Upcoming Events

Saturday, January 7th, 9:30am-Noon. She'arim Shabbat. Join us for She'arim Shabbat where we incorporate our She'arim students into the wider community, share some age-appropriate learning and experience a multi-generational service. This year, we'll be starting our morning together with...food! What better reason to show up on time, than the threat of missing out on mini bagels or, worse, coffee!  After a short time of noshing and schmoozing, the kids will go directly into their classrooms for 45 minutes of learning with their teachers, while the adults have 45 minutes of related learning and discussion with Reb Ezra.  Then, we'll come together as a community for prayers and a short Torah service, followed by a meaningful conversation incorporating our youngest - and oldest - members.  We'll end with a potluck oneg, so please bring a vegetarian dish to share. 
 
Saturday, January 7th, 7:30pm – 9:30pm. Martin Luther King Havdallah.  In honor of Martin Luther King's Birthday, please join us for our second installment of our Judaism and Social Justice series, "Speaking with the Orthodox Anarchist -- Daniel Sieradski." Mishkan Ha'am proudly welcomes Daniel J. Sieradski, one of the leading voices of young Jewish activism in the new generation.  Sieradski firmly believes and advocates the ancient prophetic tradition of the Torah that we have a deep shared responsibility to take care of our fellow human - all humans.  As a blogger and a digital maven, Daniel has positioned himself to reach thousands of people through social networks.  He is the force behind Occupy Judaism.
http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/new_york/occupy_figurehead_inside_outside.
He was recognized by the "Jewish Week's 36 under 36 Jews to watch, and was also one of the Forward 50,
http://werepair.org/blog/forward-50-daniel-sieradski/3857.
Not afraid of controversy, Sieradski is never shy to speak his mind on all topics relating to the way society ought to run to protect its
most vulnerable.  Come hear him share his story and talk about the state of affairs in Jewish activism today.

Sunday, January 8th, 11:30-2pm.  Serving at the Sharing Community. We are continuing our monthly commitment to serve lunch at the Yonkers Sharing Community, a homeless shelter and soup kitchen. On the second Sunday of each month, 4 MH volunteers (any combination of teens and adults as long as one adult is present) serve lunch to up to 200 hungry people. If you are an individual, or group of 2, 3 or 4 and are interested in participating, contact Joyce Bluestone at joyceblue@optonline.net.

Sunday, January 8th, 7:30-9pm. Israel Book Discussion Group.  Our group will be a safe space for folks to discuss Israel (politics, culture...) without judgment and without fear of recrimination.  We will be using books (both fiction and non-fiction), articles, movies, etc. as our jumping off points.  We invite you to join us.  Our first book will be the novel by David Grossman, "The End of the Land." Please join us at Sue Rudavsky's home for a dynamic, interesting and thought-provoking experience! Email Sue for directions atsrudavsky@aol.com. For more information, email Dave at dsaphra@gmail.com.

Monday, January 9th.  7:45-9:30pm. Steering Committee Meeting. Everyone is welcome, whether you come regularly, or would like to come once to see what it is. We discuss upcoming programs and any current issues or inspirations at MH. Location: Rosa's house, in Yonkers. If you need directions, email her at rleadersmi@aol.com.
 
Friday, January 20, 7:30pm-9:30pm, Kabbalat Shabbat Service. Join Reb Ezra and your friends at Mishkan Ha’am as we welcome Shabbat as a community. The service will take place in the Fraser Room upstairs at the church.

Saturday, January 21, 5:30pm-9:00pm, New Member Dinner. Don’t miss this opportunity to make new friends within the congregation. Established members will host a new member family for dinner, and then the entire congregation will gather at the church at 7:30pm for a big, potluck dessert, havdallah, and family-friendly getting-to-know-you activity. We have 10 new member families this year, so if you're a veteran member who can host, we need you! Be part of one of the warmest events on the MH calendar. Please contact Tobie at tobiestan@aol.com for more information.

And Save the Dates:
Saturday, February 4, 3:00pm-5:00pm, Bat Mitzvah of Nina Bernstein. All members and friends from MH are invited to celebrate with the Bernstein family the joyous occasion of Nina Bernstein becoming a bat mitzvah at Shabbat Minchah services this afternoon. The service will be held at the River View at 1 Warburton Avenue in Hastings-on-Hudson. Mazel Tov to Nina and her family! Directions to the site are as follows:  At the traffic light at the bottom of Main Street in Hastings, make a left onto Warburton Ave. Follow Warburton Ave. south for 1 mile. The River View is on the right.  Parking is directly across the street.

Saturday, February 11, 12:30pm-2:00pm, Teen Tikkun Olam Project: Cooking for The Sharing Community. This is a chance for the teens of Mishkan Ha'am to come together with Reb Ezra and cook 200 meals that will be served the next day at the soup kitchen at The Sharing Community in Yonkers. Cooking will take place in the downstairs kitchen at the church. Please contact Jodi at purplejod@aol.com to let her know you're going to join us, so she can let you know what each person should bring. All teens and their parents are encouraged to participate.
Attention Hastings Members:
We are looking for folks to have Reb Ezra, Olivia and Baby Benjamin over for a Shabbat meal. This is a great way to get to know our rabbi and his family. You don't have to serve Kosher food, just vegetarian or fish dishes (no shellfish, please!). You also do not need to serve Kosher wine with dinner. (During the winter we are only asking Hastings families to participate, as Reb Ezra and Olivia wish to stay within walking distance of the church.)
Here's the link to the sign-up: 
http://doodle.com/gpdrvdmg2nt4hcq3
Other Cultural Events of Interest:

Westchester Jewish Council 36th Anniversary Gala.  Saturday, February 11th, 7:15 Cocktails and buffet.  8:30 program and entertainment.  Join over 400 people for the Westchester Jewish Council annual fundraiser.  Friends, food, drink and the music of "The New Relics" and the comedy of "Chicago City Limits" await!  Dessert reception following the performance. Raffles and silent auction.  175 Rockland Avenue, Mamaroneck. For more information call (914) 328-7001.

Westchester Adult Jewish Education (WAJE) offers the following classes in January:  Women in the Torah: The Women of Exodus and Numbers. Five Sessions on Thursday mornings (10:00am-12:15pm) beginning 1/5.  Instructor: Rabbi Molly Karp.  cost: $150. And Biblical Hebrew. In 15 Sessions, this course will provide an introduction to biblical Hebrew for students with basic Hebrew reading skills.   Monday mornings 11am-12:30pm beginning 1/9.  Instructor: Rabbi Molly Karp. cost $325. For more information or to register, call WAJE Director Nina Luban at (914) 328-7001
Check out a new Reconstructionist publication.  Click here: New Guide to Jewish Practice
 
A Bissel of Yiddish.  Read, schmooze, learn, and sing a bissel Yiddish at this 10-session course offered at the JCC on the Hudson.  Classes meet for 90 minutes per session.  For more information, contact Lois Green at (914) 366-7898.

Do You Have a Laptop That is No Longer Used?  Hebrew School Needs It!
Mishkan Ha'am's She'arim/Gateways Hebrew School is looking for donations of laptops with working wifi capabilities.  Our classrooms now have wireless access and we would like to develop 
21st century lessons and activities.  Mishkan Ha'am will provide a thank-you letter for your donation 
for tax purposes.Please note the following requirements:
~ laptop (mac or pc)
~ wirelesscapability
~ power cord
~ all documents removed/erased from hard-drive
Please email mishkanhaam.shearim@gmail.com if you think you have a potential laptop to donate.
Leslie Lieman or Reb Ezra will contact you about the specifications and when/where to drop-off.
Thanks in advance for your generous contribution to Hebrew School.
Other Upcoming Events


Serve at the Sharing Community (map) Sundays, 11:30-2pm.  This is part of our congregation's monthly commitment to serve lunch at the Yonkers Sharing Community, a homeless shelter and soup kitchen.  On the second Sunday of each month, 4 MH volunteers (any combination of teens and adults as long as one adult is present) serve lunch to up to 200 hungry people.  This is a gratifying opportunity for all.  If you are an individual, or group of 2, 3, or 4 and are interested in participating, contact Joyce Bluestone at joyceblue@optonline.net

EXTENDED COMMUNITY EVENTS

Tuesdays 7:30-9pm, Israeli Folk Dancing.  Israeli Dancing Lessons with Gabi Gabay, featuring the Manhattan Ballroom Dancers at the Riverdale Temple.  No experience required.  $10 per session, pay at the door.  All are welcome. Riverdale Temple, 4545 Independence Avenue, Riverdale, NY 10471.  718-548-3800 ext. 1 or call Gabi Gabay 917-559-7779

She'arim/ Gateways is MH's innovative approach to Jewish education and community.  
Supporting our families' desires to raise children with a deep appreciation,
 understanding and excitement for Jewish life and culture, we believe each person
 approaches Judaism from his or her own she'arim or gateway.  
For more information, contact Education Director, Reb Ezra at rebezramh@gmail.com.

 
CALLING ALL TECHNOCRATS:
 
Start saving your used printer cartridges and cell phones for a Mishkan recycling program that will give us a few extra dollars for programming!  Collect from your friends and relatives too!  There will be a box set up at the church, or you can contact Lois Heitner at loyoga49@gmail.com