THE FOREST HILLS JEWISH CENTER

 ' November--December 2018

Heshvan-Kislev-Tevet 5779

Vol. LXXII No. 2

THE FOREST HILLS JEWISH CENTER

FHJC ANNUAL

SHABBATON

December 7-8, 2018

Shabbat Dinner Keynote Presenta on Russian Jewry: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Congrega onal Cholent Kiddush 8 Sessions to Choose from on Shabbat

Seudat Shlishit learning with Rabbi Skolnik

See pages 8-10 for more informa on.

Our hearts are broken for the vic ms of the Tree of Life Congrega on.

May their memories be for a blessing.

Lights & Latkes

Tuesday, December 4, 2018 6:00 PM--7:30 PM

Communal Candle Ligh ng

Singing, Latkes & Sufganiyot

Cinematek Forest Hills Presents

Bye, Bye, Germany

Saturday evening, November 17 8:00 PM

($10 ?includes cket, drink & snack)

Join the Forest Hills community for the

2018 I

T

S

Sunday, November 18--4:00 PM

Reform Temple of Forest Hills (71st Rd/ 112th St.) Be there with the en re Forest Hills community to li our voices as one in Thanksgiving prayer and song!

Refreshments following the service. Sponsored by the Forest Hills Interfaith Dialogue

FROM THE RABBI'S STUDY

Rabbi Gerald C. Skolnik

What a Way to Start a Year

As most of you There are, however, three upcoming purchase-journal-ad-for-2018-tribute-

know, I take sum- events that I want to highlight.

event/- and I'm delighted that Gillian will

mer vaca on in August, and it's always challenging, to put it mildly, to come back from a more res ul, restorave me away directly into the seasonal angst and demanding schedule of the High Holiday season. This year it was parcularly true, owing to the very early onset of Rosh Hashanah.

On the Sunday morning of November 4, we will be sponsoring, along with four important Jewish communal organiza-

ons, a major program on depression- a follow-up to the sermon that I delivered last spring on how it had impacted my family, and how we in the synagogue world need to provide support for those among us who are struggling. I urge you

be here in Forest Hills to update us on our efforts to be a spiritual force on the world scene.

And, last but not least, co-sponsored by our Sisterhood and the FHJC Adult Educa-

on Commi ee, I will be presen ng a three-part program on Jewish law and prac ce related to visi ng the sick, funeral, and mourning prac ces. The programs

But adding s ll more craziness to the to par cipate; it promises to be a memo- will take place on Monday evenings from

beginning of 5779, my daughter Talya's rable morning, and hopefully the begin- 8-9:15 PM on November 19, December

wedding on October 28 has taken me ning of an ongoing ini a ve on mental 17, and Sunday morning, 9-10:30 AM,

right from the High Holiday pressures health support services in the FHJC.

January 6, 2019.

into the admi edly more joyous, to be sure, but nonetheless real pressures of all that goes in to making a wedding. Thank God for Robin... always true, but par cularly now.

On the Shabbat of November 10, it will be my pleasure and honor to welcome to the pulpit Ms. Gillian Caplin, a dear friend from London who serves at the President of Masor Olami, the world-wide Masor

And coming down the road... a return to Thursday morning Talmud study!

It's all good; slowly but surely, 5779 is shaping up just fine!

I share all of this with you because, far movement. During my tenure as RA Pres-

more than usual, some of the ac vi es ident, Gillian and I worked closely, par c-

that I usually move very quickly on, par- ularly on South America. She is in town

cularly Adult Educa on, are star ng a for Masor Olami's annual fundraising Rabbi Gerald C. Skolnik

bit more slowly this year. The world will gala on November 10 (here is the link if

surely go on, but I have discovered that you'd like to a end... it's a vitally im-

there are only so many balls one can jug- portant event for our movement around

gle at the same me...

the world- h ps://masor

The Message USPS 340-300 The Forest Hills Jewish Center, 106-06 Queens Boulevard, Forest Hills, NY 11375-4248. 718-263-7000, Fax: 718-520-4369. Website: h p:// . Affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conserva ve Judaism. Published bi-monthly September-June. Subscrip on: $25 per year (included in membership dues.) Periodicals postage paid at the Post Office in Flushing, NY. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Forest Hills Jewish Center. 106-06 Queens Boulevard, Forest Hills, NY 11375-4248. Editorial Board: Karen L. Stein (Editor), Gerald C. Skolnik (Rabbi), Henry Rosenblum (Hazzan), Deborah Gregor (Execu ve Director), Jessica Braginsky (Director of Educa on and Engagement), Iris Chomsky and Lynn Fisher (Co-Directors, Early Childhood Educa on), Laurie Worthman (Office Manager). Officers: Ilana Altman (President), Felicia Leeman (Vice President), Deborah Ball Witlin (Vice President), Randi Zwick-Marks (Vice President), David Zipkowitz (Vice President), Bill Regen (Treasurer), Helaine Fox (Secretary). Arms: Men's Club, Warren Wankoff (President), Minyan Club, Be y Korb (President), Sisterhood, Debra Weil and Marcia Belgorod (CoPresidents). Opinions expressed in The Message are the authors' and do not necessarily represent those of the Forest Hills Jewish Center, its officers and Board, or the Editorial Board.

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FHJC United Parents Book Fair

Sunday, November 18-- 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM

Monday, November 19--9:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Heller Ballroom

NOTES FROM THE HAZZAN UPCOMING EVENTS

Hazzan Henry R. Rosenblum

NOVEMBER EVENTS

A few months through her performances as a con-

November 2 Family Shabbat Dinner

ago I received certo soloist, recitalist and chamber an email from musician. She has been described as

November 4 Understanding Depression

a young wom- "an adventurous performer valuable

November 18 Hanukkah Book Fair

an who intro- to New York's scene" (NY Concert

Torah Fund Breakfast

duced herself Review), "stylish and vibrant...playing

Teen Masbia Volunteer Project

to me as a violinist who wanted to

with verve and superb control" (The

Interfaith Service

have herself recorded performing in Strad Magazine), and "beyond amazwhat she called "the beau ful sanctu- ing, one hell of a violinist!" (The Fan-

November 30 Teen Shabbat Dinner

ary she had heard about". I agreed to fare Magazine). Her repertoire rang-

DECEMBER EVENTS

meet with Kinga Augustyn a few

es from early baroque, which she

weeks later so she could see the shul some mes performs on a baroque

December 2 First Night Hanukkah

and experience the acous cs of the violin, to modern, o en mes wri en sanctuary and so I could hear her play. especially for her. She is known for

December 4 Lights and Latkes

We were both pleased far beyond our unique programming of unaccompa-

own expecta ons. Kinga said she

nied solo violin recitals.

December 7-8 Shabbaton

would like to offer a free violin concert to the community in exchange for h ps://about/

December 12 Men's Club Islanders Ou ng

our permi ng her to be filmed and

recorded in the Ben Zion Bokser sanc- B'Shalom,

December 15 Rock and Roll Night

tuary and it was immediately obvious that this was a true win-win situa on. Hazzan Henry Rosenblum

December 25 FHJC Chesed Project

We had nothing to lose and in truth,

an amazing opportunity to be realized.

So, I can now tell you that we are all

Understanding Depression--How Our Synagogues Can Help

invited to a violin recital of extraordinary quality on January 13th at

Sunday, November 4--9:30 ?12:30 PM

3:00pm. Ms. Augustyn also inquired if

I knew of any solo violin music of Jewish content that she could include in the recital so I immediately shared some Klezmer volumes that I have in my office. It was at that moment that she revealed that she has some Jewish ancestry and I was not at all surprised.

Keynote:

Dr. Sam Klagsbrun, a renowned New York psychiatrist, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and a founder and Execuve Medical Director of the renowned Four Winds Hospital in Katonah, New York. His presenta on will be tled "Understanding Depression." Following his presenta on and some me for Q and A, Center member Steven Topal will share with us how depression tragically affected his family growing up. This is the first me that Steve is speaking

I will include some of her biography below as well as a link to her website where you'll be able to read more

about this publicly, and we are deeply grateful to him for his courage, and also for enabling us to plan this program with the underwri ng of the Arlene Topal Crea ve Arts Fund. There will be me for Q and A following his presenta on as well.

about her and even hear and see some videos and recordings. I'm confi-

Breakout Sessions:

dent that once you hear her you will

Individuals struggling with depression: Jonathan Katz

surely want to join us here for this

Mr. Jonathan Katz, LCSW, Director of the Rita J. Kaplan Community Services for the

unique gi to the en re Forest Hills

Jewish Board, will lead the session for individuals who may be struggling themselves;

community, from the oldest to the

youngest. The only requirement is that you come prepared for an amazing a ernoon of beau ful music.

Parents with Depressive Children or Family Members: Dr. Ariela Frieder

Dr. Ariela Frieder, a Center member and psychiatrist who has extensive experience in trea ng depression and is now the physician in charge of perinatal programs at Zucker

Kinga Augustyn is a Polish-born and New York City-based versa le classi-

Hillside Hospital, part of the Northwell Health Network, will lead the group for families with depressive children or other family members;

cal concert violinist and recording ar st gaining worldwide recogni on

Geriatric Depression: Dr. Heidi Mandel

Dr. Heidi Mandel, the Social Work Supervisor at the Jewish Board, will lead the session

on geriatric depression.

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THE PRESIDENT'S PEN

The Chagim Sisterhood on Wednesday to mark Rosh Tuesday evenings, Yoga with Lorain meets

ended Tues- Hodesh Heshvan, Day me Readers book on Wednesday evenings, Balance and Pos-

day and we discussion on Thursday a ernoon, also ture on Tuesday and Wednesday morn-

immediately brought to us by Sisterhood, and finally ings, Nagillah rehearsals on Sunday morn-

kicked off our our new `Lit and Learn', a spin-off of our ings. Soon we will hear our Coffee House

busy calen- long-standing Shabbat Hebrew Literature performers prac ce, prac ce, prac ce,

dar at FHJC Group, brought to us by Mitchell Frank while commi ees plan our upcoming Fam-

with an In- and Lisa Levy, had their inaugural mee ng ily Shabbat Dinner, Lights and Latkes and

strumental on Shabbat. All in one week!

our Shabbaton.

Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday evening. Rather than gree ng `shuled-out' faces, we welcomed families eager to share an energe c service, complete with live musicians and shakers and tambourines for all. No one shushes children at this service, and each is engaged, from those who can barely crawl to the older children charged with collec ng the instruments as the sun sets and the soothing calm of Shabbat takes over. It was a great favorite to start off our `regular' year of programming.

Despite the Chagim ea ng up most of our weekdays for a while, we had a pre y busy September. Both of our schools opened, and held social func ons so returning families and new joiners could meet in a relaxed se ng. Our Nursery had a `field day' at Cunningham Park, while our Religious School had an opening day ceremony and breakfast at FHJC. Our favorite events in the Sukkah ? the annual Sukkot Luncheon, Men's Club BBQ, Nursery School breakfast and Religious School Taco night all managed to stay dry.

Everything we offer at our synagogue requires the support of our professional staff, volunteers, maintenance and security. We have a single appeal each year to our membership, the night of Kol Nidre. To those who already provided their financial support, thank you. To those who have not yet pledged, our Kol Nidre appeal remains open through December.

There is a rhythm to our year, and with the summer and Chagim behind us, we are in full swing. Read our electronic Shabbat Shalom on Thursdays, our print ver-

The following week you could fill your calendar with FHJC ac vi es ? informal Torah study with Rabbi David Cavill on Monday evening (BYOB to enhance your study of Torah!), an evening dedicated to Breast Cancer awareness brought to us by

Our favorite programs are returning ? Cinematek Forest Hills will bring us a whole new line-up of Jewish-oriented films that have been featured in Jewish Film Fes vals, usually once a month, Israeli Dancing with Dancing Danny meets on

sion on Shabbat or listen to our weekly bima announcements. There is a lot going on at FHJC ? a end a class, exercise, join a book review. Take in all we have to offer!

Ilana Altman, President

ADULT EDUCATION

Rabbi Skolnik will be Rabbi Skolnik will also be resuming his Thursday morning Tal-

teaching a three part se- mud class in November. This class follows the 7:00AM morning

ries called:" On Death minyan. Interested students gather in the Rabbi's Study and

And Dying." This topic work their way through a sec on of Talmud. Coffee and bagels

was chosen in response are provided. New par cipants are always welcome. The dates

to a request from Sister- planned in the next two months are: November 1, 8, 15, & 29,

hood. (See the Sisterhood and December 6 & 13.

ar cle elsewhere in this edi on of the Message.) This is an important and difficult topic and Rabbi Skolnik has broken it into three separate topics. It is best discussed when people are not facing an immediate crisis in their lives. Please plan on joining this class which will take place over three sessions as outlined below. (Note that the third session is in conjunc on with the annual Shiva Minyan Breakfast.)

Hazzan Rosenblum is planning to work on con nuing basic Hebrew language skills. He is calling his class: Ratchet up your Reading. This class is designed to improve your reading and comprehension of the Hebrew of both the Siddur and the Humash. The class will meet a er 7:30PM evening minyan in the Hazzan's office on Tuesday nights, beginning October 23rd.

Bikkur Cholim and End from 8:00PM ? 9:30PM

of Life--Monday,

November

19th

Rabbi David Cavill will be con nuing the informal Torah Study sessions that he has been leading on the second Monday of every month immediately following the 7:30 evening minyan. Look

The Jewish Funeral--Monday, December 17th from 8:00PM for it on November 12 and December 10.

? 9:30PM

The new program, "Lit and Learn" had a very successful debut

The Laws of Mourning --Sunday, January 6th from 9:00AM ? and a new session is being planned for November 17. The He-

10:30AM

brew Literature group will meet on Shabbat, December 22. Both

(Con nued on page 15)

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EDUCATION

KOL NIDRE 2018

The FHJC Reli- who led Junior Congrega on on the

gious School first day of Sukkot.

and Nursery School both had smooth starts to the school year.

Both schools celebrated Sukkot by invi ng families into the sukkah. The Nursery School shared breakfast with the families and the Religious School families gathered for dinner. We be-

As I looked gan our celebra on of Simchat Torah

around the with an ice cream party. A er a spe-

Sanctuary on the first day of Religious cial Hakofot for children, families en-

School, at a gathering that included joyed ice cream and other treats in

students, parents, teachers, the Rabbi the back of the Ballroom. Thank you

and Hazzan, and FHJC staff, I could to the Pollack family for sponsoring

feel the excitement of star ng a new the ice cream party. It was wonderful

school year. Jessica Braginsky wel- to see so many families dancing with

comed the families and officially the Torahs.

kicked off the year. The Rabbi and Hazzan added their welcome as well, and led everyone in song. A er the

Mark your calendars for the following upcoming events:

children le with their teachers to go On November 2, please join Unit-

to their classrooms, the parents par- ed Parents and the Nursery and

cipated in a Back to School Breakfast Religious Schools for Family Shab-

in the Youth Lounge. It was a great bat. Following Services, we will

opportunity for them to reconnect enjoy a tradi onal Shabbat Din-

with one another, make new friends, ner together. Please make your

and plan for the coming year.

reserva on and don't miss this

Speaking as a parent, it is exci ng to

amazing program.

see my daughter star ng a new year On November 18, support United

at the FHJC. Eliana has been part of Parents at the annual Scholas c

the FHJC schools since she was less Book Fair and do a li le shopping

than two years old. She has devel- for Chanukah!

oped her own friendships, built her own community, and she loves spend-

ing me at FHJC.

On December 4, please join us to celebrate Chanukah at Lights and Latkes.

In the Nursery School, Lynn Fisher and Iris Chomsky spent the summer planning and making sure that it would be another rewarding year. On September 16, the Nursery School held its Welcome Back Picnic in Cunningham Park in Fresh Meadows. The weather was beau ful and parents, teachers, and children all had a great me! The event really helped get the school year off to a great start.

Please join our FHJC community every Shabbat. Junior Congrega on and Kids Kongrega on meet weekly. Morah Riki will con nue to lead the Kids Kong services for our youngest children. Marcy Mirkin and Aaron Yavelberg will con nue to lead Junior Congrega on for the older children. This is a great way to meet new families.

During Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, families were invited to Junior Congrega on and Kids Kongrega on. Thank you to Marcy Mirkin who led Kids Kongrega on during the holidays.

I would like to thank everyone for their support as we began our school year. I appreciate all the feedback I have received so far and look forward to making this a successful year.

Thank you to Felicia and Ben Leeman Randi Zwick-Marks

who led Junior Congrega on during Vice President, Educa on the holidays. Thank you to Josh Lee-

man, Sarah Zipkowitz, and Sam Leifer

Dear Friends,

As Vice-President of Fundraising, on behalf of the Kol Nidre Commi ee, I hope that you found purpose and spiritual inspira on during this past holiday season. Although the High Holidays may seem light years away, the Kol Kidre campaign is s ll underway.

Our synagogue not only provides a place of worship, but a place to celebrate life's milestones and to comfort us when we are suffering. For many of us, coming to shul on Shabbat allows us greet our friends to catch each other a er a busy week. We educate our children, provide learning opportuni es for adults and engage in making the world a be er place by providing social ac on programs. We strive to look forward without forge ng our history.

As an organiza on, we are commi ed to living within our means. Our expenses are monitored closely and we are fortunate to have thriving early childhood and religious school programs. Addi onally, our current space has afforded us the ability to generate income from excess spaces in the building. However, our opera ng budget reflects the challenging economic mes in which we live. Dues represent less than fourteen percent of our budget, and thus we rely on your generosity for financial security and stability.

"Hineni" or "Here I am" resonates with me as much as the sound of the Shofar on the High Holidays. As individuals we can each make a difference by accep ng the challenge of maintaining the financial security of our synagogue. The Kol Nidre commi ee made an effort to reach each of you to request your par cipa on in our annual campaign. Every member has been requested to donate to the best of their ability. Every dona on, no ma er what the amount, is greatly appreciated. FHJC is an organiza on that is fortunate to have so many commi ed members. Volunteering remains part of our fabric, as does financially suppor ng our shul. But to con nue to be a vibrant synagogue community, I ask each of you to say these words and make FHJC your top charitable dona on. As members of this community, each of us can make a difference. Please answer the call and be counted as a supporter of FHJC.

Recognizing that we are o en busy juggling various responsibili es in our lives, the Kol Nidre Commi ee reached out to members by telephone and email. We found that the email follow-up was o en

(Con nued on page 6)

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