Dear Friends,

 

A new year is beginning, and, as always at RTFH, it will be one filled with music!

 

We invite you to attend the Forest Hills Chamber Music Series. Eagerly awaited from year to year, the series features our own Ari Evan and his carefully curated lineup of internationally recognized musicians, and the repertoire of each concert features an acclaimed work from a Jewish composer. The series is also one of our major outreach initiatives to the Forest Hills community. With this in mind, all FHCMS performances are free to students with ID and those 18 and under.

 

Save the date for three Sundays at 2:00pm:

November 2nd, 2025

January 11th, 2026

March 29th, 2026


And while you’re at it, don’t forget – 

  • Sunday, December 7th at 1:00pm: Religious School Chanukah concert
  • Sunday, April 26th at 5:00pm: a heartfelt connection of Jewish tradition and the present day with this year’s Cantorial Concert

 

L’shanah tovah umuzikalit (wishing you a joyful and musical year),

Cantor Emily Wigod Pincus

Shabbat Reshon Service

New Members

Friday, September 5th at 6:15pm


Join our new members and the Junior Choir for Shabbat Services, food, conversation, and fun times!


Service starts at 6:15 pm. A delicious Italian dinner and dessert to follow in the ballroom.


Services are live-streamed at rtfh.org/live and youtube.com/reformtempleofforesthills

Special Congregational Meeting


We will be holding a brief special meeting on Today, Wednesday, September 3rd at 7:00 PM in the Temple Sanctuary to answer any questions about the proposed extension of Rabbi Kaiserman’s contract.


If you do not have any questions or are unable to attend, we encourage you to submit your proxy. The easiest way to return the proxy is by email to Allan Hoberman at allan@rtfh.org, though you may also mail or hand-deliver it to the Temple office.


Thank you for your participation and support.


Someone has a birthday coming...
Your/your child's birthday is approaching and RTFH would like to celebrate it with you!
On Friday, September 5th, we'll celebrate all September birthdays Shabbat Reshon at 6:15pm. 
On Friday, September 19th, we'll celebrate all September birthdays at 7pm Shabbat services.
Come to either one so we can help you celebrate!
At both services, we’ll invite anyone with an April birthday to join us up on the bimah. No RSVP is necessary. Join your Temple family to celebrate your special birthday month!
יום הולדת שמח! Yom Huledet Sameach! Happy Birthday!

Rabbi Mark Kaiserman
Cantor Emily Wigod Pincus



Friday 9/5 - Shabbat Reshon - 6:15pm


Sunday 9/7 - 1st Day of Religious School


Sunday 9/7 - Finding Beauty in Brokenness (WoCo Event) - 1:00pm


Tuesday 9/9 - Women’s Connection - 7:30pm


Wednesday 9/10 - 1st Day of Mid-Week Religious School


Wednesday 9/10 - 1st ToFHY Session - 6:10pm


Friday 9/12- Shabbat Reshon - 7:00pm


Saturday 9/13 - Selichot Study (7pm) and Service (10pm)


Friday 9/19- Shabbat Services- 7:00pm

A Time for Reflection to Prepare for the High Holy Days


Selichot


Saturday, September 13th, 2025

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 powerful film Crossfire

(1947). This powerful film noir was one of the first movies to discuss

antisemitism and was nominated for 5 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.


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.

Learn more about RTFH High Holy Day Services and ticket purchasing at www.rtfh.org

Let's make a difference for our Forest Hills food insecure neighbors. RTFH, in partnership with local religious institutions, is helping those in need with your help.


Please drop off cans or boxes of non-expired food items (see list in the flyer above).


Final date for drop-off is 10/3. Food can also be dropped off in the Temple Upper Lobby.


Thank you in advance for your amazing generosity.

Social Action Team


The College Connection Package


Calling all parents of college students, The College Connection Committee are pleased to let you know that we will be sending packages again during Rosh Hashanah, Chanukah, and Passover.


We are now updating our list of college students and their current addresses.


In order to include your student(s) in this program, please complete this form by Friday, September 5th, 2025. For more information and more detail on registration, click here

Time to register for Temple Tots!

 

Join us in an interactive Shabbat for

 children 5 years & younger and their families.

 

Fall/Winter 2025 Session

Saturday, October 4th at 10:00am (Sukkot)

Saturday, November 1st at 9:00am

Saturday, December 13th at 9:00am (Chanukah)

Saturday, January 10th at 4:00pm* (Tu Bishvat)

*Temple Tots Havdalah

 

Cantor Emily, Rabbi Mark and the Temple Tots Team invite you and your family to a fun and interactive Shabbat full of songs and joy.

We'll share in story time, music, and crafts!

 

Don't miss out on updates and programming!


Register here

King David Comes!


Torah Study has arrived at the fascinating stories for King David. This is the perfect time to join in! 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.


 Study with us on Zoom:

https://zoom.us/j/703706086?pwd=empYdzZNVWU3cGtuQTRkVTU3d1huZz09

 Phone Dial-in: 1-646-558-8656

Member ID: 703-706-086

Password: Numbers36

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.


 Meditate with Cantor Emily on Zoom: 

https://zoom.us/j/929864997?pwd=N2c2WCtyM2UzRVJQQzltelpWNk9lZz09


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! 


Lists of upcoming Birthdays with instructions are available in plastic hanging bins in the lobby of the temple near the coat room or use the links below.


Send Birthday Wishes

Birthday Connection-September


Queensborough Performing Arts Center

presents DRASTIC ACTION in

JUST STAND BY


A powerful contemporary dance performance rooted in the rise of anti-democratic leaders around the world and in the director's history as the child of a Holocaust survivor.


Saturday, September 6th at 8pm

Queensborough Performing Arts Center

222-05 56th Avenue


FREE tickets for the RTFH community


For more details about the performance and complimentary tickets:


https://juststandby.bpt.me/

ENTER DISCOUNT CODE: DAFriends

See the Social Action Team's Worldwide Efforts page of our website for ways you can help support Ukraine. 

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 website for more details.

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

We're thrilled to have RTFH as our newest school base offering full time childcare education for children aged 2-5 years old


For more information

please call 718-569-5902,

E-mail melvillemontessori@gmail.com

or click here www.melvillemontessori.com

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.