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Dear RTFH Family,
With Thanksgiving passed, it’s beginning to look a lot like…Chanukah. With Chanukah beginning on the evening of December 25, we have a whole month to get ready.
Don’t miss these special Chanukah events at RTFH:
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Chanukah Concert – This Sunday, December 8 at 1pm. Buy your tickets now and join us for lunch at 12pm. This fun concert features our religious school, junior choir, adult choir, teachers, Rabbi Mark, and Cantor Emily.
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Chanukapalooza – During Religious School on December 15, our students will have a full Chanukah extravaganza. If you can volunteer to help in the morning, please contact Faye at edleader@rtfh.org. You can volunteer even if you don’t have kids in the school!
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Shabbat Chanukah Service and Dinner – Bring your Chanukah menorah to Temple on Friday, December 27 at 6:15pm as we celebrate the holiday and light our menorah together. The dinner is sponsored by the RTFH Women’s Connection. Register for the dinner here.
While Chanukah is primarily a home holiday, join your Temple family throughout the month as we celebrate the Festival of Lights.
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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Thursday 12/5/24-Men's Study at 7:30 pm
Friday 12/6/24-Shabbat Reshon (7th Grade) at 6:15 pm
Sunday 12/8/24-Parents Association December Meeting at 9:30 am
Sunday 12/8/24-Chanukah Concert at 12:00 pm
Tuesday 12/10/24-WoCo Chanukah Jewelry Workshop with Ariel Tidhar at 6:30 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-Shabbat Evening Services (Rabbi Leah Berkowitz) at 7:00 pm
Sunday 1/12/25-4th Grade Family Education at Religious School at 9:30 am
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Join us at our annual Chanukah lunch and concert on Sunday, December 8th, 2024!
All Religious School classes will sing Chanukah songs old and new, together with our Adult and Junior Choirs. Let’s watch our children shine as we celebrate the miracle!
All proceeds go to cover the cost of just the concert itself and the musicians. As promised, there will be no sponsors, baskets, or raffles. The Torah project is our only fundraiser this year. So just come and enjoy yourself!
Lunch at 12:00 PM (pizza, latkes, drink)
Concert at 1:00 PM
To purchase tickets for concert and lunch click here:
https://rtfh.shulcloud.com/form/chanukah-concert-2024.html
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Men’s Study Chat with Rabbi Kaiserman
Thursday, December 5 at 7:30pm
Take time to expand your social, cerebral, and soulful nature at Men’s Study. Join us at 7:30pm on September 5. Over pizza, we’ll explore current events and the challenging world.
Men’s Study meets on the first Thursday of each month and is open to the congregational community.
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Celebrating December Birthdays!
This Friday night, we’ll celebrate all December birthdays at Shabbat services!
We’ll invite anyone with a December 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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Eve and Lily Feigenbaum are celebrating their B'not Mitzvah!
Saturday, December 7th at 10:30 am
Mazel Tov to Eve and Lily and their mother Susan!
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 her mitzvah project, Eve wrote letters through an
organization called Love for our Elders. They ask people to write letters to homebound older adults. She chose to volunteer through this organization because She likes intergenerational activities and learning more about people. Not only did it make her happy to write the letters, but she also got to make the people receiving the letters happy.
For her mitzvah project, Lily chose to raise money for
CaringKind. They help by providing care and support services for families with loved ones suffering from Alzheimer's. They also advance research to help eliminate Alzheimer's. In total, Lily raised almost 2,000 dollars.
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Parents Association December Meeting
Sunday, December 8 at 11:00 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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December Women's Connection Meeting: Chanukah Jewelry Workshop w/ Ariel Tidhar!
Date: Tuesday, December 10
Time: 6:30pm-9:30pm RTFH Ballroom
RSVP HERE
Cost: $30 per Women's Connection member/$65 non-members and guests
On Tuesday, December 10th, we've invited a Jewish American-Israeli artist, Ariel Tidhar, to lead a jewelry workshop in celebration of Chanukah! Ariel will help you select and create a charm necklace with specialty crafted Judaic themed pieces. Thanks to a generous donation, WoCo members only pay $30 to participate. The value of each necklace is over $80. This is a wonderful gift for yourself or someone special, just in time for the holidays!
As you all know, Jewish artists in every field have faced increasing levels of discrimination and antisemitism in the last year. If we have the ability to promote and support the endeavors of people like Ariel, we should take pleasure in doing so.
More information about Ariel's materials and jewelry can be found HERE.
Please bring a snack to share!
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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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Help warm up New York by donating money, coats, or both to the
36th Annual New York Cares Coat Drive!
Every $25 donation keeps 10 New Yorkers warm and also provides essential programs that help break the cycle of poverty.
Please help us reach our goal of $500. Use RTFH's link to contribute and spread warmth to our city.
Financial contributions of any amount are greatly appreciated. Please participate by December 31st.
We are also collecting new and gently-used, laundered coats in the Temple's upper lobby until December 20th.
Thank you to our generous, warm-hearted Temple family.
Any questions, 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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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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