Shabbat Vayikra
CBST's 50th Anniversary
3 Nisan March 24–25
Kabbalat Shabbat Services 6:30 p.m.
Service Leader and Drashah: Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum
Ba’alei Tefillah: Cantor Sam Rosen and Erin B. Ehren
Piano: Music Director Joyce Rosenzweig

Aleinu 20s & 30s Oneg Shmooze after services to 8:45 p.m.
Join us as we gather as a group in between services and the anniversary oneg to shmooze and catch up.

50th Anniversary Oneg: “Chapter 3: The Impact of AIDS” 8:45–9:30 p.m.
See below for more information. Join the oneg via Zoom »

Sponsor an upcoming Shabbat here.
50th Anniversary Oneg: “Chapter 3: The Impact of AIDS”
Starting 15 minutes after end of service | Zoom »
Join us after services for an Oneg discussion focused on Chapter 3, “The Impact of AIDS” from Changing Lives, Making History, Rabbi Ayelet Cohen’s book about CBST’s first 40 years. The CBST community was hit especially hard by the crisis, losing nearly half of the men in our community to AIDS. These terrible years brought major changes to CBST and to New York, and the lessons we learned then deeply informed our thoughtful, careful response to the arrival of COVID-19 decades later. Following services this week, join us as Cantor Rosen interviews CBST member and past President William Hibsher about this era and what followed. 
Shabbat Morning Services—Liberal Minyan 10:00 a.m. | Zoom »
Service Leaders: Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum and Rabbi Yael Werber
Divrei Torah: Adult B*Mitzvah of Alec Burroughs, David Grotell, and Michele Zalkin
Ba'al Tefillah: Cantor Sam Rosen
Limmud B'Shabbat 10:00 a.m.
 
Alef-Bet Shabbat 11:45 a.m.
 
Teen Track 1:30 p.m.
Havdalah Service 8:30 p.m. | Zoom »
The Latest
We joyously invite you to join us for this year's CBST First Night Passover Seder, on Wednesday, April 5, at 6:00 p.m. and enjoy a kosher for Passover savory meal served in our Wine Family Sanctuary. Registration closes Monday, March 27.

All over the world the Passover Seder begins with a declaration that we will throw our doors open and invite “all who are hungry to come and eat”. Through the generosity of CBST congregants we are able to offer a sliding scale ticket price. Please inquire through rabbi@cbst.org.
Announcements
Photo credit: Harold Levine
***Retreat Registration Closes Today!***
In CBST’s 50th Anniversary Season, we are thrilled to announce our Congregational Retreat at Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center! Join us Friday, April 28 through Sunday, April 30, 2023. Members received an email with registration information. If you’re a member and did not receive the email, reach out to jkatz@cbst.org 

Registration closes today! Secure your spot now to attend this year’s retreat!
Aleinu—CBST’s 20s & 30s Group
Sunday Study is back April 16, 11:00 a.m.–12:15 p.m.! Join Cooperberg-Rittmaster Rabbinical Intern Aliza Schwartz and Co-Chair Jess for a cozy virtual, text study (sweatpants and warm beverages encouraged). Email aleinu@cbst.org for the link. 
Join us for a special Shabbat service tonight, March 24, to celebrate CBST's 50th Anniversary year! We will gather as a group in between services and the anniversary oneg to shmooze and catch up.

Interested in meeting other queer, young Jews? Email us! Aleinu is CBST's 20s and 30s group and we'd love to meet you.
This Week's Featured Events
All Week (Friday, March 24–Thursday, March 30 | 2–8 Nisan)
Trans Week of Visibility and Action
March 25–31
Once again, we are grateful to participate in Trans Week of Visibility and Action, leading up to TDOV on March 31. Each day, check www.trans-week.com for an action of the day to help oppose drag bans, healthcare bans, bathroom bans, and other attempts across the country to harm our trans & nonbinary friends and family and the entire LGBTQ+ community. We’ll be sharing these resources on CBST’s Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter during the week! 
Friday, March 24 (2 Nisan)
Triangle Fire Memorial Ceremony
11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | corner of Greene Street and Washington Place | This annual ceremony in memory of the victims of the Triangle Fire, held at the site of the original fire, will include reading of the names of those who died, as well as words from CBST's Assistant Rabbi Yael Werber and CBST Member and New York State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal.
Sunday, March 26 (4 Nisan)
A Day of Learning with the Trans Halakha Project
12:00 p.m. | Join SVARA’s Trans Halakha Project (on our two-year anniversary!) for a day of learning and celebration in honor of the publication of the first resources created by members of the Trans Halakha Project. We'll learn from teshuva-writers and ritual-shapers about these practices and the processes that helped bring them to life. Together we’ll explore how halakha is expanded and revealed through our experiences and lives as trans and non-binary people. Register here »
Tuesday, March 28 (6 Nisan)
Seder: Reordering for the Ideal with Rabbi Mike Moskowitz
12:00–1:00 p.m. In-Person at the JCC, 334 Amsterdam Ave at 76th Street | Shifting from a posture of coping to one of change requires leaning (pun intended) into different aspects of being human. Reordering society begins by questioning the current status quo. On Passover, the Israelites don’t just demand better conditions for their servitude. Rabbi Moskowitz teaches this Pesach class at the JCC. Learn more and register here »
Wednesday, March 29 (7 Nisan)
Lunch & Learn with the Jerusalem Open House—LGBTQ+ Rights and the Democracy Protests
12:30–1:30 p.m. | Register » | Join CBST’s Middle East & Me team as we welcome our friends from the Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance, Alon Shachar and Shalev Yakir! Alon and Shalev will speak about the work of the Open House especially in this intensely difficult time, as the new government includes leaders who have very openly said that they want to roll back LGBTQ+ rights in Israel. Bring your questions—all opinions necessary. 
Upcoming Events
L’Dor v’Dor—CBST’s 40s and 50s+ Group
Friday, March 31, 5:00 p.m. | This newly-named group is a great opportunity for those ages 40–65 to meet and mingle! Please join us for a meet up at Goldie’s Tavern at 5:00 p.m. before Shabbat services on Friday, March 31! For further information, please email bpollack13@yahoo.com
Kabbalat Shabbat Service—Trans Day of Visibility
Friday, March 31, 6:30–8:30 p.m. | In honor of Trans Day of Visibility, we are thrilled to welcome guest speaker Shira Berkowitz, Policy Director of PROMO Missouri and Co-Founder of Camp Indigo Point & MaTovu, as well as special readings from members of Emet: the Trans & Nonbinary team at CBST. 
CBST First Night Community Passover Seder 5783
Wednesday, April 5, 6:00 p.m. | In-Person and Online | Register »
Honor the sweetest traditions of feasting and gathering as a community. We look forward to raising the four glasses with you!
Volunteers Needed
The Hospitality Team Needs You!
CBST members are invited to join the Hospitality Team and become a Friday night or Saturday morning greeter/usher. Choose a service as often as you like! Meet other members of our community and help create the warm atmosphere CBST is known for. Contact Lin Rosenbluth.
 
Technology Advisors
Collaborate with CBST staff to help guide the best digital tools, software, and other apps for workplace productivity. If you have experience in these areas and would like to help recommend tools that can streamline efficiency, please reach out to Executive Director, Beth Woloff
Ramadan Began on March 23
The same new moon that ushered in the Hebrew month of Nisan on March 23 also brought the Muslim observance of Ramadan. During Ramadan, many Muslims fast daily from sunrise to sunset, with an intense focus on reflection, prayer, and charity. The day-long fast concludes with iftar, a festive meal with friends and family.
 
Since 2017, volunteers from CBST’s House of Peace have helped to prepare and serve a community iftar at the Islamic Center of NYU (ICNYU) and we’d love to have you join us this year. Shifts start slightly before 6:00 p.m. and last until about 7:30 p.m. Volunteers are welcome to attend services preceding iftar, and to eat with ICNYU community members after helping to serve dinner. 
 
CBST members and clergy will be at the ICNYU throughout the month, and we hope you’ll join us! Email Harold Levine for details and to register.
Weekly Classes & Groups
*Registration closed
Sunday
*Queer Niddah with Cooperberg-Rittmaster Pastoral and Educational Intern Avigayil Halpern 5:30–6:30 p.m.
Monday
Intro to Mishnah with Rabbi Mike Moskowitz Mon–Thurs, 9:30–10:15 a.m.
Mishpachah Monday! Online Fun & Shmooze with Director of Aging Together Judy Ribnick and Sharon Golub for pre-Passover prep and fun 5:00–6:00 p.m.
*Jewish "Star Trek" with Rabbi Marisa James & Cantor Sam Rosen 6:00–7:00 p.m.
Tuesday
Intro to Mishnah with Rabbi Mike Moskowitz 9:30–10:15 a.m.
Allyship & Jewish Text with Rabbi Mike Moskowitz 5:30–6:15 p.m.
*Spiritual Autobiography with Rabbi Yael Werber 6:30–7:30 p.m.
Stories from the Talmud with Rabbi Mike Moskowitz 6:30–7:15 p.m.
Wednesday
Intro to Mishnah with Rabbi Mike Moskowitz 9:30–10:15 a.m.
Close Text Study of Sefer Bereshit/Book of Genesis with Rabbi Mike Moskowitz 12:00–1:15 p.m.
Advanced Talmud Study with Rabbi Mike Moskowitz 4:00–5:00 p.m.
*Intro to Hebrew, Part 2 with Cooperberg-Rittmaster Rabbinical Intern Adam Graubart 6:30–7:30 p.m.
*Queer Jewish Music with Cooperberg-Rittmaster Rabbinical Intern Aliza Schwartz 6:30–7:30 p.m
Thursday
Intro to Mishnah with Rabbi Mike Moskowitz 9:30–10:15 a.m.
Democracy! Team Action Group 12:30–1:15 p.m.
*Prayerbook Hebrew Continued with CBST Educator Miya Rotstein 6:30–7:30 p.m
Health & Safety Policies
By entering the building, you are attesting you are fully vaccinated against COVID, including the bivalent vaccine if eligible. Masks are optional for worship and public programs with a clearly defined mask-required section at every seated gathering. Complete health and safety policies here.