Rachel Sharansky Danziger

Rachel Sharansky Danziger, the eldest daughter of refusenik, politician and human rights activist Natan Sharansky, will visit Beth David Synagogue in West Hartford as a Scholar-in-Residence this weekend. Shabbat morning services begin on Saturday at 9:30 a.m., and the service will include a memorial tribute to the victims of the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting. At 12:30 p.m., Ms. Danziger will give a presentation. All are welcome to attend. For more information, contact the Beth David office at 860.236.1241. Beth David Synagogue is located at 20 Dover Road, West Hartford.

The Farmington Valley Jewish Congregation - Emek Shalom Sisterhood will hold a Craft and Vendor Fair on Sunday, November 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Come see the great selection of gifts and goods that our amazing group of vendors has available! FVJC is located at 55 Bushy Hill Road, Simsbury.

Local playwright and attorney Ben Engel invites you to the premiere staged reading of his third play, "Philosopher King," at The Emanuel Synagogue on Sunday, November 4 beginning at 7 p.m. "Solomon had it all: G-d-given wisdom, political power, a splendid kingdom, wealth and beautiful women," says Engel. "But as time passed, it all fell apart.... As he got older he questioned the meaning of his life.  In 'Philosopher King,' I hope to recover the struggles of a true Jewish great, and his court, life, wisdom, wealth and tumultuous times." Come and see your friends and neighbors in full costume, with original music by Miriam Engel! Tickets are $18 in advance or $25 at the door. Click here to order. The Emanuel Synagogue is located at 160 Mohegan Drive, West Hartford.

Did you know that fewer than two-thirds of voting age citizens actually voted in the 2016 presidential election? And in 2014 - the last midterm election - less than 37% of eligible voters showed up at the polls? The Jewish Community Relations Council, part of your Federation, encourages everyone who is eligible to vote on November 6. You can even register on Election Day... though you may have a bit of a wait. To see who is running for office, click here. To view the ballot for your town, click here. And to learn more about polling places, click here.

BBYO members donated 2,000 toiletry items to Jewish Family Services.

BBYO's new year is off to a great start! On October 3, BBYO teamed up with Jewish Family Services Tara's Closet and the Mandell JCC to sponsor a screening and talk back on Bo Burnham's movie "Eighth Grade." Sixty Jewish teens joined BBYO for dinner before the screening to open the discussion about social media use and its effects. After the screening, teen leaders Abby Azia and Jake Steinberg joined a panel of JFS clinicians, teachers and community members to share their perspectives on social media and its role in teen life. A few days later, at the BBYO Connecticut Valley Regional Kickoff on October 13, over 60 Jewish teens from Greater Hartford joined close to 400 Jewish teens from all over Connecticut and western Massachusetts at Spare Time Entertainment, where they made new friends, bowled, and played laser tag and arcade games. They also contributed 2,000 toiletry items that were later delivered to JFS.

	Herb Keinon

The Emanuel Synagogue will host Herb Keinon, diplomatic correspondent for  The Jerusalem Post , on Tuesday, November 6 at 7 p.m. He will speak on "A Non-Sensationalist Look at Israel's Current State of Affairs: From Iran to Gaza, Netanyahu to Trump." Congregation Beth Israel is a co-sponsor of the event, and all are welcome. Tickets are $9, payable at the door; kindly RSVP to Gail Adler at [email protected] . The Emanuel Synagogue is located at 160 Mohegan Drive, West Hartford.

Tom W. Smith, Ph.D.

In remembrance of Kristallnacht, Tom W. Smith, Ph.D., will present a lecture on antisemitism in contemporary America on Wednesday, November 7 at 5 p.m. in the Konover Auditorium at the Dodd Research Center, UConn Storrs. Dr. Smith directs NORC, a non-partisan research institution at the University of Chicago that provides social science and public opinion data and analysis. He holds a doctorate in American history from the University of Chicago. A reception will follow the lecture. The evening is made possible by the UConn Center for Judaic Studies Frances and Irving Seliger Memorial Endowment Fund and is co-sponsored by the American Studies Program, the Humanities Institute, the Department of Literatures, Cultures, and Languages, and the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center.  If you require an accommodation to participate, please contact Pamela Weathers at [email protected].

	Samuel Kassow, Ph.D.

Take an eye-opening journey to Lithuania and Poland with Trinity College Professor Samuel Kassow, Ph.D., from July 15 to 26, 2019! You'll visit the former Warsaw and Kovno Ghettos; the Museum of the History of Polish Jews; the Chorale, Nozyk and Remuh Synagogues; Ponary, the Vilna killing site; Tykocin, a former shtetl in Poland; and the Treblinka death camp. You'll also learn from lectures by Dr. Kassow and observe Shabbat with the Warsaw Jewish community. An information session will be held on Wednesday, November 7 at 7 p.m. at the Community Services Building, 333 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford. You'll find more details here. The trip is part of the Jewish Hartford: European Roots project, made possible by the generous support of the Konover Coppa Family Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford, in honor of the extraordinary life of Simon Konover.

Benji Lovitt

You're invited to LOL with Benji Lovitt on Wednesday, November 7 at 7 p.m. in the Gilman Theater at the Mandell Jewish Community Center, 335 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford. Lovitt's observations on Israeli society, combined with his lifelong involvement in Jewish education, create a hilarious narrative that has brought smiles to faces all over the world. Since making aliyah in 2006, Lovitt has shared his hilarious insights into cultural differences as he translates both the challenges and marvels of life in Israel. Tickets are $10; attendance is free for students. For reservations, contact the Mandell JCC Box Office at 860.231.6316. The lecture is sponsored by the Lillian Margulies Singer Jewish Humor Fund, the Maurice Greenberg Center for Judaic Studies, the Mandell JCC and the UConn Center for Judaic Studies and Contemporary Jewish Life.

Learn the fundamentals of Judaism including Torah, basic Hebrew, prayers, history, and more from the Reform rabbis of Greater Hartford. Classes will rotate among local Reform synagogues. For more information, contact Cheryl Goldberg at [email protected] or 860.233.8215 x2230.

	Janel MacDermott, Psy.D.

While we look forward to the winter holidays as a time to come together, they can also be stressful - especially in light of recent events. Women are invited to come share their feelings at a "Spill the Tea" discussion on Thursday, November 8 from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the home of Monica Hoffman, 59 Old Oak Road, West Hartford. Local mom and psychologist Janel MacDermott, Psy.D., will serve as our facilitator and share strategies for rediscovering balance and joy. Please bring along a new or used fall or winter clothing item to donate to Tara's Closet (any size and gender; hangers preferred; no undergarments, shoes or socks, please). RSVP by November 5 to Simone Singh at  [email protected] or 860.727.6101. Presented by Federation's Women of Impact and Jewish Family Services Tara's Closet.

Tish Rabe

Come learn how you can make a real difference in a child's life in just 30 minutes a week - and go behind the scenes with the writer of The Cat in the Hat's Learning Library - at Children's Reading Partners' Fall 2018 Kickoff! This free community program will be held on Thursday, November 8 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Elmwood Community Center, 1106 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford. It features bestselling children's author and official Dr. Seuss writer Tish Rabe. A book sale and signing is included, with 50% of proceeds benefiting Children's Reading Partners' local literacy programs. Click here for all the details. RSVP by November 5 to Ronni Breiter at [email protected] or 860.727.6129.

Women are invited to welcome Rosh Chodesh Kislev at a one-hour gathering on Thursday, November 8 at 7 p.m., brought to you by the Mitzvah Mamas. Our November shomeret (guide) is Phyllis Liebman, who will host us at Arbors of Hop Brook, 403 West Center Street, Manchester.  Come early to schmooze, and stay for a meaningful Jewish experience  with friendly women from all over Greater Hartford! No RSVP necessary. To learn more about Mitzvah Mamas, Rosh Chodesh gatherings, or the next free trip to Israel for moms, check out MitzvahMamas.com or contact Mindy Glickman at [email protected] or 917.698.7952.

In this video, Holocaust survivors remember life before and after Kristallnacht. From the Leo Baeck Institute; part of The Atlantic Selects.

Charter Oak Cultural Center welcomes the entire community to remember both Kristallnacht and the victims of the Pittsburgh Tree of Life Synagogue tragedy as we join together for music, dance and ritual on Thursday, November 9 at 6 p.m. We will remember when the streets of Germany were strewn with broken glass, stand against the persistence of anti-semitism today, and affirm our life-giving diversity. Charter Oak Cultural Center is located at 21 Charter Oak Avenue, Hartford.

	Learn how JCL supports Jewish life for adults with special needs.

The Jewish Association for Community Living welcomes everyone to our first Special Needs Shabbat of the new year 5779, on Saturday, November 10 at 10:30 a.m. at Beth El Temple, 2626 Albany Avenue, West Hartford. Nancy Rosen will lead the service and Sara deBeer will share stories. All are welcome; there is no charge! Please join us for a light kiddush luncheon afterward.

Calling all young children and their families! Join PJ Library and friends this month for music, storytelling, crafts and snacks. You'll make new friends and get a little taste of what Jewish day school has to offer. On Saturday, November 10 we'll gather at Beth David Synagogue in West Hartford for stories, songs and smiles. We'll meet again on Tuesday, November 13 at Solomon Schechter Day School in West Hartford. And on Thursday, November 15 we'll have a special program at the Newington Public Library about caring for others. The "Fall into Fun" program is presented by Solomon Schechter Day School in partnership with PJ Library of Greater Hartford and local synagogues, with support from Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools. November's events are co-sponsored by Beth David Synagogue and Temple Sinai of Newington. All events are free and open to the public, so bring a friend!  Questions? Email Karen Shakun at [email protected].

Join PJ Library on Sunday, November 11 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Mandell JCC as we celebrate the mailing of the 100,000th PJ Library book! Local personalities and other friends will read aloud from PJ Library books and other children's classics. This program is free and open to everyone! Please bring toiletries to be donated to veterans at the VA Hospital. You'll find more information here. The Mandell JCC is located at 335 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford.

Camp Laurelwood invites you to meet the staff, see our newly renovated campus and enjoy an afternoon at camp during our S'mores and Tours open house on Sunday, November 11 from 1 to 3 p.m. We offer fantastic day camps for grades K and up, and overnight camps for grades 2 through 10. To RSVP or to schedule a tour on another day, email Jennifer Gelband at [email protected]. Camp Laurelwood is located at 463 Summer Hill Road in Madison, CT.

This Veterans Day, support our U.S. vets by donating comfort items that are in need, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, body lotion and shampoo. Drop your donations off in the Mandell JCC lobby between November 11 and November 18, and they will be given to veterans who attend specialty clinics at the VA Hospital in Newington. The Mandell JCC is located at 335 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford.

Temple Beth Hillel is holding an introductory "Yiddish for Fun" class that is open to the entire community. Our next class sessions are Monday, November 12 and Monday, December 3 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Temple Beth Hillel, 20 Baker Lane, South Windsor. For more information on the class, please contact Marsha at [email protected]. To learn more about Temple Beth Hillel, a Reform synagogue, contact our office at 860.282.8466 or visit us online.

Civil discourse starts with prioritizing relationships... and Thanksgiving dinner is a perfect place to start. This workshop on Wednesday, November 14 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Infinity Hall in Hartford will give you the skills to not just survive going home for the holidays but to actually build stronger relationships... even when you strongly disagree. After a brief introduction, we'll break into small groups for facilitated roundtable dialogues on gun control, immigration, and the State of Israel. We'll close by reflecting together on what we've learned. Free, interfaith, nonpartisan and open to the community; registration is required. RSVP by Wednesday, November 7 to Deb Howson at [email protected] or 860.727.6103.Co-Presented by Federation's Jewish Community Relations Council, Hartford Seminary, and the Jewish Leadership Academy.

Sigel Academy seventh graders learn about political candidates through a mock debate.

As part of its U.S. Government class, Bess and Paul Sigel Hebrew Academy's seventh graders prepared for the midterm elections by staging mock candidate debates.  Students studied about the two candidates for U.S. Senator, learned about the issues at stake in the election, decided whom to vote for and presented their viewpoints in an engaging debate format. "As our students get older, we encourage them to advocate for issues that they feel strongly about," says Rabbi Zev Silver, Principal.

Tara's Closet at Jewish Family Services seeks your new and like-new fall and winter clothing and outerwear for our clients in need: men, women, teens, children and infants. Clothing collections will be held on Thursday, November 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. in the main lobby of the Community Services Building at 333 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford. All sizes are needed and welcome, hangers preferred. We cannot accept undergarments, shoes and socks. Please save your spring /summer weather items for our next collection day in 2019. To learn more about Tara's Closet, please call JFS at 860.236.1927.

Rabbi Rick Jacobs

As Congregation Beth Israel celebrates its 175th anniversary, we welcome Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) for Shabbat on Friday, November 16. Congregation Beth Israel has a deep history in the advancement of the American Reform Jewish movement, which today includes 900 congregations reaching nearly 1.5 million people.  At 6 p.m. we'll enjoy dinner with Rabbi Jacobs, catered by Whole Foods; at 7:30 p.m. Rabbi Jacobs will speak at Shabbat services about re-imagining Reform Jewish life in the 21st century. The cost for dinner is $25 per adult and $10 per child; register at www.cbict.org by Tuesday, November 13. Shabbat services are free and open to all. Congregation Beth Israel is located at 701 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford.

Chabad of Greater Hartford invites you to a "Medicine, Miracles & Mindset" family Shabbat dinner with U.S. Air Force Chaplain Elie Estrin on Friday, November 16 at 6 p.m. at Chabad House, 2352 Albany Avenue, West Hartford. Rabbi Elie's son was born with a complex, rare and fatal form of cardiac disease. By focusing on the power of the soul, the Jewish value of life and the Chassidic teachings of a positive mindset, Rabbi Elie and his wife, Chaya, are able to rejoice in their son Nissi as an open miracle. Click here to learn more. And on Sunday, November 18, women are invited to join Chabad's Jewish Women's Circle for "Menorahs & Martinis" at 7 p.m. You'll create your own granite menorah and personalize it with glass tiles and gems for a unique keepsake, while also enjoying a latke and martini bar and learning the Kabbalistic on Chanukah! Click here to register.

	Janet Novins

B'nai Tikvoh-Sholom invites you to explore the promises and challenges of names at "Extraordinary Passages: The Journey of Our Names," a free Shabbat lunch and learn on Saturday, November 17. Services begin at 9:30 a.m. and the lunch and learn follows at 11:30. We'll examine how Biblical characters transform when their names change and affect their journeys. You're also invited to join BTS for a spirited drumming session with Janet Novins, an expert in mindful drumming and Jewish chanting, on Sunday, November 18 at 10:30 a.m. at the synagogue. No experience is necessary and drums will be provided. Free for Neshama patrons; $8 charge for BTS and Mandell JCC members; $10 for others. Registration is required for both events;  RSVP to 860.243.3576 or [email protected] . BTS is located at 180 Still Road, Bloomfield. 

One-room wooden synagogue in Chesterfield, Connecticut

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Connecticut welcomes everyone to its monthly meeting on Sunday, November 18 beginning at 1:30 p.m. at Temple Sinai, 41 West Hartford Road, Newington. This month's guest speaker, Nancy Savin, will discuss the New England Hebrew Farmers of the Emanuel Society. Come hear the story of the vibrant Russian-Jewish immigrant community of Chesterfield, Connecticut. For more details, visit www.jgsct.org.

UConn Hillel invites you to attend its 85th anniversary celebration on Sunday, November 18 at The Hartford Club, 46 Prospect Street, Hartford. The fun begins at 11:30 a.m. with a brunch reception and awards ceremony and continues with an alumni afterparty at 2:30 p.m. We will honor Gary Wolff and Lauri and David Miller, as well as students Eidan Avner, Dan Epstein, Nathan Schachter and Noa Silverstein. Click here for tickets and sponsorship information.

Join Rachel Kadish for a program about The Weight of Ink, her newest historical fiction novel and the winner of a 2017 National Jewish Book Award, on Tuesday, November 27 at 7 p.m. at The Emanuel Synagogue, 160 Mohegan Drive, West Hartford. Set in London of the 1660s and the early 20th century, the book is an interwoven tale of two women of remarkable intellect: Ester Velasquez, an emigrant from Amsterdam who is permitted to scribe for a blind rabbi just before the plague hits the city; and Helen Watt, an ailing modern historian with a love of Jewish history. $10 in advance (RSVP by November 20) or $12 at the door. Questions? Contact Lynn Newman at [email protected] or 860.727.6170. Sponsored by Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford, The Emanuel Synagogue's Adult Education and Brandeis National Committee Hartford Chapter.

Beth Sholom B'nai Israel's Third Annual Jazz Festival is fast approaching, and we need your support! Join us for a great weekend of music on Saturday evening, December 1 from 7 to 10:30 p.m. and Sunday afternoon, December 2 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Cheney Hall, 177 Hartford Road, Manchester. Click here for a full lineup of performers, to purchase tickets, or to find out how to place an ad in our program. Questions? Contact Ken Wichman, Jazz Festival Committee Chair, at 860.324.8658.

Mona Golabek in The Pianist of Willesden Lane

Registration is now open for the Jewish Federation Association of Connecticut's Annual Night at the Theater Fundraiser on Sunday, December 16 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, Westport. We'll see the acclaimed one-woman show The Pianist of Willesden Lane, which tells the true story of a Jewish girl, Lisa Jura, who escaped Vienna on the Kindertransport and found refuge in music. The show is performed by Mona Golabek, Jura's real-life daughter, herself a concert pianist. Golabek sets the scene throughout by performing the works of Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Rachmaninoff and more. After the show we'll enjoy a cocktail reception next door at Positano's Restaurant, where we'll honor the legislators who were crucial in passing Connecticut's new Holocaust Education bill. Click here for tickets and sponsorship information. Questions? Contact Ayelet Weber at [email protected] or 860.727.5771.

Beth El Temple of West Hartford will hold its Third Women's Trip to Israel from February 24 to March 8, 2019... and all women are welcome to travel with us! Rabbi Ilana Garber leads this journey to discover the beauty of Israel alongside the women who know the country best. From the Institute of Technology to markets and old cities, from cooking and dancing to weaving and wine tastings, you'll experience it all with Beth El Temple this spring! Membership is not required. Please contact Rabbi Howard Sowalsky at [email protected] or 860.233.9696 for more information.