Welcome to the
Roosevelt Island jewish congregation
Our Temple in the Cultural Center
Over 40 years of prayers, services & more...
High Holiday Childrens Services
One of the many family friendly events
RIJC Holidays
Annual observances of festivals & holidays, including Tu B'Shevat & more...
RIJC Events
Purimschpiel!
Adult Learning!
ROOSEVELT ISLAND JEWISH CONGREGATION
Laurie Gold, Rabbi. Nina Lublin, President.
L’Shanah Tova —
Our New Year began with a wonderful Friday night Shabbat/Erev Rosh Hashanah, led by our new Rabbi, Laurie Gold, with cantor Sandra Goodman. Nearly 30 participants enjoyed a beautiful first night service, in our Sanctuary in the Cultural Center, followed by apples & honey, and a round challah, all provided by Peggy & Ken Organes.
Rosh Hashanah, Day 1 saw about 25 folks in attendance in the Worth & Nancy Howe Theatre, with special Torah readings by Michal Melamed & Gad Levanon. It was especially nice to see a few of our long time families & their grown children, as well as welcome a new mom of an 8 week old.
Special Thanks & appreciation go to Amber Levanon Seligson and Sara Serfaty who led a lively, well attended Children’s Service featuring a visit by Rabbi Gold with one of our Torahs.
Rosh Hashanah, Day 2, continued our holiday services back in the Sanctuary with nearly 30 participants. Michal Melamed coordinated our Torah service with Alan Nadel; The Shofar Service was led by Rabbi Gold & Cantor Sandy, with Scot Bobo as our Shofar blower.
Rabbi Gold lead Tashlich at the Meditation Steps, with about 30 folks ( & a few of their dogs ), and another sounding of the shofar by Scot Bobo.
AND,
A Special THANK YOU to our volunteers who did the heavy lifting, Friday set-up & Sunday breakdown of our Sanctuary and the Main Street/Howe Theare.
THANK YOU ...
Thank You one & all who came together in our Sanctuary in the Cultural Center for beautiful Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services led by Rabbi Laurie Gold & our guest Cantor, Sandra Goodman. Sandy was a great asset to Rabbi Gold & the RIJC, with only 2 weeks to prepare for RH & 2 days to prepare for YK.
During the 2 holidays we saw between 30 and 50 of you for each service with a few more via Zoom. We are eternally grateful to Michal Melamed & Amber Levanon Seligson for all their HHD & Torah Service coordination with Rabbi Gold, & their readings, along with those by Gad L, Ben F, Dvir K, Scot B and so many more... And, at the well-attended RH & YK Children’s Services, led by Amber Levanon Seligson & Sara Serfaty, music was provided by Jonah Bobo & Anna Levenstein. Thank you all.
AND NOW, SUKKOT!
NOTE: We are postponing Friday's (Sep 29) Shabbat / Sukkot event to Sunday afternoon / evening with Rabbi Gold
We have a new, slightly smaller Sukkah this year, and we look forward to some creative sharing of the “inside” and outside spaces on the Terrace. Rabbi Gold will lead brief services and bring the lulav & etrog to share, and we will share a pot-luck meal.
THANK YOU in advance for bringing a dairy or vegetarian dish to share (including serving dish/platter & utensils) with family and friends. Bringing beverages to share, as well as extra paper & plastic goods will be very helpful as well.
Please say a little prayer for good weather — In case of rain, we will be in the Senior Center, with entry thru the Breezeway/Garden Gate entrance. The Sukkah will be available to you thru the end of next week, for sharing meals & activities with friends & family. We appreciate your taking good care of our Sukkah and being good guests, and always cleaning up when you leave.
A very Special Thank You to Lisa Fernandez, Director, R.I. Carter Burden Center for Older Adults for her assistance & hospitality.
THANK YOU ...
To those of you who have already made generous donations, renewed your memberships or joined the RIJC for the first time. You are supporting your Rabbi, our HHD cantor, our space in the Cultural Center, our new Sukkah, and so much more.
Please visit the “Membership Info” page at RIJC.org for details on how to contribute via PayPal or by check. Checks made out to the Roosevelt Island Jewish Congregation can be mailed to RIJC, P.O.Box 241 Island Station, New York, NY 10044.
HEBREW SCHOOL —
Thanks to the due diligence of Michal Melamed, we once again have a Hebrew School, which started last week & continues on Thursdays. Michal has already reached out via several platforms; For further information, please visit the Hebrew School Page at RIJC.org
It’s a new year as well as The New Year at the RIJC.
Suggestions & Questions always welcome & appreciated.
Looking Forward ...
Nina
Rabbi Gold