SEPTEMBER 2016 | AV/ELUL 5776
The 5 best new kids’ books for the High Holidays Penguin Rosh Hashanah
Tamar’s Sukkah
Celebrating Rosh Hashanah can be tough for a young penguin in Antarctica. There are no bees to make honey and no apple trees — just a lot of snow. In this warmhearted, offbeat introduction to the Jewish New Year, the little penguin sometimes finds it hard to do the right thing. In simple rhythmic verse, part of an animal-themed series on Jewish holidays (“Otter Passover” and “Panda Purim”), the Israelibased writer Jennifer Tzivia MacLeod conveys the themes of Rosh Hashanah – reflection, forgiveness, faith and family. Bonus: There’s a penguin origami craft project at the end.
Bursting with the colors of fall, “Tamar’s Sukkah” is an upbeat story that emphasizes simple living, gratitude, and welcoming friends and strangers. Tamar, the spunky heroine of the tale, is on a mission to make her plain family sukkah just right — older kids in the neighborhood are invited, one by one, to lend a hand. The award-winning artist Katherine Janus Kahn, whose books include the hugely popular Sammy Spider series, brings the action to life with bright illustrations that depict a pleasant, suburban multiracial neighborhood filled with squirrels, puppies and bunnies. In the final doublepage spread, the kids gather to admire their handiwork and share a simple snack. “A sukkah full of friends is just right,” Tamar exclaims.
(CreateSpace Independent Publishing; ages 3-6) Jennifer Tzivia MacLeod
Time to Start a Brand New Year (Hachai Publishing; ages 2-5) Rochel Groner Vorst; illustrated by Shepsil Scheinberg Book covers, clockwise from top left: “Tamar’s Sukkah” (Courtesy of Kar-Ben Publishing); “Time to Start a Brand New Year” (Courtesy of Hachai Publishing); “Talia and the Very Yum Kippur” (Courtesy of Kar-Ben Publishing); “Penguin Rosh Hashanah” (Courtesy of Jennifer Tzivia MacLeod); “Shanghai Sukkah” (Courtesy of Kar-Ben Publishing).
By Penny Schwartz Jewish Telegraphic Agency From Antarctica to Shanghai and farms to cities, this year’s crop of High Holidays books for
children offers a globe-trotting exploration. Friendship and family are the themes that run through five new titles that entertain and inform young ones and older readers. Turning
the pages of a new book is the perfect way to usher in the holidays. Enjoy these books with your family and have a wonderful new year!
With this new title, Hachai publishing adds to its collection of rhyming, colorful stories for young kids. This High Holidays story by Rochel Groner Vorst features a contemporary haredi Orthodox family getting ready to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, from apple picking to harvesting honey to hearing the shofar. The author, who as a teen won Pittsburgh’s Holocaust poetry contest, is a kindergarten teacher at a Jewish day school in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she grew up.
Talia and the Very Yum Kippur
(Kar-Ben; ages 4 to 8) Linda Elovitz Marshall; illustrated by Francesca Assirelli
If you care, if you want to make an amazing difference in the world, now is the time. It’s our New Year, a time of reflection, the right moment for each of us to give to what means the most to us.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Go to www.jewishlehighvalley.org to be amazing.
2 SEPTEMBER 2016 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | NEW YEAR 5777
The endearing Talia makes a return in “Talia and the Very Yum Kippur,” Linda Elovitz’s funny and charming encore to “Talia and the Rude Vegetables” (2012), featuring a young girl who sometimes confuses grown-up words that sound like others. It’s Yom Kippur and Talia is visiting her grandparents, who live on a farm. She helps her grandmother prepare a noodle kugel for the family’s break fast, gathering eggs from the hen house and milking the cow with her grandfather. Kids will be tickled by the bit of merry mayhem that follows when Talia mistakes the Hebrew word “yom” (meaning “day”) for “yum” — and she begins to grow impatient for her family’s “breakfast” as she wonders why a “fast day” is moving so slowly. Grandma comes to the rescue by explaining that on Yom Kippur, people pray, fast and ask for forgiveness for any wrongdoings, leading to a heartfelt set of apologies between Talia and Grandma. A truly yummy break fast with her family ends the tale — and there’s a kugel recipe at the back of the book.
(Kar-Ben; ages 3-8) Ellie B. Gellman; illustrated by Katherine Janus Kahn
Shanghai Sukkah
(Kar-Ben; ages 5-9) Heidi Smith Hyde; illustrations by Jing Jing Tsong Heidi Smith Hyde, an awardwinning author (“Feivel’s Flying Horses,” “Emanuel and the Hanukkah Rescue”) and Jewish educator, delivers another intriguing tale of historical fiction that introduces older kids to Jewish life in less familiar settings and cultures. This Sukkot story imagines the experiences of a family that fled Nazi Germany to Shanghai in the early 1930s. Despite their overcrowded neighborhood, young Marcus is eager to build a sukkah in his new country. Marcus and his Jewish pals, helped by their new friend Liang, build a simple rooftop sukkah using ingenuity and bamboo. But without fresh fruit available to decorate the sukkah, Marcus is disappointed that it is too plain. To cheer him up, Liang invites Marcus to the Chinese Moon Festival, China’s traditional autumn harvest festival. A puzzling riddle that Marcus finds inside a glowing paper lantern leads to an unexpected act of kindness by his new friend. Even better than adding beauty to the sparely decorated sukkah, Marcus discovers a deeper meaning to the holiday. Illustrations by the noted Hawaiian artist Jing Jing Tsong vividly portray daily Jewish life in Shanghai in shades of browns and grays — in contrast to the reds, gold and orange that pop on two double-page spreads depicting the holidays, both Jewish and Chinese. An author’s note explains the heroism of Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara, who helped thousands of Jews escape Nazi Germany by obtaining visas to travel through Japan and eventually settle in Shanghai.
Strawberry Acres and PJ Library prepare for a By Stephanie Bolmer Special to HAKOL As the new year approaches, you may be looking forward to the sweet taste of apples and honey. Strawberry Acres in Coplay has you covered, and for extra fun, you get to pick the apples yourself. Families across the Lehigh Valley enjoy this fall tradition each year, choosing from eight different varieties of apples grown by the orchard. This year, PJ Library will be making the trip out to the farm to learn about Rosh Hashanah. A working farm since 1820, Strawberry Acres’ farmers work year-round to prepare for the harvest of the different fruits grown there. Apples come into season in September, but sweet cherries, peaches, pears and pumpkins are also available in turn throughout the summer. Marilyn Bair, a manager at Strawberry Acres for over 20 years, explained part of the process. “We have to rent bees [when the apple trees bud],” she said, “because there are not enough bees in nature, there haven’t been in years.” She also revealed a little secret about how the farmers “trick” the bees into working for them. “In the apple orchard, every sixth tree in every other row is a crabapple. They have the most gorgeous blossoms in the spring, so the bees are attracted to them.” Once a bee has pollinated a crabapple, he’ll fly over to the other less attractive trees nearby. The bees have come and gone for this year, however, and during the summer, the farmers
have waited patiently, watching the apples grow bigger and bigger. Now, the apples are ready and waiting for you and your family to ride the open-air wagon out into the beautiful rows of trees to experience the simple pleasure of picking them with your own hands to take home for your Rosh Hashanah celebration. In addition to the pick-your-own fruit, there are also farm animals to visit, ponies to ride and a “playland” to explore. And on Sunday, Sept. 18, before discovering all that the farm has to offer, you can join PJ Library in the Johnny Appleseed House, an adorable old-fashioned schoolhouse on the Strawberry Acres property, for a special book-based family program. Rabbi Seth Phillips of Congregation Keneseth Israel will read “Today Is the Birthday of the World” by Linda Heller and blow the shofar. Judy Krazner, the events manager at Strawberry Acres, will teach the children about how the apples and honey sold at the farm are produced. Then, there will be a number of crafts and activities offered at different stations corresponding to the story, which is about remembering Rosh Hashanah as a celebration of the creation of the world and resolving to help the earth and its inhabitants in the upcoming year. The event is free to families, so bring the kids for a day filled with fall fun. To RSVP for PJ Goes to the Farm, call 610-8215500 or email abbyt@jflv.org.
www.embassybank.com
L’Shana Tova NEW YEAR 5777 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | SEPTEMBER 2016 3
during the High Holidays
By Michelle Cohen HAKOL Editor
BREAK THE FAST WITH: READY TO SERVE DINNERS OR SELECT YOUR INDIVIDUAL FAVORITES FINGER FOODS • ENTREES • DESSERTS
Our Best Wishes for a Sweet New Year! CALL US FOR ALL YOUR HIGH HOLIDAY CATERING NEEDS | 610.370.3718
On the second day of Rosh Hashanah, congregants from Keneseth Israel will embark on a hike that is designed to inspire participants to consider the beauty in the world around them as they introspectively prepare for the new year. Along the way, there will be a variety of stops at beautiful, interesting and remarkable locations to say some prayers from the machzor and hear the shofar blast courtesy of a volunteer from Temple Beth El. “Having spent the previous day worshipping
formally with the words of the machzor, we want to give people a chance to find their own words in the beauty of nature,” said Rabbi Seth Phillips of Keneseth Israel, who will be leading the hike. Phillips stressed the participatory nature of the hike with the example of the Mah rabu prayer. This psalm praises the wide variety of creations
in the universe, and Phillips encourages people on the hike to stop and point out “Mah rabu moments” where they see something they believe to be noteworthy. To sign up for the nature hike, call the Keneseth Israel office at 610-435-9074. Location is available upon registration, and the hike will start at 10 a.m. on Oct. 4.
A menu for Rosh Hashanah that combines the traditional with the nouveau ...
By Sandi Teplitz Special to HAKOL
SOUTH AFRICAN PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES Unfortunately, I have to give some of the ingredients in metric, but really it’s very easy to decipher using the flip side of your Pyrex cup! Just measure this way and there will be no problem. The cookies are simple and simply delicious!
Ingredients: 1 stick + 2 T. Earth Balance margarine 100 g. lt. brown sugar 100 g. white sugar 125 g. all natural smooth peanut butter 1 egg 200 g. cake flour generous 1/2 t. b. soda 1/2 t. kosher salt 1/4 t. pure vanilla Technique: Mix all ingredients together; form 32 balls. Place on 2
Sandi Teplitz Recipes Continues on page 5 4 SEPTEMBER 2016 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | NEW YEAR 5777
Spiritually enriching foods for the High Holidays By Michelle Cohen HAKOL Editor Rabbi David Wilensky of Congregation Sons of Israel was recently approached by someone looking for a sheep’s head for Rosh Hashanah. “Try Sheepshead Bay,” Wilensky remembers joking. But when asked about the importance of food-based symbols on Rosh Hashanah, he couldn’t have been more serious. “The spiritual seeds you plant on Rosh Hashanah guide you in a direction for the new year,” he said, citing food as a way to get in the right mindset for a positive year as we looked at the Talmud for an explanation behind these symbols. Many people have heard of eating apples and honey on Rosh Hashanah, but other fruits, vegetables and animals are less known. Sheep heads, or the better-known fish heads, have a special place in the food lineup. Rosh Hashanah, according to Wilensky, is usually
translated as “new year,” but the Hebrew word rosh actually means “head.” There is a “large difference” between these meanings, Wilensky said – whereas a new year simply implies a new start, the head of the year lends an importance to the holiday that the decisions you make at the beginning of this new start will follow you throughout the year. Thus, even though whole fish are considered a positive symbol for their ability to “be fruitful and multiply,” according to the Rabbinical Council of America’s Artscroll Siddur, eating a fish head on Rosh Hashanah puts that goal first and foremost in the minds and prayers of those who follow this custom. The Artscroll Siddur mentions several other foods that are important to eat because of the way their words resemble Hebrew words of great significance. Carrots are one example of this. The Yiddish word for carrot shares the same root as the Hebrew word yirbu, which means
Sandi Teplitz Recipes
GLAZED CHICKEN WITH TWO TYPES OF RICE
greased cookie sheets. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Flatten cookies; make a criss-cross design with a fork. Bake for about 12-15 minutes. Remove from cookie sheet after 2 minutes. Serve with pareve vanilla Tofutti ice cream.
Ingredients: 2 broilers, each 3 pounds, cut into 1/8ths 1/2 t. allspice 1 c. lt. brown sugar 1/2 t. kosher salt 4 c. orange juice, not from concentrate 1 T. minced parsley 3 T. orange rind
Continues from page 4
“increase.” Carrots thus have a connection to a prayer “that our merits increase.” These prayers can also go in the other direction – the Aramaic word for cabbage sounds like yikaretu, which means “decimated,” following along with a blessing asking for our enemies to be decimated. Beets, dates and gourds also have root word connections to blessings that become especially potent on Rosh Hashanah. Eating each of these foods sets a spiritual priority for the new year. However, if the idea of eating some of these foods makes you squirm, don’t worry! “In our house, I don’t like fish heads, so we chop off the heads of gummy fish,”
1 lb. carrots, peeled, parboiled and cut into 1/4s, preferably purple and orange mixed 2 T. dry mustard garlic powder to taste 2 regular oranges, sectioned 2 blood oranges, sectioned 8 c. cooked rice -- 1/2 white Arborio, 1/2 brown rice Technique: Arrange chicken skin-side up in greased oblong Pyrex or Corning pan. Mix remaining ingredients in a saucepan (except carrots, parsley and
Wilensky said, emphasizing that it’s not as important to eat the food as it is to use the food as a metaphor for the values or goals you want to work on in the upcoming year. Some people even create their own holiday symbols: “I even know people who
eat lettuce, raisins and celery because it sounds like ‘let us have a raise in salary!’” Wilensky added. Whether you choose to eat fish or sheep head this year, or make a salad out of some of the symbolic fruits and vegetables, HAKOL wishes you a happy Rosh Hashanah!
oranges). Cook over low heat until mixed together, about 5 minutes. Pour over chicken. Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour or until done, uncovered, basting about 4 times. During the last 20 minutes, add carrots. Mix rice together, then place on serving platter. Top with chicken; decorate with parsley and orange sections, glazing the oranges with the sauce. Serve with Chardonnay and a crisp salad lightly dressed. Serves 8
NEW YEAR 5777 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | SEPTEMBER 2016 5
National Geographic introduces kids to High Holidays By Robert Gluck JNS.org Can a children’s book about the Jewish High Holidays help advance world peace? A new edition of an awardwinning children’s book author thinks so—and National Geographic agrees. “Celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur”—first published in 2007 and reissued this year with a new cover—is one of the volumes included in National Geographic’s series, “Holidays Around the World,” which introduces children to the ways in which religious and cultural holidays are celebrated in various countries. Other holidays spotlighted in the series include Thanksgiving, Diwali, Easter and Ramadan, as well as the Jewish holidays Chanukah and Passover. Deborah Heiligman, the author of “Celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur,” has written 30 books for children and
teens. She sees the “Holidays Around the World” series as a step toward fostering greater interfaith understanding. “You may have a non-Jewish kid, a Christian kid, or a Muslim kid looking at the pictures in this book, and some of the people in the pictures look like they do,” Heiligman tells JNS.org. “And they’re going to be playing a game that they play or eating a food that they eat, or even if they’re not, they look similar, they look like kids.” That is the moment, she says, “when they go ‘aha, even though we have differences we’re all from the same planet.’ I think the way you can make change in the world is to start with children.” “Celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur” introduces young readers to the blowing of the shofar, holiday greeting cards, prayers and special foods. The book also examines how the Jewish High Holidays are
6 SEPTEMBER 2016 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | NEW YEAR 5777
celebrated worldwide. Through striking photographs, readers see how Jews from California to Zimbabwe, and from Mexico to Jerusalem, participate in the holiday rituals. “We sit down with our families for a delicious holiday dinner. We eat a special bread called challah,” Heiligman writes. “On Rosh Hashanah our challah is round to show that life is a circle from birth to death to birth again.” Pomegranates are another important holiday food. “Some of us eat pomegranates because it is said that a pomegranate has 613 seeds,” Heiligman notes. “There are 613 commandments, or things we must do, in the Torah, our holy book.” The shofar, a central symbol of the High Holidays, “is made from the horn of a ram,” Heiligman explains. “The shofar is difficult to blow, and the people who blow it at Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services are very much appreciated and honored.” Three different notes are blown she points out: “an unbroken sound, called ‘teki’ah;’ a wailing sound broken into three parts called ‘shva’rim;’ and a kind of tooting
sound broken into nine parts, called ‘tru’ah.’” The sound of the shofar “is like an alarm clock, or a wake-up call. It says, ‘Really wake up now, think about your life, think about the past year, pray well, pay attention!’” A two-page photo spread in “Celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur” shows thousands of Jews gathered at a lake in Uman,
Ukraine, for the Tashlich service. “On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, in the afternoon, we have a special service to cast away our sins,” Heiligman writes. “It is called Tashlich, which means to send away. We try to go to a river, or another body of water. We turn our pockets inside out, as if emptying out all our sins. Or we throw pieces of bread into the water—the pieces of bread represent our sins.” Heiligman, who was raised in a Jewish family in Allentown, agreed to write 10 volumes in the National Geographic series because she thought the books could be a way for children to become leaders who understand that diversity is part of our culture, and that every culture deserves respect. “The High Holidays are a time for reflection, a time for new beginnings, a time to look inward and ask yourself how can I be a better person, how can I be the best person that I can be,” Heiligman tells JNS.org. “I think children can relate to this. Jews pray in hopes of becoming better people and I hope adults can relate to that, too. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur give us a time to do that, to really sit and think.” Each of the volumes in the series is written with input from a consultant. Rabbi Shira Stern, director of the Center for Pastoral Care and Counseling in Marlboro, N.J., was an adviser for “Celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.” Stern’s introduction places the High Holidays into wider historical and cultural context for parents and teachers. Referring to Elul, the Hebrew month of preparation preceding Rosh Hashana, Stern notes, “‘Elul’ is an acrostic for the Hebrew phrase, ‘Ani L’dodi, V’dodi Li,’ which means ‘I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.’ This is a metaphor for our relationship with God. But it’s not a romantic relationship; it’s a bond between parent and child.” Especially for young children, Stern writes, “God ‘the parent’ is a natural concept. We want to feel so close to God that God will forgive us for the wrongs we have done. To inspire ourselves, we mark each day by blowing the shofar and include special prayers that begin the repenting process.” “We have come full circle in the Jewish year,” Stern concludes. “And we are spiritually ready to begin again.”
Why Shemini Atzeret is the pinnacle of the High Holidays season By Sarah Chandler Jewish Telegraphic Agency
SHUTTERSTOCK
You might not know it, but Shemini Atzeret is the pinnacle of the High Holidays season. Not Rosh Hashanah, when our fates for the year are traditionally written, nor Yom Kippur, when they are sealed. Shemini Atzeret, the oft-forgotten coda that comes at the end of the Sukkot festival, trumps them all. That’s not just my opinion. The rabbis and ancient Israelites knew it, too. According to the agrarian roots of the Jewish calendar, the date of Shemini Atzeret is timed to the start of the rainy season in Israel. In the holiday’s musaf (additional) service, we recite Tefillat Geshem, the prayer for rain, in which we ask God not only for rain but for the right amount of rain — “livracha velo liklala” (for a blessing and not a curse); rain that will sustain a people with fertile crops, not drown them in torrential floods. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur merely functioned as preparation for this precarious time. In the Yom Kippur Avodah service, the following prayer of the high priest is recited: “When the world is in need of rain, do not permit the prayers of the travelers with regard to rain to gain entrance before You.” The prayers and sacrifices of the High Holidays were meant to prove our worth so that the harvest season continued smoothly and we merited rain once it was time to plant again. In ancient times, Sukkot opened with a water-drawing ritual, which by pouring out the remains of last year’s water symbolized faith that the coming year’s rains would fall just in time. Today we still beat willow branches on the last day of Sukkot, Hoshanna
Rabba, pleading for salvation in the form of rain. Then, having completed a full week of waving the four species on Sukkot — each of which requires a significant amount of water to produce — we set it down and wait for the ultimate judgment. It makes sense that Diaspora Jews tend not to focus on the agricultural roots of the High Holidays. As citizens of an industrialized society, praying for rain tends not to be at the top of our to-do lists. Most of us simply take it for granted that substantial food will be shipped in from wherever it can grow. And yet, scientific research increasingly points to the fact that human actions can have an effect on the climate — and, in turn, the weather. Moreover, no matter how technologically advanced our society becomes, life as we know it will continue to depend on sufficient rainfall. And so we should continue to say Tefillat Geshem — not because we believe that fasting and chest pounding will bring rain, but because it reminds us of the delicate balance necessary for life to thrive on this planet. Our petitions to God are more than requests to act on our behalf. A responsible, modern religious ethos serves two seemingly contradictory functions: On the one hand, our request that God reward our weeks of repentance with the blessing of rain affirms our lack of dominion; on the other, calling out to God implores us to act by reminding us of our responsibilities. In modern times, we need both scientists and activists telling us what to do as well as the faith that there are systems beyond our control. It is both a recognition and a release of our power. A renewed recognition of ancient Judaism’s relation-
Jews at Shemini Atzeret pray for rain — the right amount of rain.
ship to the earth has great potential to bring us closer to the rhythms of the seasons and, in turn, can lead to a more sustainable future for the planet. The countdown to Shemini Atzeret can be an awakening for us to recognize the sanctity of our planet’s resources. Through honoring this often overlooked day, by calling out loud that rain should fall, we ask that our community be aligned with the natural cycles of the earth. — for blessing and not for curse. (Sarah Chandler is the manager of Farm Forward’s Jewish outreach campaign, which supports Jewish organizations in promoting conscientious food choices, reducing farm animal suffering and advancing sustainable agriculture. She previously was the director of the earth-based spiritual practice at Hazon’s Adamah Farm.)
On Yom Kippur, must we ask forgiveness for communal wrongs? By Edmon J. Rodman Jewish Telegraphic Agency On Yom Kippur, as we focus on our personal faults, how do we acknowledge those shortcomings that are more communal? In synagogue, reciting line by line the Al Chet prayer, seeking atonement for the areas of our lives where in the past year we have fallen short, events in the news, even those that may have touched our lives, seem far away and better off resolved by the talking heads of the cable news. Beating our chest for each chet, we ask God in page after painful page to forgive us for “rashly judging others,” “scorning parents and teachers,” even engaging in “idle chatter” and “forbidden trysts.” Isn’t that enough? Yet in an “Alternative Confessional” found in the Mahzor Lev Shalem, the High Holidays prayer book published by the Rabbinical Assembly of the Conservative movement, we find the additional shortcomings of “refusing to hear,” “hesitating,” “complacency” and “not using our power,” which suggest we look outside the usual range of things for which we are accustomed to taking responsibility. Reading this new litany last year, I couldn’t help but think, “Do I have to own up to this stuff, too?” Seeking advice on how to approach the added failings, I had lunch with Rabbi Jonathan Klein, executive director of CLUE-LA (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice), a Los Angeles-based organization that is “committed to worker justice,” according to Klein. Before our lunch orders even arrived, I realized that chet-wise, I was not going to get off easy.
Referring to the language in the High Holidays confessional prayers, Klein pointed out that “the prayers are in the plural, not just to prevent embarrassment of the individual,” but “because there is an understanding of collective responsibility.” “If we don’t contemplate our culpability for communal wrongs at Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, when are we supposed to do it?” asked Klein. It was a question for which I had no answer. “Some are guilty, all are responsible,” he added, looking at me from across the table, quoting Abraham Joshua Heschel. Klein reminded me that the haftarah from Isaiah chanted Yom Kippur morning “teaches you to think beyond the individual.” Since I had brought along a mahzor, we looked over the lines describing the fast desired by God that directs Jews to “let the oppressed go free” and “to share your bread with the hungry.” “The whole point of the holidays is to re-center ourselves around our commitment to the highest ideals of Judaism,” he said, leading me to ask, “How do I begin?” On Yom Kippur, he began, “We say the Al Chet over and over. Maybe one reading should be through the lens of your individual faults.” For the second, he suggested, “make it through the lens of communal thoughts.” The third time would be “as fellow human travelers on this planet,” said Klein, noting the universality of a holiday period that begins with celebrating the birthday of the world.
danielsbmw.com 877-820-4269
HAPPY NEW YEAR! danielsbmw.com 877-820-4269
Daniels BMW Daniels BMW
(Edmon J. Rodman is a JTA colRd | Allentown, PA 18104 umnist who writes on Jewish life 4600 Crackersport 4600 Crackersport Rd | Allentown, PA 18104 from Los Angeles. Contact him at (877) 820-4269 | danielsbmw.com (877) 820-4269 | danielsbmw.com edmojace@gmail.com.) NEW YEAR 5777 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | SEPTEMBER 2016 7
By Michelle Cohen HAKOL Editor On the afternoon of Rosh Hashanah, some Jews make it their custom to perform tashlich. The practice begins by finding a natural body of running water and then follows along with a short prayer service, after which bread is dropped in the water to symbolize washing away the sins of the past year. Emptying one's pockets near running water is another way to perform this custom.
PHOTO BY SELI LEVI ALLEN
The Lehigh Valley is a beautiful place, and at a time of year when it’s important to reflect on our lives, the beauty of nature can help us get in the right mindset. Tashlich is a reflective practice designed to help us process the year we are now putting behind as well as look ahead to the immense possibilities of the new year. Doing tashlich with others can be a way to immerse yourself into the Jewish community for the year to come.
Rose Garden, Allentown
Delaware River, Easton
Monocacy Creek, Bethlehem 8 SEPTEMBER 2016 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | NEW YEAR 5777
Bridge in Lehigh Parkway, Allentown
If you’re looking for a place to do tashlich this year, come join one of the many synagogues across the Lehigh Valley (see the service schedules on page 14 or call any of the mentioned synagogues for more information), or if you prefer private practice, you can try one of these scenic spots throughout the Lehigh Valley.
Cedar Beach, Allentown
PHOTO BY SELI LEVI ALLEN
Lehigh River, Easton
Sand Island, Bethlehem
Wildlands Conservancy, Emmaus
A LAND · A LEGACY · A BOND 2016 · 5777
IT’S THE NEW YEAR INVEST IN ISRAEL BONDS israelbonds.com
Development Corporation for Israel Harold F. Marcus, Executive Director Susan Schiffrin, Registered Representative 1500 Walnut St., Suite 1302 · Philadelphia, PA 19102 philadelphia@israelbonds.com · 215.545.8380 · 800.752.5671
Invest in Israel Bonds · israelbonds.com This is not an offering, which can be made only by prospectus. Read the prospectus carefully before investing to fully evaluate the risks associated with investing in Israel bonds. Member FINRA
NEW YEAR 5777 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | SEPTEMBER 2016 9
through honey cakes & hilarity
Happy Rosh Hashanah! Your friends at Provident wish you a happy and prosperous New Year.
w w w. P r ov i d e n t . B a n k
By Michelle Cohen HAKOL Editor The first time I made this recipe was as a preschooler in Atlanta, and it was a very special day I had been anticipating for quite some time. I was so proud that my mom, along with some other classroom moms, had volunteered to help my classmates and I make honey cakes, and I couldn’t wait to take home a fluffy golden-brown cake. When the moms arrived, they found us in groups of five with the ingredients set out in tables. I waved Mom over to my table, and suddenly it was time to get seri-
L’Shana Tova
ous: we all we had to help Mom measure, pour and stir. It felt like forever before we poured our mix into shiny tin foil pans and put them all together in a convection oven. Watching the cakes go in was incredibly exciting, and I couldn’t peel my eyes away from them as they started to rise. Finally, the buzzer went off, and it was time to take our creations out of the oven. We looked in eagerly, each trying to find which of the beautiful cakes we had made. All of the trays held fluffy, golden colored cakes that overflowed the top of the tin foil pans. All … except one. These cakes were dark brown and filled maybe half of their containers. Back in the classroom, everyone wrapped
their cakes in pretty colored plastic wrap and tied bows on top. My group’s wrapping paper deflated and sunk down into the tins, as did the bows. Some of the other moms were looking at mine and whispering, but my teacher still thanked everyone who helped at the end of the day. She even gave my mom a small hug as she left. It wasn’t for another dozen or so years that I learned what she had whispered in my mom’s ear during that hug – “Perhaps next time you should volunteer for art projects.” Enjoy this recipe, shanah tovah from my family to yours – and remember to measure the ingredients correctly!
from the doctors and staff at Lehigh Valley Center for Sight
INGREDIENTS 3 eggs 1 1/3 cups honey 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 cup black coffee 2 tablespoons baking powder 3 tablespoons margarine 1 teaspoon baking soda 4 cups sifted flour 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Most vision loss can be prevented by early detection
SCHEDULE YOUR EYE EXAM TODAY
Houman Ahdieh, M.D. | Daniel Ross, M.D. | Irena Cherfas, M.D. | Mark Krakauer, M.D. Mark Moran, D.O. | Lindsay Tilghman, O.D. | Kelsey Paciotti OD (not pictured)
ALLENTOWN & BETHLEHEM lvcenter4sight.com | 610.437.4988 Full service optical shop in both locations 10 SEPTEMBER 2016 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | NEW YEAR 5777
DIRECTIONS Pre-heat the oven to 350. Grease and flour a pan with sifted flour. In a mixer beat eggs and honey. Add sugar and continue beating. In a separate bowl, mix coffee and baking powder and add it to the egg mixture. Add margarine, baking soda, flour and cinnamon. Mix well. Pour batter into the pan and bake it for 1 hour.
P
PHOTO BY SHANNON SARNA
Forget the agonizing, here’s an
By Shannon Sarna Jewish Telegraphic Agency We love to kvetch about how early or late Rosh Hashanah falls — as if we have any control or say when the holidays will appear. If you haven’t been menu planning since July, don’t fret. You can still put together an elegant but time-conscious meal for a deliciously sweet New Year. CROCKPOT SHORT RIBS WITH POMEGRANATE MOLASSES Yield: 6 servings Short on time but still want to make a beautiful main dish? Break out your slow cooker. These short ribs taste like you were slaving over a hot stove all day, when in fact you just threw it all in your slow cooker and then poured yourself a big glass of wine. The pomegranate molasses adds a traditional, sweet flavor perfect for the New Year. For an extra festive presentation, garnish the short ribs with colorful pomegranate seeds and fresh parsley. This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for a larger crowd. I do not recommend skipping the step of browning the meat and veggies before putting into your slow cooker. It will add depth to the meat and vegetables and the overall richness of the sauce. Ingredients: 3 1/2 pounds short ribs on the bone 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon dried coriander 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika Pinch red pepper flakes 1 or 2 teaspoons salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper Olive oil 1 onion, diced 3 garlic cloves, minced 3 ribs of celery, diced 1 heaping tablespoon tomato paste 1 1/2 cups chicken/beef/veal stock 1 1/2 cups red wine 3 tablespoons soy sauce 1/3 cup pomegranate molasses, plus extra for serving Fresh parsley (optional) Pomegranate seeds (optional) Directions: Mix together the cinnamon, coriander, paprika, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Place the short ribs on a large plate and rub the spice mix all over the ribs, covering all sides. Allow to sit in the fridge covered in plastic wrap a few hours if you have the time. Heat a few tablespoons of olive oil in a large pan over mediumhigh heat. Sear the short ribs
on all sides until brown. You will want to do this in batches depending on how many ribs you make. When all the ribs have been seared, place them into the bottom of your slow cooker. Drain off all oil in pan, except for around 2 or 3 tablespoons. Add onion and celery to the pan and sauté until translucent, about 4 to 6 minutes. Add garlic and continue to cook. After a few minutes, add 1 heaping tablespoon tomato paste and cook until the tomato has incorporated into the vegetables. Add the cooked vegetables to the slow cooker with the stock, wine, soy sauce and pomegranate molasses. Set your slow cooker for 6 hours on high and allow to cook, ensuring the short ribs are completely covered with liquid. When short ribs are finished cooking, garnish an extra drizzle of pomegranate molasses, fresh chopped parsley and pomegranate seeds, if desired.
bowl. Add shredded potato, onion, matzah meal, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Mix until combined. When oil has been heating about 10 minutes, remove from oven. Add a small spoonful of the potato mixture and if it starts sizzling, it is hot enough. If not, put it back in the oven for a few minutes. When oil is ready, add the entire potato mixture and spread in a even layer using an offset spatula or large spoon. Sprinkle sweet or hot paprika ontop and a sprinkle of thick sea salt. Bake for 40-50 minutes until crispy around the edges and golden brown on top. Allow to cool slightly before cutting into squares. Serve warm or at room temperature. ROASTED BROCCOLI WITH GARLIC Yield: 6 servings Broccoli is an easy and accessible side dish to make all year. Throw it in the oven, let it caramelize and you have a crunchy, slightly sweet vegetable that will have your guests raving. Extra points: It’s super easy and requires almost no prep time.
Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Remove stems from broccoli. Cut broccoli into medium florets. Spread on a large baking sheet, or 2 medium baking sheets so as not to overcrowd while cooking. Add garlic cloves and salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle generously with olive oil. Roast for 35-40 minutes, until just starting to get crispy and caramelized.
want to enjoy a festive drink that incorporates the traditional New Year flavors of apple and honey? Brittany recommends serving this drink with a honey swizzle stick and a thin slice of apple as garnish.
APPLES AND HONEY PUNCH (Recipe by Brittany Fishman Pais)
Ingredients: 1 quart apple cider 1 quart ginger ale 2 cups honey bourbon 1 or 2 Granny Smith apples, cut into slices Honey sticks (optional)
No family gathering would be complete without a proper cocktail to mellow everyone’s mood, right? This recipe is a family favorite from Brittany Fishman Pais, whose mother likes to serve this punch to prevent the family “crazies,” as she calls them. And who doesn’t
Directions: Chill apple cider, ginger ale and bourbon (if using). Pour the apple cider, ginger ale and bourbon into large pitcher or punch bowl and add ice and apple slices. Garnish individual glasses with an apple slice and honey stick, if desired.
PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT
Ingredients: 2 large/3 medium heads broccoli 5-6 garlic cloves, left unpeeled Salt and pepper Olive oil
BABA BILLIE’S POTATO KUGEL Yield: 10-12 servings This kugel is renowned in my husband’s family, but the real credit goes to his grandma, Baba Billie Goldberg, of blessed memory, whose cooking was legendary. What I have learned from my husband about making potato kugel is that it is essential to heat the oil in the pan before adding the potato mixture. This step will ensure a crispy outside on the bottom and top. This is not a recipe for anyone watching their waistline, so take a deep breath, embrace the indulgent nature of this traditional dish and enjoy the fat-laden ride. Ingredients: 8 medium Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and coarsely shredded 2 medium-large onions, coarsely shredded 5 large eggs 1/4 cup matzah meal 1/2 tablespoon salt 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper 2 teaspoons garlic powder Paprika for sprinkling Thick sea salt 1/3 cup olive oil Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. When oven is preheated, add 1/3 cup olive oil to a 9-by-13 Pyrex dish and put into the oven to heat. Whisk eggs together in a large NEW YEAR 5777 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | SEPTEMBER 2016 11
FROM THE LEHIGH VALLEY CLERGY Rabbi Melody Davis Temple Covenant of Peace
Chair, Lehigh Valley Jewish Clergy Group Each time we return the Torah to the ark, we end the familiar Eitz chayim hi (it is a tree of life) melody with the words chadeish yameinu k’kedem: Renew us as in days of old. The phrasing is odd. Chadeish comes from the Hebrew word chadash, which means “new.” And kedem is the word for ancient or old. So the verse literally asks God to make our days, make our lives, make us into something new that we used to be. That doesn’t really make sense. If something is new, then it is not what it used to be. And if something is as it used to be, then by definition it is not new. And yet, we repeat those words throughout the holidays. Perhaps it’s intended to teach us something about teshuvah – about repentance. It teaches us that the process of teshuvah helps us to become both something new and something very, very old. Our task during these Days of Awe is not to envision ourselves as an entirely different person. It’s not to reinvent ourselves. Rather, it is to return to the self that has always been inside of us, to get in touch with our own essential nature. This year, let us allow God to turn to us in our hearts and in our souls. May we be wise enough to let God into our lives and renew us for another year of health and goodness. Each time we sing this familiar melody, may we make a little more room in our souls for God to turn to us, and may we allow ourselves to take one step closer to returning to God.
Rabbi Yaakov Halperin Chabad of Lehigh Valley
A man was trying to get into synagogue on Rosh Hashanah – without a ticket. “I’m sorry sir,” said the doorman, “Without a ticket, you may not enter.” “Oh please,” begged the Jew, “I only need to find my friend and relay an urgent message.” “Okay fine,” agreed the doorman, “But don’t let me catch you praying.” Prayer. What’s the deal with it? Is it a lip service, a meditation or a Jewish guilt offering? Why indeed are we "caught praying?" Don’t we Jews anyway believe in G-d’s vast eternal plan, where every detail of existence is orchestrated to precision? If everything is divinely ordained, why bother with prayer at all? Prayer almost insinuates “Hey G-d, I know you have a plan, but I may have a better one.” So can prayer change my destiny? Yes. Because
at the core of our relationship, G-d is our father and we are his children. Just imagine any typical father/child bedtime scenario: Dad: “It’s 7:00 son, time for bed.” Son: “Please Dad! Can I have 20 more minutes?” Dad: “You need a good night’s sleep. It’s bedtime now!” Son: “Pleeease Dad!! Just 20 minutes? Then I promise to go to bed nicely.” Dad: “Bedtime now, Son!” Dad is not caving. But now imagine this swift change in strategy: The son runs into his father’s arms, crawls up onto his lap, looks his father in the eyes and pleads: “I love you Dad ... please!” Dad caves: “OK son, just 20 more minutes.” This Rosh Hashanah, let us "be caught praying" to our Father in heaven. Just like a child can’t fully grasp his father’s discipline and rules, we too can’t always comprehend G-d’s intention and decree. (As a rule though, parents usually have their children’s best interest in mind, sometimes kids get it, sometimes they just don’t.) But we’re still his kids – remember? So this is what we can do. We can: "Crawl into his lap" (go to synagogue), "look into his eyes" (open up a prayer book) and plead, beg and pray from the bottom of our hearts: “Dear Father in heaven, we love you, please bless us with a year of tranquility, health, prosperity and success in all our endeavors, and a sweet new year.” And we know how Dads respond to that. Kesiva V’chasima Tova - a happy and healthy sweet New Year.
Janine Jankovitz, student rabbi Congregation Am Haskalah
In the Jewish world, the movement of time is not linear, it is cyclical. As we pass the peak of summer and the weather begins to change, we feel a pull, a longing each year that moves us to return inward to reflection and prayer. Judaism teaches that certain times of the year are marked by special holiness. One of the most remarkable periods of time is Yamim Noraim – The Days of Awe. What is so special about these holidays? Is it the sense of community and tradition we feel when we come together to pray? The sound of the shofar? The haunting melody of Kol Nidre? The sense of urgency as the gates of prayer begin to close? It is all of these aspects that make the High Holidays feel special because they help lift us up closer to God. It is not that God is closer to us during Yamim Noraim, rather God is always with us and it is during this sacred time that we finally begin to pay attention! The shofar, the prayers, the community, they all call to us. Wake up! God is with you! It is our awakening to an awareness of the holy that makes this time so important and brings us closer to the ever present, loving God. My prayer for you is that this High Holiday season brings you closer to
12 SEPTEMBER 2016 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | NEW YEAR 5777
yourself and closer to God. Let the holidays be your guide there. And of course, you do not have to take this journey alone, you are always welcome to join us at Am Haskalah!
Rabbi Seth Phillips
Congregation Keneseth Israel One good thing about the holidaze coming “late” this year is that there won’t be a conflict with the start of the school. Every August/September is an act of faith that often surpasses what is seen in the synagogue. Even non-helicopter parents can get trapped by the belief that the right play group, sport or internship will directly lead to life success. The Yamim Noraim (Days of Awe) offer a yearly opportunity to look at the values that we are transmitting to our children. And while many of our children’s needs can be outsourced, the Torah’s injunction “to teach them diligently” places mitzvot and morality squarely with parents. Even if your children are grown, you are still a teacher to some classroom! The words of Reb Nachman will inspire my teachings in 5777. We have never been more afraid as society and a community of faith. Terrorism and the deranged of any religion working out inner demons in public on strangers have battered us especially this past year and left us vulnerable to sound-bite solutions and scapegoating. Statistic are a cold comfort to those mourning in Orlando, Dallas or Baton Rouge, but where is the fear of everyday behaviors like texting while driving, smoking, addictions, domestic violence that kill or maim hundreds of thousands? We might better use our energies by learning what to be really afraid of and how to direct our voices and votes. My colleagues represented on these pages and I look forward to working with you to strengthen the courage, personal and civic that these times call for. May the time that we spend together help to develop the faith that though “the whole world is a very narrow bridge … the most important thing is not to be overwhelmed by fear.” (Reb Nachman)
Rabbi Moshe Re’em Temple Beth El
Unlike most Jewish holidays that occur during a full moon, Rosh Hashanah falls when the moon is hidden and the sky is dark. In our liturgy we make reference to that fact by quoting
Psalm 81, “Sound the shofar on our feast day, on the new moon, when it is hidden.” Jewish Kabbalah refers to Or Hozer, a light that we radiate back to G-d through the good that we do in the world. Perhaps there is a hidden message in the fact that the moon is hidden during Rosh Hashanah, the day on which the world was conceived. Perhaps the message is that the world appears to be in dark times and we are needed to bring light back into the world through our good deeds. What does it take to redeem the world of evil? It takes human action. The message of the day is that the future of the world is in our hands. Rosh Hashanah is Yom Harat Olam, the day on which the world was conceived. Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman, the scholar of Jewish liturgy, has pointed out that as a concept “conception” surpasses birth. While birth is a completed process, conception is pregnant with possibilities. The fate of the world has not yet been determined. During the year 5777 let’s do our part to bring light back into the world. L’Shanah Tova!
addressed. There are people we have wronged in some way and we need to ask them their forgiveness. We also have sinned against God and need to deal with those transgressions. But our world has been wronged, and we have used resources with no regard to the fact that they are dwindling. We also pollute our environment and turn a blind eye to the ravages of wonton use. Many of those who inhabit this world with us are suffering. They are suffering from prejudice, famine, oppression, war and degradation. The themes of the High Holy Days teach us that we can be partners with God to make the world a better place. The High Holy Days give all humanity hope that we can be individuals made in the image of God. This High Holy Day season, let us pledge to live life more mindfully, care about our world more deeply and love each other more intensely. I wish for all of us a happy and healthy New Year and that our struggling world has champions engaged in tikkun olam, making the world the beautiful creation of God, that it is.
Rabbi Michael P. Singer
Cantor Kevin Wartell
One of the greetings I like the most during the High Holiday season is L’Shanah Tova u’Metukah, in which we wish others a “good and sweet" New Year. In fact, it is interesting that we don’t wish each other (at least in Hebrew) a “Happy New Year,” but instead focus on the good and sweet. We offer each other this blessing despite all of the ups and downs, crazy news headlines, heartache and losses in our lives. Indeed, from the moment God saw His creation and said, “Ki Tov! It is good!” until today, we have shared the responsibility to recognize the good (Hakarat HaTov) and sweet in ourselves, others, and the world. This is not always easy, but as Jews we don’t give up. We instead strive to recognize and give thanks for the good and the sweet each and every day. We are eternal optimists, believing that we can be God’s partner in making and remaking ourselves, our community, and our world for the better. So when the temptation comes to listen to the “nattering nabobs of negativity” who only see the brokenness in our world, remember that God never gives up on the good in us, and neither should we. Instead, let us open our eyes to how truly blessed we are and what an amazing opportunity each and every day can be to add our own kindness and good deeds to life. L’Shanah Tova u’Metuka — a good and sweet 5777!
I want to wish you a happy and healthy New Year season. The beginning of our Jewish new year affords us an opportunity to reflect upon our past communal accomplishments and to begin anew our constructive work at creating a Jewish community we can all be proud of. I feel blessed to live and serve in a community where discord is rare and cooperation is the watchword of our relationship. Imagine what the world would be like if it could model our behavior … the decisions we make and the tone of our discussions mirror understanding and cooperation. Yes, we disagree on some things, but we do so in a spirit of camaraderie. Let us continue to forge ahead sustained by our communal beliefs and a bond which cannot be torn asunder … our love for one another. L’Shanah Tova.
Congregation Brith Sholom
Cantor Ellen Sussman Temple Shirat Shalom
The 10 days that encompass the High Holy Days are called the Ten Days of Repentance. We are responsible to recognize our sins and errors, learn from them and ask for forgiveness. However, there is another way to look at these important days and the entire Yamim Noraim, Days of Awe season. Perhaps we should turn our attention to fixing our world, tikkun olam. We should of course recognize that we all have sins that need to be
Temple Beth El
Rabbi Yitzchok I. Yagod Congregation Beth Avraham
President Gerald Weisberger Bnai Abraham Synagogue
Bnai Abraham is currently in a state of transition as it searches for a new rabbi. Our long-time member and part time cantor, Dr. Robert Weiner, has graciously offered to lead us in our high holiday services and we look forward to expanding this relationship. Bnai Abraham will maintain its usual full holiday service schedule and looks forward with great anticipation to Cantor Weiner’s services. L’Shanah Tova.
Rabbi David Wilensky Congregation Sons of Israel “God’s eyes are towards Israel from the beginning of the year (reishit Hashanah) until the end of the year (acharit shana).” (Deuteronomy 11:12) Moses tells the Jewish people
that Hashem lovingly rests His eyes upon them throughout the entire year – from the beginning to the end. Yet, if we pay attention to this verse, we notice its incongruence. The Satmar Rebbe asked why the verse initially states “G-d looks at Israel Me’reishit Hashanah – from the beginning of the year,” yet the verse ends by stating “Ad acharit shana – until the end of ‘year,’” without emphasizing "the year" in the concluding phrase, as it had in the opening. The rebbe answered that at the beginning of every year we say to ourselves “This year is going to be Hashanah – this year is going to be the year.” Yet so often the year that started with such promise and potential ends up being a mere, ordinary Shanah – just another – year. Our job as Jews over the next month of the High Holidays is to set ourselves up for a year of sustainable, lasting, spiritual success, such that come next September, we can look back on 12 complete, exciting months of spiritual growth. The essential first step in creating this transformative year is to start off strong. Over the next month we will be exposed to so many beautiful mitzvot, we will be surrounded by our families and extended families, we will be attending inspirational synagogue services, and we will be hearing stimulating sermons from our spiritual leaders. Let’s use this heightened spiritual environment to plant the seeds for growth that will germinate and blossom throughout the year. Let’s start off strong and let’s make 5777 Hashanah – the year from the beginning all the way to the end. With wishes for a Shanah Tova Umetukah – a sweet new (and end) year.
In reference to the famous Chinese expression: yes, we do live in interesting times. We are now at the cusp of a new year. The world is not at peace and Israel faces new existential threats. What will be? When will it be safe and secure? As we wonder and ponder, we can also take comfort from the reality that we have faced similar threats before and yet we are still here! The Divine promise is always there and our continued survival is the result. At the same time there is “The message of Elul": The new year is preceeded by the Hebrew month of Elul. The word ELUL in Hebrew is also an acronym for the words of the verse (in Shir-HaShirim/Song of Songs) “Ani-Ledodi V’dodi Li” which means: I am to my beloved and my beloved is to me. Reciprocity and Love: the Creator of the world asks us to come and meet Him in His House. He will protect us from external threats but the continuity and the very survival of the Jewish people is dependent on our continued care and connection to our traditions. G-d protects and we are to reciprocate with love and responsibility. Let us do our part of the grand, divine deal. Of course I’d be glad to welcome you to try our wonderful services … but most of all, just connect and join any shul that you feel will work best for you! See you in shul. May you have a sweet new year!
NEW YEAR 5777 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | SEPTEMBER 2016 13
High Holy Day Schedule of Services at area synagogues Allentown CHABAD OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY
Rabbi Yaacov Halperin, Chabad Lubavitch 4457 Crackersport Rd, Allentown 610.351.6511 EREV ROSH HASHANAH Sunday, October 2 6:30 p.m. Evening Services 7:30 p.m. Community Dinner ROSH HASHANAH Monday, October 3 9:30 a.m. Morning Services 11:30 a.m. Shofar Sounding 5:00 p.m. Tashlich Service 7:20 p.m. Evening Services Tuesday, October 4 9:30 a.m. Morning Services 11:00 a.m. Shofar Sounding EREV YOM KIPPUR Tuesday, October 11 6:45 p.m. Kol Nidre Service YOM KIPPUR Wednesday, October 12 9:30 a.m. Morning Services 11:30 a.m. Yizkor (memorial service) 5:00 p.m. Afternoon Services 6:00 p.m. Neilah Closing Service Fast ends at 7:06 p.m., followed by break fast SUKKOT Monday, October 17 10:00 a.m. Morning Services Tuesday, October 18 10:00 a.m. Morning Services SIMCHAT TORAH Sunday, October 23 6:00 p.m. Evening Services *Followed by kiddush and hakafot Monday, October 24 7:00 p.m. Evening Services Tuesday, October 25 10:00 a.m. Morning Services 11:30 a.m. Yizkor Memorial Service
_______________________
CONGREGATION AM HASKALAH
Janine Jankovitz, student rabbi, Reconstructionist All services will be held at: JCC of the Lehigh Valley, 702 N. 22nd St., Allentown | 610.435.3775 EREV ROSH HASHANAH Sunday, October 2 6:00 p.m. Family-Friendly Service ROSH HASHANAH Monday, October 3 9:00 a.m. Morning Services, followed by tashlich at Ceder Creek Beach at 1 p.m. Tuesday, October 4 9:00 a.m. Morning Services EREV YOM KIPPUR Tuesday, October 11 6:30 p.m. Kol Nidre YOM KIPPUR Wednesday, October 12 9:00 a.m. Morning Services 11:45 a.m. Yizkor (memorial service), 7:15 p.m. Havdalah and Break fast SUKKOT Sunday, October 16 5:30 p.m. Sukkah Building and Potluck at the home of Rena & Rabbi Melissa Friday, October 21 6:30 p.m. Shabbat Sukkot Potluck and Services
_______________________
CONGREGATION KENESETH ISRAEL
Rabbi Seth D. Phillips, Reform 2227 Chew St., Allentown | 610.435.9074
EREV ROSH HASHANAH Sunday, October 2 8:00 p.m. Evening Services ROSH HASHANAH Monday, October 3 9:30 a.m. Morning Services Tashlich immediately following
SH’MINI ATZERES Monday, October 24 9:00 a.m. Shacharis 10:45 a.m. Yizkor (approx. time) 4:45 p.m. Daf yomi 5:45 p.m. Mincha/Maariv/Hakafos 6:50 p.m. Candle lighting, after*
Tuesday, October 4 10:00 a.m. Hike. Call for location.
SIMCHAS TORAH Tuesday, October 25 9:00 a.m. Shacharis, Hakafos, Torah readings, Kol Hane’arim, Mincha after Mussaf 5:45 p.m. Daf yomi 6:49 p.m. Yom Tov Ends & Maariv
Sunday, October 9 1:00 p.m. Memorial Service at the KI Cemetery EREV YOM KIPPUR Tuesday, October 11 8:00 p.m. Kol Nidre Service YOM KIPPUR Wednesday, October 12 9:30 a.m. Morning Services, Meditation Service immediately following 2:00 p.m. Afternoon Service 3:45 p.m. Yizkor Service 5:00 p.m. Neilah Service SUKKOT Sunday, October 16 6:00 p.m. BYO Supper in the Sukkah Tuesday, October 18 5:45 p.m. Pizza In the Hut SIMCHAT TORAH Monday, October 24 7:00 p.m. Evening Services
_______________________
CONGREGATION SONS OF ISRAEL
_______________________
TEMPLE BETH EL
Rabbi Moshe Re’em Cantor Kevin Wartell, Conservative 1305 Springhouse Rd., Allentown 610.435.3521 EREV ROSH HASHANAH Sunday, October 2 7:15 p.m. Memorial Plaques dedication 8:00 p.m. Evening Services ROSH HASHANAH Monday, October 3 8:30 a.m. Shacharit 9:45 a.m. Torah Service and Musaf 9:45 a.m. Traditional Service 9:45 a.m. Children and Teen Services 8:00 p.m. Ma’ariv Service Tuesday, October 4 8:30 a.m. Shacharit 9:45 a.m. Torah Service 11:00 a.m. Contemporary Family Service
Rabbi David Wilensky, Orthodox 2715 Tilghman St., Allentown 610.433.6089
EREV YOM KIPPUR Tuesday, October 11 6:15 p.m. Kol Nidre Services
EREV ROSH HASHANAH Sunday, October 2 8:00 a.m. Selichos/Shacharis 9:30 a.m. Hataras Nedarim 6:20 p.m. Mincha/Maariv 6:23 p.m. Candle lighting
YOM KIPPUR Wednesday, October 12 8:30 a.m. Shacharit 9:45 a.m. Torah Service, Yizkor & Musaf 9:45 a.m. Traditional Service (Torah, Yizkor & Musaf Services) 9:45 a.m. Children and Teen Services 3:00 p.m. Healing Service 4:15 p.m. Mincha 5:45 p.m. Neila 7:00 p.m. Ma’ariv Service 7:15 p.m. Shofar Blowing
ROSH HASHANAH Monday, October 3 8:00 a.m. Shacharis 10:30 a.m. Shofar Blowing 5:00 p.m. Mincha, followed by Tashlich 6:15 p.m. Daf yomi 7:00 p.m. Maariv 7:22 p.m. Earliest candle lighting Tuesday, October 4 8:00 a.m. Shacharis 10:30 a.m. Shofar Blowing 5:15 p.m. Daf yomi 6:15 p.m. Mincha/Maariv 7:21 p.m. Yom Tov ends EREV YOM KIPPUR Tuesday, October 11 6:30 a.m. Selichos/Shacharis 3:00 p.m. Mincha 6:09 p.m. Candle lighting 6:15 p.m. Kol Nidrei 6:26 p.m. Fast begins YOM KIPPUR Wednesday, October 12 8:30 a.m. Shacharis 11:30 a.m. Sermon and Yizkor Mincha following musaf 5:45 p.m. Neilah 7:08 p.m. Maariv and Children’s Havdalah Processional EREV SUKKOT Sunday, October 16 6:00 p.m. Mincha/Maariv 6:01 p.m. Candle lighting SUKKOT Monday, October 17 9:00 a.m. Shacharis 5:00 p.m. Daf yomi 6:00 p.m. Mincha/Class/Maariv 7:00 p.m. Candle lighting, after* Tuesday, October 18 9:00 a.m. Shacharis 5:00 p.m. Daf yomi 6:00 p.m. Mincha/Class/Maariv 6:59 p.m. Yom Tov Ends
SUKKOT Monday, October 17 9:00 a.m. Morning Services 10:00 a.m. DOR L’DOR Program Tuesday, October 18 9:00 a.m. Morning Services SHEMINI ATZERET Monday, October 24 9:00 a.m. Service - Yizkor EREV SIMCHAT TORAH Monday, October 24 6:30 p.m. Evening Services SIMCHAT TORAH Tuesday, October 25 8:30 a.m. Morning Services
_______________________
TEMPLE SHIRAT SHALOM
Cantor Ellen Sussman, Reform 610.730.6272 Holiday services held at The Scottish Rite Center 1544 Hamilton Street, Allentown EREV ROSH HASHANAH Sunday, October 2 7:30 p.m. Evening Services ROSH HASHANAH Monday, October 3 10:00 a.m. Morning Services EREV YOM KIPPUR Tuesday, October 11 7:30 p.m. Kol Nidre Service YOM KIPPUR Wednesday, October 12 10:00 a.m. Morning Services 3:00 p.m. Afternoon Service 4:30 p.m. Yizkor Service 6:0 p.m. Neilah – Closing Services SUKKOT/SIMCHAT TORAH Friday, October 21 7:00 p.m. Evening Services
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
8:45 p.m., JCC of the Lehigh Valley Join the community for selichot services and a program open to all. Dr. Robert Gordon will present on: “The Power of Apology.” 14 SEPTEMBER 2016 | HAKOL LEHIGH VALLEY | NEW YEAR 5777
_______________________
EREV ROSH HASHANAH Sunday, October 2 7:00 p.m. Services Begin ROSH HASHANAH Monday, October 3 9:30 a.m. Services 11:00 a.m. Shofar Sounded 11:30 a.m. Jr. Congregation Service 4:00 p.m. Tashlich
Bethlehem CONGREGATION BETH AVRAHAM
Rabbi Yitzchok I. Yagod, Orthodox 322 W. Packer Ave, Bethlehem | 610.905.2166 Call Rabbi for venue
Tuesday, October 4 9:30 a.m. Services 11:00 a.m. Shofar Sounded
ROSH HASHANAH Monday, October 3 9:30 a.m. Morning Services 7:00 p.m. Evening Services
Sunday, October 9 1:00 p.m. Congregational Memorial Services at the Cemeteries - South Side 1:30 p.m. Congregational Memorial Services at the Cemeteries - Forks
Tuesday, October 4 9:30 a.m. Morning Services 7:00 p.m. Evening Services
EREV YOM KIPPUR Tuesday, October 11 6:30 p.m. Kol Nidre Service
EREV YOM KIPPUR Tuesday, October 11 7:00 p.m. Kol Nidre & Speech
YOM KIPPUR Wednesday, October 12 10:00 a.m. Morning Services 11:40 a.m. Yizkor 11:45 a.m. Jr. Congregation Service 5:30 p.m. Mincha 6:30 p.m. Ne’ilah 7:30 p.m. Ma’ariv 7:40 p.m. Break-the-fast (RSVP only)
YOM KIPPUR Wednesday, October 12 10:00 a.m. Morning Services 5:00 p.m. Afternoon Services Lavish breakfast after the fast is over SHEMINI ATZERET Monday, October 24 9:30 a.m. Morning Services 7:00 p.m. Evening Services
EREV SUKKOT Sunday, October 16 6:00 p.m. Candle lighting (at home)
SIMCHAT TORAH Tuesday, October 25 9:30 a.m. Morning Services 7:00 p.m. Evening Services
SUKKOT Monday, October 17 9:00 a.m. Morning Services, breakfast in the sukkah to follow 6:58 p.m. Candle lighting (at home)
_______________________
CONGREGATION BRITH SHOLOM
EREV SHEMINI ATZERET Sunday, October 23 5:50 p.m. Candle lighting (at home)
EREV ROSH HASHANAH Sunday, October 2 6:30 p.m. Candle lighting 6:30 p.m. Evening Services
SHEMINI ATZERET Monday, October 24 9:30 a.m. Services 10:45 a.m. Yizkor 7:25 p.m. Candle lighting (at home) 6:00 p.m. Simhat Torah Family Service, dessert to follow
Rabbi Michael Singer, Conservative 1190 W. Macada Rd., Bethlehem 610.866.8009
ROSH HASHANAH Monday, October 3 8:00 a.m. Morning Services 5:00 p.m. Tashlich 6:15 p.m. Afternoon/Evening Services
SIMCHAT TORAH Tuesday, October 25 9:30 a.m. Morning Services
Tuesday, October 4 8:00 a.m. Morning Services
TEMPLE COVENANT OF PEACE
EREV YOM KIPPUR Tuesday, October 11 5:40 p.m. Afternoon Services 5:50 p.m. Candle lighting 6:00 p.m. Kol Nidre Service
Rabbi Melody Davis Cantor Jill Pakman, Reform 1451 Northampton St., Easton 610.253.2031
YOM KIPPUR Wednesday, October 12 10:00 a.m. Morning Services 4:15 p.m. Afternoon/Evening Services EREV SUKKOT Sunday, October 16 6:00 p.m. Candle lighting 6:15 p.m. Evening Services SUKKOT Monday, October 17 9:00 a.m. Morning Services
EREV ROSH HASHANAH Sunday, October 2 7:30 p.m. Evening Services ROSH HASHANAH Monday, October 3 9:15 a.m. Children’s Service 10:30 a.m. Morning Services 1:00 p.m. Rosh Hashanah tea 3:00 p.m. Tashlich Tuesday, October 4 10:30 a.m. Renewal-style Service 12:30 p.m. Lunch
Tuesday, October 18 9:00 a.m. Morning Services
EREV YOM KIPPUR Tuesday, October 11 7:30 p.m. Kol Nidre Service
SHEMINI ATZERET Monday, October 24 9:00 a.m. Morning Services/Yizkor
YOM KIPPUR Wednesday, October 12 9:15 a.m. Children’s Service 10:30 a.m. Morning Services 2:00 p.m. Discussion 3:00 p.m. Meditation/Poetry Group 4:00 p.m. Afternoon Services/Yizkor 5:30 p.m. Neila 6:30 p.m. Break-the-fast
EREV SIMCHAT TORAH Monday, October 24 6:00 p.m. Family Service SIMCHAT TORAH Tuesday, October 25 9:00 a.m. Morning Services
_______________________
EREV SUKKOT Sunday, October 16 6:00 p.m. Dinner 7:00 p.m. Service
Easton BNAI ABRAHAM SYNAGOGUE
_______________________
Conservative 1545 Bushkill Street, Easton | 610.258.5343
SIMCHAT TORAH Friday, October 21 7:30 p.m. Service
FROM THE BOARD AND STAFF OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY
SIX
POINTS
KOSHER
EVENTS
ROSH HASHANAH MENU $175 package feeds 6 people (includes half pans of all items) $250 package feeds 10 people (includes full pans of all items)
AGE INCLUDES:
A LA CARTE:
titutions)
BAKED ROUND CHALLAH isin or plain)
E MADE CHICKEN AND ROASTED ROOT TABLE SOUP (4qts) for each matzo ball (matzo balls not included)
ROASTED CHICKEN tural Jus
N AND APPLE KUGEL n)
TED BROCCOLI AND CAULIFLOWER
EST GREEN SALAD pumpkin seeds, candied walnut, dried cranberry and hyme vinaigrette
AR SALAD
Y CAKE
ce an order, please call 610-257-3050 or email sixpointskosher.com. All orders must be placed day, September 4, 2015 by 2pm.
½ PANS
(feeds 6 people)
Slow Braised Brisket Roasted Salmon Herb Roasted Chicken Roasted Potatoes Broccoli and Cauliflower Raisin and Apple Kugel Garlic Mashed Potatoes Carrot Tzimmes
$60 $55 $45 $30 $25 $30 $30 $30
LARGE SALAD BOWL (feeds 6 people) Harvest Green Salad $24 Caesar Salad $24 Chopped Liver Mousse $15/pint Fresh Baked Round Challah$12/loaf DESSERTS Honey Cake Carrot Cake Apple Cake Chocolate Cake
High Standards. Phenomenal Service. Enviable Events.
REDEFINING THE ART OF KOSHER CATERING
$14 $14 $14 $14
16-2269_HAKOL_LehighVal_G 08/05/16
Rosh Hashanah celebrate with our selection of Kosher foods
2
5
$ 49 /lb.
Empire Kosher Roasting Chicken Frozen
1
$ 99
$ 89 /ea.
Gold’s Horse Radish 6 oz. btl.
2/$6
Kedem Grape Juice Selected Varieties, 64 fl. oz. btl.
5/ 5 $
Streit’s Matzo Ball Mix or Matzo Ball Soup Mix
A Rosh Hashanah favorite at our LOW EVERYDAY PRICE
/lb.
Empire Fresh Kosher Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
3/$5
Kedem Apple Juice 64 fl. oz. btl.
Fresh Golden Delicious Apples Crisp and Juicy, Extra Fancy
2/$5
Gunter’s Honey Bear 12 oz. btl.
2/$5
Gefen Chestnuts 5.2 oz. pkg.
2/$5
5/$5
Manischewitz Noodles Selected Varieties, 12 oz. pkg.
2/$1
Season Skinless & Boneless Sardines
Yehuda Yahrzeit Memorial Candle
2/ 5
2/ 1
1 ct. glass tumbler
Selected Varieties, 4.37 oz. pkg.
2/ 5 $
Osem Cake Honey or Marble, 8.8 oz. pkg.
$
Streit’s Matzos Selected Varieties, 11 oz. pkg.
$
Kedem Tea Biscuits Selected Varieties, 4.2 oz. pkg.
Selected Varieties, 4.5 oz. pkg.
3/$5
Lipton Kosher Noodle Soup 4.09 oz., 2 ct. box
2/$7
Golden Blintzes Selected Varieties, 13 oz. box
5/$5
Manischewitz Cello Soup Mix Selected Varieties, 6 oz. pkg.
2/$7
Joyva Ring Jells or Marshmallow Twists Selected Varieties, 9 oz. pkg.
Use your card and save on items on this page. We sell both kosher and non-kosher foods. Some items not available in some stores. While supplies last. Prices valid September 2–October 2, 2016.
2/$4
Lipton Kosher Soup or Dip Mix
Selected Varieties, 1.9 oz., 2 oz. or 2.4 oz. box
2/$6
Manischewitz Tam Tams Snack Crackers Selected Varieties, 9.6 oz. box
5/$5
Tradition Soup Cup
Selected Varieties, 2.9 oz. cont.
4/$5
Dr. Brown’s Soda 1 Liter Black Cherry or Cream Soda, 33.8 fl. oz. btl.