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SHALOM NEW HAVEN
Published by The Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven
Fall 2015 • Tishrei 5776
How Should We Respond to the Syrian Refugee Crisis?
Durham Resident Has First Ever Adult Bat Mitzvah in Krakow
Inspired by a close friend who died from cancer, Shelley Capozzi, of Durham, decided it was time to stop putting off what she had always yearned to do and honor her parents, who were both Holocaust survivors, by having her Bat Mitzvah in Poland, where they were born. CONTINUED ON PG. 4
New Haven Veteran Recalls His Service During WWII
Photo by Angelos Tzortzinis. Courtesy of Freedom House.
The face of the unfolding refugee crisis from Syria to Europe is that of a little three-year-old boy, Aylan Kurdi, dressed in blue shorts and a red shirt, drowned and face down on a beach.
By Sydney Perry Federation CEO So many of us were speechless with horror, moved by his death and by the news reports of families, risking their lives in boats and rafts unfit for the escape routes on rough waters to flee the total destruction in their native country. But the exodus of four million Syrians from their destroyed homeland began more than four years ago, at the start of Arab Spring. That, too, was personified by a faceless, young teenage boy. The chaos that is Syria was inspired, not so much by political activism, but more by teenage bravado and maybe boredom.
Syrian refugees come ashore on the Greek island of Lesbos.
The brutality that ensued soon enveloped the entire nation as the group of youngsters were beaten mercilessly, tortured, and castrated.
But it’s an interconnected world we live in. Hopeless and hapless, the refugees are streaming into Europe as we watch on TV, in the newspapers or on websites.
The face of the young hooligan was virtually unrecognizable when the lifeless teen was returned to his family.
Ours is a small planet; only the very hardhearted are untouched by the anguish and suffering.
We should have known then that chemical warfare, terrifying cluster and barrel bombing and brutalization of dissidents would result in what we see today.
It tugs at our hearts and our consciences.
Since then almost 300,000 people have been killed, as well as innumerable injuries from assault, poison gas, and torture. Eleven million people fled their homes, eight million of whom are internally displaced, with the rest seeking safety in Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan, there to wait out, what everyone predicted: the inevitable fall of Assad.
A group of teenagers in the town of Daraa spray-painted a school wall with graffiti.
The ancient and once beautiful city of Aleppo looks like photos of a bombed out Dresden
They taunted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, an ophthalmologist, with a brief four-word challenge in the face of the revolts taking place in Arab countries in the Middle East: “It’s your turn, Doctor.”
It might have been easy to ignore the fires of unrest, and the religious and ethnic civil war. Not our problem. It’s a long way away. We’re numb from all the pictures of violence in the Middle East.
Even so the world, fatigued by so much violence, responded belatedly to the largest migration of refugees since World War II - which includes not only Syrians, Iraqis, Afghanis, but also Sudanese, Malians, Libyans, Somalis and Eritreans.
On Nov. 11, Veterans Day, the country honors those who have served in the United States military. Veterans Day is a public holiday that began as a day to remember the end of World War I CONTINUED ON PG. 4
New Haven Holocaust Memorial Documentary to Premiere Nov. 15
While Europeans are scrambling to find the appropriate response and the United States has agreed to accept more refugees, the needs of these people mount. How should we, wandering Jews ourselves, often homeless and exiled, a people who have known what it means to be refugees, respond to this humanitarian crisis?? Do we have a moral imperative to respond? What is the Jewish response? For the past two years, Jewish organizations have raised $500,000 for those in refugee camps in Jordan. HIAS CONTINUED ON PG. 2
“On Sunday, Nov. 15, we relive an extraordinary piece of New Haven history,” said Doris Zelinsky, president of Greater New Haven Holocaust Memory, Inc. (GNHHM). GNHHM is a volunteer non-profit corporation dedicated to memorializing the Holocaust and to maintaining New Haven’s unique Holocaust memorial in Edgewood Park CONTINUED ON PG. 2
For recent news about Israel, please check our website: jewishnewhaven.org
SHALOM NEW HAVEN INDEX Pg. 3..................... Messages from JFGNH President
Pg. 8-9.......... JCC News
Pg. 5 & 6.............. Jewish Foundation News
Pg. 10-12...... Synagogue News
Pg. 6, 8 & 12....... Organization News
Pg. 15............ Community Calendar
See page 4, for a Hanukkah Recipe.
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Syrian Refugees FROM PAGE 1 (Hebrew Immigration Aid Society) and JCDR (Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief), a consortium of 50 Jewish organizations convened by JDC (Joint Distribution Committee), are collecting money to respond to this crisis. Already more than $125,000 has been raised to distribute basic supplies in Budapest train stations. Many countries which promised support have not paid the UN, so rations are being cut and the needs soar as rain and cold weather approach. Israeli aid groups make trips into the four refugee centers regularly with foodstuffs and clothing. More than 1,000 Syrian citizens have been evacuated to, and cared for, in Israeli medical facilities since the crisis began. Five Rabbinical leaders and their congregants are responding by offering
found in the Torah.
“The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.” We understand how wrenching an experience it is to go in search of a haven. We can relate from Abraham’s first journey from his fatherland in Ur, until today, when Jews in France or in the Ukraine pack their belongings, kiss the mezuzah on the door, and go to the one country where they will always be welcome. Our history and our values compel us to think seriously about this issue even as we admit to legitimate concerns about aiding the Syrians, whose country is still at war with Israel. Still, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sachs has opined that the world, “ is driven by moral purpose”.
Photo by Geovien So/Demotix/Corbis. Courtesy of Freedom House
to adopt Syrian or other refugees, much as we did when the Russian Jews came to our shores. We remember that many of the protocols establishing legal rights for refugees occurred after World War II. At the Evian Conference in July 1938, 32 countries gathered to discuss Europe’s Jews, desperate to emigrate before the Nazi’s extended their rule over much of Europe, with their plan to annihilate every Jew. Did the nations respond by opening their doors? Country after country denied them entrance. And we know the result: 1.5 million children were murdered of the six million Jews who perished. I believe that the Jewish response can be
Holocaust Documentary FROM PAGE 1 on Whalley Avenue. The documentary “People Forget – New Haven Remembers” will premiere at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 15, at the Criterion Theater, 86 Temple St., New Haven, with a speech by New Haven Mayor Toni Harp. A discussion with the film’s director Elena Lefkowitz will follow the showing. Doors open at 9:15. Light refreshments available. Recommended donation: $5 per ticket. “The documentary follows the lives of four Holocaust survivors who resettled in our New Haven community,” Zelinsky said. “The fifth star of the movie is New
We can donate money through HIAS which will provide critical resources; we can help by giving to JCDR; or you can give locally to IRIS (Integrated Refugee and Immigration Services), which is collecting warm weather clothing. Perhaps your synagogue has decided to adopt a refugee family, much as we did when the Jews from the former Soviet Union came to our shores.
Please know that we have been assured that all refugees in camps in Jordan and Turkey will undergo a lengthy new and stringent process of fingerprinting, eye scanning, face-to-face interviews, and background checks, conducted by intelligence and security agencies. This process takes between 18 to 24 months before any Syrian can enter the United States.
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SHALOM NEW HAVEN
SHALOM NEW HAVEN
Published by the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven President: Stephanie Wain | Chief Executive Officer: Sydney A. Perry Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven 360 Amity Rd., Woodbridge, CT, 06525 (203) 387-2424 - fax: (203) 387-1818 jfgnh@jewishnewhaven.org / jewishnewhaven.org Editor: Jeannette Brodeur Design and Production: Christina Cagliotti-Diglio Shalom New Haven is delivered free of charge to every home on the Jewish Federation’s mailing list. To add your name to the mailing list, please call (203) 387-2424 x307 or e-mail shalomnh@jewishnewhaven.org. SNH reserves the right to decline advertising that conflicts with the mission of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven or does not meet our design standards. Publication of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of kashrut. For advertising information, phone (203) 387-2522 x216 or e-mail shalomnh@jewishnewhaven.org. Copy deadlines for the upcoming Shalom New Haven issues are: • Nov. 23 for the Jan./Feb. issue • Feb. 1 for the March/April issue • March 28 for the May/June/July/Aug. issue. Space is limited and is allocated on a first-come first-served basis. Submission does not guarantee publication. All articles are subject to approval by editorial committee. Shalom New Haven is printed on recycled paper with soy-based inks. Please recycle.
Ambassador Ross Speaks to Crowd at Beckerman Lecture
We are encouraged to act justly with Jews and non-Jews alike: Al pi darkei shalom - for the sake of peace. It’s the humane response; it’s the Jewish way. To make a donation: www.hias.org, www. jcdr.org, www.irisct.org, or send a check to the Federation, with Syrian Relief on the memo line. Haven’s Holocaust memorial. Built by New Haven survivors, this was the first Holocaust memorial built on public land anywhere in the United States.” Fay Sheppard, a director of GNHHM who coordinated with Zelinsky to produce this documentary, noted that the New Haven memorial broke new ground in many ways. “The New Haven Holocaust monument, built on public land, is an important first in the United States” she said. “The story of how the memorial came to be is a saga of the determination of ordinary people. Working together, they left a marker in our community. They remind all of us of the obligation to confront prejudice and hate.”
The Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven hosted Ambassador Dennis Ross, the chief U.S. negotiator in the Middle East for President George H.W. Bush and President Bill Clinton and now the Counselor and Davidson Fellow of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, on Oct. 15 at the JCC. The Federation and the JCC partnered to offer the Beckerman lecture, which followed a major donor event. Ross spoke for almost an hour to a packed auditorium on such timely topics as Israel, the Iran Nuclear Agreement and the Middle East. The JCC was his first stop on his book tour for his justreleased and well-received book “Doomed to Succeed: The U.S. –Israeli Relationship from Truman to Obama.”
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Diamondstein Chosen as New Federation CEO I am delighted to announce that the next CEO of the Jewish Federation/JCC will be Judy Diamondstein. Judy is presently the Assistant Executive Director and chief development professional of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley. During her tenure, the Lehigh Valley received the National Federation Sapir Award for Campaign Excellence. She was also selected to participate in the inaugural class of Jewish Federation of North America’s Fundraising University program, and this past year, she provided professional leadership to the national mission of Campaign Chairpersons and Campaign Directors. Judy has been instrumental in the renewal of the Jewish Federation with the
revitalization of the Women’s Division, the renaissance of programming and community organization in Easton, Pennsylvania, through the Federation’s Easton Leadership Council, management of the Maimonides Medical Society and successful implementation of family and young leadership missions to Israel. Her early professional activities included Campaign Director at the Federation, Lehigh University Hillel Director and Director of Camp, Membership and Program Services at the Jewish Community Center of Allentown. As a volunteer, she served on the Jewish Federation campaign, the Women’s Division Board and on the Federation board. At Temple Beth El, she was Sisterhood President, a synagogue board
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SHALOM NEW HAVEN is growing! Due to the amazing success of our first issue, we are now looking for more advertising sales reps. Shalom New Haven, a publication of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven, is seeking a highly motivated, outgoing advertising sales representative to lead our sales force for Greater New Haven’s only Jewish publication. The right candidate will have previous sales experience and be able to hit the ground running to sell advertising for our publication, which is mailed free of charge to 10,000 Jewish households in Greater New Haven. This position is commission-based. Excellent communication skills, enthusiasm, professionalism and a pleasant personality required. Travel is required within the Greater New Haven area. This is a rewarding job for the right person and comes with a great deal of flexibility. To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to Jeannette Brodeur at shalomnh@jewishnewhaven.org.
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SHALOM NEW HAVEN Message from
Stephanie Wain Federation President member, and a member of its Building Committee. The entire Diamondstein family has been involved in the Lehigh Valley Jewish community. Judy’s husband, Marc, has been an active member of the Federation’s Community Relations Council and currently serves as chairperson of the Federation’s Partnership 2Gether program. Their children were active in BBYO and USY. Their son is currently studying in Israel to be a rabbi and their daughter is in college. “Judy was clearly the most outstanding candidate during the search process and we are so lucky that she accepted the CEO position.” reported Norman Ravski, Chair of the Search Committee at our Board of Directors meeting.
Having met Judy several times, I have to agree that New Haven is going to experience a jolt of energy and dynamic leadership. I want to thank Norman and his committee members for the exemplary due diligence and commitment for almost a year to bring a wonderful person to our community to lead our Federation. Judy is planning to start on Jan. 4 which will allow for a transition period with Sydney Perry. More information will follow soon about parlor meetings and meet-ups with Judy. On April 10, we will be having a gala in honor of our beloved Sydney Perry at the JCC so please put that date on your calendar.
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Poland Bat Mitzvah FROM PAGE 1 On July 4, with her adult children in attendance, Capozzi made history by becoming the first ever adult Bat Mitzvah in Krakow, Poland. Every chair was filled that day in the small sixteenth century High Synagogue. During World War II, the Nazis stripped the synagogue’s interior and its ceiling and roof were destroyed. While Capozzi said the event was joyous, she could not forget that she was just one hour away from the Auschwitz Concentration Camp. “It is never far from your mind,” she admitted. “All of that loss, the tragedy of losing so many, and the enormity of millions of Jews lost in Europe…there is just so much with it. I went there with an open mind and an open heart. It was a very powerful, spiritual experience.” Capozzi, who is the child of two Polish Holocaust survivors, never had a Bat Mitzvah at age 13. She grew up in a traditional Conservative home, but for a period of time, she attended an Orthodox synagogue because they were in walking distance of it in Brooklyn. “In that era, in the sixties, Bat Mitzvahs were not happening,” Capozzi said. “I did go to religious school. It was mandatory, but I really enjoyed it. “ Capozzi and her husband, Ron, have two children, Claire, 32, and Craig, 28. When her daughter was preparing for her Bat Mitzvah, Capozzi said it reminded her of what she had missed not having her own. “It was an extraordinary time for us as a family,” she said. “For me, when I was that age, it was not an option, but that was alright. But I was so thrilled for my daughter. She was the first Bat Mitzvah in my family.” For many years, Capozzi said there were so many pressing life issues that she pushed her hopes of having her own Bat Mitzvah to the side until her friend died. “My dearest friend of 40 years passed away two years ago from shortterm stomach cancer,” she said. “We had known each other as teenagers. His death was a strong motivating factor. He had said a while before he passed that there would be an event that would jolt me into starting to do what I would always put off. I never anticipated that it would be that event…his dying.” Capozzi’s husband also encouraged her to follow her dream. “Thanks to him, his love and encouragement, this would be realized,” Capozzi said. “He gave me the
wasn’t putting it off any longer.”
motivation to go forward with it. He had said a few years ago that I had the unique responsibility to tell the story of my family. In essence, it is my story as well. My husband has always encouraged me to find the ways to do the things I want to do.” Two months after her friend’s death, Capozzi travelled to Poland to research her family’s history and she had the idea of having her Bar Mitzvah in Poland. “I began vigorously embracing not putting off important things that I still needed to do in my life,” she said. Capozzi said it was not easy to find a synagogue for the service. “I am reform and there is a very tiny reform movement in Warsaw and Krakow,” she said. “The majority of Jews are Orthodox.”
Capozzi’s friend, Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven’s Shoreline Program Director Jill Lesage, who is also a member of Temple Beth Tikvah in Madison, helped her find a tutor to work with her. Capozzi worked with Dr. Eden Stein for about six months. “She was tremendously supportive and inspirational,” she said.”I couldn’t have been as successful as I was without her.” Capozzi also worked with Cantor Kevin Margolius and Rabbi Stacy Offner, both of Temple Beth Tikvah in Madison. “I had a strong foundation of Hebrew,” she said.” I already knew how to read and write and had a strong knowledge of the prayers so it made it a smoother beginning. The cantor recorded my portion and I listened online. I did a trope from the bottom up. It was hard.”
Capozzi contacted the community of Beit Krakow, which was connected to the area where her father was from, and asked to have a very personal, spiritual experience there. “They were very supportive of the idea. Everything was done by e-mail. The rabbi there is a woman. She is the first female rabbi in Poland. She is originally from Russia. The community has only been established since 2009. It’s very young.” Capozzi’s mother was from a family of nine from Lublin, Poland. Her mother’s family was all sent to Majdaneck Concentration Camp. Only one brother and her mother survived. Her father was one of five from Trembowla (Lvov), Poland. Her father’s family was part of the massive slaughter on the edge of their town. Only her father and two of his brothers survived.
Capozzi’s d’var torah was about blessings and curses. The part of her Balak Torah portion that appealed to her most was the voice of the donkey. “There are only two portions where animals speak,” she said. “I identified with the donkey that was suddenly able to have a voice. Like a child of survivors, you must use your voice to speak because others no longer have their voices to speak part of their collective voice.” “I made my Bat Mitzvah on July 4 as a lovely coincidence,” Capozzi said. “I was very proud of my American heritage that day, but to me, it was an enormity of the significance of being in Poland to physically connect with all of my ancestors who came before me. It was so powerful. That took precedence.”
Capozzi’s parents were both forcibly deported and seized and taken to Uzbekistan separately. They met in the hospital in the labor camp. Her father was a pharmacist and her mother was a nurse. At the end of the war, they ended up in a displaced persons camp in Salzburg, Austria. “People ended up in camps with nowhere to go,” Capozzi said.
Capozzi still remembers how she felt the day of her Bat Mitzvah. “I was standing on the same soil where everyone was born and everyone had died during the Holocaust,” she said. “As the second generation, we have stories to tell. We’re living with the Holocaust. We have inherited all of that history and what we have taken away from that and moved forward and shared. This legacy was given to us. The survivors that are left are now in their 80s and 90s and were children during the Holocaust.”
She has an older sister who was born two months after the end of the war, June 6, 1945. She was born in Uzbekistan. It took them five years to become citizens.” After her trip to Poland, Capozzi journeyed to Israel for a Holocaust seminar in the summer of 2014 during the time of Operation Protective Edge. While in a crowded bomb shelter in Jerusalem, Capozzi experienced some people crying and some laughing. “I felt suddenly in that moment indignant that it was not my time to leave,” Capozzi said. “I felt that I had a lot ahead and I wanted to continue to make happen. I said at that moment when I would arrive back home in Connecticut that I would finally make the commitment to become a Bat Mitzvah. I
Hanukkah Sydney Perry 10 10
“My focus was on paying homage to my family first and foremost,” Capozzi said. “I felt my friend was there bursting with great happiness. He wasn’t Jewish but he was a lover of all things Judaic and had a Jewish soul in many ways. If my parents were here today and knew what I had planned to achieve and was successful, they would have been filled with such enormous pride.”
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Juice from 1/2 lemon, more as needed
Figs* or apples
1 Tablespoon rice vinegar 1 Pinch red pepper flakes 1 Sprig thyme, finely chopped Salt, to taste 1 1/2 Tablespoon honey 1/2 Cup olive oil
Originally known as Armistice Day, it was first declared a holiday by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919. President Wilson’s intention was to make it a day for Americans to reflect on the sacrifices of those who served in the military during World War I. The holiday became known as Veterans Day in 1954. Isidor Juda, 94, of The Towers in New Haven, served in the U.S. Army in 1942 during the Guadalcanal Campaign in the Pacific. The first major offensive by Allied Forces against Japan, the Battle of Guadalcanal was one of the first prolonged campaigns in the Pacific. This campaign was considered the first step in a long line of the Allied forces successes that eventually led to the surrender of Japan. Juda served in active combat for two years in Guadalcanal and was wounded on his right leg during the mission. He received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for his bravery. Juda has a seven-and-a-half-inch piece of muscle missing on his leg from his injuries.
“I’m very lucky that the surgeon who first treated me didn’t take my leg off,” he admitted. Juda was born in Vienna, Austria in 1921 and escaped from Switzerland to come to the United States in 1940. He was drafted into the Army in 1942 and sent to Fort Dix. Juda went by ship from Oakland, California, to New Hebrides in the New Guinea area of the South Pacific. After Juda was injured in combat, he was first treated in Finch Haven, New Guinea, and returned to the United States by ship, first landing in San Francisco and was treated there at the Letterman Army Hospital. From there, he headed to Tilton General Hospital, the U.S. Army Hospital at Fort Dix, New Jersey. Then, he went to Phoenixville Hospital in Pennsylvania and his last surgery was at the Thomas M. England General Hospital in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Juda was discharged on Nov. 29, 1945. Juda is quite modest about the sacrifices he made for his country. “You live and you just thank God you are here,” he said. “I was treated very well at the veterans’ hospitals. As you get older, you just let it go by. There’s not too many of us left anymore.”Juda has lived in The Towers for the past year. He has lived in New Jersey, Florida and Waterbury. His daughter lives close by in Southington and his son lives in Nashua, New Hampshire. Juda has two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
1. Pat Halloumi cheese dry and set aside on paper towel. Whisk together lemon juice, vinegar, red pepper flakes, thyme, pinch of salt and honey. Slowly whisk in 1/4 cup olive oil, taste and FOLD HERE
5 Cups arugula or watercress
FROM PAGE 1
PAN FRIED HALLOUMI WITH FIGS AND ARUGULA
PAN FRIED HALLOUMI WITH FIGS AND ARUGULA I lb. Halloumi cheese, sliced thick
Vet Recalls WWII Service
adjust seasoning as needed. 2. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large non-stick pan over medium to high heat. Once hot,add a few pieces of cheese and fry until golden brown- 1-2 minutes. Flip and fry until golden on other side and warmed through, about 1 minute more. Remove to paper-lined plate. Repeat with remaining cheese, adding more oil to pan between batches. 3. Meanwhile, lightly dress greens with vinaigrette. 4. Lightly season cut sides of figs or apples with extra dressing. To serve, divide fried cheese among plates and arrange fruit and dressed greens on top of and around cheese.
B'TEYAVON! CHAG HANUKKAH SAMEACH.
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SHALOM NEW HAVEN
Create a Jewish Legacy of Greater New Haven Receives More Than $6 million in Commitments in Two Years “Create a Jewish Legacy New Haven” finished its second year with more than $6 million in commitments with 282 signed letters of intent! What is “Create a Jewish Legacy New Haven”? “Create a Jewish Legacy” represents a shared commitment by area synagogues and Jewish organizations to work together to secure a more vibrant Jewish future. CREATE A JEWISH LEGACY is sponsored and presented by the Jewish Foundation of Greater New Haven and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation of Western Massachusetts.
Through this initiative, the Jewish Foundation and the Grinspoon Foundation have paid $192,000 in incentive grants and assisted local agencies and synagogues in creating successful endowment campaigns. Through the “Create a Jewish Legacy” Initiative, Temple Beth David, Temple Emanuel and Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek together have secured $3.4 million in commitments to their own synagogue endowments. Twenty-two percent of Temple Emanuel households have made a legacy commitment to their synagogue.
Creating your Jewish legacy ensures that you’ll be remembered and your work and Jewish values will continue beyond your lifetime. By creating your legacy today, you can secure vital Jewish community programs that you wish to sustain while ensuring a safety net is in place to protect and strengthen our Jewish community for generations. It’s a meaningful, personal way to honor loved ones, and teach your children and grandchildren the value of philanthropy. You will ensure a strong vibrant and engaging community that will perpetuate your values in the future.
Creating your Jewish legacy is simple. Some options include: •
Bequest in a Will
•
Gift of Life insurance
•
Gift of IRA or Retirement Asset
•
Charitable gift annuity or trust
Any combination of the above.
Together we can impact the future of the Jewish community and make a difference in the lives of the generations to come. Go to www.jewishlegacynewhaven.org for more information. For more information contact the Jewish Foundation, Lisa Stanger, Director, 203-387-2424, ext. 382, lstanger@ jewishnewhaven.org
All of us, regardless of age, wealth or affiliation, have the ability to make a difference for future generations.
The simplest method of creating your legacy is with a current gift of cash or stock. If you cannot do that now, you can create your legacy through a will or estate plan, or by adding (or changing) a beneficiary designation with other assets, such as retirement funds and life insurance. You can create a Jewish legacy with a percentage of your estate or a dollar amount that’s comfortable for you. You can commit a cash gift now that goes directly into the endowment. Some gifts can be structured to increase your current income, and the residual will benefit your designated organizations.
JCL Welcomes Literacy Specialists to Orientation Event for Volunteers at JCC
In September, the Jewish Coalition for Literacy (JCL) welcomed four local literacy specialists to an information and orientation session for volunteers at the JCC in Woodbridge. The event featured Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction for the New Haven Public Schools Imma Canelli; RaeAnne Reynolds, principal of the Mary T. Murphy School in Branford; Audrey Montesi, literacy specialist at the Davis Street School in
New Haven; and Barbara LeBlanc, literacy coach at Brennan-Rogers Magnet School in New Haven.
JCL is a non-sectarian program that recruits, trains and places volunteer reading partners to share the pleasures of reading and conversation, one to one with a child who can benefit from the attention of a caring adult. Volunteers can enjoy a unique, custom-built opportunity to help children in the local elementary
schools succeed by helping out just one hour per week. They can choose the day, time, specific school and grade of the student that works best for them -- just one hour each week can help transform the life of a child. Talking and reading together, volunteers share the pleasures of reading and conversation, helping children to become confident readers and better communicators. JCL, a proud recipient of a 2015 TAPS
award from the New Haven Public Schools, and the 2007 Superintendent’s Award, granted by the New Haven Network for Public Education, is a project of the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven. To get involved, contact Brenda Brenner, (203) 387-2424 x308 or bbrenner@ jewishnewhaven.org.
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KESHER Fosters Jewish Women of Vision Society Community Connections Announces Grant Recipients Recently, a fellow congregant and I attended a Sunday afternoon program at the Orchard Street Shul in New Haven. The musical program, the Afro-Semitic Experience, was an upbeat musical performance combining the very best of funk and meaningful Jewish music in preparation for the High Holy Days. Several synagogues were represented and it was great to see and experience quality programming. As it turns out, other New Haven area synagogues, and the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven put out some fantastic programming! The good news is that we are all beginning to share what we are doing. About a year and a half ago, Don Hendel (then President of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven), asked me and Eric Gallant (Temple Or Shalom) to spearhead a group designed to engage all area synagogues to work together and with the Federation.
The goal of KESHER (the Hebrew word for connection) has been and remains to create a more vibrant Jewish community by having our area synagogues collaborate more with one another (sharing ideas, programming, cost containment practices) and also deepening the relationship with the Jewish Federation. With unyielding support from Sydney Perry, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven, we hired Stacey Battat as a synagogue liaison. Battat is
working with great enthusiasm to help us find those connections. In addition, in April, we held a seminar, facilitated by Debbie Joseph, on member engagement.
One of our biggest opportunities moving forward is to open up our communication and share events, ideas, challenges and solutions with one another. Beginning later this month, if you go to the JCC in Woodbridge, you will see a large bulletin board just past the main entrance dedicated to synagogue news. We also have begun to share key items of interest in the coming months. Many of these events are open to the public. If you see something you like, call a friend or two and go. Venture out and experience all of the wonderful programming available to us. Each area synagogue gets a KESHER e-mail detailing all of the events that are open to the public. With a new year just beginning, make it your resolution to experience something new. Encourage your friends to join you. You can still love and support your own synagogue while experiencing the rich and diverse programming that other synagogues and the Federation offer us. We all have much to learn and experience and connecting with other Jews in the greater New Haven area leads to personal fulfillment and a more vibrant New Haven Jewish community. If you would like to learn more about KESHER, please contact Deb Gaudette, Debweb0312@sbcglobal.net.
The Jewish Foundation’s Women of Vision Society has been helping women and girls in the Greater New Haven area for almost 20 years. This endowment, initially created by 100 women in the community, has tackled issues from domestic violence and health to acculturation and spirituality. Since its creation, the endowment has doubled in its membership and giving. The Women of Vision Society is proof that when women join together, a tremendous difference can be made.
led experience for girls to explore being female, Jewish teens. Jewish role models and rituals will be included.
Through a one-time gift of $1,000 that is payable over three years, women can make a very special gift in perpetuity. Annually, a number of agencies receive grants from Women of Vision to help create new programs or enhance existing ones.
Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven
To learn more about Women of Vision, contact Jennifer Bayer at (203)387-2424 x 320 or: jbayer@jewishnewhaven.org. The Women of Vision Society is proud to congratulate this year’s grant recipients: Emunah Israel Empowerment Program Women At-Risk
for
Young
This project will provide teenage girls in therapeutic residential care at the Emunah Children’s Center in Afula, the opportunity to acquire basic life skills and competencies. Ezra Academy Rosh Hodesh: It’s a Girl Thing This program, for seventh and eighth grade girls, will be a monthly, mentor-
Jewish Family Service Break the Cycle This grant will improve the lives of Jewish women and girls by giving them the tools to form and maintain healthy and safe relationships free from violence. Prevention and education programs will target Jewish women and teenagers across all denominations. Food4Kids This community service endeavor was created to ensure that children at-risk of being hungry have supplemental, nutritious food over the weekend during the academic year. Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven New Acculturation Program Will continue to provide existing programs and new programs to help integrate women from the former Soviet Union into American society and offer them greater exposure to Jewish values and culture. Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven Women’s Series
Professional
Leadership
This initiative will provide young women with personal and professional skills, a cohort of peers and mentorship. The goal is to cultivate a new generation of Jewish women leaders in the Greater New Haven community.
Federation Funds Model Partnership for JFS, SCHA, and Ezra Academy The Jewish Federation and the Planning and Allocations Committee have provided the funding needed for Jewish Family Service to hire and place a JFS School Social Worker at the two Jewish day schools under the Federation umbrella – Ezra Academy and the Southern Connecticut Hebrew Academy. From the outset of the current school year, MaeAnn Silverman Wilner has been providing a wide range of evaluative, therapeutic and social services to students, as well as consultative and collaborative services to assist parents, teachers, administrators, and other personnel at the two schools. Wilner holds a Master’s of Social Work degree from Southern Connecticut State University, with specializations in working with schools, children and families. She has extensive experience providing counseling, support, psycho-education, and guidance to maximize students’ learning experiences and to help them to
thrive, both in and outside of the school setting. Wilner lives in Fairfield with her husband and their dog, Teddy. “JFS is so thrilled and thankful for this new partnership initiative that will ensure that the students and families of our community’s day schools will have all the resources and services needed to help them grow and succeed – academically, socially, and emotionally,” said Jonathan Garfinkle, Executive Director and CEO of JFS. “This is a model for what collaborations among Federation’s community agencies can accomplish.” JFS Offers Resume Workshop JFS is offering a workshop that will focus on resume writing. The workshop is scheduled on Nov. 18 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at JFS, 1440 Whalley Ave. in New Haven. Participants are asked to bring a copy of their resume and cover letter to the workshop. To register, please contact Rachel Scolnic Dobin at (203)389-5599, x 109. JFS Expanding Group Offerings Jewish Family Service of New Haven (JFS)
is starting several new groups including an Anxiety Reduction Group; Cancer Support Group; an Adoption Group and Socialization Group for Children; a Divorce Support Group and a Bereavement Support Group. Most major insurances are accepted. For more information and for dates and times of these groups, please contact Amy Rashba, at (203)389-5599 x 113.
children with positive interactions and beneficial social programming. We are seeking adults to be mentors to children in our area, including New Haven, Milford and Ansonia. Spend four hours per week with a child and help them flourish with their social and coping skills. This is a paid, per diem position. Please contact jyoung@jfsnh.org or (203)389-5599, x 125 for more information.
JFS Offers Bereavement Support Groups
JFS Pantry Preparing for Thanksgiving
Jewish Family Service offers bi-monthly bereavement groups to provide support for those who have lost a loved one. The group is facilitated by Rabbi Hesch Sommer, director of the Jewish Wellness and Healing Center. The group meets at Jewish Family Service, 1440 Whalley Ave., New Haven. The dates for the next sessions are Nov. 10 and 24, Dec. 15 and 29 from noon to 1 p.m.
The JFS Pantry is already preparing to welcome more than 250 families during its Thanksgiving Holiday Food Distribution. The pantry will provide supplemental non-perishable food, fresh vegetables (including potatoes, sweet potatoes, apples, onions and carrots) and a gift card to help families prepare a traditional holiday meal. The distribution will take place on Nov. 23 and 24 at the JFS Food Pantry and Nutritional Health Center.
For more details, please contact Rabbi Sommer at (203)389-5599, x 117. Respite Workers Needed Come join our team and become a support for families while providing
If you are interested in helping pack the bags and preparing them for distribution, please contact Mara Ginsberg at (203)389-5599, X 119.
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Members of the JFS Board show their support of National Hunger Action month.
The Greater New Haven Synagogue/Federation Collaborative facebook.com/KesherJewishNewHaven
KESHER MISSION: Develop a permanent platform to create enchanced communications, relationships and synergies between the Synagogues and with Federation and to build a stronger and vibrant Greater New Haven Jewish Community. Participating Greater New Haven Synagogues: Orchard Street Shul - New Haven, CT Beth El Keser - BEKI, New Haven, CT Or Shalom - Orange, CT Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek - Chester, CT Temple Beth David - Cheshire, CT Beth Sholom - Hamden, CT Temple Beth Tikvah - Madison, CT B’nai Jacob - Woodbridge, CT Temple Emanuel - Orange, CT Mishkan Israel - Hamden, CT Westville Synagogue - New Haven, CT
To get involved, contact Stacey Battat, KESHER, at sbattat@jewishnewhaven.org
Jewish Historical Society Seeks Part-time Assistant Archivist The Jewish Historical Society of Greater New Haven (JHS) has created a new paid position called part-time assistant archivist. This position entails arranging, preserving and sharing the records and objects in the JHS Archives, as directed by the archivist. The JHS is located at 270 Fitch St. on the campus of Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven. The JHS is seeking someone to learn JHS archival organization and information. Knowledge of the use of the Internet and word processing desired. A degree in a relevant field is highly desirable. The ability to lift 25 pounds and to climb a ladder to reach high shelves is required. Please submit your resume to “Part-Time Assistant Search”, Jewish Historical Society, P.O. Box 3251, New Haven, CT 06515.
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Annual Murray Lender 5K Author Goldberg kicks off JCC’s Arts & Culture Bagel Run a Success Festival Sunday morning, Nov. 1, on behalf of the Jewish Book Council and in collaboration with the Shoreline office of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven and Temple Beth Tikvah, Madison, Rita Goldberg kicks off the Shoreline’s Jewish Arts & Culture Festival. The author will speak about her deeply moving second generation Holocaust memoir “Motherland: Growing Up With the Holocaust.” The memoir is the culmination of a lifetime of reflection and a decade of research. Goldberg, the sister of former TBT Cantor Dorothy Goldberg, introduces the
extraordinary story of Hilde Jacobsthal, a close friend of Anne Frank’s family. Hilde was 15 when the Nazis invaded Holland. After the arrest of her parents in 1943, Hilde fled to Belgium, living out the war years in an extraordinary set of circumstances—among the Resistance and at Bergen-Belsen after its liberation. Brunch will be served at 9:30 a.m., followed by Goldberg’s lecture and a book signing. Suggested donation is $6. Books can be bought at the event or in advance by contacting Jill Lesage, JFGNH Shoreline Program Coordinator at (203)738-0033.
RJ Julia hosts Author Wildman as part of festival As part of the JCC Arts & Culture Festival in November and December, join us on Tuesday, Dec. 1, from 7-8:30 at RJ Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Road in Madison, for a discussion with journalist Sarah Wildman as she discusses her compelling memoir, “Paper Love: Searching for the Girl My Grandfather Left Behind.” Her journey to find the lost love her grandfather abandoned when he fled pre-War Vienna is an exploration of myth, memory, and a life lost to history.
And they’re off! More than 260 people participated in the Fifth Annual Murray Lender 5K Bagel Run Sept. 20 at the JCC. The event raised $25,000 for JCC fitness programs.
“Paper Love” traces the story of Wildman’s grandfather, who escaped Nazi-controlled Austria but left a woman behind. Through found letters between her grandfather and this woman, Wildman unlocks a tragic and lost family past.
Applied Behavioral Strategies Finds New Home at JCC will be offering after-school programs that tackle issues such as picky eating. Therapists will also help with toilet training since there are bathrooms on site. They will also have social groups where small groups of students can work together with therapists.
Applied Behavioral Strategies, which offers functional behavioral assessments, applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy for children with and without disabilities as well as for individuals of any age with disabilities, as well as resources, consultations and workshops, has found a new home at the JCC of Greater New Haven. The company, which just celebrated its fifth anniversary, now occupies the two Dwight Street rooms within the building. Applied Behavioral Strategies is run by Melissa “Missy” Olive, Ph.D, BCBA-D. Olive, who lives in Woodbridge, said ABS
“My goal is to include these kids in the JCC camp,” Olive said. “Nothing but good things can come from this partnership. I’m excited about the possibilities.” She said she also wants Applied Behavioral Strategies to act as a resource for the community with free workshops on parenting, behavioral issues, homework and tantrums. “This facility is just perfect for our needs,” she said. Olive was inspired to get into the field of ABA by her brother Mac, who has autism. She first started Applied Behavioral Strategies out of her home office. She has 33 employees. In many cases, Olive said insurance will cover her company’s services. For more information on Applied Behavioral Strategies, call (203)9039363 or go to the website at: www. appliedbehavioralstrategies.com.
Photo Credit: Photo by Kate Warren
RJ Julia Booksellers is taking reservations on their website. Book signing ($6) and reception follows the lecture.
Tower One/Tower East Prepares for Busy Schedule of Activities The Tower One/Tower East November and December calendar provides a schedule of activities that people of all ages and tastes can enjoy. On Sunday, Nov. 15, don’t miss the showing of the movie “People Forget…New Haven REMEMBERS,” at the Bow Tie Criterion Cinema in New Haven. The movie reflects powerful memories of four Connecticut residents who survived the Holocaust, including two who are Towers residents. On Saturday, Nov. 21, enjoy a Thanksgiving Concert performed by the Towers Chorus. On Tuesday, Nov. 24, professor, humorist, entertainer Joyce Saltman returns to the Towers to present a program on “Humor and Aging.” On Sunday, Dec. 6, once again the Towers Chorus will entertain with a Chanukah Concert and on Wednesday, Dec. 9,
don’t miss the Encore Performance of the Towers residents in the play “A Closer Look – going deeper than what you see at first glance.” The residents originally performed this play on the Long Wharf Theatre stage this past September and they are happy to bring it back by popular demand to the Towers. The play is the culmination of a year-long program through Long Wharf’s Elderplay Project in partnership with the Towers. The fun continues on Sunday, Dec. 13, with a musical performance by the Nu Haven Kapelye group along with David Chevan. Check out the daily programs and activities on the website at www. towerone.org For more information, please call (203) 772-1816
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CONGREGATION OR SHALOM
Or Shalom Program Honors Laemmle’s Legacy On Sunday morning, Nov. 8, at the annual Kristallnacht commemoration, Congregation Or Shalom in Orange will celebrate the life-saving, selfless deeds of Carl Laemmle.
presentation made by Thomas Doherty, author and professor of American Studies and chair of the American Studies Program at Brandeis University. Then, Senator Richard Blumenthal will present a commendation to the Laemmle family, who will receive it on behalf of their “Uncle Carl.” Surrounding the Senator and the Laemmle family will be several of the hundreds who are alive today because of Laemmle’s life-saving deeds.
Carl Laemmle, an immigrant from Germany and the founder of Universal Pictures, saved hundreds of people from the Holocaust.
The program will begin at 9 a.m. with a
All are welcome. The event is free and open to the public and is made possible by a donation from the Men’s Club Yellow Candle Fund.
CONGREGATION BETH EL-KESER ISRAEL
BEKI’s Rabbi Makes Top 10 List Westville’s Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel (BEKI) is positively kvelling thanks to a recent article in the International Jewish online news outlet, “Tablet,” which names their rabbi, Rabbi JonJay Tilsen, as one of the “10 American Rabbis you haven’t heard of, but should.” “[W]hat sets Tilsen apart is his willingness to guide from the side, rather than take center stage, enabling his congregants to shine in their own right,” the article stated. “As one put it, ‘He knows how to get out of the way. That doesn’t mean we get less from our rabbi. It means we get more from everyone else.’”
There are toys and floor space galore for the littlest ones, parsha and holiday themed prayers, games and activities for the grade schoolers. Teens, some who act as Shamashim during services, gather with a parent leader for Cosmic Conversations on the coveted front lobby couches. Kosher, allergy sensitive, snacks are provided for all children. The content includes prayer, parsha, holidays, Israel, Zionism, Hebrew and
Rabbi Ginsburg joins Congregation Sinai Rabbi Intern Gerry L. Ginsburg of Stamford has joined Congregation Sinai of Milford/West Haven as its spiritual leader. He conducted this year’s High Holiday services along with Cantor Pharrel Wener of Gloucester, MA. Ginsburg is a matriculated student at the Academy for Jewish Religion in Yonkers, NY. He had served as a rabbinic intern previously at Congregation Kneses Tiferet Israel in Port Chester, NY. Active in the Stamford Jewish community for many years, he has served as vice
To read the full article “Tablet” wrote about Rabbi Tilsen, who has led BEKI since 1993, go to: www.tabletmag. com/jewish-life-and-religion/193381/ rabbis-you-havent-heard-of.
current affairs. Programs last from 10:45 until 11:45 and embody principles of family education and life-long learning, 52 weeks per year. Parent volunteers lead every week. They are provided ample support, consultation and resources. Mark Oppenheimer reached out to local families with BEKI in the Backyard Shabbat afternoons and Ivan Alvarez is continuing the warm inclusiveness for young families. After services, BEKI offers a volunteercooked Kiddush lunch and time for all to schmooze and kids to mix with all the age groups. For more information: www.beki.org/ youth/shabbat-programs/.
president of Temple Beth El, Men’s Club president, gabbai, and service leader. He has served on the board of the Stamford Jewish Community Center. Ginsburg has an MBA from New York University and a BS in Journalism from the University of Ohio. He is a past president of Ginsburg Global International Direct Marketing and Ginsburg & Company, Publishing Consultants. He is married to Dr. Frances Ginsburg and is the father of two adult children. For more information about Congregation Sinai, call (203) 3010558.
BEKI Sisterhood Book of Life Honors Zax, Weiser
John Weiser and Shoshana Zax joined BEKI in 1994, with their young children Samuel and Ariel. As a young family, they immersed themselves in BEKI, spiritually, educationally and socially. From the beginning, they attended Shabbat services regularly, participating in and eventually leading various children services for many years. During that time both John and Shoshana studied Hebrew and began to learn more about Torah, Jewish philosophy, literature and observances.
Children Always Welcome at BEKI Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel’s Shabbat Children’s Programs, coordinated by Miriam Benson, cover all ages: a “Children’s Shabbat Havura” for birth thru preschool, K-2 Kehila for Kindergarten through Grade 2, Junior Congregation for grades 3-6 and Cosmic Conversations for seventh and eighth graders.
CONGREGATION SINAI
Shoshana joined a group of women who studied together to become “Bat Torah” in 1998. Since then, Shoshana has used the skills she learned and has been one of the lay leaders of the Musaf service on Shabbat morning.
In addition, Shoshana has served as a Kiddush Committee leader, a member of BEKI board and most recently, as chair of programming. John led the fundraising campaign, BEKI 2000, which allowed BEKI to renovate the lobby, the George G. Posener Daily Chapel/library, the Claire Goodwin Youth Room and to build an accessible elevator. John has helped with a number of renovation projects at BEKI as well. When they are not at BEKI, John is a founding partner of a consulting firm specializing in non profit strategy and planning. Shoshana is a nurse-midwife who has worked for 30 years providing women’s health care in the New Haven area.
BEKI-BJ, USY, Kadima Look Forward to Exciting Year Ahead Thanksgiving pie-making, will be back Beth El-Keser Israel and B’nai Jacob (BEKI-BJ) USY and Kadima are gearing up for a fresh, new year. Kadima is a program for Jewish middle schoolers, from fifth through eighth grade, regardless of synagogue affiliation. Some activities Kadimaniks enjoyed this year were snow tubing at Powder Ridge, making recyclable crafts for Tu BeShvat, and going to Lake Compounce.
USY is a youth leadership program for Jewish teens (eighth - twelfth grade). During this year, USYers became chefs at the Iron Chef event and met other Jewish teens at a number of regional events. In addition, members kept in touch through bi-weekly lounge nights, where they schmoozed, ate, and engaged in activities. This year, lounge nights will be held on Mondays from 6:30-8 p.m. at BEKI. New events are being planned and fan favorites, like
for this coming year. With the help of new advisor Matt Pinchover, the 201516 USY season is sure to be a great one.
Beth El-Keser Israel and B’nai Jacob (BEKI-BJ) USY and Kadima are gearing up for a busy year ahead.
For more information, contact USY chapter president Maya Lew at maya. lew11@gmail.com or advisor Matt Pinchover at mpinchover@gmail.com. www.beki.org/youth/kadima-usy.
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CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM RODFE ZEDEK
CBSRZ Presenting First Pursuers of Justice and Peace Award This year is the centennial year for the “Congregation with the Long Name,” Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek. The congregation was founded in 1915 when neither justice nor peace was assured for anyone, much less the Jewish population - neither in Europe, where WWI was raging, nor in the more welcoming shores of the U.S. where prejudice and bigotry still prevailed. The small group of Jewish farmers who had settled in Moodus and banded together to start a congregation still believed that justice was possible and that its pursuit was mandatory; Rodfe Zedek (Pursers of Justice) was their testament to that belief. Congregation Beth Shalom (House of Peace) found its origins in equally tenuous and troubling times, its founders drawing strength from one another and from their ties with Jewish tradition. They sought to establish a
congregation that was to reach into a future that was at once very different from and yet inextricably connected to its past. In November, CBSRZ will present the first Pursuers of Justice and Peace Award. This award commemorates the spirit that imbued those responsible for the congregation’s existence, a spirit that still animates their congregation 100 years later, giving that spirit a concrete representation visible not just to their congregation, but to the outside world, and linking them and their successors in years to come with their founders and their vision. The award will be presented to a person who has made significant contributions to the pursuit of justice and/or peace, someone with ties to the area, whose actions reflect the values inherent in that pursuit, values imbued deeply in the heart of Judaism, someone whose actions also serve to inspire others. The award will be presented during Shabbat morning services on Saturday, Nov. 14, with a kiddush luncheon following. All are welcome.
BETH TIVKAH
On Saturday evening, Nov. 14, Gaines will focus on “Uncovering Poetry in the Torah.” Our sacred texts are written in the peculiar language of Hebrew poetry. Coinciding with the publication of his new book, “The Poetic Priestly Source,” Gaines will introduce the genre of Hebrew poetry and showcase its unique beauty. He will also present his research uncovering a previously unrecognized poetic layer in the Torah, a 2,500 year old “hidden poem” that spans from Genesis through Deuteronomy. The evening will begin
MISHKAN ISRAEL
Party Celebrates 175th Anniversary
On Nov. 7, Congregation Mishkan Israel celebrates its 175th Anniversary with a big party. This special family evening starts at 6 p.m. and includes Havdalah, a cocktail, silent auction hour and dinner and dancing. Music will be provided by Jack Lipson and Snake Oil. Dinner will be catered by Emily’s Catering Group. For more information and to reserve tickets, contact the synagogue office. On Sunday, Nov. 22, from 10 a.m. to noon, the community is invited to participate in Congregation Mishkan Israel’s annual Mitzvah Mall. The Mitzvah Mall, which is co-sponsored by the synagogue’s Religious Education and Social Action Committees, provides an opportunity to give the gift of charity (tzedakah) for the holidays. Children and adults visit tables that are setup by a variety of local, national and international agencies. Instead of purchasing a gift, children and adults make donations to the agencies of their choice. Donations are made in the name of a friend or relative, who receives a card from the agency informing them of the contribution made in their honor.
On Friday, Dec. 4, the congregation welcomes URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs as guest speaker for Shabbat Evening Services, which begin at 7:30 p.m. Rabbi Jacobs is president of the Union for Reform Judaism, the congregational arm of the Reform Jewish Movement in North America. The service is open to the community. Mishkan Israel will celebrate the Festival of Lights with a Chanukah Dinner & Service on Friday, December 11. This family celebration is open to the community and will begin at 5:45 p.m. with a Shabbat dinner that features traditional Friday night foods as well as latkes and other favorite Chanukah treats. The evening will conclude with a Shabbat Family Service at 7 p.m. There is a fee for dinner. To RSVP and for more information, contact the synagogue office at (203) 288-3877. Congregation Mishkan Israel is located at 785 Ridge Road in Hamden. For more information, call the synagogue office at (203)288-3877.
CONGREGATION B’NAI JACOB
Gaines Discusses Threats to Israel, Poetry in the Torah On Friday, Nov. 13, Temple Beth Tikvah’s 2015 Scholar-In-Residence program features Dr. Jason Gaines. Friday Shabbat services begin at 7:15 p.m. Dr. Gaines will talk about “Israel’s Existential Threats: ISIS, Iran and BDS.” He will examine historic events and outside threats including the Islamic State (ISIS), the possibility of a nuclear Iran and the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. He will discuss inner conflicts including a polarizing political environment and institutional oppression of women, nonOrthodox Jews, LGBT individuals, and other minorities that have threatened to tear Israel apart. He will offer his opinions on what the future holds for Israel, and what Israel must do to survive and thrive. An Oneg will follow the service.
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with wine and beverages, a casual vegetarian hot buffet dinner provided by caterer Lou Fusco from 6:30-7:30 p.m. and a Havdalah service. After the lecture, there will be a book signing and
Cantor’s Concert, Jewish British Art Discussion Planned November kicks off at B’nai Jacob with a Cantor’s Concert, Nov. 7 at 7:30 pm. B’nai Jacob’s own Malachi Kanfer, along with Rachel Brook, will be performing a mix of classical musical theater selections along with Jewish, Yiddish and popular music. Currently in his third year of the H.L. Miller Cantorial School at the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS), Kanfer is a 2012 graduate of Oberlin Conservatory of Music.
Dr. Jason Gaines, Temple Beth Tikvah’s 2015 Scholar-In-Residence.
dessert. Gaines teaches Hebrew Bible and religious studies at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut, and the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. He received a BA from Sarah Lawrence College and an MA and PhD in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies from Brandeis University. Both events are being held at Temple Beth Tikvah, 196 Durham Road, Madison. They are free and open to the public through a generous donation. To help provide for food, an RSVP is strongly requested for Saturday night. Go to: www.eventbrite.com/e/an-eveningwith-dr-jason-gaines-uncovering-poetry-inthe-torah-tickets-18683147798 or contact Jill Lesage at (203)738-0033 or jwlesage@ jewishnewhaven.org.
He has performed many operatic roles in both Oberlin and in Italy also served as the High Holidays Hazzan at Congregation Agudas Achim in Columbus, Ohio. Brook is a Cantorial Intern at the Park Avenue Synagogue in NYC, who will be graduating from JTS this spring. She has a BA in Vocal Performance from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, and an MA in Vocal Performance from Westminster Choir College. The evening includes drinks, hors d’oeuvres and dessert. The cost is $54 per person. B’nai Jacob’s Adult Ed Committee
will also host two speakers. Linda Friedlaender will speak on Nov. 21 following the Kiddush on “Is There Such a Thing as Jewish British Art?” Friedlaender is the Senior Curator of Education at the Yale Center for British Art. She will introduce participants to a selection of modern and contemporary British artists. They will be Jewish and British. On Sunday, Dec. 6, at 10 a.m., Katalin Baltimore will speak on “The Rapid Rise of the Fascist Jobbik Party in Hungary 2010-2015.” Baltimore was born in Hungary and escaped to the U.S. with her family after the Hungarian Revolution. Each Shabbat morning at 9 a.m., join Rabbi Rona Shapiro for Bread & Torah. Shapiro began a class in October on “Levinas on Talmud,” a French philosopher whose work deals primarily with ethics. The class continues Nov. 2, 9, 16 and 30 from 7:30- 9 p.m. Cantorial Student Malachi Kanfer is teaching how to chant Torah on Wednesday evenings through Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. The ability to read Hebrew is a prerequisite. If you would like to learn to read Hebrew, join Rose Rudich on Wednesday afternoons from 12–12:45 p.m., followed by Shapiro and Malachi Kanfer teaching “Understanding & Chanting Hebrew Prayers, Wednesdays from 12:45–1:30 p.m. For additional information, call B’nai Jacob at (203)389-2111.
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TEMPLE EMANUEL
WESTVILLE SYNAGOGUE
Hanukkah Party Set for Dec. 6
Temple Emanuel Celebrates Congregation’s Campus Project
Sunday, Dec. 6 - Westville Synagogue Hanukkah Party Contact BetsySchulman@gmail.com for more information. - Westville University Westville University is an educational initiative that offers dynamic high level programming to the community reflecting our commitment to Jewish learning, history, culture, law and the State of Israel. Wednesday, Nov. 4, 8 p.m. Prof. Steven Wilf, UCONN Law School “Sifra D’Aftara: Print Culture in a Time of Religious Crisis” Saturday, Nov. 14, 7 p.m. Film Night, Discussion by Ed Shrager “Garden of the Finzi Continis”
Temple Emanuel recently dedicated the new Jonas and Barbara Miller Family education wing by celebrating with a ribbon cutting and installation of a mezuzah on the entrance to the new wing. The mezuzah, generously donated by Congregation Mishkan Israel, was affixed by Rabbis Michael Farbman and Herb Brockman.
Celebrating construction rather than destruction, Temple Emanuel dedicated the Jonas and Barbara Miller Family education wing in September. Highlights of the event included the ribbon cutting and installation of a mezuzah on the entrance to the new wing. The mezuzah, generously donated by Congregation Mishkan Israel, was affixed by Rabbis Michael Farbman and Herb Brockman. The remainder of the evening included the congregation’s annual Shabbat Under the Stars cookout and Kabbalat Shabbat service. The unification of synagogue life in one building is the culmination of the congregation’s 40-plus years in Orange. The new wing houses the religious school and the temple offices. The library is named for the Berkowitz family and the Rabbi’s study is named for the congregation’s Rabbi Emeritus, Gerald Brieger. The majority of the
funds for the One Campus project came from members of the congregation, but was initiated by a generous $75,000 grant from the Jewish Federation and the Foundation of Greater New Haven. The congregation is planning a dinner in celebration of the major donors to the One Campus project on Saturday, Dec. 5. Since the opening of the new space, members of the congregation have celebrated Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services and the beginning of the religious school year under the same roof. “We are excited about the opportunity to have both familyoriented and adult activities happening in such close proximity,” said Dr. Melissa Perkal, president of the synagogue. For more information, call (203)3973000, or go to: www.templeemanuelgnh.org.
Ezra students bond with local seniors in new intergenerational Jewish program Earlier this month, Ezra Academy launched the Better Together Program, an intergenerational program created in collaboration with Tower One/Tower East in New Haven and Coachman Square in Woodbridge. Each of the students will be paired with a senior for the year-long program. The focus will be helping the students better understand their Jewish ancestry and deepening their Jewish values. The students and seniors will also share holiday celebrations. “The Better Together program will foster an environment that will help our students establish lasting and meaningful relationships with senior members of their families and the communities they live in,” said Melanie Waynik, Ezra’s head of school. As part of the kickoff event, representatives from Tower One/Tower East organized interactive activities to prepare students for their time with the seniors. To experience what it is like
to have hearing loss, students placed cotton balls in their ears and spoke to each other. The students then wrapped rubber bands around their index finger and thumb and tried to pick up loose change to get a better idea of how it feels to live with arthritis. Students also wore sunglasses that simulated the feeling of having macular degeneration.
Upcoming events Emanuel include:
The students’ blogs can be found at www.ezraacademyct.org/category/ student-blog/
Temple
Wednesday, Dec. 2, 8 p.m. Dr. Yotam Hotam, Yale University “Israel Today: A Reflection of Society from an Education Perspective”
• Nov. 13: Remembrance Shabbat to honor all World War II veterans; • Nov. 15: Discussion about the history and significance of Rosh Hodesh with a service by Rabbi Suri Kreiger, admission for non-TE members $5 at the door;
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 8 p.m. Rabbi Fred Hyman “Akeidat Yitzchak in Jewish Law, Liturgy and History”
• Nov. 22: Temple Emanuel hosts the Orange Interfaith Thanksgiving Service;
Saturday, Dec. 19, 7 p.m. Film Night, Discussion by Ed Shrager “Above and Beyond” ------------------------------------------------Westville Synagogue 74 West Prospect Street New Haven, CT 06515 (203)389-9513 www.westvilleshul.org
• Dec. 11: Shabbat Hanukkah - our annual family celebration including a latke-baking contest, Shabbat dinner and a Kabbalat Shabbat service with musical accompaniment by Rabbi Farbman, the TE band, children’s choir and intergenerational choir.
ADL Welcomes New Regional Director The Anti-Defamation League welcomes Steve
Ginsburg
as
director
of
its
Connecticut Regional Office. He officially assumed the role in September. Ginsburg joins ADL after
On Oct. 2, students and seniors built a Sukkah out of food items to celebrate Kabbalat Shabbat. Each student is maintaining a blog throughout the program. “We want our students to chronicle their experiences and examine how these newfound relationships have impacted them and deepened their understanding of their Jewish values,” said Waynik. “We expect the entire experience will be a transformational one for our students.”
at
Wednesday Nov. 18, 8 p.m. Prof. Joshua Sandman, University of New Haven “The Changing Policy Dynamic: The Obama Administration, Israel, Iran and the Middle East”
serving
as
Principal at Mission Measurement,
a
firm
that
with
foundations,
corporations
works and
nonprofits to predict and maximize return on investment. Prior to that, he was director of development for ADL’s Greater Chicago/ Upper Midwest Region, one of ADL’s largest offices. Ginsburg also served as chief legal counsel to the Office of the Governor of the State of Illinois and
helped run the American Bar Association Rule of Law reform project in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, in the late 1990s. Additionally, he practiced law at Katten Muchin Rosenman and Huron Consulting Group. “We are so thrilled that Steve will be joining us,” said Robyn Teplitzky, ADL’s Connecticut Regional Board Chair. “The search committee worked tirelessly to ensure that our new regional director would bring experience, energy and enthusiasm to our region. We have found that in Steve.” The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.
BECOME A JCC
MEMBER
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3 MONTHS FOR $100! No sign up fee. Call membership today! (203) 387-2522 x223
*New members only (Not an active member after 12/1/14). Valid driver’s license. Special ends 1/31/16. Minimum 3 month commitment.
JCC 12TH ANNUAL
Gifts • Accessories • Home Decor Pottery • Jewelry and More!
MANY NEW VENDORS! Sunday, Dec. 6 | 10 am - 4 pm
JCC • 360 Amity Rd. Woodbridge
Free admission. Open to the community. More: Debbie Brander, debbieb@jccnh.org, (203) 387.2522 x276
360 Amity Road, Woodbridge, CT • 203.387.2522 • www.jccnh.org
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More than 60 group exercise classes including Zumba, Spinning and Yoga! • Pool• Basketball • Racquetball • Before school & After school programs • More!
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Community Calendar | Please visit jewishnewhaven.org for the most up-to-date listings & to add to your listing.
nov.
Fall Weight Loss Challenge Thursdays 6-7 pm, Saturdays 9-10 am, Sundays 7:15-8 am or 8-9 am Oct. 18 - Dec. 15. *No sessions Nov. 26 or 28.* Contact: susand@jccnh.org, JCC, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge. Temple Beth Sholom Vendor & Craft Show Sunday, Nov. 1, 9 am-4 pm Contact: Brian, TBSVendorFair@gmail.com Temple Beth Sholom, 1809 Whitney Avenue, Hamden. ARTS & CULTURE FESTIVAL Author Rita Goldberg • Off-site Sunday, Nov. 1, 9:30-11:30 am $6 for admission. Brunch served. Tickets online, jccnh.org. Contact: ruthg@jccnh. org, Temple Beth Tivkah, 196 Durham Road, Madison, CT BECOMING: Richard Newton - Sculpture Exhibition at CBSRZ Through Nov. 15, 10 am-3 pm, daily, M-F Contact: lisp1019@aol.com, Cong. Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek, 55 East Kings Highway, Chester Introduction to Judaism with Rabbi Herbert Brockman Every week until Jan. 24, 10-11 am Open to members of the community. Registration required. Contact: Merav, mcanann@cmihamden.org, Mishkan Israel, 785 Ridge Road in Hamden PJ Library Birthday Buddies Sunday, Nov. 1, 10:30-11:15 am & 2-2:45 pm Contact: laurar@jccnh.org, JCC, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge. Sing-along Storytime Mondays, Nov. 2 & Nov. 16, 9:30 - 10:15 am Contact: laurar@jccnh.org, JCC, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge. Lounge Night Every two weeks on Mondays & Wednesdays, Nov. 2 - July 31, 2016, 9, 6:30-7:45 pm Contact: Mattathias, 860-471-5009, ekibjusy@ gmail.com, Beth El Israel Kesser, 85 Harrison Street, New Haven. ARTS & CULTURE FESTIVAL and Election Day School Vacation Program Author Russell Bernstein Tuesday, Nov. 3, 11 am-12:30 pm Vacation program runs 9 am-4 pm. Contact: karim@jccnh.org, JCC, Living Room, 360 Amity Road,Woodbridge. First Friends Club Tuesdays, 11 am - 12 pm FREE. Contact: laurar@jccnh.org.JCC, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge. Israeli Dance Classes Every week, Nov. 3 - Sept. 6, 2016, 7:30-10:15 pm Contact: leng@ctisraelidance.com, Cong. BethEl Keser, 85 Harrison Street, New Haven. Jewish Education & the 21st Century Learning Revolution Wednesday, Nov. 4, 7-9 am Contact: Ali Cranshaw, 203-389-5500, acranshaw@ezraacademyct.org, JCC Community Room, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge. Safe Stance - Fall Prevention Series Wednesday, Nov. 4, 11 am-12 pm, Congregation B’Nai Jacob Wednesday, Nov. 5, 11 am-12 pm, Cong. Beth El-Keser, Contact: Diane, 203-7721816 ext. 28 Create a Jewish Legacy New Haven Training Session Wednesday, Nov. 4, 6-8:30 pm Contact: Lisa Stanger, lstanger@ jewishnewhaven.org, Location TBA Temple Beth Sholom Bible Study with Rabbi Benjamin Scolnic Wednesday, Nov. 4, 7-8 pm Contact: Temple Beth Sholom Office,203-288-7748, Temple Beth Sholom, 1809 Whitney Avenue, Hamden. Fall Kids’ Movie Series Thursday, Nov. 5, 4-6 pm FREE. Contact: laurar@jccnh.org, JCC, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge. Temple Beth Sholom Reading Hebrew Crash Course
Every Thursday, Nov. 5 - Dec. 10, 7-8 pm No class 11/26. Contact: 203-288-7748, bethsholomhamden@aol.com, Temple Beth Sholom, 1809 Whitney Avenue, Hamden
An Island In Time Women’s Retreat Nov. 13 - Nov. 15 $200 plus hotel room Contact: Bluma Hecht, jwc@chabadow.org
Shabba-tots First Friday of every month, Nov. 6 - Dec. 4, 11-11:45 am Cost: $5 for members,$7 for non-members. All three classes: $15 for members, $21 for nonmembers. Contact: laurar@jccnh.org, JCC, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge.
Temple Beth Sholom Sunday Mornings with Rabbi Scolnic Sunday, Nov. 15, 9:30-11:30 am Contact: Temple Beth Sholom, 203-288-7748, bethsholomhamden@aol.com
Mishkan Israel 175th Anniversary Party Saturday, Nov. 7, 6-10 pm Contact: Merav Canaan, 203-288-3877 or mcanaan@cmihamden.org, Cong. Mishkan Israel, 785 Ridge Road, Hamden Kristallnacht Memorial Service Sunday, Nov. 8, 9-11:30 am Contact: Rabbi Alvin Wainhaus, 203-7992341, Congregation Or Shalom, 205 Old Grassy Hill Rd, Orange. Introduction To Judaism With Rabbi Herbert Brockman Every week, Nov. 8 - Jan. 24, 2016, 10 - 11 am Cost: $175 Contact: Merav Canaan,mcanaan@ cmihamden.org or (203) 288-3877, Cong. Mishkan Israel, 785 Ridge Road, Hamden. Temple Beth Sholom Book Discussion, “Go Set a Watchman” Sunday, Nov. 8, 9:30-11 am Light refreshments. Call to RSVP Contact: 203-288-7748, Temple Beth Sholom, 1809 Whitney Avenue, Hamden. ARTS & CULTURE FESTIVAL Authors Joyce Saltman & Cindy Wolfe Sunday, Nov. 8, 10:30 am-12 pm Coffee and light refreshments will be served. Cost $10. Tickets online, jccnh.org. Contact: ruthg@jccnh.org, JCC, Vine Auditorium, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge. Pomegranate Costuming Presentation and Workshop Sunday, Nov. 8, 1-4 pm $5 for Pomegranate members and $10 for non-members. Contact: Sue Honeyman, 203397-9233, thewordhive@gmail.com, Cong. Beth El–Keser Israel, 85 Harrison Street, New Haven. JCC Board of Directors Meeting Monday, Nov. 9, 7-9 pm Contact: ruthg@jccnh.org, JCC, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge. Temple Beth Sholom Nosh & Learn Every 2nd Tuesday of the month, Nov. 10 Dec. 8, 10-11:30 am FREE. Refreshments served. RSVP. Contact: Temple Beth Sholom, 203-288-7748 Sticky Fingers Every other Tuesday, Nov. 10 - Dec. 22, 12:30-1:15 pm $120 JCC members and $144 nonmembers for all 6 sessions. Contact: laurar@jccnh.org, JCC, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge. Veteran’s Day School Vacation Program Wednesday, Nov. 11, 8:30 am - 4 pm Grades K-8. Rates and before/after care available. Contact: karim@jccnh.org, JCC, 360 Amity Road,Woodbridge. Jews & the News Wednesday, Nov. 11 & Dec. 9, 12-1:30 pm Sign up for alerts about the topic to be discussed at jccprograms@jccnh.org. Contact: kbisbee@jewishnewhaven.org, JCC, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge. PJ Library’s Music & Me Wednesday, Nov. 11, Dec. 9 & Dec. 23, 2:30-3:30 pm Contact: laurar@jccnh.org, JCC, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge. Tower One/Tower East Board of Directors Meeting Every 2nd Wednesday of the month Nov. 11 & Dec. 9, 6:45 - 7:45 pm Contact: Nicole Merritt, nicole@towerone.org or (203) 772-1816 x 180. Tower One/Tower East, 18 Tower Lane, New Haven. Top Chef: Holiday Edition Thursday, Nov. 12, 4-5 pm $32 JCC members and $40 nonmembers for all 4 sessions. Contact: laurar@jccnh.org, JCC, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge. Federation Executive Committee Meeting Thursday, Nov. 12, 7-8 pm Contact: kbisbee@jewishnewhaven.org JFGNH, 360 Amity Road Woodbridge.
New Haven Holocaust Memorial Film Showing Sunday, Nov. 15,10 am - 12 pm Contact: Fay Sheppard, 203-784-4123, faysheppard@att.net, Criterion Theater 86 Temple Street, New Haven. ARTS & CULTURE FESTIVAL Bagels & Books Series: Day of Jewish Learning Sunday, Nov. 15, 10:30-11:15 am Contact: laurar@jccnh.org, JCC, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge. ARTS & CULTURE FESTIVAL Author Richard Kaletsky Sunday, Nov. 15, 12-3 pm Cost $15. Includes book. Tickets online, jccnh.org. Contact: ruthg@jccnh.org, JCC, Vine Auditorium, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge. Wisdom of Woodbridge Lecture Series Tuesday, Nov. 17, 6:30-8 pm Contact: Mara Balk, 203-387-2522 x300, marab@jccnh.org, JCC Living Room, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge. Resumes that Work Wednesday, Nov. 18, 11 am - 1 pm Contact: Rachel Dobin, rsdobin@jfsnh.org, Jewish Family Service, 1440 Whalley Avenue, New Haven. ARTS & CULTURE FESTIVAL Author Tess Gerritsen Wednesday, Nov. 18, 11 am - 12:30 pm Suggested donation: $6. Tickets online, jccnh. org. Contact: ruthg@jccnh.org, JCC, Vine Auditorium, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge ARTS & CULTURE FESTIVAL Author Esther Blum Wednesday, Nov. 18, 7-8:30 pm Cost: $6. Tickets online, jccnh.org. Contact: jwlesage@jewishnewhaven.org, Jewish Federation Shoreline Office, 705 Boston Post Road, Guilford. Federation Board of Directors Meeting Wednesday, Nov. 18, 7-9 pm Contact: kbisbee@jewishnewhaven.org JFGNH, 360 Amity Road Woodbridge. Shoreline Adult Ed Thursday, Nov. 19 & Dec. 10 The Healing Power of Psalms-A Spiritual Journey - 10-11 am Pirke Avot-Reflections on How We Live Our Lives - 11:15 am - 12:30 pm FREE. Open to the community. Contact: Rabbi Hesch Sommer D.Min, 203-389-5599, hsommer@jfsnh.org Hands on Storytime! With PJ Library & Eli Whitney Museum Thursday, Nov. 19, 11-12 pm RSVP Required, $24/$30. Contact: laurar@ jccnh.org, Eli Whitney Museum, 915 Whitney Avenue, Hamden. Mishkan Israel Hosts Annual Mitzvah Mall Sunday, Nov. 22, 11-12 pm Contact: Merav Canaan,mcanaan@cmihamden. org or (203) 288-3877, Cong.Mishkan Israel, 785 Ridge Road, Hamden. ARTS & CULTURE FESTIVAL Screening & Filmmaker Q&A: Sophie Tucker Sunday, Nov. 22, 2-4 pm Cost $8. Tickets online, jccnh.org. Contact: ruthg@jccnh.org, JCC, Vine Auditorium, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge. HHNE Board Meeting Monday, Nov. 23 & Dec. 16, 7-9 pm Contact: Mena Fiore, fiore@hhne.org, HHNE 300 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford. Vacation Program Wednesday, Nov. 25, 7 am - 12 pm Grades K-8. Rates and before/after care available. Contact: karim@jccnh.org, JCC, 360 Amity Road,Woodbridge. Thanksgiving Break School Vacation Program Wednesday, Nov. 25, 9 am - 4 pm Grades K-8 Time 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. After care available. Extended care: 4-6 pm $15 members & nonmembers; $10 After School families. Contact: karim@jccnh.org, JCC, 360 Amity Road,Woodbridge.
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dec.
ARTS & CULTURE FESTIVAL Author Sarah Wildman Tuesday, Dec. 1, 7-8:30 pm Cost: $6. Tickets online www.rjjulia.com/event. Contact: Jill Lesage, 203-738-0033, jwlesage@ jewishnewhaven.org, RJ Julia Booksellers,768 Boston Post Road, Madison. Hebrew High School of New England Gala Wednesday, Dec. 3, 6 am - 9 pm Contact: Filomena Fiore, fiore@hhne.org, Hebrew High School of New England, 300 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford. Sing-along Storytime Friday, Dec. 4, 9:30 - 10:15 am Contact: laurar@jccnh.org, JCC, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge. Mishkan Israel Hosts URJ President Rick Jacobs Friday, Dec. 4, 7:30 - 9 pm Contact: Merav Canaan, 203-288-3877 or mcanaan@cmihamden.org, Cong. Mishkan Israel, 785 Ridge Road, Hamden JCC 12th Annual Craft & Gift Fair Sunday, Dec. 6, 10 am - 4 pm Contact: Debbie Brander, 203-387-2522, x276, debbieb@jccnh.org, JCC, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge. ARTS & CULTURE FESTIVAL Bagels & Books Series: Author Alyssa Satin Capucilli Sunday, Dec. 6, 10:30-11:15 am Contact: laurar@jccnh.org, JCC, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge. 11th Annual Shoreline Chanukah Celebration Sunday, Dec. 7, 4-5:30 pm Contact: Jill Lesage, 203-738-0033, jwlesage@ jewishnewhaven.org, Guilford Free Library, 67 Park Street, Guilford. Latkes & Vodka Sunday, Dec. 10, 7-9:30 pm Cost: $36. Contact: Enid Groves, 203-387-2424, egroves@jewishnewhaven.org Ezra Academy Chanukah Production Sunday, Dec. 10, 7-9 pm Contact: Rebecca Tishkoff, 203-389-5500, acranshaw@ezraacademyct.org, Ezra Academy, 75 Rimmon Road, Woodbridge. Chanukah Celebration at Mishkan Israel Friday, Dec. 11, 5:45-7 pm Contact: Merav Canaan,mcanaan@cmihamden. org or (203) 288-3877, Cong.Mishkan Israel, 785 Ridge Road, Hamden. Hands on Hanukkah Sunday, Dec. 13, 11 am - 2 pm FREE. Contact: laurar@jccnh.org.JCC, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge, Westfield Connecticut Post Mall, 1201 Boston Post Road, Milford. JCC Board of Directors Meeting Monday, Dec. 14, 7-9 pm Contact: ruthg@jccnh.org, JCC, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge. Foundation Board of Trustees Meeting Tuesday, Dec. 15, 7-9 pm Contact: Danielle Vitelli, 203-387-2424 ext. 316, dvitelli@jewishnewhaven.org, JCC, 360 Amity Road, Woodbridge. December 28 School Vacation Program Monday, Dec. 28, 7 am - 6 pm Grades K-8. Rates and before/after care available. Contact: karim@jccnh.org, JCC, 360 Amity Road,Woodbridge. December 29 School Vacation Program Tuesday, Dec. 29, 7 am - 6 pm Grades K-8. Rates and before/after care available. Contact: karim@jccnh.org, JCC, 360 Amity Road,Woodbridge. December 30 School Vacation Program Wednesday, Dec. 30, 7 am - 6 pm Grades K-8. Rates and before/after care available. Contact: karim@jccnh.org, JCC, 360 Amity Road,Woodbridge. December 31 School Vacation Program Thursday, Dec. 31, 7 am - 6 pm Grades K-8. Rates and before/after care available. Contact: karim@jccnh.org, JCC, 360 Amity Road,Woodbridge.