The Westchester Jewish Council's

WE-stchester

Comm-UNITY

Connection

February 19, 2026 2 Adar 5786

ABOUT US COUNCIL EVENTS CALENDAR CONNECT-ORY MEMBERS & PARTNERS NEWS

Join Our Mailing List

Greetings!

Good morning.

Although things may feel a little quieter right now, there is much to look forward to—and we’re excited to share several important dates to add to your calendar. And they are all free!

📅 Mark Your Calendar:

Jewish Literacy Initiative – In partnership with the Purchase College Jewish Studies Program, join us on Thursday, March 5 at 7 PM. More information below.
County-wide Yom Hashoah/Holocaust Commemoration – Save the date for Tuesday, April 14 at noon, hosted by HHREC and the Westchester Jewish Council.
Julian Y. Bernstein Distinguished Service Awards – Join us on Tuesday, evening April 28, as we celebrate outstanding leaders from our Council member organizations followed by a dessert reception.
Yom Hazikaron - Join us on Monday, April 20 for the observance of Israel's Memorial Day.
Yom Ha'atzmaut/Israel Independence Day Countywide Celebration - Save the date for this annual event hosted by Hila Madar Itzkovitz (Community Shlicha) and JAFI on Sunday, April 26 in the late afternoon.
Celebrate Israel Parade - Join us in NYC for this annual event on Sunday, May 31.

On Friday morning, 20 Synagogue Executive Directors return from a Westchester and Long Island community service trip to Israel, generously sponsored by UJA-Federation and managed by the Westchester Jewish Council. The trip has been a great success of service, sharing and bridge-building among colleagues. Photos and reflections next week.

Only 17 days until daylight saving time begins!

Shabbat Shalom. 🕯️🕯️✨

Michael Mittelman, President

Elliot Forchheimer, CEO

Lori Kurlander, Communications Manager

WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL

HERE WHEN YOU NEED US - YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW:

Since 1975, the Council has connected our Jewish community to:

Each other, to Israel, to our elected officials and

to our brothers and sisters from other faiths and ethnic groups

Please support the work of the Westchester Jewish Council. Your donation makes a difference each and every day. Click here to donate.

(The Council is financially supported by donations from individuals,

dues from 120 member organizations and generous financial support from UJA-Federation.)

WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL REWIND

School Leadership Gatherings to Address Antisemitism and Other Forms of Hate

Last Thursday, school leaders from around the County gathered at the Greenburgh Public Library for a "School Leadership Gathering to Address Antisemitism and Other Forms of Hate" program sponsored by the Westchester Jewish Council and UJA-Federation NY. Tami Arnowitz, Council Project Consultant, led the program, which included case studies with expert feedback. Guest speakers included Tali Strom, UJA-Federation of NY; Millie Jasper, Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center; Max Kasler, Tri-State HS Regional Manager, StandWithUs; Stefanie Singer, Laurie M. Tisch Program Director, ADL; and Myra Clark-Siegel, Regional Director, AJC Westchester/Fairfield.

ISRAEL CORNER

Visit Council Member Israel Resources

WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL -

JEWISH LITERACY INTIATIVE

Please join us for the next installment of our Jewish Literacy Initiative with Purchase College - a talk with Prof. Rebecca Kobrin on Thursday, March 5th:

"A Credit to the Nation: European Jewish Immigrant Bankers and American Finance"

WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL'S

SECURITY AND SAFETY UPDATE

“Repetition Reinforces Retention and Recall”

For more information about the Westchester Jewish Council's Security Roundtable initiative, contact security@wjcouncil.org. Working together we are all safer.

WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL ROUNDTABLES

Westchester Jewish Council

Upcoming Community Roundtables

(The Council thanks the hundreds of people who dedicate time to attend our Roundtables - a signature initiative of the Council, often sponsored with wonderful partners from among our member organizations)

Greening - Wednesday, February 25 at noon via Zoom

Topic - "Growing Energy Issues for Synagogues/Organizations. Get Ahead of the Curve"

Mosaic LGBTQ+ - Wednesday, March 18 via Zoom

Synagogue Presidents - Wednesday, May 6

Israel Roundtable - Coming soon

UJA-FEDERATION OF NY

UJA-FEDERATION- DONATE NOW

We stand at a historic moment. As global antisemitism surges and more New Yorkers grapple with deep cuts to food and medical benefits, the needs have never been greater. When you give to UJA, you’re confronting antisemitism while also amplifying Jewish life. You’re supporting vulnerable New Yorkers. And you’re helping Israel recover and rebuild.

We don’t wait for better days. We create them. And your generosity sets everything in motion.

Give today: https://www.ujafedny.org/donate

Give Today

A SMALL SAMPLE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING...

Community Calendar of Learning, Engagement &

Connecting Opportunities

RSVP Here

The American Zionist Movement invites you to support our Purim Connection project.* AZM is continuing our longtime Purim tradition of supporting Israeli society (with special holiday sweets and greetings of friendship from the Diaspora) — this year with a special focus on the Reservists who have given so much over the past two years.

This year’s mishloach manot packages feature products from Reservist-owned small businesses, in partnership with ESEK and Ogen. Our goal is to deliver 1,000 packages to Reservist families with a little extra joy and gratitude this Purim. HaOgen is helping us identify the families for whom this will mean the most.

Donate Here

We are pleased to share that the Westchester and Connecticut Chapter has a Lone Soldier Parents WhatsApp group designed to foster connection, support, and community among parents navigating this shared experience. The group provides an opportunity for parents to be in touch with one another, ask questions, and receive insight and guidance from others who have gone through similar experiences.

If you would like to join the Lone Soldier Parents WhatsApp group or learn more, please feel free to be in touch with Rebecca Grossman at rebecca.grossman@fidf.org.

ODDS AND ENDS

Local author and Temple Beth Abraham member David Sherrin has published his new Purim-related picture book Big Bad Wolf and the Masquerade Ball. He is doing a number of readings in local synagogues and Hebrew schools.