Shul News & Notes

Have you responded to the invitation to this year’s Journal Dinner-Dance? Those on board with the event are in for a good time with good food in good company. If you’ve misplaced your invitation or are just tardy in responding, you will need to contact Elaine Goldman ASAP with your RSVP by calling 631-765-3504 or emailing epgoldy@optonline.net.

The Journal Dinner-Dance is the shul’s major fundraiser for the year, accounting for a whopping third of the shul’s operating capital. The event is a win-win: you win a night on the town (actually the Village of Greenport), and the shul wins your much-needed support.

It all starts on Sunday, Sept. 8, at 5 p.m., at The Halyard restaurant, with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, followed by dinner, music and dancing, a lavish silent auction of goods and services, and official recognition of this year’s honorees, cited for their contributions to the North Fork communities and to the synagogue.

From the community, the Journal Dinner-Dance committee is honoring the Greenport Fire Department on the 175th anniversary of its founding and its continuing commitment to the health and safety of villagers and their properties. Cited from the synagogue are shul members Alice Nadel, OD, and Paul Nadel for their support of the spiritual, educational and social activities and events that contribute to the success of the synagogue’s program.

The Journal Dinner-Dance has been a shul tradition for more than 25 years. With your help, this year’s event could be the biggest and best of them all.

GOT STRESS?

COME SEE HOW MINDFULNESS MEDITATION COULD HELP

Life keeps taking us by surprise. We’re constantly trying to rebalance, rush back to “normal,” get a grip…but maybe you’ve wondered if there’s a better way to feel better? There is. As Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, says, “We can’t stop the waves but we can learn how to surf. “
Kabat-Zinn is the molecular biologist who developed Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in 1979 at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. Initially directed to patients with chronic pain, the approach is now being applied to emotional pain–anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and cravings for drugs, alcohol and food, among other difficulties. It boosts immunity and leads to greater emotional and mental resilience. And all of this is why it’s now being taught around the world in schools, hospitals, corporations, community centers, prisons —and British parliament.
What exactly is mindfulness?
It’s a simple practice, backed by contemporary neuroscience, that allows us to catch our breath in the midst of the daily rush of life. We learn to pay attention to what is actually happening right now rather than be blinded by our expectations, fears and hopes. We make contact with the moment, which allows for fresh and appropriate responses rather than habitual reflexes. This shift -–from fog to clarity, from autopilot reactivity to emotional freedom—makes the difference between sleep-walking through our lives and being awake. It gives us a place to pause. The blur of activity slows down. We see we have choices, and we’re better able to make good choices. Mindfulness is inseparable from heartfulness and our capacity to connect with others—and ourselves—brings its own joys. Emerging from the cloud of mindlessness, we discover our innate wisdom, humor and compassion. Gradually, our lives change. Our sense of well being grows. We become more able to experience peace and delight.
On September 9 and September 16 at 10am, in the shul social hall, you’re invited to come and see for yourself what mindfulness is. Mindfulness instructor and Orient neighbor Amy Gross is offering two workshops, a week apart. You’ll learn practices that can bring relief and balance, and get a basic understanding of how stress arises and strategies that can reduce it. Come back the next week to deepen your understanding, ask any questions, and practice together. There is no charge—Amy is offering these teachings to our community out of gratitude to the practice. ABC anchorman Dan Harris famously estimates that the practice has made him 10% happier. Amy thinks he’s underestimating the gain. Just bring your curiosity and desire to learn how to live more peacefully and joyously with yourself and others.

Please join us for a Tisha B’Av reading and discussing
of the Book of Lamentations
Saturday, August 9th, 7.30 pm.
We will break in the middle for a short Havdalah service.

It has been the tradition of Congregation Tifereth Israel to provide a Friday night Oneg and a Saturday morning Kiddish lunch each Sabbath for those attending services.

Please consider signing up to assist in maintaining this shul tradition.

You can see the Volunteer Calendar and register to be a volunteer yourself, by selecting the desired dates and filling up the registration form.

This is a wonderful way to acknowledge a birthday, anniversary, graduation or special memory.

Please select one, or more, dates in the registration form so that our calendar can be completed through the end of the secular year.

A description of how to do the set up is available for download to assist you in the preparation.