The Westchester Jewish Council's
Community Connection
"The Thankfulness Edition"
November 25, 2020 9 Kislev 5781
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Hello!
WE ARE GRATEFUL. Despite the incredibly challenging times we are living in (and we send healing to all those who are suffering), we strive to recognize the goodness within our community. For many, Thanksgiving represents a time to reflect upon what we are grateful for, and in this year we thought it would be a meaningful time to ask our community leaders what makes them thankful. Thank you to those who sent in submissions. We share their responses with you below in an attachment and hope you find them as inspiring as we did.
What a biennial Night of Music and Community it was this past Saturday evening as over 600 people tuned in to our first ever virtual Night of Jewish Music with our wonderful partners Kol Hazzanim-the Cantors of Westchester. A huge thank you to all whom participated and thanks to Cantors Lilah Sugarman and Robin Joseph for helping to put this event together with the Council.
We also celebrated diversity at the Annual Thanksgiving Diversity Breakfast which was held last Thursday and filled with tributes to those who have dedicated themselves to making changes in the community and beyond. Special thanks to the planning coalition led by our friends at AJC Westchester/Fairfield.
We wish you a happy and heathy Thanksgiving and we thank you for spending your time with us each week!
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Thanksgiving,
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Lisa Roberts, President
Lori Kurlander, Communications Manager
Elliot Forchheimer, CEO
WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL
"HERE WHEN YOU NEED US
YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW"
(The Council is financially supported by donations from individuals,
dues from 136 member organizations and generous grant support from UJA-Federation)
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Please support the work of the Westchester Jewish Council. Your donation makes a difference each and every day. Click here to donate.
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SOME WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY LEADERS
SHARE THANKS AND GOOD WISHES....
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“This is not the year to get everything you want.
This is the year to appreciate
everything you have.”
As President of the Council, I am thankful to be a part of this community. We have mourned our losses, but we have stayed strong and engaged. We have helped our neighbors. We have fought for the rights of immigrants and against racial inequality. We have rallied against anti-Semitism. We have shown our resilience. And we will remain committed to working together to strengthen our community and to protect the rights of all.
Lisa Roberts, President WJC
**FOR THE OTHER 77 THANKSGIVING THOUGHTS,
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WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL
UPCOMING EVENTS
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-It's All About the Gala-
"GALAlujah, We Are Grateful"
THE 45th ANNIVERSARY COUNCIL GALA:
The honorees have been announced and the amazing Gala committee is very busy planning for this special event. Please mark your calendar for Saturday night, January 30th when we will honor three extraordinary community members -
Lisa Roberts (Council President), Harriet Kaplan Suvall, Marc Suvall
More details to come.
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The Annual Westchester/Fairfield County Thanksgiving Diversity Breakfast took place virtually on November 19th. While we couldn't be together in person, support for this event was greater than ever as revealed by the large turnout of over 400 attendees. A huge thank you to event co-chairs Bill Darger, Cigdem Dogan and Tiffany SW Hamilton and a special thanks to Gary Trachten (who is also a WJC Board Member) and to AJC Westchester/Fairfield for leading the planning coalition.
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Our Biennial Night of Music & Joy brought beautiful music into our homes on Saturday evening, November 21st. The night began with Havdalah and then transitioned into a concert of more than 18 cantors singing Broadway tunes, folk music, spiritual music and more. Thank you to Kol Hazzanim and all the cantors who participated in this joint Council event. A huge shoutout to Cantor Lilah Sugarman and Cantor Robin Joseph for producing this event with the Council. Enjoy the collage of photos from the evening.
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From L to R:
Gigi Zeller, WJC Board Member, Cantor Lilah Sugarman, Lisa Roberts, President, WJC, Elizabeth Lampert, WJC Board Member, Cantor Robin Joseph, Cantor Margot Goldberg, Cantor Miranda Beckenstein, Cantor Fredda Mendelson, Cantor Ethan Goldberg
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Cantor Lilah Sugarman and
Cantor Melanie Cooperman
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Cantor Lauren Phillips Fogelman and Cantor Margot Goldberg |
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Cantors Fredda and Jack Mendelson |
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Cantor Ellen Dreskin and
Cantor Sarah Zemel
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Cantorial Intern Isaac Sonnett-Assor and
Cantor Hayley Kobilinsky
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Cantor/Rabbi Shoshi Levin Goldberg and
Cantor Ethan Goldberg
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Cantor Anna Chapman May and Cantor Gerald Cohen |
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Cantorial Intern Gaby Schvartz |
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Cantor Sandy Bernstein and
Cantor Stacy Sokol
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WELCOME TO OUR
NEW COUNCIL MEMBER ORGANIZATION
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Keshet works for the full equality of LGBTQ Jews in Jewish life. We turn values at the heart of Judaism—equality, inclusion, and human dignity—into action in Jewish communities because when we stand by and allow LGBTQ Jews to be excluded, we hold all of Jewish life back from reaching its full potential. We equip Jewish organizations with the tools to build LGBTQ-affirming communities, create spaces for queer Jewish teens to feel valued as queer andJewish, and mobilize the Jewish community to fight for LGBTQ justice nationwide.
One day we will see Jewish life at its best, when the entirety of our diverse community can participate openly and authentically, but we need you to help us get there.
Visit keshetonline.org or email Dubbs Weinblatt, Associate Director of Education and Training for Metro NY, for more information.
Welcome Keshet! We look forward to working together.
(Mosaic, the Council's LGBTQ Roundtable, looks forward to continuing to partner with Keshet)
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WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL'S
SECURITY AND SAFETY UPDATE
"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail" B. Franklin
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As always and per protocol, please report any security concerns immediately to your local Police Department and then to the Council for follow up. Stay alert, prepared and safe.
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WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL'S
ISRAEL CONNECTION
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Westchester Jewish Council's
"Israel Connection"
We invite you to the next monthly presentation in our Israel Connection series - "From Ethiopia to Israel, Zehava Tesfay's Journey". This event will take place on Wednesday, December 9th at noon.
Zehava will discuss the Jewish Ethiopian community, identity and traditions in Ethiopia and Israel through her personal family story. She came to New York to serve as a Jewish Agency emissary and leads the delegation of Shlichim serving in the UJA-Federation of New York Shlichut Initiative.
This event is free and open to all.
Please register here -
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"Israel Connection", a monthly virtual series of the Westchester Jewish Council, offers presentations and discussions on diverse topics of interest regarding the culture, politics and society of Israel. All welcome.
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PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS YOU CAN ENJOY FROM HOME
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Last Few Days to Check Out This Great Event!
Bet Am Shalom's Judaica Craft Show is Virtual This Year
You have until November 29th to shop!
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Cooking Up New Rituals, with Rabbi Laura Geller
Monday, December 7, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Ritual makes things sacred. It sets them apart and sanctifies them by calling attention to their specialness. Join Rabbi Laura Geller, rabbi emerita at Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills and author of Getting Good at Getting Older, for a text-based discussion and examination of those spaces in our lives where creating modern rituals feels appropriate - everything from completing a creative project, becoming a grandparent and moving homes, to forgiving yourself for something you feel badly about, removing a wedding ring after divorce or a spouse's death, making a new friend and more. Together, we'll also discuss the ingredients for creating new rituals.
To register and receive the link, please click: Rituals
Note: Getting Good at Getting Older is available wherever books are sold. On Kindle and in Paperback, $17.95
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Thanks to ACHI, (Council member) you have the opportunity to shop for holiday gifts while supporting Israeli businesses.
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Leffell School - Sheilat Rav
Last week, 12 rabbis joined Leffell School (Council member) fourth graders to answer students’ questions about God, Torah, kashrut, Shabbat, and more! It was inspiring to hear answers from rabbis across many denominations and locations. Students is reflected upon this program and were intrigued by all the similarities and differences that coexist within Judaism and across denominations.
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UJA-FEDERATION OF NEW YORK IN WESTCHESTER |
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Modern Twists On Hanukkah Classics
Join us for a live cooking demo with Chanie Apfelbaum, acclaimed author of the best-selling cookbook Millennial Kosher and Busy in Brooklyn Instagram influencer.
This event welcomes donors who give a gift of $500 or more, individually or as a family, to UJA's annual campaign.
Parenting Through a Jewish Lens: Navigating Your New Normal
Parenting during this time presents special challenges. Join with other parents from our community to support each other and explore parenting topics that address the new normal through a Jewish lens. Our monthly discussions, led by expert instructors Deborah Goldman and Adrian Kalikow, will be rooted in Jewish teachings.
These sessions are intended for informational purposes only. Some information may not be relevant for all situations and individuals. We urge each individual to consult an independent professional to review and advise regarding his or her specific needs and requirements. Sessions will be held at 8:00 pm on Wednesdays on December 2, 2020; January 6; February 17; and March 24, 2021.
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WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL ROUNDTABLES (ConnecTables) |
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Westchester Jewish Council
Upcoming Community Roundtables
(The Council thanks the hundreds of people that dedicate time to attend our Roundtables -
a signature initiative of the Council often sponsored with wonderful partners from among our member organizations)
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Some Upcoming Virtual Council Roundtables:
Interfaith/Intergroup Roundtable 12/1 at 5:30pm
Greening Roundtable 12/9 at 9am
Israel Roundtable
Synagogue Executive Directors - Weekly
Marketing Roundtable - coming sooner or later
Contact the Council office at (914) 328-7001 or info@wjcouncil.org for information on these and other Roundtables--a key offering of the Westchester Jewish Council.
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Volunteer to become a Telephone Friend with DOROT Westchester.
Social connections are a vital part of life and for some, they can also be an important lifeline. You can make a difference in the life of a Westchester Senior by volunteering to become a DOROT Telephone Friend. Whether discussing the news of the day, a favorite memory or a good book, weekly telephone conversation builds friendship and common interests. DOROT’s Telephone Friends volunteers call older adults at mutually agreed upon, convenient times and help brighten older adults’ days.
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Thank you to Areyvut (Council member) for sharing some ideas on how to give thanks this time of year (and beyond).
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Choosing Judaism: 36 Stories is a collection of thought-provoking, intimate and inspiring personal essays on what it means to choose or be chosen as a member of the Jewish people. (Andi Rosenthal's essay was chosen for inclusion in this book. Mazal tov Andi!)
The stories collected in this anthology represent a diverse range of voices and experiences from individuals of all ages, racial and gender identities, abilities, and across denominations—Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, Humanist, and secular Jews—from contributors all over the world including the United States, Canada, Australia, Spain, France, and Israel.
Editors Bradley Caro Cook and Diana Philip intentionally sought out a multitude of stories to illustrate the Jewish experience. “I am thrilled to finally share this masterpiece which will be a major part of Jewish literature for many years to come”, said Caro Cook of the book.
Thank you to the Schusterman Family Foundation ROI Community and especially Stacy Schusterman for believing in change makers and helping us make change.
Buy a copy of the book here.
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Condolences to:
Rabbi Jeffrey Arnowitz (Westchester Jewish Center) on the loss of his grandmother Miriam Arnowitz z"l.
Cantor Margot Goldberg (Temple Beth Abraham) and family on the passing of her father, Peter Bermas (z"l)
Mazal Tov to:
Joy Avidan on the birth of her grandson.
Refuah shlema to:
Rabbi Shmuel Greenberg, rabbi of the Young Israel of White Plains. To include Rabbi Greenberg in your tefilot and for a misheberach, please note that his Hebrew name is now Alter Shmuel ben Chava Leah.
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We invite teens in the community to represent their agencies and synagogues at our WJC Youth Volunteer Roundtable. We ask our Youth Professionals to recommend a teen(s) to join us at the table. Please send the name and contact and any questions to Donna Bartell - Donna@WJCouncil.org
Westchester Jewish Council Teen Organizations include:
Thank you to the Jewish Education Project for working so closely with our Teen professionals and volunteers!
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JBS can be seen live 24/7 on Cablevision (channel 138), Verizon FIOS (channel 798), ROKU and on https://jbstv.org/
The Hudson Valley 211 Helpline is Here
This is a service of United Way of Westchester and Putnam.
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Westchester Jewish Council
925 Westchester Avenue, Suite 200, White Plains, NY 10604
914-328-7001 | info@wjcouncil.org | www.wjcouncil.org
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The next Community Connection will be published on or about December 3, 2020
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