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 wish a Mazal Tov to Eliane Dabbah & Daniel Low on their recent engagement.
We wish a Mazal Tov to Michelle Charnoff & Brian Polay on their recent Aliya.
We offer Blessings of Consolation to Linda Talisman on the death of her husband, José Gomez.
We offer Blessings of Consolation to Barbara Newman on the death of her mother, Debbie Levinski.
CholentFest was a great success! We are especially grateful to Eli Szus and Rabbi Bellino for organizing this event. We congratulate the winners: Cori Ann Robinson (Edel Ladle Trophy), Haim Shechtman (People’s Choice Award), Daniela Sirotti (Best Decoration), and Suzanne Dance & Andrew Obin (Best Non-Traditional Cholent). We thank our judges: Evan Gasman, Emily Hoenig, and David Neuhaus, and we thank our many cholent chefs: Choni Bellino, Ke$het Bellino & Rocky Furst, Rabbi Gavriel Bellino, Dr. Jeremy Block, Adeena Chefitz & Jared Rosen, Suzanne Dance & Andrew Obin, Alan Feder, Jennifer Gersch, Aliyah & Jonah Henry Gluckstadt, Debra Paul Singer, Cori Robinson, Elana Rosenthal & Rafi Friedman, Haim Shechtman, Corinne Shmuel & Madeline Cohodes, Daniela Sirotti, Emma Sukenik, Zachary Neugut, & Jill Gloub, David Waxman, and Lübba Wintzer. Special thanks to Choni & Keshet Bellino, Genna Singer, and Cori Robinson, for their help setting up. Perhaps most importantly, we thank the 200 tasters who participated in what was one of our most successful and well-attended CholentFests yet!
Purim is a month away! The Committee for Purim Chaos is actively plotting various chaotic activities but it would all be much less chaotic were it not for your generous financial support. For more information and to sponsor, please visit our Purim Chaos page. Organizing chaos also requires a lot of schlepping, decorating, supervising, drink mixing, and cleaning. If you can help, please contact the office.
Community Security: We are actively working to enhance our sense of safety and security. We are grateful to Sara Liss and the larger security team for taking on this responsibility. To find out more and to become involved, please contact Sara.
Sixth Street Parents Committee: Our Sixth Street parents committee is planning a number of events for our youngest members and the larger community, and we want you to know about them! The Sixth Street Parents Google group is where events are publicized, meetings are called, and babysitters' contacts are shared. If you'd like to be added to the group, please email Alan Feder or Julia Salant.
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 being maintained. If you can commit to any dates, please contact Rabbi Bellino. We are also 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 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 Shabbat Kiddush available to sponsor is February 15th (Shabbat Yitro).
Event
Jewish Arts Salon Artists Beit Midrash "PARDES: Encountering the Divine" - 8 Tuesdays, February 4 though March 31, 7-9 PM: Pardes is the Talmudic story of the search for mystical revelation. Rabbi Bellino and Richard McBee will lead an exploration of these Talmudic tales, mystical literature (Heikhalot) and other narratives of Divine encounters. Each participant will have the opportunity to react personally to the text, working in the art form of their choice, and to offer and receive responses to their work. Please click here for more information on the course and to sign up.
Shabbat Dinner and Lecture featuring Dr. Channa Pinchasi - February 21: Please join us on Shabbat Mishpatim for a Community Dinner followed by a presentation by our Friday Night Scholar Dr. Channa Pinchasi, director of the Be’eri School for Teacher Education at the Shalom Hartman Institute, and founder of the Cheider Mishelach forum for influential female leaders in Tel Aviv.
SAVE THE DATES
February 11 - Jewish Arts Salon Artists Beit Midrash
February 21 - Community Dinner & Lecture with Dr. Channa Pinchasi
March 6-7 - Shabbat Scholar Dr. Aaron Koller
March 8 - Kids' Purim Party
March 9-10 - Purim
March 30 - Annual Dinner
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 (Classes resume .
B'NEI MACHSHAVA TOVA - The Fellowship of Proper Mindfulness: A study of the Piaseczno Rebbe's guide to cultivating positive mindfulness within a sacred community of spiritual seekers. Wednesdays 8:00-9:00 PM.
ARTISTS BEIT MIDRASH: Pardes is the Talmudic story of the search for mystical revelation. We will explore these Talmudic tales, mystical literature (Hekhalot) and other narratives of Divine encounters. Tuesdays, February 4 though March 31, 7:00-9:00 PM
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
Mocha Burger at 496 Laguardia Place
Sushi Tokyo at 121 West 19th Street
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.
We like to have fun and be creative on social media. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram for much much more!
