PSJC Commemorative Journal
PSJC Commemorative Journal
PSJC Commemorative Journal
Park Slope Jewish Center, November 13–14, 2010 / Kislev 6–7, 5771
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Psalm 1:1–3
This sparkling celebration of the 10th anniversary of our community’s
partnership with Rabbi Carie Carter reflects many facets of who we
are and of the remarkable person who has been our spiritual leader
for ten years. We are sharing ritual and tradition, enjoying beautiful
music, gathering in friendship over fine foods, learning together,
and rededicating a sefer Torah. Just as our community grows on the
foundation of its history, our gala brings together our past and our
present as we embark on our future.
Like so many projects, this celebration was made possible by the work
of many dedicated people, each doing what it takes to make an event
shine. I will do my best to thank everyone who contributed to this effort,
and I ask forgiveness of those whom I have inadvertently omitted—
believe me, everyone’s help made a difference, and every effort is
deeply appreciated.
Finally, without Rabbi Carter, we would not have this wonderful occasion
to celebrate. Thank you for everything that you are and that you do, for
and with us.
Florence Hutner
Chair
Rabbi Carie Carter
Ten years of inspired leadership
The Park Slope Jewish Center has been privileged for the last ten years
to have Rabbi Carie Carter’s steady hand at the helm, and her ready
smile and inspiring presence among us. In some ways, it feels as though
Rabbi Carter has been our leader and friend forever. At the same time,
we still remember her first weeks and months as she absorbed the
quirks of Brooklyn and of PSJC, traveling everywhere with her beloved
pug Buddy, guiding us as surely through times of joy as she did through
the unimaginable sadness and fear of September 11, 2001.
Thank you for the kindness and generosity of spirit you have shown me
(and my family, Eden and Noa, and of course my dogs, Buddy and Tali)
over the last ten years.
At PSJC, I found presidents and boards, leaders, with whom I could dream
and an amazing number of people who would step up, day in and day out
to make those dreams a reality. I found fellow teachers and students ready
to join in learning and exploring the texts and textures of Jewish tradition.
I found people ready to share their skills, their talents, and their wisdom
with this community. I have been privileged to share the bima with shlichei
tzibbur of great spirit and integrity, people whose melody and soul help lift
us to heights difficult to describe. I have been honored to quietly sit and
talk with people of great depth and soul. And for that, I am grateful.
From the first day I walked through these doors, I knew that there was
something special at PSJC. And it was you, this Kahal (Community), the
individuals who come together in this space . . . to pray, to work, to shlep
and clean, to learn, to sing and to explore, to eat and to schmooze, to help
one another, to support those we don’t know, to simply be together . . . in
short, to create a real community—a community of which I am truly
honored to be a part.
Carie
Rabbi Carie Carter
Dear Friends,
One episode stands out in my life that gives a small taste of Rabbi
Carter’s focus and commitment. When my mother passed away several
years ago, Rabbi Carter asked if she could come over and see us before
we left town for the funeral in Scranton. While she may have wanted to
speak with me, she made it clear that she really wanted to spend time
with our children, hear what was on their minds. Mimi sat on the couch
and quietly evoked favorite memories of her grandmother: playing in
Bubby’s apartment, appreciating the clothes Bubby had bought her,
and the delicious meatloaf that waited for her every time we visited.
Jacob answered Rabbi Carter in between back flips on the floor. He
spoke matter-of-factly that once Bubby died, her soul, like all others,
would be placed into the body of a newborn baby and then, live
forever. “So, how long has Jacob believed in reincarnation?” Rabbi C.
asked. I didn’t know what to say. I had never heard about it till then. We
laughed; we cried. What else is new?
to us. Her tireless care and concern for us—all of us, especially the
children, and indeed, “kol yoshvei tevel” (all the inhabitants of the
earth) is truly inspiring. She constantly works to help us become better
people. With her stirring Divrei Torah during Shabbat and holiday
services, she manages to gently focus us on what really matters, with
humility, generosity, and wisdom.
Fondly,
Esther Schwalb
President, Park Slope Jewish Center
Shalom,
It is my honor to send warm wishes and a hearty mazal tov to Rabbi Carie Carter
and the PSJC family for the 10 years she has served as your rabbi. Her caring,
intellect, and creativity have helped PSJC continue to blossom into a community
that welcomes people to Jewishly grow together.
On a personal level, every time I returned to visit the PSJC community, Rabbi
Carter warmly welcomed me. It is a pleasure for me to see and hear how she is
helping PSJC grow into this new phase of shul life.
I send Rabbi Carter, her family and the entire PSJC community blessings from
Jerusalem for a joyous celebration.
L’shalom,
Julie
Rabbi Julie K. Gordon
Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Perachya says, “Make for yourself a teacher and acquire
for yourself a friend, and judge each person favorably.”
In the ten years since
Rabbi Carter came to PSJC, she has been both friend and teacher to me.
We join together annually for Selichot, as our congregations become one
community in penance and reflection. Otherwise, we meet infrequently, but
when we do we share the joys and woes of rabbis in neighboring and similar
congregations, and those of our own lives as well. By observing her, I have
learned and re-learned Ben Perachya’s lesson to judge each person favorably,
as she is so often a model for that teaching. It has been a true blessing to be
Rabbi Carter’s colleague and friend, and I look forward to more! May she,
Eden and Noa continue to thrive as a family, and may the family that is the
Park Slope Jewish Center continue to flourish under her leadership.
It has been my honor to have been Carie’s friend for more than twenty
years, when we first began our rabbinic program together in Los
Angeles, at what is now called the American Jewish University. I know
twenty years is a long time, but I can tell you that Carie’s kindness,
warmth, honesty, positive attitude, and clarity of vision have been
constants from that time to this. I also say, with envy, that she does not
look a day older than the first time I met her in late August of 1989,
which is really unfair!
B’ahava,
Ten years ago, there was a new rabbi coming to the Slope. Little did I
know that she would become a colleague in the fullest sense of that word:
I have more patience, ask more questions, and listen more attentively,
thanks to you.
Mazal tov!!
Sue (aka Rabbi Oren)
Yashir Ko’ach!
Rabbi Sam Weintraub
Kane Street Synagogue
From Colleagues and Friends | page 11
From Colleagues and Friends | page 13
Shoshanah King-Tornberg
Nine years ago Rabbi Carter became my rabbi. Since then she has
walked me through becoming a Jew, standing under the chuppah and
having children. Carie has a gentle way of saying what needs to be done
without forgetting who the person is or the situation they are in. This type
of compassionate leadership has assisted in smooth transitions through my
life cycle events as well as everyday life. I always consider it a blessing to
have found PSJC and my rabbi, Rabbi Carter.
Laura King-Tornberg
From Colleagues and Friends | page 15
It is my privilege to congratulate Rabbi
Carter on this remarkable achievement.
May the Almighty grant her the strength
to continue her extraordinary leadership at
the Park Slope Jewish Center for many
years to come!
Dear Carie—
While I have often suggested that being around you makes me feel
tall (and I couldn’t not make a short person joke so I hope you’ll
understand . . . the truth is that being around you always makes me feel
privileged. During the time we overlapped at JTS and in the years
since you came to your senses and returned to New York City, I have
thought of you as one of the warmest, kindest and most deeply spiritual
people I know. Of course, coming from me “spiritual” might be seen
as something less than a compliment but I use it because you are one
of the rare ones who really and truly exude a sense of deep spirituality
without a hint of feeling superior. Lest this seem to be a tribute to a
priggish, pious sort—and I would avoid such a person like the plague—
let me add that you are blessed with a sense of humor and what I like to
think of as “gentle candor”. You have weathered some storms without
becoming cynical and have succeeded in your life and in your work
because sometimes the good guys win!!
May you have as many more years in the pulpit as you wish and may the
esteemed denizens of Park Slope realize that it became a classy place
to live precisely when you moved in!
Ad meah v’esrim!
Carol Levithan
JTS ‘95
Keter donors | page 29
Thank You
rabbi carie
for your ten years of
leadership and inspiration
in gratitude,
the nachman-schulman family
Still taking our inspiration from the Torah and
its adornments, the Park Slope Jewish Center
specially thanks our yad ci donors, whose ads
are bordered in green. Like the yad, the pointer—
literally “hand”—that marks our place in the Torah,
these donors showed the way by rising to the
occasion and making generous donations to help
make this celebration possible.
Yad donors | page 33
We appreciate and applaud your steady hand, great heart, deep love, and
seemingly limitless capacity to see each person as an individual. Your ability
to rejoice with us in good times and support us in difficult ones is a great gift
to this community. In the ten years you have been among us, we have watched
you grow from strength to strength, even as you have helped our community
grow—in numbers, in strength, and in purpose.
Kol HaKavod.
Rabbi Carter:
From the
Scott-Hennings
Live Sound Engineer available
for Weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs,
and Corporate Events.
Reasonable Rates.
Equipment and Transportation
included.
Contact Info:
David Gregory
[email protected]
646-226-3152
Congratulations
When Jesse and I walked into the Park Slope Jewish Center
almost exactly nine years ago this evening, we could not
have anticipated how important this shul would become
to our family.
Jesse, then 4, was game for a Friday night adventure with his
mother, and his mother was searching for anything that would
soften the reality of what had occurred in lower Manhattan
two weeks before.
Ellen, Michael,
Banjo and Caleb Sande
Donors | page 65
Carie,
We love you.
Mom and Dad
Brian and Jill
Presidents,
Larry Isaacson
Michael T. Sucher
Donors | page 71
Congrats!
Carie Carter
Carie,
718-965-2817 phone/fax
email: [email protected]
Mazol-Tov Rabbi Carter,
We wish you, Eden & Noa good health in
the coming years.
We look forward to your service
Our Congratulations as Rabbi of the PSJC community
for many many more years.
to Rabbi Carie Carter
Sincerely Eve & Ralph Blatt
for 10 years
of inspired service.
Dear Rabbi Carie
Best wishes from Mazal Tov on reaching a 10-year milestone! May
Slope Cellars you continue to be an inspiration to us all.
Best,
The Oranim Daycare Family
[email protected]
tel:347-267-4179
Congratulations to
Like so many projects, this celebration was made possible by the work
of many dedicated people, each doing what it takes to make an event
shine. I will do my best to thank everyone who contributed to this effort,
and I ask forgiveness of those whom I have inadvertently omitted—
believe me, everyone’s help made a difference, and every effort is
deeply appreciated.