Given that Ki Tisa is one of our most richly jam-packed parshiyot, filled with various important elements of our sacred story (including the infamous Golden Calf incident), it is somewhat surprising that this Torah portion also contains the commandment to rest on Shabbat.
The obligation to rest appears to us this week in the form of our prayer, V’shamru, which we recite each Friday evening. Each time we sing these verses, we are reminded of our weekly opportunity to embody the six days of Creation followed by a day to “shavat vayinafash,” to stop, rest, and become re-souled.
As we enter the month of March and approach one full year of living in quarantined isolation, what does it mean to truly rest? When our homes have also become offices, schools, and even the pews of WRT, how do we draw distinctions between place and time?
We hope you’ll join us on Friday, March 12 at 6:15 pm for a special Shabbat service acknowledging the one-year mark of the pandemic and attempting to recognize and hold all that has happened in the past year – the losses, the celebrations, and the fear. We hope that by reflecting on our year together, we can find even just a moment of true rest and renewal, giving us the strength to hold onto hope and carry on.
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Shabbat Evening Service
Friday, March 5 at 6:15 pm
Our evening Kabbalat Shabbat worship takes place every Friday at 6:15 pm. Participate alongside fellow congregants via Zoom (passcode: Shabbat). Or join us on any of our live-streaming platforms: Facebook, YouTube, or StreamSpot.
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Torah Study
Saturday, March 6 at 9:00 am (via Zoom)
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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Shabbat with Temple Israel of Memphis
Friday, March 5
7:00 - 8:15 pm Services via live stream
8:15 - 8:45 pm Zoom chat with Rabbi Levy and Rabbi Greenstein - for an engaging discussion about civil rights and what has been happening in Memphis this past year.
We invite you to a special Shabbat at Temple Israel of Memphis with Rabbi Micah Greenstein, with a wonderful musical selection from our own Cantor Danielle Rodnizki, and a message from Rabbi David Levy. Please note that regular WRT services will take place at 6:15 pm, as our usual Shabbat programming. Click here to register for login information. Presented by the FreeBirds.
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And She Said: Women’s Commentaries on the Bible
Led by Ariel Milan-Polisar, WRT Rabbinic Intern
Friday, March 12 at 11:00 am (via Zoom)
This class will use The Torah: A Women’s Commentary, Nehama Leibowitz’s interpretations, and Judith Plaskow’s philosophy to understand important Biblical passages from the feminine and feminist perspectives. This class is for everyone—those new to Torah study and those more experienced with it. Click here to register for login information.
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Shabbat Services - First Anniversary of the Start of the Pandemic
Friday, March 12 at 6:15 pm
On 3/11/2020, the world changed as COVID-19 was officially recognized as a global pandemic. On Friday March 12, we will mark this moment, reflect on the past year, and consider the impact this has had on our lives.
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Israeli Elections - What Is Going On? with Rabbi Levy
Sunday, March 14 at 7:30 pm (via Zoom)
Join Rabbi Levy for a discussion of Israel's fourth set of elections in two years, to be held on March 23, 2021. Rabbi Levy will share why the elections have not led to a long term functioning government, and what trends we are seeing for the next set of elections. This program is present by the FreeBirds. Sign-up here for log-in information.
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Great Israeli Poets with Professor Rachel Korazim, Ph.D.
Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2:00 pm
Renowned Professor of Israeli Literature, Dr. Rachel Korazim, presents the great Israeli poets. Class taught in English, featuring performances by Israeli musicians.
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Save the Date
Morgan & Marjorie Miller Scholar-in-Residence Program, and Tribute to Marcy R. Harris
Sunday, May 16
2:30pm -- Presentation by Dr. Andrew Rehfeld
4:00pm -- Tribute to Marcy R. Harris
The entire WRT community is invited to join us for an afternoon of learning as we honor Marcy R. Harris for her four years of service as WRT's synagogue president. Thanks to the generosity to the Morgan & Marjorie Miller Scholar-in-Residence Fund, our guest presenter will be Dr. Andrew Rehfeld, president of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion -- where Marcy serves as Vice Chair of the Eastern Region Board of Overseers. We will celebrate Marcy's accomplishments, thank her for her leadership, and continue to dedicate ourselves as a congregation to the highest caliber of Jewish learning through Dr. Rehfeld's teaching.
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G’milut Chasadim (Acts of Kindness) |
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COVID Vaccine Information Help for Seniors
Attention Seniors: Are you having difficulty navigating the system to reserve a covid vaccine? WRT’s Caring Community can provide help with registration. If you need assistance, contact Caring Community volunteer Rachel Hyman, rachelhyman@optonline.net, 917-734-1168.
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Cooking4HOPE - Volunteers Needed
Our WRT Cooking4HOPE team prepared over 1000 lunch & snack bags last week. Todah! By next week, we will have prepared a total of over 20,000 bags since the beginning of the pandemic. Please join us in packing or baking this weekend. Email yoel.magid@gmail.com to help be here 4Hope.
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Jewish Learning Lab and Early Childhood Center |
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Connections Shabbat for young families!
Friday, March 19 at 5:00 pm
All our young families and their friends are invited to join with Cantor Kleinman, Cantorial Intern Isaac Sonett-Assor and Song Leader Kayla Gitlin to bring in Shabbat during this special monthly program. Watch for details about special project pick-ups and activities in upcoming eblasts!
· Meeting ID: 938 7063 8534 Passcode: 5vhXD6
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ECC Summer PlayPlace - limited spaces available
Registration for our Summer Play Place 7 week program, June 28 - August 13, 2021, is now open. Contact Ellen.Rosenberg@wrtemple.org for more details.
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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.
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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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