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.
The Children's Chanukah Puppy Party this past Monday evening was terrific fun. We thank everyone who came, and we thank Cori Robinson and Alexia Marks for their help in arranging the party. Please click here to see photos. In addition, we raised $350 for Social Tees Animal Rescue!
The next Children's Shabbat Program will be on Shabbat Vayigash, January 7th.
For more information, please contact sixthstreetparents@gmail.com.
Rabbi Bellino's Wednesday night classes will resume next week on Wednesday, January 4.
As 2016 rapidly comes to a close, you may be planning your end-of-the-year charitable contributions. Please consider including the Sixth Street Synagogue in your year-end giving. To make a contribution, please go the synagogue’s donate page.This is also a great time to honor your open commitments to the synagogue and to pay any outstanding balances. To see if you have an outstanding balance, please check your account on the synagogue website. Please remember that in order to maximize your 2016 tax benefits, contributions must be made or sent by Saturday, December 31st.
If you have any questions about your account balance or can not access it online, please click here to email our office.
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 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 Shabbat Vayechi - 1/14/2017.
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.
SUFI JEWS: JUDAISM’S ENCOUNTER WITH ISLAMIC MYSTICISM: Approximately 400 years after the birth of Islam, some Jewish sages recommended Sufic ritual and thought. Rabbi Bellino will present the Medieval sages, Bahye Ibn Paquda and Abraham son of Maimonides, as well as Jewish-Sufic material from 16th Century Safed Pietism and Hassidut. Wednesdays 8:00-9:00 PM.
SHACHARIT: Miriam Kaplan will begin teaching a class on Shacharit, the daily morning prayer. Shabbat, following Kiddush.
THE BERDITCHIVER: Rabbi Bellino will present the Hasidic folklore and writings of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev. Shabbat, Seudah Shelishit.
Events
Bereishit and Creativity with Richard Borah and Richard McBee - January 10, 7 PM
Rabbi Richard Borah will explore the role of creativity in the Book of Genesis, in Torah law and practice, and in the decisions and actions of the Patriarchs. Richard McBee, a contemporary painter of Jewish art, will provide an analysis of his Biblical paintings on Genesis, with guidance on how to look at a painting and how to encounter art in an enjoyable and impactful manner.
Please visit the event page for more info and to register.
Please join us on Shabbat Vayechi (January 13-14) as we welcome our next Shabbat Scholar, Dr. Sylvia Barack Fishman, Professor of Contemporary Jewish Life in the Near Eastern and Judaic Studies Department at Brandeis University, and Co-Director of the Hadassah Brandeis Institute. Dr. Fishman joins us in conjunction with the JOFA Conference 2017, which will be held on January 14-15, at Columbia University. Please visit the JOFA website for more details.
Friday Night, 7:30 PM:
Diverse Faces of Contemporary Jewish Families
Shabbat Morning, 10:30 AM:
Gather Yourselves Together: Is Jewishness Still "Tribal"?
Seuda Shelishit, 4:40 PM:
Being Jewish and Orthodox Today: Q & A with Dr. Fishman
There will be a delicious Friday night community dinner in the Social Hall.
RSVP and payment are required by Tuesday, January 10.
Student: $18 | Dinner: $36 | Sponsor: $180
Please email info@sixthstreetsynagogue.org if you need financial assistance.
Chessed on Sixth Street - Several of us utilize our Synagogue's kitchen to prepare meals for the Trinity Place Shelter. The shelter's mission is to help LGBTQ youth and young adults in New York City to safely transition out of the shelter system and grow into independent, positive, and productive adults. To financially support our efforts, please consider donating to the Rabbi's Discretionary Fund (Be sure to specify Shelter Meals in the note). The next meal will be prepared after the holidays. If you are interested in cooking, schlepping, or starting your own Chessed initiative, please contact Rabbi Bellino or Tali Zilberman.
SAVE THE DATES
January 8 - Interfaith Play Date
January 10 - Bereshit and Creativity with Richard McBee and Rabbi Richard Borah
January 13-14 - Scholar-in-Residence: Dr. Sylvia Barack Fishman
January 17 - How the Wise Men Got to Chelm: Book Launch with Ruth von Bernuth and Jonathan Boyarin
February 4 - Cholentfest!!
February 5 - Challah Bake
Downtown Community
Our community's yearly financial Eruv obligation is $36k. This is not a burden that falls unto synagogues or institutions, but rather upon the many individuals and families that make use of the Eruv. As you consider your year-end charitable donations, won't you please consider a gift for the Eruv? The suggested amount per family is $180. (Obviously every bit helps!).
To make a payment, please do so on the synagogue page, 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.
To be clear, were it not for the Eruv, we would not be allowed to push our children to synagogue, nor could we bring dessert and wine to the homes that we visit. I am fairly confident that the thought of a Shabbat without babies, cookies, or alcohol should inspire your generosity.
To see maps, click to the Manhattan Eruv website.
Or, check out facebook.com/DowntownNYCEruv
We are thrilled to have Ilana Gadish as the Yoetzet Halacha for the downtown community. Yoetzet Ilana 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 the Va'ad's recent letter 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, is now completely Kosher (not just sushi). Please check them out ASAP.
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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