Shabbat and Holiday Services

Shabbat Service with guest darshan, David Anders

Friday, August 11 at 6:15 pm (In the tent weather permitting)

David B. Anders is a partner at the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. His practice focuses on the representation of companies in connection with the defense of regulatory, white-collar criminal and complex civil litigation matters. He also regularly advises clients in connection with internal investigations and corporate governance and compliance reviews.  Prior to joining Wachtell Lipton, David served as an assistant United States attorney for the Southern District of New York from September 1998 through December 2005.

During his time at the United States Attorneys’ Office, he investigated and prosecuted a wide variety of securities, commodities, and other investment fraud schemes, money laundering, immigration, racketeering, and associated violent crime. He tried 13 felony cases to verdict, and briefed and argued numerous appeals before the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He was involved in several significant prosecutions during that time, including the investigation and prosecution of the fraud at WorldCom.

David grew up in Scarsdale, graduating from Scarsdale High School in 1987. David attended Dartmouth College, graduating in 1991 and earned his law degree from Fordham University School of Law in 1994. David’s wife, Mimi Rocah, is the Westchester County District Attorney. David and Mimi have two children, Sabrina, who is 15, and Aaron, who is 13. David, Sabrina and Aaron all celebrated their bar mitzvah at WRT, David in September1982, Sabrina in May 2021 and Aaron in November 2022.

We invite you to celebrate a special moment with us.

Would you like to celebrate a special occasion for your family? Consider sharing it with the congregation by sponsoring an Oneg following Friday night services at WRT.

Torah Study

Saturday, August 12 at 9:00 am (in-person in the Sifriyah or Zoom) 

Each Shabbat morning we gather informally to read and discuss the week’s Torah portion. The morning begins with a brief Shabbat service at which mourners who wish to say Kaddish are warmly welcomed. The group is led by volunteers, with clergy participation. No prior experience with Torah is necessary.  

Programs and Special Events

MRJ Brotherhood Award

Friday, August 18 at 6:15 pm (In the sanctuary)

The Men of Reform Judaism's Brotherhood Award is given annually to a congregant who volunteers and performs community service at WRT and in the larger community at a level that far exceeds the typical resident. Although administered by the MRJ, the award serves the entire congregation and is awarded to honorees regardless of gender. This year's award recipient is Marcy Harris (read more about Marcy below).

Shabbat Service with guest darshan, Marcy Harris

Friday, August 18 at 6:15 pm (In the sanctuary)

Marcy is the immediate past President of WRT and is honored to have worked closely with WRT’s inspiring clergy, staff and temple leaders over the years. In addition to serving as a temple Trustee and Vice President, Marcy was co-chair of the Greeters Initiative and sat on or led various clergy search committees. Marcy, her husband John, and their sons Andrew and Justin were founding members of Sharing Shabbat and traveled to Israel on a WRT family trip. Now adults, Andrew and Justin attended the ECC and celebrated their b'nei mitzvah and Confirmation at WRT, and John became an adult bar mitzvah at WRT. He is a former Chair of the New York regional board of the Anti-Defamation League and currently serves on the ADL’s global advisory board.

Professionally, Marcy practiced law at Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP for more than 30 years, representing hedge fund managers and other investment professionals in litigations, arbitrations and investigations alleging financial misconduct. She also specialized in trust and estates matters, representing fiduciaries, charities and others in will contests and trust disputes.

Following her tenure as WRT President, Marcy was elected to the Board of Governors of

Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR), the Reform seminary. She

currently chairs the Student Life Committee of the Board, serves on its Strategic Advisory

Committee, and is the Chair of HUC-JIR’s Eastern Region Board of Advisors. In addition,

through Literacy Partners, Inc., she is teaching several foreign-born adults to read.

Rabbi Jonathan E. Blake at Greater Centennial AME Zion Church

Sunday, August 20 at 9:30 am

Please join Rev. Stephen W. Pogue, the congregation of Greater Centennial AME Zion Church, and Rabbi Blake on August 20 at 9:30 am. We will join together in a spirit of love and friendship with the congregation and clergy of Greater Centennial A.M.E. Zion Church in Mount Vernon when Rabbi Blake will deliver the sermon at Sunday morning worship. His sermon will be entitled, “Why Democracy Matters.” The soaring voices of the gospel choir and warmth of this sister community will lift our spirits! All are welcome. If you are unable to attend in person, the service may be zoomed here.

Summer Chair Yoga Series With Instructor Ellen Cohen

Wednesdays through August 23rd at 3:00 pm (WRT in the Social Hall)

Join us for movement for all ages and abilities, wear comfortable clothes. Stocking feet or sneakers are fine. RSVP via email to [email protected] or call the temple office at 914-723-7727. *The summer yoga series is free-of-charge and is sponsored by

the Caring Community of Westchester Reform Temple.

Cooking4HOPE, Hot Meals

Monday, August 28, 10 am – 12 pm, Westchester Reform Temple Kitchen

Sign up to join other members of the WRT community to cook a hot dinner, make sandwiches, and pack sandwich bags for HOPE Community Services. You can also sign up to bake desserts to be included in the sandwich bags, to shop for groceries, or to deliver the sandwiches to HOPE.  Sign up here. Please consider volunteering for a leadership role in Cooking4Hope. Contact [email protected] to volunteer or learn more.  Cooking4HOPE is funded by WRT’s Food and Housing Insecurity Fund, so please continue to support these efforts by contributing to the Fund.

*Do you have a child/children in college?* 

Please let us know their mailing addresses for this school year, so the WRT Youth Committee can send them holiday gifts throughout the year. Please don’t tell - we want it to be a surprise! 

Please provide the following information for your student(s):

Name, School, School Address, Move-in date, Winter break dates, Spring break dates, Graduation year, Will they be abroad this year (which semester), Any food allergies

Please email this information by August 18th to [email protected]

WRJ Honey Sale for a Sweet New Year!

100% Organic local Hudson Valley Honey directly from the bees to you!

Order deadline extended to September 6th! Click here for more information.

Visit the Jewish Learning Lab (JLL)

For WRT members: If you would like to receive notifications of birth announcements and deaths within the WRT community, please email [email protected] with your full name and email address. Please specify if you would like to be added to one or both of these notification lists.  

For more information about Inclusion at WRT, click here.

For more information about Our Jewish World, click here.