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Rabbi Joshua Rabin Cantor Emeritus George Lindenblatt
Judaism With Open Arms |
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Friday Flyer |
September 12, 2025 • 19 Elul, 5785 |
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Open Door Shabbat & Potluck Kiddush Tomorrow |
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Tomorrow is our first Open Door Shabbat since the summer break - a perfect chance to connect for newcomers and longtime members alike. After services, stay for a potluck Kiddush! If you're able to, please bring a dairy or pareve dish to share; let us know what you're bringing here. |
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You Could Save a Life During the High Holidays |
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ACI is pleased to once again host the New York Blood Center's mobile van at ACI on Sunday, September 28 from 10am to 4pm. Make your observance of the High Holidays tangible - join us in literally giving life during this time of reflection and renewal. |
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Open Door Shabbat |
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Saturday, September 14
10:00am Meditation 10:30am Learning Service Doors open at 9:45; come early to schmooze. Join us after services for a potluck Kiddush, then if you can, stay afterwards to help us prepare the sanctuary for the High Holidays! |
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Shabbat Children's Programs Return Next Week! |
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Tot Shabbat 10:30-11:30am For preschool children
Junior Congregation 10:30-11:30am For school-aged children
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Candle Lighting |
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Tonight's candle lighting time is 6:51 pm. The weekly Torah portion is Ki Tavo.
Havdalah will be Saturday at 7:49 pm. |
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Community Security Update |
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ACI joins with Jewish communities worldwide in mourning the tragic loss of life in Jerusalem during last week's terrorist attacks. In response to this attack and the continued rise in antisemitism both at home and abroad, we want to reassure our congregation: We are implementing enhanced security measures throughout the High Holiday season, to ensure everyone's safety during services and Hebrew School programming. May we all be inscribed for a year of peace and safety. |
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High Holiday Volunteers Needed! |
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Preparing the sanctuary (tomorrow!) Please join us after services on Saturday, September 13 to help prepare our sanctuary for the High Holidays. We'll be changing Torah covers and curtains in the Ark, as well as bringing out the Machzorim. Many hands make light work!
High holiday ushers We're looking for volunteers to serve as ushers during High Holiday services. This is a wonderful opportunity to welcome congregants and visitors to our synagogue. You can sign up here on the 'HH Ushers 2025' tab. Please contact Susan if you would like more information. |
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Sign Up for ROOTED-A Jewish Day of Service for the Earth |
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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2025 2-4pm Astoria location to be announced
This September, join New Yorkers of all ages from across NYC, Westchester, and Long Island for ROOTED-a powerful, hands-on volunteer day of environmental service grounded in Jewish values. From parks to beaches to gardens, we’ll roll up our sleeves and care for the earth together, as one big New York family.
ROOTED launches a sacred week of reflection, action, and renewal, closing out Elul and leading us into Rosh Hashanah and Climate Week NYC.
Sign up NOW at adamah.org/rooted (We'll let you know the time and location once we receive our project assignment.)
Let’s spread some joy, give back to the planet, and do something beautiful-together. |
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New This Fall:
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Starting this Sunday, September 7, join Rabbi Josh each Sunday night from 9:00-9:15 pm ET on Zoom for a brief meditation to close out the weekend and start the new week with calmness, focus, and purpose. Our meditation is open to anyone who wants a few minutes of quiet to center themselves. Join the meditation by scanning the QR code below, or clicking on this link: https://tinyurl.com/3t77tvcv. |
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New Open Door Shabbat Dates |
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Our regular Shabbat services resume on September 6, and this year's Open Door Shabbat services begin the following week. Mark your calendars with all of the upcoming dates this year:
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 community once a month for a no-experience-necessary Shabbat service, where we will explore the:
It's not just for newcomers, though! This is an excellent opportunity to dig deeper into prayers and rituals that may have become rote. 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 rabbi@astoriacenter.org. |
High Holiday Tickets On Sale Now |
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Join us this fall as we come together to celebrate the High Holidays – a time of reflection, renewal, and community. Services are, as always, free for ACI members, and $36 per adult, per holiday for non-members and associate members. The children’s playroom will be open and available throughout services, in addition to the special children's programs listed below. Our YouTube livestream will be provided for all services in the sanctuary. |
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Rosh Hashanah Monday, September 22
Tuesday, September 23
Wednesday, September 24
Saturday, September 27
Yom Kippur Wednesday, October 1
Thursday, October 2
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Bringing Jewish Worship to Rikers Island |
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ACI is proud to be a member organization of the New York Jewish Coalition for Criminal Justice Reform. As part of this partnership, we will be organizing groups of volunteers several times a year to participate in weekday worship services at Rikers Island. This is a meaningful opportunity both to share in Jewish worship with our neighbors, and to learn about the experiences of those who are incarcerated there.
We will be planning our first visit in late September around the High Holidays, and will attempt to work around volunteers' schedules in choosing a date. If you are interested in participating in this or any future visits, or if you have any questions about the project, please contact Litza Stark at [email protected]. |
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This Week in Hebrew School |
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We had a wonderful first day of Hebrew School on Tuesday! This year we're welcoming nine new students! To bring everyone together, we began by introducing all of our teachers: Morah Esther, Morah Ariane, Moreh Alty, and Morah Lydia. Moreh Alty led us in singing "Hine Ma Tov," followed by a summer movement activity and a round of Human Bingo led by education director Shana Fruchter. We also sang "Oseh Shalom" with the kids, filling the room with energy and community spirit. Students searched for their Hebrew names around the room, and then we broke into classrooms for 45 minutes of class icebreakers, learning and connection. We ended the day with a special treat—Rabbi Josh shared his shofar and even blew it for us! |
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Pathways to Judaism and Conversion Class |
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Today, many of us are finding our way within Judaism. Some want to reconnect, while others decide whether to choose Judaism as their spiritual home.
ACI is proud to offer Pathways to Judaism, an opportunity for individuals to learn about Judaism from the ground up. The class is designed for individuals seeking an introduction to Judaism or those considering conversion to Judaism. ACI’s program is an affiliate of the Miller Introduction to Judaism program at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, California.
Thanks to a generous grant from the National Center to Encourage Judaism, ACI will offer the course twice in 2025-26. The first session will be held on Mondays from September 2025 to January 2026, and the second will be held on Thursdays from February 2026 to June 2026. Classes for both cohorts will be held via Zoom from 8:00-9:30 p.m. ET.
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Join Rabbi Josh and LiveOnNY |
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Join Rabbi Josh on Sunday, September 21st, for the LiveOnNY Donor Heroes 5K at Flushing Meadows Corona Park—a meaningful run/walk honoring the heroes of organ and tissue donation. This is more than just a 5K; it’s a chance to come together as a community, celebrate life, and support a vital cause.
Whether you’re a runner, walker, or cheerleader, join us as part of our team. Let’s move with purpose and make a difference—together!
Register here to learn more and pick "Team ACI" as your 5K team. |
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Pastoral Requests ACI is committed to serving our community’s needs. If you would like to 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.
Do You Want to Pray for Someone Who Is Sick?
Each Shabbat at ACI, we recite a מי שברך לחולים, a prayer for those in our community who are sick and in need of healing. You are welcome to add anyone to the list, regardless of whether the person is Jewish or not.
If you would like to add a name, please complete this form: https://forms.gle/6JwBqg1UJ1oMGRmz8. The form takes 1-2 minutes to complete.
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Messages |
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In memory of Cantor Lindenblatt's brother Paul, from Elaine Brichta
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Congratulations to the Brichta Family on the engagement of Gaby to Harris Goldstein, from Elaine Brichta |
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In memory of my beloved mother, Ruth Goldstein, from Sandra Levine |
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In memory of Cantor Lindenblatt's brother Paul, from Sandra Levine |
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Mi Sheberachs |
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Please keep the following people in your hearts and prayers for the blessing of r'fua sh'leima:
Mindy Zimmerman Dov-Beryl ben Rev Chaim HaLevi Shalom ben Perel Jonah Alexander Hyman Natan Ben Avraham Ze’ev ben Batya v Avram To add (or remove) a name, please contact Lizanne Fluxmon. |
Yahrzeits |
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This week (20 - 26 Elul), we observe the yahrzeits of the following ACI members, family and friends. May their memories always be a blessing.
Gussie Miller William Weinberger Sidney Kant Shirley Lehman Joseph Blumberg Leon Goldberg Yetta Goldberg William Seligman Emanuel Friedlander Nat J. Newman Stanley Siegel Dr. Max M. Lipsett Augusta Gunsberg Louis Goldstein Max Gross Florence Halpern Anna Kemp Hermina Rosenthal Joseph Wachtel Martha Hessel Madeline Mesnick Dorothy Schmukler Reuben Freed |
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