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Dear RTFH Family,
College life has become more challenging than ever. Jewish students are being confronted and attacked about Israel and simply being a Jew. We keep finding ways to be there for Jewish students at college.
Our College Connections committee, led by parents in Women’s Connection, sends packages to our college students along with a letter from me to keep our students feeling connected to their Temple while away from home.
Last month, I attended a gathering of college Hillel leaders from throughout New York City, where they shared some of the difficulties and successes of Jewish life on campus. Earlier this month, RTFH, through the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund, sponsored lunch for Jewish students at Queens College Hillel.
We hope some of our students will drop by Temple for services or just to say hello during time home this winter.
College students, both RTFH’s and all Jewish kids, need our support more than ever before. RTFH remains a safe space of support for all of them.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Mark
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Mark your calendars for an unbelievable family experience to write in RTFH's very own Torah on:
Sunday February 9th and Monday February 10th
Sunday March 23rd and Monday March 24th
Your meaningful contribution can make a significant impact on the Temple’s financial health and its ability to serve our community.
Please give generously—every gift counts.
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Friday 12/13/24-Shabbat Evening Service at 7:00 pm
Sunday 12/15/24-Chanukapalooza at Religious School at 9:00 am
Friday 12/20/24-Shabbat Evening Service at 7:00 pm
Saturday 12/21/24-Temple Tots at 10:00 am
Sunday 12/22/24-Thursday 1/2/25-Religious School Closed
Friday 12/27/24-Shabbat Evening Services (Chanukah 3rd Night) at 6:15 pm
Friday 12/27/24-WoCo Chanukah Dinner at 7:15 pm
Thursday 1/2/24-Women's Connection Meeting at 7:30 pm
Thursday 1/2/24-Men's Study at 7:30 pm
Friday 1/3/25-Shabbat Reshon (6th Grade) at 6:15 pm
Friday 1/10/25-Sunday 1/12/25-Rabbi Leah Berkowitz at RTFH
Sunday 1/12/25-4th Grade Family Education at Religious School at 9:30 am
Monday 1/13/25-WoCo General Meeting via Zoom-Book Discussion of Mitch Albom's "The Little Liar" at 7:30 pm
Friday 1/17/25-Shabbat Evening Service (MLK Jr. Shabbat) at 7:00 pm
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Benjamin Kaplan is celebrating his Bar Mitzvah!
Saturday, December 14th at 10:30 am
Mazel Tov to Ben, his parents Stephanie & Mark and his brother Jacob!
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 his Bar Mitzvah project, Ben volunteered at an organization called Book Fairies in Freeport, Long Island where volunteers sort books to be shipped to people in need. This organization helps kids, families, and teachers by shipping free books to them. I chose to work with this organization because it warms my heart
to give kids an opportunity to read.
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Chanukapalooza
Sunday, December 15 at 9:00 am
Volunteer to run a fun activity as the PA takes over Religious School in its annual Chanukah-themed events! Contact Jason Schechter at pa@rtfh.org.
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Celebrate with family and friends at our annual RTFH Chanukah Dinner! Start the evening by bringing your Chanukah menorah to our 6:15 pm Shabbat Service. Afterward, head to the ballroom, where a full, catered dinner will be served. We’ll also have a children’s section set up with coloring pages, games, and, of course, lots of dreidels!
Register for the Chanukah Dinner
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WoCo Gets Creative with Jewelry Making on Tuesday, December 10th
Women's Connection members and guests enjoyed snacks and made beautiful Judaic jewelry on Tuesday night December 10th. Thank you so much to all who participated and to Ariel Tidhar, our wonderful teacher. Ariel's jewelry and other homemade products can be viewed and purchased at arieltidhar.com.
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Save the Date – Rabbi Leah Berkowitz
January 10-12, 2025
In honor of our 30th anniversary, special guest teacher Rabbi Leah Berkowitz will be joining us at RTFH in January.
Friday, January 10 at 7pm Services – The Sacred Story
Saturday, January 11 at 9am – One Midrash, Two Midrash, Old Midrash, New Midrash
Sunday, January 12 – Special programming with our Religious School, 7th Grade Families, and Confirmation
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Forest Hills Chamber Music Series
Sunday January 19th at 2PM: The Art of Duo
Performers:
Ari Evan (cello)
Mari Lee (violin)
The Forest Hills Chamber Music Series will open its third consecutive season with chamber music in its most intimate form: the string duo. A not-so-often medium of composition, the string duo did not rise in prominence until the 20th century. This concert will highlight Erwin Schulhoff, a Jewish Czech composer whose life and career was prematurely ended by the Nazi regime, pairing his duo with that of renowned French composer Maurice Ravel.
Program:
Erwin Schulhoff: Duo for Violin and Cello
Maurice Ravel: Duo for Violin and Cello
With selections from Bach, Jorg Widmann, Benjamin Goddard, and Xenakis
Members: $18
Non-members: $25
Door: $36
Students with ID or 18 and under: free
BUY TICKETS
Concert will be live-streamed at RTFH.org/live
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Help warm up New York by donating coats, money, or both to the
36th Annual New York Cares Coat Drive!
We are collecting clean coats in the Temple's upper lobby until December 20th.
Please also help us reach our goal of $500 to spread warmth to our city. Use RTFH's link to contribute by December 31st.
Thank you to our generous, warm-hearted Temple family.
For more details, please see the Social Action Team's Current Initiatives page on our website or contact Marcia Parness at mhpisme@aol.com.
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Meditation Sit with Cantor Pincus
Fridays at 1:30pm
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 eblast or contact our Office Administrator Sheryl Hausman at sheryl@rtfh.org.
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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 eblast or contact our Office Administrator Sheryl Hausman at sheryl@rtfh.org.
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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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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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