Professional Documents
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Events and Celebrations, Winter 2017
Events and Celebrations, Winter 2017
Events and Celebrations, Winter 2017
CELEBRATIONS
MITZVAHS
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Manhattan. It was Purim 2016. The couple had gone there County location to make it easier for guests on the eve
ometimes the best is saved for last. after hearing Megillah reading earlier that evening. Elan on the holiday weekend, and because of its gorgeous set-
Elan Shermans subscription to an online Jew- orchestrated a surprise proposal to Rena that had all the ting. They also appreciated the care with which owner,
ish matchmaking website was about to expire elements of fun, friends and family. Whats more, their Les Friedman, and manager, Marty Maged, took with their
when the very last match, a flame-haired, effer- Purim seudah, the traditional holiday meal scheduled for event.
vescent, and lovely young woman named Rena the next day, which Rena had organized, unbeknownst to But most importantly, they wanted to be married in a
Resnick, popped into his inbox. her, wound up doubling as their lchaim, a party to con- synagogue.
The two Bergen County-bred millennials discovered gratulate the newly engaged couple. The biggest part was the shul, Elan said. We are very
they had been circling in the same orbit, living across Their wedding was held on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2016. shul-centered people. So that was very important.
the street from one another on Manhattans Upper West It ushered in the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Elan Rena is the eldest daughter of Rabbi Paul and Martha
Side and attending the same synagogue, but never had wanted that day. Resnick of Teaneck. Rabbi Resnick was the long-time
met. They soon realized they had even more in common: I thought it was a great way to start the holiday, Elan director of Camp Ramah in the Berkshires. Martha is
shared values, a joie de vivre, warm families, a deep con- said. a teacher at Solomon Schechter Day School of Bergen
nection to Judaism, and an even deeper affection and con- The wedding took place at Temple Emanu-El in Closter, County. Elan is the youngest son of Cantor Philip Sher-
nection to each other. and was catered by Northern Valley Affairs, the in-house man, a popular mohel, and the cantor at Congregation
Elan, 26, proposed to Rena, 28, from atop the caterers. There were more than 300 people who attended. Shearith Israel, the Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue in
PHOTOS BY TO THE M OON NYC BY D ANIE L SILBE R T
dding thanksgiving
The dancing never stopped at the wedding.
W
hether you call it a brit bat, a relatives, and anyone else who has had a bership in it. This might involve wrapping ending with the words hatov vhameitiv
simchat bat, or something else, notable role in the babys first weeks of life. her in a tallit (prayer shawl), lighting can- (the One who is good and renders good-
here are some key features of Hebrew welcome. The Hebrew words dles, immersing her in a mini-mikveh (a ness) is said upon hearing good news, or
ceremonies celebrating the Brucha ha-baah bshem Adonai Wel- stand-in for a ritual bath), or washing her when something wonderful happens to an
arrival of a new daughter. come in the name of the Creator, are hands and feet. individual or to the community. Either or
A song. Singing together is a power- often recited by the person leading the Explanation of the babys names, and both of these, or other closing prayers, are
ful way to create a sense of holy space, welcoming ceremony, or by all the assem- recitation of formal naming blessings giv- often included at the end of the ceremony.
to distinguish the time of the ceremony bled guests, to greet the baby as she is car- ing her Jewish (Hebrew or Yiddish) names. Hamotzi, the blessing over bread (usu-
from that which preceded it, and to bring ried into the room. If relevant, this is a good time for grand- ally challah) is usually recited to begin the
everyone together in fellowship. Someone Blessings of thanksgiving by the babys parents and aunts and uncles, as well as festive meal that follows the ceremony.
leads people in a Jewish traditional word- parents. Birkat haGomel, the prayer of parents, to speak about the wonderful Many families dip the challah into honey
less tune, called a niggun, which is easy for thanksgiving for having come through qualities possessed by the people after (a similar custom is followed by many new-
people to join in, or a contemporary Jew- a potentially life-threatening passage, is whom the baby is being named. lyweds during their first year of marriage)
ish or meaningful secular song. traditionally said by a woman after child- Presenting gifts to the baby, particularly to set apart this sweet day.
An introduction welcoming every- birth. It is customarily said the first Shab- Jewishly-meaningful ones like a tzedakah
one to the joyous occasion. This is a time bat that the mother has gone to synagogue box, kiddush cup, or candlesticksby her This article originally appeared in Kveller.com,
to outline what guests should expect and after the baby is born, after reciting the parents, older siblings, or beloved relatives. and is reprinted here with permission.
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Its a boy!
pain involved is fleeting and that the World
Health Organization has stated there is
proven health benefits for circumcision, I
needed to see my sons brit ceremony as
something more than just an over-glorified
A sons brit for a first-time father surgical procedure.
And thats when I realized something.
According to the Code of Jewish Law (Shul-
Rabbi Levi Welton when it came to my own son I was dread- chan Aruch 265:1), there are two blessings
ing the circumcision day.
I
made during the brit ceremony. The mohel
always thought Rabbi was an It wasnt that I was worried about the makes the blessing on the command-
important title, but I now realize that circumcision itself. After all, an experi- ment of circumcision, whereas the parent
Daddy is even better. As a brand new enced mohel is akin to having an expe- makes the blessing on entering our child
father to a beautiful baby boy, I am rienced surgeon who only specializes in into the covenant of Abraham our father.
now experiencing first-hand the uncondi- that one specific technique. And it wasnt In other words, this Jewish rite of passage
tional love that so many parents told me that I was worried about doing the pro- is about more than just removing some
about. My wife and I joke that the movie cedure outside of a hospital setting. After foreskin (which has medical benefits of its
title for our new lives ought to be Sleep- all, I know many people that would pre- own). Its about celebrating the connection
less in Seattle, but that doesnt stop us fer having their medical procedures done of our brand new baby to the historic val-
Rabbi Levi and Chavi Welton holding
from excitedly cooing to our newborn as in the comfort of their own homes and ues and teachings of our ancestors. After
Dovid Yisroel at the brit.
we cuddle together under warm, cozy surrounded by friends and loved ones. all, Abraham is known more for his values
blankets. Usually, when a young parent Rather, I was dreading the circumcision And you know what? I fully understand of hospitality, kindness, discipline, brav-
shares similar feelings with me, I respond because I didnt want to see my son cry. them. Imagining my adorable and defense- ery, foresight, and love than he is for being
in rabbinic fashion: And now its time to Hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area, less, 8-day old baby boy screaming in pain the first Jew to have a circumcision.
translate these beautiful emotions of love I am quite familiar with the cries of barba- at a ceremony orchestrated by the father I recall being invited to see the Broad-
into your babys beautiful Jewish rite of rism and genital mutilation from activ- whos supposed to protect him made my way play of my friend Yisrael Campbell
passage. And yet, I have to confess that ists who oppose circumcision on infants. skin crawl. And although, I know that the
See Its a boy page 10
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0002441714-01.qxd 10/15/08 5:09 PM Page 1 discovered his spiritual path to Judaism. I recall
the countless times Ive sat with parents discussing the
he was connected to a higher power and a higher purpose
(Talmud Yevamot 43b).
Certified Cantor with choices of Jewish names to give to their son at the brit I kept this in mind as I woke up the morning of our sons
12+ years of pulpit MAGAZINE
and how theADTalmud considers this process prophetic brit. The mohel was a long-time colleague and friend,
BAR & BAT MITZVAH 0002441714-01 Rabbi Yossi Katz. We gathered for the morning prayers in
Lessons in experience
your home the beautiful home of my neighbor, Bahman Ghermezian.
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hat happens when t wo major networks, and now is the chief and care to children through interna-
Emmy-award winning for- creative officer and managing partner tional missions and child sponsorship.
mer broadcast journalists of Rooftop2 Productions, a full-scale Mrs. Lasky and Morgan spent a few
shepherd their 13-year-old media production company. days playing with the babies, feeding
daughter into Jewish womanhood? A We wanted to take our guests on a them, and giving them attention. They
resulting bat mitzvah that is creatively journey and express our gratitude to wound up sponsoring one 2-year-old
and cleverly produced, and multi- our friends and family, Mr. Lasky said. girl, who they will support until she is
media rich. The venue for the bat mitzvah, which 18 years old.
The Lasky family of Short Hills took place in September, was the New It was a very moving and eye-open-
chose as its theme, MTV. While par- Jersey Center for Science, Technology ing experience for Morgan.
ents, Scott Lasky and Shelly Carey and Mathematics (STEM) on the cam- As Morgan, an 8th grader at Mill-
Lasky can remember the 1980s tele- pus of Kean University in Union. burn Middle School, had studied with
vision phenomenon that changed the A hidden gem, said Mr. Lasky. a Hebrew school tutor, her bat mitzvah
face of music marketing, the M in the Another emotional and meaningful started with a service that preceded
MTV also stood for Morgan TV to cel- event took place months earlier. the party.
ebrate their bat mitzvah daughter. For her mitzvah project, Shelly Once the party began, said Mr. Lasky,
The whole MTV certainly played Lasky took her daughter to Guate- it moved in a way that expressed the
with my generation, but it also reso- mala during the summer to feed chil- familys gratitude toward their family
nated with the kids, said Scott Lasky, dren at a malnutrition center. The See bat mitzvah page 14 Shelly and Scott Lasky with Morgan and Garrett.
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hen it comes to Jewish lifecycle events, for She is the matriarch of the family. Everything tradi-
the Greenbaum family, it is family first. So tional we have is sourced from her.
there was no question that the family of Noah agreed wholeheartedly.
Noah Greenbaum wouldnt make sure and It felt special because I dont see her often enough
make it easy for his beloved 89-year-old grandmother and having my bar mitzvah with her felt, I just cant
Greta Greenbaum to be at his side when he stepped put it into words, just to see her so happy, said Noah.
through the portal into Jewish manhood. I even started to tear up when I saw how emotional
Continuing in a family tradition, Noah celebrated she was.
his bar mitzvah in the Garfinkle Chapel at Daughters Marking the time when a boy becomes a man, a bar
of Miriam Center/The Gallen Institute in Clifton, just mitzvah is deeply meaningful to a family, a time to joy-
a few years after his brother Benjamin, now a Frisch ously come together. Standing next to Rabbi Moshe Mir-
freshman, stood at the same bimah. sky, the rabbi of the Daughters of Miriam synagogue,
On the Thursday following Noahs Hebrew birth- chanting a portion of the Torah with confidence.
day, the family went to Daughters of Miriam Center/ Noah and his family chose to come to Daughters of
The Gallen Institutes synagogue for Noah to read from Miriam Center/The Gallen Institutes synagogue, within
the Torah, and have his grandmother present. steps of his grandmothers apartment, so that she
The tradition is as soon as you can do a mitzvah, could share, and be present at this important event.
you do it, said Eli Greenbaum, Noahs father, who With her limited mobility in a wheelchair, grand-
along with Noahs mother, Risa and brother, Benjamin, mother Greta has lived at the independent living
From left, Noah, his father Eli, his mother Risa, and his
joined in the Shacharit service. See bar mitzvah page 14
brother Benjamin Greenbaum surrounding Grandma Greta.
U Glatt Kosher
Bat Mitzvah acknowledged the people who have Bar Mitzvah the young bar mitzvah man, Noah, as well as
from page 13 on his familys participation in this milestone
from page 12 had a special impact on her life.
Miriam Apartments II for nearly five years. She event. Noahs father and brother joined in the
and friends. Its all really about family, said
is able to participate in events that take place at morning services by reciting prayers, while his
We are always building to a cre- Mr. Lasky. We felt so much love
her home base in the Esther and Sam Schwartz mother and grandmother joined in the congre-
scendo, trying to create an emo- in that room and were wanted to
Building or at the Daughters of Miriam Center/ gational portion of the prayers. At the comple-
tional experience. That was the honor everyone and especial the
The Gallen Institutes main building. tion of his portion of the services, Noah was
greatest challenge, Mr. Lasky said. most important people. A special
The Garfinkle Chapel at the Center was a showered with candy thrown with wishes for a
There was plenty of action. Danc- honor went out to Aunt Eileen, who
naturally warm, inviting and accessible venue sweet and joyful adult life.
ers wore MTV-branded shirts. Mor- was known as Bubbie and a Holo-
GRAND
for the Greenbaum family, with its colorful wall It is such an honor for all of us here at the
gans brother, Garrett, 11, helped to caust survivor. There was Aunt Lisa
of stained glass biblical scenes brightening the center when a young man who is just starting his
lead some of the activities. During and Uncle Gary, who were there for
wooden walls and pews. journey into adulthood joins us here, with the
the candle lighting ceremony, the the family and helped the Laskys
In addition, the chapel accommodates the elders of the community, to participate in one
celebrants who lit candles were fea- launch their business. There were
needs of the elderly, whether they are wheel- of the most meaningful rituals that bind us from
tured on an old-fashioned television old friends, like Mr. Laskys best
chair bound or visually impaired. A recon- generation to generation, said Rabbi Mirsky.
and an appropriate song was played. friend, Rob, and family friends,
figuration of the bimah allows for wheelchair Family, friends and congregation members
The centerpiece of the bat mitz- Howie Kohn. And there were new
accessibility, while a two-level readers table then participated in the ritual kiddush, or
vah was the Lega-tree created to friends like the Wagner family,
with handrails and an enhanced lighting sys- drinking of a symbolic portion of wine, before
honor each of the 180 guests who whose daughter Emily found Mr.
tem allows the residents to participate in ser- gathering together for a celebratory brunch
attended the bat mitzvah, and call Laskys lost wedding ring when
vices. Even when entering the chapel, resi- sponsored by the Greenbaum family. Wishing
out the special few who had made they were on a cruise.
dents can touch one of two mezuzahs, one at Noah mazel tov on behalf of Daughters of Mir-
a lasting impact on Morgan and her The Lega-tree was the crescendo,
the traditional height on the entrance door or iam Centers staff, board and administration,
family. Thus was the Lega-tree, Mr. Lasky said.
a second one which is positioned lower and is Rabbi Mirsky led the kiddush prayer and wel-
which celebrated everyone, and Said Morgan of her MTV bat mitz-
easily reached from a wheelchair. comed Noah to taking his place among his fel-
helped to make everyone a part vah, It was a night I will definitely
In this intimate setting, the focus was on low Jewish men.
of the event, and at the same time never forget for the rest of my life.
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