Community Connection 
the  bi-weekly enewsletter of the Westchester Jewish Council
 
March 23, 2017 / 25 Adar  5777  
Dear 
,

Westchester is not only a great place to live it is also a great place to work. We'd like to direct your attention to our expanded job listing section  below. There are numerous open positions in the Westchester Jewish community. Take a look and pass along to anyone you may know who may be interested. 

Helping to secure the Jewish community remains a priority for the Westchester Jewish Council. Ongoing meetings have taken place and will continue to take place with our local elected and law enforcement officials to ensure that the proper resources and communication exists to our 160 member organizations. Thank you to our Security Committee, chaired by Harry Mamaysky and Elizabeth Lampert, for providing consultation, education and resources to help ensure our community's safety. If you have any security related questions, feel free to contact safety@wjcouncil.org.

Last week we celebrated one of our favorite events - The Julian Y. Bernstein Distinguished Awards (DSA) ceremony.  This celebration recognized nineteen outstanding members of our community who give of their time and talent in so many ways. Learn more about our honorees and all they do to make the world a better place by reading their bios in the DSA program.  Click here to view photos from the evening. 

Thank you to Temple Israel Center of White Plains for hosting the event and to our wonderful DSA committee chaired by Betsy Bernstein and Carolyn Schrier. The entire committee works tirelessly to make this a very special evening for all as evidenced by this lovely note from one of our member organizations. We were also delighted to recognize UJA-Federation of New York on its Centennial Anniversary.  A special thank you to Eric S. Goldstein, CEO, UJA-Federation of NY for joining us and sharing his remarks.

With DSA behind us, we look forward to several upcoming community events. Next Friday, March 31 we welcome District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino Jr. as the keynote speaker at the Annual Westchester Legislative Breakfast  hosted by the Council and UJA-Federation.  

Finally, thank you to all the leaders that have attended our recent Roundtables.  Roundtables, a signature offering of the Westchester Jewish Council, (some produced in partnership with the Jewish Education Project, the JCRC of NY, and Synergy of UJA-Federation) help to build ties among our member organizations and provide an open forum for the sharing of best practices.  The month of March features Roundtables for Synagogue Presidents, Synagogue Youth Chairpeople, Security Chairpeople, Synagogue Executive Directors and Synagogue Youth Professionals. For more information on roundtables, contact our offices.  


Warm regards, 

Paul Warhit, President
Elliot Forchheimer, Executive Director
Lisa Itzkowitz, Marketing Director
Westchester Jewish Council  

P.S. Our community calendar is filled with a multitude of wonderful events including lectures, concerts, films and more. Take a look and mark your calendar.  All events are open to you!
 Please support the work of the Westchester Jewish Council. 
Click here to donate
WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL EVENTS

Next Week. Registration Now Open. Space is limited.
Annual Westchester Legislative Breakfast
Friday, March 31, 2017, 7:45 - 9:15am
JCC of Harrison
 
Special guest speaker: The new Westchester District Attorney Anthony Scarpino will address the Jewish community for the first time.  Free and open to all.
 Registration required. Click here

Hosted by UJA-Federation of New York and the Westchester Jewish Council
_________________________________________________

Westchester's Annual County-wide
Yom HaShoah Commemoration 

Monday, April 24, 2017, 12:00 -1:00pm
Garden of Remembrance, White Plains

Produced by the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center and the Westchester Jewish Council.  Once again this year, the event will include the presentation and honoring of Westchester's Torah's rescued from the Holocaust.
_________________________________________________


Updated as of 3_20_17 Save the Date!
Israel@69
Monday, May 1, 2017, 7:00-9:00pm
7:00 - 7:30pm: Yom Hazikaron Memorial Ceremony
7:30-9:00pm: Yom Ha'atzmaut Israel Independence Day Celebrations
JCC of Mid-Westchester

Join us for an evening honoring and celebrating Israel, including music by Israeli band "Capaim", an Israeli "shuk" (food market), arts & crafts for kids, Israeli dancing for all, "The Voice" teen competition and more.  Free and open to all, but RSVP required

Co-sponsors: Westchester Jewish Council, JCC of Mid-Westchester, The Jewish Education Project, UJA-Federation of NY, AJC Westchester/Fairfield, Beth El Synagogue Center, Camp Zeke, FIDF, Greenburgh Hebrew Center, Hillels of Westchester, Jewish Community Center of Harrison, JNF and Stand With Us (list in formation)
_________________________________________________

Westchester's Jewish History and Heritage Month Celebration 

Monday, May 8, 2017, 6:00pm
Michaelian Office Building, 148 Martine Avenue,
8th Floor, White Plains  

We are delighted to honor Martine Fleishman, Frank Hassid, and Donald Fleishaker at this annual celebration, as we celebrate UJA-Federation on its 100th anniversary. 
IN THE COMMUNITY 
The Unity Torah Dedication and Celebration

Sunday, March 26, 10:30am
Dobbs Ferry High School, 505 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry

Chabad of the Rivertowns will welcome the Unity Torah to the Rivertowns with a ceremony, concert and parade featuring renowned acapella group, The Maccabeats, followed by a grand Torah parade from Dobbs Ferry HS to Chabad of the Rivertowns where the Torah will be installed with dancing, lite food and autographs by The Maccabeats. Free but r egistration is required

___________________________________________________

Women of Faith Breakfast

Wednesday, March 29, 8:00am
Westchester Board of Elections Building
25 Quarropos Street, 2nd Floor, White Plains 

In honor of Women's History Month, all are invited to join in this celebratory program. Free and open to all. Please RSVP to Suzanne DiPillo.
___________________________________________________

Passover Cooking Party for Interfaith Families

Sunday, April 2, 2017, 10:30am -12:30pm
Kiwi Country Kitchen
825 Union Valley Road, Carmel

Meet and socialize with other interfaith families as you prepare Passover goodies, create you own unique Seder and enjoy a fun crafting project. $45/families of 3 or more, $30/adult couple.  Details.  Registration

___________________________________________________

3rd Annual Fathering Conference
Ready to Work: Navigating Home, Job and Community

Tuesday, April 4, 2017, 7:30am -4:30pm
Westchester County Center, White Plains

This program features renowned speakers, dynamic workshops and networking sessions designed to help dads succeed as fathers, employees and good neighbors. Keynote speaker: Mike Brady, President and CEO of Greyston Bakery.  $45/person. Details and registration.
___________________________________________________

Seeking Common Ground:
Communicating in Times of Division

Tuesday, April 4, 2017, 7:30pm
Iona College, New Rochelle

Featuring a discussion with Rabbi Haskel Lookstein, Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun in NYC, and Father Wil Tyrrell, Director of the Duchesne Center for Religion and Social Justice at Manhattanville College. Free and open to the public, but registration is required. Details and registration.

Co-sponsored by AJC Westchester/Fairfield and The Driscoll Professorship in Jewish-Catholic Studies at Iona College.  
___________________________________________________



PASSOVER 2017
Passover 2017

There are a number of Seders open to all members of the community, including a creative Human Rights Seder. Click   here for details.    (Note: This list includes only those Seders submitted to WJCouncil as of March 20th.)
ISRAEL IN WESTCHESTER - OSHRA ROSENBERG, COMMUNITY 
SHLICHA
 A Note From Oshra....

Shalom Westchester Community,

In the past two weeks I celebrated my first Purim in the States and it was an absolutely awesome experience. I celebrated at two Purim Carnivals, heard two different styles of reading 'Megilat Ester' and even participated at a phenomenal Bar Mitzvah. It was so much fun!

Over the past two weeks, we have had a number of wonderful Israel programs take place in our community: 

The JCC of Mid-Westchester in Scarsdale screened the movie "The Prime Ministers- Soldiers and Peacemakers".  The movie that tells.... Read more

_________________________________________________

News from Israel

Click here for highlights of what's been in the news in Israel recently.
_________________________________________________

Summer Programs in Israel

There are several wonderful opportunities for teens to travel to Israel this summer. Click here to learn more about Roots Israel, Chetz V'Keshet and Israel Brushstrokes. 
_________________________________________________

Follow Oshra on Facebook and see how she is bringing Israel to Westches ter!  
                        
WESTCHESTER JEWISH COUNCIL ROUNDTABLES
Community Roundtables are a signature initiative of the Council bringing together Jewish communal professionals, volunteer leadership and clergy for the sharing of best practices, education and community building.  We thank all participants for giving of their time to strengthen our community by taking part in Roundtables.


Presented in association with the Jewish Education Project
Thursday, March 30, 2017,  12:00-1:30pm
Jewish Education Project /Westchester Jewish Council White Plains Office 
701 Westchester Avenue, Suite 203E, White Plains

Synagogue Executive Directors Roundtable
Thursday, April 27, 2017, 9:15am
Temple Israel Center of Northern Westchester 

Security Roundtable
Tuesday, May 9, 2017, 7:30pm
Location TBD

Synagogue Presidents +1 Roundtable
Presented in association with Synergy/UJA-Federation
Wednesday May 10, 2017, 7:15pm
Location TBD

 
Interfaith/Intergroup Roundtable
Coming later spring!  Details TBD


....On the way a new Cemetery committee Roundtable co-facililtated by CAJAC. Stay tuned.

Email  Westchester Jewish Council  for more information on our roundtables
2017-2018 CONNECTORY 


Westchester Jewish Council 2017-2018 Connectory

Our new 2017-2018 "Connect - ory" is now available! This vital resource provides quick access to contact information for over 150 Jewish organizations and synagogues in Westchester, elected officials and key business partners serving our community.  Available digitally and in hard copy.  
TEEN SCENE

Mosaic Storytelling Project

Monday, March 27
6:00pm (Pizza), 6:30 (Program)
Temple Shaaray Tefila, Mt. Kisco

Come meet Alyx who identifies as LGBTQ. She will be sharing her personal story and will lead a fun interactive activity.  Free.  Details and RSVP. 

Westchester Jewish Council Teen Member Organizations 
UJA-FEDERATION OF NEW YORK IN WESTCHESTER
Share your Jewish New York Story!
What makes you a proud Jewish New Yorker?
 
At UJA, we're celebrating our centennial by telling our stories. We've seen over the past 100 years that we're all connected - all part of the vibrant energy of Jewish New York.
 
Your story is our story. So, click here  and share your story - along with a photo - today!
_____________________________________________

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
We are delighted to present an expanded Job Board this week. There are myriad wonderful opportunities at a number of our member organizations. Take a look and please share with others who may be looking for new, meaningful work in our community. 

General Counselors. Details / Activity Specialists. Details

Camp Zeke seeks
Counselors. Details 

Carmel Academy has a number of open teaching positions. 

DOROT seeks
Senior Program Officer Supportive Services, Details  
Senior Program Officer, Community Based Programs, Details

Hazon seeks
Associate Director, Foundation Fundraising. Details
Outreach Associate. Details

Solomon Schechter School of Westchester has a number of open teacher and administrative positions. Details

Director of Youth Engagement.   Details

Development Executive. Details

Director of Teen Engagement. Details


Please submit your job postings to Lisa Itzkowitz by Monday, April 3  
ON A PERSONAL NOTE
Mazal Tov

to Cindy and Ben Golub and Lois Kohn-Claar and Gary Claar, tonight's  UJA-Federation of New York Westchester Centennial Celebration honorees. 

to Donna (Westchester Jewish Council Program Director) and Abe Bartell, and to Sam (Beth El Synagogue President) and Tris Berger on  being honored at the Beth El Synagogue Center Gala this past weekend.  

to Susan Lurie (Westchester Jewish Center Executive Director) and Randi Klaber on being honored at the Westchester Jewish Center Gala this past weekend. 

to local Jewish teen advocates Karen Bender (Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester) and Aliza Waxman (Temple Israel Center of White Plains)  on receiving the Sulam Yaakov 2017 Jewish Commitment Award. 

Condolences

to Erica Leventhal (Westchester Jewish Council board member and Executive Director, Beth El Synagogue Center) and family on the passing of her grandmother Lila Langer z"l.

to Elena Procario Foley, Professor of Jewish-Catholic Studies at Iona College and family on the passing of her father, Saverio R. Procario z"l.

A LOOK BACK
Friends of the FIDF Concert
 
On Thursday, March 16th, Friends of the IDF together with over 30 other Westchester Jewish organizations sponsored a concert by the IDF Band. Over 200 supporters came together for a night filled with singing and dancing, and heard the stories of three IDF soldiers. 


Celebrating Judge Sam Fredman

The Executive Committee of the Westchester Jewish Council had the honor of helping Sam Fredman, one of the Council's founders, celebrate his 93rd birthday!





Purim Comedy Night at Temple Sholom

On Saturday, March 12, Temple Sholom held a special Comedy Night in celebration of Purim. The sold-out event attracted 180 guests and featured headliner Josh Gondelman, writer for HBO's Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.

WESTCHESTER ADULT JEWISH EDUCATION (WAJE) COOPERATIVE
Westchester Adult Jewish Education Cooperative 

   The WAJE Cooperative promotes adult education classes from Westchester Jewish Council member organizations   in an effort to bring more offerings to a greater number of Westchester lifelong learners. Click  here to view a printable listing of courses. Check back often as this list will be updated as new courses are made available by our member organizations.

Questions? Please contact Lisa Itzkowitz, 914-328-7001

NOTABLE NEWS BITS
With C.I.A. Hacking Revelations, How to Protect Your Devices
Want to protect against surveillance through your iPhones, Android
devices, Wi-Fi routers and Samsung televisions? Update, update, update.

(from the New York Times, March 8, 2017)

WikiLeaks this week published a trove of documents that appears to detail how the Central Intelligence Agency successfully hacked ... Read more

__________________________________________________
Did You Know.......

For 125 years, Hebrew Free Loan Society (HFLS) - a non-profit, member of the Westchester Jewish Council and UJA-Federation network agency - has been providing interest-free loans for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers in need. All loans have no interest, no fees, and reasonable repayment terms.   Visit the HFLS website learn about loan programs and eligibility, or contact HFLS at (212) 687-0188 or info@HFLS.org
LET'S DO BUSINESS
Please visit our business supporters who support our Jewish community

A supportive and dynamic environment in which Jewish youth can explore, grow, and mature with programming which aims to strengthen Jewish identity, foster a connection to Israel, and more. 

Offering private tutor quality and results at a fraction of the cost. SAT, PSAT, ACT, SAT Subject Tests, AP Reviews, Regents prep and college admissions programs are designed to help high school students reach their greatest academic potential. 

Featuring great kosher comfort food, smoked delicacies, and bistro fare, prepared and presented beautifully, tastefully, and in an incredibly upscale (yet comfortable) setting. 

Training everyone from exercise novices to athletes, preteens to seniors. A friendly, inviting facility combines Personal Training, Small Group Training and Nutrition Counseling to help transform goals into reality.

A weekly  newspaper  serving the  Jewish  community of the metropolitan New York City area.  "From midtown to the Mideast, we cover your world."

Providing Jewish organizations with a fully integrated suite of website design and relationship management tools, creating strong and prosperous online homes for communities around the world.
QUICK LINKS
 
JBS can be seen live 24/7 on Cablevision (channel 138), ROKU and on www.jbstv.org
 


CONNECT WITH US
Like us on Facebook      Follow us on Twitter          

For information regarding submissions, please contact Lisa Itzkowitz.  
The next Community Connection will be published on April 6, 2017
T he Westchester Jewish Council connects Westchester's Jewish communities and strengthens relationships among Jewish organizations and other ethnic and faith-based groups, elected officials, Israel and the community at large. 
Westchester Jewish Council
701 Westchester Avenue, White Plains, NY  10604
914.328.7001  / 914.761.6309

UJA Beneficiary NEW logo