The Westchester Jewish Council's
Community Connection
Your almost weekly e-newsletter
July 23, 2020 2 Av 5780
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Hello!
“Give me your tired, your poor, / Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,”
Emma Lazarus’s sonnet “The New Colossus.”
Happy birthday (July 22nd) to Jewish poet Emma Lazarus. Her poem which lies in the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty and was meant to promote the belief that America means opportunity and freedom for Jews, as well as for other “huddled masses”, should remind us what our country represents even during these difficult times.
Also, on this date in 1904, the i
ce cream cone was created during the St Louis World Fair. Hopefully during this heat, you are enjoying a scoop of ice cream in a cone to stay cool. And if not a cone, then a cup...
We have some exciting events coming up including an
afternoon of cooking with Nadav Shachmon
, our community shaliach, this
Tuesday, July 28th at noon
. He will share some delicious family recipes along with interesting stories about them.
We are also hosting a webinar on policing and public interactions during protests with
New York State Attorney General Letitia James
on
Tuesday, August 4th
. Further details on both events can be found below. The Council is honored to convene both events!
Please continue to check the
Council calendar
for events which we update on a daily basis (and if you are an organization, please feel free to post your events that are open and appropriate for our community).
Have a cool and healthy weekend.
Shabbat Shalom.
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Sincerely,
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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WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL UPCOMING EVENTS
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Register in advance for this meeting:
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SAVE THE DATE!
Tuesday, August 4th from 12:30-2:15pm
The Westchester Jewish Council invites you to join a briefing with
New York Attorney General Letitia James
Please register in advance for this webinar:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
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PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS YOU CAN ENJOY FROM HOME
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Check out these upcoming events from Pardes (Council member)
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On The Eve of Destruction
Make the 9 days of Av more meaningful.
A free evening of learning with Dr. David I. Bernstein, Dean of Pardes.
10:00 AM EST
July 26th, Sunday
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The Future of
Jewish
Communal Life
A conversation with:
Rabbi Leon Morris
President, Pardes
Andrés Spokoiny
President, Jewish Funders Network
3:00 PM EST
July 26th, Sunday
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Tisha B’Av 5780
Panel Discussion Features:
Rabba Yaffa Epstein, Rabbi Marc Baker, Alicia Jo Rabins and Rabbi Dr. Jay Michaelson . Moderated by Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield
12:00 PM Eastern USA
Thursday, July 30th
Via Zoom and Facebook Live
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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 Bill Hayes of the Community Security initiative and to the Council for follow up.
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WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL MEMBER ORGANIZATION NEWS
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The
Alexander Muss Institute for Israel Education (AMIIE-JNF)
(Council member) is excited to announce the launch of its inaugural gap semester program: Frontier Israel. Created for rising freshmen and sophomores attending US academic institutions, Frontier Israel is designed to provide a real life, modern day pioneering experience. The core of the program will be Frontiers, meaningful volunteer work in three enriching regions of Israel (Negev, Galilee, and Center). The Frontiers will provide students with a robust service learning and volunteering experience, while at the same time allowing students to forge significant relationships with the people and communities in which they are embedded. Participants will volunteer at a JNF-USA affiliate in the mornings, followed by studies and social activities in the afternoons and evenings. The second pillar upon which Frontier Israel is built will be Seminars, a series of educational explorations designed to broaden horizons and build a student’s portfolio of experiences. Seminars will include learning retreats to enable students to explore Israel in greater depth through hiking, educational trips, and guest lectures. The seminars will also act as bridges between each Frontier, allowing students to both process their experiences and prepare for the next Frontier. Through the Seminars, students will gain a better understanding of modern Israel, develop advanced leadership skills, and be exposed to some of the Jewish world’s leading thinkers and influencers.
To learn more, please click
here
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WESTCHESTER COUNTY GOVERNMENT NEWS
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The following is the mid-year report from Chairman Ben Boykin:
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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The first half of 2020 has been one of the most challenging periods in Westchester’s history. The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply affected every person, business and institution in our County.
Hundreds of lives have been lost. Many residents have lost jobs or have made personal sacrifices as essential workers. Students and teachers had to reimagine the learning process. Businesses have had to scramble to stay afloat. And we've all had to forgo the traditional ceremonies marking the milestones in our lives that give us strength and unity.
Through it all, the Board of Legislators has not stopped working
- to address the pandemic and its fallout,
- to adjust to changing mandates from the State,
- to deal with issues like police reform,
- to ensure that essential services continue to be provided to residents,
- to deal with the budget implications of the pandemic,
- and to plan for an economically and environmentally sustainable County by investing in our roads, parks, transportation and waste removal infrastructure.
The newly released Chairman’s 2020 Mid-Year Report details the Board’s efforts on these and other issues so far this year.
Please read the report at:
The work of recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic has only begun. In the coming months, we will be dealing with impacts that we know and those that we cannot foresee. But the Board of Legislators will continue be here, sleeves rolled up, masks on, to make sure that the people's work continues to get done.
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Here are some messages from our Census Partnership Specialist regarding the 2020 Census:
- Share 2020 Census messages over social media during Faith Communities Census Weekend of Action (July 24–26, 2020). This weekend is a coordinated opportunity for faith leaders to focus their outreach and support of the 2020 Census to encourage their community to respond.
- Host a virtual event about the 2020 Census. You can invite Census Bureau staff to speak to your congregation at the event. Look for ideas on how to encourage response amid social distancing.
- Share 2020 Census information with other groups your organization is affiliated with, including child care centers, schools, missions, youth and grandparent groups, and other nonprofit organizations.
- Include 2020 Census flyers or promotional items in the food or clothing packets you distribute to those in need.
- Share the inspiring Faith Communities Census Weekend of Action Playlist in our Census YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLewV-zKXDZkjKyAbWaIWwADoNrtv-zGdm
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UJA-FEDERATION OF NEW YORK IN WESTCHESTER
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Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities
Wednesday, July 29, 2020 • 1:30 pm ET on Zoom
The coronavirus pandemic has compelled the Jewish nonprofit sector to change the way we work in order to meet our constituents' needs.
Some have adapted existing programs to new circumstances; others have jumped into entirely new initiatives better suited to the moment while still fulfilling their mission.
Join UJA and UpStart and be inspired
by live case studies directly from the field and to learn an entrepreneurial framework to help you explore how you too can turn challenges into opportunities.
You'll hear from:
1. Sheryl Olitzky, co-founder and executive director, Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom
2. Al Rosenberg, director of strategy & communications, OneTable
3. Andrew Belinfante, director of engagement, JDC Entwine
This program is intended for both Jewish communal professionals and lay leadership in New York.
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UJA Volunteer Opportunities - Help from Home
We created a new way to connect with those in need in our local community through our
Help from Home
initiative. You can also serve our broader community through these
service opportunities
.
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UJA Community Webinars and Events
Join us for free
webinars
(including a warm, pre-Shabbat community gathering every Friday) and
virtual events
, for both personal and professional use.
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WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL ROUNDTABLES (ConnecTables)
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Westchester Jewish Council
Upcoming C
ommunity 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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We will be hosting our roundtables via Zoom until further notice.
Some Upcoming Council Roundtables
:
Synagogue Executive Directors -
weekly
Synagogue Presidents+1
- Wednesday, August 12th
Greening Roundtable
- coming soon
Marketing Roundtable
- coming in the fall
Contact the Council office at (914) 328-7001 or [email protected] for information on these and other Roundtables--a key offering of the Westchester Jewish Council.
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STATEMENTS ON RACIAL JUSTICE
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- Please find an excerpt here from Eric Ward’s presentation on Black Lives Matter to the JCRC professionals. Eric Ward is the Executive Director of the Western States Center, a Senior Fellow with Southern Poverty Law Center and Senior Advisor with Race Forward.
- We have also included a Jewish Council of Public Affairs BLM overview that can be distributed publicly - JCPA document.
- Finally, click here to read a guide from the Israel Action Network to help understand some of the complexities and nuances about the Black Lives Matter movement.
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Jewish Calendar for the New Year
Plaza Jewish Community Chapel
(Council member) is happy to mail one of their lovely Jewish calendars your way. Please send an email by
August
20th
to
[email protected]
, with “Calendar “ in the subject line, and your name and address in the body of the email.
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Areyvut, Inc
. (Council member) shared the following resources with us:
Themes of the Torah
-
http://bit.ly/2Rs1CCt
this is designed to help people have themes to address about the parsha
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Mazal Tov to:
Rabbi David Wilfond, the new Senior Rabbi at Temple Shaaray Tefila
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WESTCHESTER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
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Hadar
seeks a
Director of Communications
for both JJGI and Hadar more broadly. The Director will create and implement a comprehensive communications strategy for the organization. This position will play a key role in positioning Hadar’s materials, classes, podcasts, content, online advertising (including social media), and more in an effort to draw a wider audience and broaden all distribution channels for Hadar, with particular emphasis on JJGI. The communications strategy will aim to distribute all content to the widest and most appropriate audience as efficiently as possible.
Hadar
seeks a
Director of Content
to oversee all content production for JJGI and the Hadar Institute more broadly. The Director will work closely with Hadar faculty, including Rabbi Yitz Greenberg, to conceive, curate and produce the content at the heart of the Institute and Hadar for all platforms, including print, web, video/film, podcasts, and social media. Director of Content will project manage all content from idea to completion, including hiring of external editors and interfacing with external publishers. The Director of Content will supervise Hadar's Content Manager, and work closely with Hadar’s communications and engagement teams.
The
Children and Families Program Manager
will be responsible for overseeing all children and families programs-- working with Hadar Faculty and our program team to set the program calendar, manage program execution, and support faculty in curriculum development and implementation. The Children and Families Program Manager will also serve as an educator, and hold a portfolio of their own teaching.
Hadar
is also seeking a skilled Bookkeeper to maintain our financial records, including donations, purchases, receipts and payments. Bookkeeper job duties include working closely with our management team to create and analyze financial reports and ensure legal requirements compliance, process accounts payable and receivable and manage invoices. Our ideal candidate holds a Finance degree and is familiar with accounting software.
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JCC MidWestchester
is looking for a Director of Facilities. This position supervises the daily maintenance of the 75,000 square foot building and its grounds. This role supervises Maintenance and Housekeeping staff, technology, and relevant outside consultants and service providers and the trades such as security, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and construction. For more information, please click
here
.
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The New York Mentorship Collective’s
(
www.nymentorshipcollective.org
)
mission is to mentor young adults (ages 18-25) whose innate leadership skills are exceptional and who have a demonstrated interest in social change, but who have barriers to success and lack the role models, guidance and opportunities needed to achieve their full potential as leaders for social change.
Right now, we are looking to hire a Mentorship Director (MD), who would work closely with the Board, the mentees, as well as connect with the community stakeholders who would help the mentees grow, develop and unlock their potential as leaders and agents of change.
The Mentorship Director must meet the following criteria:
·
Strong interpersonal/communication skills and community relationship builder
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Experience working with young adults in a coaching capacity, preferred experience with interviewing, training and assessment skills
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Resourceful self starter who can juggle competing priorities and responsibilities
For further details about this position, please click
here
.
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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
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Westchester Jewish Council
925 Westchester Avenue, Suite 200
White Plains, NY 10604
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The next Community Connection will be published on or about August 7, 2020
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