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!
Sukkah Building
Song Circles
WELCOME TO THE ROOSEVELT ISLAND JEWISH CONGREGATION
Cantor Sarah Myerson, Spiritual Leader. Nina Lublin, President.
About us
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. Please be in touch with Michal if you would like to enroll your child in our Hebrew School, and if you have a child nearing the age of 12, please contact Cantor Myerson about B’nei Mitzvah.
Upcoming Services and Events
A VERY SPECIAL EVENT!
Vladka Meed, born Feigele Peltel, was just a teenager when the Germans invaded Poland in 1939. Increasingly devastated by the deportation and murder of 300,000 Jews—including her mother, brother, and sister—who were sent from Warsaw to the death camp of Treblinka, she heeded the call for armed resistance, joining the Jewish Fighting Organization (ZOB), established in Warsaw in July 1942.
With her typically “Aryan” looks and fluency in Polish, Vladka could pose as a Gentile, so the ZOB asked her to live on the Aryan side of the wall and serve as a courier. In this role, she smuggled weapons across the wall, helped Jewish children escape from the Ghetto, assisted Jews hiding in the city, and established contact with both Jews in the labor camps and the partisans in the forest.
Her book, On Both Sides of the Wall, first published in Yiddish in 1948, was based on a series of 27 articles Vladka wrote in the Yiddish-language Jewish Daily Forward (Forverts) in 1946–47. In 2026, Vladka’s son, Dr. Steven D. Meed, released a revised translation of the book.
Dr. Meed will discuss his mother’s life and writings with his wife Dr. Rita Meed and Dr. Avinoam Patt, the Maurice and Corinne Greenberg Professor of Holocaust Studies at New York University. The event is at the Museum of Jewish Heritage. Registration is required.
SHABBAT SERVICES
NOVEMBER 2026
Shabbat Services — Friday, November 13, 7:00 pm
Pajama Havdalah — Saturday, November 21, Time & Location to be announced)
DECEMBER 2026
Shabbat Services — Friday, December 11 / Special Candle Lighting Time TBA
Shabbat Services — Friday, December 18, 7:00 pm
SONG CIRCLES
Our popular monthly Monday evening activity, Song Circles, returns. You are most welcome to join our leader, long-time RIJC Member, Amber Levanon Seligson , as she takes us on a journey exploring the history & evolution of 3 songs and their lyrics & melodies at each session.
No musical or singing experience is necessary — just a healthy curiosity & desire to try something new.
Feel free to contact Amber directly, with any questions at alseligson@gmail.com.
Next Song Circle Dates
November23
December 21
CHANUKAH CELEBRATION
Sunday, December 6. Location to be provided via email.
Please see our Coming Up page here for more events and information.
Nina Lublin, President
Cantor Myerson, Spiritual Leader
cantor.sarah.myerson@gmail.com