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Dear RTFH Family,
The great Rabbi Hillel said, over 2000 years ago, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? If not now, when?” (Pirke Avot 1:14).
In complicated times, these are core values we must return to. When the world is overwhelming, we should make space for strength and comfort to ourselves. When someone is in pain, we need to reach out and make sure they know we are here for them. And when it is dark, we must not hide in the shadows but always bring light to ourselves, each other, and the world.
For each of us, for everyone we care for, and for right now, Hillel’s words are a source of strength and a reminder of the best each of us can be.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Mark
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Add Your Name to Our Legacy: Be Part of the Torah Project
Sign-Ups are almost full for the February 9-10 Torah Scribe visit.
Haven’t joined yet? There’s still time to make your mark!
Make your gift today to be part of the March 23-24 Scribe visit! Help RTFH write our very own Torah and ensure a strong, vibrant future for our Temple community.
Add Your Name Now
Thank you, Temple Family, for your generous support.
We’re celebrating your contributions with a digital display in the Upper Lobby.
See your name featured on the video loop, on our website, or in person!
(Donations as of 1/15/25)
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Friday 1/24/25-Shabbat Evening Services at 7:00 pm
Saturday 1/25/25-Temple Tots at 4:30 pm
Friday 1/31/25-Shabbat Evening Services at 7:00 pm
Friday 1/31-2/3/25-RAC Trip
Sunday 2/2/25-PA Monthly Meeting at 9:30 am
Friday 2/7/25-Shabbat Reshon (5th Grade/Shabbat Shira) at 6:15 pm
Saturday 2/8/25-Tu BiShvat Seder & Lunch at 10:30 am
Sunday 2/9/25-Torah Writing Opening Ceremony at 11:30 am
Sunday 2/9-Monday 2/10/25-Torah Scribe Days
Friday 2/14/25-Shabbat Evening Services at 7:00 pm
Sunday 2/16-Sunday 2/23/25-Religious School Closed for Winter Break
Friday 2/21/25-Shabbat Evening Services (Repro Shabbat) at 7:00 pm
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Celebrating January Birthdays!
This Friday night, we’ll celebrate all January birthdays at Shabbat services!
We’ll invite anyone with a January birthday to join us up on the bimah. No RSVP is necessary. Join your Temple family to celebrate your special birthday month!
Yom Huledet Sameach! יום הולדת שמח! Happy Birthday!
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Ella Lam is celebrating her Bat Mitzvah!
Saturday, January 25th at 10:30 am
Mazel Tov to Ella, her parents Dahlia Schoenberg & Jonathan Lam and her sister Olivia!
The RTFH congregation is invited to join Saturday morning services via livestream at www.rtfh.org/live
Services will also be streaming live at:
youtube.com/reformtempleofforesthills
For Ella's Bat Mitzvah project, she organized a group of friends to help make a dessert table for a hot meal distribution for families living in shelters at her mom’s school, PS 28, in Corona, Queens. Ella and her friends were able to provide many desserts, such as cupcakes, chocolate chip cookies, and rice Krispy treats for over 70 people. They also set up a cupcake decorating station for all of the students. This was important to Ella because not only was it helping feed children, but it was adding something they would enjoy.
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Temple Tots PJ Havdalah
Saturday, January 25th at 4:30 PM.
Come in your PJs for a Temple Tots PJ Havdalah!
As usual, we’ll have song, movement, a craft and snack as together we say goodbye to Shabbat.
Please register here if you will be attending this Saturday! Come in your pajamas!
We hope to see you there!
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Collecting 30th Anniversary Artifacts
For our 30th anniversary, if you have stashed away any keepsakes, old newsletters, posters, or other memorabilia for RTFH’s history, please consider lending it to Temple to add to our celebrations.
You can drop off anything in the office or with Rabbi Kaiserman. If you want it returned, please make sure to let us know and put your name on it.
Celebrating 30 years of learning, sharing, and connecting.
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Cantor Emily Wigod Pincus on Music and the Torah
Sunday, January 26 at 10am-POSTPONED TO A FUTURE DATE!
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Parents Association February Meeting
Sunday, February 2 at 9:30 am
Learn about upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. Raise questions or concerns for the PA to discuss. Mandatory attendance for Class Parents. Optional attendance for all other PA members. Breakfast will be served.
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Tu BiShvat for All
Saturday, February 8 at 10:30am
Join us as we celebrate Tu BiShvat together! We welcome all ages to join us with the seder that celebrates the New Year for the Trees. We will express gratitude for trees and their fruits, for nature and its fragility, and of course, our connection to the land of Israel. Together, we’ll drink our four cups of wine or juice and eat different kinds of fruits, which symbolize the variety of the natural world that it is our duty to preserve.
The seder will be followed by a potluck lunch and a song session. Join us for the seder, and then stay for lunch! You can register here. If you are staying for lunch, please indicate what you will be bringing.
For those of you who have enjoyed meditation during the Tu BiShvat seder, our Weekly Friday Meditation Sit will be devoted to Tu BiShvat. This will take place at 1:30 PM on Friday, February 7th. For the Zoom link, please see your most recent e-blast or contact our Office Administrator Sheryl Hausman at sheryl@rtfh.org.
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Sunday, March 2
9:00am-4:00pm
Join us for a special day of helping our neighbors in need and the planet!
Live our shared values through hands-on acts of kindness.
Choose from a wide range of activities and impactful projects and enjoy a delicious lunch with your Temple family!
To join the Social Action Team, please contact Jerry Strauss at strauss.jerry@gmail.com.
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Birthday Connection
Acknowledge someone's special day by sponsoring a birthday greeting!
Each month, a list of Temple members celebrating birthdays is posted to the RTFH Birthday Connection. Simply click on the link, create or login to your Member's Account, and fill out the online form. Women's Connection will send that person a personalized Happy Birthday greeting to everyone who donated in their honor. At only $1 per greeting, Birthday Connection is an easy way to manage a monthly mitzvah for everyone on your list!
Hard copies of Birthday Connection lists with instructions are available below and in plastic hanging bins in the lobby of the temple near the coat room or use the link below.
Send Birthday Wishes
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It’s the Perfect Time to Join Torah Study
This is the perfect time to add that “10% more Judaism” to your life. Join Torah Study on Zoom each Saturday from 9-10 am as we begin the Book of I Samuel.
Friendship. Romance. Lust for power. Infidelity. Betrayal. God.
The Book of Samuel beats any contemporary soap opera in its intrigue and emotion. Explore the richness of these tales that shaped the Jewish people in one of the most memorable parts of the Tanakh.
No previous reading or knowledge needed. Join any time.
For the Zoom link, please see your most recent e-blast or contact our Office Administrator Sheryl Hausman at sheryl@rtfh.org.
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Meditation Sit with Cantor Pincus
Fridays at 1:30 pm
Get ready for Shabbat with some quiet relaxation time! This 30-minute Meditation Sit with Cantor Emily will incorporate Jewish text, music, and, of course, silence.
For the Zoom link, please see your most recent e-blast or contact our Office Administrator Sheryl Hausman at sheryl@rtfh.org.
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We're thrilled to have RTFH as our newest school base offering full time childcare education for children aged 2-5 years old. | |
Spearheaded by the Israel Support and Action Committee (ISAAC), our congregation supports Israel by giving to The Shiloni Project, a grassroots organization formed to meet the needs of displaced families and soldiers.
Please give generously by clicking here.
See the Israel page of our new website for more details.
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Music Together at RTFH!
We are so thrilled to be in our RTFH home with our beloved
Music Together®️program! for Babies through 8 yr olds
Enroll Today!
MusicTogetherwithMusicandMe.com
718-229-0033
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Thank you for your support of
The Reform Temple of Forest Hills
We welcome you to learn more about our Temple at our new website www.rtfh.org
To donate, click “Donate" at the top of the page or go directly to rtfh.org/donate
·Choose to make a donation in honor or in memory of a friend or family member, and the recipient will immediately receive a warm email notifying them of your donation.
·Yahrzeit Fund: send a donation in memory of loved ones, and a private note is instantly sent to the recipient!
· The Temple Office will provide tax benefit letters after the end of the year fully detailing your donations.
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