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Rabbi Joshua Rabin Cantor Emeritus George Lindenblatt
Judaism With Open Arms |
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Friday Flyer |
November 21, 2025 • 1 Kislev, 5786 |
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Get Ready for Hanukkah at ACI and Beyond! |
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This year, ACI's Hanukkah celebrations are spreading across Astoria! Join us as we bring light and celebration to this dark season with events for all ages and interests:
Mark your calendars now, and stay tuned for more details! |
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Shabbat Service Updates |
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ACI will not be holding Shabbat services on Saturday, November 29 or Saturday, Decmember 27. |
Shabbat Services |
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Saturday, November 22 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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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 4:15 pm.
Havdalah will be Saturday at 5:17 pm.
This week's Torah reading is Toldot. |
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Out of the Ruins: Jewish Wisdom on Resilience |
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This new Jewish year we are thrilled to partner with Hadar’s Project Zug to offer ACI members a wonderful opportunity to deepen your Jewish learning with curated, text-based courses designed to spark rich discussion. In this course, titled Out of the Ruins: Jewish Wisdom on Resilience, we’ll look to our own tradition, focusing on narratives from the Torah as well as the events of Jewish history to mine our texts for wisdom on resilience. We’ll ask: what are the different shapes resilience takes and how might we cultivate our own capacity for resilience based on the wisdom of Jewish tradition? This is a chance not only to engage in Jewish text study, but also to connect on a deeper level with fellow community members. The class will meet four times (virtually) on Thursdays in January (January 8, 15, 22, and 29) from 8-9:30 pm. The class is free for ACI members, with a suggested donation of $36 for non-members. |
We Need YOU to Make our Hanukkah Events a Success! |
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As you can see, ACI has a full calendar of exciting Hanukkah events in the works, but we need your help to make them all happen! If you'd like to help out with activities both at ACI and around the neighborhood, please contact Joanna at [email protected].
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Blood Drive Announced for November 23 |
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Save a life! The New York Blood Center will be at ACI from 10:30am to 4:30pm on Sunday, November 23. Make your appointment now! |
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ONGOING PROGRAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES |
Open Door Shabbat |
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Join the ACI community once a month for a no-experience-necessary Shabbat service, where we will explore the structure and meaning behind the prayer service. Learn more here. The next dates:
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Rikers Island Services |
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ACI is partnering with the NY Jewish Coalition for Criminal Justice Reform to organize volunteer groups for worship services at Rikers Island - contact Litza Stark to participate or find out more. |
Sunday Meditation |
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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. Learn more, or join the meditation here. |
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Pathways to Judaism |
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ACI is offering an introduction to Judaism course via Zoom for those exploring Judaism or considering conversion. The Fall course, held Monday nights, is already underway, and the Spring session will be held Thursday nights from February to June. Learn more and register here. |
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This Week in Hebrew School |
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Our classes explored foundational Jewish stories and values this week, connecting ancient wisdom to modern life. Kitah Adom delved into the stories of the Garden of Eden and Noah's Ark, learning about choices, responsibility, and listening to G-d. Students brought these stories to life through acting and created colorful rainbow art to reinforce the lessons in a hands-on way. Kitah Katom and Kitah Yarok both explored the mitzvah of Hachnasat Orchim (welcoming guests). Students learned Hebrew greetings, practiced acting as hosts and guests, and connected the lesson to Avraham and Sarah's legendary hospitality. Kitah Katom created welcoming signs, while Kitah Yarok compared ancient hospitality customs with modern practices, discussing how our approach to welcoming strangers has evolved over time. Kitah Tzahov continued building their Hebrew skills with flashcard practice and completed their Torah art projects from the previous week. |
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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.
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Support ACI's Mission |
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Help us continue to serve our community with meaningful programs, welcoming services, and a well-maintained sacred space. Donate Here. |
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Messages |
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In memory of Jacob Cohen, from Donald & Carol Cohen |
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In memory of Margaret Epstein - Laura / Lou Epstein |
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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:
Starting December 12, we'll be refreshing our Mi Sheberach list to keep it current. Only names submitted through our online form will be included, and names will remain on the list for six weeks unless resubmitted.
If someone you care about needs continued prayers, please be sure to use the form to submit their name before December 12.
Aaron Vajda Ari Ortiz Asher Chaim ben Carol Avram Michal Ben Sylvia V'Fred Wishnoff Chaya Bat Sarah" Chia Minna Bas Asna David ben Adele David Levin Deborah Ramirez Dinah Bat Brina Elizabeth Bruner Esther Bat Chana Faiga bat Feivel v Leia Faiga Leah bat Devorah Faith Braunschweig Gail Seddon Gary Lefkowitz Gayle Demsheck HaRav Avraham ben Tovah Chaya HaRav Yaakov ben Esther Heddy Bat Evelyn Joel Tarlowe Jonah Alexander Hyman Larry Opoliner Larry Singer Lenny Rosendorf Malcolm Mungo Menachem Mendel Yonah Ben Beila V' Yaakov Mindy Zimmerman Miriam bat Chana v Shaul Natan Ben Avraham Natanel Elazar Ben Devorah Gal Nora Joel Pessah Ruchel Bat Dina Pia Yehudi bat Ze'ev + Pesha Rachel bat Eleaonora Rachell Bat Tova V'Arya Reyna Rosendorf Rony Joel Rosie Lazaro Sarah Chana bat Zeesl v Dov-Beryl ben Rev Chaim HaLevi Shalom Ben Haim Shalom ben Perel Shandle Gittle bat Rivka Shari Levin Shashanna Bat Toda Shaul ben Sara Shlomo ben Eleonora Siviya Leah bat Rochel Tovah bat Sarah Tzvi Hersh Bar Esther Wilton Mungo Yetta Miriam bat Sarah Faygele v'Rachmiel HaCohen Z'ev Ben Batya V'Avram Zalman Mordechai Aaron ben Yehudit |
Yahrzeits |
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This week (2-8 Kislev), we observe the yahrzeits of the following ACI members, family and friends. May their memories always be a blessing.
Lena Friedman |
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