Table Of ContentSummer
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
