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WRT AT A GLANCE
Scroll down for details about these events and our regular classes
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Shabbat Service
Friday, January 3, 6:15 pm (at WRT)
Shabbat service features the rituals, melodies and warmth of our congregation. The service includes a sermon or presentation by one of our rabbis, cantors, or special guests. Participate alongside fellow congregants in-person, or join us on any of our live-streaming platforms.
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Torah Study
Saturday, January 4 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.
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In Case You Missed It!
December 27, 2024 | Publicizing the Miracle, Sharing Our Light | Cantor Isaac Sonett-Assor
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Programs and Special Events | |
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Chair Yoga Series at WRT
Thursday, January 2 at 2:00 pm
RSVP via email to receptionist@wrtemple.org or call the temple office at 914-723-7727. Upcoming dates: January 9, 16, 23 & 30
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An Afternoon of Music and Gratitude
THIS Sunday, January 5 at 3:00 pm at WRT
Please join us as we express our appreciation and bid farewell to Hillary Fontana who has been an invaluable member of the WRT staff for 21 years!
There is no charge for this afternoon of music, light snacks, and drinks. Click on the flyer for more information.
*Listen to our special guest, Kevin Burt, HERE.
In appreciation for this event, Hillary has requested that in lieu of admission fees, each attendee is asked to contribute a donation to the WRT Food and Housing Insecurity Fund. These donations will be split among several charities to provide food for local Westchester communities.
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NEW Living with Care Support Group at WRT
Wednesdays at 11:30 am from January 8 - February 12 (at WRT)
Caring for an aging or infirm loved one requires tremendous reservoirs of spiritual and emotional strength and resilience. It can feel lonely, burdensome, and depleting of one’s time and energies. This winter, WRT will offer a new support group for congregants who are providing care for loved ones. Skillfully guided by Cantor Laura Stein, LCSW, and Jane Slevin, LMFT, who have led our Bereavement Support Groups, this six-week program will provide a safe and confidential space for working through the difficulties of Living with Care in a mutually supportive environment.
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Anti-Semitism on College Campuses: A Panel and Informal Gathering
Wednesday, January 8, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm (at WRT)
Please join Rabbi Blake for a panel discussion with current WRT college students about anti-Semitism on college campuses. We will learn how students have handled anti-Semitic incidents and engage in an honest conversation about the safety and comfort of Jewish students on a number of college campuses. The event will conclude with a community dessert.
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The Text and Context of Israel’s Declaration of Independence
Thursday, January 9, 16, 23 & 30, 10:15 am - 11:45 am (on Zoom)
In May of 1948, a foundational text was added to the chain that links the Jewish people across time and space: the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel.
Over four sessions on consecutive Thursday mornings in January 2025 (9, 16, 23, 30 from 10:15 am - 11:45 am), we will study the Declaration and seek to put the text in multiple contexts: historical, political, literary, spiritual, and social. We plan to address questions that include:
- Who was involved in crafting the Declaration of Israel’s Independence?
- What makes the Declaration a Jewish text?
- How does a document composed in 1948 inform our understanding of Israel in 2025?
- Why has the Declaration become an increasingly significant document during the last few years?
Our guides for this study will be two outstanding educators: Rabbi Jan D. Katzew, Ph.D., Professor (retired) of Education and Hebrew Union College (and Rabbi Blake's mentor and study partner), and WRT's own Noam Vinokor-Meinrath who is a full time educator in the Jewish Learning Lab and will bring his own experience as an Israeli to our study.
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Winter Film Series: Israeli Film Festival at WRT
Israel has had a significant cultural impact with many celebrated films over the years.
Please join the FreeBirds to view three landmark Israeli movies, presented in conversation with Rabbi Blake.
Bring a friend and we’ll bring the movie, snacks, and beverages. All programs begin at 2:00 pm at WRT. Although there is no charge for these events, you must register separately for each film you plan to attend.
Any questions? Contact Lori.gertzog@gmail.com
Film #1: Sallah Shabati (1964)
Sunday, January 12 at 2:00 pm (at WRT)
This famed Israeli comedy satirizes the chaotic effect of immigration and resettlement on Israeli society, highlighting the travails of Mizrachi (Middle Eastern) Jews in the nascent Jewish State. It also introduced audiences to Topol, who went on to international recognition for his portrayal of Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof (1971).
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Film #2: Waltz With Bashir (2008)
Sunday, January 26 at 2:00 pm (at WRT)
This harrowing adult animated war docudrama film depicts director Ari Folman’s search for lost memories of his experience as a soldier during Israel’s 1982 Lebanon War and the Sabra & Shatila massacre. It was critically acclaimed for its portrayal of PTSD in the psyche of Israelis who experienced this traumatic war, as well as its revolutionary combination of documentary footage and animation.
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Special MLK Shabbat Service
Friday, January 17 at 6:15 pm (at WRT)
Join us for a Shabbat service honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This service will feature a sermon-in-song by our pianist and conductor, Pete Malinverni, who will share excerpts of his recently debuted and acclaimed song cycle, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” highlighting the poetry of American civil rights activist James Weldon Johnson.
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Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Legacy through Social Action, Interfaith Service, and Music
Monday, January 20, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm (at WRT)
Scarsdale/Hartsdale Interfaith Committee
Hosted by Westchester Reform Temple
4:00 – 5:00 pm: Social Action Projects Assemble: To Go Sandwich Bags for HOPE Community Services, Snack Bags for Mt. Vernon Rec Department After School Program, Baby Hygiene Kits for Sharing Shelf.
5:00 – 6:00 pm: Interfaith Service, led by clergy of local congregations. Featuring "Lift Every Voice and Sing," a song cycle of the poetry of James Weldon Johnson. Composed by WRT pianist and conductor Pete Malinverni and featuring soprano Lydia Brown.
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Climate Campaign Teach In with RAC-NY and Dayenu
Tuesday, January 21, 7:00 – 8:30 pm (on Zoom)
Sign up to learn about RAC-NY and Dayenu’s coordinated Fund Climate Campaign for 2025. This campaign is about ensuring New York state spends money effectively and where it matters: increasing affordability, decreasing pollution, and prioritizing New Yorkers that have suffered the most from pollution, disinvestment, and the burdens of burning fossil fuels. Through the teach-in you will learn about the campaign and how you can take part. Sign up here.
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Making kalaniyot, the national flower of Israel for a special October 7th Memorial
Sunday, January 26, from 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm (at WRT)
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Save the Date! First Annual WRT Flea
Sunday, February 9, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
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Inspired Giving
It is only through the generosity of our members that we are able to fully carry out our mission, attract and retain world-class staff, uphold the highest standards of learning and worship and offer engaging and innovative ways to experience Jewish Life. We hope you will consider making a gift to WRT's Inspired Giving Annual Fund.
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Visit the Early Childhood Center (ECC) | |  | |
Visit the Jewish Learning Lab (JLL) | | | |
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For WRT members: If you would like to receive notifications of birth announcements and deaths within the WRT community, please email receptionist@wrtemple.org 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.
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