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Rabbi Joshua Rabin Cantor Emeritus George Lindenblatt
Judaism With Open Arms |
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Friday Flyer |
December 26, 2025 • 6 Tevet, 5786 |
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Celebrating a Spectacular Hanukkah Season |
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We had almost as many events this year as there are nights of Hanukkah! Thank you to all who came to celebrate the holiday with us, both at ACI and throughout Astoria. Across all of our events, we welcomed around 300 participants! A million thanks to our own Hanukkah Heroine, Joanna Muenz, who wore many hats and rallied many volunteers to bring these creative ideas to life. Thanks also to everyone in the ACI community who devoted their time and skills to make our Hanukkah festivities shine. Special thanks to Ben Boylan for his photo booth, to Adam Cohen for sharing his laser, and to Mitch Blas and Sue Ann Vajda for their generous contribution of latkes and sufganiyot! We also extend our gratitude to all of the organizations who helped make the festivities possible: UJA, PJ Library, Adamah, Tkiya, Dough Doughnuts, Wonderspark Puppets, Singlecut Beersmiths, and Bohemian Hall! |
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There will be no Shabbat services on Saturday, December 27. We'll see you next Shabbat! |
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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 4:17 pm.
Havdalah will be Saturday at 5:21 pm.
This week's Torah reading is Vayigash. |
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Starting Soon! A New Opportunity for Jewish Study |
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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. |
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Coming in January: PJ Library's Jewish Children's Book Festival |
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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. |
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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This week in Hebrew School we had an extended Hanukkah celebration! Day 10 of Hanukkah was a joy! We sang songs, made latkes, played Hanukkah bingo, and had a fun dreidel competition with lots of smiles all around. We’ve had a wonderful 2025 and are so grateful for our amazing community. We can’t wait to see everyone back in January. Hebrew School will resume on January 6th. Wishing you a happy and restful break! |
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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 Joseph Redisch, from Brenda Hamby
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In memory of Herb Geisenborg, from Susan Cohn
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In memory of Shirley Morris, from Judith Markowitz
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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: If you don't see a name here that you would like to be included, please submit it using the form here.
Aaron Vajda |
Yahrzeits |
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This week (7-13 Tevet), we observe the yahrzeits of the following ACI members, family and friends. May their memories always be a blessing.
Henry Gressey
Henry L. Goldberg Morris I. Kuhl Mildred Janofsky Alice Mito Martin Friedman Annie Schiffer Miksa Schiffer Milton Siegel Elsie Fassler Paula Neuburger Celia Risik Gertrude D. Rubin Dora Arian Hinda Kopelman Jennie Friedlander Harry Finkelstein Joseph N. Redisch Ruchel Kisslinger Benjamin L. Markowitz Leon Geslewitz |
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