Shul News & Notes
John Henry Spar Bar Mitzvah Shabbat
Friday Night Service – November 29th at 7.30 PM
followed by
a festive dessert Oneg with guest speaker Dr. Efraim Chalamish
and a capella chorus Shir Soul.
Saturday Morning Service – November 30th at 9.30 AM
followed by
a festive Kiddush lunch with another presentation
by Dr. Efraim Chalamish
and more songs by a capella chorus Shir Soul.
The theme of the talks is:
Vision and Reality
U.S. and Israel – Assessing the Political-Economic Nexus
Dr. Efraim Chalamish
is an international economic law Prof., advisor, and commentator. He has been involved in international legal practice in New York, Paris and Israel, along with research and analysis of cutting edge areas in public and private international economic law. He served as a Global Fellow at New York University, exploring global governance of corporations and multilateral institutions, the intersection of business and national security, energy and sovereign wealth funds’ economics and policy, international investment arbitration, and global governance and financial regulation.
In the Q&A period you will have a chance to ask about the effects of current developments in Israel and America and how they affect each other economically and politically.
Shir Soul
is the premier Jewish wedding band, a cappella group and DJ in the New York City metro area. Founded in 2005 by renowned singer David Ross, Shir Soul has since performed across the United States and internationally.
Shir Soul will perform during the Oneg on Friday night and the Kiddush on Shabbat.
Hanukkah Menorah Lighting in Mitchell Park
The Public is Invited to
Hanukkah Menorah Lighting in Mitchell Park
Christmas Tree and Menorah Display
Illustrates Friendship and Respect Among Religions
Congregation Tifereth Israel invites Jews and non-Jews to Mitchell Park on Sunday, Dec. 22, at 5 p.m., to witness the lighting of Greenport’s Hanukkah menorah, which is taking place this year on the first night of the eight-night holiday. In the spirit of ecumenism, the menorah will remain lighted throughout the holiday season, sharing the park with the Village’s Christmas tree in a display of friendship and respect among religions. With that in mind, the synagogue invites all those who attend the menorah lighting in the park to join the members and friends of the congregation for a Hanukkah party in the community room of the synagogue. Latkes (potato pancakes) and jelly doughnuts — traditional foods associated with Hanukkah — will be served. A ukulele group will entertain.
Rabbi Gadi Capela, spiritual leader of the synagogue, will lead those attending the menorah lighting ceremony in blessings and songs of the holiday. Scheduled to participate in the Mitchell Park program are synagogue president Susan Rosenstreich and other local dignitaries.
The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, called the Festival of Lights, commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after desecration by Antiochus IV during the 2nd century BCE. Hanukkah also is a reminder of the miracle that took place then. With only enough consecrated oil to fuel the eternal flame in the Temple for one day, the oil burned for eight days — the length of time needed to press, prepare and consecrate sacred oil.
In recognition of the importance of oil in this holiday, observers prepare and eat foods deep-fried in oil, such as potato pancakes and jelly doughnuts. Other celebrations associated with Hanukkah include playing the Dreidel (a kind of top) Game, exchanging gifts, and giving gelt (money), commemorated by small net bags of gold foil-covered chocolate coins.
For more information about the menorah lighting in Mitchell Park, call the synagogue at 631-477-0232.
Poetry for Peace Sunday November 24th
The reading by the outstanding poets will be held on Sunday 11/24 at 1:30 pm at the Mattituck Library.
For 13 years the children of the North Fork have been encouraged to reflect and create poems about peace. The 2019 Poetry For Peace Project is co-sponsored by North Fork Reform Synagogue and Congregation Tifereth Israel. Students, K-12, on the North Fork from Mattituck to Shelter Island were invited to submit original poems expressing their feelings. Outstanding poems from each grade were selected by published poets, judges Billy Hands, LBThompson and Jerry Matovcik.
The chosen poets are reading their poems on Sunday, November 24th, 2019 at the Mattituck Library at 1:30. The community is invited to this event along with the poets and their families. Each poet will receive a prize to commemorate their recognition in this project.
We look forward to the creativity of the students of the North Fork and Shelter Island and to their solutions for ways to bring about peace near and far to home.
The Ethical Life: Jewish Values in an Age of Choice
Registration Deadline November 25, 2019
This course is designed to help communities and individuals develop an understanding of how Jewish ethics can inform our discussions and decisions about critical issues. Sponsored by the Marshall S. Hurwitz Fund for Special Programs and Projects of Congregation Tifereth Israel and developed by the Jewish Theological Seminary, this is a rare opportunity to take a dynamic interactive course right here in Greenport.
The complete course is twelve classes and is divided into three sections, starting Sunday December 8, 15 and 29 at 11:30 am, each with a video lecture by JTS faculty, reading material, and professional facilitation by Rabbi Capela. All sessions will be recorded and once you are registered and have paid, you will receive a link giving you access to the videos and course materials online so they can be viewed at home.
Need a ride to the classes? We will take care of that, too.
There is a tax-deductible contribution of $36 per individual/$54 per couple for the course payable when you register or you may bring your check to the first class on Dec 8. If you prefer to register by phone, call the office at 631-477-0232.
If you have additional questions, please contact Ann Hurwitz at 212-666-1489 or Kathur6833@aol.com.
The Gift Shop Is Stocked With Hanukkah Essentials
As difficult as it is to believe, it is true that a year has passed, and it’s time to ready your gift list, your gelt list, and your Hanukkah essentials list. You can trust the shul’s Gift Shop to respond to all those needs.
From menorahs to chocolate coins, from majestic tall candles to colorful shorties, from dreidels to, well, gifts, the Gift Shop is your one-stop shopping emporium.
Call the shul at 631-477-0232 and leave a message for Sara Bloom, and you’ll be on your way to Hanukkah happiness. By the way, for last minute shopping, come to the Congregation meeting on Sunday, Dec. 15 (10 a.m.), and browse the Hanukkah goodies on display in the community room.
First Hanukkah candle: Sunday, Dec. 22.
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