Message from President Tobie Reisler
Mishkan Ha'am November News January, 2008
Subject - January: A very busy month!
Hello, Mishkan Ha'am family and friends.
I hope you had a relaxing break and are ready for a busy January. Ian Weinstein, our program committee chair, has delivered a program with lots for everyone. Before I elaborate, however, here's an update of some very important projects.
Gala Update--Don't forget--it's Sunday, March 9th, 1-5 pm.
Expect invitations soon to our 10th-Anniversary blowout, to be held at The Riverview in Hastings. Get your dancing shoes ready, and invite your family and friends. We'll be eating, drinking, telling jokes and stories, dancing to our own Yiddish Groove Machine, and connecting with old and new M-H friends, including most of our former rabbinic leaders.
Sharon Kivowitz and Jen Ruoff are making great progress planning this fabulous event, but they're still depending on energetic volunteers, particularly to sell ads for our journal and to procure goods and services for our silent auction. (OK, you don't have to be energetic, just willing!)
If you can spare just a couple hours of your time to help, you can make a big contribution toward the success of our fundraising. E-mail Sharon (skivowitz@optonline.net ) and/or Jen ( jruoff@optonline.net) with the names of establishments that you frequent (beauty salons, restaurants, stores, service providers, yoga studios, etc.) that might be willing to buy an ad for the journal or donate an auction item. They'd like these names in advance to ensure that you and other volunteers solicit each service or store just once.
The services/goods that others or you yourself could donate to the silent auction include: · Artwork, books, DVDs, CDs, clothes; · Lessons(yoga, pilates, music, cooking, art, swimming, tennis, singing, computer, etc.) · Theater/Sports/Concert Tickets · Vacation homes · Memberships, passes and tours (Met, MOMA, Natural History, Botanical Gardens, Bronx Zoo, etc.) · Consultations (architectural, financial, fitness, computer, etc.) · Spa Treatments · Services (house cleaning, pet sitting/walking, garden/plant care) · Special Events
We will need to sell all ads by February 9, so Sharon and Jen need your ideas and contributions as soon as possible!
Keepsake Journal: Express Yourself!
What has Mishkan Ha'am meant to you? Let the world know by creating your family's own journal page. Our keepsake journal, to be given to Gala attendees, will be filled with our memories, heartfelt (or funny) stories, artwork, songs, poetry, tributes or anything else you would like to contribute. Your entry should fit on a sheet of 8 ½ x 11 paper. You may submit as many entries/pages as you like. Submit your entry to Sharon Kivowitz via e-mail at skivowitz@optonline.net or snail mail to 35 Hamilton Avenue, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, by NO LATER THAN February 9, 2008.
"But what's happening in January?"
Funny you should ask.
Wednesday, January 9th, 4-6 pm: Hebrew School resumes, including Kita Aleph.
THURSDAY, January 10th, Steering Committee meeting, 7:30 pm at the Horniks' in Yonkers. E-mail Laurie at lhornik@optonline.net for directions.
Weekend of January 11th and 12th:
Adult Shabbat service, Friday, 8 pm, led by Rabbinic Leader Benjamin Weiner.
Tu B'Shevat family seder, Saturday, 10 am. All ages welcome. Join Mishkan Ha'am to celebrate the Jewish version of Arbor Day. Monica Rickenberg, who organized last year's very successful Tu B'Shevat seder, will be doing this same this year. E-mail her at monicaian@aol.com if you can help set up and clean up. (Here's the Wikipedia explanation of the holiday: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tu_Bishvat ).
Thursday, January 24th: Adult Study Group, 7:30 pm at the home of Lois and Howard Heitner. Topic: Readings from "The Empty Chair." Says Lenny Meyerson, a member of the group: " 'The Empty Chair' is a collection of the teachings of Rabbi Nachman, the early 19th century Hasidic master, that speaks to us about finding 'hope and joy.' Because we had so much fun and satisfaction from our first study of this book, we decided to have a second go at it." (Lenny says the book is listed on Amazon and a used copy can be purchased for about $4.00 plus $3.99 for postage.) E-mail Lois at loyoga@verizon.net for directions.
Weekend of January 25, 26, and 27:
Adult Shabbat service, Friday, 8 pm. led by Rabbinic Leader Benjamin Weiner. Discussion topic following: Economic Justice in Israel, led by Ben.
Family Shabbat service and tsedakah project, Saturday, 10 am. Services led by Rabbinic Leader Benjamin Weiner. All ages welcome. Following the service, we'll head downstairs to the church kitchen to prepare food for the homeless, in connection with the not-for-profit Sharing Community. If you'd like to donate funds for food or help in the preparation and/or clean-up, contact Harriet Stein at hpstein1@aol.com.
Torah Study, Saturday, 12:30 pm, Led by Rabbinic Leader Benjamin Weiner. The parsha is expected to be Exodus 18:1-20:23. This will be held in an upstairs room at the church, concurrent with the food preparation mentioned above. (We're so busy at M-H!!!)
Food distribution with the Sharing Community, Sunday, Jan. 27th. Time and location to be determined. Stay tuned.
Other news and developments:
Congratulations, Coat Donors!
Mishkan Ha'am members donated 22 coats to the annual New York Cares Coat Drive, which ended December 31. Thanks to all of you for your contributions, and to Jody Hirschman, our tireless coat donation coordinator.
Community news:
Camp scholarships available. Camp JRF, the Reconstructionist movement's summer camp in Pennsylvania for children entering grades 3 through 12, is still accepting applications for scholarships for Summer 2008. Register now at www.campjrf.org. To request a scholarship form please call (877) 226-7573 or e-mail info@campjrf.org.
Check out Birthright Israel. This program offers free trips to Israel for young Jewish adults, ages 18-24. An orientation will be offered on Monday, January 18th, 6:30-8 pm at the Jewish National Fund House, 42 East 69th Street (between Park and Madison). RSVP Elisa Schindler at eschindler@jnf.org or call (212) 879-9305, x297.
Summer opportunitiess-and a discount--for high school activitists. Panim, the Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values, offers Jewish high school activists volunteer and learning opportunities this summer. Through PanimWorks, students will travel to the American Southwest for hands-on service projects (worth 45 community-service hours) on a Native American reservation. Through Summer JAM, students will stay on the campus of George Washington University in Washington, DC, learning about Jewish political activism, and meeting policymakers and experts. Rising sophomores, juniors and seniors, and graduating seniors, are eligible. Students from the New York region can receive a $500 discount on the program's cost. Check out www.panim.org for details.
Orpheus in the Bronx. Hear our own splendid baritone Peter Heiman in Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld, produced by the Bronx Opera Company, this month at Lehman and Hunter Colleges. Peter says, "The operetta is a hilarious sendup of the Orpheus and Euridice myth." At Lehman, the dates are: Sat. Jan. 12, 8 pm and Sunday, Jan. 13, 2 pm at the Lovinger Theater. Call (718) 960-8833 for tickets, and/or visit www.bronxopera.org for more info.
Thank you donors!
Mishkan Ha'am would like to acknowledge, on behalf of the whole congregation, the following contributions:
High Holiday Contributions
Carolyn & Robert Reiss
Hedy & Gerald Kramer
Joan & Daniel Siff
Thanks for the warm welcome
Ruth Grill
We enjoyed attending the Kol Nidre service
Ellen & Arthur Pincus
In honor of Sam Schwartz Rudavsky's 1st birthday
Myrna Sameth
In honor of Julie Weiner's birthday
Marian and Lenny Meyerson
Year-end contributions
Susan and Jeff Adler
Monica Rickenberg & Ian Weinstein
Marian & Lenny Meyerson
Paula Panzer
Lois & Howard Heitner
Jean Hutchins
Leslie Lieman and Micah Sifry
Faye and Meyer Lieman
Barbara and Leo Stanger
Diana and Aaron Ben Merre
And if you've made it this far...
Here's something to tickle your funny bone, supplied by Micah Sifry:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vAMgbGEDTY
Have a great week!
Tobie
Please Note:
All services/programs, including Hebrew School, are held at the Reformed Church of Hastings, 18 Farragut Avenue, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, unless otherwise specified. Click for directions.
All services/programs, including Hebrew School, are held at the Reformed Church of Hastings, 18 Farragut Avenue, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, unless otherwise specified. Click for directions.