On the Calendar 11-21-08

Issue of Nov. 21, 2008 / 23 Cheshvan 5769

Lonely Man of Faith

The Five Towns premiere of the documentary film “Lonely Man of Faith: The Life and Legacy of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik,” will be Motza’ei Shabbat, Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m., at the Young Israel of Woodmere.

The highly acclaimed film deals with the life and legacy of Rabbi Soloveitchik, one of the most outstanding Talmudists of the 20th century and also one of its most creative and seminal Jewish thinkers. Over the course of his more than four decades at Yeshiva University, he ordained some 2,000 rabbis. Known as “The Rav”, he built bridges between Judaism and the modern world; yet at the same time he vigorously upheld the integrity and autonomy of the Jew’s faith commitment and in particular the commitment to a life governed by Jewish law.

Now, over two decades after his departure from the public scene, Rabbi Soloveitchik’s impact reverberates even today, as his students, friends, and family continue to debate his complicated legacy. Lonely Man of Faith is narrated by Tovah Feldshuh, with readings by Theodore Bikel. The film (99 minutes long) was produced and directed by Ethan Isenberg.

The screening is co-sponsored by Congregation Bais Tefilah, Congregation Beth Sholom, Ohr Torah and Young Israel of North Woodmere. The event is free and open to men and women. YIW is located at 859 Peninsula Boulevard. For more information, please call (516) 295-0950.

Great Neck - The National Council of Young Israel Women's Division will pay tribute to 12 exemplary women from various Young Israel branches around the United States who will be honored as N'shei Chayil (Women of Valor) at its Fall Festival on Sunday, Nov. 23 at the Great Neck Synagogue, 26 Old Mill Road. The festival will begin at 10 a.m. with a boutique, followed by a luncheon at 11. The program will commence at 12 noon, followed by dessert. The guest speaker will be Mrs. Rookie Billet of the Young Israel of Woodmere and principal at Ma'ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls. For more information about the event, please call 212) 929-1525 or e-mail jsteinig@youngisrael.org.

Lawrence - Sam and Rachel Septimus invite you to a breakfast reception on behalf of Yeshiva Neveh Zion on Sunday, Nov. 23 from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. at their parents' home: Mr. and Mrs. Barry Septimus, 207 Harborview South in Lawrence. The guest speaker will be Rav Moshe Weinberger of Aish Kodesh. Greetings by Rav Chaim Yisroel Blumenfeld, Rosh Yeshiva of Neveh Zion. Proceeds will benefit scholarships for talmidim from Far Rockaway and the Five Towns.

Plainview - The Mid Island JCC invites parents and students to a special viewing of “Tolerating Intolerance: Hate Speech on Campus,” on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 10:30 a.m. The documentary, produced by StandWithUs, shows actual anti-Israel and anti-Semitic speakers and events on college campuses around the country. Dani Klein, Campus Director for StandWithUs North America will speak about how students and parents can be prepared and how to respond to what is happening. The event is sponsored by StandWithUs, the Conference of Jewish Organizations of Nassau County (COJONC), and the Mid Island Y JCC. The JCC is located at 45 Manetto Hill Road in Plainview. For more information, please contact Avi Posnick at (212) 398-2524 or avip@standwithus.com.

Brooklyn - Shulamith High School will host an open house on Tuesday, Nov. 25 from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m., at 1277 E. 14th St., between Locust Ave and Ave M. The open house will be held on the 3rd floor, in the school lunchroom. Come learn about the warm environment, the students, the staff, the curriculum and our college preparation. For more information, please call (718) 338-7154, ext. 20.

Cedarhurst - Kehillas Bais Yehudah Tzvi (The Red Shul) will resume a weekly late night seder each Thursday night in the shul at 395 Oakland Avenue, beginning Thursday, Nov. 30, and running until Pesach. The seder will begin at 10:30 p.m. and conclude at 11:30 p.m., followed immediately by Maariv. Learning will be b'chavrusa or solo, and chulent will be served. For more information or for assistance with chavrusas, please e-mail Eli Moskowitz at moskow@dpw.com.

Oceanside - The Friedberg JCC invites you to an evening of Laughter, Latkes & a Special Film Screening of "Making Trouble" on Monday, Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. "Making Trouble" tells the story of six of the greatest female comic performers of the last century including Molly Picon, Fanny Brice, Sophie Tucker, Joan Rivers, Gilda Radner, and Wendy Wasserstein. The cost is $8 and advance reservations are recommended. Light refreshments will be served. The JCC is located at 15 Neil Court in Oceanside. For more information, please call (516) 766-4341, ext. 114 or e-mail mlevi@friedbergjcc.org

Oceanside - The Friedberg JCC is hosting an event, "The Road to Health: Starting Children on the Nutrition Superhighway on Monday, Dec. 1, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., as part of their Parenting Resource Network. Come learn tricks to make food fun for young children, avoid the increasing trend toward childhood obesity, get kid-friendly recipes and help children develop healthy eating habits. The event is free and open to the community and will be held at the Friedberg JCC, 15 Neil Court. For more information, please call (516) 240-6018.

Cedarhurst - Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter will be speaking on Jews and Islam at the closing session of the Five Towns Jewish Council Adult Education Program on Tuesday Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Sephardic Temple. For more information, please call Eli Hirmes at (516) 295-0359.

West Hempstead - A book and music sale will be held on Friday, Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Saturday evening, December 13, from 7 p.m. until 11 p.m. and Sunday, December 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center of West Hempstead, 711 Dogwood Avenue. Donations of books, LPs, and 45 rpm records are needed. For more information, please call the synagogue office at (516) 481-7448 or e-mail edleah@aol.com.

Woodmere - The Young Israel of Woodmere will host Rabbi Dr. Aharon Lichtenstein as a scholar in residence for Shabbat Parshat Vayishlach, Dec. 12-13. Rav Lichtenstein will deliver a Friday night talk, a shabbat morning drasha and a shiur between mincha and maariv at the shul, 859 Peninsula Boulevard. There will also be a community dinner held Friday night. For more information, please call (516) 295-0950.

Mineola - The 16th Annual Chanukah Telethon, hosted by Rabbi Anchelle Perl of Chabad and Mickey 'B' will air its "Chabad's Got Talent" live finale on Sunday, Dec. 14 from 7 to 11 p.m., broadcast on WLNY TV55 and on the web. The audition deadline is November 5. To be considered for a try-out, please send a picture, brief bio and a DVD/ cassette tape of your talent to Chabad's Got Talent, c/o NCFJE Chabad Telethon, POB 1579, Mineola NY, 11501. All proceeds from the event go towards charity. For more information, please contact Rabbi Perl at (516) 739-3636 or rabbi@rabbiperl.com.

Cedarhurst - The JCC of the Greater Five Towns "LIFE" members are invited to JCC Casino Night on Monday, Dec. 15 from 7-9 pm, at the JCC, 207 Grove Avenue. The fee is $5. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, please call (516) 569-6733.

Oceanside - The Friedberg JCC invites the community to a family Chanukah celebration, a JCC “Festival of Lights” on Sunday, Dec. 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Come enjoy Chanukah crafts, holiday food, entertainment, menorah lighting and more! The cost is $20 per family (up to 4 people); $6 each additional person. The JCC is located at 15 Neil Court in Oceanside. For more information, please call (516) 766-4341.

Oceanside - A Bereavement Group is forming at the Friedberg JCC at 15 Neil Court. The group is geared toward widows and widowers, ages 40-Learn your strengths, receive support from others experiencing similar feelings and make new friends. The cost is $120. For more information, please call Rachel Bruckenstein, LMSW, FEGS Partners in Caring Social Worker at (516) 766-4341, ext. 131 or e-mail rbruckenstein@friedbergjcc.org.

Manhattan - Are you a responsible orthodox woman looking to make a difference in someone else's life? We are looking for dedicated responsible orthodox women to work on a helpline for survivors of sexual abuse and molestation. Training and helpline are both at Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan. For more information or to schedule an interview please call Carole Sher at (212) 420-4516.

New Jersey - Scholarship applications are now available for the 2009-2010 academic year for those planning to spend the year pursuing Jewish Studies in Israel. The Alisa Flatow Memorial Scholarship Fund was established by the family of the late Alisa Flatow who was killed in a terrorist attack in Kfar Darom, Israel on April 9, 1995. She was spending the year studying Judaism in Israel. Applications are available only from our web site: www.alisafund.org. Applications should be submitted on-line. Deadline for receipt of all completed applications is Feb. 15, 2009. It is not necessary for a student to be accepted to a school in order to apply. Questions may be directed to Dr. Wallace Greene, Director, Jewish Educational Services at (201) 820-3911

Woodmere - The Young Israel of Woodmere hosts a Torah Conference Call (TCC) program every Monday through Thursday from 12:30 to 1:00 p.m., and Sundays from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m., sponsored by IDT. The schedule is as follows: Sundays, Rabbi Binny Freedman: tastings on the parsha; Mondays, Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman: contemporary hashkafic topics; Tuesdays, Rabbi Kalman Topp: halachic topics of daily life; Wednesdays, Rabbi Aaron Glatt, MD: Bentching and halachos relating to benching; and Thursdays, Rabbi Yisrael Kamintesky: hashkafa from the parsha. To participate, dial (718) 732-6924 or (973) 409-3117. Enter the conference ID#: 516 295 0950 and enter the password: 613613#.

Glen Cove - The Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County is looking to expand their Speakers' Bureau and needs volunteers to accompany survivors to speaking engagements, introduce speakers and provide information about the Center to audiences. For more information and to become a volunteer, please call Carol Ragione at (516) 571-8040, ext. 100.

Lawrence - The JCC of the Greater Five Towns Rainbow School, an after school Enrichment Program for children from Russian families meets on Wednesdays, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Temple Israel, 140 Central Avenue, Lawrence, NY. For further information please call (516) 569-6733, ext. 214.

Cedarhurst - The JCC of the Greater Five Towns offers a variety of Hebrew classes. The Conversational Hebrew Intermediate day class will meet Mondays from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. The Conversational Hebrew Beginner day class will meet Mondays from 11:50 to 1:05 p.m. The Learn How to Read Hebrew day class will meet Mondays from 1:10 to 2:25 p.m. The Conversational Hebrew Beginner night class will meet Tuesdays from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. The Conversational Hebrew Intermediate night class will meet Tuesdays from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. The Learn How to Read Hebrew night class will meet Mondays beginning 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. Each class meets 12 times and costs $200.

West Hempstead - Bereavement Support Group for widows and widowers will be held every Wednesday in the Jewish Community Center of West Hempstead, from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. There is a $140 fee. The JCC is located at 711 Dogwood Avenue in West Hempstead. To join, please call Rachel Bruckenstein, LMSW at (516) 766-4341, ext. 131.

Hewlett - The Hewlett House offers free ongoing cancer support groups and classes. The yoga and stress reduction group meets on Mondays from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. The breast cancer support group for those undergoing treatment meets on Tuesdays from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, and on Wednesdays from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. The knitting circle meets on Tuesdays from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. The writer's roundtable meets on Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Pre-registration is required for all events. The Hewlett House is located at 86 East Rockaway Road in Hewlett. For more information, please call Christine at (516) 374-3190.

Cedarhurst - Every Tuesday, the JCC of the Greater Five Towns offers a social day program called "Remember When" from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Sons of Israel in Woodmere. This program is especially designed for memory enhancement and socialization. The cost includes a full range of therapeutic activities, morning beverage, dessert, and a kosher lunch. Round-trip door-to-door handicapped accessible transportation is available on a limited basis. Registration is limited to ensure maximum benefits to each participant. For further information call the JCC at (516) 569-6733.

Cedarhurst - Every Tuesday, the JCC of the Greater Five Towns hosts a Parkinson's Support Group. The purpose of this group is to bring together Parkinsonians, spouses and their families in order to help them better understand the nature of the condition, gain confidence and join in community activities. For further information, please contact Cathy Byrne at (516) 569-6733, ext. 220.

Cedarhurst - Every Wednesday, the JCC of the Greater Five Towns hosts a Cards and Friendship group from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Come alone or bring a friend for a fun afternoon at the JCC. Enjoy meeting new people, good conversation and challenging games. The JCC is located at 207 Grove Avenue in Cedarhurst. For more information, please call Lisa Stern at (516) 569-6733, ext. 209.

Woodmere - Every Wednesday, the JCC of the Greater Five Towns hosts Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) group at Sons of Israel in Woodmere. The goal is to offer a safe haven where clients and family members feel accepted for who they are. For further information, please contact Chana Pfeifer at (516) 569-6733, ext. 213 or Lisa Barnett at ext. 210.

Woodmere - The JCC of the Greater Five Towns hosts the Come Alive Program at Sons of Israel in Woodmere. This program provides an opportunity for homebound older adults to participate in social, recreational and intellectual activities. Kosher lunch will be provided and door-to-door transportation is available on a limited basis. This program runs on a summer schedule. For further information, please call Linda Balch at (516) 569-6733, ext. 211 or Mary Sheffield, ext. 219.

Long Beach - The Friedberg JCC hosts a free caregivers support group which meets the second Monday of each month at 1 p.m. at Temple Emanuel of Long Beach, 455 Neptune Blvd. For more information, please call Roberta at (516) 742-2050.

Plainview - The Friedberg JCC hosts a free spousal support group which meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. at Temple Chaverim, 1050 Washington Ave. For more information, please call Roberta at (516) 742-2050.