ENGAGE-SYNAGOGUE INITIATIVE

          

SAVE THE DATES!! 

UJA-Federation of New York's ENGAGE Jewish Service Corps has awarded 4 grants to Westchester Synagogues who promote volunteer projects that help those in need in our community. Engage and synagogue volunteers will be recruited to fulfill the goals and objectives of these projects. After a comprehensive review of many competitive and worthy proposals, grantees this year are: 

Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester - Mitzvah Shabbat
FRIDAY, MAY 10th at 5:30 pm
Join Engage and congregants of Emanu-El of Westchester, 2125 Westchester Avenue in Rye, for an evening filled with community, spirit, fun mitzvah projects, a pizza truck and more!!  Projects will benefit many local and Israel-based organizations. Experience Shabbat with worship, warmth and the performance of acts of kindness (Chesed). SAVE THE DATE! Please RSVP to volunteer -  email Debra Cerbini at [email protected]

Greenburgh Hebrew Center - Shul Stitchers & Friends
THURSDAYS at 1:00 pm, MARCH 21st, APRIL 18th, MAY 23rd and JUNE 20th @Greenburgh Hebrew Center, 515 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry
MONDAYS at 4:00 pm, MARCH 4th, APRIL 8th and MAY 20th @The Mann Center of The Jewish Board, Hawthorne Campus, 226 Linda Avenue, Hawthorne
Are you a knitter or crocheter? Engage In Knitting/Shul Stitchers Rivertowns, congregants of Greenburgh Hebrew Center and YOU have an opportunity to share your skills with teenagers from the Jewish Board, Hawthorne Campus.  Teach a teen who arrives at the residential treatment center with very few personal possessions, to knit an afghan which will bring comfort to them while there and back in their home communities. For more information, click here. Participate when you can. Please RSVP to Laura Wexler at [email protected]

Scarsdale Synagogue - Feel Good Fridays
FRIDAYS at 9:00 am:
FEBRUARY 8th - Westchester Family Services/Head Start
FEBRUARY 22nd - My Sister's Place
MARCH 8th - YPIE
APRIL 12th - YPIE
APRIL 26th - My Sister's Place
MAY 10th - Sharing Shelf 
JUNE 28th - Sharing Shelf
Food Bank Receiving & Unpacking, 2x/Month on Thursdays at 3:00 pm
Food Bank Packing & Delivering, 2x/Month on Fridays at 9:00 am
On each Friday of the month, Scarsdale Synagogue congregational and Engage volunteers will support a variety of needy causes by going to a local agency to organize, sort, pack, serve, or improve a facility or facilitate a program with the in-need population. Hands-on projects take place at the Synagogue, 2 Ogden Road in Scarsdale, or car pools leave from the Synagogue to volunteer on site.  For more information, click here. Participate when you can. Please RSVP to Jill Gold at [email protected]

Temple Beth Abraham - Mitzvah Day
SUNDAY, MARCH 31st at 11:00 am   
Join Engage and Temple Beth Abraham volunteers for a one-day Mitzvah Day to be held at the Synagogue, 25 Leroy Avenue in Tarrytown. Complete projects that are needed and requested by local agencies and meet agency representatives to learn about the vital work of the organizations.
TUESDAY, MARCH 26th at 10:00 am
Help prepare items which will be used to complete projects on Mitzvah Day

For more information, click here.  
SAVE THE DATES! Please RSVP to volunteer - email Debra Cerbini at [email protected]

Reach out and VOLUNTEER! 

It is our duty as human beings to contribute our energies and creativity to alleviate the pressing needs and anguish of mankind and to contribute to its welfare.
- Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik
BE A DOROT VOLUNTEER

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3rd
Westchester Reform Temple
255 Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale

Volunteer for DOROT's Winter Package Delivery 

Bring warmth and companionship to an older neighbor with a Sunday visit. Sign up for orientation, package delivery, and a home visit assignment. 

Orientations are at 10:15 AM and 11:00 AM.
New volunteers will be oriented to DOROT and learn everything they need to successfully participate in this program.  Walk-ins may be accommodated.

Children 8 and older are welcome. There will be arts & crafts for the kids!

Please RSVP to Jill Gold at [email protected]


VOLUNTEERS NEEDED


THE BETH EL MEMORY MINYAN
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3rd
2:00 - 3:30 pm
Beth El Synagogue Center
1324 North Avenue, New Rochelle

A prayer service using traditional melodies, hitting on liturgical highlights of the season. Includes a light dairy lunch.

MEANING AND MELODY WITH THE 
AMERICAN SONGBOOK
How Sweet It Is! / Hineh mah tov!
WEDNESDAYS, FEBRUARY 13th and 27th
1:00 - 2:00 pm
Shaarei Tikvah Synagogue
46 Fox Meadow Road, Scarsdale

RSVP to Jill Gold at [email protected]
ENGAGE IN KNITTING 
 
KNITTERS FOR NEED
Monthly Meeting MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4th
10:30 am
JCC of Mid Westchester
999 Wilmot Road, Scarsdale

SHUL STITCHERS @TEMPLE SHAARAY TEFILAH
Monthly Meeting MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11th
1:00 PM
Temple Shaaray Tefilah
89 Baldwin Road, Bedford

RIVERTOWNS SHUL STITCHERS
Monthly Meeting THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21st
1:00 pm
Greenburgh Hebrew Center
515 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry
 
SHUL STITCHERS IN THE NORTH
      Monthly Meeting on MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25th
(note change this month)
1:00 pm
Engage Mount Kisco
27 Radio Circle Drive, Mount Kisco
(corner Lexington Avenue, 1st Floor)

KNITTERS NEEDED 
to satisfy the appeals from various organizations. Current projects include: baby blankets and hats donated to Hadassah Hospital in Israel; lap blankets, hats and scarves for men and women at the Bronx and Montrose Veterans Administrations; adult/youth blankets, hats and scarves for the teen residents at the Jewish Board Hawthorne Campus.  

If you cannot attend a monthly knitting circle, then KNIT AT HOME!

All knitters and crocheters welcome. Beginners too! If you want to participate or if you know of an organization in need of blankets, hats or scarves, please contact Karen Newman at [email protected] 
ENGAGE IN ARTS & CRAFTS
EARRINGS - MAKE 1/DONATE 1

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11th
12:30 - 2:00 pm
Shames JCC on the Hudson
371 South Broadway, Tarrytown

Jewelry designer and artist Joan Lloyd will teach us how to design and create earrings.  For every pair of earrings you make, you will take one pair home and donate one pair to women at a shelter.  It will be a gift of beauty for yourself as well as for other women.

Please pre-register by noon on February 6th. Email Laura Wexler at lwexler@shamesjcc,org
ENGAGE GROUP SERVICE PROJECT

HELP SORT MEDICAL SUPPLIES AT AFYA HEADQUARTERS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12th
2:00 - 3:30 pm
AFYA
140 Saw Mill River Road, Yonkers

Did you know that every year American hospitals discard 7,000 tons of usable medical supplies?  AFYA is a wonderful organization that recovers these surplus medical supplies and ships them to healthcare facilities in 56 countries. 

Please join us at AFYA headquarters in Yonkers to sort and package these critically-needed medical supplies. 

Please RSVP by Wednesday, February 6th to Laura Wexler at [email protected]
FEEDING YOUR BRAIN
HOW TO OPTIMIZE YOUR BRAIN HEALTH

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13th
10:30 am - Noon
JCC Mid-Westchester
999 Wilmot Road, Scarsdale

Our brain utilizes more of the food we eat than any other organ! Come and learn about the best nutrients and lifestyle factors that affect and can optimize your brain's health! 

Learn about:  Brain Basics  Factors that contribute to brain degeneration  Key foods and nutrients that protect the brain  Recipes and handouts will be distributed.

Led by Heidi Kaufman Lackowitz, a Functional Nutrition & Lifestyle Practitioner and Certified Holistic Health Coach. For more information, click here.

Please RSVP to Jill Gold at [email protected]
ENGAGE IN SONG

Experience the joy of singing with others.
Participate in Sing-Alongs for 
Westchester Social Service Agencies.  
Join Engage In Song!!  New singers ALWAYS welcome!!

REHEARSAL
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21st
12:00 pm
Shames JCC on the Hudson
371 South Broadway, Tarrytown

SING-ALONG - SARAH NEUMAN CENTER
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28th
Warm-up rehearsal at 1:00 pm
Sing-Along at 2:15 pm
Sarah Neuman Center
845 Palmer Avenue, Mamaroneck

This is a return engagement to sing a combination of show tunes, folk songs and Jewish selections with the seniors in residence.

Click here to visit the Engage Westchester Facebook page to see photos and videos from our last sing-a-long with Ossining Children's Center.

Please RSVP to Debra Cerbini at [email protected]
ENGAGE MOUNT KISCO MONDAYS
GROUP SERVICE PROJECT-CREATING PET TOYS 


MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25th
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Engage Mount Kisco
27 Radio Circle Drive, Mount Kisco
(Corner Lexington Ave, 1st Floor)

Please join us for this special Engage Mt. Kisco Monday Group Service Project.  Led by Engage volunteer, Carole Sindell, we'll be making dog toys from donated t-shirts.  Please bring clean t-shirts to be cut into strips to braid into chew toys to be donated to local shelters.
 
WE NEED T-SHIRTS (they don't have to be in perfect condition).  Please bring them with you or give them to the Engage coordinator in your area.

Please RSVP to Debra Cerbini at [email protected]
ENGAGE CHAPTER OF W CONNECTION

Monthly meeting 
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27th
6:00 - 7:30 pm
JCC of Mid-Westchester
999 Wilmot Road, Scarsdale

W Connection is a national organization which connects widows to each other. It was founded on the principle of widows helping one another rebuild their lives through their shared experiences.

You can join the group at any time.  Please RSVP to Jill Gold at [email protected]


A LINK TO A PRINTABLE ENGAGE MONTHLY CALENDAR 
   
All the month's Engage service projects and activities posted on your refrigerator. What could be better? 


FOR A FEBRUARY CALENDAR - PLEASE CLICK HERE



ENGAGE MOUNT KISCO MONDAYS SPECIAL FEATURE
STORYTELLING FOR BEGINNERS

MONDAY, MARCH 4th
11 AM - 12:30 pm
Engage Mount Kisco
27 Radio Circle Drive, Mount Kisco
(Corner Lexington Ave, 1st Floor)

Lori Soderlind, Director of Manhattanville College's MFA Program, will offer a writing workshop called "Storytelling for Beginners" using discussion and writing prompts for guidance.  

To register, please email Debra Cerbini at [email protected]

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ENGAGE GROUP SERVICE PROJECT
SOUP IN A JAR

TUESDAY, MARCH 5th
10:30 am - Noon
Shames JCC on the Hudson
371 South Broadway, Tarrytown

Volunteer to assemble soup jars filled with beans, pasta and spices.  Not only does the finished product look appealing, but add water and a can of tomatoes and the recipients of the Bronx Jewish Community Council Food Pantry will have a warm and nourishing meal at home this winter.

RSVP to Laura Wexler at [email protected]
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ENGAGE WESTCHESTER

Maida Silver
Director, Engage Westchester 
(914) 366-7898 ext. 1147   [email protected]

Shames JCC on the Hudson
Laura Wexler
Engage Site Coordinator 
(914) 366-7898 ext. 1124  [email protected]

JCC of Mid-Westchester 
Jill Gold
Engage Site Coordinator 
(914) 472-3300 ext. 703   [email protected]
 
UJA-Federation/Mount Kisco
Debra Cerbini
Engage Site Coordinator
(914) 218-3560   [email protected] 

Engage Leadership Advisory Committee 
Froma Benerofe, Engage Co-Chair 
Lee Lowell, Engage Co-Chair
Carol Corbin 
Harry Follick                                              
Sheila Friedland  
Susan Gilbert                             
Barbara Kostroff                 
Lynn Millstein  
Jessica Morgenthal    
Karen Newman  
Ira Padva    
Lenore Rosenbaum