If we do not have your email address, you may email Maryjean@kolyisraelnewburgh.org and we will add your email to our distribution list. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Thursday, May 1, 2025 Iyar 3, 5785
Lawrence Copans
Friday, May 2, 2025 Iyar 4, 5785
Gary Kane Frank Duffy
Celia Rider
Saturday, May 3, 2025 Iyar 5, 5785
Nathan Cooper Isidore Estis
Martha Feder Lillian Hoffman
Jarrett Markel
Sunday, May 4, 2025 Iyar 6, 5785
Mildred Strauss Kaplan
Monday, May 5, 2025 Iyar 7, 5785
Lillian Rubin Leo Weitzner
Tuesday, May 6, 2025 Iyar 8, 5785
William Feder Abraham Levine
Benjamin Newman Jacob Srago
Morton Zodikoff Allan Kaplan
Anna Rothbaum
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 Iyar 9, 5785
Joseph Buchwald Charles Freer
Friday, May 9, 2025 Iyar 11, 5785
Julian Fish Boris Rabinowitz
Saturday, May 10, 2025 Iyar 12, 5785
Anna Stein Lew Benjamin Fireman
Brenda Fireman
Sunday, May 11, 2025—Iyar 13, 5785
Ida Aronchick Eden Rich
Louis Fox
Monday, May 12, 2025 Iyar 14, 5785
Mack Helfman Shirley Lavender
Ruth Stangler Sarah Weintraub
Owen Page
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 Iyar 15, 5785
Sara Andelman Harold Nadle
Rubin Rachbach Marcia Solomon
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 Iyar 16, 5785
Max Sosnick Laura Eichengreen
Thursday, May 15, 2025—Iyar 17, 5785
Max Rones Pearle Feldman
May Yahrzeits
Friday, May 16, 2025 Iyar 18, 5785
Gertrude Carmen Irene Engelma-
Dorothy Friedman Murray Hauben
Meyer Jacobowitz
Saturday, May 17, 2025 Iyar 17, 5785
David Cohen
Sunday, May 18, 2025 Iyar 20, 5785
Jacob Becker
Leopold Nurick
Sarah Hoffman
Seymour Shapiro
Alice Cohen Lillian Jacobowitz
Eva Lustbader
Monday, May 19, 2025 Iyar 21, 5785
Raymond Arbeit Gertrude Cowen
Bernard Hirshfield Gertrude Brown
Dora Dorfman Ida Faigin
Avery Lazarus Jerome Wernow
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 Iyar 22, 5785
Jean Barrack Isrel Bashuk
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 Iyar 23, 5785
Adele Flashman Irwin Portnoy
Andrew Alpert
Samuel Apsell
Friday, May 23, 2025 Iyar 25, 5785
Bernard Loth Sugar Loeb
Milan Neslin
Emil Zeger
Saturday, May 24, 2025 Iyar 26, 5785
Richard Rose Frimet Josephson
Sunday, May 25, 2025– Iyar 27, 5785
Phyllis Barer
Emry Zeger
Mitchell Creeger
Monday, May 26, 2025 Iyar 28, 5785
Wilfred Bank Millicent Miller
Dorothy Berlin Stanley Levinson
Sol Simon
Tuesday, May 27, 2025 Iyar 29, 5785
Henry Lampack Dr. Jeffrey Fudin
Wednesday, May 28, 2025 Sivan 1, 5785
Irving Green Louis Jonas
Frederick Zelkind
Thursday, May 29, 2025 Sivan 2, 5785
Pauline Broitman Harry Dabrusin
Dr. Chester Riesenberg Joseph Socol
Friday, May 30, 2025 Sivan 3, 5785
Bluma Cooperstein Chaim Mullin
Max Dzerowitz Ida Grossman
Lillian Katz
Saturday, May 31, 2025 Sivan 4, 5785
Selma Cohn
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.
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.
Sunday, June 1, 2025 Sivan 5, 5785
Patti Cohen Hecht Lawrence Levin
Mary Levy Charles Levy
Monday, June 2, 2025—Sivan 6, 5785
Gittel Berman Max Skyer
Stephen Weinerman
Tuesday, June 3, 2025 Sivan 7, 5785
Shirley Adlerstein Reuben Dzerowitz
Leonard Handen Mark Madoff
Wednesday, June 4, 2025—Sivan 8, 5785
Michael Dubroff Benjamin Feldman
Robert Abramson Lukas Samuel Cohen
Thursday, June 5, 2025 Sivan 9, 5785
Benjamin Gittelsohn Ethel Risberg
Hadassah Shapiro Daniel Feld
Friday, June 6, 2025—Sivan 10, 5785
Rev. Saja Berman Ira Karp
Esther Mott Joseph Schaffer
Sophie Yosem Ben Gittelsohn
Pearl Riesenberg
Saturday, June 7, 2025 Sivan 11, 5785
Annette Arbeit Eva Horowitz
Edward Skyer Rabbi Isaac Wasserman
Steven Navon
Sunday, June 8, 2025 Sivan 12, 5785
Gene Grobstein Jean Socol
Monday, June 9, 2025 Sivan 13, 5785
Bertha Levy
Tuesday, June 10, 2025 Sivan 14, 5785
Lillian Katz Nicholas Ritchie
Wednesday, June 11, 2025 Sivan 15, 5785
Lucille Kaplan Eliaza Mullin
Anne Zodikoff Henriette Greenburger
Thursday, June 12, 2025—Sivan 16, 5785
Sarah Gruberg Jacob Ritter
Sheila Pomerantz Terry Zelkind
Friday, June 13, 2025 Sivan 17, 5785
Samuel Boroff Sidney Glasner
Minnie Helfman Paul Ushman
Leona Nadle
June Yahrzeits
Saturday, June 14, 2025
Sivan 18, 5785
Gertrude Polinsky Ethel Rothman
Fannie Silverman
Sunday, June 15, 2025—Sivan 19, 5785
Larry Montello
Monday, June 16, 2025 Sivan 20, 5785
Max Hirschberg Sylvia Nurick
Michael Salonsky Frank Wolf
Tuesday, June 17, 2025 Sivan 21, 5785
Scott Copans Harry Rolnick
Wednesday, June 18, 2025 Sivan 22, 5785
Anna Bashuk
Thursday, June 19, 2025 Sivan 23, 5785
Max Aronchik David Schneider
Friday, June 20, 2025—Sivan 24, 5785
Rabbi Robert Benjamin
Saturday, June 21, 2025 Sivan 25, 5785
Ethel Ritter Esther Ushman
Sally Metzner
Sunday, June 22, 2025—Sivan 26, 5785
Dr. David Shapiro Jesse Weinerman
Dora Chartoff
Monday, June 23, 2025 Sivan 27, 5785
Vivian Nickowitz Lorena Abrams
Max Sacks
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Sivan 24, 2025
Harry Rones Lawrence Rose
Thursday, June 26, 2025 Sivan 30, 2025
Zipora Weisser Dorothy Kronegold
Friday, June 27, 2025—Tammuz 1, 5785
Solomon Harris
Betty Lewis
Ann Silver
Florence Price
William Migden
Sunday, June 29, 2025 Tammuz 3, 5785
Johnny Hersson-Ringskog
Elaine Solomon Kaplan
Samuel Hurwitz
Monday, June 30, 2025—Tammuz 4, 5785
Sophie Meyer Patasnik Carol Pomerantz
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
SUNDAY
MAY 1, 2025— IYAR 3, 5785
MONDAY
TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
4
9am Pickleball
9:30am TBJ
Religious School
11:30am Car Mitzvah
12pm A Solomon Grief Group
11
HAPPY
MOTHER’S DAY
9am Pickleball
9:30am No TBJ
Religious School
9am Pickleball
9:30am TBJ
Religious School
12pm Kol Lag
B’Omer BBQ & Concert
2pm Big Fish The Musical
18
9:30am Pickleball
5
9:30am Beginner
6
10am Walk Live
1pm Mah Jongg
6pm Pickleball
7pm Meditation Class
12
7:30am CAI Minyan
9:30am Pickleball
10am Walk Live
1pm Mah Jongg
6pm Pickleball
7pm Meditation Class
Pickleball
12pm AA Mtg
1pm OA mtg
2:30pm Tai Chi
4:30pm Hebrew Sch
5:30pm Kol Mtg
6pm Pickleball
8pm Counting the Omer via Zoom
13
9:30am Beginner Pickleball
12pm AA Mtg
1pm OA mtg
2:30pm Tai Chi 4:30pm Hebrew School
6pm Pickleball
8pm Counting the Omer via Zoom w/ Rabbi Kohn
19
9:30am Pickleball
10am Walk Live 1pm Mah Jongg 6pm Pickleball 7pm Meditation Class
9am Pickleball
25
3pm CAI Movie
Viewing & Discussion
9:30am Beginner Pickleball
12pm AA mtg 1pm OA mtg
2:30pm Tai Chi
20
4:30pm Hebrew Sch
6pm Pickleball
8pm Counting the Omer via Zoom
26
MEMORIAL DAY BUILDING CLOSED
9:30am Beginner Pickleball
12pm AA Mtg
1pm OA mtg
2:30pm Tai Chi
6pm Pickleball
27
8pm Counting the Omer via Zoom
9:30am Pickleball
10am Walk Live
7
11am Tai Chi/Qigong 12pm AA mtg
12:30pm Line Dance
2pm HV Volleyball 5pm Hebrew School
9:30am Beginner Pickleball
1
10:30am Bridge Club 12pm AA mtg
2:30pm Tai Chi
6pm TBJ Rosh Chodesh
6pm Jews & Brews
7pm Men Basketball
8
9:30am Beginner Pickleball
10:30am Bridge Club 12pm AA mtg 2:30pm Tai Chi
5:30pm TBJ Calendar Planning Mtg
7pm Men Basketball
9:30am Pickleball
10am Chair Yoga
12pm AA mtg
2
7:30pm TBJ Shabbat Service
14
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
15
10:30am Bridge Club 12pm AA mtg
7pm Men Basketball 7pm CAI E & F Mtg 7:30pm CAI BOT
21
9:30am Pickleball 10am Walk Live 11am Tai Chi/Qigong 12pm AA mtg
12:30pm Line Dance
2pm HV Vollyeball
5pm Hebrew School
9:30am Beginner Pickleball
22
12pm AA mtg 12:30pm TBJ Book Club
2:30 Tai Chi 7pm Men Basketball
28
9:30am Pickleball
10am Walk Live
11am Tai Chi
12pm AA mtg
12:30pm Line Dance
2pm HV Volleyball
7pm TBJ Board Mtg
9:30am Beginner Pickleball
29
10:30am Bridge Club 12pm AA mtg 2:30pm Tai Chi 7pm Men Basketball
7:41pm Candle Lighting 3
9
9:30am Pickleball
10am Chair Yoga 12pm AA mtg
7:30pm TBJ Shabbat Service
9:30am CAI Shabbat Service
9:30am TBJ Torah via Zoom 8:42pm Havdalah
7:48pm Candle Lighting 10
9:30am CAI Shabbat Service
9:30am TBJ Torah Study via Zoom 11:45am CAI Simchat Kiddush 8:51pm Havdalah
16
9:30am Pickleball
10am Chair Yoga 12pm AA mtg
7:30pm TBJ Shabbat Service
7:55pm Candle Lighting
17
9:30am CAI Shabbat Service
9am TBJ Torah Study 10am J Packer Bar Mitzvah 8:59pm Havdalah
23
9:30am Pickleball 10am Chair Yoga 12pm AA mtg 6pm JCC Pop Up Shabbat at Angry Orchard
7pm TBJ Shabbat Service
8:02pm Candle Lighting
30
9:30am Pickleball 10am Chair Yoga 12pm AA mtg
7:30pm TBJ Shabbat Service
8:08pm Candle Lighting
24
9:30am CAI Shabbat Service
9:30am TBJ Torah Study via Zoom 9:07pm Havdalah
31
9:30am CAI Shabbat Service
9:30am TBJ Torah Study via Zoom 9:14pm Havdalah
JUNE 1, 2025— SIVAN 5, 5785
SUNDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
1
9am Pickleball
6Ppm CAI Erev Shavuot Service
MONDAY
7pm TBJ Ere v Shavuot Service 2 SHAVUOT BUILDING CLOSED 3
8
9am Pickleball
9:30am TBJ Religious School
10am Jewish Federation Annual Mtg
12pm A Solomon Grief Group
9
7:30am CAI Minyan
9:30am Pickleball
10am Walk Live 1pm Mah Jongg
5:30pm JCC Annual Meeting
6pm Pickleball 7pm Meditation Class
9:30am Beginner Pickleball
12pm AA Mtg
1pm OA mtg
15
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY
9am Pickleball
22
9am Pickleball
10amTBJ Annual Meeting
3pm CAI Movie Viewing & Discussion
9:30am Pickleball
16
1pm Mah Jongg
6pm Pickleball
7pm Meditation Class
23
9:30am Pickleball
10am Walk Live 1pm Mah Jongg 6pm Pickleball 7pm Meditation Class
29
9am Pickleball
9:30am Pickleball
30
10am Walk Live 1pm Mah Jongg 6pm Pickleball 7pm Meditation Class
9:30am Pickleball
10am Walk Live
11am Tai Chi
12pm AA mtg
12:30pm Line Dance
2pm HV Volleyball
2:30pm Tai Chi 6pm Pickleball 4
10
9:30am Beginner Pickleball
12pm AA Mtg
1pm OA mtg 2:30pm Tai Chi
5:30pm Kol Mtg 6pm Pickleball
9:30am Beginner Pickleball
17
9:30am Pickleball
12pm AA mtg 1pm OA mtg 2:30pm Tai Chi 6pm Pickleball
9:30am Beginner Pickleball
12pm AA mtg 1pm OA mtg 2:30pm Tai Chi 6pm Pickleball
24
6pm Pickleball 5
11
9:30am Pickleball
10am Walk Live
11am Tai Chi
12pm AA mtg
12:30pm Line Dance
2pm HV Volleyball
6pm Pickleball
7pm TBJ Exec Mtg
10:30am Bridge Club
12pm AA Mtg 2:30pm Tai Chi 7pm Men Basketball 6
9:30am Pickleball
10am Chair Yoga
12pm AA Mtg
6pm CAI Erev Shabbat Service
7pm CAI Dinner
7:30pm TBJ Shabbat Service
9:30am Beginner Pickleball
12
10:30am Bridge Club 12pm AA Mtg 2:30pm Tai Chi 7pm Men Basketball
18
9:30am Pickleball
10am Walk Live
11am Tai Chi
12pm AA mtg
12:30pm Line Dance
2pm HV Volleyball
6pm Pickleball
9:30am Beginner Pickleball
19
10:30am Bridge Club 12pm AA Mtg
2:30pm Tai Chi 7pm Men Basketball
7pm CAI E & F 7:30pm CAI BOT
25
9:30am Pickleball
10am Walk Live
11am Tai Chi/Qigong 12pm AA mtg
12:30pm Line Dance
2pm HV Volleyball
6pm Pickleball
7pm TBJ Board Mtg
26
9:30am Beginner Pickleball
10:30am Bridge Club
12pm AA Mtg
2:30pm Tai Chi 7pm Men Basketball
9:30am Pickleball
13
10am Chair Yoga 12pm AA Mtg 7:30pm TBJ Shabbat Service 8:17pm Candle Lighting
9:30am TBJ Torah Study via Zoom 9:19pm Havdalah
8:13pm Candle Lighting 7
20
9:30am Pickleball
10am Chair Yoga 12pm AA mtg
7:30pm TBJ Shabbat Service
8:19pm Candle Lighting
9:30am CAI Shabbat Service
14
9:30am CAI Shabbat Service
9:30am TBJ Torah Study via Zoom 11:45am CAI Simchat Kiddush 9:23pm Havdalah
21
9:30am CAI Shabbat Service
9:30am TBJ Torah Study via Zoom 9:25pm Havdalah
27
9:30am Pickleball
10am Chair Yoga 12pm AA Mtg
7:30pm TBJ Shabbat Service
8:20pm Candle Lighting
Dates and Times of Events are all subject to change. Please check your emails for current events.
28
9:30am CAI Shabbat Service 9:30am TBJ Torah Study via Zoom 9:26pm Havdalah
Congregation Agudas Israel Programs & Events
Shabbat Services
Saturdays at 9:30 am at the Synagogue & via Zoom
Erev Shabbat Service & Dinner
Friday, June 2 - Service at 6:00pm In the main sanctuary or via Zoom
Morning Minyan
Monday, May 12 at 7:30am
Monday, June 9 at 7:30am
Alex Solomon Parents/Grandparents
Bereavement Support Group
12:00pm on Sunday, May 4 & June 8 at Kol Yisrael, 290 North St
Movie Viewing & Discussion
Sunday, May 25 at 3:00 PM at the synagogue
Viewing & Discussion of the movie “A Real Pain.” The film stars Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin as mismatched cousins who tour through Poland in honor of their late grandmother.
The adventure becomes complicated as old tensions resurface while exploring their family history. Academy Award and Golden Globe winner for best support actor and BAFTA award winner for best original screenplay.
The next movie will be held on Sunday, June 22 at 3:00pm at the synagogue.
More information on this movie will come shortly.
Everyone is Welcome to Attend.
Simchat Kiddush
Saturday, May 10 & Saturday, June 14
Celebrate birthdays, anniversaries & other simchas with a festive Kiddush for a $36 Sponsorship. Call 562-5604 to sponsor.
Kol Lag B’Omer Concert & BBQ
12:00pm on Sunday, May 18 at the synagogue
Kol Yisrael, CAI,TBJ and the Newburgh JCC are thrilled to be bringing Dahlia Road to our campus.
Enjoy great kosher food and the sound of Dahlia Road. Dahlia Road is the Jewish acoustic duo of Cantor Turia Stark (Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester in Chappaqua, NY and Cantor Carl’s wife) and Miriam Wyman (Temple Beth Or in Montgomery,AL).
They'll be performing songs from their new album, "Our Way Back Home".
$18 adults/$10 children 5 +/ $50 family of 4
RSVP by May 9th. Financial Assistance is Available.
Tikkun Leil Shavuot Sunday, June 1 from 6 9:00pm
Join CAI for an evening of learning with friends for Educational Classes, Tefillot, Yizkor & Cheesecake!
Celebrate Mt. Sinai!
Temple Beth Jacob Programs & Events
TBJ Book Discussion at the Temple
Thursday, May 22 at 12:30pm
The Golem of Brooklyn by Adam Mansbach
In Jewish folklore, a golem is a humanoid created out of clay and animated through secret prayers. Its sole purpose is to defend the Jewish people against the immediate threat of violence. It is always a rabbi who makes a golem, and always in a time of crisis.
But Len Bronstein is no rabbi he’s a Brooklyn art teacher who steals a large quantity of clay from his school, gets extremely stoned, and manages to bring his creation to life despite knowing little about Judaism and even less about golems. Unable to communicate with his nine-foot-six, four hundred-pound, Yiddish-speaking guest, Len enlists an ex-Hasid named Miri Apfelbaum to translate.
Big FishThe Musical Sunday, May 18 at 2:00pm
The story of Edward Bloom, a charming traveling salesman who lives life to its fullest.
$25.50 per person. Limited tickets available. RSVP by May 9
TBJ Religious & Hebrew School
Sunday, May 4
Tuesday, May 6/7
Sunday, May 11 NO CLASS Tuesday, May 13/14
Sunday, May 18 Tuesday, May 20/21
Tikkun Leil Shavuot
Sunday, June 1 from 7 9:00pm
Join TBJ for an evening of learning with friends for Educational Classes,Tefillot, Yizkor & Cheesecake!
Celebrate Mt. Sinai!
Sisterhood Rosh Chodesh
Thursday, May 1 at 6:00pm at the temple
The discussion will be from the book “Wise Aging” by Rabbi Rachel Cowan & Dr. Linda Thal “Legacy & Stewardship”
Thursday, June 26 at 6:00pm At the home of Carol Packer
Temple Beth Jacob Annual Meeting
Sunday, June 22 at 10:00am In the social hall
Light Breakfast available. All members are encouraged to attend.
Gift of Life Bone Marrow Swabbing
Stem cell donors needed. So far we have 130 Matches! Must be 18 to 59 years old and in good health. Contact Sherrill Murray-Lazarus to volunteer at smlazarus@yahoo.com. Swabbing dates:
Sunday, May 4 from 8am – 12pm at the Dutchess County Mitzvah Day at Congregation Schomre Israel, 18 Park Ave, Poughkeepsie
Thursday, July 3 - Time to be determined at the Community Day-Algonquin Park
Wednesday, July 9 at 6:30pm at the Hudson Valley Renegades Jewish Heritage Night
May 2
May 9
May 16
May 23
May 30
June 6
June 13
June 20
June 27
A Message From Gerry Hecht, TBJ Religious School Director
We've had a fun-filled and educational two months at TBJ/RS. First of all, the addition of Student Cantor Sam has been a wonderful faculty benefit. Twice a month she has brought music and liturgy to our school. She helped us perform Parasha Plays in the library, with the kids being the performers.
We had some "out of office" experiences recently. We went to Florida, New York for the Purim Festival. Our school was well-represented and Rabbi Doug performed the megilla and the Purim shpiel with other Orange County clergy. It was a lot of fun.
Then, we had our annual field trip to New York City when 24 members of our temple went to the Anne Frank exhibit at the Center for Jewish History on 16th Street. It was great. It had recreations of the secret annex, but it was truly an exhibit to teach the world about Anne, her family and the plight of European Jews during the war years. The self-guided tour was enjoyed by everyone.
Several people then enjoyed NYC. I went to Chelsea Market.
Last weekend, we had a Chocolate Seder at the Beacon Hebrew Alliance, joining their school and faculty across the river for a fun and tasty seder. TBJ had a regular contingent of students and teachers, along with Student Cantor Sam and Rabbi Doug.
As we head towards the end of the school year, plans are being made for end-of-year events and fun. Stay tuned.
Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County Events
Sunday, May 4 at 1pm
Israeli Dancing at Temple Beth Shalom, 13 Roosevelt Avenue, Florida, NY led by Shmulik
Thursday, May 8 at 6:30pm
Jewish Book Council Talk with Holocaust Survivor, Janet Singer Applefield in honor of Jewish Heritage Month In-Person at Temple Beth El, 118 South Grand Avenue, Poughkeepsie or Via Zoom
Sunday, June 8 at 10am
49th Annual Meeting for The Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County Details Coming soon
Wednesday, July 9 at 6:30pm
Jewish Heritage Night with The Hudson Valley Renegades At Heritage Financial Park,Wappingers Falls
To register for any of these events, please call 845-562-7860 or go to www.jewishorangeny.org
Meditation & QiGong/Tai Chi Classes
7:00pm on Mondays Meditation 2:30pm on Tuesdays & Thursdays—Qigong/Tai Chi 11am on Wednesdays– Qigong/Tai Chi
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.
Free for JCC members, $6 for non-members Come and have a good time.
Dear Friends,
When Moses ascended Mount Sinai, God showed him all of Torah. Not just the five books we know as The Torah, but everything: the oral law, the Talmud, every comment from Rashi and Ramban, the Mishneh Torah and the Shulchan Aruch, the writings of Heschel, Kaplan, Herzl, Einstein even the teachings of sages not yet born. All of Torah: the knowledge of everything that ever was, is, and will be.
Moses reared back, overwhelmed, and said the Israelites could never receive all of this. So God simplified Torah. Moses said it was still too much. God simplified it again — and again until finally Moses told God to stop with the version we have today: the Five Books of Moses, a Torah that even the wisest scholar could spend a lifetime studying and still not reach its end.
What does it mean, then, to say that we received the Torah on Shavuot? Did we receive only the Five Books of Moses? Or did we receive — and continue to receive — an ongoing revelation that encompasses all our learning, all our experiences, all our understanding of the world, seen through the lens of Jewish tradition?
This Shavuot, Congregation Agudas Israel and Newburgh JCC will host a Community Tikkun Leil Shavuot on Sunday evening, June 1st, starting at 6:00 PM. We will hear from doctors, lawyers, artists, teachers, scientists, authors, therapists, chefs, musicians — and yes, maybe even a rabbi or a cantor all sharing their Torah: their unique wisdom, shaped by their Jewish lives, their Jewish families, their workplace, interests and experiences. How do we balance a lifetime of spirituality and religion in our professional lives? How does this impact our actions and moral decision-making?
And because all this learning will make us hungry, we will host a cheesecake contest! Bakers from across our community will be baking cheesecake in our kitchen to share with us on Shavuot.
I hope you’ll join us for an evening of learning, dialogue, music, prayer, and, of course, cheesecake. Because every voice adds a verse to the Torah we are still writing together.
Cantor Carl H. Sayres
THURSDAY
A Message From Rabbi Douglas Kohn
Dear Friends,
Jewish life and the Hebrew calendar teach us neat, little, unexpected lessons.
In 1948, Israel became a state at midnight, May 14/15. As the clock struck midnight, the British, who had controlled the Mandate since the League of Nations confirmed its role in 1922, lowered the Union Jack, and the brand-new Israelis raised their blue and white flag with the Star of David in the middle. Then, they danced the hora and went to war to defend their nascent country from attacking Arab armies.
It was the 5th day of Iyar, 5708, and insofar as Hebrew dates begin not at midnight, but at sundown, such would forever be the date of Israel’s Independence. (The secular calendar follows May 14/15, 1948). Ever since, and as decreed by the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) Israelis and others celebrate the miracle of Israel’s rebirth with song and dance on Yom Ha’Atzma’ut, Israeli Independence Day, the 5th of Iyar, commonly launching fireworks in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, with bands playing on street corners, and little plastic musical hammers, called p’tashim, whacking on people’s heads.
That is, except for this year.
This year, Israel’s Independence Day will not be marked not on the 5th of Iyar. Rather, it will be celebrated on the 3rd of Iyar. Why?
No - not because of dismay over the continuing plight of the captive hostages in Gaza, though that surely will dampen the celebrations.
No - nor is it due to distrust and disconnect over the authoritarian rule of the Netanyahu government, which also will dampen the celebrations.
Rather, it is due to the quirks of Jewish tradition. When the 5th of Iyar falls over Shabbat, Israeli law deems that Yom Ha’Atzma’ut, Israeli Independence day, is moved to the preceding Thursday, which this year is the 3rd of Iyar, May 1. This is so that celebrations do not violate Shabbat, and so that all may participate equally – those who observe Shabbat and those who do not observe Shabbat.
Though this date adjustment appears merely to be a practical consideration, it rests in much deeper Jewish values and law. Reflecting on disputes among certain early rabbinic sages, the Talmud taught, “Eilu v’eilu divrei Elohim Chayim” –“Both these and these are expressions of the Living God.” In other words, opposites, or contending truths, each may contain elements of veracity and correctness. The world is not a zero-sum game, even as some present politicians assert otherwise. There is not always a winner and a concomitant loser. Two disparate truths can coexist, side-by-side.
Thus, Israel’s founders, many of whom were secular Zionist Jews, realized that the secular date of Israel’s founding must share a calendar with Israel’s Jewish calendar. Hence, when the 5th of Iyar falls on Shabbat, the date is adjusted so all can participate.
Finding common ground is a sacred Jewish ethic! Even, for launching fireworks!
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THE FOLLOWING TEMPLE BETH JACOB MEETING DATES:
WEDNESDAY 5/14/25 7:00PM EXECUTIVE
WEDNESDAY 5/28/25 7:00PM BOARD
WEDNESDAY 6/11/25 7:00PM EXECUTIVE
WEDNESDAY 6/25/25 7:00PM BOARD
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