Dear WRT Family,

Today, on the Jewish calendar, we mark Yom Ha-Zikaron La-Shoah v'la-G'vurah, the Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust and Heroism, or Yom Ha-Shoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) for short.

Let us note well that this year's observance of Yom Ha-Shoah comes at a particularly fraught time: amid a global pandemic that continues to claim lives and livelihoods, even as signs of hope, help, and healing are on the way.

And Yom Ha-Shoah this year, especially, draws our attention to the global scourge of resurgent antisemitism, as well as the corrosive evils of racism and xenophobia. We cannot turn our gaze away from the pervasive hate and hostility currently threatening people and communities of color. We cannot look the other way when such hate permeates public discourse, disparaging and imperiling immigrants, refugees, and so many human beings whom the Torah would have called "the strangers and sojourners in your midst."

At WRT, our longstanding custom has been to mark Yom Ha-Shoah with a Kabbalat Shabbat (Friday evening) service known as the Service of Responsibility, during which we not only commemorate the Shoah in its time, but also re-commit ourselves to confronting antisemitism, genocide, and violence directed at the vulnerable in our time.  

The name Service of Responsibility deliberately emphasizes our role not only as witnesses to the horrors of the Holocaust, but as builders of a world of mercy, equality, and justice. To learn from the unparalleled evil of the Shoah only that we Jews are history's victims is to miss the point. We must listen to the manifold ways in which Judaism--and especially the tragic inflection points in Jewish history--impel us to transform our experience of suffering into a radical empathy for the Other -- with an unending obligation to ensure that "Never Again" will apply not only to our People, but to all of God's children.

Please join us tomorrow evening for a memorable and powerful Service of Responsibility as we solemnly observe Yom Ha-Shoah in our unique WRT way. Details of this cherished annual ritual are below.

Rabbi Jonathan E. Blake

Shabbat Evening Service - Service of Responsibility 

Yom HaShoah v'Ha-G'vurah is a day for remembering the tragedy and celebrating the heroes of the Holocaust. Join us at Shabbat for our observance of this solemn day, as we hear the story of a local Holocaust survivor, Agnes Vertes -- and in so doing, honor the memories of the six million Jews and five million others who perished at the hands of the Nazi regime.

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. 

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. 

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 Advisors. 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.

Mussar asks that we engage in thoughtful interaction with our soul traits (middot). We will examine lessons from Jewish scripture and apply techniques like journaling, chanting and meditating as methods to balance our middot. Sponsored by WRJ. Open to the community. Please click here to register.  

We will be reading and discussing The Color of Love: A Story of a Mixed-Race Jewish Girl, by Marra Gad. A memoir about Gad’s experience as a Jewish woman of color, and about how she navigated experiences of racism in her community and in her own family. Click here for login information.   

A monthly support group 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. Find comfort in community and caring discussion, and process feelings of loss in a sacred Jewish context. RSVP to Suzanne.Saperstein@wrtemple.org.   

Rabbi Blake will continues his series about The Mishna, compiled in the 3rd Century, which reflects generations of Rabbinic teaching. It touches on everything we presently do as Jews: how we organize calendar observances; how we pray; how we eat; how we approach birth, death, marriage, and divorce; and a whole lot more. Click here to register for login information.

$72 per Zoom box (includes food, wine, and a donation to the WRT Hungry and Homeless Fund. Friday, April 9 (by 5pm) is the DEADLINE to sign-up for food and wine package. Sign up here.

Friday, April 16 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.  

WRT is committed to embracing and supporting people as they live through divorce and single parenting. 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

Once a month, the group meets for review and discussion on the month’s selected title. For more login information, please contact Lenore Rosenbaum at papoobeads@optonline.net.    

Following the general meeting, will be a fascinating program "3000 Years of Jews in India: The Little Known and Surprising Story" by speaker, and longtime WRT member Iris Burkat. Register here for the Zoom link.

This year we look forward to celebrating WRT congregants whose affiliations with WRT is 18 years and longer! Join our Zoom as we honor members of long standing whose dedication and devotion to WRT has been so vital to its success. Click on this link to register!

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89113942336?pwd=U2tnMElhZXhoRGlrUEFSOEswSFIxZz09  Passcode: 866817  

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.

Cooking4HOPE

Cooking4HOPE partners with organizations who distribute food and necessities within their communities. Anyone interested in volunteering can contact yoel.magid@gmail.com. Click here if you would like to make a donation to the Hungry and Homeless Fund.

All our young families and their friends are invited to join with Cantor Kleinman to bring in Shabbat during this special monthly program. 

·        Join Zoom Meeting

You can also join on Facebook Live or WRT's YouTube Channel.

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.

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.