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Hello Friends of Aging Together and Mishpachah,
Happy New Year! We’d like to help the year get off to a good start. Read on for January and February Aging Together and Mishpachah events beginning with a double-header on Monday, January 12. Stay with us during the year for learning, connection, and fun. We age better – together!
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Mishpachah Monday! Online Fun & Shmooze
5:00–6:00pm | Zoom | Learn more
Join Barbara Gaines, long-time CBST member, and a consultant on the Letterman YouTube channel. You can see her occasionally hosting a show with Dave Letterman at youtube.com/Letterman. Barbara is a five-time primetime Emmy award winning producer. Since retiring in 2015 she has done a lot of reading on the couch and eating raisinets. (Join us for discussion, not raisinets).
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Aging Together Gathering
Ask the Geriatrician! With Dr. Rosanne Leipzig, Professor and Vice Chair, Emerita, of the Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at Mount Sinai School
Monday, January 12 | 7:00–8:30pm | Zoom | Register
Dr. Rosanne Leipzig, long-time member and former Board Member and Ba’al Tefillah at CBST, returns by popular demand! While Dr. Leipzig won't be giving personal medical advice, join us to ask what you’ve been wondering about aging and the changes in mind, body, and soul that accompany it, as well as what one might be able to do about these. You can read Dr. Leipzig's "Eight Daily Habits for Staying Happy, Healthy, and Sharp" as featured recently in CNBC's "Make It" wellness publication.
In honor of the first anniversary of the publishing of Dr. Leipzig's acclaimed Honest Aging: An Insider's Guide to the Second Half of Life, we'll raffle off two copies to those who register by Sun., 1/11.
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Queer Jewish Art and Craft: A Brief Exploration With David Elitzer, CBST Cooperberg-Rittmaster Rabbinical Intern and co-founder of the Jewish Craft School, an initiative dedicated to expanding Jewish literacy and democratizing Judaica.
Monday February 9 | 7:00–8:30pm | Zoom | Register
CRRI David Elitzer will lead an exploration of queer Jewish artists and craftspeople active in the 20th and 21st centuries. We will investigate a range of works as diverse manifestations of Jewish and queer identities in this interactive class. David will also share about the Jewish Craft School, a project he co-founded dedicated to expanding Jewish literacy and democratizing Judaica.
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Aging Together Gatherings in 2026:
February 9
March 9
May 11
June 8
All at 7:00–8:30pm on Zoom - see the weekly CBST eNews for details.
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Ongoing — Mishpachah Monday Online Shmooze, Learn, and Fun. 55+, All Are Welcome!
5:00–6:00pm | Zoom
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Mishpachah (Family) is CBST’s weekly online meetup for conversation, learning and fun. Mishpachah is a great way to meet and talk with new and familiar people. Monday meetups are lightly facilitated by Judy Ribnick, LCSW, and Chair Sharon Golub, along with Mishpachah participants and guests. No registration required, just join us
Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/513521023
Meeting ID: 513 521 023 | Call-in: +1 646 876 9923 (New York)
With Barbara Gaines
Monday, January 12 (see above)
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 19 – CBST office closed
With Cathy Binck
Monday, January 26
Cathy Binck joined CBST in April 2025. She is active in Mishpachah, Chesed, and The Beacon. Cathy worked as a nurse in New York City for more than 40 years before retiring in 2023. She will share her experiences working as a nurse during COVID and September 11th.
With Martin Fried, M.D.
Monday, February 2
Martin Fried is a retired physician nutrition specialist with 40 years of experience. He will speak with us about nutrition for older adults. Visit his website, www.healthdaysllc.com.
With Elle Nelson
Monday, February 9
Elle Nelson is the Administrative Assistant at CBST. She is also an actor and, most importantly, a dog mom to Luna. Elle also enjoys baking, knitting, and running marathons.
Presidents Day
February 16 – CBST office closed
With Karen Krop
Monday, February 23
Karen Krop has been a CBST member since 1989. You may recognize her from seeing (and hearing!) her in the chorus or on the bima, as she has been a service leader, Torah leyner, and haftorah chanter. Karen served on the Board as treasurer. She and her partner Stefanie raised two kids at CBST, Daniel and Eli. Karen is a senior director at Fitch ratings, where she works in US public finance, rating bonds issued by states.
| | Mishpachah Dinner at CBST | | |
Friday, February 13, 5:00pm | In person at CBST, 130 W. 30th St. | Register
Join us for a pre-service meal and shmooze at CBST. We’ll be celebrating CBST’s 53rd year!
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Medicare Update for 2026
with Gilbert Kunken, Medicare consultant for NYC Department for the Aging’s Health Insurance Information, Counseling, and Assistance Program (HIICAP)
Whether you’re new to Medicare or already enrolled, get the latest updates on Medicare and related health insurance. The session included information on Medicare Part A and Part B, Medigap/Medicare Supplement insurance, Medicare Advantage/Medicare Health Plans, and Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage along with programs that help with Medicare costs. The information is applicable to anyone who is Medicare-eligible living in the US.
Need Medicare information? Get your Medicare questions answered by HIICAP (Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program) administered through NYC’s Dept for the Aging. HIICAP certified specialists provide free and impartial counseling on Medicare and related health insurance.
| | Articles and Resources of Note | | |
Heating Rights in NYC for People with Disabilities (and Anyone Renting) - Zoom - Weds., January 14, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
When it's cold outside in New York City, the law requires that there must be heat inside your apartment. Learn what your rights are during the winter months and how to enforce them. Sponsored by the Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5415176236
Meeting ID: 541 517 6236
Email eyankey@bcid.org for more information.
ASL Interpretation will be provided”
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Thanks to Jack Malick for alerting us to one of the risks of social isolation, financial exploitation, and ways to combat it. Social Isolation and the Risk of Investment Fraud (FINRA, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority - 12.12.24) | Our friend, Wendl Kornfeld, shared a treasure trove of information with us in the website, Positive Aging Community. Since 1990, Positive Aging Community has "... brought community together to make finding housing, aging in place solutions, and resources more convenient. We accomplish this by connecting older adults, families and providers via the most comprehensive and trusted resources in print and digital formats.” Dig into the treasure! | | In anticipation of Shabbat Shira at the end of January, dig into musical treasures by listening to songs in Shireinu Volume II. Here you will find recordings of 363 contemporary, liturgical, and folk songs in Hebrew, English, Yiddish, and Ladino from Western, Israeli, Chasidic, and Sephardic sources. You might even hear some of these from CBST’s bimah! | | Take Action from Your Own Neighborhood! | | |
The Beacon Weekly Vigil for Democracy
Thursdays, multiple locations and times
CBST is proud to be one of the faith community partners of The Beacon’s Thursday evening vigils. Check here for information on The Beacon and vigils in your community.
| | CBST Chesed—Making Connections | | |
Chesed, the Hebrew word for kindness or compassion, is the central Jewish value that centers CBST's Chesed Team. This intergenerational team focuses on providing community support and care to other CBST community members. Join our efforts to care for ourselves and each other, provide mutual support, and share in each other's joys and milestones. CBST Chesed creates connections between members of all ages.
Please add Chesed@cbst.org to your safe sender list to enable you to receive Chesed email.
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We hope that you’ve enjoyed this issue of CBST’s Aging Together and Mishpachah newsletter.
If you’d like to support the work of Aging Together and Mishpachah, donate here, select “Donate to Another Specific Program," then choose "Aging Together." We appreciate all your contributions to our community.
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L’Shalom,
Ora, Sharon, and Judy
Ora Ezrachi, PhD.
Chair, Aging Together
Sharon Golub, MEd., MMus., MSIT.
Chair, Mishpachah and CBST Chesed
Judy Ribnick, LCSW, MA
Director, CBST Aging Together
JRibnick@cbst.org
(917) 310-4656
| | We are grateful to our Aging Together Funders: | | | | |
