Rabbi Joshua Rabin

Cantor Emeritus George Lindenblatt

Judaism With Open Arms

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].

12/11, 7:00–8:30 PM — From Oil to Oil with Adamah at ACI

Get ready for a deliciously meaningful night! Join Adamah NY, Astoria Center of Israel, and Wandering Jews of Astoria for From Oil to Oil—an evening of olive-oil tasting, sustainability insights, and good vibes as we gear up for Hanukkah. Perfect for Young Professionals (25–45) who love food, friends, and a little eco-reflection.
Location: ACI, 27-35 Crescent Street, Astoria

12/16, 5:30–6:30 PM — Athens Park Menorah Lighting + Live Klezmer

Light up the night with ACI and the Astoria community! Enjoy a joy-filled menorah lighting, lively klezmer music by the Alex Parke Duo, and plenty of refreshments, glowsticks, and gelt for the kids. Fun for every age and stage!
Location: Athens Park, 30th St & 30th Ave, Astoria

12/18, 5:30–6:30 PM — Puppets & Potato Pancakes at the Bohemian Hall

Step into a magical Hanukkah evening featuring the whimsical Wonderspark Puppets! We’ll kick off with a menorah lighting, then enjoy a festive puppet show inside the cozy Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden. Stick around afterward for potato pancakes, beer, and mingling with local families.
Recommended for families.
Location: Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden, 29-19 24th Ave, Astoria

12/20, (Time TBD) — Craft Brews & Candle Lighting at SingleCut Beersmiths 

Relax, sip, and celebrate! Join us for a casual menorah lighting followed by craft brews, great bites, and nostalgic holiday cartoons—including the classic Rugrats Hanukah. RSVP and snag a free drink ticket! Come solo or bring your crew—everyone’s welcome.
Location: SingleCut Beersmiths, 19-33 37th St, Astoria

12/21, 2:00–5:00 PM — ACI Hanukah Pajamakah Party

It’s ACI’s annual Hanukah party… pajama style! Wear your coziest Hannukah or everyday jammies and enjoy an afternoon packed with music, face painting, an upcycled craft table with Adamah NY,  cookie decorating, a photo booth, treats, and more. Spin dreidels, meet friends, and even watch a laser customize dreidels!
Thanks to PJ Library for sponsoring this snuggly celebration.
Get your tickets now: $30/family, $8/individual

ACI is thrilled to partner with PJ Library and 92NY for the first-ever Jewish Children’s Book Festival, taking place on Sunday, January 11 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at 92NY in Manhattan. This free, family-friendly event celebrates Jewish stories, imagination, and creativity through author storytimes, live music, crafts, and workshops for all ages. Families can also “shop” for free PJ Library books to take home.

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.

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:

• December 13
• January 10
• February 7

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.

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.

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.

This Week in Hebrew School

This week our learners explored g'vurah—the strength, courage, and inner resilience that the Maccabees embodied during the Chanukah story. They learned about how g'vurah isn't only about physical bravery, but also about standing up for what's right, staying true to our values, and bringing light into challenging moments.

Students reflected on the "everyday heroes" in their own lives—family members, teachers, and friends—who show quiet acts of strength and kindness. We connected this to hakarat hatov (gratitude), noticing the people who help us grow and the moments when we ourselves can act with courage.

Our hope is that this learning helps your children recognize their own sparks of g'vurah and appreciate the heroes around them every day.

As we prepare for Chanukah, the whole school joined in a special Chanukah play that introduced the story, the Maccabees, and the themes of light and courage. It was a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season and get everyone excited for the weeks ahead.

We had such an energizing and joyful afternoon! Camp Ramah visited and led the children in dance—lots of ruach (spirit), movement, and smiles all around. Students also enjoyed a fun pizza treat to celebrate being together as a community.

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Messages

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

This week (16-22 Kislev), we observe the yahrzeits of the following ACI members, family and friends. May their memories always be a blessing.