The Westchester Jewish Council's
Community Connection
December 17, 2020 2 Tevet 5781
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Hello!
Why do Eskimos live in igloos? To ice-olate...
Most of us are waking up this morning to the first significant snowfall of the year, even though the winter solstice, (also known as the hiemal solstice or hibernal solstice) is still a few days away. It turns out that in this virtual world, snowstorms will not get in the way of the numerous events that are taking place throughout the community including some final Hanukkah events, lectures, a virtual tour and even a Bingo night. Check out the Council calendar at www.wjcouncil.org to learn more about our member organization's upcoming programs.
Speaking of Hanukkah, we were honored to celebrate and pay tribute to Representatives Eliot Engel and Nita Lowey at a Hanukkah celebration sponsored for the community by the Council and UJA Westchester.
Finally, our GALAlujah fundraising is going strong! We want to remind you (and to thank you in advance) to donate and place a tribute to our three wonderful honorees at www.wjcouncil.org/gala. The Gala is our only fundraiser of the year. Sign up and pledge now--and payment can be made in early 2021.
By the way, if you have time in the coming days, visit our member organization, the Jewish Broadcasting Service (JBSTV.org). JBS can be seen live 24/7 on Cablevision (channel 138), Verizon FIOS (channel 798), ROKU and on https://jbstv.org/
Wishing you a safe and healthy "snowy-day
Shabbat Shalom!
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Lisa Roberts, President
Lori Kurlander, Communications Manager
Elliot Forchheimer, CEO
WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL
"HERE WHEN YOU NEED US-YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW"
(The Council is financially supported by donations from individuals,
dues from 136 member organizations and generous grant support from UJA-Federation)
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Please support the work of the Westchester Jewish Council. Your donation makes a difference each and every day. Click here to donate.
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WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL
UPCOMING EVENTS
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"GALAlujah, We Are Grateful"
Gala prep is underway and the Journal is live and available for your viewing and contribution.
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Visit the Gala webpage at www.wjcouncil.org/gala to sign up and support the Council's only fundraiser and to honor our amazing friends and honorees :
Lisa Roberts (Council President), Harriet Kaplan Suvall, Marc Suvall
Gala entertainment you ask?--you got it. See the Gala website for details
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The Abraham Accords: How the Groundbreaking Agreement Will Present Opportunities for Israel and the UAE
December 29th at 1pm
Please join Westchester Reform Temple, JAFI and the Council for a presentation by Consul General Abdall Shaheen.
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SAVE THE DATE - January 6th
We will be joined by two physicians from ColumbiaDoctors (Business partner) for a zoom event in which they will explore and discuss how to help children manage stress and anxiety during COVID. More details to follow.
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UJA Westchester and Westchester Jewish Council
Hanukkah Celebration & Tribute to
Representatives Eliot Engel and Nita Lowey
We celebrated Hanukkah this week while recognizing our friends and devoted elected officials, Rep. Eliot Engel and Rep. Nita Lowey for their decades of public service. Thank you to Karen Everett (UJA Government chair and WJC Board Member) for moderating the program and to Rabbi Howard Goldsmith of Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester and President of the Westchester Board of Rabbis for lighting the Hanukkah candles.
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[Karen Everett, WJC Board Member |
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[Representative Eliot Engel] |
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[Representative Nita Lowey] |
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Westchester Board of Rabbis Hanukkah Celebration
with County Executive George Latimer.
Thank you Mr. County Executive for this annual gathering with our Board of Rabbis.
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WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL'S
SECURITY AND SAFETY UPDATE
"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail" B. Franklin
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Spotting a Spoofing - Informational Report
Original Release Date: 11/19/2020
Now more than ever, it is becoming increasingly important to take caution before clicking - particularly as it pertains to email. Cybercriminals are persistently evolving their tactics for attack, finding new ways to successfully exploit an unsuspecting user. One of the most common attack vectors is malicious emails. While you may think you are receiving an email from a known contact or trusted organization, this email could be from a cybercriminal attempting to convince you to click on a link or open an attachment that facilitates credential and data theft or the delivery of malware. Stolen credentials can provide threat actors with the opportunity to steal data, financial information, funds, and conduct subsequent attacks, while malware can facilitate data theft and the installation of additional malware, such as ransomware. Spoofing is a tactic often employed by threat actors in these malicious email attempts; however, understanding how to identify spoofing techniques can prevent victimization.
As always and per protocol, please report any security concerns immediately to your local Police Department and then to the Council and to CSI/Bill Hayes for follow up.
Stay alert, prepared and safe.
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WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL'S
ISRAEL CONNECTION
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Westchester Jewish Council's
"Israel Connection"
"Building a Democratic and Inclusive Israel in the Time of Covid-19"
Tuesday, January 12th at 12pm
Next up in our monthly series, please join the Westchester Jewish Council and The New Israel Fund (Council member) for a conversation with Shira Ben Sasson Furstenberg, NIF's Associate Director in Israel.
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"Israel Connection", a monthly virtual series of the Westchester Jewish Council, offers presentations and discussions on diverse topics of interest regarding the culture, politics and society of Israel. All welcome.
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PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS YOU CAN ENJOY FROM HOME
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Virtual Tour: Guastavino Tiles of New York
Tuesday, December 22, 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
In 1881, Spanish engineer Rafael Guastavino arrived in New York City and unveiled his new technology for building self-supporting vaulted tile ceilings. These ceilings are now iconic elements of many New York landmarks, and the city is home to more than 250 of them, more than any other city in the United States. On this virtual tour, we'll look at many of the ceilings up close, including in Prospect Park, Grand Central Station, and the Municipal Building, as we discuss this engineering marvel. Led by Cindy VandenBosch, Turnstile Tours
“Looking for a Yiddish-speaking volunteer to facilitate a weekly small group Yiddish conversation for DOROT Westchester seniors. Please contact Linda Walter at lwalter@dorotusa.org or 914-230-6848.” |
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Hadar's Virtual Rising Song Intensive
Tuesday, December 29, 1:00-9:00 PM Eastern
This one-day virtual seminar is for people of all musical backgrounds to create space for musical expression, learning, and community. Join sessions on topics like the music of prayer and communal song taught by leading Hadar and Rising Song Institute faculty such as Joey Weisenberg, Batya Levine, Deborah Sacks Mintz, and Rabbi Elie Kaunfer. Learn more and register at www.hadar.org/programs/rising-song-intensive.
Joey Weisenberg and the Hadar Ensemble Concert
Wednesday, December 30, 7:30-9:00 PM Eastern
Sing along virtually with Joey Weisenberg and the Hadar Ensemble, whose music blends traditional Jewish sounds and melodies with eclectic influences such as jazz, bluegrass, Balkan, flamenco, and klezmer. The concert will stream for free on Hadar's Facebook page but you can purchase a ticket to watch the concert on Zoom and get exclusive access to a post-concert talkback and Q&A with Joey Weisenberg and the Hadar Ensemble. Learn more and purchase tickets at www.hadar.org/concert.
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“Rethinking Leadership for Gender Equity” will take place on Jan. 13 , 28, and Feb. 11. The series is designed especially for education directors, clergy, executive directors, and lay leaders, will examine leadership through the lenses of gender and equity. Thanks to the generous support of the Safety Respect Equity Network the workshops are free.
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UJA-FEDERATION OF NEW YORK IN WESTCHESTER |
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If you find yourself spending the majority of your time at home, and wishing you could find new ways to meet people -- you're not alone.
UJA and its partners invite you to learn about Westchester Circles, a 60+ online community.* Beginning this winter, we’re offering a variety of small virtual groups created especially for people who may feel isolated and are looking for conversations and connections with their neighbors around common interests.
So please join us. And tell friends or family members. It's a wonderful new way to meet your Westchester neighbors from the comfort of your home.
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WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL ROUNDTABLES (ConnecTables) |
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Westchester Jewish Council
Upcoming Community Roundtables
(The Council thanks the hundreds of people that dedicate time to attend our Roundtables -
a signature initiative of the Council often sponsored with wonderful partners from among our member organizations)
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Some Upcoming Virtual Council Roundtables:
Greening Roundtable - January 12th
Security Roundtable - January 13th
Fighting Racism Roundtable - January 19th
Synagogue Presidents +1 - coming soon
Synagogue Executive Directors - Weekly
Marketing Roundtable - coming sooner or later
Contact the Council office at (914) 328-7001 or info@wjcouncil.org for information on these and other Roundtables--a key offering of the Westchester Jewish Council.
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On this last day of Hanukkah, Areyvut (Member organization)shares some Hanukkah resources with us.
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Yemin Orde Youth Choir and Band Perform Salaam
Yemin Orde Youth Village's choir and band perform the beautiful song, Salaam, which is a greeting of peace in Arabic. The Village's music program provides an outlet for creativity and self-expression for Yemin Orde's at-risk youth, as well as vocal and instrument lessons. Other creative and therapeutic outlets offered at the Village include art, dance and theater. These excellent extra-curricular programs are supported by ImpactIsrael's (Member organization) donors and provide Yemin Orde's youth with a knowing sense that they are worthy of these learning opportunities. Our Village Way educational methodology helps instill in our youth self-confidence, leadership and hope for a bright future in Israel.
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Mazal Tov and Thank you to:
Rep. Eliot Engel and Rep. Nita Lowey for completing 32 years of services in the US House of Representatives. Special thanks to their dedicated staff led by Chief of staff for Rep. Engel Bill Weitz and District Director for Rep. Lowey Pat Keegan.
Refuah shlema to:
Rabbi Shmuel Greenberg, rabbi of the Young Israel of White Plains. To include Rabbi Greenberg in your tefilot and for a misheberach, please note that his Hebrew name is now Alter Shmuel ben Chava Leah.
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We invite teens in the community to represent their agencies and synagogues at our WJC Youth Volunteer Roundtable. We ask our Youth Professionals to recommend a teen(s) to join us at the table. Please send the name and contact and any questions to Donna Bartell - Donna@WJCouncil.org
Westchester Jewish Council Teen Organizations include:
Thank you to the Jewish Education Project for working so closely with our Teen professionals and volunteers!
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JBS can be seen live 24/7 on Cablevision (channel 138), Verizon FIOS (channel 798), ROKU and on https://jbstv.org/
The Hudson Valley 211 Helpline is Here
This is a service of United Way of Westchester and Putnam.
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Westchester Jewish Council
925 Westchester Avenue, Suite 200, White Plains, NY 10604
914-328-7001 | info@wjcouncil.org | www.wjcouncil.org
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The next Community Connection will be published on or about December 23, 2020
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