Roosevelt Island jewish congregation

WELCOME TO THE ROOSEVELT ISLAND JEWISH CONGREGATION

Cantor Sarah Myerson, Spiritual Leader.  Nina Lublin, President.   

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We are a warm community, welcoming Jews (and loved ones) of all ages, ethnicities, genders, sexualities, and abilities.  We meet a few times each month to celebrate Shabbat and festivals through prayer and study, singing and meditating, eating and drinking. We have an incredible Hebrew School where each student learns at their own individual pace, and we craft each B’nei Mitzvah process to be personally meaningful.

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A SHABBAT MESSAGE FROM CANTOR MYERSON

Friday, October 31 is the 9th day of the month Marheshvan in the Jewish calendar, but for many, that date is overshadowed by its Gregorian equivalent, October 31.  Halloween is of course not a Jewish holiday, and Jewish people follow a range of approaches from fully participating in it to fully ignoring it.  My cantorial colleague Matthew Austerklein recently shared a proposal for a Jewish alternative, Sauloween.  Twelve years ago, my friend Binyomin Ginzberg wrote what he calls Hilchos Halloween, rules that might be observed were Halloween a rabbinic Jewish holiday.  If you can’t view the full list on social media, here’s an abbreviated version. 

 

Speaking of the secular calendar, we are also in the last days of early voting leading up to Tuesday’s General Election!

The process of decision making can be difficult; there is rarely a candidate with whom we agree on everything, and it can be tempting to give up and not vote at all.  I would encourage us, rather, to make the time to look into all of the candidates, to read their actual policy proposals on their websites rather than simply make judgements based on a 10-second clip we saw on TV.  In addition to the much discussed mayoral candidates, there are a variety of other people seeking to represent New Yorkers, and they each deserve our attention and careful consideration:  Justices of the NY supreme court, Judges of the County Civil Court, Council Member, Borough President, District Attorney, Comptroller, and Public Advocate.  Unlike other NYC clergy, I would not presume to try to influence you to vote for any particular candidates;  I am much more in favor of encouraging you to exercise your right to choose your own representatives.

If you’d like to make voting feel like a more Jewish experience, here’s a blessing crafted by my rabbinic colleague Laura Novak Winer.

 

Shabbat shalom!

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UPCOMING SHABBAT SERVICES ON FRIDAY EVENINGS

November 14 (Shabbat)

November 21 (Sigd+TDOR Shabbat)

December 5 (Sephardi-Mizrahi Shabbat)

 

Please contact us for location details, as we use several spaces.

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RIJC SONG CIRCLES

Please join Amber Levanon Seligson for the next Circle on Monday November 17.  All are Welcome!  No singing experience necessary.  ​​Please contact Amber at alseligson@gmail.com for exact location and any questions. Next Song Circles November 17 & December 15.

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​​SUNDAY MINYAN

Our RIJC Sunday Minyan continues, now in a special location.  Please contact Michal at  michalmelamed@yahoo.com  for details & to make sure you are on the Reminder List.

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​​HEBREW SCHOOL

The RIJC Hebrew School is up & running on Thursday afternoon with sessions at 4:30 or 5:30 pm.  For additional information & inquiries for your children, please contact Michal Melamed at  michalmelamed@yahoo.com. 

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Suggestions & Questions always welcome & appreciated.

Looking Forward...

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Nina

ninalublin1@gmail.com

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Cantor Myerson
cantor.sarah.myerson@gmail.com