As I write this, I am on Federation's Community Mission to Israel with 14 familiar and newfound friends. It's a deeply moving way to start a month that is marked by mixed emotions. In November, we commemorate Kristallnacht - the "night of broken glass" - and we mark both Veterans Day and Thanksgiving Day.

I am reminded of the words of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, who said, "One of the most important distinctions I have learned in the course of reflection on Jewish history is the difference between optimism and hope. Optimism is the belief that things will get better. Hope is the belief that, together, we can make things better.... Knowing what we do of our past, no Jew can be an optimist. But Jews have never - despite a history of sometimes awesome suffering - given up hope."

November is a month to remember, to hope, to give thanks, and to give back. In this issue of JLink you'll find opportunities to do all these things.

Wishing you a month of gratitude and abundance,

President and CEO
Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford
November 4: The Emanuel Synagogue Honors Rabbi Small for 15 Years of Leadership

Rabbi David Small
Please join The Emanuel Synagogue for Shabbat services and a Kiddush luncheon on Saturday, November 4, beginning at 9:00 a.m. as we celebrate Rabbi David Small's 15th anniversary as our spiritual leader. The celebration is open to the community; RSVPs are appreciated. To RSVP, call 860.236.1275 or email [email protected]. The Emanuel Synagogue is located at 160 Mohegan Drive, West Hartford.
November 4: The Women's Balcony Showing at Beth David Synagogue

Beth David Synagogue of West Hartford invites the community to watch the award winning movie The Women's Balcony on Saturday, November 4 at 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served; the film will be followed by a Q&A discussion with Rabbi Yitzchok Adler of Beth David, Rabbi Michael Pincus of Congregation Beth Israel, and Rabbi Debra Cantor of B'nai Tikvoh-Sholom. Admission is $10. Beth David Synagogue is located at 20 Dover Road, West Hartford. Please contact the synagogue office at [email protected] or 860.236.1241 with any questions.
Mandell JCC Jewish Book Festival Unites Adults, Children in a Love of Literature

The Mandell JCC Jewish Book Festival continues through November 18 with adult programs on The Gene Machine by Bonnie Rochman on November 7 and My Adventures with God with Stephen Tobolowsky on November 18. Learn more here. The festival also includes the Eighth Annual Great Children's Read, which takes place Sunday, November 12 with a full morning of book reading and fun activities with special guests, interactive music and movement, a book fair and more! Find details here. All activities take place at the Mandell JCC, 335 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford.
Voices of Hope Is Hiring!

Voices of Hope has an opening for a HERO (Holocaust Education Resource and Outreach) Center Program Director. The HERO Center, a joint initiative of Voices of Hope and the University of Hartford's Maurice Greenberg Center for Jewish Studies, will serve as a community resource on the University of Hartford campus, in schools, and in the community across Connecticut. Tasks include organizing, coordinating and marketing educational field trips, coordinating speakers in school and community settings, organizing and teaching docents and volunteers, coordinating educational workshops, and more. This is a part-time (about 20 hours/week) position. Click here for a full position description.
November 8: UConn Hillel's Seventh Annual Hummus Experience

UConn Hillel invites you to be part of its seventh annual Hummus Experience on Wednesday, November 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom on the Storrs Campus at 2110 Hillside Road. Teams of three or four can sign up to compete and create your own original and delicious hummus flavor. Winners take home a year's supply of Cedar's hummus! There will also be raffles, music, prizes, and the guest judge is UConn President Susan Herbst! The entire community is welcome; you can RSVP or register a team on Facebook by clicking here. To learn more, contact Gabi Benzilio at [email protected].
November 9: "The Catskills of Connecticut: Remembering the Jewish Summer Retreats"

From the late 1880s through the early 20th century, Jewish urban workers and their families came to Connecticut farms as summer boarders looking for rest and relaxation in the countryside. Over time, many Jewish farmers developed thriving resorts in Colchester, Moodus, Lebanon and East Haddam. Most have been demolished; others have found new life. Ken Simon, filmmaker and historian of Connecticut's ethnic resorts, will examine the phenomena that created "The Catskills of Connecticut" on Thursday, November 9 at 7:00 p.m. at the Mandell JCC, 335 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford. The program is sponsored by the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford. Those with memories of the resorts are invited to share stories and photos during a discussion following Simon's lecture. An exhibit featuring these Jewish resorts will be on display at the Society office. Cost to attend: $5 for Society members, $7 for Society non-members and walk-ins. For more information, contact Lynn Newman at [email protected] or 860.727.6170.
November 9 and 10: Kristallnacht
"Kristallnacht: Night of Broken Glass" by the Holocaust Resource Center of Buffalo

Kristallnacht, "Crystal Night," was a nationwide pogrom carried out against Jews across Nazi Germany on November 9 and 10, 1938. It was encouraged by Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels in retaliation for the assassination of German diplomat Ernst vom Rath by a Polish Jewish teenager whose parents had just been expelled from Germany. The pogrom was carried out by SA paramilitary forces and German civilians, and authorities did nothing to intervene. It marked a turning point in the Holocaust; more than 200 synagogues, many cemeteries, and more than 7,000 Jewish shops were vandalized or destroyed, and up to 30,000 Jewish men were arrested and transferred to concentration camps. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum notes, "Kristallnacht marks the first instance in which the Nazi regime incarcerated Jews on a massive scale simply on the basis of their ethnicity."

Our community will mark the 79th anniversary of Kristallnacht with a variety of observances. We hope you will join us.

B'nai Tikvoh-Sholom invites you to a lecture and Kristallnacht commemoration with Charles Lansing, Ph.D., Associate Professor of History at the University of Connecticut, on Sunday, November 12 at 11:00 a.m. Dr. Lansing will discuss "German Nazi-Hunters: The Legacy of the Holocaust," the topic of his current research. This event is free and open to the public. RSVP to 860.243.3576 or [email protected]. B'nai Tikvoh-Sholom is located at 180 Still Road, Bloomfield. 

Beth El Temple will remember Kristallnacht at its evening services on Friday, November 10, at 7:00 p.m. The service will also include a special Roll Call and Honor Guard in recognition of Veterans Day and the rededication of the synagogue's Austin Organ. Beth El Temple is located at 2626 Albany Avenue, West Hartford.

Chabad of Greater Hartford welcomes Rabbi Y.M. Wagner for a lecture on "79 Years after Kristallnacht, Has Germany Changed?" The lecture will take place on Tuesday, November 14 at 7:30 p.m. at Chabad House, 2352 Albany Avenue, West Hartford. The first Rabbi to return to the German city of Krefeld in over 70 years will describe the deep struggles that have contributed to the amazing resilience of Jewish life in Germany today. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Click here for details or to register.

Charter Oak Cultural Center invites you to a Kristallnacht commemoration on Thursday, November 9 beginning at 7:00 p.m. Gather with your neighbors and friends to remember, with music, dance and ritual, two nights in 1938 when the terror of the Holocaust began and the streets of Germany were strewn with broken glass. Join us as we stand in solidarity with one another, affirming our life-giving diversity. The event is free and part of the 13th Annual Celebration of Jewish Arts and Culture.  For more information, call 860.310.2580 or visit www.charteroakcenter.org. Charter Oak Cultural Center is located at 21 Charter Oak Avenue, Hartford.


From left: Major Karl Plagge, who protected Jews in Vilna, and Captain Jacob Gens, head of the Vilna Ghetto.
The Maurice Greenberg Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Hartford will hold a panel discussion on "Choiceless Choices: Leadership in Vilna during the Holocaust" on Wednesday, November 8 at 7:30 p.m., in observance of Kristallnacht. Speakers will include Professors Avinoam Patt and Richard Freund of the University of Hartford and Michael Good, author of The Search for Major Plagge: The Nazi Who Saved Jews. The discussion will be held in the Harry Jack Gray Center's Wilde Auditorium. Attendance is free, but reservations are required; click here to register or to learn more. For questions or additional information, contact Susan Gottlieb at 860.768.4964 or [email protected]. The University of Hartford is located at 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford.
November 10: Beth El Temple Veterans' Day Shabbat & Organ Rededication

Beth El Temple invites you to salute our veterans on Friday, November 10 at 7:00 p.m. as we commemorate the 72nd anniversary of the end of WWII with a Roll Call and Honor Guard. Cantor Ness will lead us in Liturgy of our Tradition as we recall Kristallnacht from this date 79 years ago. In addition, our newly refurbished Austin Organ will be rededicated as it accompanies our Beth El Choir. Following services there will be a special Oneg and sing-along around the piano. Veterans, please register for the Roll Call by November 6! Tell us when and where you served; wear your service hat and bring your memorabilia. Contact Albert Greenspoon at 860.519.5288 or [email protected]. No RSVP needed for non-veterans. Questions? Contact Eliane Freund at 860.233.7157 or [email protected]. Beth El Temple is located at 2626 Albany Avenue, West Hartford.
November 10 - 12: Scholar-in-Residence Weekend with Rabbi Rami Shapiro at Congregation Beth Israel

Rabbi Rami Shapiro
CBI will host Rabbi Rami Shapiro for a weekend of prayer, learning and discussion on Friday through Sunday, November 10 through 12. Rabbi Shapiro is an award-winning author, educator and podcast host. His work explores contemporary Jewish philosophy and spirituality, drawing on practices of eastern religious traditions including Buddhism and Hinduism. He served as Adjunct Professor of Religion at Middle Tennessee State University for ten years and has published over thirty books. He currently writes a column and hosts a podcast for Spirituality & Health magazine. Click here to see a list of activities; the weekend also includes a Shabbat lunch and study session on the Book of Job on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. There is a $10 suggested donation for this lunch; RSVP by November 6 to Sunny Kagan at [email protected] or 860.233.8215 ext. 2240. Congregation Beth Israel is located at 701 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford.
November 11 and All Month: Mandell JCC Salutes Our Veterans

To honor our veterans, during November the Mandell JCC is offering 50% off of new, individual memberships for veterans with U.S. military documentation and a free Guest Day for veterans and active military on Veterans Day, Saturday, November 11. Veterans can also enjoy free admission to a Senior Luncheon at noon on November 13 and a Brunch & Learn in the Chase Family Gallery at 11:30 a.m. on November 15, featuring a gallery talk about "Dear Dearest Mother," an exhibit by artist Leslie Starobin that includes still life montages with veterans' keepsakes from the Civil War to the present. The exhibit runs through the end of the month. Meanwhile, in Canton, the Mandell JCC Valley Sports & Community Center will be collecting toiletries and comfort items for the VA in Newington. Mandell JCC is located at 335 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford. The Mandell JCC Valley Sports & Community Center is located at 310 Albany Turnpike, Canton.
November 11: Pasta Fa Shul at Temple Beth Hillel

Register today for Temple Beth Hillel Men's Club Pasta Fa Shul, to be held on Saturday, November 11 at Temple Beth Hillel, 20 Baker Lane, South Windsor. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 6:00. In addition to the dinner, we will have a 50-50 Raffle and - back by popular demand - a movie following dinner. All attendees will get a vote as to which movie we see. Don't forget to BYOB. Everyone is welcome! There is no cost for the event. Gluten-free available. RSVP to Glenn Zinn at [email protected]. We look forward to you seeing you!.
Solomon Schechter Day School Students Learn about Puerto Rico 

Schechter's mission to educate students through the core values of Lev Tov ("good heart"), Klal Yisrael (community), and Chochma (wisdom) were highlighted on October 30, when students immersed themselves in the study of Puerto Rico. UConn Professor Charles R. Venator-Santiago led sessions throughout the day with fourth through eighth graders about Puerto Rico's history and culture and Hurricane Maria; younger students learned about life in Puerto Rico. Spanish teacher Marilia Castro and Music teacher Chrissy Whalen also taught students a Puerto Rican folk song. Middle school students prepared for this special day by researching topics such as el Yunque, a tropical rainforest; el Morro, a historical fort; and the Taino, the indigenous people of Puerto Rico. As a follow-up, Schechter students are making recommendations on how Schechter can make a difference after Hurricane Maria.
November 12: FVJC - Emek Shalom Mah Jongg Tournament

Farmington Valley Jewish Congregation - Emek Shalom's Sisterhood will hold its annual Mah Jongg Tournament on Sunday, November 12 from 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The day includes a kosher style lunch and a cash raffle.  $36. Registration closes on November 5 or at 100 players... sign up now! Visit www.fvjc.org and click on the Mah Jongg 11/12 dropdown for details.
November 14: Save the Date for "Helping Our Hungry Community"

The Anja Rosenberg Kosher Food Pantry at Jewish Family Services distributes over 90,000 pounds of food, toiletries and cleaning supplies each year to residents of West Hartford, Bloomfield and the entire Greater Hartford area during temporary or long-term times of need. To mark our 15th anniversary and newly expanded pantry, you're invited to a virtual grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, November 14 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. More information is coming soon; please contact Patti Weiner at [email protected] or 860.236.1927 with any questions. Embrace possibility and ensure that the Anja Rosenberg Kosher Food Pantry provides families in need with food for the holidays and all year long!
November 14: Lecture on Lou Reed, Leonard Cohen, and Bob Dylan as Modern Prophets at University of Hartford

The Maurice Greenberg Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Hartford invites you to a lecture by author Aidan Levy on "Lou Reed, Leonard Cohen, and Bob Dylan: Three Prophets of the Modern World" on November 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Harry Jack Gray Center's Wilde Auditorium. The lecture is free, but reservations are required; click here to register or to learn more. For questions or additional information, contact Susan Gottlieb at 860.768.4964 or [email protected]. The University of Hartford is located at 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford.
Children's Reading Partners Kicks Off Fall Volunteering with Program on Children's Learning

From left: Children's Reading Partners Director Alana Butler, Co-Chairs Rona Gollob and Robin Landau, Founding Chair Naomi Cohen, and guest speaker Jacquelyn Santiago of COMPASS Youth Collaborative.
Fifty-two community members attended Children's Reading Partners' Fall 2017 Kickoff celebration on Wednesday evening, November 1. Jacquelyn Santiago, Chief Operating Officer of COMPASS Youth Collaborative, shared her own personal story of growing up in an urban environment and discussed how children learn and what they need to thrive in school. Many thanks to our Founding Chair Naomi Cohen for her 19 years of service, and a special welcome to Rona Gollob and Robin Landau, the program's new Co-Chairs! Click here to view a Facebook photo album. Children's Reading Partners is a program of the Jewish Community Relations Council, part of Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford. To learn more, contact Alana Butler, Director, at [email protected] or 860.236.READ (7323).
November 16: UConn Center for Judaic Studies, Charter Oak Cultural Center Present a Free Performance by the Guy Mendilow Ensemble

The Guy Mendilow Ensemble
On November 16 at 7:00 pm, UConn's Center for Judaic Studies and Contemporary Jewish Life, in partnership with Charter Oak Cultural Center, brings the Guy Mendilow Ensemble to Hartford to perform The Forgotten Kingdom. This performance is made free and open to the public as part of the Center for Judaic Studies' Scholarship and the Arts initiative! The Guy Mendilow Ensemble is an award-winning international quintet with a cast of world-class players whose unique performances combine premier musicianship with cinematic storytelling as they bring to life the music of Sephardic Jewry. The performance will be held at the Charter Oak Cultural Center, 21 Charter Oak Avenue, Hartford. Click here to learn more.
Chai Mitzvah Study Groups Are Forming Now!

Interested in doing something a little different this year? How about starting a Chai Mitzvah group? It's fun, easy, and it's a great way to socialize with good friends and talk about meaningful things. To learn more, contact Susan Fried at [email protected].
University of Hartford Hillel Launches HawkTorah Podcast

UHart Hillel has taken its HawkTorah weekly Torah commentary to a new level with the launch of the HawkTorah podcast. The first episode talks about Judaism and... wait for it... Disney! It's hosted by Hillel student interns Marissa Levitt and Amanda Eastman. Click here for the podcast; you may need an audio player such as Windows Media Player or iTunes to play it. You can also follow HawkTorah on Facebook or Tumblr.
November 19: Mitzvah Mamas Welcome Rosh Chodesh Kislev; Free Trip to Israel Available for Moms

Women ages 13 and up are invited to welcome Rosh Chodesh Kislev (the new month of Kislev) with the Mitzvah Mamas at a one-hour gathering on Sunday, November 19 at the South Windsor home of Mindy Glickman, 114 Cody Circle, South Windsor. At each monthly gathering we remember our mothers and grandmothers, share an act of kindness or a good moment from the previous month and learn something Jewish. Join for a nosh starting at 9:30 a.m.; the program will follow at 10:15 a.m. Bring a friend! No RSVP is necessary but we ask that you arrive early, as the gathering starts promptly. The Mitzvah Mamas are excited to announce that they have once again been selected as a local partner on the JWRP MoMentum Israel trip, an eight-day journey in Israel just for moms. The application process for this free trip (airfare not included) will open on or around December 15, 2017. Click here to learn more. Upon their return, trip participants begin a year of programming and community building. To learn more about Mitzvah Mamas or the JWRP MoMentum Israel trip, join the Mitzvah Mamas Facebook group or  contact Mindy Glickman at [email protected] or 917.698.7952 or join the Mitzvah Mamas Facebook group.
November 19: S'mores and Tours at Camp Laurelwood

Camp Laurelwood isn't just a "summer thing." Come join us for a S'mores and Tours open house on Sunday, November 19 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. and see for yourself! You'll meet friendly staff and see our newly renovated campus, followed by fireside s'mores-making. We can't wait to meet you! If you can't make it on the 19th, please contact Evelyn Cohen at [email protected]. We'd be happy to set up a private tour.
November 19: Free, Two-Part Seminar on Jewish Genealogy

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Connecticut invites everyone interested in Jewish genealogy to the first of a special two-part educational seminar on Sunday, November 19 at 1:30 p.m. at the Society's home, Temple Sinai, 41 West Hartford Road, Newington. The Society's board members will lead the seminar, which is appropriate for both beginners and seasoned genealogists. Topics will include "How to Begin" with Monica Talmor, "Internet Resources and Strategies" with Doris Loeb Nabel, "Immigration/Naturalization" with Gail Kalison Reynolds, and "Federal/State Censuses." Each participant will receive a notebook of materials; the second part of the seminar will be held in December. The seminar is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. RSVP to [email protected] or visit www.jgsct.org for more details.
November 19: Hear from Holocaust Survivors' Children at Second Generation Speak Up

Voices of Hope and Speak Up Storytelling invite you to a very special storytelling program on Sunday, November 19 at 2:00 p.m. at the Mandell JCC, 335 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford. Several local children of Holocaust survivors - including George Bacall, Estelle Kafer, Eliane Sandler, Marge Swaye, Ted Zablotsky and Larry Zemel - will share their personal family stories. $18 suggested minimum donation. Click here to register.
Registration Now Open: Institute for Basic Judaism

The Institute for Basic Judaism's program for 2017-2018 is now open for registration. This is a program for both Jews and non-Jews who want to learn more about Jewish heritage. The first session will be held November 2. For more information, contact Rabbi Richard Plavin at [email protected] or visit the Institute's website at www.ibjewish.org.
Sigel Hebrew Academy Upgrades Hebrew Language Program

The Bess and Paul Sigel Hebrew Academy of Greater Hartford has gone through a significant upgrade of its Hebrew language program. The upper school is using the highly interactive Ulpan Or curriculum, which brings 21st-century learning into the classroom with technology that engages children through blended learning, flipped classrooms and many other interactive learning opportunities. The lower school is using iTalAm, which integrates technology into the language acquisition process. It is a comprehensive program that makes language come alive for children. The biggest impact to our program has been the exceptional teachers. In her second year in the upper school, Hamorah Estee Axelrad has created a joyful and educationally stimulating learning environment for each child. In the lower school, Hamorah Maya Schwartz has transformed Hebrew language learning through her creativity, her excitement, her educational acumen in all aspects of language acquisition, and her genuine love of each child. Students will come out of Hebrew Academy fluent in Hebrew!
November 23 and 28: Thanksgiving and #GivingTuesday

Historical photo of New York's 92nd Street Y, the birthplace of #GivingTuesday.
Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude. For many, it's a time when we enjoy the abundance of life: family, friends, food and football. But some of us face this season with basic needs still unmet. That's why #GivingTuesday was started in 2012. Observed on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and fueled by social media, #GivingTuesday has become a global philanthropic movement. What's more, it has Jewish roots: #GivingTuesday was founded by Henry Timms, Executive Director of the 92nd Street Y, one of New York's flagship Jewish institutions.

Below are several ways our community is giving thanks and giving back during this season of gratitude.

Giving Thanks...

Several Farmington Valley congregations will hold an interfaith Thanksgiving service on Sunday, November 19 at 6:00 p.m. at FVJC - Emek Shalom, 55 Bushy Hill Road, Simsbury. All are welcome; please bring a dessert to share! Visit www.fvjc.org and click on the Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Service dropdown for details.

Temple Beth Hillel of South Windsor will host South Windsor's annual community interfaith Thanksgiving service on Monday, November 20 at 7:00 p.m. All local congregations have been invited, and spiritual leaders from a wide variety of congregations will lead different portions of the Thanksgiving service. Please come and share, celebrate, learn and grow by experiencing a cornucopia of prayers and culture! All are welcome. Temple Beth Hillel is a Reform Synagogue located at 20 Baker Lane, South Windsor. For more information, call 860.282.8466 or visit www.tbhsw.org.

Young Israel of West Hartford will hold a Turkey Bowl Flag Football Tournament on Friday, November 24 at 12:30 p.m. at King Philip Field in West Hartford. You must be at least 12 years old to play. Bring your friends! Contact Eli at [email protected] with questions or to RSVP.

...and Giving Back

Jewish Family Services and The Crown Market are partnering on a Thanksgiving food drive.
You're invited to participate in a Thanksgiving food drive organized by Jewish Family Services Anja Rosenberg Kosher Food Pantry and The Crown Market. Donate $18 to fill a shopping bag with Thanksgiving trimmings for one local family in need. Let's achieve the goal of feeding 100 families! Click here for all the details.

You can donate toiletries and hygiene products for Puerto Rican and other Caribbean islanders who are arriving in Hartford in the wake of Hurricane Maria. The toiletry drive is organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Hartford. Your donations will be distributed at the Centro de Ayuda Para Nuestros Amigos Caribeños (Relief Center for our Caribbean Friends) in Hartford. To donate, contact Alana Butler at [email protected] or 860.727.6152. For volunteer opportunities with the Relief Center, contact Darlene Wolliston at [email protected] or 860.240.6668.

Click the image to check out The Nosher's tips for the best non-dairy Thanksgiving pies.
Teens from 7th through 12th grade are invited to bake pumpkin pies for Hands on Hartford with JTConnect's JTCares program on Sunday, November 19 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Temple Sinai, 41 West Hartford Road, Newington. We'll bake 100 pumpkin pies to be donated to Hand's on Hartford's Thanksgiving Dinner Baskets. JTCares is all about giving back and making a difference; it meets seven times during the school year to learn together and participate in social action projects. For more information on JTCares or JTConnect, call 860.727.6110, email [email protected], or visit us online at www.jtconnect.org.

Come read to children at Bloomfield Early Learning Center with Beth El Temple and Children's Reading Partners on #GivingTuesday, November 28. We will also be fixing up the students' reading spaces. Beth El Temple has been supporting volunteers and collecting new books for Children's Reading Partners, a Federation program that helps at-risk preschool and elementary school students improve their reading skills. If you can't join us on the 28th, you can still make your mark online - on SULAM Beth El! More information is coming soon at BethElWestHartford.org/GivingTuesday.

All women are invited to a #GivingTuesday celebration with Jewish Family Services, Deeds for Needs and Federation Women's Philanthropy on #GivingTuesday, November 28, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the home of Robin Fierston in West Hartford. You can buy and donate household cleaning supplies and personal hygiene baskets, make a blanket to warm a neighbor in need, or purchase a gift for a JFS client from Amazon Wishlist. Click here for details.

Solomon Schechter Day School students will participate in #GivingTuesday activities aimed at helping people in need, living out Schechter's core values of Lev Tov ("good heart") and Klal Yisrael (community). In line with their Reggio Emilio curriculum, Early Childhood students will bake treats to thank hardworking bus drivers and members of the Coast Guard while others in EC will make special pillowcases for sick children attending Camp Dreamcatcher. K-8 students will participate in a range of activities to help those in need, including writing letters to servicepeople, creating laminated placemats for Meals on Wheels, preparing sandwiches for the South Park Inn shelter, baking fresh bread for the House of Bread soup kitchen, and making blankets for the homeless. To learn more about Schechter, visit www.ssds-hartford.org.

November 25: Get Ready for Chanukah at Simsbury Celebrates!

The Mandell JCC and Farmington Valley Jewish Congregation - Emek Shalom will be at Simsbury Celebrates! on November 25 to help kick off the holiday season. Join us from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Simsbury Public Library Discovery Room and learn why Chanukah is Fun-akah! This event is free and open to all! View the full list of Simsbury Celebrates! activities here.
December 2: Enjoy a Weekend of Jazz with BSBI

Beth Sholom B'nai Israel's second annual Jazz Festival is fast approaching, and we need your support! Join us for a great weekend of music on Saturday, December 2, from 7:00 to 10:30 p.m., and Sunday, December 3, from 1:30 to 5:00 pm at Cheney Hall, 177 Hartford Road, Manchester. A wide variety of music will be showcased, including classical, klezmer and many styles of jazz. For a full lineup of performers, tickets, and program advertising information, click here. Questions? Contact Ken Wichman, Jazz Festival Committee Chair, at 860.324.8658.