In our Torah portion, and so many portions throughout the book of Genesis, this phrase appears over and over again. Read more...

Dress casually for cool fall weather, and join us in the CJL Circle Tent for outdoor services. Vaccinated attendees are encouraged to wear masks. Unvaccinated adults, and children under 12 years old, are required to wear masks. Distanced seating will be made available.

Our evening Kabbalat Shabbat worship takes place every Friday at 6:15 pm. Participate alongside fellow congregants in-person (see above), or join us on any of our live-streaming platforms: Facebook, YouTube, or StreamSpot. 

Torah Study

Each Shabbat morning we gather informally to read and discuss the week’s Torah portion. The morning begins with a brief Shabbat service at which mourners who wish to say Kaddish are warmly welcomed. The group is led by volunteers, with clergy participation. No prior experience with Torah is necessary. 

Our engaging, musical Shabbat service for children in Grades K-6 and their families is open to the congregation and community. This weekly service is led by our clergy, and followed by engaging learning and conversation organized by cohort – a special JLL curricular experience for the children, and time for the adults to concurrently study, share stories, and ask questions together with a member of the clergy team. All are welcome!

This program continues taking us into a detailed analysis of the most important and influential book of Rabbinic Literature, the Mishna (“Teaching”), which itself becomes the cornerstone of the Talmud. The Mishna was compiled in the early-mid 3rd Century (CE) and reflects generations of Rabbinic teaching. Click here to register

Thursday, October 21 (click here for schedule)

WRT Peloton users are invited to join the #WRTRiders so we can support each other and ride together regularly. If you use another bike, you can join us by using the Peloton app (www.onepeloton.com), or if you like, you can form a group for another system. Just let us know and we’ll add you to our Wellness event schedule. For more information and schedule, click here.

Thursday, October 21, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm (via Zoom)

Join WRT and ADL for a dialogue between Rabbi Blake and Scott Richman (Regional Director of ADL NY/NJ), as they discuss the work of ADL, the current landscape of antisemitism and how communities can do more to help. Register here for the event and login information. For more information about Scott, please click here: https://nynj.adl.org/scott-richman-regional-director/

On Friday, October 22nd, at 5:30 pm, please join Rabbi Blake and Scott Richman of the ADL for an intimate dialogue session prior to our 6:15 pm Shabbat service. We will gather outdoors in-person for continued reflection on the how Jewish communities can most effectively meet the challenges of rising antisemitism.

Congregant and certified yoga teacher Stephanie Simon's class is infused with Jewish spirituality. All are welcome, so invite a friend to join us in this experience! (Please have a towel and blanket for practice.) For questions and to RSVP, please contact Stephanie at sbsnamaste@gmail.com. 

Men of Reform Judaism and Women of Reform Judaism are co-hosting a blood drive, which is open to WRT and neighboring congregations. “Spend one hour, save up to three lives,” is the reason why! Click here to sign-up on the New York Blood Center website. The MenRJ will provide bagels, lox, donuts and coffee for all donors. Win a chance for a $1,000 Home Depot Voucher, click here for details.

Join WRT for a Wellness Ride on the Bronx River Parkway from 11:30 am - 2:00 pm. Participants are welcome to bike ride, skate, walk or jog along the Bronx River Parkway and stop by for a snack at 239 Fox Meadow Road.

Spousal Loss Support Group 

The Spousal Loss Support Group meets for five consecutive weeks to create intentional community for those in mourning over the loss of a spouse or partner. Led by Jane Slevin, LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist from Westchester Jewish Community Services), and Cantor Laura Stein, LMSW, a social worker who specializes in spiritual care. Please RSVP to Suzanne.Saperstein@wrtemple.org.

Join this free virtual book talk with Mark Oppenheimer and Liel Leibovitz, co-hosts of Tablet Magazine's Unorthodox Podcast, who will discuss Mark’s new book Squirrel Hill: The Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting and The Soul of a Neighborhood, and the impact that tragedy has had on American Jews and the world. Register here for login information.

On this special Shabbat we partner with Sharsheret, a Jewish organization that raises awareness of breast and ovarian cancer in the Jewish community and provides support for survivors and their loved ones.

Come join the MenRJ for the monthly meeting, where we kibbitz and plan the many events and activities held throughout the year. We meet on campus at WRT. Please let us know you are planning to attend, click here. 

Designed for families with children ages eight and younger, the service starts with songs and stories led by our clergy. Children must be accompanied by an adult for this evening (no drop-offs). Join us in-person, or via livestream on our website livestream page.

Join the WRT Cantors, WRJ and friends, as we bid farewell to Shabbat with one of Judaism’s most beautiful rituals, the ceremony of Havdalah. As the symbols of Havdalah engage our senses and its beautiful melodies feed our souls, we’ll explore how this brief but powerful ritual can nourish our spirits for the week ahead. All are welcome. Click here to RSVP.

If you can help with any of the following, please contact Deb Kolodner at debra.kolodner@gmail.com

Our Cooking4HOPE partners in Mt. Vernon and New Rochelle have asked for food vouchers for Thanksgiving, as we did last year. Our goal is to provide 40 supermarket gift cards.

$50 Vouchers for Stop & Shop and ShopRite can be purchased online from Amazon or in-person at the stores. All vouchers should be sent by November 15 to Yoel at 77jgeorge4@gmail.com or mailed to Yoel Magid, 65 Hutchinson Blvd, Scarsdale 10583.

Organized by the Religious Action Center of the Union for Reform Judaism, join Reform Jews from all around the country as we call our senators and the president and urge them to protect the freedom to vote. Register today to receive a calling script, and office phone numbers for the senate and the white house.

New and gently used coats, hats and gloves of all sizes are needed to keep Westchester families warm. Donations can be dropped-off at the 914Cares bins at the ECC back door and the main lobby of the temple.

Afghan refugees arriving in New Jersey are in desperate need of several items. Download a flyer about specific donations- donate items (new, gently used, or purchased from an Amazon wish list (https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2944UQXXT2VRX?type=wishlist

Please contact Karen Segall (karenesegall@gmail.com) or Nancy Michaels (nancymichaels311@gmail.com) with questions.

The BetterTogether program, run through WRT’s Jewish Learning Lab, seeks to create intergenerational relationships within our community. We believe that everyone has the ability to connect, come together, pray and learn. This year-long program creates life long memories and mentorship opportunities. If you are a senior or a teen looking for the opportunity to engage in services, social action and learning, e-mail JLLAdmin@wrtemple.org.  

Registration begins on:

October 25, 26, 27 - for currently enrolled families

October 28,29 - for WRT members whose children are not yet enrolled in ECC

November 1 - for the public

For additional information, please contact Ellen.Rosenberg@wrtemple.org.

For WRT members: If you would like to receive notifications of birth announcements and deaths within the WRT community, please email receptionist@wrtemple.org with your full name and email address. Please specify if you would like to be added to one or both of these notification lists. 

Looking for other ways to connect with and learn from your clergy? We are happy to share recordings of our adult education classes and other engaging experiences on WRT's very own YouTube Channel - please click here.

Westchester Reform Temple is committed to the value of inclusion, and strives to make worship and programming fully accessible. Our building and bima are wheelchair accessible, and the sanctuary is equipped with assistive listening devices and large-print prayer books. ASL interpretation is available for any worship service upon request, and remote viewing of most services is available via webcasting from our website. If you need any additional accommodations to participate in a temple program, please contact Cantor Amanda Kleinman.

WJCS [Westchester Jewish Community Services]: Through the Partners in Caring Program, WRT is able to offer the support of an onsite Social Worker from WJCS, as well as offer social services to congregants in need.

UJA-Federation of NY: We are grateful for a special grant to enable and empower WRT to be the most inclusive congregation we can be. UJA-Federation also facilitates our partnership with the Jewish Deaf Resource Center, to provide ASL interpretation on demand at services and WRT programs.

URJ [Union for Reform Judaism]: Our Reform Movement's synagogue arm; WRT is a proud member of the URJ and celebrates the leadership of URJ President, WRT Rabbi Emeritus Rick Jacobs.

HUC-JIR [Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion]: WRT supports the HUC-JIR, the official training ground for Reform Jewish professionals.

URJ North East Camps: Join us at Crane Lake Camp, Eisner Camp or 6 Points Sci-Tech for an unforgettable summer of discovery and fun. Become a better athlete, artist or scientist while making lifelong friends. Be part of a community of kindness where self-esteem blossoms and Jewish life is truly joyous.