is the Matters,” which creates individualized Congregational School Visioning advance care planning discussions process. With a leading educational with Jewish values for our members. consultant and participation by the The Caring Network continues to GET UP-TO-THE-MINUTE INFORMATION ABOUT PAS PROGRAMS, EVENTS & pasyn.org/calendar SCHEDULE OF RELIGIOUS SERVICESATWWW.PASYN.ORG/CALENDAR. HIGH HOLIDAYS High Holidays 2017/5778 support the homebound and those with serious illness or injury, comfort the bereaved, and welcome new babies. (See p. 11.) FROM CANTOR SHIRA LISSEK Read Torah or Haftarah, lead part of I cannot end without mentioning fundraising. We deeply appreciate the a service, or blow shofar on the High community’s incredible generosity. Holidays The ingenuity and dedication of our lay and professional development Over the 20 years that I have been teaching, I have seen over and over team has resulted in our continuing to again how being involved in reading Torah or Haftarah, leading part of reach new heights in our annual giving a service, or blowing shofar can have a profound impact on a person’s even during a capital campaign. (See p. connection to Judaism and community. Though learning and practicing 4.) Our Kol Nidrei appeal generated a the Hebrew and the trope may seem mechanical, the preparation often record $2.9 million from nearly 1,100 leads to a spiritual experience. Reading from the Torah or participating families. Over 300 people celebrated in another way on the High Holidays provides a personal and intimate our community at the Gala, a warm, experience within the large community service. With a bit of dedication fun evening that generated over and time, you’ll be amazed that you too are able to participate in this $330,000 to support our synagogue. way. There are still openings for the coming High Holiday season. If you are interested, please contact Cantor Lissek at [email protected] xl 15 to get started.. In closing, I want to thank all of the lay and professional leaders who put their time, talent, and creative thinking into High Holiday Basics making this a vibrant community. In all that we do, our focus remains We look forward to the High Holidays, beginning with Erev Rosh on the PAS culture of one-on-one Hashanah on Wednesday, September 20. We will again conduct connection, caring, kindness, and services at our Fifth Avenue location as well as in the Sanctuary and warmth that is now going on 136 Lower Level on 87th Street, which will be reserved seating only. No years. The other Officers and I look tickets will be required for Erev Rosh Hashanah and Yizkor services. forward enthusiastically to continuing To ensure that every PAS member has seats for the High Holidays, to serve as we all - lay leaders, we ask that you purchase guest tickets only for your immediate family clergy, staff, and members - strive members, including children above the age of 23. Adi guest tickets are together to enhance Park Avenue for admission at the Fifth Avenue service only. Synagogue’s unique position in our lives as a Kehillah Kedoshah, a sacred PAS will again offer Family Services on the mornings of the first day of community. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. These services will offer a welcoming atmosphere for younger children, as well as their siblings and adult Visit pasyn.org to read the family members. chairman’s address to the More information will be coming throughout the summer. Tickets will annual meeting. be mailed to members in good standing in early September. Questions? Please contact Rachel Benichak, Membership Manager, at 212-369-2600, X195 or at [email protected]. www.pasyn.org 212-369-2600 June/July/August 2017 Sivan/Tammuz/Av/Elul 5777 3 IMPACT: OPENING OF THE LIFELONG LEARNING CENTER Commercial 4/o6/i6 4/07/16 What a difference a year makes! A s summer begins, we continue to be A Synagogue in Action: Sunday, September 10 at 4:00 pm Building the Future! The PAS professional staff and lay leadership Please save the date for a festive, are hard at work preparing for the opening and dedication of our new outdoor, community-wide Lifelong Learning Center. celebration at 11 East 89th Street. If you walk past our new building at 11 East 89th Street, you will see the exterior signs of the progress made by the contractors and craftsmen who have been working hard on every The various education teams have put effort. Teen and Youth leadership has detail of the physical construction over a lot of effort into making sure lifelong also been hard at work imagining all the past year. At the same time, plans learning programs will take advantage the ways they can use the new space, and processes are being put in place of the new, modern, state-of-the-art as has the 20s and 30s team, as has inside the walls to help ensure a facilities. Young Family Education is the 20s and 30s team. Rabbi seamless transition to this new home developing plans for their use of the Cosgrove, Rabbi Zuckerman, Rabbi for education at PAS. With move-in new building for our youngest Savenor, and Beth Levick are slated for August, the “89th Street learners. The Congregational School reimagining our premier Adult Transition Team,” a multi- team is going through every Learning programming, in partnership departmental staff team of classroom, closet, and bookcase to with the Adult Education Committee. educators and administrators led by pack up and prepare for their move to They are considering key themes, Beryl Chernov and Liz Offenbach, the new home for nearly 500 students. timely topics, and innovative kinds of began meeting regularly over the At the same time, they are enhancing programming that the new spaces at winter to plan for staffing, scheduling, the Congregational School curriculum, the Lifelong Learning Center make programming, supplies, and so much guided by this past year’s possible. Our many Arms and more. Congregational School Visioning Committees will also find vibrant, 4 Park Avenue Synagogue Bulletin warm, welcoming, and technologically at 4:00 pm. We hope you and your Thank you again to the many of up-to-date spaces for their meetings families and friends will plan to join you who have donated to this and events. us as together we dedicate our effort. Our community is so very beautiful new building and embark on grateful for your support. If you To celebrate this milestone for our new beginnings for our community! have not yet donated, please community, Jean Bloch Rosensaft and We wish you a restful summer and help us achieve even broader Susan Silverman are collaborating look forward to welcoming you to the participation by making a closely with Rabbi Cosgrove and Lifelong Learning Center in donation. No gift is too small. Cantor Schwartz to plan a meaningful, September! You can make a donation by multi-generational, congregation-wide visiting pasyn.org/ celebration to dedicate our new capitalcampaign or by Lifelong Learning Center. Save the contacting Laura Yamner at date for this festive, interactive, [email protected] or outdoor, community-wide, multi- 212-369-4900, X138. generational celebration at n East 89th Street on Sunday, September 10 Photos on page 4 by Karen Smul. Photos this page by Marissa Zackowitz. Rendering by Murphy Burnham & Buttrick Architects. www.pasyn.org 212-369—2600 June/July/August 2017 Sivan/Tammuz/Av/Elul 5777 5 Shabbat at PAS Every 7th day. 52 weeks a year. Since Creation. Schedule of Religious Services I JUNE Thursday, June 1*7 Sivan Shavuot, Day 2 Every Friday evening DAILY MINYAN 9:15 am | Festival service with Yizkor there is Kabbalat Shabbat Shaharit Monday-Friday at 7:15 am; Sunday E 10:00 am | Tot Tefillah (p. 19) at 9:00 am; Monday, July 3 and Tuesday, at 6:15 pm, and every 10:45 am | Day School Community July 4 (Independence Day) at 9:00 am. Shabbat morning there is Minha/ma'ariv Sunday-Thursday at 5:45 children’s service lively communal worship pm. Shabbat minha 20 minutes after the end of £ 12:30 pm | Day School Community Picnic morning services. in the Sanctuary. From 5:45 pm | Minha, no ma’ariv Friday evening through SANCTUARY SERVICE I EVERY SHABBAT Saturday evening, Rabbi Elliot J. Cosgrove, Rabbi Neil Zuckerman, summer Shabbat at PAS and Rabbi Ethan Witkovsky preach and conduct Friday, June 2*8 Sivan the service together with Cantor Azi Schwartz, also includes alternative 6:15 pm | Jerusalem-themed Kabbalat Cantor Shira Lissek, and Cantor Rachel Brook, Shabbat services, parashah with Colin Fowler at the keyboard, and in June, Following services | Dr. Richard study, lectures, and the Synagogue Choir: Elisa Singer Strom, Yonah Haass, The Six-Day War: 50 Years Gershator, Alex Guerrero, and Tim Krol; and the celebrations. This page Later (p. 14) Synagogue Band: Gil Smuskowitz, bass; Mike lists what programs are Cohen, woodwinds; and Ronen Itzik, percussion. taking place each week. Saturday, June 3*9 Sivan SHAHARIT & PARASHAT HASHAVUA I Look for Shabbat at PAS Naso EVERY SHABBAT THROUGH JUNE throughout the Bulletin 7:30 am | Hashkamah Minyan P'sukei D'zimrah and Shaharit, a light kiddush, 9:00 am | Shaharit & Parashat to identify Shabbat and an engaging study of the morning's Torah HaShavua programming. portion, ending just in time to join the community in the Sanctuary for the Torah service. 9:45 am | Sanctuary service with Bar Mitzvah of Henry Jaffe 20 minutes after services | Minha HASHKAMAH MINYAN I EVERY SHABBAT THROUGH JUNE 5:00 pm | Late minha with Bar Mitzvah of Ilai Amar A service with repetition of the Amidah and annual cycle Torah reading, all in Hebrew, at a pace that is comfortable for experienced daveners, and a kiddush afterwards. Friday, June 9 • 15 Sivan 6:15 pm | Kabbalat Shabbat and PARASHAT HASHAVUA I EVERY SHABBAT recognition of Melton Graduates IN JULY AND AUGUST (p. 10) An engaging study of the morning's Torah 7:15 pm | 2OS/3OS cocktail hour on the portion, ending in time to join the community for roof the Shabbat morning service. 7:30 pm | Melton Graduation Shabbat Dinner ALL ARE WELCOME I ALWAYS PAS is an inclusive community. We are interested in discussing with you any accommodations you might need to make your visit and involvement Saturday, June 10 • 16 Sivan at PAS more comfortable. For questions B’ha-alot’kha or assistance, contact Rachel Benichak, 7:30 am | Hashkamah Minyan Membership Manager, at [email protected] 9:00 am | Shaharit & Parashat or xl 95. HaShavua Can't make it to the synagogue? 9:45 am | Sanctuary service with Bar Park Avenue Synagogue services are live- Mitzvah of Douglas Friedman streamed. Visit pasyn.org/webcast. 20 minutes after services | Minha 6 Park Avenue Synagogue Bulletin June/July/August ■ didN-IlN-riQn-ypP JULY Friday, June 16 • 22 Sivan Saturday, July 1*7 Tammuz Saturday, July 15 • 21 Tammuz 6:15 pm | Kabbalat Shabbat Hukkat Pinhas 9.00 am | Parashat HaShavua 9:00 am | Parashat HaShavua 9:45 am | Shabbat service 9:45 am | Shabbat service Saturday, June 17 • 23 Sivan 20 minutes after services | Minha 20 minutes after services | Minha Sh’lah L’kha 7:30 am | Hashkamah Minyan , Friday, July 7 • 13 Tammuz Friday, July 21 • 27 Tammuz 9.00 am | Shaharit & Parashat HaShavua 6:15 pm | Kabbalat Shabbat 6:15 pm | Kabbalat Shabbat 9:45 am | Sanctuary service 20 tninutes after services | Minha 5:00 pm | Late minha with Bat Saturday, July 8 • 14 Tammuz Saturday, July 22 • 28 Tammuz Mitzvah of Ariel Brener Balak Mattot/Mas’ei 9:00 am | Parashat HaShavua 9.00 am | Parashat HaShavua 9:45 am | Shabbat service 9.45 am | Shabbat service Friday, June 23 • 29 Sivan 20 minutes after services \ Minha 20 minutes after services | Minha 6:15 pm | Kabbalat Shabbat Monday, July 24 • lAv Tuesday, July 11 • 17 Tammuz Saturday, June 24 • 30 Sivan Rosh Hodesh Fast of the 17th of Tammuz Korah 3:48 am | Fast begins 7:15 am | Minyan with Hallel, Torah Rosh Hodesh reading, and musaf 7:15 am | Morning service with Torah 7:30 am | Hashkamah Minyan reading 9:00 am | Shaharit & Parashat 5:45 pm | Minha; no ma’ariv HaShavua 9:04 pm | Fast ends Friday, July 28 • 5 Av 9:45 am | Sanctuary service The fast of Sh'va asar b'Tammuz begins the 6:15 pm | Kabbalat Shabbat 20 minutes after services | Minha period known as "the three weeks," a period of mourning culminating in Tisha b'Av, the 9th of Av. According to tradition, on the 1 7th of Tammuz Saturday, July 29 • 6 Av Sunday, June 25 • 1 Tammuz in 586 BCE, the walls of the First Temple were breached by the Babylonians, and on the same D’varim Rosh Hodesh date in 69 CE, the walls of the Second Temple Shabbat Hazon 9:00 am | Minyan with Hallel, Torah were breached by the Romans. Like the three 9:00 am | Parashat HaShavua reading, and musaf other minor fasts of the year, the fast of the 1 7th 9:45 am | Shabbat service of Tammuz is from dawn until dark, not from 20 minutes after services | Minha sunset to sunset. Friday, June 30*6 Tammuz 6:15 pm | Kabbalat Shabbat Monday, July 31 • 8Av Friday, July 14 • 20 Tammuz 7:00 pm | Minha 6:15 pm | Kabbalat Shabbat 7:30 pm | Erev Tisha b’Av learning > with Erin Beser: Proportionate ^ Sadness: Finding the Balance < between Memory and Moving On £ (p. 16; 8:12 pm | Fast begins 8:30 pm | Evening sendee & reading of Megillat Eikhah, the Book of Lamentations www.pasyn.org 212-369-2600 June/July/August 201 7 Sivan/Tammuz/Av/Elul 5777 7 Schedule of Religious Services AUGUST Tuesday, August 1 • 9 Av Saturday, August 19 • 27 Av 9:00 am | Morning service with Torah R’eih V reading; tallit and tefillin are not 9:00 am | Parashat HaShavua A B'worn. 9:45 am | Shabbat service A H5:45 pm | Minha with Torah reading; 20 minutes after services | Minha S TItallit and tefillin are worn. No ma’ariv 8:45 pm | Fast ends Tuesday, August 22 • 30 Av Rosh Hodesh Friday, August 4 • 12 Av 7:15 am | Minyan with Hallel, Torah 5:15 pm | 5th Annual Kabbalat Shabbat reading, and musaf in the Hamptons Experience the joyous vibe of a PAS Kabbalat Shabbat on Long Island. Join Rabbi Neil Wednesday, August 23 • 1 Elul Zuckerman and Cantor Azi Schwartz in a PAS Rosh Hodesh member's home to welcome Shabbat on the East End with prayer, song, and a barbecue dinner. 7:15 am | Minyan with Hallel, Torah “Ifeel the Open to all PAS members. RSVP by July 28 at reading, musaf, and shofar [email protected]. Shofar is blown from now until the day before 6:15 pm | Kabbalat Shabbat at PAS Erev Rosh Hashanah, except Shabbat. peace of Shabbat” Saturday, August 5 • 13 Av Friday, August 25 • 3 Elul Va-et’hannan 6:15 pm | Kabbalat Shabbat Shabbat Nahamu Kabbalat Shabbat: Songs, 9:00 am | Parashat HaShavua Sweets, and Spirit 9:45 am | Shabbat service Saturday, August 26 • 4 Elul Fridays ] 6:15 pm | Every week, all summer long! 20 minutes after services | Minha Shoftim Our Kabbalat Shabbat service is musical, 9:00 am | Parashat HaShavua lively, social, and family friendly. If 9:45 am | Shabbat service you’re already a regular, we hope that you Friday, August 11 • 19 Av 20 minutes after services \ Minha continue to participate in this uplifting 6:15 pm | Kabbalat Shabbat service. If you’ve not yet joined us, come soon! Saturday, August 12 • 20 Av Eikev 9.00 am | Parashat HaShavua 9:45 am | Shabbat service 20 minutes after services | Minha Friday, August 18 • 26 Av 6:15 pm | Kabbalat Shabbat 8 Park Avenue Synagogue Bulletin HIGH HOLIDAYS Transformed by the on the other side. I did not understand that fact does not escape me. Women Shofar the profound impact that blowing the of all ages congratulate me and shake shofar would have on my life, the lives my hand and I am proud of myself for of others, and my congregation until representing them all. This portal has after that first Rosh Hashanah. allowed me to break the singular mold of men blowing the shofar and create a EMILY ABELOW I have blown the shofar on every new pluralistic mold where women can here are certain melodies Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur do it as well. and lyrics that transcend the since seventh grade. I was not very differences between people religious before that, and I am still not The effects of sounding of the shofar and transport them to a place where very religious, but the appreciation I reach even further, to encompass the those differences do not matter. These have for religion and my role at my entire congregation. I could have never sounds are portals. Hearing a Bruce synagogue has grown immensely. I imagined myself having an impact on Springsteen song brings together a see the changes that have occurred in an entire community, but I hear the farmer from Kansas and a lawyer myself each year, as I understand my portal doors opening each time I blow from New York. The National Anthem the shofar. The sound transports the brings together Democrats and congregation from this year into the Republicans. The shofar brings Jews next. It connects each individual to together. Judaism. When the shofar sounds, everyone becomes one, listening to the The shofar has been blown as part same sound as our ancestors heard of Jewish religious practices since thousands of years ago. 1800 BCE. It ushers in the New Year and connects Jews around The shofar sounds are the world. No matter where they transformative, breathtaking, are from and no matter what and uniting. Each note unlocks their beliefs are, Jews know a portal. This portal can and respect the sounds of the take us wherever we want to shofar. become whatever we want. It has brought me through my I never could have imagined transition from a child to an that my decision to learn to adult. It has enabled me to affirm play the trumpet at the age of religious beliefs that I did not have ten would one day connect me to before. It has made me realize that this rich history. All I knew was that my actions can have an impact on I wanted a solo in our fifth grade others. When I wanted the trumpet band performance and there were too solo in fifth grade, all I thought about many kids who played the violin for was myself, and how I wanted to be me to compete against, so I chose the position more and more. I was a child in the spotlight. Now I do not think trumpet instead. I had to learn how who used her trumpet skills to blow about myself. I think about all the to pinch my lips and cheeks together the shofar; I have become an adult people who have watched me over the so I could blow into the mouthpiece who continues the traditions of my years and supported me. Sounds truly correctly. Once I had that down, I ancestors. do create portals that bring people was on the road to a solo. Little did together. I know that I was also on the road to Not only have I experienced a something much bigger. transition because of this portal, but I also see a transformation among the I finally got a solo, but it did not other worshippers, mainly the women. include playing the trumpet. I was Like many other positions in Judaism, asked to blow the shofar on Rosh Emily Abelow, daughter of Susan Cantor and the shofar blower has historically been Hashanah. Most portals take us by Ross Abelow, is a 2017 graduate of the High male. I am the first woman to blow surprise. We do not realize we have School of American Studies at Lehman College shofar at my synagogue. The weight of and will attend Cornell University in the fall. been pushed through one until we are www.pasyn.org 212-369-2600 June/July/August 201 7 Sivan/Tammuz/Av/Elul 5777 9 Synagogue Family ms JO >21 BNEI MITZVAH no tnn mazaltov Denise Davin & Allen Kozin on the birth of a grandson, Noah Quinn Kozin, and to his parents, Henry Jaffe Elyssa & Daniel Kozin June 3 | Naso Son of Lara Oboler & Louis Jaffe Phyllis & Bill Mack on the birth of a granddaughter, Scarlet Kennedy Mack, and to her parents, Kelly & Steven Mack Ilai Amar Adrien & Chad Bernstein on the birth of a June 3, minha | B’ha-alot’kha daughter, Parker Sonia Bernstein Son of Louise Amar-Weller & Tony Weller Candy & Leon Gould on the birth of a grandson, James Alexander Gould, and to his parents, Alexis & Robert Gould Douglas Friedman June 10 | Sh’lah L’kha Hallie Chandler, Director of Youth Programming Son of Erica & David Friedman & Engagement, on being selected to participate in the 2017 Paideia Paradigm Program in Stockholm. Launched in 2013 with the generous funding of UJA-Federation of NY, the Paideia Paradigm Program brings together 20 participants from New Ariel Rose Brener York, Europe, and Israel to study with renowned June 17, minha | Korah contemporary Jewish thinkers and discuss issues Daughter of Inbal & Thomas Brener related to Judaism as a worldview. Paideia - The European Institute for Jewish Studies in Sweden - was created in 2000 through grants from the Swedish government and the Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation as an academic and applied institute of excellence, with the mandate of working for the rebuilding of Jewish life and culture in Europe, and educating for active minority citizenship. MAZAL TOY TO THE GRADUATES OF THE FLORENCE MELTON SCHOOL CORE PROGRAM Carmel Cohen Marilyn Gottlieb Paul Rich Tracie Toam Ruth Eisenberg Joan Lefkowitz Meri Schachter Dorothy Topper Ruth Ezra Diane Levin Gleniss Schonholz Marisa Fox-Bevilacqua Susan Matlow Michelle Schwartz Beverly Goldsmith Howard Muchnick Susan Schwartz 10 Park Avenue Synagogue Bulletin