The Jewish Center - The Modern Orthodox Center for Jewish Life and Learning 131 W. 86th Street, New York, NY 10024 • www.jewishcenter.org • 212-724-2700

Mazal Tov to the Kaplan family on the occasion of Einav’s Bat Mitzvah

The Jewish Center S H A B B A T B U L L E T I N

DECEMBER 12, 2015 • PARSHAT MIKETZ, SHABBAT ROSH CHODESH AND CHANUKAH• 30 KISLEV 5776

EREV SHABBAT CHANUKAH V 4:11PM Candle lighting 4:15PM Minchah (3rd floor) 7:30-9:00PM Community Chanukah Oneg Teen Chanukah Lounge SHABBAT ROSH CHODESH AND CHANUKAH VI 7:30AM Hashkama Minyan (The Max and Marion Grill Beit Midrash) Please note earlier time. 8:30AM Rabbi Israel Silverstein Mishnayot Class with Rabbi Yosie Levine 9:00AM Shacharit (3rd floor) 9:15AM Hashkama Shiur with Rabbi Noach Goldstein (Lower Level) 9:15AM Young Leadership Minyan (The Max Stern Auditorium) 9:30AM Sof Zman Kriat Shema 10:00AM Youth Groups, Under age 3, 3-4-year-olds and 5-6-year-olds: Geller Youth Center; 2nd-3rd graders, 4th-6th graders: 7th floor Special Chanukah Programs in Youth Groups Community Kiddush (The Max Stern Auditorium) WITH THANKS TO OUR KIDDUSH SPONSORS: Chaviva, Andrew, Barak & Vered Kaplan, in honor of their daughter/sister Einav's Bat Mitzvah Gail Propp in commemoration of the Yahrzeit of her father, Oscar Dane Cecile & Irving Skydell in memory of his mother, Henya Dinah bas Rav Yaakov Chaim Meira & Tobi Tugendhaft in memory of Regina Tugendhaft Shira Zeif in memory of her beloved grandmother, Nelly Ekstein 12:20PM Early Minchah (The Max and Marion Grill Beit Midrash) 2:45PM Bikkur Cholim/Bikkur in the Home (meet at 730 Columbus Avenue) 4:00PM Minchah (3rd floor), Shabbat afternoon groups (5th floor) Israel Friedman Daf Yomi 39 Melachot with Rabbi Dovid Zirkind Seudah Shlishit Youth Speaker: Mordechai Schwarz Seudah Shlishit Speaker: Dr. Erica Brown: Have the Hellenists Won? Dr. Jekyll and Rabbi Hyde With Thanks to Our Seudah Shlishit Sponsors: Saul Finkelstein, Anne Friedman and family in commemoration of the yahrzeit of Saul's father, Bernard Finkelstein Kathy & Milton Parnass In commemoration of the yahrtzeit of Milton's father, Gedaliah Dovid Parnass Meira & Tobi Tugendhaft in memory of Regina Tugendhaft 5:11PM Shabbat concludes Musical Havdalah

Sun., Dec. 13 Chanukah Daf Yomi 7:45AM Shach 8:30AM Minchah 4:15PM

Mon., Dec. 11 - Thurs., Dec. 17 Chanukah Ends on Monday Shacharit 7/8AM Daf Yomi 7:45AM Minchah 4:15PM

Fri., Dec. 18 Shacharit 7/8AM Daf Yomi 7:45AM Candle lighting 4:12PM Minchah 4:20PM

DAILY SERVICES

WOMEN'S TEHILLIM GROUP • Monday, December 21 at 7:15PM. Contact Joyce Weitz for more information at 212-877-1176.

Join Today • It’s Where You Belong Join by December 15 and save 20% on dues

Discount includes a 14-month membership. To apply for membership, visit our website or

pick up a form in the lobby.

Questions? Email our Membership Committee co-chairs Naomi Goldman and Ron Shapiro at

membership@jewishcenter.org.

THE MEMBERSHIP DRIVE HAS BEEN EXTENDED!

WELCOME TO OUR COMMUNITY SCHOLAR DR. ERICA BROWN

WHO IS JOINING US THIS SHABBAT

Please join our growing list of sponsors: Sharon & Clifford Brandeis Lori Zeltser& Len Berman

Rachel Wolf & Andrew Borodach Leslie & Jeffrey Lang

R. Yosie & Rachel Levine Sarah & Stuart Milstein Abby & Marc Posner Barbara & Guy Reiss

Rachel & Daniel Solomons

See the insert for more information.

SIXTH ANNUAL TEEN VS. CLERGY BASKETBALL GAME

SATURDAY NIGHT, DECEMBER 19 AT 7:00PM

SHABBAT, DECEMBER 18 The JC is proud to partner with Manhattan Day School and the Orthodox Union as they host their annual Yachad Shabbaton. Participants will join us

for Kabbalat Shabbat followed by a com-munal Shabbat Dinner. Sponsorship and hospitality opportunities available. For more information and to get involved, contact dzirkind@jewishcenter.org.

YACHAD SHABBTON

Seudah Shlishit: Have the Hellenists Won? Dr.Jekyll and Rabbi Hyde

Sunday Morning 9:30am When Yaakov Met Pharaoh: Genesis 47 as a Metaphor

for Exile and Redemption

To sponsor Kiddush or Seudah Shlishit or a JC event, please contact Aaron at astrum@jewishcenter.org

DAILY (except Shabbat) Israel Friedman Daf Yomi with rotating JCU Faculty, 7:45AM

MONDAY Timing is Everything: Studies in Mesechet Kedushin with Rabbi Dovid Zirkind, 8:00PM

TUESDAY Nosh and Drash with Dr. Adena Berkowitz, 10:15-11:30AM

Jewish History: Judaism in a Christian Empire with Rabbi Ari Lamm, 7:15PM (7th floor) David, King of Israel Sadye and Henry Bayer Chumash Class with Rabbi Yosie Levine will resume on Dec. 15 at 8:00PM

WEDNESDAY Women of the Bible with Rabbi Yosie Levine, 11:00AM

Parshah/Haftarah Round Table with Rabbi Daniel Fridman, 7:15-8:00PM

Advanced Talmud Chabura with Rabbi Daniel Fridman, 8:00PM

The Next Level with Rabbi Mark Wildes, 8:00PM

SHABBAT Rabbi Israel Silverstein Mishnayot Class with Rabbi Yosie Levine, 8:30AM

Hashkama Shiur with rotating JCU Faculty, 9:15AM

Israel Friedman Daf Yomi with rotating JCU Faculty

39 Melachot with Rabbi Dovid Zirkind

Parent-Child Learning with rotating JCU Faculty. Check the bulletin for dates and times

JEWISH CENTER UNIVERSITY FALL • SEMESTER RUNS THROUGH DECEMBER 18 For more information visit our website or contact Rabbi Dovid Zirkind at dzirkind@jewishcenter.org

JC DELEGATION AT THE AIPAC POLICY CONFERENCE March 20-22 in Washington, DC

The AIPAC Policy Conference is the pro-Israel community's preeminent annual gathering. The event attracts more than 16,000 community and student activists from all 50 states, and more than half of the Senate, a third of the House of Represent-atives and countless Israeli and American policymakers and thought leaders. Over three jam-packed days, Policy Confer-ence participants choose from hundreds of informative sessions and participate in the pro-Israel community's largest and most important advocacy conference. Tickets with The JC discount cost $399 per person. Register before December 31 to lock in this deal. Please visit our website to purchase your tickets. Only 16 tickets left.

In celebration of Chanukah, The Jewish Center hosted a special May and Samuel Rudin Lecture featuring Harvard Professor Niall Ferguson, author of Kissinger, The Idealist. His subject, From Refu-gee to the White House: Henry Kissinger and the “American Jewish Journey” spoke to the amazing American Jewish journey and the complex narrative of Kissinger as a historian, politician and Jew. A small number of copies are still available through The Jewish Center office at the discounted price of $20. Please contact the office for more information.

Thank you to everyone who has al-ready responded so generously to our recent Rabbi Jung Fund appeal. If you have not yet contributed or redeemed your pledge, you may do so online or through our office by making a check out to the Rabbi Dr. Leo Jung Memorial Fund.

MAY AND SAMUEL RUDIN LECTURE FEATURING HARVARD PROFESSOR NIALL FERGUSON

RABBI JUNG FUND APPEAL

To advertise or list an announcement in The Jewish Center Bulletin, please contact us at eliane@jewishcenter.org

TEEN GIRLS LOUNGE WITH ERICA BROWN SHABBAT, DECEMBER 11 3rd floor (vestibule) at 7:30PM MUSICAL HAVDALAH SHABBAT, DECEMBER 11 CLERGY VS. TEEN BASKETBALL GAME SATURDAY NIGHT, DECEMBER 19 Come and cheer on your favorite rabbis as they are challenged by our youth players! Sponsorship opportunities available. Teens interested in playing should contact Gaby. See the insert for more infor-mation.

TEEN MINYAN AND HOT KIDDUSH SHABBAT, JANUARY 9TH AT 9:30AM All teens and their friends are welcome to join. Davening will be led by JC teens with guidance from Rabbi Ari Lamm. Following the service, teens will enjoy an amazing hot Kiddush and sushi. For more information or to sponsor the Kiddush, contact Gaby. LASER TAG SATURDAY NIGHT, JANUARY 9, 6:30PM - Ages 7 and up/8:00PM - Teens This sport will keep kids active and engaged while promoting positive game play and teamwork. For prices, sponsorship information and to register, visit our website.

YOUTH DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS & UPDATES For more information contact Jenn & Gaby Minsky at jennandgaby@jewishcenter.org.

MAZAL TOV Chaviva & Andrew Kaplan on their Daughter Einav's Bat Mitzvah, to siblings Barak and Vered, and Bomoma Lily Kaplan. Mazal Tov as well to Safta Eudice Greenfield from Skokie, IL. Judy Marbach on the Bat Mitzvah of her granddaugh-ter, Lily Oberstein. Daniel Mael on his recent engagement to Isabel Tsesarsky. Gladys & Dr. Robert Richter on the birth of a greatgrand-son, born to their grandchil-dren Atara & Sander Gross. Marilyn Rothschild on the birth of her granddaughter Maya Tova, parents of Benjamin & Limor Rothschild. Rabbi Mark & Jill Wildes on the occasion of Yehuda's Bar Mitzvah THANK YOU TO CSS We would like to once again thank CSS and our dedicated CSS members for providing the security for our synagogue this week. THANK YOU TO OUR USHERS Thank you to our ushers Joan Kagan and Darrin Litsky. PLUS LIGHT PROJECT To partner in Tobi Kahn's Plus Light project, visit http://www.jccmanhattan.org/pluslight/

WORLD'S LARGEST JEWISH BOOK SALE, COMPLETELY RUN BY YESHIVA UNIVERSITY STU-DENTS FOR JUST 4 WEEKS A YEAR. WILL TAKE PLACE FROM FEBRUARY 7-28

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

SPECIAL COMMUNITY CHANUKAH ONEG SHABBAT, DECEMBER 11 (7:30-9:00 PM ON THE 4TH FLOOR) Join us for a community oneg featuring divrei Torah from our clergy and a musical performance by Cantor Chaim David Berson. Sponsorship opportunities are available.

A CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION COURSE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BETH DIN OF AMERICA, DOES JEW-

ISH LAW HAVE A PROBLEM WITH FEMALE WITNESSES? [HINT: NO] WITH MICHAEL AVI HELFAND, PH.D. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17 FROM 8:00PM-9:30PM This class is worth 1.5 ethics credits and costs $75. To register, please visit our website. SEUDAH SHLISHIT WITH RABBI PERRI ROSENTHAL SHABBAT, DECEMBER 18 Topic: Understanding the Challenges of Ba'alei Teshuva and their families Rabbi Pinny Rosenthal is a long time Jewish educator with more than 20 years in the Day School Sector. He was the lead guitarist for Shlock Rock for many years. Rabbi Rosenthal currently serves as the Senior Director at Manhattan Jewish Experience

PERFORMANCE BY THREE UPPER WEST SIDE CANTORS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24 AT 8:30PM AT THE JEWISH CENTER Don’t miss this performance by Cantor Zevi Muller of West Side Institutional, Cantor Chaim David Berson of The Jewish Center and Cantor Yanky Lemmer of Lincoln Square Synagogue. Light snacks, sushi, wine and drinks will be served. Visit our website to register. Tickets cost $40 in advance and $50 at the door. Visit our website to register and direct questions to cdberson@jewishcenter.org.

NEW MEMBERS KIDDUSH Shabbat, January 9 following services Our Officers and Rabbis would love to get to know our new members better. All those who joined in 2015 are invited to join for this Kiddush. We hope you will take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to meet one another as we embark on the journey of strengthening our community to-gether.

JEWISH CENTER BOOK CLUB MEETING: THE BETRAYERS BY DAVID BEZMOZGIS Sunday, January 10 at 7:30PM at the home of Dinah & Andy Mendes at 262 Central Park West The Betrayers, David Bezmozgis’ prize-winning (National Jewish Book award 2015), is a page-turner novel about an ex-Soviet Israeli politician who confronts the man who betrayed him to the KGB. Esther Nussbaum will lead the discussion for this meeting. The conversation generates stimu-lating and lively back-and-forth and is followed by refreshments. We welcome new participants. If you have questions please email bookclub@jewishcenter.org

SAVE THE DATE: SHABBAT OF SONG FEATURING SIX13 SHABBAT, JANUARY 15-16 Be a part of this spirited Shabbat which will include lively services, a community Shabbat dinner, and musical Havdalah.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Yosie Levine Rabbi

Dovid Zirkind Assistant Rabbi

Chaim David Berson Cantor

Daniel Fridman Resident Scholar

Ari Lamm Resident Scholar

Erica Brown Community Scholar

Noach Goldstein William Fischman Rabbinic Intern

Aaron Strum Executive Director

Eliane Dreyfuss Glassman Director of Programming

and Communications

Jenn & Gaby Minsky Youth Directors

OFFICERS Avi Schwartz President

Andrew Borodach First Vice President

Andrew Kaplan Vice President

Mark Segall Vice President

Rose Lynn Sherr Vice President

Michael Jacobs Assistant

Vice President

Yaron Kinar Treasurer

Len Berman Assistant Treasurer

Miri Lipsky Secretary

Ilana Gadish Yoetzet Halacha 646-598-1080

nycyoetzet@gmail.com

Jewish Center Chevra Kadisha

212-724-2700 x555

UWS Mikvah 212-579-2011

Hatzalah 212-230-1000

Eruv Status 212-724-2700 x4

Clergy & Staff

Phone Numbers

Rabbi Ari Lamm, Resident Scholar Maccabean Exceptionalism

DOWNLOAD THE JC APP Visit our website for more

The Mishnah (BQ 6.6) indicates that Chanukah is such

a thoroughly public holiday that although citizens

would normally be discouraged from bringing fire into

common spaces – and be held responsible for any dam-

age that might result – Chanukah is an exception.

While throughout the rest of the year, some unsuspect-

ing camel driver colliding with a flame placed in the

local market could rightly claim to have had the right

of way, on Chanukah, the Mishnah reasons that our

unfortunate driver should have anticipated that even the

main thoroughfares would be filled with candles.

This particular mishnah is concerned with the laws of

damages and therefore confines itself to determining

what responsibilities the public has towards those who

celebrate Chanukah. But moving beyond the realm of

civil law, it seems to me that the Mishnah encourages

us to ask in response: what responsibilities do we who

celebrate Chanukah have towards the public?

One of the curious things about the Maccabean Revolt

against Seleucid rule – the holiday’s central narrative –

is how inexplicable the whole thing has seemed to his-

torians. Speaking for a long tradition of scholarship,

Oxford professor Fergus Millar wrote in 1978, “What

happened under Antiochus Epiphanes was…both an

exception to an undeniable general pattern and a break

with the established relations between the Seleucid

kings and Jerusalem.” That is, the various Hellenistic

regimes had built reputations for tolerance both of reli-

gious and ethnic diversity generally, and for the Jews in

particular. Earlier (and some later) scholars had taken

this as a cue to downplay Seleucid persecution under

Antiochus IV and point to other explanations – some

more fanciful than others – for the revolt. Millar, how-

ever, argued (persuasively in my view) that, as a matter

of methodology, we are stuck with the evidence that we

have. And that evidence overwhelmingly pointed to

Seleucid persecution of Jews – in particular, religious

coercion – as the cause for the Maccabean uprising.

But note Millar’s conclusion: “It is best to confess,

however, that there seems no way of reaching an un-

derstanding of how Antiochus came to take a step so

profoundly at variance with the normal assumptions of

government in his time.”

Indeed, we can imagine that Jews on the eve of the

Maccabean Revolt must have watched with horrified

incomprehension as their once stable political world

crumbled around them. After all, in a wide, wild world,

the Hellenistic kingdoms found little that they couldn’t

accommodate. For a long time, this included Jews. But

with the onset of the persecutions under Antiochus IV,

Jews must have wondered despairingly why they were

all of a sudden the exceptions that historians now rec-

ognize they were. Needless to say the consequences of

this disconnect between a culture’s customary tolera-

tion and its vindictiveness in one particular instance

had terrible, bloody consequences. And while the Jews

would win a great victory over the Seleucids (which we

justly celebrate), that victory would be short-lived, as

the society that those Jews then built quickly proceeded

to devour itself from the inside.

Much like our ancestors, we too live in a society that

prides itself on its aspirations to tolerance and

kindheartedness towards others. But as Chanukah

teaches us all too well, this toleration is not to be taken

for granted. So, to return to my initial question: what

responsibilities do we who celebrate Chanukah have

towards the public? It seems to me that our responsibil-

ity is quite simply to do our level best to guarantee that

that American tolerance and openness continues to

remain available to all.

JOIN ONE OF OUR MAILING LISTS Did you know that many of our committees have listserves? Would you like to join one of them? If so, either email the committee chairs or visit our website’s homepage or join a mailing list.

A special Hakarat Hatov to the “Jewish Center Family” for their friendship,

support, and loyalty during our Wife, Mother, and Sister’s struggle for the last four months.

PAPILSKY & GROSSMAN FAMILIES

THE LAWS AND CUSTOMS OF CHANUKAH: A BRIEF OVERVIEW RABBI DOVID ZIRKIND

Chanukah commemorates the spiritual and military victory of the Maccabees over the Syrian Greeks and Hellenized Jews.

It begins on the eve of the 25th of Kislev, corresponding (this year) to Sunday night, December 6, 2015 through Monday night, December 14, 2015. The following is a list of important laws to help fulfill the beautiful mitzvot of

Chanukah in the optimal manner.

LIGHTING THE MENORAH 1. Ideally, every member of the household, including younger children capable of understanding the concept of Chanukah,

should light his or her own menorah. Married women may fulfill their obligation to light through their husbands, but may also light the menorah individually.

2. Those sleeping at the home of another over Chanukah should furnish their own Menorah and candles/oil. In the event that they cannot do so, they may join in the kindling done by the household members and should contribute a small amount of money to become a partner in the lighting.

3. Often, people are invited out for a Chanukah party, wedding or similar event into the evening hours. If they plan on returning home later in the evening, they should light at home even if the hour is late. A visitor away from home should light in the place where he is sleeping, even if all his or her meals are eaten elsewhere and even if one will arrive home late.

4. The menorah should be lit at tzeit hakochavim (nightfall) and should continue burning for 30 minutes. Tzeit hakochavim is approximately 42 minutes following sunset - for the week of Chanukah in New York City, at about 5:15PM. Ideally, one should not become involved in any activity within a reasonable amount of time before sunset, including eating, and it is preferable to daven Maariv before this time as well.

5. If one has to leave the house, it is permitted to extinguish the candles after they have burnt for half an hour after tzeit hakochavim. Upon returning, there is no need to rekindle the lights though it certainly is permitted to do so. If the flames die out before the proper amount of time has elapsed, they should be rekindled without any additional blessing.

6. In the event that one is unable to light at the optimal time, candles may be lit later, even if one arrives home after eve-ryone has gone to sleep. There is no need to wake anyone up for candle lighting.

7. Shalom bayit is a paramount value in Halacha, and therefore it is permissible (and even encouraged) to delay lighting Chanukah candles until one’s spouse arrives at home even if that will not take place at the halachically optimal time.

8. Traveling during Chanukah can present issues regarding lighting Chanukah candles, depending on when the travel takes place and for how long, to where and whether anyone is still at home. Each situation is unique, so if this applies to you, please contact the JC Clergy and we look forward to discussing it with you further.

THE CANDLES AND THE BLESSINGS

1. All oils and candles are permitted for use in the Menorah; however it is preferable to light with olive oil, ideally with wicks made of cotton or linen. New wicks are not needed every night. If one is using store-bought olive oil, one should declare explicitly that it is not being used solely for Chanukah candles. Oil left over in the receptacles after the Menorah has been lit for the requisite amount of time may be thrown out, or used the next night.

2. The candle holders or oil receptacles should be positioned in one level and on a straight line. The lights are placed in the menorah from right to left before kindling and are lit from left to right.

3. Menorot may be kindled anywhere inside one’s home. Optimally, they should face outside, or should be in one’s doorway (inside or outside) opposite the mezuzah. Care should be taken in the placement of the Menorah, as it is forbidden to move it once it is lit. Safety should also be a paramount concern when it comes to candle lighting, so the menorah should not be placed on or near anything flammable, precarious or otherwise dangerous.

EREV SHABBAT

1. On Erev Shabbat, there should be sufficient oil or candle-length, enough that the menorah can burn 30 minutes after nightfall. Because Shabbat is accepted when Shabbat candles are lit, one must light the Menorah before the Shabbat candles.

2. On Motzei Shabbat in shul, the Menorah is lit followed by Havdalah. In one’s home, Havdalah is recited first, followed by lighting the Chanukah candles.

PRAYERS

1. The prayer of על הנסים/Al Hanissim, is inserted in both the Shemoneh Esrai and Birkat Hamazon; in the event that it is omitted, one need not repeat either prayer.