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WEEKLY NEWS

Shabbat Vaera

January 25, 2025 / 25 Tevet 5785

THIS SHABBAT

Kabbalat Shabbat Service: Friday, 5:30pm in the Mayer Cavalier Chapel

Morning Services: Saturday, 9:45am in the Sanctuary or via Livestream

Minyan M'at Morning Services: Saturday, 10am in 5 North

TeleTefila Services: Saturday, 9:40am P'sukei D'zimra, 10am Shacharit on Zoom

Mishpacha Service (Ages 0-4, with Parents), Including January Birthday Shabbat: Saturday, 11am in 2 North

Combined Yigdal-Big Kids Service (Ages 5-12, Family or Drop Off): Saturday, 11am in the Mayer Cavalier Chapel

TeleTefila Havdallah: Saturday, 5:49pm on Zoom

THIS WEEK

Saturday, 9am: Rabbi Jules Harlow Parshat HaShavua Class in the Mayer Cavalier Chapel or on Zoom - Source Sheet (updated Friday)

Wednesday, 7pm: Talmud Class with Jeremy Kalmanofsky in the Mayer Cavalier Chapel or via Zoom

Wednesday, 7 - 9pm: AC and Supporting Asylum Seekers in 5 North (RSVP here)

Thursday, 11:45am - 1:30pm: Arlene Agus Memorial in 5 North or on Zoom (RSVP here)

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CONDOLENCES

Join us in mourning our long time member Stephen Fink, and in wishing comfort to his wife, Kathy, his daughter, Rachel, and her husband, Robert, and their children, Sam and Liat.

KIDDUSH

Kiddush this Shabbat is sponsored by Naomi & Michael Cohen, Patty & Seth Goldman, Anya & Etai Gross, and Elana Rosenberg & Greg Litt in honor of The Heschel Harmonizers.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

AC Family Volunteering: Annual MLK Day of Service


This MLK Day, AC families joined the Met Council to prepare food and non-food essentials for distribution to New Yorkers in need. Our volunteers put together food orders, packed toiletry kits, and wrote personalized notes for kit recipients, supporting low-income seniors, families, and college students in the NYC area. See more photos on Facebook or Instagram.


Thank you to all our amazing volunteers!

Arlene Agus Memorial

Thursday, January 30 from 11:45am - 1:30pm in 5 North or on Zoom


Please join us for a memorial event to honor Arlene Agus z"l on Rosh Chodesh Shevat, a few days after the completion of the shloshim period. Please RSVP here to indicate your participation and whether you would like to teach, speak or lead a song at the event.

Celebratory Kiddush

Shabbat, February 1


AC member Charlie Davidson received the Rothschild Award from the USCJ in recognition of his social action work. Among many other things, Charlie ran our homeless shelter for many years; he coordinated AC members to resettle five migrant families; and this year he’s spearheading our collaboration with PS 145. Please join us in recognizing Charlie at a celebratory kiddush.  


We’re asking sponsors to make a donation of at least $50. Your generosity will go towards this kiddush and to replenish our kiddush fund. Thank you to everyone who has already donated!

2024 Tax Statements


Please note that we sent out tax statements last week (January 15) by email acknowledging all donations made in 2024. If we do not have an email address on file, or for any donations paid through a third-party (IRA, stock transfer, or charitable foundation), a tax statement has been printed and mailed. Please contact the office If you did not receive your tax statement.

THIS WEEK AT AC

Heschel Harmonizers at AC

Saturday, January 25 


We are delighted to welcome the Heschel Harmonizers to AC for Shabbat. The Harmonizers will perform in Hirsch Hall during Kiddush, and will also add their voices to Sanctuary services and children’s tefilah. 

The Heschel Harmonizers are the Abraham Joshua Heschel High School a cappella group. Founded in 2006 by students, to this day the group is still heavily student run, under the guidance of director Adena Korn. The Harmonizers' repertoire includes Jewish liturgical, American and Israeli pop music with arrangements by both professionals and students in the group. Many current Harmonizers and Harmonizers alumni are members of Ansche Chesed and they are so excited to perform for the community!

Ansche Chesed and Supporting Asylum Seekers

Wednesday, January 29 from 7 - 9pm in 5 North 


In December, AC members Barbara Schatz and Charlie Davidson, along with Rabbi Yael Hammerman, had the eye-opening experience of visiting the San Diego / Tijuana border with HIAS to bear witness to the experience of those seeking asylum in the US. They will share reflections and photos from their visit.

Photo Credit: Kiana Davis

We will be joined by local leaders who have helped shape the local response to the huge numbers of asylum seekers in New York in recent years, including:

 


They will share with us what they have been doing and ways that we as Ansche Chesed members, and others, can get involved to help these newcomers to New York. Registration encouraged, walk-ins welcome.

AC Kids Services: January Birthday Shabbat

Saturday, January 25 at 11am


Calling All Kids with January Birthdays - Happy Birthday to You! We are starting something new for 2025 - the last Shabbat of every month we will be celebrating that month's birthdays in kids services. We invite you to do any of the following: bring a special book or kosher treat to share, participate in leading the service, or just come and celebrate! 

 

If you want to participate or have any questions, reach out to Rabbi Yael at rabbiyael@anschechesed.org. (Or just show up!) 

 

Save the date! Future Birthday Shabbatot will be on: 

February 22, March 29, April 26, May 31 and June 28 

SPECIAL PROGRAMMING

October 7 and Sexual Violence

Saturday, February 1 after kiddush (around 12:45pm) 


Join us for a conversation with Prof. Ruth Halperin-Kaddari about efforts to seek recognition and justice for the victims of sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, and the continuing impact of the war on women in Israel. We’ll meet after kiddush at about 12:45pm.


Prof. Ruth Halperin-Kaddari is the Founding Academic Director of the Rackman Center at Bar Ilan University and a founding member of the Dinah 7/10 Project. Under the leadership of Prof. Halperin-Kaddari, the Center has been at the forefront of impacting the lives of women in Israel and adapting to the changing pulse of seeking justice for women, including Israeli women who suffered the atrocities of Hamas’ premeditated and systematic use of sexual violence as a weapon of war.

Of a Certain Age: February Lunch and Discussion

Wednesday, February 5 from 12 - 2pm in 5 North 


Join us for our next "Of a Certain Age" get-together. We'll have lunch and listen to presenters share their songs, poems, and stories about "Living Alone."


Have something you would like to share? We have space for a few more presenters -- please contact Suzanne at Suzanne@ctscts.com if you're interested.


Please RSVP here to help our planning. Walk-ins also welcome.

Shirei Shabbat: Musical Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Friday, February 7 at 5:30pm in the Mayer Cavalier Chapel


Join Hazzan Hirschhorn for an evening of song and prayer as we elevate the voice of our community with the help of Shirei Chesed.

Hagba 101

Saturday, February 15 during Kiddush (approx. 12:45pm) in the Sanctuary


Have you ever wanted to do Hagba but you're afraid that you'll drop the Torah? Worried that you aren't strong enough? Join us after Sanctuary services for Hagba 101 -- a hands-on Hagba workshop with Sanctuary Shamash Joel Feuer and Rabbi Yael. We will practice doing Hagba on our lighter weight Torahs -- on the Shabbat when we read the 10 Commandments (so you can practice your Torah overhead press, like you're Moshe Rabbeinu). 

 

RSVP here to help us prepare, walk-in's welcome. Contact Rabbi Yael with questions. 

* If you'd like to learn how to do Hagba, but can't come on Feb 15th, let us know

SECURITY TRAINING

Welcoming and Aware Initiative


Our pilot program has launched with great success! We urge all members to complete the two-part training to enhance their personal security IQ and gain a better understanding of the program at Ansche Chesed. After training, we encourage members to join our Welcoming and Aware team, which adds eyes and ears to the paid professionals already keeping us safe. For those who may not feel able or interested in welcoming members outside the building, there are other important ways to be part of the team.


Click here to register. In the "Name of Synagogue" field on the 1st page, typing "Ansche Chesed" should pop up "Ansche Chesed (New York, NY)". Select that as your answer.


For more information, please email Suzan Rosen.

ONGOING PROGRAMMING

Rabbi Jules Harlow Parshat HaShavuah Class

Saturdays, 9am in the Mayer Cavalier Chapel or on Zoom

Source Sheet (updated Friday afternoons)


Dedicated to Rabbi Jules Harlow, a great teacher of Torah and Jewish liturgy. Come before class at 8:45am for hot coffee and schmoozing!

Shirei Chesed Community Chorus

Tuesdays from 7:30 - 9pm in 5 North


Shirei Chesed builds community through a rich repertoire of Jewish music, bringing harmony to a world that needs it more than ever. Learn more or schedule an audition with Hazzan Natasha Hirschhorn.

Wednesday Night Talmud: Holy Books and Holy Time, with Rabbi Kalmanofsky

Wednesdays at 7pm in the Mayer Cavalier Chapel or via Zoom



This year we will study tractate Shabbat, Chapter 16, which addresses how to write and care for sacred texts.

Parsha Talk

 

Join Rabbi Kalmanofsky and his buddies Rabbis Barry Chesler and Eliot Malomet for their weekly Parsha Talk. Watch the latest episode

ISRAEL

If you are looking for ways to help or resources addressing the ongoing conflict, check the Israel page on our website.

PRAYER

Weekday Morning Minyan

Mondays - Fridays at 7:30am

Sundays and Civil Holidays at 8:30am

in the Mayer Cavalier Chapel or on Zoom


Join our WhatsApp group, which we'll post to when we need people.

Misheberakh List


We invite you to add the names of your dear ones. Please re-submit them each English calendar month if you'd like us to keep davvening for them.

COMMUNITY

The John Leopold and Martha Dellheim Senior Recital 2025: Roseanne Benjamin, Rachel Black, and Justin Zvi Pellis

Monday, January 27 at 7pm at JTS or by Livestream


Join AC member Roseanne Benjamin, and her fellow graduating JTS Cantorial School seniors Rachel Black, and Justin Zvi Pellis, for an exciting evening of music and spirit as they share their talents and their vision for the 21st-century cantorate. The recital will feature a wide range of Jewish music in Hebrew and Yiddish, as well as hazzanut, musical theatre, and Israeli folk and art songs. Choral works and compositions written and composed by our graduates will also be performed. The soloists, along with guest artists, will be accompanied by pianist Joyce Rosenzweig, JTS adjunct instructor, and the combined choir of the H. L. Miller Cantorial School and Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music, conducted by Hazzan Natasha Hirschhorn. Register here.

Volunteer Opportunity: Share Joy and Warmth with Older Adults at DOROT's Package Delivery!

Sunday, January 26 at DOROT (171 W. 85th St.) and Moise Safra Center (130 E. 82nd St.)


The winter season can leave older adults feeling isolated and alone. Volunteer to deliver a Winter care package and share a visit or friendly phone call with an older adult. For more information and to register, click here or call 917-441-3726. 

SHUK

Members may email us Shuk postings, sending a brief blurb including a member's contact info. Must be received by Tuesday at 3pm. Posts run for two weeks.

Despite our best efforts and extensive proofreading, we apologize for any errors or omissions.