Shabbat Shalom Thursday, December 8, 2022 / 14 Kislev 5783
In the Synagogue
Shabbat Morning at Ethical Culture
Saturday, December 10th, Ethical Culture Let's join together for Shabbat services at Ethical Culture, 2 W. 64th Street, as we will celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of Kai Levine!
Sponsor/Dedicate
Sponsor a Kiddush to celebrate a birthday or other milestone! Dedicate a bookplate, a Tree of Life leaf, or a plaque in honor of a milestone or a loved one! Click HERE to support Habonim.
B'Nei Mitzvah Project: Understanding Diversity
For his Bar Mitzvah project, Blake Schlaff created a website about language learning disabilities - what they are and what it feels like to have them. He explains how being in the right environment can make a world of difference. At his Bar Mitzvah, Blake spoke about how with his parsha, all Jews no longer have the same history, everything changes and each Jew is now unique. For example, some people in the Torah had learning disabilities. View his website and findings HERE to learn more.
Upcoming Events
Mitzvah Makers Donations
Registration is now closed for Mitzvah Makers Maccabiah taking place on December 11th!We look forward to seeing all of our Mitzvah Makers this Sunday.
From now until Sunday, we will be collecting new and gently-used winter accessories for adults and children (hats, gloves, earmuffs) as well as flashlights with batteries to be donated to asylum seekers in our area.
Kabbalat Shabbat Service and Dinner
Friday, December 16th, 7pm LAST CHANCE FOR EARLY BIRD RATE! Ends December 9th. Join us in the Habonim Social Hall for an evening of light, latkes, and laughter directly following our 6:00pm Kabbalat Shabbat services! Kids' activities will take place during dinner. General registration closes December 13th. Sign up nowHERE!
Habonim Book Club
Wednesday, January 25th, 7pm Join the Habonim Book Club! In our next Book Club meeting, we will be discussing Rising Out of Hatred by Eli Saslow. Taking place on Zoom HERE.
In the Greater Community
Join Mazon for a Sneak Peek at The Hunger Museum
Thursday, December 15th, 8:00PM You're invited to "The Comfiest Seat at the Gala" an engaging interactive take on virtual celebrations presented by Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger. The event will be offering a sneak peek at their new virtual museum, The Hunger Museum. Purchase tickets and sponsorships HERE.
Before the event, hear Rabbi Gelber talk about the importance of feeding those in need HERE. See below under Study & Services for details.
Shine A Light: Menorah Lighting to Condemn Antisemitism
Monday, December 19th According to NYPD statistics, antisemitic hate crimes have risen 125% over the past year. Attend Shine A Light in Times Square to demonstrate your solidarity and resolve to condemn hate in all its forms. There will be a menorah lighting as well as musical and comedy performances. We hope you will participate in this demonstration of Jewish pride and share this event with other. Visit HEREfor more information.
Yonina Concert
Tuesday, December 20th, 7pm Join Habonim, UJA, Park East Synagogue, and community partners for a special Hanukkah event at Park East Synagogue on 163 East 67th Street. We will light candles for the third night of the holiday and enjoy the beautiful and uplifting melodies with Yonina, the global sensation Jewish musical duo from Israel. Purchase tickets HERE!
Seeking Volunteers for Midnight Run
Midnight Run coordinates over 1,000 relief missions per year, in which volunteers from churches, synagogues, schools and other civic groups distribute food, clothing, blankets and personal care items to the homeless poor on the streets of New York City. The late-night relief efforts create a forum for trust, sharing, understanding and affection.
Habonim is looking to do morning runs, but we need experienced leaders in order to do that! We are asking for volunteers to sign up to do runs with another organization and be trained to lead ours! Write to our officeHERE if you are interested, and learn more about Midnight Run HERE.
Study & Services
Parsha and Prayer Weekly
Join us on Thursdays at 10am. This year we'll use the work of Rabbi Elie Kaunfer at Hadar connecting the weekly parasha to the realm of prayer as the springboard for our Torah learning each week. Take an early lunch break or a late breakfast break and log in! Register HERE.
Feeding Those in Need
Thursday, December 15th, 7pm Rabbi Gelber will host a Zoom session to teach us what the Torah says about our responsibility to help those in need. Register for the Zoom meetingHERE.
Proof of vaccination is required for those 5 and up for in-person indoor events. Masks are voluntary. Correct service start times are in this email and on our website, not in the Zoom confirmation.
Yahrzeit Observances
Please click on the picture to see this week's Yahrzeit observances. May all the mourners be comforted.
Youth & Families
Datathon to Combat Hate Speech
This is a special opportunity for techies to get their game on while doing social good! Next month, Indiana University is hosting a Datathon and AI Competition for high schoolers and undergraduates to detect and combat Antisemitism and hate speech against Asians, Black people, Hispanics and Muslims using artificial intelligence.
Participants will attend workshops led by Indiana U professors over Zoom, where they will learn how to analyze data and write algorithms. No prior experience is required!
Learn more and sign up HERE. Application deadline is December 15th.
Win an Award of $1,000 for Going to Summer Camp!
PJ Goes to Camp is proud to partner with Foundation for Jewish Camp, overnight camps, and Jewish federations across North America to award families up to $1,000 toward their child’s first summer at Jewish overnight camp through the One Happy Camper® program. VisitHEREfor more details. Incentives are awarded on a first-come-first-serve basis, so submit your application as soon as possible!
Click the links below for a FULL listing of events & services.
Please consider a donation to Torah Fund! Click HERE to donate online or mail a check payable to Torah Fund to: Torah Fund, Jewish Theological Seminary, 3080 Broadway, NY, NY 10027 (include Sist. of Cong. Habonim in the "affiliate" box on the online form or with your check). If you donate $180 or more, you will be entitled to this thank-you pin to wear with pride on any occasion!
For questions, please contact Amy Kargauer, Torah Fund Chair HERE.
Support Congregation Habonim through Amazon Smile
When shopping on Amazon, use habonim.net/amazonsmile to raise money for the synagogue with no additional cost.
Congregation Habonim supports core Jewish values, including racial justice and dignity for all. Building Jewish Community Together
RABBI LISA B. GELBER JESSICA FUTRAN, Cantorial Soloist and Music Educator RINA COHEN SCHWARZ, Education Director TINA LOBEL, Nursery School Director BRUCE HALEV, Cantor Emeritus MICHELLE SZPILZINGER, Office and Operations Manager SUSAN I. GRANT, President www.habonim.net (212) 787-5347