November 8, 2024 - Weekly News From The Chatham Synagogue / Netivot Torah

11/8/24 TCS/NT Update Table of Contents

1. Shabbat Services

2. This Sunday!!: Second Sunday Gatherings for Families & Children of All Ages

3. Upcoming: Staged Reading: "Zoom Therapy"

4. Upcoming: Book Talk: The Cook and the Rabbi

5. Upcoming: Interfaith Panel Discussion: Art Inspired by the Torah, Biblical Stories, & Sacred Writing

6. Save the Date: Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Community Service

7. Get to Know the TCS/NT Chesed Committee

8. Zoom Sit/Stand/Breathe/Balance Exercise

9. Zoom Yoga

10. Recent Donations

11. ETC. - Prayers for Our Time

12. Out & About

13. Visit our Website

14. Become a Member

1. Shabbat Services - November 9, 2024

Friday, Nov. 8, 2024

Cheshvan 7, 5785

Shabbat Candle Lighting - 4:21pm

Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024

Cheshvan 8, 5785

Shabbat Service - 10:00am

Shabbat Ends - 5:22pm

Torah Reading

Parshah: Lech Lecha

Genesis 12:1 - 17:27

Click here to read texts and commentary on Parshah Lech Lecha

ZOOM LOG-IN LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82536384257?pwd=dDFkSUJOUXRoV2pHNGFRR2hyeXJnQT09

2. Second Sunday Gatherings for Families & Children of All Ages

The Second Sunday of (almost) Every Month from 10-11am

Nov. 10, Dec. 8, Jan. 12, Feb. 9, Mar. 9, May 11

We're excited to announce that our new Family Educator, Bracha Louz is launching a new series of events called Second Sunday Gatherings featuring music, stories, crafts, and Jewish culture for families and kids of all ages.

Bracha, a children's musician and educator specializing in Jewish and secular children's music, shared her music with us last year at our Tu B'Shvat kids program, on Yom Haatzmaut, and at our Purim party. She has run children's music and movement programs in New York City and the Capital district for the last 10 years. She

3. A New Staged Reading: "Zoom Therapy"

Saturday, November 16th at 7pm

$10 suggested donation at the door

Sweets & refreshments served

We're pleased to present the staged reading of a new play by playwright and TCS/NT member Lucile Lichtblau, Zoom Therapy. The play, directed by Bernie Kukoff and starring Marnie Andrews and James Occhino, was developed at Plays in Progress (PIP), a collaborative of more than 30 professional playwrights, actors, directors, and designers that meet regularly at Hudson Hall to provide an early stage forum to read, discuss, and develop new work.

If you haven't been to a staged reading of one of Lucile's plays, don't miss this one - you're in for a treat. When a famous poet goes into therapy to cure a writer's block, who is giving therapy to whom? Are lies as important as the truth? How useful is reality anyway?

A brief discussion with the writer, actors, and director will follow the performance.

4. A Book Talk: The Cook and the Rabbi

Sunday, November 17 at 2pm

at the Synagogue

Please join us for what promises to be a wonderful Book Talk event with Susan Simon, a James Beard award-winning author, and Rabbi Zoe B Zak, a performer, composer, and the Rabbi of Temple Israel in Catskill. Susan and Rabbi Zoe teamed up for this entertaining and interesting look at Jewish holidays and the food we eat to celebrate them.

For many of the Jewish diaspora, experiencing the holidays might mean lighting a menorah for Chanukah, or hosting a Passover seder. But, if celebrated with an understanding of the storied customs behind the festivities, these occasions can become so much more. In The Cook and the Rabbi, these two multi-talented women share the history, modern interpretations, and foods behind fourteen unique Jewish holidays, from Selichot and Rosh HaShanah to Purim and Pesach. 

The talk will include their personal life stories and how they got the idea for the book. Best of all, we will be able to sample some of their wonderful recipes and Susan will talk about the food being served.



5. Interfaith Panel Discussion: Art Inspired by the Torah, Biblical Stories, and Sacred Writing

Sunday, November 24 at 2pm

at the Synagogue

In 1965, artist Trina Paulus created a powerful 6-foot sculpture depicting the biblical scene of Abraham and Isaac. It depicts Abraham, the father, and Isaac, the son, bound with strips of linen, looking lovingly into each other's faces while Abraham clutches the knife behind his back moments before he will potentially sacrifice his son for God. Paulus said the sculpture illustrates "the strange contradictions between the tender compassion of love, and a knife in the other hand. The piece has met with controversy over the years and, until recently, had been in storage for 50 years.

The sculpture will be the center of an interfaith panel discussion featuring: Fr. Gary Gelfenbein, Monshin Paul Naamon, Moira O'Grady, Lydia Kukoff, and Roberta Bernstein. Please join us for what promises to be a fascinating and thought-provoking event.

6. Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Community Worship Service

Tuesday, November 26 at 7pm

at St. James Church

Corner of Rt. 66 and Rt. 203 in Chatham

Please join us for the annual Interfaith Thanksgiving service at St. James Church in Chatham. This gathering in hope and gratitude will be led by faith leaders from throughout the area, and will be include a special tribute to our Joel Merker, of blessed memory.

Please bring a non-perishable food item for donation to the Chatham and Ghent food pantries.



7. Get to Know the TCSNT Chesed Committee

Community means being there for each other in times of need and joy. The Chesed Committee provides acts of chesed, loving kindness, that help mark the joyful moments, comfort the bereaved in meaningful ways, and provide support to all members of our community in times of need.

The TCSNT Chesed Committee offers things like helping out with transportation needs, calls and visits to housebound members, Shiva meals, coordinating meal trains, and so much more.

The committee is looking for volunteers who can occasionally be called upon to help out with these acts of chesed for the TCS community. If you find yourself in need of the services the committee offers, or If you'd like to be added to the volunteer list, or find out more about what the committee does, please email committee chair Ann Berlstein.

8. Zoom Sit/Stand/Breathe/Balance Exercise

Every Monday - 10am - 11am

TCS/NT member, and dancer, choreographer, physician-assistant Jamie Stiller is teaching a sit/stand exercise group. The group will meet every Monday, via Zoom, from 11am - 12pm. The focus of these classes will be on building strength in your core and extremities, learning to breathe mindfully to fuel your entire body, and having fun! 

There is a $10 donation per class. Click here email Jamie and arrange payment (Venmo, checks, etc.).

ZOOM LOG-IN LINK & INFO:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89863170484?pwd=V2VuYm80T1g3L3RBTTRDcnF4bisrUT09

Meeting ID: 898 6317 0484

Password: 953995

9. Zoom Yoga

Every Friday at 9:30am

Our weekly Yoga classes are on Zoom. TCS/NT member, and dancer, choreographer, physician-assistant, Jamie Stiller, will be leading the classes. There is a $10 donation per class. Click here email Jamie and arrange payment (Venmo, checks, etc.).

ZOOM LOG-IN LINK & INFO:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82558600433?pwd=RE55b1NzSFV2QUhsWUVJa2hYb2JyQT09

Meeting ID: 825 5860 0433

Password: 953995

10. Donations

(Note: Donations can be made online on our website. Click here to donate.)

Please note, because of the large number of donations we received, we're leaving the list up for 4 weeks, instead of the usual 3 weeks.

Alice Swersey - HH donation

Alan Phillips - HH donation

Max Gershweir - HH donation

Robert Gibbs & Wendy Kahn - HH donation

John Feldman & Sheila Silver - IHO our beautiful new TCS band. Bravo and thank you for your joyful, heartfelt music.

Diane & Steve Eidman - HH donation

Ellen & Alan Goldner - HH donation and a donation directed to support the security budget for the next year for the Chatham Synagogue IHO their children and grandchildren who help provide security for the State of Israel every day of their lives.

Evan Messinger - HH donation

Luca Khosrova - HH donation

Larry & Carol Singer - General donation

Yael Romer & Michael Freedman - HH donation

Joyce Sarner - HH donation directed for the Weekly Kiddush

Richard Corenthal & Andra Fertig - HH donation IMO our friend, Jack Weiss

Paul Berz & Phyllis Smith Berz - HH donation

Bruce Shenker - HH donation

Murray Silverstein - HH donation

Daniel Rapport & Anne Messitte - HH donation

Sara Lipsky - HH donation

David Golub - HH donation IHO my parents and sister

Bruce Leder & Sylvia Kaminsky - HH donation IHO our parents, Samuel, Renee, Leon, & Beverly

Avi & Natasha Dresner - HH donation

Steve Targum - HH donation and IHO the membership of TCS for the wonderful Yom Kippur service and experience

Jill & Bill Gellert - HH donation

Jonathan Stoler - HH donation

Gloria Kaufman - HH donation

Bart & Jody Schoenfeld - HH donation

Mitch & Elaine Khosrova - HH donation

Joan & Phil Gellert - HH donation

Richard & Andrea Weinbaum - HH donation

Gili & Yotam Lev - HH donation

Nancy Kestenbaum & David Klafter - HH donation

Lynda & John Wachsteter - HH donation

Jeanette Fintz - HH donation

Michael Pallen - IHO Robert, our dynamic president and Shofar king

Ephriam Fields - HH donation IMO the victims of the 10/7 terrorist attack

Dr. Shelly & Barbara Isaacs - HH donation IMO Vivian Isaacs and Dan & Fran Berley

Bruce Altman & Darcy McGraw - IMO Anna Altman

Martin & Joyce Shenker - HH donation

Jonathan Adelsberg & Anita Sibony - HH donation

Robert Dressler - General donation

Wendy Buffett & Joel Kreisberg - HH donation

Susan Berger - IHO the TCS Community

Marcia & Bernhard Seibald - HH donation directed for the Youth and Family Program

Steven Levin - General donation IHO the Kabbalat Shabbat dinner & Klezmer program

Judith & Steven Katten - HH donation

Roberta Bernstein & Viki Sand - HH donation IMO Janet Carey

Alan Gelb & Karen Levine - HH donation IHO Linda Ziskind and Steve Eidman with gratitude for the work they do for all of us

Marilyn Cohen & Gail Chamberlain - HH donation and a donation IMO Janet Carey

Susan Waisbren & Howard Lipton - HH donation IHO Karen Levine and Alan Gelb for their service to the shull, and a donation IMO Janet Carey - I remember Janet with deep affection and admiration. Our family will miss her.

11. ETC: Prayers for Our Time

"Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief. Do justly now. Love mercy now. Walk humbly now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it."

[a loose translation, by Rabbi Rami Shapiro, of Rabbi Tarfon's work on the Pirke Avot, a commentary on Micah 6:8]

"Blessed are You our God, Sovereign of all creation, Who gives the rooster the understanding to distinguish between day and night. Blessed are You, Who created me in Your image, Who made me a Jew, Who clothes the naked, Who releases the captives, Who lifts up the downtrodden, Who gives strength to the weary."

[Birkhot Hashachar]

"There is no alternative to persevering, and that does not require you to feel good. You can keep walking whether it's sunny or raining. Take care of yourself and remember that taking care of something else is an important part of taking care of yourself, because you are interwoven with the ten trillion things in this single garment of destiny that has been stained and torn, but is still being woven and mended and washed."

[Rebecca Solnit]

"Be the reason that someone believes in the goodness of human beings."

[Rabbi Tamar Elad-Appelbaum]

"We are living in profoundly — historically — tumultuous times, when there is so much that feels beyond our control and out of our hands. It feels vitally important that we find ways to remind ourselves and each other what is, and has always been, within our reach. What is, and has always been, up to us. The words we choose. The blessings we offer. The kindness we show. As we stand now on this side of the election — trying to understand what it all means, what it says about our country, what it says about us — may we reawaken to the rituals of care that can nurture us into new days."

[Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld]

12. Out & About

Entertainment / Education / Social Action

[NEW] Photography Exhibit - Victor Meyers

10/30/24 - 12/2/24

Artist's reception on Sat., Nov. 2 from 4-6pm

at Verdigris Tea / 135 Warren St., Hudson, NY

TCS/NT member Vic Meyers will be exhibiting some of his photography at the Verdigris Tea and Gallery in Hudson. The exhibit consists of 14 photographs taken over 50 years of travels around the world to fascinating and exotic locations, including Argentina, China, Japan, Bhutan, and Uzbekistan. As Vic notes, "The world is a great classroom. My photos are a visual record of all that I have learned."

Please join him on Sat., Nov. 2nd at 4pm for the opening reception.

13. Visit Our Website

Have you checked out our website at: www.thechathamsynagogue.org? On it you can find a current listing of events, links to services, information about who we are, and a growing library of photos.

For members there is also a member portal. You should have received an email with a link inviting you to access the portal, instructions on how to log-in, and an explanation of some of the information that you will find there. Check it out and let us know what you think. If you have any questions or need help accessing the member portal, please email: tcsntmembers@gmail.com.

14. Become a Member

We welcome members from diverse Jewish backgrounds and perspectives. Our members are people who were born into Judaism as well as those who chose Judaism. We recognize patrilineal as well as matrilineal descent, and we welcome interfaith families and LGBTQ Members.

You can download a membership application here.