Rabbi Joshua Rabin

Cantor Emeritus George Lindenblatt

Judaism With Open Arms

Friday Flyer

January 24, 2025 • 24 Tevet, 5785

PJ Library Play Group at ACI Tomorrow

Join our next PJ Library playgroup on Saturday, January 25th from 10:30-11:30am in ACI's downstairs playroom. We'll be joined by musical guest Alty Weinreb. There will be waffles, snacks and coffee, along with a craft making birthday cards for Jewish seniors through Dorot. Be sure to stick around for the potluck Kiddush afterwards! Recommended for children ages 0-4 years.

Upcoming Shabbat Events

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 25 at 10am

PJ Library Playgroup

From 10:30-11:30am

Junior Congregation

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:

February 1
February 15

Junior Congregation

10:30-11:30am

For school-aged children

Upcoming dates:

February 8
March 8

Candle Lighting

Shabbat

Tonight's candle lighting time is 4:46 pm. The weekly Torah portion is Va'eira.

Havdalah will be Saturday at 5:49 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.

Community Events at ACI

Last Sunday evening, ACI hosted its first recital in several years, featuring performances by local drum and piano students. The program spanned classical to contemporary music, including pieces from Beethoven, The Beatles, Errol Garner, Nirvana, and Taylor Swift.

Our social hall is free to use by members of the ACI community, and available to rent by members of the wider community. Please contact [email protected] for more details.

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

This week in Judaic studies, Kitah Alef continued their exploration of Shabbat with the story The Shabbat Box. The children were captivated by Ira, a young boy who, after losing his Shabbat box, created a new one, leading to two Shabbat boxes for the class to share. We discussed how to handle unexpected challenges and transform them into positive outcomes. The class also practiced setting the Shabbat table and reciting the blessings, connecting with Jewish traditions.

Kitah Bet also read The Shabbat Box, engaging in a discussion about overcoming disappointment and turning challenges into opportunities. Some students recalled hearing the story the previous year but enjoyed it once more. Shana visited the class to reminisce about the Shabbat boxes they made last year, reflecting on the effort and details they put into their creations. The class again practiced setting the Shabbat table and saying the blessings.

In Kitah Gimmel, we discussed the Presidential inauguration and the song "God Bless America." When the children learned it was written by Jewish immigrant Irving Berlin, we explored the tradition of Jewish names and their connection to cities. A video on Berlin's life highlighted his rise from poverty on the Lower East Side to becoming a celebrated songwriter and receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This sparked the beginning of our "Famous American Jews" project, where students will research notable Jewish figures in fields such as sports, entertainment, civil rights, and science, and present their findings in the coming weeks.

In Arts and Crafts, students continued to assemble their Shabbat siddur, which will be placed in their Shabbat boxes. The siddur contains the blessings and melodies, along with their meanings, that are traditionally recited or sung on Friday night. Our new Kitah Alef students began crafting their personal Shabbat boxes this week, starting with the decoration of their unique kiddush cups.

In Hebrew language, each class began learning the prayers associated with welcoming Shabbat, including the ritual of washing hands before the Shabbat meal. They explored the meaning and origin of Al Netilat Yadayim, and the younger students created drawings that reflected their personal connections to Shabbat.

To conclude the week, the entire school gathered in the chapel to learn the songs Shalom Aleichem and Mah Yafeh Hayom.

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 beloved father, Maurice Meyers, from Paul Meyers

In memory of beloved Roberta Saltzman, from Sanders Saltzman

In memory of my beloved mother, Sarah Liebowitz, from Gloria DeLisi

In memory of my beloved grandfather, Morris Heller, from Steve Markowitz

In memory of beloved father, Maurice Meyers, from Halina & 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
Moshe Ben Tova
Gail Seddon ( sister of
Murray Lambert)
Sande Lefkowitz
Siviya Leah bat Rochel
Malcolm Mungo
Shlomo ben Eleonora
זב בן משה (Zev Ben
Moshe)

Z'ev Ben Batya V'Avram

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

Yahrzeits

This week (25 Tevet-2 Sh’vat), we observe the yahrzeits of the following ACI members, family and friends. May their memories always be a blessing.

Dina Rosenthal
Ada Firestone
Diane Bernstein
Abraham Schipior
Henry Hennelis
Libby Lehrman
Roberta Saltzman
Joseph Evans
Doris Broady
Elsie Baer
Annie Marcus
Jennie Silver
Gertrude Reich
Jared Benyamin Har-El
Tillie Weiner
Benjamin Moss
Sylvia Feinberg
Isidore Dickstein
Dora Helene Gang
Samuel Rubin
Morris Friedman
Arthur Hirschler
Morris Weissberger
Margaret Fechter Klein
Bella Bernstein
Sam Albert
Anna Golubock
May Herman