In these tragic and scary times we stand with all those victimized by senseless hatred and fanaticism, at home, in Israel, and abroad. We pray for safety, healing, and peace.
We are saddened by the passing of Gerty Engh, longtime Office Administrator of the Sixteenth Street Synagogue / Young Israel of Fifth Avenue. The funeral and interment will be held at the Hillside / New Mt. Zion Cemetery (742 Rutherford Avenue in Lyndhurst NJ) on Monday, January 8th, at 11:00 AM.
We are grateful to the many of you that generously donated and honored their open commitments in the week before 2018. All sorts of programming and building upgrades are being planned and they could not happen without your support.
Rabbi Bellino still needs your help in paying for the Downtown Eruv. The annual share of the Downtown community is $36,000. How much to give is certainly up to you, and any donation is appreciated. To give you some context: If 200 families/individuals were to give $180, this year's fundraising effort would be over. To make a payment, please do so on my synagogue website, or send a check to: The Sixth Street Community Synagogue, 325 East Sixth Street, New York NY 10003. Be sure to specify that this donation is for the Rabbi's Discretionary Fund and for the Eruv.
We have postponed this week's Kids' Kiddush Buffet. This special kiddush, sponsored by Andy Gelfand & Dr. Ira Orgel, has been rescheduled for some time in February. (Hopefully when it's a drop warmer).
Snow day helpers: We are grateful to Dana Friedman who assisted us to improve our shul email and to Choni Bellino who insisted on venturing out in the snow to buy cholent supplies and aided in the preparation of this Shabbat's cholent.
Torah Readers: We are looking for men who can prepare to read at Shabbat Mincha (and possibly at Shacharit during the week as well) throughout the year. A schedule of readers is now being prepared. If you can commit to any dates, please contact Rabbi Bellino. We are grateful to Elie Yudewitz who will read this week. The next available Mincha leining is on January 20th (the afternoon reading is Beshalach). We are looking for women to prepare aliyot for a Women’s Torah Reading in the near future. Rabbi Bellino is happy to help anyone learn how to read Torah to prepare a reading.
Please continue to assist our weekday morning Minyan. Consider increasing your commitment to community and synagogue by attending.
Our plentiful and delicious Kiddushes on Sixth Street greatly enhance our synagogue and community. To sponsor or to co-sponsor a Friday night Kiddush, a Shabbat Kiddush, a Shabbocktail, our Shabbat Shabeer supply, or a Seudah Shelishit, contact Rabbi Bellino. The next available Kiddush for sponsorship is February 17th (Shabbat Teruma).
Events
February 3rd - CholentFest V: CholentFest - our annual Cholent competition - is back for a fifth year! Join us for Shabbat Kiddush on February 3rd, and taste a wide variety of cholents. Or, perhaps you want to challenge last year's winner of the CholentFest Eydel Ladle to claim the ladle and the respect of your peers. To register as a chef and to learn about preparation info, please email Eli Szus by January 19th. This is NOT a cholent eating contest. Prizes will be given to Best Cholent (Judged), Best Cholent (People's Choice), Best Decorations (Judged), Best Nontraditional Cholent (Judged).
Classes
FOUNDATIONS OF JUDAISM: A sensitive and sophisticated introduction to Judaism, intended for beginners, and focusing on many of the ritual, legal, linguistic, and philosophical basics of our faith. Wednesdays 6:30-8:00 PM.
PIRQEI D'RABBI ELIEZER: Rabbi Bellino presents the often strange, occasionally esoteric, and rather entertaining, late (most likely) Palestinian Midrash. Wednesdays 8:00-9:00 PM.
SHACHARIT: Miriam Kaplan on Shacharit, the daily morning prayer. Shabbat, following Kiddush.
Save The Dates
February 3rd - CholentFest V
March 10th - Choni's Bar Mitzvah
Downtown Community
We are thrilled to have Shifra Friedman as the Yoetzet Halacha for the downtown community. Yoetzet Shifra is available to answer questions related to Toharat HaMishpacha and may be reached by phone at (646) 598-1080 and by email. Click here to read our recent e-mail about her appointment.
There are several Kosher options in our neighborhood including:
Bagel Boss at 263 First Avenue
Murray's Falafel at 261 First Avenue
Mocha Burger at 496 Laguardia Place
The Promenade Sports Bar, 344 Third Avenue
We are proud to be a member synagogue of The Downtown Va'ad, an Orthodox rabbinic network intended to advance the welfare and flourishing of the Downtown community. Check out the Va'ad on Facebook for more information.
Feedback
We encourage your participation and insight. Feedback to Elie Yudewitz, Rabbi Bellino or the Shul Office would be most appreciated. Please contact us with any suggestions and/or concerns, or most importantly, to volunteer. You can also make suggestions here.
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