The Westchester Jewish Council's
Community Connection
Your bi-weekly and every so often e-newsletter
February 27, 2020 2 Adar 5780
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Hello!
As we enter into the final days of this month, with a bonus day this year, we share with you many exciting upcoming Council and community happenings in this newsletter. As always thanks for your participation!
We cannot ignore that the Coronavirus is in the news worldwide. We have been in touch with our contacts in
Westchester County Government
and the
County Health Department
. They have issued guidelines and best practices on how to minimize the spread of this and other respiratory viruses. Please click
here
to learn more from the
New York State Department of Health.
Thank you to
Andrew Ferris, Chief of Staff to the County Executive
, for sharing this vital information with us.
We want to acknowledge some recent and upcoming events:
The
Westchester Jewish Council Hon. Sam Fredman Leadership Development Institute's 5th Session
. Heidi Greenbaum, Director of Development at SAR Academy/SAR High School presented to the leadership group, along with a meet and greet with Bill Hayes, the Westchester/Bronx Regional Security Manager of the Community Security Initiative.
Another highlight this week was the
Community Security Initiative (CSI)
roll-out hosted at the JCC of Mid-Westchester. This program is a joint program of UJA-Federation, the JCRC of NY and (in Westchester with) the Westchester Jewish Council. This is an important next step in keeping to make our community safer. Read more about it below in the Security section.
The Council is honored and excited about the upcoming co-sponsored event with
American Friends of Magen David Adom,
the
JCC of Mid-Westchester
and the
Westchester Jewish Council
in which
Bari Weiss
, acclaimed speaker and author, will speak on Wednesday night March 11th to discuss fighting anti-Semitism. Details can be found below.
And, in just a few weeks on Tuesday March 17th, we will be honoring 22 amazing community volunteers at the
25th Annual Julian Y. Bernstein Distinguished Service Awards Ceremony
. Come out and join us for this wonderful celebration. Registration details can be found below.
Also, we will be hosting a community conversation on Wednesday night March 25th with special guest speaker
Dr. Steven Windmueller
, a leading thought leader in the Jewish world. Final details will arrive next week. This event is free and open to Jewish leaders who want to help catalyze our Westchester Jewish future.
Finally, save the date for
Hadar’s Westchester Passover Learning Intensive
on March 29-31, 2020 held and co-sponsored by at Temple Israel Center and co-sponsored by the Westchester Jewish Council. Details below.
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Sincerely,
Lisa Roberts, President
Lori Kurlander, Communications Manager
Elliot Forchheimer, CEO
(The Council is financially supported by donations from individuals,
dues from 135 member organizations and grant support from UJA-Federation)
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Please support the work of the Westchester Jewish Council. Your donation makes a difference each and every day. Click
here
to donate
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WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL UPCOMING EVENTS
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Silver Anniversary
25th Annual Julian Y. Bernstein
Distinguished Service Awards Ceremony
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Join us on
Tuesday, March 17th at Temple Israel Center, White Plains at 7:30pm
as we honor 22 individuals for their outstanding dedication to the Westchester Jewish community. In recognition of the Silver Anniversary of the awards, we will also be honoring
Donald J. Fleishaker
who was the recipient of a first DSA Award in 1998.
This event is free and all are welcome.
Reservations requested.
If you would like to make a contribution
in honor of one of the evening's honorees, please click
here
.
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American Friends of Magen David Adom, the JCC of Mid-Westchester and the Westchester Jewish Council invite you to:
"Anti-Semitism, A Different Conversation" with noted speaker and author Bari Weiss
Wednesday, March 11th
JCC of Mid-Westchester, 999 Wilmot Road, Scarsdale, NY
6:30 pm to 7:30pm - VIP Reception with Bari Weiss
7:30 pm to 8:45 pm - Program
Tickets are $36 for General Admission Ticket and $360 for the VIP Reception, Program Ticket with Reserved Program Seating and a signed copy of
How to Fight Anti-Semitism
.
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WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL LOOKS BACK
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Council staff attended
"Dismantling and Combating Hate"
, a panel and discussion at Purchase College presented by the
Office of Diversity and Compliance
and
Hillels of Westchester
(Council member) which was held on February 12th. Our friend Rabbi Andrew Ergas was one of the panelists.
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WESTCHESTER COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND BEYOND NEWS
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UJA-Federation and the Westchester Jewish Council held its Westchester Government Relations Briefing on February 11th with
Honorable Benjamin Boykin, (Chairman of the Board of Legislators) Chris Johnson (Majority Whip) and MaryJane Shimsky (Majority Leader
).
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Pictured (left to right) - Karen Everett, Hon. Benjamin Boykin, Hon. MaryJane Shimsky, Hon. Chris Johnson, Harriet Schleifer, Joseph Rafalowicz and Elliot Forchheimer.
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Health Guidelines for the Coronavirus
With the ongoing news of the worldwide spread of Coronavirus, we share with you valuable instructions from the
Westchester County Department of Health
on how to help avoid the Coronavirus. There are also links to the
Center for Disease Control and Prevention,
the
State Department of Health
and a Coronavirus fact sheet.
Thank you to Andrew Ferris, Chief of Staff to the County Executive for providing this information to us.
What We Can Do
- Stay informed, calm and don't be alarmed
- Wash hands - at least 20 seconds with soap and water. Use an alcohol based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Stay home when sick
- Cover your mouth when cough or sneeze - elbow or tissue
- Clean with non-"green" products (i.e. bleach-based)
- Get your flu shot. It is easier for doctors to diagnose a patient if they have already had a flu shot.
Some Additional Best Practices for our Community
- Consider "rubbing elbows" instead of shaking hands to minimize the transmission of germs
- When serving food, make sure to have serving utensils and sanitary tableware
- All food handlers should wear gloves and wash hands as appropriate.
- Make sure that good hygiene is being followed whenever food is served such as in early childhood and school programs
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WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL ROUNDTABLES (ConnecTables)
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Westchester Jewish Council
Upcoming C
ommunity Roundtables
(The Council thanks the hundreds of people that dedicate time to attend our Roundtables-
a signature initiative of the Council often sponsored with wonderful partners from among our member organizations)
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Thank you to the 40 leaders that attended the Westchester Jewish Council's Synagogue Presidents+1 Roundtable that took place this week and featured a panel discussion including Lisa Lieberman Barzilai from the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), Linda Sussman from the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ) and Ellen Plum, URJ National Board Member and former Council board member.
Some Upcoming Council Roundtables
:
Security Roundtable-Thursday, March 12
Israel Roundtable-Wednesday, March 18
Youth Professionals- Wednesday, April 22
MOSAIC LGBTQ - Thursday, April 23
Seniors/Grandparents Roundtable, coming in May
Contact the Council office at (914) 328-7001 for information on these and other Roundtables--a key offering of the Westchester Jewish Council.
Please look out for the most updated schedule of dates in upcoming newsletters and on our website.
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WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL'S SECURITY UPDATE
"
By
failing
to
prepare
,
you
are
preparing to fail" B. Franklin
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The
new Community Security Initiative
(CSI) roll out took place earlier this week.
Audrey Stein, Westchester
Regional Director, UJA-Federation of New York, Westchester
shared opening remarks.
Cheryl Fishbein, President of JCRC-NY and Michael Miller, CEO of the JCRC -NY
discussed the work of the JCRC-NY and
Mitch Silber, the Executive Director of the Community Security Initiative
presented the overall plan of the initiative and how it will be utilized in Westchester County. We also heard from
Bill Hayes
who is the
Westchester/Bronx Regional Security Manager
and
Elliot Forchheimer
of the
Council.
Thank you to the
JCC of Mid-Westchester
(Council member) for hosting this event.
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As always and per protocol, please report any security concerns immediately to your local Police Department and then to the Council for follow up.
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UJA-FEDERATION OF NEW YORK IN WESTCHESTER
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Westchester Annual Celebration 2020
Thursday, March 5, 2020 • 6:30 pm
Join us on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at the Capitol Theatre for a fun and fabulous evening as we celebrate the impact of UJA-Federation of New York in Westchester and two outstanding couples, Honorees
Rikki and Barry Kaplan and Young Leadership Awardees
Allison and Ben Friedland
In the spirit of Purim, key up for an exciting and unique evening of strolling entertainers, a bountiful buffet and luscious libations, followed by the lively music of Shake Rattle & Roll dueling pianos.
Details.
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Westchester Women’s Symposium 2020: From Inspiration to Impact
Thursday, April 30, 2020 • 9:00 am
Back by popular demand! An energizing and inspiring morning featuring visionary women who have driven change to improve the lives of others.
Click
here for details and registration.
For more information about upcoming event, please click
here.
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SOME COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS--
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Renewal:
Kidney Donation Awareness Event
Join the community on
Wednesday, March 4th
at 7pm at Congregation B'nai Yisrael, 2 Banksville Road, Armonk, NY to assist the Alderman family in finding a donor match for Phil Alderman.
Rabbi Josh Sturm, from Renewal of Brooklyn
will be presenting "The Anatomy of Kindness." Renewal provides assistance, support and outreach for kidney donors and their recipients.
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Soul Shop: Ministering to Faith Communities Affected by Suicide
This event which is co-sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, will take place on
March 9th
from 8:30am to 4pm at Calvary Baptist Church, 32 East Post Road, White Plains. This event is for faith-based leaders. For more information, please contact
Pat White
or
Maria Idoni
. To register, click
here
.
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WJCS
is offering "Youth Mental Health First Aid training" taking place at WJCS headquarters, 845 N. Broadway in White Plains on
March 15th
. This 8 hour training is being offered free of charge for Jewish communal leadership in the county through a grant by UJA Federation’s Philanthropic Advisory Council for Teens.
YMHFA is an 8- hour evidence based course designed for adults who regularly interact with adolescents and introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents while educating them on typical stages of adolescent development. Most importantly, the course teaches individuals how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge.
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Chabad of the Rivertowns Holocaust Lecture Series presents:
Transcending
Darkness: A Girl's Journey Out of the Holocaust
with author and lecturer Estelle Laughlin. Hear Estelle, share her horrific Holocaust story and how she was surrounded by the heroism of special people who kept their hearts and spirit.
This event will take place on March 18th at 7pm at Chabad of the Rivertowns, 303 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry. Please contact
office@chabadrt.org
or call (914)693-6100.
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presents
The Second Annual Social Work Month Awards
Please join us as we honor four exceptional social workers, Lisa Aaronberg,
Maureen Isaia, Jinoy Joseph and Nicole Serra, who have made a positive impact
on our society for generations to come.
Thursday, March 19, 2020
5–8 p.m.
Sarah Neuman
Tisch Auditorium
845 Palmer Avenue
Mamaroneck, NY 10543
FREE ADMISSION
If you have any questions, please contact Nikki Robinson
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Mosaic Pride Passover
Sunday, March 22 from 3-5pm
Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont
and Emanuel.
We welcome our LGBTQ Jewish community and allies of all ages to experience a variety of LGBTQ themed activities you can share at a Passover Seder.
Mosaic is a program of the
Westchester Jewish Council.
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Join us at
Hadar’s Westchester Learning Intensive
on
March 29-31, 2020
at
Temple Israel Center.
This is a remarkable opportunity to spend three days immersed in Torah study in preparation for Pesach. Connect with the Westchester community and Hadar faculty including Rabbi Shai Held, Rabbi Elie Kaunfer, Rabbi Avi Killip, and Rabbi Aviva Richman. For adults of all ages who are looking for deep Jewish learning. We welcome participants from across the denominational spectrum, and from all Jewish educational backgrounds.
This program is brought to you in partnership with the
Westchester Jewish Council and the Westchester Board of Rabbis.
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Westchester Jewish Film Festival 2020
Mar. 24–Apr. 7, 2020
TICKETS GO ON SALE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON FEB. 28 AT NOON.
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Documentary:
Robbery of the Heart
Sunday
April 19th at
3:00pm at Chappaqua Performing Arts Center
Filmmaker Micah Brandt follows a Holocaust survivor from Connecticut as he returns to his home town Wetter, Germany on the occasion of the 70
th
anniversary of Kristallnacht.
The town is honoring the remaining Holocaust survivors and their families by rededicating the old synagogue as a cultural center for learning and understanding. To learn more about this film, click
here.
Q & A with filmmaker will follow.
Cosponsor: Town of New Castle
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COMING THIS SUMMER
TO WESTCHESTER!
Get involved at the JCC Maccabi Campus Games being held this summer in Westchester. This year's event will be based at Pace University from August 9th to August 14th, 2020. The Games are presented by the JCC Association of North America in coordination with our Westchester and environs communities. Jewish athletes 13-16 years old can join their local team. Adults 18+ can sign up to volunteer. For more information, check out
campus games
or 212-786-5128 or contact the Council office.
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SAVE THE DATE:
FIDF NATIONAL NEW YORK GALA
Wednesday, September 9, 2020
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Mazal Tov to
:
Debbie and Steve Young
, Council Board Member, on the birth of their grandson.
Rabbi Annie Tucker
on her upcoming installation this Shabbat as Senior Rabbi, Temple Israel Center of White Plains.
Bob and Ellen Salant
(Council Board Member) on being honored at the annual Temple Israel Center of White Plains Gala.
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DOROT
is looking for high school students to participate in their chess program which connects students to seniors in the community.
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Between now and March 11, American Jews can vote in the US election for
the
World Zionist Congress, the global “parliament of the Jewish people.” In this election,15 slates, comprised of over 1,800 candidates, are vying for 152 American seats at the Congress. Thank you to the
American Zionist Movement (AZM),
a Council member organization, for their work.
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Girls Jewish Basketball Tournament
Check out Westchester's first ever girls only league. The games will take place on Sundays in March. This is for high school grade levels.
I
f interested, click
here
to complete the form by 2/29.
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Westchester Jewish Council Teen Organizations include:
Thank you to the Jewish Education Project for working so closely with our Teen professionals and volunteers!
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WESTCHESTER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
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Young Judaea Sprout Westchester: Day Camp Director Position
The Director of Young Judaea Sprout Westchester is a member of the Camp Young Judaea Sprout Lake leadership, and professional team. The position offers an unprecedented opportunity for an innovative, dynamic, charismatic leader to develop a day camp from the ground up. The Director is responsible for building a quality program through the Young Judaea pluralistic model. Director oversees all camp operations, leads the process of camper recruitment, communicates with families, hires and develops the leadership team and counselors, and markets camps’ programs. The director will be expected to manage all fiscal accountability. Candidate should have a minimum of a BA but a MA is preferred, significant experience in camping and passionate connection to their Jewish identity. Position is full time year round and comes with excellent benefits package.
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JBS can be seen live 24/7 on Cablevision (channel 138), Verizon FIOS (channel 798), ROKU and on
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Westchester Jewish Council
925 Westchester Avenue, Suite 200
White Plains, NY 10604
914-328-7001 |
info@wjcouncil.org |
www.wjcouncil.org
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The next Community Connection will be published on or about March 12, 2020.
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