Having returned a month ago from a winter sabbatical, I can relate especially personally to this week’s Torah portion, Behar-Bechukotai from the Book of Leviticus. That’s because this parasha introduces us to the original concept of sabbatical (Hebrew Shabbaton). 

It’s not only in farming that a periodic break from regular toil can be beneficial. Even without a formal work-sabbatical, many of us have discovered during the pandemic that—perhaps counterintuitively—less time behind a desk, less time in an office, less time following familiar workplace routines, accompanied by more time devoted to personal and familial wellbeing; more time spent nourishing body, mind, and soul; more time devoted to thinking and reflecting, have not only improved our moods, our relationships, and our physical health, but have also improved our productivity and the quality of our work. Less is more. 

If you’ve never joined our Saturday morning Torah Study, let me suggest that if this subject at all interests you, you should stop by our 9AM Shabbat Zoom session where we’ll take a deep dive into the revolutionary ideas embedded in this week’s parasha (login details below). 

If you would like to attend the May 14 service in person, please RSVP here by Tuesday, May 11, at 5:00 pm, to help us plan for you. Please wait for confirmation that seating is available for you, which you will receive by 12:00 noon on Friday, May 14, before making your final plans. 

Please notify the office at receptionist@wrtemple.org if your plans change at the last minute or if there are changes to your health after you submit this form.

Please RSVP here by Tuesday, May 11, at 5:00 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.  

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. 

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.

Friday, May 7 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.  

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.   

Join Rabbi Angela Buchdahl and HUC faculty member Dr. Bruce Phillips for an informative and enlightening discussion that embraces and celebrates diversity and inclusion among the Jewish People. HUC President Andrew Rehfeld will serve as moderator, and Rabbi Panken’s teaching on the subject will be incorporated throughout. Register at huc.edu/HUCConnect.

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.  

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.   

Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/94895110033?pwd=ekFuMWdzUEtaOFFqT3cvbE45cTUxUT09

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.

Join clergy and congregants from local synagogues in a night of learning and celebration for the night of Shavuot, our Spring Festival of Revelation. The event will be hosted by Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont & Emanu-El via Zoom. To signup and receive the Zoom link, please email programs@sstte.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.    

Lisa has been a long-time leader and volunteer in many community organizations and Jewish organizations in New York and throughout North America. Lisa served as president of WRT from 2009-2013.

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

Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corp has partnered with the Westchester County Department of Health to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to homebound Scarsdale residents 18 years of age or older, free of charge. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, please contact SVAC either by phone at 914.722.2288 or by email usingcovid@scarsdalevac.com.

Cooking4HOPE

If you can lend a hand to pack or bake, please email Deb and Emily at debra.kolodner@gmail.com. 

Your donation to The Hungry and Homeless Fund allow this much needed outreach to continue. Thank you!

All our young families and their friends are invited to join with Cantor Kleinman to bring in Shabbat during this special monthly program. Our May event will be on campus! Click here to sign-up or view via Zoom.

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.