Parshat Vaetchanan
August 1, 2020 / 11 Av 5780
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Not Shabbat Morning Study:
Friday, 9:30am
Via Zoom
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Kabbalat Shabbat
:
Et Dodim
/The Time of Love
Friday, 6:30pm
Via Zoom
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TeleTefila Services:
Saturday, 10am
Via Zoom
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TeleTefila Havdallah:
Service Saturday, 9pm
Via Zoom
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The Un-Distancing Hour:
WILL NOT TAKE PLACE THIS THURSDAY, JULY 30
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The Un-Distancing Hour
:
Thursday, 5:30pm
Via Zoom
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WE ARE YOUR PEOPLE
/
Ki Anu Amecha
Project
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We hope that you will take part in creating a virtual tefilah recording, so when we join together online during the High Holidays, from wherever we find ourselves, we will still be able to see and hear each other sing with a full heart, and join with a full voice.
We ask you to record a video of yourself (or your whole family!) singing one of our beloved High Holiday melodies, Ki Anu Amecha, from the comfort and safety of your own home. You'll be singing along with Natasha's voice on the
guide track
. (You'll notice that the guide track has a piano accompaniment. That is just to help us stay together during the recording process; it won't be heard on the final video).
Q&A for the Ki Anu Amecha Project with Cantor Natasha
- Are you interested in participating in the Ki Anu Amecha project, but feel unsure how to get started?
- Do you need a little tutorial on Hebrew or melody?
- Have you watched the instructional videos but still have questions?
Please join Cantor Natasha
on zoom
to address all of these concerns and more.
Need help but can't make this time on zoom? Email your questions to
[email protected]
Looking forward to seeing you and getting you started on the recording project!
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Journalist
Jeremy Caplan
, Director of Education for
Tow-Knight Center for Entrepreneurial Journalism
/Teacher of digital journalism at CUNY, will bring us up to speed on advances in the brave new world of digital technology and journalism.
Dan Friedman: The Challenges of Jewish Journalism
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Journalist
Dan Friedman
, Director of Content and Communications for
Shalom Hartman Institute of North America
, previously served as e
xecutive editor of the
Forward
, where he won numerous awards for writing and editing including a 2018 Rockower award for editorial writing for his response to the events in Charlottesville, VA.
As anyone can join in on
Zoom
, invite your far-flung friends and family.
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To Schmooze or not to Schmooze: The Un-Distancing Hour
Next Session, Thursday August 6 (No Session on July 30 for 9Av)
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We'd like to announce the rebranding and re-imagining of the Thursday afternoon Kiddush cocktail hour, which has been a lovely way for people to connect during this crazy time. But we thought it needed a transformation into something a bit more specific.
Before the pandemic, Kiddush has traditionally been a way for people at Ansche Chesed to connect with one another, to share milestones, to kvetch and moan a bit, to express support to friends who are going through one of life's many struggles, or even to share a joke. It's informal, unstructured, and enables people to check in and out as they please. The Pre-Shabbat Un-Distancing Hour is a way to enable people to get together and continue doing that with one another, for one another.
So join us with your paper cup of seltzer or beverage of your choice. Looking forward to schmoozing.
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Not Shabbat Morning Study
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While we will not be together on Shabbat morning, that doesn't mean that we can not study together. Join Rabbi Kalmanofsky on Friday mornings at 9:30 (just a day before we usually meet) to delve into the weekly portion through the eyes of favorite commentators-ancient, medieval, and modern; midrashic, mystical, and academic.
During the Summer months, this program will be led by members of our community. Contact
Deb Mowshowitz
with any questions.
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Did You Miss A Program?
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Were you hoping to join us for a program, but life just got in the way? Did you attend a program, but feel like if you are every really going to be able to make challah, you need to see it again?
Don't worry, throughout these strange times, we have recorded a variety of our classes, and they are all available for you to enjoy and share.
Visit our website
to see which classes are available.
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We hope you will renew your membership with Congregation Ansche Chesed.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, we will not be mailing out membership renewal forms this year and prefer that you renew your membership online. Please click
HERE
to renew your membership and security fees.
If you wish to pay by check, please email
Martin
and request a paper application be emailed to you. On the paper application, please remember to mark your membership dues pledge and security fee and mail the application and check to Congregation Ansche Chesed.
We are so grateful that over 200 members have already rejoined, and affirmed their commitment to our community.
While their are no seats for the High Holidays this year, if you renew by August 31st this year, and renew on time next year, we promise to save your seats for next year!
Please see the list of those who
have already renewed in our Tuesday email, and follow their lead so that you too can be included next week.
Congregation Ansche Chesed
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Do you have a reflection that you would like to share? eMail
[email protected]
to discuss submitting your written or video reflection.
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In these times, many members are reaching out to contact other members. Ansche Chesed does have an online directory for members. You will need your password to access the directory or to update your own information.
You may click on the membership directory here.
On the membership directory page, click on "edit my account info" to setup your directory listing.
Members need to voluntarily opt-in to the membership directory as we want to protect everyone's privacy. Those that do not wish to be placed in the directory will not be.
If you never setup or can't remember your password, email
Martin Sivorinovsky
and he will email you a link to setup a new password.
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AC Professional Skills Directory
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Our members possess a multitude of different skills and areas of expertise. With that in mind, we have
compiled a directory
of congregants who are willing and able to help each other with issues that have arisen because of the pandemic.
It is available here
.
Our directory is being update on a rolling basis, so if you have a useful service you would like to offer (such as landlord/tenant law, financial advice, IT support, etc) , please contact AC member Nicole Grunfeld at
[email protected]
with your name, contact info, a short description of the service you can provide, and a note about your fees (including whether you can offer any complimentary support and/or an AC discount).
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We Want To Meet Your Needs
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A community like ours is often closely linked through prayer and study, and by celebrating Shabbat, holidays and weekdays. In these terribly difficult times, we can feel cut off from the resources that keep us going.
We at Ansche Chesed want to provide our members with sources of strength, hope, and resilience.
Please let us know what you need
: What will help you? What is AC doing now that is a valuable resource for you, connecting you to others and to faith? What is missing for you? What can we do to help you meet this challenge?
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Payments to Ansche Chesed
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As our offices are closed during the Covid19 epidemic please make all payments and donate via
our website
rather than write checks.
If you must write a check, please wait until you hear from us that the offices are open again.
Thanks,
Ansche Chesed
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Programming Ideas
We are working hard to create program and connection during these complicated times. We hope to increase our programming options, and would love to hear from you with ideas for programming.
Do you have an idea for something that you would like to learn, or something you could teach, or a resource that might be great for our community? If you do, please email
[email protected]
to share your idea.
Share What You've Found
If you are like us, you have seen lots of exciting programs online these days. Some of them may be Jewish, some cultural, and some just for fun. Please visit our facebook page and share what you have found with us and our community.
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AC Kavod 2020
During this difficult time, there may be members of our community who could use some extra support -- someone to help buy groceries, or even just someone to talk to. If you need anything, please send an email to
[email protected]
and one of our Ansche Chesed volunteers will get in touch with you. If you are interested in joining our volunteer force, please email
[email protected]
Bikkur Cholim
As we are all concerned over the coronavirus, the Ansche Chesed community is here for you. If you feel you might be getting sick -- especially if you are older or alone, or you know people who are -- please let
Rabbi Kalmanofsky
and
Rabbi Hammerman
know. They, and other members of the bikkur cholim committee will be in touch, and make sure you are not alone.
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SOCIAL ACTION/COMMUNITY SERVICE
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The COVID Rent Relief Program
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The COVID Rent Relief Program
will provide eligible households with a one-time rental subsidy that will be sent directly to the household’s landlord. Applicants will not need to repay this assistance. The Covid Rent Relief Program is not first come, first served. Applications will be accepted throughout the two-week application period. HCR will prioritize eligible households with “greatest economic and social need” accounting for income, rent burden, percent of income lost and risk of homelessness.
The rental assistance payment will cover the difference between the household’s rent burden on March 1, 2020 and the increase in rent burden for the months the household is applying for assistance. Households can apply for up to four months in rental assistance.
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More Opportunities With Reclaim Our Vote
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The Reclaim Our Vote Campaign is a nonpartisan phonebanking, postcarding, and textbanking effort created by the Center for Common Ground that focuses on contacting voters of color in voter-suppression states to help them register, vote, and troubleshoot/address possible voter disenfranchisement.
Thank you to the Ansche Chesed community for writing and sending over 1000 postcards to voters in North Carolina!
Now we need you to make phone calls!
Why Phone Bank?
Phone Banking is second only to canvassing for Getting Out the Vote (GOTV). Live phone-banking works – especially at scale. It might not seem you’re making much headway with all the unanswered, out-of-service calls, but at scale – when we’ve made thousands of dials, the effect is substantial.
Due to the pandemic, polling sites will be closed or switched, Board of Elections Offices will be unable to respond to all their calls, and disinformation will explode.
ROV’s phone banks give the voter reliable information about voting locations and ways to vote during the pandemic.
Join ROV and members of the community to phone bank at a zoom gathering. We begin with training, then we phonebank, then we come back to share our stories.
Upcoming Phone Banking Sessions
- Friday, July 31, 12:30-2:30pm Register Here
- Monday, August 3, 7pm-9pm Register Here
- Wednesday, August 5, 3pm-5pm Register Here
- Monday, August 10, 5-7pm Register Here
- Tuesday, August 18, 12-2pm Register Here
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Ansche Chesed is pleased to announce it has joined with other New York synagogues and communal organizations in an initiative called What Matters: Caring Conversations About End of Life. This effort aims to heighten awareness around the importance of completing advance care directives, and enable individuals to thoughtfully consider and document their end of life preferences, with opportunities to engage Jewish values as part of the process. Confidential conversations are conducted by trained and certified Ansche Chesed facilitators, who are available to answer important questions and help walk you through the process, clarifying your goals and wishes for future healthcare and related choices in case you are unable to speak for yourself.
We look forward to working with you on this important initiative. Should you wish to schedule a conversation, please eMail,
[email protected]
, or leave a message at (212)865.0600 x201, and we will be in touch with you as soon as possible.
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The Men's Homeless Shelter Needs Volunteers
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The Ansche Chesed Shelter is closed due to the Covid-19 outbreak. We fully plan on re-opening when it is deemed safe for all to do so. Please keep an eye out for how you can volunteer when we reopen.
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Do you know someone who is ill or in need of temporary support? The Bikkur Cholim Committee is here to help.
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If you know someone who is ill and in need of a visit or a meal, or other assistance, please contact the Bikkur Cholim committee. The Bikkur Cholim committee helps care for Ansche Chesed members who are ill or have been hospitalized. We visit them; telephone and send cards; provide meals, especially for Shabbat; shop for them; and escort them to doctors' appointments.
Please contact Maron Waxman or Bettyrose Nelson at
[email protected]
if you need help or to join the Bikkur Cholim volunteer corps.
Click here
for more information on life cycle support at Ansche Chesed.
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AC is Collecting Eyeglasses
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More than two billion people globally need glasses but lack access due to income, distance, or disaster. Seeing clearly provides the opportunity for adults and children to succeed at school or work, and care for their families. Eye Make A Difference, a VSP Global Eyes of Hope program, is a no-cost way for companies, individuals, and organizations to donate glasses to help those in need. Please drop off your eyeglasses to the office!
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If you or anyone you know may be at risk of deportation, please review these Know Your Rights flyers provided by Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights and Immigrant Defense Project.
Click here
to view, download, and share all the information you need.
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Student Poll Worker Program
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The NYC Board of Elections (BOE) is preparing for the upcoming elections in September and November of this year. The BOE is accepting applications for the 17 year old Student Poll Worker Program, which is the a program that allows students to become civically involved in the community and also prepares them to learn about politics, current issues facing the community, and educates them about the election process while they serve as a poll worker on Election Day.
Requirements for Student Poll Workers:
- Be 17 years old by Election Day with permission from school officials and parents/guardians
- Be a US citizen
- Bilingual students fluent in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Hindi, and Bengali
Spaces are limited so apply early! You can call 718-797-8800 to get an application.
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Before COVID-19, The New York Blood Center came to you. Now we need you to come to us! Congregation Ansche Chesed invites you to donate blood at an NYBC donor center or local community blood drive near you! Visit
nybc.org/donate
to find a location near you or Contact Elaine Peralta 646.300.5051 or
[email protected]
for an appointment.
Donate between July 20 and August 31. Use group code 10122 to be a part of this special lifesaving “virtual” event.
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The Ansche Chesed CSA WILL be continuing this year, with socially distanced weekly pick-ups on Wednesdays from 12-1pm on the sidewalk outside of Ansche Chesed.
Please visit their website for information on how to register to get farm fresh fruits and veggies. First pickup is scheduled for June 10, so don't delay.
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DOROT Onsite at Home (previously On-site programs)
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Dorot has made changes and moved all of our on-site programs onto a digital platform - these are now Zoom-based classes.
To register and receive a weekly email of the upcoming classes, please send an email that includes your name and phone number to
[email protected]
. For those seniors who don't have computers or technology (smartphone/tablet/cell) with cameras, you are welcome to participate in the Zoom programming by dialing in over the phone.
If someone would like to participate in DOROT programs but doesn't know how to use Zoom, please email
[email protected]
. They will be happy to connect them to one of DOROT's volunteer Tech Coaches by phone, who will be able to assist.
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If you are a member, you may send "shuk" postings to
[email protected]
. All postings must have a member's contact info, and received by Tuesday at 3pm.
Postings run for only two weeks.
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Rabbi Jeremy Kalmanofsky
ext. 21
Rabbi Yael Hammerman
Associate Rabbi
ext. 208
Mark Paul
President
Martin Sivorinovsky
Administrative Director
ext. 216
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Hazzan Natasha Hirschhorn
Music Director
ext. 242
Joshua Hanft
Executive Director
ext. 209
Darone Ruskay
Programming Director
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