Summer is almost upon us, and once again our Jewish community calendar is bursting at the seams. This month we celebrate the holiday of Shavuot and the 50th anniversary of the Six Day War. This issue of JLink includes special sections on both of these events as well as a guide to Jewish camps in Greater Hartford.

As always, we welcome your submissions and feedback on JLink. To contribute your news or share your thoughts, please contact our editor, Susannah MacNeil, at [email protected] .

President and CEO
Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford
Chag Shavuot Sameach - A Joyous Shavuot!
May 30 - June 1

Why We Eat Cheesecake on Shavuot
Shavuot, the Festival of Weeks, is one of three major pilgrimage festivals established in the Torah (Passover and Sukkot are the others). During Shavuot, Jews traveled to the Temple in Jerusalem to make sacrifices and give thanks for the bounty of the land.  It coincides with the first wheat harvest in the late spring. The holiday later became associated with the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. On Shavuot, it's traditional to eat stay up all night studying Torah (a practice called Tikkun Leil Shavuot), eat dairy foods, and read from the Book of Ruth. This year, Shavuot begins at sundown on Tuesday, May 30. Come out and join the fun!

Farmington Valley Jewish Congregation, Temple Sinai of Newington, and Congregation Beth Israel will hold a joint Tikkun Leil Shavuot celebration on Tuesday, May 30 at 7:00 p.m. at Congregation Beth Israel. The program will begin with a community gathering, followed by concurrent study sessions on topics including "The Music of Shavuot," "The Ten Commandments" and "Spiritual Wanderings." The evening concludes with a service and an ice cream social. Congregation Beth Israel is located at 701 Farmington Avenue in West Hartford. To learn more, please call the Beth Israel office at 860.233.8215.

Temple B'nai Abraham of Meriden and Beth Israel Synagogue of Wallingford will together hold a Tikkun Leil Shavuot celebration on Tuesday, May 30 at 7:00 p.m. at Beth Israel Synagogue, located at 22 North Orchard Street in Wallingford. Speakers will include Rabbi Michael Kohn of B'nai Abraham, Rabbis Bruce Alpert and Hesch Sommer of Beth Israel, and members of both synagogues.  Refreshments will be served, including Rabbi Kohn's famous cheesecake. Please contact the Temple B'nai Abraham office at 203.235.2581 or Beth Israel Synagogue at 203.269.5983 to RSVP or for further information.

Young Israel of West Hartford  invites you to come stay up all night on Tuesday, May 30 to celebrate receiving the Torah with a marathon of exciting classes, study sessions, food and friends. From 11:35 p.m. Tuesday to 4:45 a.m. Wednesday, there are classes for adults and also for teens (in partnership with JTConnect). The shul will also hold its annual Parent & Child Learning program on Wednesday, May 31 from 5:00 to 6:15 p.m., with separate programs for grades 1-4 and 5-8. On Thursday, June 1 at noon, there will be a BBQ Luncheon, and the holiday wraps up with the 25th Annual Yahrzeit Memorial Lecture on "Is There a Mitzvah to Bring Mashiach?" with Scholar-in-Residence Rabbi Yosef Bronstein at 7:05 p.m.  All programs will be held at the shul, which is located at 2240 Albany Avenue in West Hartford. Click here for event details.
Federation 2017 Annual Campaign Update 

With five weeks remaining in the campaign year, Federation's Annual Campaign is ahead of last year's pace. So far we've raised $3,517,997 from 1,922 gifts! Every gift makes a difference, so please consider contributing if you haven't already. Your campaign contribution helps to support programs at more than 20 partner agencies here in Greater Hartford, in Israel, and around the world as well as Federation's unique leadership, education, Israel advocacy and social justice programs. A generous donor has also offered a $100,000 match on any increased or new gifts - which means your gift goes farther! You can give online or contact Elizabeth Appelman, Vice President of Development, at 860.727.6123 or [email protected].
Young Families: Apply by June 30 for a PJ Library Get Together Grant! 

Greater Hartford is among a select group of PJ Library® communities in the U.S. and Canada chosen to participate in the PJ Library Get Together grants program, which gives local families up to $150 to create their own Jewish experiences with friends. In other communities, Get Togethers have included Shabbat-themed experiences, baking and crafts activities, book clubs and parents-only evenings. Greater Hartford families with children enrolled in PJ Library (ages 6 months to 8 years) or PJ Our Way™ (ages 9 to 11) are invited to apply; applications close on Friday, June 30. (To enroll a child, click the links in the previous sentence.) To learn more about Get Together grants, contact Susan Lentini at [email protected]. You're also invited to visit PJ Library Greater Hartford on Facebook for all the latest programs and activities. PJ Library of Greater Hartford is facilitated by the Mandell JCC; books for local families are a gift from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation with local funding from the Jewish Community Foundation advised by the Zachs Family and from the Lions of Judah, part of Federation's Women's Philanthropy Division.
Jessie's Community Gardens' Planting Season Gets Under Way 

Staff and volunteers from Jewish Family Services of Greater Hartford came out on Friday, May 19, to prepare Jessie's Community Gardens on the Zachs Campus in West Hartford for a new gardening season. Jessie's Community Gardens were established by the Kostin family in 2010 to honor the memory of Jessica Kostinz"l; the gardens grow nutritious produce that is distributed to local people in need through the Anja Rosenberg Kosher Food Pantry at Jewish Family Services. Today there are more than a dozen Jessie's Community Gardens across Greater Hartford, supported by friends and family, faith communities, and the Federation's Jewish Community Relations Council.  To learn more or to get involved, please contact Jo Schubert at 860.727.6139 or [email protected].
June 4: Nolan Altman, JewishGen's VP of Data Acquisition, to Speak at Jewish Genealogical Society

Jewish Genealogical Society of Connecticut invites you to a free program on Jewish genealogy with Nolan Altman, JewishGen's Vice President of Data Acquisition, on Sunday, June 4, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Altman will share helpful information and insights based on his many years of involvement as Coordinator for JewishGen's Holocaust Database and for the JewishGen Online Worldwide Burial Registry (JOWBR). He will discuss the importance of Jewish cemetery records and show how information and symbols found on headstones can add detail and color to your family research. The program will be held at JGSCT's home, Temple Sinai, 41 West Hartford Road, Newington. JSGCT's library is also housed at Temple Sinai; visitors may peruse the books in the library and Society members may borrow items other than reference books and historical materials. To learn more, visit www.jgsct.org.
June 4: Hadassah Connecticut Region Presents a Community Forum on Violence Against Women 

Hadassah Connecticut Region invites you to hear survivors and advocates speak about domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual assault on Sunday, June 4, from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. at the Courtyard Marriott in Cromwell. Speakers will include Connie Cirillo Freeman, Advocacy Team Leader for National Hadassah; Sheila Horvitz, Founder of The Power of Purple Campaign - An End to Domestic Violence; Gayle Weinstein, Board President of The Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling and Education; Jillian Gilchrest, Director of Health Professional Outreach at Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Tina Fitch, Coordinator of Sexual Violence and Clinical Services at The Center for Family Justice; and Leonela Cruz-Ahuatl, Program Manager for the Project Rescue Anti-Trafficking Program at the International Institute of CT. This program is free and open to the public; we ask that you bring donations of new toiletries for domestic violence shelters in Connecticut. Kindly RSVP for planning purposes by clicking here. For more information, please email [email protected] or call 203.307.1319.
June 4 and June 9: Barshay Music Festival and Shabbat under the Stars at The Emanuel Synagogue

Richie Barshay
The Emanuel Synagogue will present The Sharon Barshay Community Music Festival 2017 on Sunday, June 4, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on the synagogue lawn at 160 Mohegan Drive in West Hartford. The free festival features West Hartford native Richie Barshay on drums with the Damian Curtis Project; Michael Winograd playing Klezmer; and the Dolunay Trio performing Turkish folk music. Food by Yosi Kosher Catering will be available for purchase. In case of rain, the concert will be held indoors. Click here for more information. The community is also invited to a family-friendly Outdoor Shabbat Service and BBQ Dinner on Friday, June 9. Snacks & Schmooze and kids' activities will begin at 5:15 p.m., followed by a service at 6:00 and dinner at 7:00 (vegetarian option available). All are welcome; prospective synagogue members are free. Please register by June 2 by clicking here. The synagogue is also pleased to announce that Barbara Fink has accepted the newly updated position of school principal. Barbara has extensive experience in both formal and informal Jewish and secular teaching. To learn more about The Emanuel Synagogue School, contact Barbara Fink at 860.233.2774 or [email protected].
Be Part of the "Faces of Federation" Campaign!

Jewish Federation is united by our core values: leaving the world better than we found it, helping those less fortunate, learning from the wisdom of our tradition and treating each other with dignity. We're celebrating those values in our "Faces of Federation" campaign - and you are invited to participate! Just review these important guidelines, then submit your photo and a brief quote (75 words or less) about why you support Federation to Susannah MacNeil at [email protected]. The campaign will run through June 30 and will be featured online and at the Federation's Annual Meeting on June 13.
June 5: JFACT to Hold Jewish Heritage Celebration at the State Capitol

The Jewish Federation Association of Connecticut invites the entire community to attend a Jewish Heritage Month celebration on Monday, June 5 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Old Judiciary Room at the State Capitol, 210 Capitol Avenue, Hartford. The reception will include refreshments, a pictorial history of Connecticut's Jewish community, and a visual display commemorating the resilience, perseverance and impact of Connecticut's Jewish farmers throughout history. It is co-sponsored by Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford, Jewish Community Foundation, and a number of other organizations across the state. Kindly RSVP to Ayelet Weber at [email protected].
Remembering the Six Day War: 50 Years Later

After a period of increasing tensions, military buildup, and outright statements of war by Egypt and Syria, on June 5, 1967, Israel launched a series of pre-emptive airstrikes and ground offensives. Later that day, Jordanian forces attacked Israel. Although surrounded by hostile nations with much larger armed forces, in a few short days Israel greatly expanded its territory, seizing the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights. Jews around the world were astonished by the power and speed of the Israel Defense Forces and bursting with pride for the young Jewish state. This year, Greater Hartford commemorates the Six Day War's 50th anniversary with local programs and a special video collaboration.

June 23: Chai Society Forum on the Six-Day War with University of Hartford Professor Avi Patt, Ph.D.

On Friday, June 23 at 7:30 p.m., Beth El Temple's Chai Society will host a forum about the 50th anniversary of the Six-Day War, led by Avi Patt, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Judaic Studies at the University of Hartford. The Chai Society is Beth El's group for dynamic adults age 55 and older - but all ages are welcome at Chai Society programs. Beth El Temple is located at 2626 Albany Avenue in West Hartford. For more information, please contact the Beth El office at 860.233.9696. 


"Countdown to the Six Day War" Video Series

Countdown to the Six Day War
Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford is participating in a special video project, "Countdown to the Six Day War." The project is a series of 12 short videos with historical content supervised by Professor Kenneth W. Stein of the Center for Israel Education and Emory University. One video will be released each week leading up to the anniversary week; beginning on June 4, one video will be released each day. Three videos have been released so far; click here to view them or to be notified of new videos. Countdown to the Six Day War is a partnership of The Jerusalem Post, JerusalemU, the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA), the Israel Action Network (IAN), and the Center for Israel Education.

Congregation Beth Israel Offers "Sefer Summer" for Elementary School Students 

Congregation Beth Israel's second year of Sefer Summer is here! Last year, eighteen students in grades pre-K through 6 read at least three Jewish-themed books and earned great prizes. This year, CBI wants even more participants! Pick up an informational packet at the synagogue and visit our Learning Center for recommended books, all available for checkout. Choose from graphic and comic books, age-appropriate books about social justice topics, and beautifully illustrated books with compelling stories that have Jewish values. Parents and caregivers, you may be tempted to read some yourself! Completed packets are due Sunday, September 17, and prizes will be awarded on Sunday, September 24. CBI is located at 701 Farmington Avenue in West Hartford. Click here to learn more.
Jewish Family Services Board Chair and Clinician Honored as Family Champions 

From left: Jennifer Passaro 
and Merrill Mandell
Together with the Connecticut Council of Family Service Agencies (CCFSA), Jewish Family Services of Greater Hartford (JFS) is pleased to name JFS Board Chair Merrill Mandell and JFS clinician Jennifer Passaro as CCFSA Family Champions. The award recognizes 30 individuals statewide whose talent, dedication and leadership have made a significant impact, forever changing the lives of children and families. JFS Executive Director Anne Danaher says, "Merrill and Jennifer achieved this honor in their own personal way, by demonstrating the best of what JFS has to offer to our community - consistently giving more, reaching further, and helping JFS families to embrace possibility." Merrill and Jenn will be honorary guests at CCFSA's Celebration of Family Champions on June 7. The gathering provides CCFSA and member agencies an opportunity to recognize those individuals who have gone above and beyond to strengthen and support families in Connecticut.
UConn Students & Hillel Wrap Up a 10-Day Birthright Trip to Israel 

UConn students are about to wrap up their 10-day trip to Israel on Birthright with UConn Hillel! From their first night on a kibbutz in the North to sleeping in a Bedouin tent and riding camels in the South to taking part in a Tel Aviv Festival with thousands of other Birthright participants, they are getting to see firsthand all that Israel has to offer! While this is the end for many of the students, freshman Shelly Silver and sophomore Miriam Katz, both of West Hartford, will be staying to intern in a marketing department and to research neurogenetics, respectively. To follow all of the exciting things happening with UConn Hillel, like us on Facebook!
June 6: Beth El Temple Honors Nancy and Rabbi Jim Rosen

Join Beth El Temple on Tuesday, June 6, to honor Nancy and Rabbi Jim Rosen in celebration of their 25 years of service. The celebration begins at 7:00 p.m. at the synagogue, located at 2626 Albany Avenue, West Hartford. Nationally acclaimed social justice leaders Rabbi Francine Green Roston and Deacon Arthur Miller are the evening's featured speakers. Rabbi Roston left her New Jersey congregation for the small town of Whitefish, Montana, where she expected to maintain a low profile. Instead, she ended up battling hate and anti-Semitism; Whitefish is the hometown of white nationalist leader Richard Spencer. Deacon Arthur Miller has literally practiced what he preaches here in the Hartford community. His message of "radical love" bridges socioeconomic divides, suburban-urban distances, and faith differences. A dessert reception follows. Come together with our Beth El, Solomon Schechter and Greater Hartford communities for an evening of inspiration and celebration. For details, ticket prices and registration, click here.
June 7: Hebrew High School of New England's Annual Unity 5K Color Run

Join Hebrew High School of New England for the Third Annual 5K Unity Color Run on June 7! The event begins with 5:30 p.m. registration on the HHNE campus at 300 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford. At 6:00 p.m. we cross over to the Zachs Campus, and the run starts at 6:15. A celebration follows. Options are available for 2.5K and 5K routes. Registration is open to individuals and teams; walkers are welcome. Teens and families are encouraged to participate! To learn more or to register, click here.
June 8 and June 16 & 18: "A Woman's Experience in the IDF" and Hadassah Greater Hartford Tag Sale

Michal Abramoff, the Mandell JCC Shlicha/Director of Israel Programs will speak at Hadassah Greater Hartford's June 8 program. The program, which is free and open to the public, begins at 7:00 pm at Beth El Temple, 2626 Albany Avenue, West Hartford.  Please call 860.232.9950 with any questions. Hadassah Greater Hartford also invites you to stop by 85 Riggs Avenue in West Hartford on Friday and Sunday, June 16 and 18, between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. for our Tag Sale. Whether you donate your time or your gently used items, the success of this sale depends on you!  Hadassah is collecting gently used household items, collectibles, toys, and clothing (excellent condition only, please).  Contact Helen at 860.561.2944 or [email protected] to arrange a drop-off of donated items or to volunteer at the sale. Women who are interested in learning more about Hadassah are invited to join the Greater Hartford Hadassah Facebook group.
June 8 and June 23: Goodwin College President Mark Scheinberg to Speak at Charter Oak Cultural Center; Concert of Jazz Standards

On Thursday, June 8, President Mark Scheinberg of Goodwin College will address the graduating class of The BOTS Center for Creative Learning at Charter Oak Cultural Center. The BOTS Center provides people in the homeless community with a free, mostly arts-based education. Thanks to a partnership with Goodwin College, graduates of the BOTS Center are eligible for full scholarships to the College upon their graduation from the program. To learn more, please call Rabbi Donna Berman at 860.573.7007. On June 23, the Center invites you to an evening celebrating the music of Orice Jenkins, whose jazz compositions were made famous by Nat "King" Cole and others. The concert will take place at 7:00 p.m. at the Center, at 21 Charter Oak Avenue in Hartford. Tickets are $18; student discounts are available. Click here to learn more. Located in Connecticut's oldest synagogue building, the Charter Oak Cultural Center was founded in the 1970s. It reaffirms Jewish engagement in Hartford while serving a multi-ethnic urban neighborhood and contributing to a downtown arts revival.
June 11: Annual "Giant Tag Sale" Fundraiser at Congregation Beth Ahm

Congregation Beth Ahm members are gearing up to host one of Greater Hartford's largest tag sale fundraisers. The tag sale will be held indoors and outdoors, rain or shine, on Sunday, June 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the synagogue on 362 Palisado Ave. (Route 159) in Windsor. Admission is free and all are welcome. The tag sale features hundreds of items from dozens of families - all in one place - including furniture, appliances, electronics, guitars, bicycles, sports equipment, jewelry, toys, housewares and books, as well as gently worn clothing. Congregation Beth Ahm is a Modern Conservative congregation that welcomes Jewish and interfaith families from across Greater Hartford. Windsor's only synagogue, it was formed by 16 families in 1951 and initially was known as The Jewish Community of Greater Windsor. To learn more about the Giant Tag Sale or the congregation, please call synagogue office at 860.688.9989 or visit www.congregationbethahm.org.
June 13: "Davening Do's and Don'ts" with Temple Beth Hillel Cantor Scott Harris

Have you ever wondered when and why we stand, sit, bend our knees and bow during prayer? Join Cantor Scott Harris of Temple Beth Hillel on Tuesday, June 13 at 7:00 p.m. for "Davening Do's and Don'ts" and learn the answers! Cantor Harris will explain the whys and wherefores of our rituals and the choreography of our services. All are welcome at this free program presented by the Adult Education Committee. Temple Beth Hillel is a Reform Synagogue located at 20 Baker Lane in South Windsor. For more information, contact the synagogue office at 860.282.8466 or [email protected].
June 13: Federation Annual Meeting 

Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford will hold its Annual Meeting on Tuesday, June 13 at 7:00 p.m. at Congregation Beth Israel, 701 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford. In addition to electing officers, Board members and new Community and Life Trustees, the meeting will feature the presentation of the Henry M. Zachs Spirit of Judaism Award to Sharon Conway, Sara deBeer and Nancy Rosen, and Jeffrey I. Bergen z"l; the presentation of the Innovation Award; and the presentation of the CJEL Jewish Education Awards. An ice cream social will follow. Kindly RSVP by June 6 to Linda Toce at [email protected] or 860.727.6112.
June 14: Beth Sholom B'nai Israel Brotherhood Holds Todd Abitz Memorial Golf Tournament 

Please join the BSBI Brotherhood and Manchester Brotherhood In Action to golf and raise funds for charitable causes on Wednesday, June 14 at Blackledge Country Club in Hebron. This is the 21st year that the BSBI Men's Club has sponsored the tournament. It honors the memory of Todd Abitz, who was instrumental in starting and sustaining a charity golf tournament to benefit the hungry locally and in Israel. Sign-in and brunch begin at 8:30 a.m. followed by a shotgun start at 10:00 a.m. The day includes a hot dog lunch, beer and soda all day, and a full buffet dinner. There will be a live auction, a raffle and tournament prizes, and a putting contest for a trip to Hawaii. Joe Zone, Sports Director at WFSB 3 Eyewitness News, will speak during the dinner. Individuals and teams are welcome; sponsorship opportunities are also available. A military discount is available and dinner tickets may be purchased separately. Click here to view the brochure or to register.
June 14: Chai Mitzvah Holds Community-Wide Inspiration Fair and Celebration

Ignite Hartford: Inspire. Connect. Celebrate! Come celebrate the Chai Mitzvah journey with your friends and neighbors from across Greater Hartford on Wednesday, June 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the Innovation Center at the Mandell JCC, 335 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford. The evening begins with an Inspiration Fair showcasing volunteer opportunities with community agencies; then we'll hear how Chai Mitzvah participants have grown their Judaism by building their "Jewish Bucket Lists" this year. Everyone is invited, whether you have participated in Chai Mitzvah or not - so please bring your friends and join us! Questions? Contact Ilana Bernstein at [email protected] or 860.922.0448.
Schechter's Rogow Middle School Introduces New Humanities Course 

Exciting things are happening at Solomon Schechter Day School's Rogow Middle School! A new Humanities course for grades 6-8 will fully integrate Language Arts with Social Studies. Students will look critically at culture and history through rigorous engagement with text and the writing process. They will read and discuss fiction, non-fiction, primary text documents, poetry, plays, journalism and more, applying both their reading and their cultural studies to various forms of writing. In addition, eighth graders may choose to enroll in an independent study course where, with the instruction and feedback of a faculty advisor, they will use critical thinking skills to develop a year-long project with measurable goals, outcomes, deliverables and milestones. Call 860.561.0700 to learn more.
Jewish Summer Camps in Greater Hartford

It's summer camp season, and there are lots of options for Jewish summer camp in the Greater Hartford area. Read on to learn more.

No one does summer like the Mandell JCC - with options including sports, theater, arts and other specialty camps; Camp Shalom along the Farmington River in Windsor; Campareenah for preschoolers; and a family Swim and Tennis Club in Bloomfield.   Click here for a full list. The Mandell JCC's main campus is located at 335 Bloomfield Avenue in West Hartford.

The Mandell JCC Valley Sports & Community Center is the premiere place for specialty sports camps. Partnered with renowned local experts, we provide quality sports clinics and activities to give your children an unparalleled experience. Options include Seth Greenberg Basketball Academy,  Brad Seaman Shooting Clinic, Craig Archambault Basketball Jam, University of Hartford Volleyball Jam, Karate Jam, STEM with LEGO Jams, Junior Sports Jams and more. Click here for complete information. The Mandell JCC Valley Sports & Community Center is located at 310 Albany Turnpike in Canton.

By popular demand, Camp Laurelwood is offering week-long intensive sports camps for basketball and lacrosse this summer! Each program will combine immersive, professional instruction and skill development with high-energy summer camp fun for an intense, well-rounded experience. The values of teamwork, cooperation, and sportsmanship are emphasized while campers master new skills, make new friends and gain a stronger sense of community. Day and overnight options are available. Click here to learn more. To learn about Camp Laurelwood's traditional summer camp offerings, click here . Camp Laurelwood is located at 463 Summer Hill Road in Madison.

June 21: "Fighting for Jewish Renaissance" at Chabad House of Greater Hartford  

Chabad House of Greater Hartford invites the community to attend "Reporting from the Front Lines: Fighting for Jewish Renaissance," a conversation with Miriam Lipskier, on Wednesday, June 21. Lipskier is the Co-Director of Chabad at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Shayna Gopin will moderate the discussion, which begins at 7:30 p.m. at Chabad House, 2352 Albany Avenue, West Hartford. There is a $10 fee to attend. This program marks the 22nd Yahrtzeit (anniversary of passing) of The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson of Blessed Memory. To learn more, please call 860.232.1116 or email [email protected].
June 22: YAD Happy Hour at Camp Shalom 

Young adults: Join Federation's Young Adult Division for a relaxing evening along the Farmington River at Mandell JCC's Camp Shalom on Thursday, June 22 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.! Bring your own beach chair, blanket and/or beverages; we'll supply light bites and fun outdoor games. Please RSVP to the Facebook event. Camp Shalom is located at 425 Merriman Road in Windsor.
June 24: Join the Mitzvah Mamas for Rosh Chodesh Tammuz at the Beach!

Women throughout Jewish history have celebrated Rosh Chodesh - the new moon and the beginning of a new month - by taking a break from their everyday lives and gathering together. This month our shomeret is Heather Wasilewski and our hostess is Shelley Haslett. Women ages 13 and up are invited to welcome Rosh Chodesh Tammuz on Saturday, June 24 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the beach in Milford. Enjoy the hour and then stay to play in the sand.  For directions or to  learn more about Mitzvah Mamas' monthly Rosh Chodesh gatherings or the free trip to Israel for moms, please contact Mindy Glickman at [email protected] or 917.698.7952. You can also join the  Mitzvah Mamas Facebook group.
June 28: "From Haven to Home: 350 Years of Jewish Life in America" Exhibit Opening 

On Wednesday, June 28 at 5:30 p.m., the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford will host the opening of the traveling exhibit "From Haven to Home: 350 Years of Jewish Life in America" with a talk by curator Michael Feldberg, Ph.D, in the Mandell JCC Innovation Center, 335 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford. This exhibit traces the history of the original 23 refugees who landed in America in 1654, seeking refuge from persecution, discrimination and legal barriers. It also documents the way in which Jews made America their home and enumerates their contributions to the nation's developing values and institutions. The exhibit will be on display from June 29 through September 24 in the Mandell JCC's Chase Family Gallery; exhibit hours are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily. Admission is free, and docent tours available for groups. For more information, click here or call Lynn Newman at 860.727.6170.
UHart Hillel Announces Student Interns for 2017-2018 School Year 

UHart Hillel is very excited to welcome 18 new interns for the 2017-2018 year. They have already started planning for Shabbats, High Holidays, and other events for the fall semester - which includes engaging in the Greater Hartford community. UHart Hillel's 2017-2017 interns include: Tyler Littman and Ethan Bloom, Strategic Leadership Interns; Rebecca Zeuschner, Programming and Administrative Intern; Sarah Baden, Jewish Life Intern;  Jillian Moore, Communications Intern; Morgan Lomas and Samantha Gottlieb, Big/Little Engagement Interns; Hailey Kessler, Jake Nemeth, Kyra Shlesinger and Ethan Meltzer, Underclass Engagement Interns; Amanda Eastman and Elyse Wallach, Upperclass Engagement Interns; Marissa Levitt and Leah Marquis, Ask Big Questions Interns; Riva Scheck, First Impressions Intern; Hayley Rosenblatt, Shabbat around Campus Intern; Josh Friedman, Special Projects Intern; and Michael Alperin, Tzedek Intern.
FVJC - Emek Shalom Welcomes New Cantorial Soloist 

Farmington Valley Jewish Congregation - Emek Shalom has engaged cantorial student Audrey Klein for the 2017 High Holidays. Audrey will be ordained as a cantor this June, when she will receive a Master of Jewish Education degree from the School of Jewish Music at Hebrew College in Boston. A Northwestern University graduate, Audrey is originally from Shaker Heights, Ohio. She has been active in Jewish organizations including Hillel and the Jewish Theatre Ensemble, and she served as the cantorial intern at Temple Shir Tikva in Wayland, Massachusetts. For the past three years, she has been the High Holiday cantorial soloist for the Greater Washington Coalition for Jewish Life near Litchfield, Connecticut. Audrey is currently completing field work at Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto and lives in Toronto with her partner, Dr. Joshua Albert. FVJC - Emek Shalom invites the entire community to join us for spiritually inspiring High Holiday services in the fall with Rabbi Bekah, Cantor Klein and our choir.