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A message from Rabbi Jonathan Blake
Rabbi Avraham Dov Baer of Auvritch (1765-1841) was an early Hasidic Master who provides a mystical insight into the light of Chanukah. Read more...
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Community Outdoor Menorah Lighting
Friday, December 3 at 5:45 pm
followed by Shabbat Service approximately 6:25 pm
Gather with your WRT community on our campus to celebrate the Festival of Lights by kindling our giant, outdoor Chanukah menorah! Hot chocolate and jelly donut holes will be served.
We will then proceed to the Sanctuary, where we will be joined by Dr. Zohar Raviv, International Vice President of Educational Strategy, Birthright Israel. He will be sharing a talk entitled: Countering Today’s Misinformation About Israel: Birthright Israel As A Front Line Player. For anyone who has a Birthright Israel eligible young person in their life (18-32), we hope you'll join us!
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Join us in our Main Sanctuary for services, where Vaccinations and Masks are both required for everyone. (Unvaccinated children under 12 years old may attend if certain testing requirements are met - please contact Suzanne.Saperstein@wrtemple.org to learn more about this accommodation.) 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.
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Torah Study
Saturday, December 4 at 9:00
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.
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Sharing Shabbat
Saturday, December 4 at 9:00 am
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!
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WRJ Havdalah with Cantor Kleinman
Saturday, December 4 at 7:30 pm (via Zoom)
Join Cantor Kleinman, 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.
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Mishna: The Building Blocks of Jewish Life
Led by Rabbi Jonathan Blake
Thursday, December 2 at 10:15 am (via Zoom)
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
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Freebird Chanukah Drop-in with Rabbi Blake
Thursday, December 2 at 6:30 pm, outside under the tent
Reminder for those who have registered, Chanukah Candle Lighting at 7:00pm, light snacks and warm beverages. Gift exchange...bring a new, wrapped book. Bring one, take one (per person). Registration is closed.
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Rosh Chodesh 5782
Led by Cantor Kleinman and Cantor Rodnizki
Tuesday, December 7 at 11:30 am (via Zoom)
Join our cantors and a diverse group of women for a monthly, midday infusion of community, ritual, sharing, and study as we mark each new month on the Hebrew calendar. This year, Rosh Chodesh will include opportunities to learn in the style of our “And She Said” class, to celebrate happy occasions, and to hold space for one another in times of challenge or healing. To be added to the email list and receive the Zoom link, please email Suzanne.Saperstein@wrtemple.org.
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Mussar led by Sasha Baken
Friday, December 10, 12:00 pm (via Zoom)
Rabbinic student Sasha Baken will lead us in meditation and study using the Mussar method, a Jewish spiritual practice that gives concrete instructions on how to live a meaningful and ethical life. No previous experience is necessary. All are welcome. This class is presented by WRJ. Please register here.
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Scarsdale Candlelight Vigil for Victims of Gun Violence
Sunday, December 12 at 5:00 pm (via Zoom)
The Interfaith Coalition Against Gun Violence, the Scarsdale/Hartsdale Clergy Association, and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America will host a Virtual Vigil to #EndGunViolence, and Rabbi Blake will be offering a prayer during the Vigil. Come together to remember the more than 900,000 Americans killed or injured by gun violence since the Sandy Hook School massacre. We will meet in loving remembrance of victims and in determination to save lives moving forward. Contact office@scc-ucc.org to register.
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MRJ present "How to Be A Good Ancestor"
Tuesday, December 14 at 7:30 pm (via Zoom)
Filmmaker, Aaron Wolf, is a wonderful storyteller and a mensch! He will share his journey of coming together with his past, and re-finding his connection to a place that matters: where his Grandfather escaped Nazi-ruled Germany and became a Rabbi at the Wilshire Boulevard Temple of Los Angeles. Download a flyer for more information and registration.
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Living with Divorce
Wednesday, December 15 at 7:00 pm (via Zoom)
WRT is committed to embracing and supporting people as they live through divorce and single parenting, and find their new family rituals in the face of that change. Rabbi Levy and Jane Slevin, LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) from Westchester Jewish Community Service, lead our monthly support group. RSVP to Suzanne.saperstein@wrtemple.org.
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WRJ Book Talk with author of "Concealed"
Thursday, December 16, Meet and Greet at 6:45 pm,
Author Book Talk at 7:00 pm
Join WRJ online for a book talk with the author of “Concealed: Memoir of a Jewish-Iranian Daughter Caught Between the Chador and America.” Author Esther Amini grew up in Queens, New York during the freewheeling 1960s. In Concealed, she tells the story of being caught between these two worlds: the dutiful daughter of tradition-bound parents who hungers for more self-determination than tradition allows. Click here to register for the Zoom login.
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Shabbat Service: Conversation with Rabbi Nir Barkin
Friday, December 17 at 6:15 pm
Join Rabbi Nir Barkin of Kehillat YOZMA, one of WRT’s cherished “sister congregations,” a thriving Progressive (Reform) Jewish community in Modi’in, Israel. Many delegations of WRT travelers have enjoyed the incredible warmth and hospitality of Rabbi Barkin and the YOZMA community. A Torah donated by WRT sits in the center of their synagogue. Let’s link our hearts and hopes as we learn from Rabbi Barkin, who will offer the evening’s D’var Torah.
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G’milut Chasadim (Acts of Kindness) |
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Cooking4HOPE:
Cooking in the Kitchen Coordinators Needed
We’re returning to cook lasagna, veggies and prepare salads and cookies in the WRT kitchen on the last Monday of each month. But it’s time for a generational change in coordinating this great initiative.
We need 1-2 shoppers (Costco on Friday or Saturday delivering to WRT) and 1-2 coordinators on the last Monday of each month from 9-12 to coordinate the volunteer cookers. Good company, great satisfaction promised.
If you’d like to step up on our Tikkun Olam ladder, please contact
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WRT ECC Social Action Committee
As we enter the holiday season, the WRT ECC Social Action Committee encourages you to teach your kids about giving back to those who are less fortunate. Please donate however you can and feel free to share with your networks! We appreciate your support.
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Please click here to donate a gift for families in need at the Bronx Y in partnership with Children's Hope Chest (select Janet's address at check-out and please purchase before 12/12). These gifts are distributed at a special holiday event that is always extremely appreciated by the families.
Please contact Social Action Chairs Alex Edelman, Drew Kramer, or Lauren Tetenbaum Dorman for more information or to get involved, and please stay tuned on ways you can support other organizations this year! Happy holidays!
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Tikkun Olam (Repair of the World) |
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Monthly Mitzvah:
Collecting Toys for the Holidays
For the month of December we will be participating in a holiday toy drive with WJCS. The gifts will be sent to residents of the Pleasantville Cottage School. Toys can be left in the Monthly Mitzvah bins in the main lobby. If you would like to donate toys online, information can be found here.
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Jewish Learning Lab (JLL) and Early Childhood Center (ECC) |
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Westchester Jewish Basketball League
We are excited to announce that the basketball season will begin January 3 for grades 5 thru 12. Coaches and assistants are needed. If you are interested, please contact Gil Fishman at GFishman@yorkintl.com or 914-393-5733.
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BetterTogether: Community from Generation to Generation
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.
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ECC registration for the 2022-2023 school year
Registration is now ongoing for everyone.
Our ECC Summer Play Place camp registration information will be available soon.
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Nominating Committee for 2022-23
Members are welcome to suggest themselves or others for consideration by the Nominating Committee. Please contact any of the Nominating Committee members directly with your questions or suggestions.
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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.
Online Learning
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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