Rabbi Joshua Rabin

Cantor Emeritus George Lindenblatt

Judaism With Open Arms

Friday Flyer

January 23, 2026 • 5 Shevat, 5786

Just Announced:

Our Stories, Our Choices: Jewish Experiences of Abortion

Join us for this special program in conjunction with the National Council of Jewish Women's Repro Shabbat. While religion is often portrayed as anti-abortion, the majority of religious people support abortion access, and 62% of abortion patients identify with a religious tradition. Professor Michal Raucher will join us for a Zoom discussion to share narratives from her research on Jews who have terminated pregnancies in the US. Together we'll explore what these experiences reveal about Jewish perspectives on abortion.

When: Monday, February 9 at 8 PM
Where: Zoom (register below)

Learn More and Register

More dates to remember:

January 30
Kabbalat Shabbat / Kabba-Tot Shabbat

March 1
Purim Party

March 8
Blood Drive

March 13
Centennial Shabbat Across America

Shabbat Services

Saturday, January 24
10:00 am

Tot Shabbat
10:30-11:30am

Doors open at 9:45; come early to schmooze. Join us after services for a light Kiddush!

Upcoming Shabbat Children's Programs

Tot Shabbat

10:30-11:30am

For preschool children

January 24 - THIS WEEK
February 7
February 21

Junior Congregation

10:30-11:30am

For school-aged children

~~February 7~~ RESCHEDULED to February 28
March 7

Download the full calendar as a PDF

Candle Lighting

Shabbat candle lighting time is tonight at 4:44 pm.

Havdalah will be Saturday at 5:47 pm.

This week's Torah reading is Bo.

Next Week: ACI Kabbalat Shabbat / Kabba-Tot Shabbat

Join ACI at 6:00 pm (with kids programming starting at 5:45) on Friday, January 30th for our first Kabbalat Shabbat of the year. Services for all will be held in the sanctuary, with Tot Shabbat offered simultaneously in the children’s playroom. The service is appropriate for community members of all ages, and attendance is strongly encouraged (including Young Professionals, Hebrew School families, and Tot Shabbat regulars!) After services, stay for an Oneg with snacks and refreshments, a L’Chaim, and time to schmooze with fellow ACI community members.

No RSVP necessary. Please direct any questions to [email protected].

Join the ACI Book Club!

The Astoria Center of Israel Book Club will be launching in the next month or so, and we'd love your feedback as to when we might meet. The club will meet approximately every other month. Please complete the form here.

The first book will be A Rich Brew by Shachar Pinsker.

A Rich Brew explores the surprising and central role that cafés played in shaping modern Jewish culture from the mid-19th to the mid-20th century. Literary scholar Shachar M. Pinsker argues that cafés across six major cities — Odessa, Warsaw, Vienna, Berlin, New York, and Tel Aviv — became vital “thirdspaces” where Jewish writers, thinkers, artists, and political activists met, debated, created, and exchanged ideas. More than just places to drink coffee, these social hubs helped foster creativity and community during a time of rapid urbanization and migration. Drawing on memoirs, archival documents, literature, and visual culture, Pinsker shows how café life influenced literature, politics, art, and theater and helped define what modern Jewish culture would become.

Pathways to Judaism: Find Your Jewish Compass

ACI is proud to offer Pathways to Judaism, an opportunity for individuals to learn about Judaism from the ground up. The class is designed both for individuals seeking an introduction to Judaism and those considering conversion to Judaism.

Classes are taught by Rabbi Josh Rabin, and meet on Zoom Thursday nights from 8-9:30pm through June, beginning on February 5.

Learn More and Register

ONGOING PROGRAMS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Open Door Shabbat

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:

February 7
March 14
April 11
May 9
June 6

Pathways to Judaism

ACI is offering an introduction to Judaism course via Zoom for those exploring Judaism or considering conversion. The Spring session will be held Thursday nights from February to June. Learn more and register here.

Rikers Island Services

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.

This Week in Hebrew School

This week, students learned about Kol Israel Arevim Ze La Ze—our shared responsibility for one another—and explored what it means to care for Klal Israel through values like achrayut (responsibility), kindness, and unity.

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.

Support ACI's Mission

Help us continue to serve our community with meaningful programs, welcoming services, and a well-maintained sacred space. Donate Here.

Messages

In memory of Sylvia Steinberg, from Susan Mickel

In memory of Sydelle Diner, from Susan Mickel

In memory of Allan Goldberg, from Cindy Goldberg

In memory of Sylvia Steinberg, from Allen Steinberg

Mi Sheberachs

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
Avram Michel Ben Sylvia V'Fred Wishnoff
Elizabeth Bruner
Faiga bat Feivel v’Leia
Gary Lefkowitz
Joel Tarlowe
Malcolm Mungo
Menachem Mendel Yonah Ben Beila V'Yakov
Michael Laster
Reynah Rosendorf
Rony Joel
Sarah Chana bat Zeesl v Dov-Beryl ben Rev Chaim HaLevi
Shalom ben Haim
Shandel Gittle bat Rifka
Shari Levin
Wilton Mungo
Zalman Mordechai Aaron ben Yehudit

Yahrzeits

This week (6 - 12 Shevat), we observe the yahrzeits of the following ACI members, family and friends. May their memories always be a blessing.

Benjamin Greiff
Max Nashoffer
Jennie Goldstein
David Blumenthal
Sidney Snyderman
Irving J Pomerantz
Ruth (Rifka) Golding
Sydelle Diner
Samuel Pantiel
Israel Ratner
Bertha Rosenfeld
Betty Rifka Schwartz
Harry Hirsch
Ralph Yohai
Sylvia Steinberg
Harry Aptakin
Abraham Goldenthal
Julia Moss
Rose S. Robinson
Sidney Young
Irving Sipes
Isaac J. Moss
Geri Lewis
Isadore Bienstock
Hyman Friedman
Bertha Friedman
Rose Heit
Maxwell Sager
Ignatz Wohl
Samuel Richman