Upcoming Transitions in Synagogue Leadership
Mazel tov to Roz Paaswell, the new president at Shaare Zedek in Manhattan. Yasher koach to Richard Friedman, their immediate past president.
Mazel tov to Sharon Kelson, the new president of Congregation Agudas Israel in Newburgh. Yasher koach to Mark Lakritz, their immediate past president.
Brukha HaBa'ah to Randi Lieberman, now working with the youth programs at Shelter Rock Jewish Center in Roslyn.
Barukh HaBa to Dan Graber, now working with the youth programs at the North Shore Jewish Center and the Lake Success Jewish Center.
Barukh HaBa to Joseph
Sydney, now working with the youth programs at Temple Israel of Great Neck.
Brukhot HaBa'ot to Mara Silversmith and Lisa Aamodt, who are the new USY and Kadima directors, respectively, at the Merrick Jewish Centre.
Brukha HaBa'ah to Ellen Marcus, the new education director at Little Neck Jewish Center.
Do we know who's who in your congregation?
METNY USCJ would like to keep all of your synagogue board members up to date on the METNY programs and information. When your synagogue elects new board members, please fill out the Synagogue Leadership form and send back to the METNY office so we can include your leadership on our lists. Please click here for the form for 2010-11.
Please email, fax or mail to [email protected] or fax to 212-533-0400. The form can be mailed to 820 Second Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10017.
Furthermore, many of our congregations are currently in search for professional and spiritual leadership. METNY is here to help. Please contact any of our staff with questions. We wish our congregations success in this sacred enterprise.
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This Shabbat |
Shabbat times for New York, NY 10017
- Candle lighting:
7:49pm on Friday, 06 Aug 2010
- This week's Torah portion is Parashat Re'eh
- Havdalah (72 min):
9:17pm on Saturday, 07 Aug 2010
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To read the latest updates from national USCJ headquarters, click here for USCJ eNews.
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Publicize your event on the METNY Community Calendar. Please email
[email protected] to have your event posted. Click here to view the calendar. |
Follow METNY on the Web! |
Click here to become a fan of METNY USCJ on Facebook!
Twitter @CharlieSavenor
@MetnyUSY
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METNY Contact Information
| 820 Second Avenue, 10th Fl.
212-533-0800 (p)
212-533-0400 (f)
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To read workshop summaries and to download handouts from the 2010 Synagogue Leadership Conference, visit the METNY website. |
SAVE THE DATE!
METNY District's Biennial Convention
2010 will be held on Sunday,
November 14 at Beth El Synagogue Center in New Rochelle.
More information will be forthcoming.
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METNY District of USCJ presents
Building a Toolkit for Teachers - Teacher Training
An
Evening for Learning and Sharing Professional
Development for Teachers led by outstanding
METNY Principals and Professional Educators Wednesday, August 25, 2010 Congregation Habonim 44 West 66th Street, New York, NY 10023
COST = FREE*
PROGRAM 6:00-6:30 Welcome, Registration, and Dinner 6:30-6:45 "Building our Future Together Through Education" by
Rabbi Charles E. Savenor, METNY Executive Director 6:45-7:30 "The Fishbowl" * Three
Things Teachers Should Absolutely Do * Three
Things Teachers Should Absolutely Not Do * Three
Big Questions That All Teachers Ask - And The Answers 7:30-8:15 Workshop I 8:15-9:00 Workshop II 9:00 Handout - "Tools for
Success" and L'Hitraot WORKSHOPS A) Hurray! It's the First Day of School B) How
do I Know What They Know? Measuring
Success C) Nu-
What's New? I am Teaching Hebrew Please RSVP by August 20, 2010 to [email protected] or 212-533-0800. Name_____________________________________Email_____________________________Phone_____________ Address_______________________________________________________________________________________ Synagogue___________________________________________________Grade(s)
Teaching__________________ *This
workshop is co-sponsored by a grant from The Jewish Educators Assembly and The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, METNY
District
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USY Israel Pilgrimage 2010
Richard S. Moline
Director, Youth and Young Adult Services, USCJ
As last Shabbat came to an end, I stood on the balcony of my room at the Fuchsberg Center in Jerusalem, closed my eyes, and listened. The sounds of the heartfelt beautiful melodies marking the end of Shabbat surrounded me.
From one part of the building I heard the 23rd psalm, from another, Adon Olam sung to the melody of Sharm El-Sheikh. Those two were meshed with Esa Einai (from Psalm 121) and Naomi Shemer's Al Kol Eileh which were coming from other places in our complex. They were all sounds of our USY Israel Pilgrimage groups ending another Shabbat in Israel .
These are the same USYers I saw just a week earlier in Ya'ar Ben Shemen, a forest north of Jerusalem. There, all of our USY Israel Pilgrimage groups gathered for a day of friendly competition, full of incredible energy, group performances and tons of spirit. And in between those two events, these exact same USYers learned from our teachers Danny Siegel, Arnie Draiman and Steve Kerbel about performing acts of hesed (lovingkindness) - helping those less fortunate - before putting those teachings into action.
The contrasts and similarities between these three types of behaviors - reverence, unbounded energy and unconditional kindness - sum up my impressions of our USY Israel Pilgrimage. From the start of our recruitment season (which starts now for 2011!) to the administration (medical forms, deposits, interviews, staff recruitment, etc.) to the entire complicated program on the ground, which is directed so smoothly by our staff at the Fuchsberg Center, USY Israel Pilgrimage is an experience that creates lasting ties to Jewish life and the state of Israel, and has long-lasting effects that go well beyond our own local communities and our movement.
Kol HaKavod to our youth staff here in North America, led by Jules Gutin, Karen Stein and Aviva Tilles, along with our support staff and the other members of our USY staff at United Synagogue headquarters. Aviva handles the bulk of the Pilgrimage work in the office, including our excellent communications with parents.
A very special y'yishar koach to our director of USY programs in Israel, David Keren and his entire staff, who run a well-oiled machine - a program that is sensitive to the needs of USYers and our mission as Conservative Jews. David represents the heart of the experience in Israel. He is concerned with the health, safety and welfare of each one of our USYers and their staff members.
There are many fine options for teen summer programs in Israel , but I do believe that few are comparable to Pilgrimage on many different levels. As we begin to recruit for next summer, please help us spread the good word to your congregation and your community, along with your own children, grandchildren and their friends.
Enjoy the rest of your summer!
Rich
PS - USY on Wheels is also a tremendous summer experience. More on Wheels will be forthcoming.
Richard S. Moline
Director, Youth and Young Adult Services The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 847-714-9130 - [email protected] |
Minyan Katan Available Now ...
with Training Teleseminars for Your Children's Service Leaders!
Does
your synagogue need a great High Holy Day Service for kids? USCJ has it for
you, and it's available exclusively through our book service.
See the ad below with live links to samples of the Minyan
Katan kit, and information on how to order.
We are also providing two training opportunities via teleseminar
with the creators of Minyan Katan, so that those who are leading your children's services can
take full advantage of the Minyan Katan program:
Thursday, August 12 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern
or
Tuesday, August 17 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern
to register for the August 12 session:
1)
Click on Ellen Gordon's email address: [email protected]
2)
Copy the "form" below into the new email
3)
Fill out the requested information and
send
RSVP Form
for "Minyan Katan | August 12" Teleseminar:
Participant[s]
name:
Synagogue
position:
Participant[s]
Email address:
Synagogue:
Synagogue
city:
State/province:
Once you are registered we will email you a confirmation that
includes the call-in number. Additional materials for the teleconference may be
emailed to you prior to August 12. Please make certain that you configure your
spam filter so that [email protected] is not
marked as spam. There are a limited number of
lines available so register early.
to register for the August 17 session:
4)
Click on Ellen Gordon's email
address: [email protected]
5) Copy
the "form" below into the new email
6)
Fill out the requested information and
send
RSVP Form
for "Minyan Katan | August 17" Teleseminar:
Participant[s]
name:
Synagogue
position:
Participant[s]
Email address:
Synagogue:
Synagogue
city:
State/province:
Once you are registered we will email you a confirmation that
includes the call-in number. Additional materials for the teleconference may be
emailed to you prior to August 17. Please make certain that you configure your
spam filter so that [email protected] is not
marked as spam. There are a limited number of
lines available so register early.
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New Presidents and Officers Share Vital Orientation & Workshop
"How to Run a Congregational Meeting with a Minimum
of Tsuris"
New synagogue presidents and officers gathered at Temple Beth
Torah of Westbury on August 3rd to step off the new year with new knowledge
about conducting an effective,
successful and mentschlich congregational meeting. Twenty synagogues were
represented among the 32 people who traveled from the corners of the
district- including Orange and Rockland counties, the Bronx, Manhattan, Nassau, Suffolk, and
Brooklyn.
Ed Rudofsky, METNY's Legal Counsel and the USCJ Chairman
of the Standards Committee was the evening's main presenter. He offered ideas and
strategies in dealing with the
business of the congregation. Ed underscored the importance of fulfilling the
Jewish values of derekh eretz (honorable
respect for each person) and shalom bayit (a peaceful process in decision
making) as cornerstones of success.
Rudofsky covered such themes as "rules for
civility", preparing a script/agenda, presiding democratically, employing
the simplified version of Roberts Rules, offering wording for special meeting
notices, clarifying what "good financial standing" entails, and
offering a sample of "meeting rules".
Rabbi Charles Savenor, METNY's dynamic Executive Director,
opened the evening session by asking participants to share their local successes and then addressed how METNY can help partner to deal with challenges in their congregations. Norman Korowitz, METNY Executive VP, chaired the evening and introduced our speaker. Richard Rothstein, Beth Torah's
President, offered greetings, led the group in Ma'ariv and provided warm
hospitality.
Rabbi Moshe Edelman, METNY Associate Director, closed the
evening by asking the participants to circle the dates of October 18th
(District President's Night); November 14th (METNY's Biennial Convention);
March 16th (our annual Leadership evening); May 19-22 , SULAM 39 for Incoming Presidents
and June 6th, 2011 (METNY's annual Tribute Dinner).
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The Ernest L. Rothschild Leadership Award At the METNY District Biennial Convention on Sunday, November 14, at Beth El Synagogue Center in New Rochelle, we will give awards to our synagogues and their members. This year we are spotlighting one award in particular: the Ernest L. Rothschild Leadership Award.
Recognizing outstanding synagogue leaders, these awards perpetuate the memory of Ernest L. Rothschild. Active throughout the Conservative Movement, Mr. Rothschild served as a leader in the Shelter Rock Jewish Center, METNY and USCJ. The recipients of these awards - one for each synagogue size category - will be those whose special efforts affect and change people's lives, as well as furthering Conservative Judaism in their congregations. These individuals go above and beyond expectations, and are involved in at least one special synagogue program or activity. Each congregation may nominate one leader for the Rothschild Award. To be considered for this honor, an entry must include a description of the nominee and his or her synagogue extraordinary activity(ies) and contributions, as well as two accompanying letters of support - one from the congregation's rabbi and another from a person of the congregation's choosing. Material about all of METNY's awards and applications for the Rothschild Award will be sent out soon. These materials will be due Oct. 12. For more information, please contact Rabbi Charles Savenor, METNY District Director, at [email protected] or 212-533-0800. |
The Fuchsberg
Jerusalem Center's new initiative "Kol Haot "
Kol Haot is the newest offering of the Fuchsberg Center to help
United Synagogue affiliated groups visiting Israel enhance and enrich their
experience. Designed by well known artists, David Moss and Rabbi Matt
Berkowitz, the program utilizes the arts to help touch the individual's
emotions and affect. The goal of the program is to stimulate the
participants to use their creative spirit to think and feel about their time in
Israel and consider how it might affect their lives.
On Friday morning, July 8, a group gathered at the Fuchsberg
Center to participate in the Kol Haot experience. From the beginning
moments the enthusiastic participants were guided to use their own creative
energies to interpret values and narratives through visual and literary arts.
The participants walked away an hour and a half later with words like "Wow!," Amazing!", '"Transformative" and "Electrifying."
To take advantage of Kol Haot, visit the Fuchsberg Center web-site (www.USCJ.org.il) and look under programs for
synagogue missions. You can also contact [email protected].
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CREATING A CULTURE OF WELCOMING
A Teleseminar
from the Keruv Committee of the Conservative Movement
For lay leadership, clergy and professional staff
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Noon to 1:00 PM (Eastern Time)
Judaism has a tradition of keruv (outreach and welcoming) that goes back to our ancestors Abraham and Sarah who would hurry to welcome travelers into their tent. The Conservative movement continues that tradition and is committed to providing a welcoming atmosphere to interfaith families where everyone can feel engaged and involved. We warmly welcome anyone who shares our interest in Jewish life built upon our traditions and adherence to Jewish law.
Find out about the wealth of resources your congregation can employ to help congregants and their families confront life's challenges and celebrate life's joys. We want to share our Jewish traditions, culture and practices with all who are seeking personal connections or who want to help families with their Jewish development.
Join the members of the Keruv committee for a participatory webinar on August 18.
Highlights include:
� Creating a Culture of Welcoming, Rabbi Michael Beals (Congregation Beth Shalom, Wilmington, Delaware)
� Training Staff and Lay Leaders, Lynne Wolfe (mentor and communications facilitator for the FJMC keruv initiative)
� Use of Discussion Groups, Dr. Gary Smith (Senior Keruv Consultant, Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs / Adath Israel, Cincinnati, Ohio)
� Questions & Answers
� Find out what resources are available from the organizations of the Conservative movement
to register
1) Click on Ariella Brody's email address: [email protected]
2) Copy the "form" below into the new email
3) Fill out the requested information and send
RSVP Form for "KERUV: Creating a Culture of Welcoming" Teleseminar:
Participant[s] name:
Synagogue position:
Participant[s] Email address:
Synagogue:
Synagogue city:
State/province:
Once you are registered we will email you a confirmation that includes the call-in number. There are a limited number of lines available so register early.
The Keruv Committee represents Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs, the Rabbinical Assembly, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, and Women's League for Conservative Judaism.
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Yasher Koach Corner
Books Seized by Nazis Returned to Greenwich Resident
In 1939, Issac Bick saved his family from Nazi persecution by arranging to flee Germany. In order to get out safely, they had to leave all of their possessions behind which were then seized by the Gestapo. In October of 1940, Bick's extensive collection of books was turned over to the Hamburg University. Now, seventy one years later, many of those books are being returned to Bick's daughter, Inge Isler.
Yasher Koach to Rabbi Mitchell M. Hurvitz, Senior Rabbi of Temple Sholom in Greenwich, CT, who was instrumental in connecting Hamburg University and Isler, a Temple Sholom member and Greenwich resident. Isler was traced to Greenwich through an obituary written at the time of her husband Eric's passing. Rabbi Mitch worked with Professor Beger, Director of the Hamburg State and University Library, Volker Cirsovius-Ratzlaff, Head of the Book Collections and Paul Radensky of the Museum of Jewish Heritage: A Living Memorial to the Holocaust to get the books returned to Isler. The books are part of an on-going process of returning stolen property back to their rightful owners. Professor Beger writes that he and all Germans have a "moral and historical responsibility" in this regard. Beger continues in a letter to Isler, "the fact that we are now able to return some of these books to you as the rightful heir of Issac Bick, encourages us to keep up the search for nazi-looted property in our stock."
The search for rightful owners and/or their heirs can be rather difficult and long process. Numerous public authorities need to be consulted, traces need to be followed and not all searches turn out as well as this one. In the case of Isler, the American Consulate in Hamburg assisted the Library's research, who put them in contact with the Museum of Jewish Heritage, and the State Archive in Wiesbaden referred them to Rabbi Hurvitz. On Wednesday, August 11th, Rabbi Hurvitz will present Isler with the books during a brief ceremony at 12:00 pm. The ceremony will be held at Temple Sholom, 300 E. Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830.
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Preparing for the High Holy Days
For the third time, the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies (the Conservative rabbinical school in Los Angeles) has put together a DVD of High Holiday reflections and lessons. Spend some time preparing for the High Holy Days along with Rabbis Brad Artson, Ed Feinstein, Cheryl Peretz, and David Wolpe. Your rabbi will be receiving a copy of this year's DVD shortly. You can also review the material from the previous two DVDs.
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The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
proudly presents
May All Be Inscribed
a guide for inclusion of people with disabilities
during the High Holy Days & beyond
a teleseminar
with
Shelley Kaplan(moderator)
Co-Chair, USCJ Commission on Inclusion of People with Disabilities
http://www.uscj.org/Accessibility7508.html
and
Shelly Christensen*
MA Manager, Minneapolis Jewish Community Inclusion Program for People with Disabilities
Thursday, August 19, 2010
4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Atlantic
3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Eastern
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Central
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Mountain
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Pacific
The Jewish people are people of compassion. How we dedicate ourselves to meet the needs of our fellow Jews with disabilities is one true and accurate measure of how well we are living up to our legacy of compassion.
Join us for another informative session when we bring back our internationally-recognized featured speakers to share practical ideas about how to enhance the High Holy Day experience for our congregants with disabilities. Don't miss this interactive opportunity to learn from experts in the field of disability and Jewish education and hear what others are doing as we begin our introspection and prepare for the Yomim Noraim.
to register
1) Click on Ariella Brody's email address: [email protected]
2) Copy the "form" below into the new email
3) Fill out the requested information and send
RSVP Form for "May All Be Inscribed" Teleseminar:
Participant[s] name:
Synagogue position:
Participant[s] Email address:
Synagogue:
Synagogue city:
State/province:
Once you are registered we will email you a confirmation that includes the call-in number. Additional materials for the teleconference may be emailed to you prior to August 19. Please make certain that you configure your spam filter so that [email protected] is not marked as spam. There are a limited number of lines available so register early.
*Shelly Christensen is Program Manager for the Minneapolis Jewish Community Inclusion Program for People with Disabilities, a program of Jewish Family and Children's Service of Minneapolis. Shelly supports all institutions in the Jewish community by providing consultation, resources, facilitation and support. The Inclusion Program is nationally recognized as a leader in the field of inclusion in faith communities. This cutting-edge program was awarded the Association of Jewish Family and Children's Agencies' prestigious Goodman Award, recognizing excellence in innovative programming that addresses a community-wide need.
Shelly holds a Master of Arts degree in Developmental Disabilities from St. Mary's University of Minnesota. Her articles have been published in Exceptional Parent, Journal of Jewish Communal Services, TCJewfolk, various blogs, and she is frequently cited in articles. Shelly is the editor of the B'shalom column of the American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) Religion and Disability newsletter.
Shelly coordinates Jewish Disability Awareness Month (each February) to assist communities worldwide in raising awareness. Shelly facilitates seminars for synagogue professionals and lay leaders based on her book, The Jewish Community Guide to Inclusion of People with Disabilities. Her book was published in October 2007 and is widely used in Jewish and non-Jewish communities throughout North America, Britain and Australia. She recently received the Bettie and Bernard Farfel Award from Jewish Family Service of Houston for her contributions to the support of Jewish families. Shelly is the owner of Inclusion Innovations, LLC, where she is an international consultant to Jewish and other faith community organizations to strategize, develop and implement inclusion programs and initiatives.
Shelly and her husband Rick are the parents of three adult sons, one of whom has Asperger syndrome. She has personally navigated the Jewish and secular worlds and is passionate about working collaboratively to ensure meaningful participation by people with disabilities and their families. Shelly's philosophy is that people who have disabilities have hopes and dreams like everyone else. We do not do things for people with disabilities - we do things with them.
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High Holiday Security Material
As we shortly turn the calendar to August we have the
High Holy Days immediately before us. Security is the highest priority -
security of the physical Beit Knesset and of the precious souls who will enter
our synagogues. Security is necessary to maintain the holiness of our days is
paramount.
METNY is pleased to share this step by step guide to
assist you in your preparations. We
thank the United Jewish Communities, the Jewish Community Relations Council of
NY and John Jay Colleage of Criminal Justice for permission to bring this to
your attention. We encourage you to use the next few weeks to plan carefully.
Wishing all of you an early Shana Tovah u'Metukah!
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COME HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!
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With the High Holy Days soon approaching, we're asking for your help to promote and participate in the Project Reconnect initiative, Come Home For The Holidays (CHFTH), through your synagogues and affiliated organizations.
If your synagogue has not yet signed up for Come Home For The Holidays by either offering free High Holy Day seats and/or home hospitality to our alumni in need, you may still do so by going to http://www.projectreconnect.org and sign up with the appropriate information.
If you aren't sure if your synagogue has signed up for Come Home For The Holidays and/or want to be sure that Project Reconnect has the correct and updated information regarding your synagogue's participation in CHFTH, we encourage you to go to the Project Reconnect web site www.projectreconnect.org and check things out. Corrections may be sent to [email protected].
We have more than 300 congregations participating in CHFTH and the list is growing. With your help and support we can reach even higher numbers.
Below is a sample of what can be sent out for publicity to alumni who are in colleges away from home and who can't come home, or to Jewish organizations and publications:
USCJ'S PROJECT RECONNECT PARTNERS WITH SYNAGOGUES TO OFFER FREE HIGH HOLIDAY TICKETS TO CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT ALUMNI | The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism's Association For Alumni Programming, Project Reconnect, has teamed up with Conservative and Masorati synagogues throughout North America, Europe, South America and Israel to offer free High Holiday tickets and home hospitality (where noted) to college students, 20 and 30 somethings, young marrieds, alumni in need and those away from home during the High Holy Days, who have been involved with youth and young adult programs run by the Conservative movement.
Alumni are urged to go to the Project Reconnect website, www.projectreconnect.org, as soon as possible for information on the free High Holiday tickets offered as part of Project Reconnect's "Come Home for the Holidays" initiative. The website contains an extensive list of contact information for the hundreds of participating Conservative congregations.
USCJ synagogues not yet signed up for Come Home For The Holidays can still do so by going to the www.projectreconnect.org website. |
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469 Kadimaniks and USYers are currently registered for Encampment! Yasher Koach to the H2I chapter from Queens (a joint chapter of the Hillcrest Jewish Center, HollisHills Jewish Center, and the Israel Center of Conservative Judaism) on registering the largest contingent of Kadimaniks, and to the New City Jewish Center for registering the largest group of USYers! Camp is almost bursting at the seams - but we've still got room for your child (or grandchild, or neighbor...) - click here for more details!
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METNY on the road...METNY on the road...METNY on the road...
This week, METNY's staff are on the move!
On Wednesday, Aug. 4, Rabbi Savenor attended a focus group for USCJ staff on the USCJ-Hayom Strategic Plan.
On Thursday, August 5, Rabbi Savenor met with the leadership of Cong. Agudas Israel in Newburgh and presented that evening at the Nanuet Hebrew Center on "Revitalizing Your Youth Program". On Aug. 10, Rabbi Savenor will meet with the leadership of Pelham JC. On Aug. 10, Dave Siegel, Interim Youth Director, and Alan Reid, METNY VP, will run a workshop at the JCC Harrison on organizing a youth commission On Aug. 10, Rabbis Moshe Edelman and Rabbi Cara Rosenthal are meeting with South Huntington Jewish Center about outreach. On Aug. 11, Dave Siegel and Norman Korowitz are meeting with the leadership of Dix Hills JC on enhancing their youth program. On Aug. 12, Sharon Steinberg, METNY President, and Rabbi Moshe Edelman will meet with the Keruv Committee at Beth El Synagogue Center in New Rochelle.
Our road can lead to you, too! We can train your synagogue board, work with your clergy and staff, do an adult education program...we'd love to have you on our road map!
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