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Dear RTFH Family,
We are one week away from Rosh Hashanah, which is the ideal time to prepare for the new year. Perhaps you’ve confirmed where you will eat holiday meals, acquired something new to wear for 5785, and even planned which services you will attend.
It is also time to prepare your inner self. The High Holy Days should be a time of self-renewal. What have been your struggles and successes over the past year? How will the coming year build on the last to bring energy and hope into your life?
Begin your entry into the holy days at Selichot Services this Saturday. We’ll begin with several short films to inspire our focus at 7pm. At 10pm, we’ll share the powerful reflections of Selichot, including the changing of the Torah covers and the preparation of our hearts.
L’shana Tova,
Rabbi Mark
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RTFH's 30th Anniversary Begins!
RTFH’s year-long celebration of our 30th anniversary began this past Friday full of joy and memories. Members of all ages, from the past 30 years to today, filled the sanctuary with special blessings, connecting with friends, a delicious Oneg, and a shofar blast to lead us into the next 30 years!
Rabbi Mayer and Debby Perelmuter shared a video greeting with our whole congregation.
Rabbi Mark Kaiserman introduced an exciting new 30th anniversary project – we’ll be writing our own Torah this year!
Check out videos and pictures from the service – and look ahead to all the amazing celebrations during 2024-2025 at www.rtfh.org/30th.
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Join Us for the High Holy Days at The Reform Temple of Forest Hills
Click Here for information on the High Holy Days at RTFH (tickets, schedule, Book of Remembrance, Children's Services, etc).
See the weekly stand alone e-blast on Thursday for all things High Holy Days
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Friday 9/27/24 Shabbat Evening Services at 7:00pm
Saturday 9/28/24 Selichot Study & Selichot Service at 7:00pm
Sunday 9/29/24 PA K/1 Chat and Chew at 9:30am
Sunday 9/29/24 RTFH at Forest Hills Festival at 11:00am
Sunday 9/29/24 Confirmation Class begins at 12:00pm
Wednesday 10/2/24-Friday 10/4/24 Rosh Hashanah
Friday 10/4/24 Shabbat Evening Services (Shabbat Shuva) at 7:00pm
Sunday 10/6/24 PA 6th/7th Grade B'nai Mitzvah Vendor Swap at 9:00am
Thursday 10/10/24 Women's Connection General Meeting at 7:30pm
Friday 10/11/24-Saturday 10/12/24 Yom Kippur
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Celebrating September Birthdays!
This Friday night, we’ll celebrate all September birthdays at Shabbat services!
We’ll invite anyone with a September 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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A Time for Reflection to Prepare for the High Holy Days
Selichot, Saturday September 28, 2024
Movie and Discussion at 7:00pm
Selichot Services at 10:00pm
Prepare our souls and hearts for the High Holy Days on Selichot.
At 7:00pm, join us to watch and discuss the short film The Last Repair Shop, which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film in 2024. We will also view a couple comedic shorts including God starring Melissa McCarthy. Popcorn will be served!
At 10:00pm is our memorable Selichot service where we change the Torah mantles and have the first sounding of the Shofar.
This service will also be available on our livestream at rtfh.org/live.
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Study and Connection on Yom Kippur Day
Saturday, October 12
Fill your Yom Kippur day with opportunities for your mind and soul. Between morning and afternoon services, join us for two special learning sessions.
Layperson’s Hour (12:30pm) in the Sanctuary
Living and Thriving with Disabilities
RTFH’s Accessibility, Inclusion, and Empowerment Committee will lead reflections on its members' experiences with disabilities and how we can all create a world inclusive of all needs.
Speakers:
Karen Eisenstadt, Arlene Green, Jodi Ann Herman, Matthew Kamen, and Scott Sheidlower. Moderated by Gwen Leifer.
Also available at rtfh.org/live
Afternoon Study Session (2pm) in a classroom
Making Meaning with Midrash, led by Susan Grunberg
How can a book written more than 2000 years ago come alive for us today? The rabbis of the early C.E. did it through a process of combined inquiry and imagination called Midrash - and we can do it too!
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To DONATE to Midnight Run 2024, please visit here. All donations, large or small, are greatly appreciated.
Check back next week to SIGN UP ONLINE.
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DONATE HOODIES FOR THE HOMELESS
Hoodies are the item most requested by the homeless individuals we meet. They are also the most expensive item for the Social Action Team to purchase.
Please bring CLEAN, ADULT-SIZED HOODIES to Temple's upper lobby before our Midnight Run on Saturday, October 26th.
Thank you! Your Social Action Team
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Call for High Holy Days Ushers & Greeters
The Reform Temple of Forest Hills is busy planning for the High Holy Days.
Many of the Temple's congregants volunteer their time each year to usher at the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services.
This special contribution to the Temple is always very much appreciated.
We hope you will be available to serve as an Usher or a Greeter at one or more of the services.
Please sign up at this link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904084CA5AD2CA13-51158516-2024
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K-1st Grade Parents' Association Chat & Chew
Sunday, September 29 at 9:30am
Enjoy some breakfast and meet parents and guardians from our K-1 class. PA members and Religious School faculty will be available for introductions and questions
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Look for RTFH's booth at the Forest Hills Festival (Austin Street Fair) on Sunday, September 29 from 11am-6pm on Austin Street right near Banana Republic. Stop by to say hello! | |
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Religious School Sukkah Visits
Sunday, October 20 at 9:30am in the RTFH Sukkah
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Volunteer at the Religious School - helping to welcome classes into the sukkah with prayers and lulav shaking! For more information, contact Stephanie Lazarus and Jason Schechter, Parents' Association
Co-Presidents at pa@rtfh.org.
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Parents Association 6th and 7th Grade B'nai Mitzvah Vendor Swap
Sunday, October 6 at 9:00am
Families who have hosted a b'nai mitzvah in the last few years are invited to come and share their recommended vendors and lessons learned with families preparing for upcoming b'nai mitzvah. DJs, venues, florists, photographers - you will be doing a community service by sharing lessons learned and recommended vendors with fellow RTFH families.
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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. | |
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Torah Study on the Book of Judges -
Saturdays at 9am
Enrich your Jewish self with our Jewish story and text as we continue our fascinating, fun, and unpredictable study together online. Join any time. We are currently exploring the book of Judges. 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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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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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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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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