The Westchester Jewish Council's
Community Connection
December 3, 2020 16 Kislev 5781
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Hello!
Why does the number 58 have significance for us today? This is the number of days until our "GALAlujah" where we will celebrate and honor three commendable community members. We hope you will join us! Details soon. Save Saturday night January 30th.
We welcome December, as it is filled with so many programs to satisfy so many different interests. Tomorrow you can tune in to the Virtual Senior Hall of Fame sponsored by Westchester County Government. Next Wednesday, December 9th is the next program in our Israel Connection Series in which we will hear about Zehava Tesfay's journey from Ethiopia to Israel. With Hanukkah only a week away, we are dedicating a special edition of the newsletter next week which will focus on this festive holiday. Don't forget to check the community calendar for a series of Hanukkah events and more.
Shabbat Shalom and be well.
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Lisa Roberts, President
Lori Kurlander, Communications Manager
Elliot Forchheimer, CEO
WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL
"HERE WHEN YOU NEED US
YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW"
(The Council is financially supported by donations from individuals,
dues from 136 member organizations and generous 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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Tuesday, December 15, 2020 • 5:00 pm - 5:45 pm
UJA Westchester and Westchester Jewish Council
Hanukkah Celebration & Tribute to
Representatives Eliot Engel and Nita Lowey
Join us to celebrate Hanukkah and recognize our friends and devoted elected officials, especially Eliot Engel and Rep. Nita Lowey for their decades of public service.
We'll enjoy a special musical performance by Tizmoret, Queens College Hillel's professional Jewish a cappella group, and Rabbi Howard Goldsmith of Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester and president of the Westchester Board of Rabbis will light the Hanukkah candles.
(All elected officials in attendance will be acknowledged
at the end of the program)
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-It's All About the Gala-
"GALAlujah, We Are Grateful"
THE 45th ANNIVERSARY COUNCIL GALA:
The honorees have been announced and the amazing Gala committee is very busy planning for this special event. Please mark your calendar for Saturday night, January 30th when we will honor three extraordinary community members -
Lisa Roberts (Council President), Harriet Kaplan Suvall, Marc Suvall
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WELCOME TO OUR
NEW COUNCIL MEMBER ORGANIZATION
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Sanctuary is an open community for individuals, families, and anyone curious to explore how Jewish wisdom can ground and inspire modern living. We are bringing Jewish life into our homes and into the world, because that is where relationships become real.
Our mission is to construct human-scale space that is sacred: set apart from the hectic pace of our daily lives, and dedicated to forming, holding and deepening connections.
Welcome Sanctuary! We look forward to working together in the months to come.
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PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS YOU CAN ENJOY FROM HOME
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TODAY - You Can Still Sign Up!
Thursday, December 3, 2020
3:00-4:30 pm EST
COVID-19 as of December 3, 2020:
An online webinar, the 8th Coronavirus (COVID-19) Symposium sponsored by New York Medical College of the Touro College and University System (Council member). Continuing Education credits are available upon request.
A Presentation by the Center for Disaster Medicine of New York Medical College of the Touro College and University System.
What have we learned?
How can we use what we have learned?
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Jo Ivester, Once a Girl, Always a Boy: A Family Memoir of a Transgender Journey
December 6th from 4pm to 5pm
Jo Ivester discusses her family memoir about raising a transgender son, Once a Girl, Always a Boy: A Family Memoir of a Transgender Journey, with Dubbs Weinblatt, Keshet’s Associate Director of Education and Training for Metro New York.. For more information, please click here.
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Envisioning a 2021 B’nai Mitzvah: A Webinar for Parents and Grandparents About the Highs and Lows of Pandemic Celebrations
Join Moving Traditions (Council member) on Monday, December 7, as we bring together parents, grandparents, and educators to explore zoom mitzvahs, car mitzvahs, and other creative ways that the Jewish community is letting go of long-held expectations about the B’nai Mitzvah experience and embracing the unique possibilities of the moment.
This one-hour webinar geared for families in the process of preparing a B’nai Mitzvah will be moderated by Rabbi Daniel Brenner and Pam Barkley, CSW, the coordinators of Moving Traditions’ innovative B’nai Mitzvah Family Education Program.
Panelists include Deb Levy, author of the widely circulated The New York Times article “Becoming a Man, Virtually,” and leading educators working with Moving Traditions materials to support families in their own communities.
When: Monday, December 7, 2020
Time: 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. EST/10:00 to 11:00 a.m. PST
Please register here -
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In Concert: Circle Circle Arts
Wednesday, December 9, 4:30 - 5:30 PM
We are pleased to welcome the faculty and accomplished musicians from Circle Circle Arts back to DOROT (Council member) for a special live performance featuring violin, cello and piano. The program will feature musical selections from classical as well as contemporary composers. Don't miss this special performance!
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Temple Beth Abraham’s Adult Education Committee Presents:
GREEK JEWRY AND JEWISH LIFE ON THE LOWER EAST SIDE
with Marcia Haddad Ikonomopoulos Director, Kehila Kedosha Janina Museum
December 14 at 7:30pm
Via Zoom Click here to register
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A Virtual Jewish spirituality retreat with Pardes and Or HaLev
December 27, 2000 to January 1, 2021
Please click here for more information.
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Sponsored by Hadar (Council member) and Maimonides Moot Court Competition, we will discuss an essential question of human rights: how should an individual who has committed a crime be treated as they seek to reintegrate into society? In particular, we will focus on "Ban the Box" campaigns, which aim to remove questions about criminal history from application forms.
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WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL'S
ISRAEL CONNECTION
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FROM ETHIOPIA TO ISRAEL,
ZEHAVA TESFAY'S JOURNEY
We invite you to the next monthly presentation in our Israel Connection series - "From Ethiopia to Israel, Zehava Tesfay's Journey". This event will take place on Wednesday, December 9th at noon.
Zehava will discuss the Jewish Ethiopian community, identity and traditions in Ethiopia and Israel through her personal family story. She came to New York to serve as a Jewish Agency emissary and leads the delegation of Shlichim serving in the UJA of New York Shlichut Initiative.
This event is free and open to all.
Please register here -
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BUILDING A DEMOCRATIC AND INCLUSIVE ISRAEL IN THE TIME OF COVID-19
Tuesday, January 12th at noon
Join Westchester Jewish Council and the New Israel Fund (NIF) for a conversation with Shira Ben Sasson Furstenberg, NIF's Associate Director in Israel, to learn about the fight for democracy and equality in Israel. NIF has continued to support activists and organizations even with the ongoing battle against COVID-19. Come learn more about how NIF has risen to meet these challenges and to wrestle with the big questions that Israelis -- and American Jews -- are grappling with today.
This event will be presented by Shira Ben Sasson Furstenberg who is the Associate Director of NIF Israel and Director of the Development and International Relations Department.
To learn more about the event, please click here. Free and open to all.
Please register here -
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"Israel Connection", a monthly virtual series of the Westchester Jewish Council, offers presentations and discussions on diverse topics of interest regarding the culture, politics and society of Israel. All welcome.
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This week, the Council's Interfaith and Intergroup Roundtable held a program on Hindu culture and community contribution in the US and opportunities for Hindus and Jews to work together. A huge thank you goes out to Mona Abramson, Westchester Jewish Council Interfaith and Intergroup Roundtable and Committee Chair and Karen Everett, Westchester Jewish Council Interfaith and Intergroup Roundtable and Committee Vice Chair. Thank you to all those that attended. We were honored to have with us colleagues from HSS, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, the largest Hindu organization in the U.S. Venkata Raghava shared his insights on Hindu Culture and Community and its contribution in the U.S. It was wonderful to hear ways that the Hindus and Jews can work together.
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WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL'S
SECURITY AND SAFETY UPDATE
"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail" B. Franklin
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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. Stay alert, prepared and safe.
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Leffell School PALS Program: The Best of All Worlds
Are you looking for a school to best fit your child’s learning needs next fall? The Leffell School in Westchester offers an integrated and specialized opportunity for elementary-age students with language-based learning disabilities within a mainstream Jewish day school. If you would like the director of PALS (Providing Alternative Learning Strategies) to speak further with you about this program, click here.
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UJA-FEDERATION OF NEW YORK IN WESTCHESTER |
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Parenting Through a Jewish Lens: Navigating Your New Normal
Parenting during this time presents special challenges. Join with other parents from our community to support each other and explore parenting topics that address the new normal through a Jewish lens. Our monthly discussions, led by expert instructors Deborah Goldman and Adrian Kalikow, will be rooted in Jewish teachings.
These sessions are intended for informational purposes only. Some information may not be relevant for all situations and individuals. We urge each individual to consult an independent professional to review and advise regarding his or her specific needs and requirements. Sessions will be held at 8:00 pm on Wednesdays January 6; February 17; and March 24, 2021.
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WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL ROUNDTABLES (ConnecTables) |
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Westchester Jewish Council
Upcoming Community 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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Some Upcoming Virtual Council Roundtables:
Interfaith/Intergroup Roundtable
Greening Roundtable 12/9 at 9am
Israel Roundtable - monthly
Synagogue Executive Directors - Weekly
Synagogue Presidents-January
Marketing Roundtable - coming sooner or later
Contact the Council office at (914) 328-7001 or info@wjcouncil.org for information on these and other Roundtables--a key offering of the Westchester Jewish Council.
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WESTCHESTER COUNTY GOVERNMENT NEWS |
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WESTCHESTER COUNTY EXECUTIVE GEORGE LATIMER ANNOUNCES 38TH ANNUAL SENIOR HALL OF FAME LUNCHEON, DEC. 4 – A VIRTUAL EVENT
Celebration Honoring the Achievements of 49 Seniors from 25 Municipalities
(White Plains, NY) – Westchester County Executive George Latimer will join in honoring the achievements of 49 senior citizens from throughout the County at the 38th Annual Senior Citizens Hall of Fame Awards on Friday, December 4 at 11:30 a.m. This year’s program names Deborah Moorehead of Yonkers and William S. Greenawalt of Hartsdale with top honors.
To read the full press release, please click here.
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Ready to Celebrate?
Here's how to watch!
Click here at 11:30 am on December 4, 2020 to watch The Westchester County Senior Hall of Fame Awards Program.
There will be a live chat feature and we cannot wait to connect with you! (if you are not already logged in to Vimeo, you will need to enter your name and accept Vimeo’s terms/privacy policy.) We are so excited to recognize and celebrate our amazing seniors and share their inspiring stories with you. Special shout out to Betsy Landis, our award winner from the Council!
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Foremost Caterers Hannukah menu is available. Please click on the image for the full menu.
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WESTCHESTER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES |
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Pleasantville Community Synagogue - Rabbi, Part Time
POSITION DESCRIPTION:
We are looking for a versatile, inspirational leader to guide a small unaffiliated congregation of diverse backgrounds and generations. Adaptability is essential, as you will be serving the varied religious, spiritual, educational, and emotional needs of PCS members, and acting as a liaison to the larger community. This is an opportunity to foster a congregation that will develop along with you.
For more details, please click here.
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Condolences to:
We are saddened by the loss of Stephen D. Cutler z"l, father of Ellen Cutler Levy (former WJC Board Member).
Mazal Tov to:
Rabbi Adam Baldachin (Rabbi at Shaarei Tikvah) and Maital Friedman on the birth of their daughter.
Academy for Jewish Religion on their upcoming 65th Anniversary and Accreditation which will be celebrated online on January 10th.
Genn Kelly (Executiuve Director of Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester) on being honored by NATA (the National Association of Temple Administrators)
Refuah shlema to:
Rabbi Shmuel Greenberg, rabbi of the Young Israel of White Plains. To include Rabbi Greenberg in your tefilot and for a misheberach, please note that his Hebrew name is now Alter Shmuel ben Chava Leah.
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We invite teens in the community to represent their agencies and synagogues at our WJC Youth Volunteer Roundtable. We ask our Youth Professionals to recommend a teen(s) to join us at the table. Please send the name and contact and any questions to Donna Bartell - Donna@WJCouncil.org
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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JBS can be seen live 24/7 on Cablevision (channel 138), Verizon FIOS (channel 798), ROKU and on https://jbstv.org/
The Hudson Valley 211 Helpline is Here
This is a service of United Way of Westchester and Putnam.
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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 December 10, 2020
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