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Rabbi Joshua Rabin Cantor Emeritus George Lindenblatt
Judaism With Open Arms |
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Friday Flyer |
September 19, 2025 • 26 Elul, 5785 |
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Rosh Hashana Services |
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We look forward to seeing both longtime members and new friends next week for our Rosh Hashana services! Reserve tickets here if you haven't yet. Monday, September 22
Tuesday, September 23
Wednesday, September 24
Saturday, September 27
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Join the ACI Community for Two Good Causes on Sunday |
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ACI will be showing up to advocate for organ donation at the LiveOn 5K on Sunday morning, and for our neighborhood parks with Adamah's Rooted program on Sunday afternoon. Registration is now closed for these events, but we look forward to seeing many of you there! |
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Shabbat Services |
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Saturday, September 20 10:00am Doors open at 9:45; come early to schmooze. Join us after services for a light Kiddush. |
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Upcoming Shabbat Children's Programs |
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Please note corrected dates! There is NO Tot Shabbat tomorrow.
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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Shabbat candle lighting time is tonight at 6:40 pm. The weekly Torah portion is Nitzavim.
Havdalah will be Saturday at 7:36 pm.
Rosh Hashana Light holiday candles on Monday at 6:34pm. Light holiday candles from a pre-existing flame on Tuesday at 7:31pm. Holiday ends Wednesday at 7:30pm. |
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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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Support ACI's Centennial Kol Nidre Appeal |
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In celebration of ACI's extraordinary 100th anniversary, this year's Kol Nidre Appeal takes on special meaning as we honor our past and invest in our future. While membership dues cover basic operations, your generous contributions power the programs, building improvements, and community initiatives that make ACI a thriving center of Jewish life in Western Queens. In this centennial year, your support helps ensure that ACI continues to flourish l'dor va-dor — from generation to generation. Please give generously at astoriacenter.org/kol-nidre or by check to the synagogue office. |
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It's Not Too Late to Get High Holiday Tickets |
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Join us this week 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 See the top of this message for the full Rosh Hashanah schedule! Yom Kippur Wednesday, October 1
Thursday, October 2
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New This Fall:
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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. |
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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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This week at Hebrew School, we focused on the upcoming High Holidays. Kitah Adom learned about the significance of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. The children explored the meaning behind the name: rosh means "head," and shanah means "year." We discussed how this holiday is a time for reflection, asking for forgiveness, renewal, and fresh beginnings. Kitah Katom students had a conversation about what they know and wish for the new year and created cards for their families. Our Kitah Tzahov students learned to read and write the letters ש (shin), נ (nun), and ה (hey), and put it all together to form the word שָׁנָה (shanah), meaning "year." Each student wrote their own "Sweet Intention" for the coming year. Ask your child to share theirs! All students finished by noshing on round challah and apples with honey, reciting the brachot (blessings), and talking about why we eat these special foods on Rosh Hashanah. Wishing you and your family a Shanah Tovah U'Metukah — a good and sweet new year! Reminder: There is no Hebrew School next week during Rosh Hashanah. |
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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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Wishing all good health and happiness throughout 5786! From Murray Lambert |
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Wishing Bill Weber a speedy recovery, from Susan Mickel |
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Best wishes to Bill Weber for a speedy recovery, from Sue Ann & Mitch |
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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 (27 Elul - 4 Tishrei), we observe the yahrzeits of the following ACI members, family and friends. May their memories always be a blessing.
Ralph Ilowite Alex Lebo Morris Rosenberg Sonia Goodman Bernard Sklarofsky Julius Braunschweig Louis H. Leichter Volko Dorfman Joseph Saler Charles Kaplan Joseph Holzman Isidor Risik Yetta Myers Gertraud Herrscher Abraham Theodore Barron Eleonora Shevach Louis Reich Bessie Stamler Anna Selter Sol Bernstein Lester Schulman Miriam Sternfield Bertha Hatlon Lucy Gang Abraham Selbst Selma Field Hartman Michael Sklarofsky Hyman Rubin Bella Rosenzweig |
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