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Saturday, March 1, 2025 Adar 1, 5785
Sidney Einhorn Joel Lewin
Pauline Weinerman
Sunday, March 2, 2025 Adar 2, 5785
Gerry Gruber Alan Robinson
Alex Solomon Marilyn Hauck
Monday, March 3, 2025 Adar 3, 5785
Helen Silbert Joel Lewin
Sarah Silber
Tuesday, March 4, 2025 Adar 4, 5785
Rabbi Robert Rozenberg Mary Pariser
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 Adar 5, 5785
Dorothy Rubin Gussie Hoyt
Nettie Kopald
Friday, March 7, 2025 Adar 7, 5785
Jennie Geller Betty Kaplan
Bella Rosenthal
Saturday, March 8, 2025 Adar 8, 5785
Morris Cohn Alma Darrow
Sarah Ritter
Sunday, March 9, 2025 Adar 9, 5785
Fischel Meyer Charlap Ella Block
Elliot Janofsky Clara Kieva
Babette Dorfman Fortune Ruben Price
Monday, March 10, 2025 Adar 10, 5785
Fannie Rones Celia Schulman
Anna Wolf Joseph Navon
Tuesday, March 11, 2025 Adar 11, 5785
Roland Epstein Rose Rein
Wednesday, March 12, 2025 Adar 12, 5785
Charlotte Gutfeld George Hyman
Joseph Pullman Harry Rabinowe
Rose Rosen Joseph Wolfe
Yetta Hoyt
Thursday, March 13, 2025 Adar 13, 5785
Ida Greenberg Rachel Levitt
Clara Eisenberg Nancy Unker
Friday, March 14, 2025 Adar 14, 5785
Bernard Gordon Edith Mullin
Jeanette Rubnitz Louis Chartoff
March Yahrzeits
Saturday, March 15, 2025 Adar 15, 5785
Judith Meisler Jaffee Irving Wexler
Sunday, March 16, 2025 Adar 16, 5785
Robert Reis Walter Windheim
Emma Rosenblum
Monday, March 17, 2025 Adar 17, 5785
Sophie Amelkin Endre Stamler
Sol Eisenberg Leon Goldin
Sadie Lascher
Tuesday, March 18, 2025 Adar 18, 5785
Bernard Brachfeld Dorene Shapiro
Wednesday, March 19, 2025 Adar 19, 5785
Rose Tworecke
Thursday, March 20, 2025 Adar 20, 5785
Flora Becker Hyman Rosenblum
Ize Seralnick
Sarah Wittner
Friday, March 21, 2025 Adar 21, 5785
Dorothy Siegler Herbert Kartiganer
Saturday, March 22, 2025—Adar 22, 5785
Samuel Moses Milton Ritter
Edith Shorell
Sunday, March 23, 2025 Adar 23, 5785
Joseph Ettlinger Stern Esther Miskin
Isidore Kronegold Sarah Levy
Monday, March 24, 2025 Adar 24, 5785
Sidney Berkowitz Abraham Dubroff
Tuesday, March 25, 2025 Adar 25, 5785
Anna Shapiro Irving Solomon
Martin Gans Berck Rosalie Feld
Amanda Greif Toby Raven
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 Adar 26, 5785
Florence Jacobster Joseph Moses
Ruth Berkowitz Fitzgerald Lillian Serinsky
Thursday, March 27, 2025 Adar 27, 5785
Harry Levine
Friday, March 28, 2025 Adar 28, 5785
Simon Caplan Abe Grenis
Jacob Topczyk Miriam Wolpe
Saturday, March 29, 2025—Adar 29, 5785
David Polinsky Sadie Shmagin
Linda Brown
Sunday, March 30, 2025 Nissan 1, 5785
Homer Andrew Johnson
Monday, March 31, 2025 Nissan 2, 5785
Violet Lustig Eugene Mullin
Daniel Silbert Sylvia Friedman
Millie Simon
Note: Unveilings must be scheduled in advance with Cemetery Chairperson, Todd Kelson, as well as our Rabbi. For additional info regarding the cemeteries, please contact the office at 562-5604. The small sanctuary can always be opened for a quiet moment of prayer or meditation.
AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR VISITORS TO CAI CEMETERIES: The following procedures are in effect to visit our cemeteries.
The Erie Avenue and Workmen's Circle Cemeteries are now open on Sundays until the end of November. The gates are always locked during the week. If you need to get into the cemeteries, please call to make an appointment.
Tuesday, April 1, 2025 Nissan 3, 5785
Shana Rozenberg Louis Asher
Albert Yurkowitz
Wednesday, April 2, 2025—Nissan 4, 5785
Elliott Cohen Laurie Cohen
Alfred Yerger, III
Thursday, April 3, 2025 Nissan 5, 5785
Evelyn Epstein Jean Sable
Friday, April 4, 2025 Nissan 6, 5785
Bernard Levine Stanley Levy
Sunday, April 6, 2025 Nissan 8, 5785
Fanny Hirschberg Charlotte Kaplan
Harry Lavender Louis Shapiro
Lillian Wolfe Rose Ellick
Tuesday, April 8, 2025 Nissan 10, 5785
George Packer
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 Nissan 11, 5785
Betty Delson Edward Fishler
Maye Katz Rose Jacob Zodikoff
Clifford Hauck William Lazarus
Thursday, April 10, 2025— Nissan 12, 5785
Norman Ellish Fredric Rabinowe
Jean Kallus
Friday, April 11, 2025 Nissan 13, 5785
Samuel Delson Myra Yager
Saturday, April 12, 2025 Nissan 14, 5785
Marion Boroff Esther Creeger
Lucille Eisenberg Bernard Greenberg
Louis Leis Roslyn Gable Luftig
Celia Sosnick Constance Horn
Helen Skyer
Sunday, April 13, 2025 Nissan 15, 5785
Bessie Berkowsky Nora Lewin
Arthur Zodikoff Gilda Rieger
Monday, April 14, 2025 Nissan 16, 5785
Blanche Buckwald Annette Chartoff
Jacob Weintraub Dana Levine
April Yahrzeits
Tuesday, April 15, 2025 Nissan 17, 5785
Gordon Graber Julia Grenis
Anna Hirshfield Sally Rosenblum
Miriam Wolpe Lillian Rubin
Rachel Abrams
Wednesday, April 16, 2025 Nissan 18, 5785
Louis Kaplan Esta Lubin
Regina Zeger
Thursday, April 17, 2025 Nissan 19, 5785
Rose Alperovich David Zuckerman
Murray Jerome Rieger
Friday, April 18, 2025 Nissan 20, 5785
Cecelia Pomerantz
Sunday, April 20, 2025 Nissan 22, 5785
Bertha Epstein Edward Loth
Pearl Newman Morris Friedman
Monday, April 21, 2025 Nissan 23, 5785
Helen Skyer Rose Feldman
Tuesday, April 22, 2025 Nissan 24, 5785
Sarah E. Miskin
Susan Moses
Henry Chartoff Gilbert Levinson
Wednesday, April 23, 2025—Nissan 25, 5785
Bette Shapiro Risberg Ruth Shmagin
Julius Horowitz
Thursday, April 24, 2025 Nissan 26, 5785
Sarah Block Steven Kaufman
James L. Rider
Friday, April 25, 2025 Nissan 27, 5785
Morris Schnurmacher
Dr. David Dorfman
Saturday, April 26, 2025 28, 5785
Ronald M. Kelson
Sunday, April 27, 2025—Nissan 29, 5785
Dora Kaplan Gisella Radynski
Alan Korenman Penny Zwickel
Tuesday, April 29, 2025 Iyar 1, 5785
Anna Friedman Zelda Pepper
Carrie Ettlinger Stern Etta Wolfe
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 Iyar 2, 5785
Enid Margolies
YAHRZEIT MINYANS
We are always happy to arrange a yahrzeit minyan. If you would like one, please call (845) 562-5604 for Congregation Agudas Israel or (845) 562-5516 for Temple Beth Jacob at least one week in advance (two weeks in the summer). This will give us time to help you find enough people.
Thank you very much.
AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR VISITORS TO TBJ CEMETERIES: The following procedures are in effect to visit our cemeteries
The Big Rock Cemetery is always locked. Cedar Hill Cemetery is usually open. If you need to get into the Big Rock, please call the office to borrow a key. The key must be returned after visiting.
Note: Unveilings must be scheduled in advance with Cemetery Chairperson, Ken Packer. For additional info regarding the cemeteries, please contact the office at 562-5516 or Ken Packer at 845-590-1315.
Cash and checks are preferred, since we lose 3.5% of your donation for bank fees if you pay with a credit card.
Please be sure to designate which fund you are donating to. A minimum donation of $10 is requested (except as indicated) to be listed in the newsletter. If you wish to send an appropriate card, we ask that your donation be no less than $18.00. For accounting questions, please contact Anna Geheran at (845) 562-5604 ext. 104.
Jacob Copans Memorial Fund
Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund
Meyer J. Rider Memorial Arts & Music Fund
Simcha Tree Leaves, Memorial Plaques and Bricks must be paid for in advance.
Payments can be made by cash, check or credit card or through the Temple Beth Jacob website.
Memorial Walkway Brick at Big Rock Cemetery 4” x 8” brick for $118 or 8” x 8” brick for $360
MARCH
1, 2025— ADAR 1, 5785
SUNDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
MONDAY
2
9am Pickleball
9:30am TBJ Religious School
9 DAYLIGHT SAVINGS
9am Pickleball
9:30am TBJ
Religious School
10:30am Hamantaschen Baking
12pm A Solomon
Grief Group
1pm Israeli Dancing
9am Pickleball
16
10am County-Wide Purim Carnival at Temple Beth Shalom, Florida, NY
23
9:30am Pickleball
10am Walk Live
1pm Mah Jongg 6pm Pickleball
3
9:30am Beginner Pickleball
4
1pm OA mtg
2:30pm Tai Chi
4:30pm Hebrew Sch
5:30pm Kol Mtg
6pm Pickleball
6:30pm Intro to Judaism
7:45pm Adult Hebrew
10
7:30am CAI Minyan
9:30am Pickleball
10am Walk Live
1pm Mah Jongg 6pm Pickleball
11
9:30am Beginner Pickleball
1pm OA mtg
2:30pm Tai Chi
4:30pm Hebrew Sch
6pm Pickleball
6:30pm Intro to Judaism
7:45pm Adult Hebrew
9:30am Pickleball
10am Walk Live
5
11am Tai Chi/Qigong 12pm AA mtg
12:30pm Line Dance
2pm HV Volleyball
5pm Hebrew School
5pm JCC Member Pty
7pm TBJ Exec Mtg
12
9:30am Pickleball
10am Walk Live
11am Tai Chi/Qigong 12pm AA mtg
12:30pm Line Dance
2pm HV Volleyball
5pm Hebrew School
7pm TBJ Exec Mtg
9:30am Beginner Pickleball
6
10:30am Bridge Club 12pm AA mtg
2:30pm Tai Chi
3:30pm Joint Plng Mt 6pm TBJ Rosh Chodesh
7pm Men’s Basketball
7pm Knitting
9:30am Beginner Pickleball
13
10:30am Bridge Club 12pm AA mtg 6:30pm TBJ Purim
7pm Men’s Basketball
7pm Knitting 7pm CAI Purim
9:30am Pickleball
10am Chair Yoga 12pm AA mtg
5:39pm Candle
Lighting
7
1
9:30am CAI Shabbat Service
9:30am TBJ Torah via Zoom 6:28pm Havdalah
8
9:30am CAI Shabbat Service
9:30am TBJ Torah Study via Zoom
6pm CAI Erev Shabbat Service
7pm CAI Dinner
7:30pm TBJ Shabbat Service
14 PURIM
9:30am Pickleball
10am Chair Yoga
12pm AA mtg
6:47pm Candle Lighting
7:30pm TBJ Shabbat Service
9:30am Pickleball 10am Walk Live 1pm Mah Jongg 6pm Pickleball
17
18
9:30am Beginner Pickleball
1pm OA mtg
2:30pm Tai Chi
4:30pm Hebrew Sch
6pm Pickleball
9am Pickleball
9:30am TBJ
Religious School
3pm CAI Movie
5pm Challenge Cup
30
9am Pickleball
10am Anne Frank Museum, NYC
6:30pm Intro to Judaism 7:45pm Adult Hebrew
24
9:30am Pickleball
10am Walk Live 1pm Mah Jongg 6pm Pickleball
31
9:30am Pickleball
10am Walk Live 1pm Mah Jongg 6pm Pickleball
9:30am Beginner Pickleball
1pm OA mtg
2:30pm Tai Chi
25
4:30pm Hebrew Sch
6pm Pickleball
6:30pm Intro to Judaism
7:45pm Adult Hebrew
19
9:30am Pickleball 10am Walk Live 11am Tai Chi/Qigong 12pm AA mtg
10:30am TBJ Shabbat Service 11:45am CAI Simchat Kiddush 6:36pm Havdalah
15
9:30am CAI Shabbat Service
9:30am TBJ Torah Study via Zoom 7:44pm Havdalah
22
9:30am CAI Shabbat Service
9:30am TBJ Torah Study via Zoom 6pm TBJ Dinner
7:30pm TBJ Shabbat Service
7:30 TBJ Cantor Concert 7:52pm Havdalah
28
9:30am Pickleball 10am Chair Yoga 12pm AA mtg 7:02pm Candle Lighting 7:30pm TBJ Shabbat Service
29
9:30am CAI Shabbat Service
9:30am TBJ Torah Study via Zoom 8pm Havdalah
APRIL1, 2025— NISSAN 3, 5785
MONDAY
SUNDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
6
9am Pickleball
9:30am TBJ Religious School
2:00pm TBJ Women’s Passover Seder
13 PASSOVER DAY ONE BUILDING CLOSED
9am CAI Passover Service
6pm TBJ Passover Seder
9:30am Pickleball
10am Walk Live
1pm Mah Jongg 6pm Pickleball
7
9:30am Beginner Pickleball
1
1pm OA mtg
2:30pm Tai Chi
4:30pm Hebrew Sch
5:30pm Kol mtg
6pm Pickleball
6:30pm Intro to Judaism
7:45pm Adult Hebrew
9:30am Beginner Pickleball
8
1pm OA mtg
2:30pm Tai Chi
4:30pm Hebrew Sch 6pm Pickleball
9:30am Pickleball
2
10am Walk Live
11am Tai Chi
12:30pm Line Dance
2pm HV Volleyball
5pm Hebrew School
6pm Pickleball
9:30am Beginner Pickleball
3
10:30am Bridge Club
12pm AA Mtg
2:30pm Tai Chi
6pm TBJ Rosh Chodesh
7pm Men’s Basketball
7pm Knitting
9
9:30am Pickleball
10am Walk Live
11am Tai Chi
12:30pm Line Dance
2pm HV Volleyball
5pm Hebrew School
6pm Pickleball
7pm TBJ Exec Mtg
10
7:30am CAI Minyan
9:30am Beginner Pickleball
10:30am Bridge Club 12pm AA Mtg
2:30pm Tai Chi 7pm Men’s Basketball
7pm Knitting
9:30am Pickleball
10am Chair Yoga
12pm AA Mtg
4
6pm CAI Erev Shabbat Service
7pm CAI Dinner
7:10pm Candle
Lighting 7:30pm TBJ Shabbat Service
11
9:30am Chametz Burning (home)
9:30am Pickleball 10am Chair Yoga 12pm AA Mtg
7:18pm Candle Lighting 7:30pm TBJ Shabbat Service
5
9:30am CAI Shabbat Service
9:30am TBJ Torah Study via Zoom 8:08pm Havdalah
12
PASSOVER EVE
9:30am CAI Shabbat Service
9:30am TBJ Torah Study via Zoom
10:30am TBJ Shabbat Service
11:45am CAI Simchat Kiddush 8:17pm Havdalah
14 PASSOVER DAY TWO
OPEN AT NOON 1pm Mah Jongg 5:30pm JCC Board Mtg 6pm Pickleball
20
PASSOVER DAY 8
9am CAI Passover & Yizkor Service
11am Kol Mimosa & Matzah Brei
27
9am Pickleball
9:30am TBJ Religious School
3pm CAI Movie
9:30am Pickleball 10am Walk Live
1pm Mah Jongg 6pm Pickleball
21
15
9:30am Pickleball 1pm OA mtg 2:30pm Tai Chi 6pm Pickleball
16
9:30am Pickleball
10am Walk Live
11am Tai Chi
12:30pm Line Dance
2pm HV Volleyball 6pm Pickleball
9:30am Beginner Pickleball
17
10:30am Bridge Club 12pm AA Mtg
2:30pm Tai Chi 7pm Men’s Basketball
7pm Knitting
7pm CAI E & F 7:30pm CAI BOT
22
9:30am Beginner Pickleball
1pm OA mtg 2:30pm Tai Chi
4:30pm Hebrew Sch 6pm Pickleball
23
9:30am Pickleball
10am Walk Live
11am Tai Chi/Qigong
12:30pm Line Dance
2pm HV Volleyball
4:30pm JCC Yom HaShoah
5pm Hebrew School
6pm Pickleball
7pm TBJ Board Mtg
28
9:30am Pickleball
10am Walk Live 1pm Mah Jongg 6pm Pickleball
9:30am Beginner Pickleball
1pm OA mtg
2:30pmTai Chi
4:30pm Hebrew School 6pm Pickleball
29
9:30am Pickleball
10am Walk Live
30
11am Tai Chi/Qigong
12:30pm Line Dance
2pm HV Volleyball
5pm Hebrew School 6pm Pickleball
9:30am Beginner Pickleball
24
10:30am Bridge Club
12pm AA Mtg 12pm TBJ Lunch & Learn
2:30pm Tai Chi 7pm CAI E & F Mtg 7pm Men’s Basketball 7pm Knitting
18
9:30am Pickleball 10am Chair Yoga 12pm AA mtg 7:25pm Candle Lighting 7:30pm TBJ Shabbat Service
19 PASSOVER DAY 7
9:30am CAI Shabbat Service
9:30am TBJ Torah Study via Zoom 6pm TBJ Passover Yizkor & Pizza 8:25pm Havdalah
25
9:30am Pickleball 10am Chair Yoga 12pm AA Mtg 7:33pm Candle Lighting 7pm TBJ Shabbat Service
Dates and Times of Events are all subject to change. Please check your emails for current events.
26
9:30am CAI Shabbat Service
9:30am TBJ Torah Study via Zoom 8:34pm Havdalah
Congregation Agudas Israel Programs & Events
Shabbat Services
Saturdays at 9:30 am at the Synagogue & via Zoom
Erev Shabbat Across American Service & Dinner
Friday, March 7 Service at 6:00pm
In the main sanctuary or via Zoom
Followed by Dinner at 7:00pm & Friday,April 4 Service at 6:00pm with Dinner at 7:00pm
Morning Minyan
Monday, March 10 at 7:30am
Thursday,April 10 at 7:30am
Alex Solomon Parents/Grandparents
Bereavement Support Group
12:00pm on Sunday, March 9 & April 13 at Kol Yisrael, 290 North St
Movie Viewing & Discussion
Sunday, March 23 at 3pm
Viewing of “Between The Temples”
Starring Jason Schwartzman & Carol Kane.
A year after his wife died, cantor Ben Gottlieb is suffering a crisis of faith, and is unable to sing. After getting into a fight at a bar, Ben meets Carla, who was his music teacher in elementary school. Carla says that she has always wanted a bat mitzvah, but her parents, who were communists, did not allow her to have a bat mitzvah when she turned 13. Ben agrees to teach Carla and gets a ceremony approved by the synagogue's rabbi.
Sunday,April 27 at 3pm
Viewing of “Joachim Prinz/I Will Not Be Silent
In Berlin in the 1930's, the civil rights of Jews were stripped away. A young rabbi refused to be silent. His name was Joachim Prinz and he set out to restore the self-esteem of the German Jews. Knowing the Nazis were monitoring his every word, Prinz continued to preach about the value of Judaism. He saved many lives by encouraging Jews to emigrate from Germany.
Everyone is Welcome to Attend.
Simchat Kiddush
Saturday, March 8 & Saturday, April 12
Celebrate birthdays, anniversaries & other simchas with a festive Kiddush for a $36 Sponsorship. Call 562-5604 to sponsor.
CAI Purim Celebration
7:00pm on Thursday, March 13
Megillah Reading followed by Celebration. Come in costume and bring a box of pasta to use as a grogger to then be donated to the local food bank. Hamantaschen & fun for all!
Passover Dates to Remember
Fast of the First Born Thursday, April 10
Search for Hametz at your home
Thursday,April 10 after 8:06pm
Hametz Burning at your home Friday,April 11 before 10:00am
First Day of Passover Service Sunday,April 13 at 9:00am
Seventh Day of Passover Service Saturday,April 19 at 9:00 am
Last Day of Passover Service &Yizkor
Sunday,April 20 at 9:00am
Kol Lag B’Omer Concert & BBQ
12:00pm on Sunday, May 18 at the synagogue.
Enjoy great kosher food and the sound of Dahlia Road. Dahlia Road is the Jewish acoustic duo of Cantor Turia Stark and Miriam Wyman.They'll be performing songs from their new album, "Our Way Back Home".
Temple Beth Jacob Programs & Events
TBJ Book Discussion at the Temple Thursday, March 20 at 12:30pm
When French troops occupy the Italian port city of Ancona, it unleashes a whirlwind of progressivism and brutal backlash as two very different cultures collide. Mirelle must choose between her duty and her love for a dashing French Catholic soldier. Francesca must decide if she will honor her marriage vows to an abusive and murderous husband.
Mitzvah Arugah Class
Every Thursday at 7pm.
Feel free to pick up yarn at the temple office anytime and drop off finished hats. All are welcome to join this growing circle of “Hookers & Loomers”.
Sisterhood Rosh Chodesh
Thursday, March 6 at 6:00pm at the home of Joan Berkley
The discussion will be from the book “Wise Aging” by Rabbi Rachel Cowan & Dr. Linda Thal “Cultivating Spiritual Qualities for Well-Being”
Thursday,April 3 at 6:00pm at the home of Paula Martino
The discussion will be from the book “Wise Aging” by Rabbi Rachel Cowan & Dr. Linda Thal “Living with Loss and Finding Light”
Gift of Life Bone Marrow Swabbing
Stem cell donors needed. So far we have 121 Matches! Must be 18 to 59 years old and in good health. Contact Sherrill Murray-Lazarus to volunteer at smlazarus@yahoo.com. Swabbing dates:
Tuesday, March 4 from 10am -2pm at SUNY Orange Kaplan Hall, 1 Washington Ctr, Newburgh Thursday, March 6 from 10am -2 pm at Touro College , 60 Prospect Ave, Middletown
Monday, March 10 from 10:30am- 3pm -
SUNY New Paltz Student Union Bldg, 1 Hawk Drive, New Paltz, NY
Wednesday, March 26 from 10am -2 pm at SUNY Orange , 115 South St, Middletown
TBJ Shabbat Morning Service
10:30am on Saturday, March 8
Hamantaschen Baking with Lorraine
Sunday, March 9 at 10:30am. $20 per person. Please bring a rolling pin and a cutting board.
A
Muppet Purim for Adults
Thursday, March 13 at 6:30pm
Bring your own dinner. Dessert provided.
AI Robotics & Torah:Where Judaism & Science Meet
March 21-23 featuring Rabbi Geoff Mitelman
Student Cantor Concert featuring Samantha Chamberlin & David Epstein
Saturday, March 22 at 7:30pm
Women’s Passover Seder
2:00pm on Sunday, April 6. $20 per person RSVP by April 1st to (845) 562-5516
TBJ PassoverYizkor Service & Pizza
6:00pm on Saturday, April 19
TBJ Religious & Hebrew School
Sunday, March 2
Sunday, March 9
Sunday, March 16**
Sunday, March 23
Sunday, March 30 **
Sunday, April 6
Sunday, April 13 No
Sunday, April 20-No
Sunday, April 27
Tuesday, March 4
Tuesday, March 11
Tuesday, March 18
Tuesday, March 25
Tuesday, April 1
Tuesday, April 8
Tuesday, April 15-No
Tuesday, April 22
Tuesday, April 29
March 16 is the County-wide Purim Carnival at Temple Beth Shalom in Florida, NY
March 30 is the Anne Frank Museum in NYC. April 13, 15 & 20 are Spring break.
March 7
March 14
March 21
March 28
April 4
April 11
April 18
April 25
A Message From Gerry Hecht, TBJ Religious School Director
The school has been busy this Winter. Other than having a very rare Snow Day Sunday, the students have been kept occupied and learning every session. We have been blessed to have music with Cantor Sam every other week.
Every class starts with tefillah with Rabbi and bagels. Then we have classroom instruction. The younger kids have been learning aleph bet and the older kids have been doing Torah study with yours truly.
One session we had the kids put on parasha (portions) plays, taken from the Torah and acted out by the kids. It was great fun.
We had other school-wide lessons about Anne Frank, Tu B'shevat, and Martin Luther King. On alternate Sundays when we don't have Cantor Sam, the kids do an art project that involves Jewish themes: making tzedakah boxes, greeting cards for Israeli soldiers, and Christmas cards for the patrons at the Christmas food distribution. Doing good is often fun. The upcoming highlights include a Purim festival, an in-school seder, and the March 30 trip to the Anne Frank exhibit in New York City.
Have a wonderful Spring.
Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County Events Meet & Greet the Authors
Meet Shira Dicker 2:00pm on Sunday, March 2 at Temple Beth Shalom in Florida, NY or via Zoom. Author of “Lolita at Leonard’s of Great Neck & Other Stories From the Before Times.
County-Wide Purim Carnival – 10:00am on Sunday, March 16 at Temple Beth Shalom, 13 Roosevelt Avenue, Florida, NY. Come in costume, play games and win prizes, grab some lunch, eat hamantaschen. Bring non-perishable food items to be donated to the Florida Pantry. Sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County and partner organizations.
Meet Stuart E. Eizenstat—6:30pm on Thursday, April 3 at the Rhinebeck Reformed Church. Author of “The Art of Diplomacy: How the American Negotiators Reached Historic Agreements That Changed the World”. Dinner at 6:30pm then program in-person and via Zoom at 7:00pm.
Comedy for Peace – 4:00pm on Sunday, April 27 at Graham Skea Lodge at Stony Ford, 217 Route 416, Montgomery. Join us for a fun & inspirational evening uniting Muslim, Jewish, Christian and all communities through humor and mutual understanding. Tickets are $18 per person Please register at www.ocnyartscouncil.org/register-ochrc Sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County.
Qigong/Tai Chi Classes
2:30pm on Tuesdays & Thursdays 11am on Wednesdays
Join us with certified instructor Bryon Abrams as he teaches us mind-body practices and mindfulness meditation to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, decrease anxiety, depression & fatigue. Donations Appreciated.
Line Dancing For Intermediate/Advanced 12:30 – 2:00pm on Wednesdays.
No Fee to Dance just come and have a good time.
A
Dear Friends,
I’m eagerly anticipating Purim this coming year, which falls on the eve of March 13th. At CAI, we will be reading Megillat Esther, performing a brief Purim Spiel, and enjoying some delicious treats. Yet, this celebration holds even more significance it marks the start of a full year of special programming leading up to a monumental Purim in 2026!
For Purim 2026, we’re thrilled to announce that we have engaged Linda Coppleson, an esteemed Soferet (a scribe), to create a brand-new Megillat Esther scroll for us. This unique scroll will feature Hebrew vowels and cantillation marks, making it much more accessible and enjoyable to read. Over the coming year, we’ll offer classes in Hebrew reading and in chanting Esther trope—designed for everyone from beginners to advanced readers.
Our ambitious goal is to have as many people as possible read a verse from our new Megillah on Purim. We’ll invite not only our current community but also our neighbors throughout Orange and Dutchess Counties to join in this meaningful celebration.
In addition to the classes, Linda Coppleson will join us on Erev Purim to share insights about the creative process behind the new scroll. We have planned engaging programs for families, young children, and teens—ensuring that everyone can be part of this grand celebration. There will even be an opportunity to sponsor a pasuk (a passage) in our Megillah, allowing your contribution to become a lasting part of our community’s future.
Stay tuned in the coming months for announcements on classes and events as we build toward an unforgettable Purim 2026. I cannot wait to see our community come together, celebrating our traditions and sharing in the joy of reading Megillat Esther.
As the Talmud (Taanit 29a) reminds us, “as soon as Adar has entered, we increase in happiness.” This teaching speaks to the way Adar ushers in the joy of Purim and soon, the miracles of Passover. In a world where troubling news often surrounds us, I pray that our joy grows in Adar and continues all the way through the year.
Wishing you a season filled with increasing joy!
THURSDAY 4/17/25
A Message From Rabbi Douglas Kohn
Dear Friends,
“…the greatest evil perpetrated is the evil committed by nobodies, that is, by human beings who refuse to be persons.” - Hannah Arendt, 1965
Those words of Hannah Arendt, arguably the foremost scholar of the intersection of authoritarianism, Nazism and totalitarianism of the last century, though stated in 1965, never have been more prescient.
Presently, we are living in a new world, but one presaged by earlier iterations. We are living in a dichotomous moment amid resurgent quiescence, and quiescent resurgence. We are living in a period which demands Arendt’s personhood more than ever.
And, the words of Arendt were presaged, literally, 2000 years earlier by arguably Judaism’s greatest rabbinic sage, Hillel, who contemplated of the nature of civilization and humanity in the first century. Hillel offered this dictum:
“In a world in which there is no humanity, strive to be human.”
Whereas Hillel witnessed the Roman version of power and control, and Arendt that of Hitler and Stalin, today we dwell during a new version of the juncture of power and powerlessness, quiescence and resurgence.
From Gaza to Ukraine, from Moscow, Russia to Moscow, Ohio, and from Washington, D.C. to Washington state, personhood and humanity in 2025 are begging both energy and identity. Are we nobodies, or are we those who stand and strive to be human?
Surely, there is much about which to be discontented, today. From the price of eggs to the suppression of a free press, from violence in the skies over Kiev to starvation in Sudan to complacency in Congress, the work of humanity may certainly be failing God’s original evaluation that we were “Very Good,” as declared in Genesis. We certainly have earned many demerits.
Yet, we can take diverse messages from both Arendt and Hillel. Either we can indict the human experience, condemn ourselves and our work, and join the resurgent quiescence. Or, we can derive from our scholars that there are both opportunities and tasks before us, and all that is needed is for us to vigorously reclaim our status of humanity – to be persons and strive to be human – to make differences in our world.
We can be despondent, or we can be respondent.
I choose the latter.
I choose to stand and strive, and I choose to reclaim personhood.
I trust you do, too!
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
PLEASE
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