A TRIBUTE TO RABBI FRANKLIN

A TRIBUTE TO

RABBI FRANKLIN

n the second or third day of my

position at Beth Shalom of Baton

Rouge, a woman walked into my

oce with two kids. “How are things going so

far?” she asked.

“Fine,” I said. “Can you remind me who

you are?” She hugged her two children, who

were a little upset. “It’s okay,” she told them.

“This isn’t our synagogue anymore.”

I remembered then that she was the wife

of my predecessor. She was also a rabbi and

had been the head of the Hebrew School at

Beth Shalom. Her kids had grown up there. It

really had been their synagogue, and suddenly

it was not. Suddenly there was a stranger in

their father’s oce, who didn’t know who they

were.

My predecessor in Baton Rouge, Stan

Zamek, went on to be the Reform rabbi of

Hong Kong. He was available to me via email,

and there were plenty of times I asked him for

advice or needed to know a bit more about

a congregant. Still, that early meeting really

made me think about what it must be like to

be intimately involved with a congregation for

some time, and then not be.

When I came to Riverdale Temple, my

immediate predecessor, Rabbi Judy Lewis,

felt that it would be best for me and best for

the synagogue if she stayed away from the

synagogue as much as possible.

For many congregants, she was more than a

rabbi —she was also a dear friend. Rabbi Lewis

did not want people comparing the two of us,

she at the top of her game and me stumbling

into a brand new position. Rabbi Lewis was

available when I had questions, and I soon

found that so was Rabbi Stephen Franklin.

When I arrived, in 2015, Rabbi Franklin

had already been retired for more than ten

years. Before that, he had been Riverdale

Temple’s rabbi for twenty-four years. I

am constantly meeting people who were

members in Rabbi Franklin’s day. He did

their weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs,

conrmations, baby namings. He buried

their parents. He visited their church, led an

interfaith service, or came to their school.

I know he was a big part of the success, not

only of Riverdale Temple, but of Riverdale in

general. Of course, I wasn’t there, so I have no

personal experience.

What I do have personal experience of is

how Rabbi Franklin has treated me in the eight

years I have been at Riverdale Temple. Many

rabbis have a somewhat tense relationship with

their emeritus. I have never had anything but

positive experiences with Rabbi Franklin. He

has been a mentor, he has been a colleague, and

he has been a friend.

Whenever people have called Rabbi

Franklin to ask him to ociate at a wedding

or a funeral, he has always directed them

to speak to me. Many people have wanted

Rabbi Franklin, because he had been their

rabbi when they were members here. Rabbi

Franklin has always encouraged them to rejoin

Riverdale Temple, and have me to become

their rabbi. In many cases, Rabbi Franklin and

I have co-ociated at these events, and I have

always learned more about being a rabbi from

him.

Rabbi Franklin’s style as a rabbi and my

style are very dierent. You would not know

that from the advice he has given me over the

years.

He never thought that I should be a

rabbi like him, only that I should be the best

possible rabbi I could be. Even now that he has

health problems, he continues to help me and

guide me. Stephen Franklin is a mensch, and

a wonderful rabbi. I can think of no higher

praise.

I wanted to write this as my Bulletin article

so I could say thank you to Rabbi Franklin.

Thank you for always putting Riverdale

Temple rst, thank you for supporting me,

and thank you for truly being a rabbi’s rabbi.

WORSHIP SERVICES

(see calendar on p. 4 for details)

FRIDAYS

3/1 5:00 p.m. Tot Shabbat

7:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening/

Ruach Shabbat/

Shabbat Across

America

3/8 7:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening

3/15 7:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening

3/22 7:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening

3/29 7:00 p.m. Shabbat Evening

SATURDAYS

3/2 10:30 a.m. Shabbat Morning

3/9 10:30 a.m. Shabbat Morning

3/16 9:00 a.m. Junior

Congregation

10:30 a.m. Shabbat Morning

3/23 10:30 a.m. Shabbat Morning

3/30 10:30 a.m. Shabbat Morning

Shabbat services are also available on

Zoom.

Vol. 77, No. 7 March 2024 | Adar I/Adar II 5784

2 March 2024 | Adar I/Adar II 5784

2 PURIMS,

2 ESTHERS

here’s a well-worn cliché in movies

and comics called “spot the imposter,”

when a character comes across two

identical versions of their friend ghting

one another to the death. Usually, the one

stumbling on them has to identify which is

the real McCoy and which is the evil clone

or robot or alien and shoot it.

But what if they’re both real, in their

own way? I think this is the case with

the holiday of Purim and also with its

underlying narrative, the Scroll of Esther.

There are two very legitimate and very

dierent versions of the holiday and the

story, and often families and communities

feel on a sort of subconscious level that

they have to decide which they will accept

into their homes and synagogues, and

which is the “imposter” they’ll have to

shoot. I would argue that it may be possible

to “do both,” but rst we have to articulate

which is which, and why.

I think everyone’s fairly familiar with

Purim “A”: the carnival of fun, in which

we (and especially our youngsters) parade

in costumes, play games, and share the

story of brave Esther (“yay!”) and wicked

Haman (“boo!”). Good and evil are very

clearly delineated, and the story of Esther

is whittled down to its essential elements to

celebrate freedom and bravery. I adore this

Purim, and this book of Esther, and think

it is absolutely invaluable to every Jewish

community.

But there’s the other Purim, “Purim

After Dark,” which oers a much more

nuanced moral picture of the world, which

leaves no worldly power unscathed by

satire. When we celebrate this Purim, we

are commanded to get drunk at synagogue,

to cut loose, even at the expense of the

sacredness of our services, and to read the

only part of the Hebrew Bible that does

not mention Gd even once, in which court

intrigue and potential genocide are tied

up with farcical misunderstandings that

would not seem out of place in an episode

of the old sitcom “Three’s Company.”

The superposition of the risk of

mass slaughter and risqué farcical

misunderstandings reveals something

incredible about human nature and how

we see and process the world—that both

tragedy and farce, on the page and in life,

can not only exist at the same time but are

in many ways a hair’s breadth away from

one another, if we are truly honest with

ourselves.

If you doubt the farcical and “adult”

nature of the scroll of Esther, consider

these two examples, which both play on

expectations related to the gender roles of

the time, much like Monty Python or a

Noel Coward play.

In the rst “act,” King Ahashveros,

who rules over most of the known world,

whines that his wife refuses his drunken

summons, even though it was conveyed

by not one but several of his eunuchs. So

Ahashveros asks his advisers what to do.

Their answer? “If our wives hear that even

the summons of the king can be ignored,

then wives everywhere, even our own,

could start ignoring our summonses—the

whole empire would descend into chaos!

She absolutely must go!”

And consider Esther’s nal victory—

when Ahashveros leaves Esther’s dinner

party to retrieve guards to arrest Haman,

the villain prostrates himself before her,

begging for his life. When the king returns,

he believes Haman is trying to take

liberties with her—making Haman doubly

done for and leading to his execution by

impalement. Recognizing the text as a

farce also relieves our discomfort with

the nal act, in which those country

populations preparing to murder and

plunder are instead murdered and

plundered at the order of the king—like

Haman, they are “hoisted on their own

petard” in a reversal of chasing, which

would not be out of place in an episode of

Benny Hill or Scooby Doo.

It is indeed a farce, but it’s also

substantial. What makes farce substantial?

When it is also satire—a reection on

human weaknesses. In my opinion, the

book of Esther reminds us that the people

in power are often selsh and easily

swayed, like Ahashveros, or corrupt, like

Haman.

However, if we are clever, like

Mordechai, and brave, like Esther, then it

is possible to tip the scale towards justice.

In the scroll of Esther, justice and safety

are assured not by Gd but, unfortunately,

by chance-- and it is the cynical and brave

individuals willing to enter the hallways

of power, despite its dangers and piles of

pomp and intrigue, who are ultimately able

to save the day.

A Happy Purim to you all!

1 The Rabbi’s Column

1 Worship Services

2 The Cantor’s Column

3 The President’s Column

4 Monthly Calendar

5 The Executive Director’s Column

6 Nursery School News

7 Simcha Learning Center

7 B’Nai Mitzvah Celebration

8 Women of Reform Judaism

9 Men of Reform Judaism

9 Tot Shabbat/Ruach Shabbat

10 Social Action

11 Adult Education

11 Chavurah

12 Getting to Know...

13 Tot Shabbat Photos

14 Riverdale Art Association Reception

15 Refugee Shabbat Photos

16 In My Opinion

16 Mazel Tov

17 Contributions

18 March Yahrzeit Observances

18 Condolences

3 March 2024 | Adar I/Adar II 5784

Shabbat Across America

Friday, March 1

at 7:00 p.m.

RIVERDALE TEMPLE

CELEBRATIONS

n April 13, at 7:30 p.m., Riverdale

Temple will have a gala celebrating

its 70th birthday, and some

inuential members of the congregation

who have shaped it. I, for one, am looking

forward to it!

First, a gala is fun! It’s an opportunity

to gather together for dinner, dancing, and

celebration. Before COVID, we used to

have big events like this more frequently.

I’m sure many of you remember the cantor’s

concert from a number of years ago. The

ballroom was lled to capacity. Cantor

Inbal Sharett-Singer gathered many cantors

together, including Riverdale Temple’s rst

cantor, Rebecca Garfein, to shower us with

music. Congregant Lauren Sadkin inspired

us with her beautiful voice, and Rabbi

Gardner charmed us with his interpretation

of Henry Higgins from “My Fair Lady.”

Many worked hard to pull together a

successful “silent auction,” and there was

a special dinner for those who donated “a

little more.” I know many were involved

in the work needed to bring it all together.

I don’t want to slight anyone, so I won’t

name names, but you know who you are!

We couldn’t have done it without you.

Prior to the cantor’s concert, we had

a rousing gala celebrating Rachel Radna,

who was president at the time, but had

been serving so long, it was clear the

temple needed to celebrate her for her hard

work before she nished her presidency. I

remember, again, that the temple ballroom

was full. Our rabbi and our rabbis emeriti

joined us to oer their memories and good

wishes. Rachel sang a song about all that

goes on at the temple. It was a great deal of

fun!

There were more, but I’ve been thinking

about the last time that I remember

dancing was on the docket. The temple

threw a gala to celebrate Bert and Carole

Feinberg. Carole Feinberg served as

nancial secretary for many years. Bert

Feinberg served as president at a time when

the temple was in turmoil, and we looked

for a comforting gure to help us heal. I

certainly can’t recall ever hearing Bert say

a bad word about anyone, and most will

recall that Bert would tell us that things

were “swell,” with a warm smile, and we

believed it! Sadly, both Bert and Carole

passed away a number of years ago, but they

were the couple who glided across the dance

oor. It was so tting that dancing was part

of the gala to celebrate them!

Second, a gala is a fundraiser. I hope

you will all support the temple nancially

as well as by physically showing up.

There are opportunities to contribute

as a benefactor, sponsor, or donor. The

benefactor contribution is $1,800. The

sponsor contribution is $1,080, and the

donor contribution is $540. A new $270

Friend category has been added. The gala

committee will be detailing the honors of

those contribution levels. Of course, there

will also be tickets bought to attend the

event.

There are plans for a “wine pull,” as

Joanne Heyman explained in the February

bulletin, which sounds like a fun way to

raise money, and try a new bottle of wine in

the process!

Finally, and perhaps most important,

this gala gives us an opportunity to

honor members of the Riverdale Temple

community whose hard work and

commitment make Riverdale Temple what

it is. Riverdale Temple is 70 years old this

year. That is part of our celebration, but

what denes a temple is the community

that dwells in it.

The committee has chosen ve people

to honor, and I think they made excellent

choices. We are honoring Michael Griel,

our previous immediate past co-president;

Marge (Margaret) Griel, who is a

longtime temple member and the editor of

the temple Bulletin; Ronna Weber, our

immediate past president; Dorothy Kay,

our co-nancial secretary; and Yvette

Marrin, a Riverdale Temple Board of

Trustees member and the chair of the Adult

Education committee.

Their eorts should be, and will be,

celebrated.

I look forward to honoring all of these

special members, as well as having fun

together on April 13. Mark your calendars

and open your checkbooks. I hope to see

you there!

4 March 2024 | Adar I/Adar II 5784

March 2024

Adar I/Adar II 5784

Temple events and services take place in person and/or on Zoom.

Check the bulletin and e-blasts for speciﬁc information and latest updates.

23 Adar I 5784

9:30 am SLC

9:30 am

Purimspiel Rehearsal

4:00 pm

Riverdale Jewish

Spontaneous Choir

30 Adar I 5784

9:30 am SLC

9:30 am

Purimspiel Rehearsal

4:00 pm

Riverdale Jewish

Spontaneous Choir

5:00 pm

Riverdale Art Association

Opening Reception

7 Adar II 5784

9:30 am SLC

9:30 am

Purimspiel Rehearsal

4:00 pm

Riverdale Jewish

Spontaneous Choir

14 Adar II 5784

9:30 am SLC

10:00 am Purim

Service/Purimspiel

1:00 pm Purim Carnival

4:00 pm

Riverdale Jewish

Spontaneous Choir

21 Adar II 5784

9:30 am SLC

4:00 pm

Riverdale Jewish

Spontaneous Choir

24 Adar I 5784

12:30 pm

Lunch & Learn

Lecture Series:

The Book of Chronicles

5:15 am

Body Boot Camp

1 Adar II 5784

12:30 pm

Lunch & Learn

Lecture Series:

The Book of Chronicles

5:15 am

Body Boot Camp

8 Adar II 5784

12:30 pm

Lunch & Learn

Lecture Series:

The Book of Chronicles

5:15 am

Body Boot Camp

15 Adar II 5784

12:30 pm

Lunch & Learn

Lecture Series:

The Book of Chronicles

5:15 am

Body Boot Camp

25 Adar I 5784

4:00 pm

SLC classes

2 Adar II 5784

4:00 pm

SLC classes

26 Adar I 5784

6:15 pm Zumba

7:30 pm WRJ Book Club:

All the Rivers by Dorit

Rabinyan

3 Adar II 5784

6:15 pm Zumba

10 Adar II 5784

6:15 pm Zumba

17 Adar II 5784

6:15 pm Zumba

27 Adar I 5784

2:00 pm

Chair Yoga

4:00 pm

Rabbi’s Evening Class: A

Guide for the Perplexed

4 Adar II 5784

2:00 pm

Chair Yoga

4:00 pm

Rabbi’s Evening Class: A

Guide for the Perplexed

11 Adar II 5784

2:00 pm

Chair Yoga

4:00 pm

Rabbi’s Evening Class: A

Guide for the Perplexed

18 Adar II 5784

2:00 pm

Chair Yoga

4:00 pm

Rabbi’s Evening Class: A

Guide for the Perplexed

21 Adar I 5784

5:00 pm Tot Shabbat

7:00 pm Ruach Shabbat

Evening Service:

Shabbat

Across

America

28 Adar I 5784

7:00 pm

Shabbat Evening Service

5 Adar II 5784

7:00 pm

Shabbat Evening Service

12 Adar II 5784

7:00 pm

Shabbat Evening Service

Stella Caplan

Bat Mitzvah Celebration

19 Adar II 5784

7:00 pm

Shabbat Evening Service

22 Adar I 5784

Parashat Ki Tisa

10:30 am

Shabbat Morning Service

29 Adar I 5784

Parashat

Shekalim/Vayakhel

10:30 am

Shabbat Morning Service

Chavurah following

communal lunch

6 Adar II 5784

Parashat Pekudei

9:00 am

Junior Congregation

10:30 am

Shabbat Morning Service

13 Adar II 5784

Parashat

Zachor/Vayikra

10:30 am Shabbat

Morning Service

Stella Caplan

Bat Mitzvah Celebration

Erev Purim

20 Adar II 5784

Parashat Tzav

10:30 am

Shabbat Morning Service

with special guest Dr.

Ralph Selig

RT ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook @RiverdaleTemple Instagram @riverdaletemple

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/riverdale-temple

16 Adar II 5784

4:00 pm

SLC classes

9 Adar II 5784

4:00 pm

SLC classes

5 March 2024 | Adar I/Adar II 5784

“EVERY COLD AND DARK

PHASE ENDS AND HENCE

BEGINS A BEAUTIFUL

PHASE OF WARMTH AND

VIBRANCE. JUST NOTICE

MARCH.” —

ANAMIKA MISHRA

s we head towards spring, Building

and Grounds are working on

nishing most indoor projects to

date. We have completed our men’s lavatory

in the lower lobby bathroom and are

working with contractors to complete some

major electrical repairs needed to supply

enough energy to support our summers

in our building. Our parking lot potholes

will continue to be lled throughout the

summer months.

Our facilities team has been working on

maintaining a clean building, while making

repairs within and around our building and

grounds, including the painting and new

lighting in the lower lobby bathrooms and

repair work on our parking lot lighting and

fencing.

Our security team will remain in place

for the foreseeable future for all nursery

school programming, events, High

Holidays, and weekly services. There are no

immediate threats to our house of worship

or community.

Please let me know if you have yet to

receive your RT sticker for your car—this

will allow security to provide you with

access to park your car onsite. Please email

me at execdirector@riverdaletemple.org and

provide your full name, make, model, color,

and plate number. Stickers may be picked up

weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

CSS is oering training on March 10 at

9:30 a.m. at a to-be-determined location.

This class will teach you the basics of

synagogue security, and taking shifts after

is not a requirement. That said, if you

are able to join our team doing volunteer

security, including searches of the building,

being part of our exterior presence, and

interior lockdown/evacuation readiness,

you must take this course. Contact css@

theriverdaleminyan.org to get involved with

our collective community’s team or to learn

more.

Spring is fast approaching, and getting

outside and being active makes us all happy,

and because of this, we are providing

additional tness and wellness classes

to our Chair Yoga, which is being held

Thursdays at 2:00 p.m. Beginning March

4 for those who would like a challenge, I

will be teaching Boot Camp Monday nights

from 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. We will also

be oering T’ai Chi Tuesday mornings

from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and evening

Zumba on Thursdays from 6:15 p.m. to

7:15 p.m. Registration is now open on our

website! There is no charge for congregants,

but a nominal fee for guests and the

community of $15.00 per class.

This month,

I would like to

recognize Adrian

Aguilar-Ballinas,

another amazing

facilities team

member! Adrian came

to us through his wife,

who is a nanny for

one of our Nursery

School parents, and

we are so glad to have

him with us these past 18 months. Adrian

is from Puebla, Mexico, and has lived in

the U.S. since 1991. He is married with

ve children and one granddaughter, with

whom he spends most of his free time. He

loves to cook Mexican food (as he worked

in restaurants prior) and sings in his church

choir every Sunday! Please feel free to start

up a chat with him, as he works weekdays

8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

RIVERDALE TEMPLE BUILDING AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE

Building and Grounds manages the temple facilities to support the

programming, events, and spiritual needs of the congregation and

community.

This committee works closely with the executive director,

who oversees operations and the RT facility team and our private

security personnel.

The Building and Grounds Committee needs members

with experience in building management, engineering,

construction, and related elds. Email: execdirector@

riverdaletemple.org.

Adrian

Aguilar-Ballinas

6 March 2024 | Adar I/Adar II 5784

ebruary is a short month, but we

always pack a lot of fun-lled activities

and events into it. On February 11, we

celebrated the Super Bowl by fundraising

for the PTA with our annual Super Bowl

squares contest. We gave away some great

prizes to the winners and raised money for

our amazing PTA and all of the programs

it runs for our children and sta.

On February 12, we had a visit from the

Greenburgh Nature Center. They brought

a chinchilla, a rabbit, a bearded lizard, and

a snake and taught the children a little bit

about each animal. On February 14, we

had pajama day, one of our favorite days of

the year!! Each grade had breakfast together

and then cuddled up with their mats and

blankets to watch a movie in the ballroom.

In February, we nally had our rst

real snow day, and the teachers were able

to take the children out to be in the snow

in our playground. The snow came at the

perfect time, as the 3s and 4s are studying

water. What is snow anyway? What is the

dierence between snow and rain? What

happens when the snow melts and how

does snow melt? The children were able

to explore all of these concepts through

hands-on experiences.

The two-year-olds have recently been

learning about colors and shapes, but one

thing they have been learning about since

the beginning of the school year is Shabbat

and tzedakah. The children celebrate

Shabbat every Friday in their classrooms

and in the sanctuary with the rabbi and

cantor. Now that they are experts on this

special day, they made their own Shabbat

candles, mezuzot, wine glasses, and

tzedakah boxes to take home and use with

their families.

2s Tours: We have a couple of 2s spots

open for the 2024–2025 school year. If you

have friends who are interested in our 2s

program, please tell them to call the school

at 718-796-0335 or email me at director@

riverdaletemplens.org.

3-K–Pre-K Registration: Registration

for 3-K and Pre-K is now open. Families

have until March 1 to register through

the DOE website at myschools.nyc. All

applicants will get their oers in May.

Baby Classes: We just started our

second session of Tiny Tots, which runs

from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. on Tuesdays

and Fridays. For more information or

to register, please email me at director@

riverdaletemplens.org or visit our website at

riverdaletemplens.org

RTNS Summer Camp: We are still

enrolling 2- to 5-year-olds for summer

camp. We are also looking for counselors

and counselors-in-training. Camp will

run for six weeks, from July 1 to August

9. There will be lots of projects, water,

and planting and fun themes and specials

each week. We will have sports, dance,

music, and art each week as well. To

on our website under “summer camp” at

riverdaletemplens.org.

7 March 2024 | Adar I/Adar II 5784

he SLC began February with a

celebration of Tu B’Shvat, focusing on

ways to take care of the environment

and learn what our traditions teach us

about this responsibility.

The school also heard from Stella

Caplan, as she shared information about

her Bat Mitzvah project of collecting shoes,

new and gently used, for an organization

that helps all people have comfortable

footwear.

Finally, many of our students have

joined the cast of the Purimspiel and will

be performing with the entire cast on the

Sunday of Purim, March 24.

B’NAI MITZVAH CELEBRATION: STELLA CAPLAN

tella Caplan will be called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, March 23, 2024. Stella was born

on February 12, 2011, in Riverdale, N.Y., to Zack and Oona Caplan. She has two brothers, Eli (14) and

James (10), two rescue dogs, Charlie and Artie, and currently resides in Yonkers, N.Y.

Stella is an eighth grader at The Ursuline Academy in New Rochelle, where she has participated in student

government and service activities such as the Special Olympics Polar Plunge. She is an avid Irish step dancer,

having competed in dance competitions (or Feis) up and down the East Coast. In her spare time, Stella enjoys

playing the violin, reading, and ice skating. For her Bat Mitzvah service project, she will be collecting shoes

for Soles4Souls, a charitable organization that turns shoes and clothing into opportunities for education and

employment. She looks forward to celebrating this important Jewish milestone with family and friends.

8 March 2024 | Adar I/Adar II 5784

HELLO FRIENDS!

am counting down the days until spring!

Buds are appearing on trees—plants are

starting to “poke” through the ground,

and WRJ already has their “sneakers” on…

Mark Your Calendars! Wednesday,

March 6, the Book Club will be

discussing All the Rivers by Dorit

Rabinyan. The Book Club discussions are

insightful, and everyone always has a great

time. If you are interested in attending (via

Zoom), please contact Ronni Stolzenberg

at rstolzenberg@optimum.net.

Sign-up has already started for

Mishloach Manot. This is a wonderful

opportunity to fulll the mitzvah for

Purim. Bags will be available for pickup

after the Purimspiel (Sunday, March 24).

One can also pick up bags (at Riverdale

Temple) on Monday (March 25) and

Tuesday (March 26). Please reach out to

me to coordinate pick-up.

WRJ is also excited to announce the

Women’s Seder on Thursday, April 4.

With the help of the amazing Haggadah

Committee, WRJ is so excited to introduce

a BRAND-NEW Haggadah for this

wonderful occasion. This joyous event is

one of the highlights of our calendar year.

Don’t forget to make your reservations

and invite your friends and family. This

is an inspiring multi-generational event,

and if history proves itself, it will be a great

evening!

And, since your calendar is already

open, please add Saturday, April 13, for

the Riverdale Temple Gala. This will be a

night of celebration as we honor Riverdale

Temple as well as several of our WRJ

members.

Yes, WRJ is also busy, and we’re not

done yet—save Saturday, June 8, for

the WRJ Lay-led Service. Shelley Ast is

nalizing the details and will be reaching

out to everyone on how you can be

involved.

Although this particular column is

only discussing upcoming events, WRJ is

so much more. WRJ is passionate about

reproductive rights, civil rights, refugee

rights, and MORE!

There is still much to do! We Are

Always Looking for Volunteers!

Can’t wait for you to join!

SAVE THE DATE!

RIVERDALE TEMPLE and

WOMEN OF REFORM JUDAISM

Invite the most cherished women

and girls in your life to join us at our

WOMEN’S SEDER

Thursday, April 4, 2024

6:00 p.m.

Celebrating the role o women in the Exodus

and in our own lives — yesterday, today,

and tomorrow.

WATCH FOR MORE DETAILS

BENEFACTOR – $1,800

(Includes 4 tickets, acknowledgment in invitation and program)

SPONSOR – $1,080

(Includes 2 tickets, acknowledgment in invitation and program)

DONOR – $540

(Includes 2 tickets, acknowledgment in program only)

FRIEND – $270

(Includes 1 ticket, acknowledgment in program only)

INDIVIDUAL – $125

(Includes 1 ticket only)

Please join us by visiting

https://www.riverdaletemple.org/event/

riverdale-temple-gala-2024.html

9 March 2024 | Adar I/Adar II 5784

TEACH YOUR

CHILDREN WELL....

ights over Israel and the war with

Hamas on campus have taken place

on quads across the country, in

classrooms, and, recently, in the halls of

Congress.

Recently, at Yale University, the debate

moved to the dining hall. And from there,

of course, to social media. This began

when sophomore Sahar Tartak posted on

X, formerly Twitter, that a dish oered on

campus named “Israeli couscous salad with

spinach and tomatoes” had been renamed

to remove the word “Israeli.” Her tweets on

the change were shared thousands of times.

“Imagine returning to your dining

hall to nd that salad labels were renamed

to remove mention of the salads being

‘Israeli,’” wrote Tartak, who has written

in recent weeks about facing hostility on

campus as a pro-Israel student.

The claim was amplied by Libs of

TikTok, the right-wing social media

account run by Chaya Raichik, who is

Jewish, who included images of the Israeli

couscous salad label before and after the

name change.

Fortunately, this insult was quickly

corrected. A representative from Yale’s

oce of communication stated that in

July, Yale Hospitality, which oversees

campus dining, decided to remove ethnic

and geographical markers from food labels.

“Authenticity of the food and naming of

the recipes have been a concern brought

to us by students in the past. There were

times that they felt our food did not

‘authentically’ represent the country or

ethnicity referenced in the name,” the

spokesperson said in an email. But the

statement added that because “Israeli

couscous” is an ingredient in the dish at

issue, it was an exception to the rule: The

word “Israeli” had indeed been removed

but would be put back. “In this case, Israeli

couscous is indeed an actual ingredient

and is explicitly listed on the ingredient

list,” the email said. “Considering it is

the main ingredient, it is appropriate to

remain in the title, and we will correct this

oversight.”

Food should not be politicized. There

are classes for debates and for the study

of politics. Students are entitled to their

opinions, whatever they may be. When

students go to lunch and look for Israeli

couscous on the menu, they should nd

it. For what it’s worth, Israeli couscous is

not really couscous at all, in fact. In Israel,

the dish is called ptitim, and it originated

in the early 1950s, when Israeli food was

rationed.

The point really is that what we are

seeing here today on college campuses, and

other bastions of education and culture, is

the result of decades of neglect of respect

for others. We are in a “me rst” society

where children are taught by those who

have unfortunately never listened to the

lyrics of the song written by Rodgers

and Hammerstein, “You’ve Got to Be

Carefully Taught.”

The Bulletin: Vol. 77, No. 7, March 2024 | Adar I/Adar II 5784. The Bulletin is published monthly by Riverdale Temple, 4545 Independence Avenue, Bronx, NY

10471, 10 times a year, September through June. This publication is intended for members of Riverdale Temple. Any other use or publication in whole or in part without

Riverdale Temple’s prior consent is prohibited.

RUACH SHABBAT

SING, PRAY, CELEBRATESING, PRAY, CELEBRATE

Once a month on a Shabbat Eve,

Riverdale Temple comes alive with

the energizing rhythm and melodies

of the Ruach Shabbat Band, led by

Cantor Joshua Finkel. Ruach Shabbat

is an experience for all ages, and

not to be missed!

Join us Friday, March 1, at 7:00 p.m.

tot shabbat

They’ll be fascinated!

Bring your children to Riverdale Temple

on Friday, March 1, for a musical and

fun-ﬁlled Tot Shabbat service with

Rabbi Gardner and Cantor Finkel.

Tot Shabbat @ 5:00 p.m.

Pizza and art in the Ballroom @ 5:30 p.m.

10 March 2024 | Adar I/Adar II 5784

OUR ACTIVITIES

1. Food Insecurity

Food insecurity is the biggest issue in

our surrounding community. Too many

residents must choose between food

and other essentials. Therefore, every

day is Mitzvah Day, especially as far as

food is concerned. Examples of healthy

nonperishable staples needed by our

community are rice, pasta, cereal, dried

beans, canned items (e.g., vegetables,

fruits, tuna, sardines, salmon, and beans),

ketchup, tomato sauce, and evaporated

milk.

2. Infant Essentials

We have extended our drive until March 2

and pivoted to a focus on diapers and wet

baby wipes. We will report on its success in

the next issue of the bulletin.

3. Refugee Shabbat

Many congregants attended Refugee

Shabbat on February 2 and 3 (see p.

15). Our thanks to Ronna Weber, who

organized the entire event, start to nish.

Friday night attendees heard Holly Rosen

Fink, president of the Westchester Jewish

Coalition for Immigration (WJCI), who

spoke about the work of her organization

and how we can get involved. They also

heard Isabel Burton, HIAS senior director

of Community engagement Initiatives.

On Saturday, Svitlana Kolobova, in a

very harrowing story, described how she

ed from Ukraine. Svitlana told us that

she arrived in the U.S. without knowing

any English and adapted very slowly to our

country with help from the WJCI.

Holly suggested that we adopt a

Ukrainian family, but we explained

that we did a deep dive into creating a

Welcome Circle last year and determined

that we lacked sucient resources to do

this ourselves and were unable to gain the

participation of other local synagogues.

We agreed to donate toiletries to the

Ardsley Shelter in conjunction with

Mitzvah Day.

Based on this success, we intend to host

Refugee Shabbat again next year.

4. Mitzvah Day: Save the date—Sunday,

May 5, will be Mitzvah Day.

We had our second planning meeting for

Mitzvah Day on February 13 and look

forward to conducting the following

events (volunteers are still welcome).

Morning Activities (10:00–11:30

a.m.)

Toiletry Kits (toothbrushes,

toothpaste, combs, shampoo, tissues, soap)

in 100 Ziploc gallon-sized bags. Kits will

be assembled by the SLC and delivered to

the Midnight Run and the Ardsley Shelter

(in conjunction with the WJCI).

Volunteers: Nessa Levinson is the

leader, along with Shandora Wright and

Ronna Weber.

Clothing will be sorted (men, women,

and children) by older children of the SLC

using latex gloves and will be distributed

to one to four organizations determined by

the 4Bronx Project.

Volunteers: Jesse Mechanick is the lead

along with Howard Giske.

Plant Repotting—48 pansies + 48

marigolds potted by younger children

from the SLC and then delivered to a local

nursing home. Final ower selection will

be based on what is in season.

Volunteers: Barbara Ferber is the lead,

along with Anna Sadkin and Fanta Davis-

Clarke.

Sandwiches—100 whole wheat bread,

American cheese/three slices per sandwich,

clementines, water bottles, napkins,

brown paper lunch bags, sandwich

bags. Sandwich bags will be delivered to

Friendly Fridge, 5983 Broadway at 242nd

St (located on the sidewalk).

Volunteers: Fay Statsky is the lead along

with Phil Clarke, Frances Zaruski, and

Scott Sirkin.

Food Check— Ensure that all food

donations are appropriate, unexpired, and

in sealed packages.

Volunteers: Gloria and Mac Psachie are

the leaders.

Hatzalah—Package-sealed, store-

bought, and Kosher-certied cookies, or

bandages in a decorated bag, with a thank-

you note from children in the SLC for the

55 Hatzalah responders.

Volunteer: Morgan Evers is the leader.

Afternoon Activities (1:00–2:00 p.m.)

Spontaneous Choir—Cantor Finkel

will lead the Riverdale Spontaneous Jewish

Choir in a musical event for one of the

local nursing homes.

Volunteer: Shandora Wright is the

administrative leader.

Endor Community Garden

Cleanup—5263 Fieldston Rd (253rd St).

One-hour cleanup for teens with their

parents.

Volunteers: Howard Giske (CB8

Planning) and Nessa Levinson (recruit

teens) are the leaders.

If you wish to volunteer for an activity,

please send an email to: JeLeeSklar@

gmail.com or speak to any of us when at

the temple.

SAVE THE DATE!

PURIMSPIEL

Disco Meets Star Wars

Coming Sunday, March 24

11 March 2024 | Adar I/Adar II 5784

fter the Statue of Liberty was

installed in New York Harbor,

Emma Lazarus’s poem was then

engraved on the base, remindng many of

us how the immigration of our ancestors

to America through the centuries changed

their lives forever.

“Give me your tired, your poor, Your

huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming

shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-

tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the

golden door!”

We invite you and your family members

to view the lm The Jewish Journey:

America, (postponed from Sunday, March

10 — we will announce a new date later

this spring), produced by PBS, about

Jewish immigration through the last ve

centuries. We then want to hear from you

about your family’s experiences. Check the

weekly eblasts to register for this event once

a new date is announced.

On Wednesday, March 20, at 7:30

to 9:00 p.m., via Zoom, hear fellow

congregant Pam Haft read from her

memoir about her grandfather Benny Kava

and his remarkable escape from the Czar’s

army. As she notes, “The essence of my

grandfather’s amazing story is not just that

he emigrated to the United States, but that

he had been kidnapped from his shtetl at

the age of 14 by Cossacks. He had been

conscripted into the Czar’s Imperial Army

for a term of 18–20 years, which was not

uncommon for Jewish boys in the 19th

century.”

This is another occasion to share family

stories. Check the weekly eblasts to register

for this event!

Study with the Rabbi in March

The Book of Chronicles: Mondays,

from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.; class is held in

person and on Zoom. Read one of the

least studied books of the Tanakh, perhaps

the only one that tries to be historically

accurate.

A Guide for the Perplexed: Thursdays,

from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.; class is held in

person and on Zoom. Maimonades’ book

is meant for people who can no longer

appreciate a fundamentalist view of

religion. Rabbi Leonard Kravitz felt that he

deliberately wrote the book in a convoluted

way to avoid condemnation by the simply

religious. We will look at some excerpts

from the book, to see if they make sense

from Rabbi Kravitz’s perspective.

The Chavurah

The Chavurah will meet on March

9, following the Saturday service and

communal lunch, to read and discuss the

Torah portion Vayakhel. In this reading,

the Israelites are told not to do any work on

the Sabbath. Nor may they kindle re on

that day. Moses asks the Israelites to gather

gifts for the Sanctuary, but they are so

generous he must tell them to stop. Moses

then charges Bezalel and Ohaliab with the

building of the mishkan.

All are welcome to participate in our

lively discussions.

12 March 2024 | Adar I/Adar II 5784

PROFILE: MICHAEL GRIFFEL

YEARS AT RIVERDALE TEMPLE: 52.

FAMILY: Wife, Marge (who has been

editor of the Bulletin since 2001); son

David. Four grandchildren.

IDEAL WAY TO SPEND SUNDAY:

With family, relaxing, reading, preparing

for Monday’s class.

FAVORITE THING ABOUT RT: The

congregation, the people.

REASONS TO LIKE RIVERDALE:

Pleasant, safe neighborhood, good

schools, friendly people.

ENJOYS: Vacationing in the Berkshires

and on Cape Cod; watching baseball

games (big New York Yankees fan);

streaming ﬁlms.

RECENT READING: Lorraine Byrne

Bodley, Schubert: A Musical Wayfarer.

FAVORITE RIVERDALE RESTAURANT:

Liebman’s.

TEA OR COFFEE: Both, with a slight

edge to coffee with milk and one spoon

of sugar.

GETTING TO KNOW…MICHAEL GRIFFEL: MUSIC MAN

ichael Griel is a busy man—very

much so at Riverdale Temple,

which he joined 52 years ago.

Next month, Michael will be honored

for his many contributions to the temple at

the Gala celebrating Riverdale Temple’s 70

years. Michael was co-president from 2016

to 2020. He has also been a board member

at various times, a vice president, co-chair

of the Pulpit & Ritual Committee, and

chair (currently co-chair) of the Music

Committee.

In June, he will give a lecture for Adult

Ed at the temple on the Golden Age of

Broadway musicals (see details below). And

he just may play a tune or two during his

talk.

Music has been his lifelong love.

Michael began taking piano lessons at the

age of six and a half. “I did concertize as a

young man and earned a master’s degree

in piano at Juilliard,” says Michael. He

also played cello in junior high school and

percussion in his high school band.

Michael has been a professor of music

history beginning in 1970 at Hunter

College of the City University of New

York, then also at its Graduate Center

and at the Mannes College of Music. He

has taught at The Juilliard School since

1997, this semester teaching a class called

“Doctoral Topics” to doctoral students

completing their years of coursework.

Music and the temple have played

an important role in Michael’s personal

life. Michael met Marge, an RT veteran,

when they both began their Ph.D. work

at Columbia University. And Riverdale

Temple was the setting for their marriage in

1968; they have held many family events at

RT through the years.

Indeed, Michael has wonderful

memories of the temple. Looking back,

he says, “the music was always wonderful,

with a four-person choir and an organist

at services in the early decades. The

congregation was large, and we needed two

services, back to back, on the evenings of

the High Holy Days. There was a feeling

of ‘family,’ with many communal events,

meals, parties, the laughter of children,

and much, much fun.” His memories, he

says, have often been of use to the present

ocers, Board members, and clergy.

“Celebrating 70 years of Riverdale

Temple is a pleasure, and I am grateful

and happy to be one of the honorees,” says

Michael. “Dorothy (Kay), Yvette (Marrin),

Ronna (Weber), and my precious Marge

have all been formidable contributors to

Riverdale Temple, and I love all of them.”

Michael Griffel

‘Funny, You Don’t Look It’: Jews, Non-Jews, and the Broadway Musical

Sunday, June 2, at 3:30 p.m.

A Riverdale Temple Adult Education Event

Michael Griffel in-person (and with the RT piano) • Music and Discussion

In coordination with the Men’s Club

Stay tuned for more details...

13 March 2024 | Adar I/Adar II 5784

TOT SHABBAT, FEBRUARY 2 — Photos by Rob Katz

14 March 2024 | Adar I/Adar II 5784

RIVERDALE ART ASSOCIATION OPENING RECEPTION, FEBRUARY 4

Photos by Rob Katz

“Travels Around the World.” Pictured at top right, Judith Zucker, Exhibits Chair, and Dorothy Feldman, Recording Secretary.

The nal art exhibit for the 2023–24 season will be installed on March 6, with the opening reception on

Sunday, March 10, 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. Registration is required. The theme of this exhibit is “Artist’s Choice.”

15 March 2024 | Adar I/Adar II 5784

REFUGEE SHABBAT, FEBRUARY 2–3 — Photos by Rob Katz

Svitlana Kolobova, a Ukrainian refugee, speaking at the

Saturday morning service

Holly Rosen Fink, co-founder and president, Westchester

Jewish Coalition for Immigration

Holly Rosen Fink, Ronna Weber, and Isabel Burton

Enjoying a delicious meal of Ukrainian specialties prepared

by Maryna Zabialo

Svitlana Kolobova

Ronna Weber and Holly Rosen Fink speaking with

Ukrainian refugees

Isabel Burton speaking at the Friday night Service Lydia Silverman, Isabel Burton, HIAS senior director of

Community Engagement Initiatives, and Ronna Weber

16 March 2024 | Adar I/Adar II 5784

MAZEL TOV!

Olivia Koppell, on becoming a grandparent with the birth of Orezza Vienna Levy Kubasek, daughter

of Gabriella and Nik.

IN MY OPINION

What is your favorite book read with the WRJ Book Club over the past couple of years—and why is

it your favorite?

So many books, not just the

biographies, inform us about

periods in history spanning

centuries. I loved so many of them,

like Madam—The Biography of

Polly Adler. Icon of the Jazz Age by

Debby Applegate, which is not

only an amazing personal story but

also paints a vivid picture of New

York City in the rst half of the

twentieth century.

However, if I have to pick my

very favorite, it is The Heaven

& Earth Grocery Store by James

McBride. A great writer, he

captures so many dierent

“voices.” He depicts small-

town life in the 1930s and 40s,

which resonates so strongly with

present-day issues of immigration,

prejudice, education, health care,

and mental health … kindness and

our better natures are sometimes in

places and people we least expect to

nd them.

—Olivia Koppell

I really liked The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store. I enjoy the

works of James McBride. I have been a fan since The Color of

Water. He is a great storyteller and has a great story!!

—Susan Birnbaum

My favorite book was The Heaven

& Earth Grocery Store. The

characters were clearly drawn

and had strong values. And it was

heartwarming to see how they

supported each other.

—Susan Kideckel

My favorite is Kantika by Elizabeth

Graver, compelling for its illumina-

tion of Jewish history, life, mores,

and vicissitudes; in one family

over about a century, it represents

Jewish fortunes and misfortunes

over the millennia.

The greatest work for its research

and interpretation of a critical

chapter of U.S. history is American

Prometheus: The Triumph and

Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer

by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin.

—Frederick Schweitzer

Kantika by Elizabeth Graver edges

out The Heaven & Earth Grocery

Store, but only just! I liked Kantika

for its sensitive portrayal of Sephardic Jews and their journey,

as well as the journey of a mom with a child with special needs

at a time when such children were normally locked away in

institutions. The book was beautifully written and highly

evocative. I listened to the audiobook, which brought out the

melodies from the text as well.

—Carol Kassel

Ronni Stolzenberg, who spent her career in book publishing at such publishers as Harper Collins and Delacorte Dell/Random

House, has headed the WRJ Book Club for several years. Regarding the books selected, she says, “We try to push ourselves out of

our reading comfort zones and get adventurous in our selections. I never read the book before everybody else does; I want us all to

experience the journey—good, bad, or indierent—together.”

The next book is All the Rivers by Dorit Rabinyan, a prize-winning bestseller banned in Israel for its frank and tender

description of a taboo relationship. The meeting is set for March 6 at 7:30 p.m. on Zoom.

17 March 2024 | Adar I/Adar II 5784

CONTRIBUTIONS

The following funds are represented in the entries below: Bible and Prayer Book Fund, Jean P. and Francis J. Bloustein Camp Scholarship

Fund, Cantor’s Special Fund, Decorating Fund, Jacob-Fogel Program Fund, Rabbi Stephen D. Franklin Music Fund, General Fund,

Dorothy and Joseph Kay Prayer Book Fund, Leon and Beatrice Bereano Pulpit Flowers Fund, Rabbi’s Special Fund, Religious School and

Nursery School Parents Associations Fund, Soviet Émigré Fund, Charles Tenenbaum Fund, Torah Repair Fund, Youth Activities Fund.

Donor In Honor

Helen Meltzer Krim

and Tom Krim

Jerey Sklar

and Jennifer Epstein Sklar

Nessa and David Levinson Matt’s Bar Mitzvah celebration

Ronni Stolzenberg husband Marty Kleinman’s

Jewish naming ceremony

HOW TO CONTRIBUTE

To give a contribution to Riverdale Temple, send your donation to Riverdale Temple, 4545 Independence Avenue, Bronx, NY

10471. Please make your check payable to Riverdale Temple. Give the name/category/event to which your donation applies. We

now accept payment by credit card; for more information, call the oce (718-548-3800, ext. 1) or go to www.riverdaletemple.org.

Donor In Memory

Shelley Ast Joan Ast, beloved mother

Steve Avedon Netta Avedon

Dorothy Baer Ralph Baer

Susan and Howard Birnbaum Jean Mills

Arnold Cohen Max Cohen

Rhea Dornbush Betty and Barnett Dornbush

Sherry and Carol Kassel Ruth Markowitz

Linda Kleinman Jerome Kern, beloved father

Sandra Lerner Joseph Herman

Martin Schneider Frieda Schneider

Robin Segal Burt Jaeger

Renee Spath John J. Spath Sr.

and Richard Spath

Sheldon Turtletaub

Maxine Toal-Goldberg Daniel Robert Platzner

4TH WEDNESDAY OF THE

MONTH, 12 PM–2 PM

NO ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

RIVERDALE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE

5521 MOSHOLU AVENUE

BRONX, NY 10471

QUESTIONS?

Contact [email protected]

718-549-8100 ext. 114

FOOD

DISTRIBUTION

18 March 2024 | Adar I/Adar II 5784

1 Robert Cortese

1 Betty Dornbush

1 Irving Epstein

1 Sylvia Wessler

1 Bess R. Young

1 Sonia Zayde

2 Ida Yarlow

3 Harvey Somers

4 Joan Ast

4 Rose Bernstein

4 Fred W. Friendly

4 Naomi Gell

5 Henry Kurtz

6 George J. Harren

6 Joseph Kay

6 Rose Shaifer

8 Stephen Gardner

8 Daniel Gross

8 David Markowitz

8 Maxwell L. Rothman

10 Helen Eisenberg

13 George W. Cohn

14 Melvin Boaz

14 Albert Borok

14 Solomon Fried

14 Ariye Furman

14 Thea Griesheimer

14 Mildred Janow

15 Dr. Cyrus Gordon

19 Stephan Fornino

19 Lillian Hirshowitz

19 Benjamin Kaswell

20 Roberta Katz

21 Milton Homan

21 Louis J. Monat

21 Ceil Schueyler

22 Charles S. Baron

22 Isidore Rabinowitz

23 Marcia Meltzer

24 Jacob Lerer

26 Jon Kaufmann

27 Lawrence Gardner

28 Elsa Drucker

28 Maria Grandy Schorr

29 Harriet Jaeger

29 Ann Lipton

31 Mildred Auerbach

31 Beverly Hamada

The Departed Whom We Now Remember

MARCH YAHRZEIT OBSERVANCES

CONDOLENCES

To On the Loss of

Jackie Gardner and family Joan Somereld, beloved cousin

RIVERDALE TEMPLE

4545 Independence Avenue

Bronx, NY 10471

afﬁliated with the

Union for Reform Judaism,

patron of the Hebrew Union College–

Jewish Institute of Religion

P: 718-548-3800 F: 718-543-1492

E: administrator@riverdaletemple.org

W: riverdaletemple.org

Rabbi of the Congregation

Thomas A. Gardner,

B.A., M.A., M.A.H.L.

Cantor of the Congregation

Joshua Finkel, B.A., M.S.M.

Rabbis Emeriti

of the Congregation

Stephen D. Franklin,

D.D., D.H.L.

Judith S. Lewis, D.D.

President of the

Congregation

Lydia Schorr Silverman

Executive Director

Lisa Bruskin

Nursery School

Executive Director

Alexandra Abikzer, B.S.,

M.Ed.

Religious School Education

and Engagement Specialist

Judy Weinberg, M.A.

Temple Administrator

Linda Eisenkraft

Chair, Communications

and Marketing Committee

Muriel Adams

Marketing Director

Bill Cwiekalo

Bulletin Editor

Margaret Ross Griel

Bulletin Proofreaders

Shelley Ast, Susan Birnbaum,

Sylvia Gottlieb,

L. Michael Griel,

Olivia Koppell

19 March 2024 | Adar I/Adar II 5784

RIVERDALE TEMPLE TELEPHONE EXTENSIONS

7185483800

Temple Ofﬁce ..................... 1

Executive Director ...............2

Nursery School ...................3

Rabbi ...................................4

Cantor ..................................5

Simcha Learning Center .....6

Riverdale Minyan ...............8

RIVERDALE TEMPLE COMMITTEES

The work of member volunteers helps to run our temple. There are many

committees covering all aspects of the synagogue’s operations. Members

are asked to chair and serve on these various committees or to help out

with selected programs of interest to them. From time to time, additional

committees are created to advance a particular interest of the congregation.

The current committees of the temple are:

Adult Education

Budget and Finance

Building and Grounds

Caring

Chavurah

Communications and Marketing

Fundraising and Special Gifts

Membership

Men of Reform Judaism

Music

Nursery School

Program and Calendar

Pulpit and Ritual

Simcha Learning Center

Social Action

Student Sponsorship

Tikkun Olam

Women of Reform Judaism

RIVERDALE TEMPLE

CARESWOULD

YOU LIKE TO HELP?

Our temple’s Caring Committee

oers support to members and

their families during dicult

times. We can call you to discuss

your concerns—or just to chat.

We also celebrate your simchas

such as a milestone wedding

anniversary or a birth in the

family. A member in need of

some caring or wishing to share

a simcha can contact Beth

(friedman.beth@yahoo.com or

917-881-4974).

And we could use your

help! If you would like to

join the Caring Committee,

which makes telephone calls,

sends cards (birthday, get well,

condolence, etc.), and reaches

out to congregation members,

please contact Beth. We meet

on Zoom for about 30 minutes

on alternate Monday mornings.

Any time that you can lend us

would be appreciated by your

fellow congregants. Be well!

Riverdale Temple is now part

of the organics/compost pilot

program in the Bronx. We can

now recycle our food scraps.

Please observe the dierent signs

on the garbage receptacles and

put throwaways in the proper

container. We are pioneers in

a wonderful program—please

join the eort in caring for our

environment.

Go to https://urj.org for announcements,

news and press releases, a calendar of

virtual programs and events, and general

information.

REGISTRY OF HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS

If you are a Holocaust survivor or a family member of a survivor, you can

Holocaust Survivors, at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in

Washington, D.C. For more information, go to ushmm.org/resourcecenter.

Contact information: Holocaust Survivors and Victims Resource Center,

Registry of Holocaust Survivors, United States Holocaust Memorial

Museum, 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW, Washington, DC 20024–2126.