Rabbi Joshua Rabin

Cantor Emeritus George Lindenblatt

Judaism With Open Arms

Friday Flyer

January 17, 2025 • 17 Tevet, 5785

Upcoming Shabbat Events at ACI

Potluck Kiddush

January 25th

Join us for a potluck Kiddush after services! No contribution of food is required, but if you can, please bring a Kosher dairy/pareve dish to share (sign up here).

Ezra Gershon's Bar Mitzvah

February 1st

Celebrate Ezra's milestone with the ACI community! Be sure to join us afterwards for a Kiddush luncheon in the social hall.

Open Door Shabbat

February 15th

Dig more deeply into the meaning and history of the Shabbat service, with a meditation service from 10-10:30 and a learning service from 10:30-12pm.

Shabbat Services

Saturday, January 18 at 10am

Tot Shabbat

From 10:30-11:30am

Doors open at 9:45; come early to schmooze. Join us afterwards for a light Kiddush.

Upcoming Children’s Programs

Tot Shabbat

10:30-11:30am

For preschool children

Upcoming dates:

January 18
February 1

Junior Congregation

10:30-11:30am

For school-aged children

Upcoming dates:

January 25

Candle Lighting

Shabbat

Tonight's candle lighting time is 4:38 pm. The weekly Torah portion is Shemot.

Havdalah will be Saturday at 5:41 pm.

Do You Have Construction Experience? We Need You!

ACI is seeking a volunteer with construction experience to assist and advise on upcoming renovation projects. Please write to [email protected] by January 31 if you are interested.

Film Shoot at ACI

We were pleased to host the filming of the short film "Faye" at ACI this past weekend. Many thanks to Joanna for coordinating, and to Joanna, Ariel, and Ari for supervising. ACI is open to further opportunities to host events and film/photo shoots; please contact Joanna Muenz for more information!

Open Door Shabbat Calendar

Our Open Door Shabbat services are back once a month! Upcoming dates are:

February 15
March 8
April 26
May 10
June 14

What is Open Door Shabbat?

Shabbat morning is the best time for Jews to come together, and the WORST time to feel out of place in synagogue.

Join the ACI once a month for a no-experience-necessary Shabbat service, where we will explore the:

Structure of a prayer experience
Meaning behind key Jewish prayers
How to sing when you don't know Hebrew

At 10:00, there will be a brief meditation service, and at 10:30 we will start the learning service.

If you have any questions, contact Rabbi Josh at [email protected].

This Week in Hebrew School

In Judaic Studies, Kitah Aleph continued exploring Shabbat by reading Is It Shabbos Yet? The story follows Malki, a young girl preparing for Shabbat, introducing the Yiddish word "Shabbos" and the Hebrew "Shabbat." Children shared their families' Shabbat chores and learned how to set a traditional Shabbat table. We discussed key items like the white tablecloth, challah, Kiddush cup, candles, and flowers. Lighting candles at sundown marks the start of Shabbat. While not all families follow these traditions, understanding them is important to Jewish heritage. We concluded with Shabbat songs and movement.

Kita Bet continued its unit on the Jewish Life Cycle, focusing on old age and reflecting on life's entire journey. Students shared thoughts on aging, noting challenges like glasses and mobility aids, and positive aspects such as wisdom and time with grandchildren. We discussed COVID's impact on grandparents, including health precautions and support for younger siblings. Students created an "Old Age" poster, learning terms like "seniors" and exploring concepts of respect, retirement, and courtesy.

Kitah Gimmel studied the Golden Age of Jewish Spain (990-1400 CE), a period of Jewish professional diversity. We highlighted the Rambam (Maimonides), a doctor, Torah scholar, and philosopher who significantly influenced Jewish history. Students were excited to learn about a Brooklyn hospital named after him. We introduced a research project on famous Jewish figures in the U.S., with students selecting a figure to research and prepare a presentation.

In Hebrew language class, students received new notebooks, filling out covers in Hebrew. The first writing topic was Shabbat—students spelled "Shabbat" and learned about its beginning and end, first customs like lighting Shabbat candles, enjoying Shabbat dinner, and saying Kiddush. They practiced writing Hebrew blessings: Borei Pri HaGefen, Hamotzi Lechem Min Ha'Aretz, and Lehadlik Neir Shel Shabbat, creating illustrations to match. We also reviewed Havdalah, its meaning, and associated customs.

In Arts and Crafts, students beautified Shabbat Book covers. Kita Bet and Gimmel began adding blessings, starting with those recited over Shabbat candles. We discussed the significance of lighting at least two candles on Friday night. Throughout the year, students will continue adding blessings to their Shabbat Books, completing the Shabbat Box from last year. New Kitah Aleph students will assemble and decorate their own Shabbat Box, beginning this week by personalizing challah covers.

Finally, the entire school gathered in the main sanctuary with Rabbi Josh, who taught a verse from Shalom Aleichem, the iconic song sung after lighting candles on Friday night.

Pastoral Requests

ACI is committed to serving our community’s needs. If you would like to add a name to our Mi Sheberach list, inform the synagogue about a hospital visit or death, or request pastoral care for yourself or someone you know, please fill out this simple form. All submissions are confidential.

Messages

In memory of Shirley Wigler, from Susan Mickel

In memory of my beloved friend Lillian Polstein, from Rose Scher

In memory of my beloved uncle, Rabbi Franklin Cohn, from Susan Cohn

In memory of my cherished mother, Sarah Scher, from Rose Scher

In memory of my beloved mother, Sally Myers, from Paul Meyers

Mi Sheberachs

Please keep the following people in your hearts and prayers for the blessing of r'fua sh'leima:

Mindy Zimmerman
Reyna Rosendorf
Chia Minna Bas Asna

Menachem Mendel
Yonah Ben Beila V'Yaakov
Shalom Ben Haim
Heddy Bat Evelyn

Rachel bat Eleaonora
Joel Tarlowe
Aaron Vajda
Zalman Mordechai
Aaron ben Yehudit

Adina bat Guta
Leonard Rosendorf
Shashanna Bat Toda
Gary Lefkowitz
Harold Lefkowitz
Eric Laxman
Michael Stoess
Pessah Ruchel Bat Dina
Tzvi Hersh Bar Esther
Faith Braunschweig
Deborah Ramirez.
Sherwin Lif
HaRav Yaakov ben Esther
Jack Demsheck
Dinah Bat Brina
Tovan bat Sarah
Wendy Lu
Faiga Leah bat Devorah
Larry Opoliner
Sarah Chana bat Zeesl
v Dov-Beryl ben Rev
Chaim Ha Levi
Shalom ben Perel
Shaul ben Sara
Dov Shlomo ben Esther
Moshe Ben Tova
Gail Seddon
Sande Lefkowitz
Siviya Leah bat Rochel
Malcolm Mungo

Shlomo ben Eleonora

Zev Ben Moshe

Z'ev Ben Batya V'Avram

To add (or remove) a name, please contact Lizanne Fluxmon.

Yahrzeits

This week (18-24 Tevet), we observe the yahrzeits of the following ACI members, family and friends. May their memories always be a blessing.

Sarah Gafter
Risa Hirschler
David Shraberg
Moses Mendel
Leon Flatow
Dr. Joseph Kosowsky
Leib Hammer
Irving Nadel
Claire Reisman
Rae Wilson
Anna Bernstein
Pearl Holtzman
Betsy Gottlieb
Marion Stransky
Max Tobias
Selwyn Stanley Mischel
Jacob Frankel
Moses Friedman
Fanny Kaplan
Julius E. Leichter
Maurice Meyers
Rosalind Moss
Shirley Wigler
Libbie Goldstein
Paul M. Kronowitz
Minnie Leichter
Samuel Ziesk
Harold Kahn
Samuel Leinwol
Louis Scher
Rose Aptakn
Jeanette Bronstein
Bernard Weinbaum
Ida Neckin NM
Lena Schechter
Dr. Mandel Weinstein