News You Can Use from METNY USCJ

News You Can Use

Reminder: Vetting USCJ's New Strategy

United Synagogue and the Hayom Coalition have been working for over a year on a new strategic plan for USCJ. We invite you and your leadership to learn about this plan and the dynamic future of United Synagogue.To RSVP, please contact Sloane Rosenberg via email at rosenberg@uscj.org or phone at 212-533-0800.

Tonight at 7:45pm at Temple Beth Sholom in Roslyn Heights, NY.
Tuesday, February 22 at 7:00pm at Temple Israel Center in White Plains, NY.

USCJ Strategic Plan Draft Released - Download the Draft

D'var Torah Videocast on Youtube:

"The Warm Glow of Transparency"

Leadership Lessons From Exodus #8

Click here to watch the video!

Click here to read a D'var Torah on Parashat Tetzaveh by Rabbi Charles Savenor, METNY District Director

United Synagogue to Provide

Housing & Meals for

Israeli Lone Soldiers

Jews come to Israel from all over the world to bravely serve in the Israel Defense Forces. But unlike their Israeli counterparts, these more than 5,000 "lone soldiers" are thousands of miles away from their families.

The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism's Shirley and Jacob Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center announced today that beginning February 18, it will host lone soldiers during Shabbat at its Alan Tichnor Residence Hall and Learning Center Guest House in Jerusalem. The center will provide Shabbat meals and housing to soldiers... [read more]

METNY Synagogue Leadership Conference

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Come join us at the upcoming METNY Spring Leadership Conference. It will

take place on Tuesday, March 15, 2011, at the Israel Center of Conservative Judaism in Flushing, NY. The convention's theme, "Profiles in Chutzpah," will present "out of the box thinking" that leaders can utilize to enhance and inspire their kehillot, congregations. The registration fee for the conference is $18, which covers dinner, sessions and materials. The registration deadline is Tuesday, March 7th. [more info]

District Happenings

News & Events From Around the METNY District

Five Synagogues of White Plains Israel Action Committee presents Congresswoman Nita Lowey in conversation with Dr. Eric Mandel, on Sunday, February 13, at 2pm, at Temple Israel Center in White Plains. For more information, call 914-948-2800.

The Upper Northern Westchester Kesher presents "Everyday Miracles: Using Your Mitzvah Power" with Danny Siegel on Tuesday, February 15, at 8pm. $10/person. In addition, a teen "Off the Books" program, also with Danny Siegel will be hosted at the Rosenthal JCC Yorktown Branch on Wednesday, February 16, at 6:15pm. [more info]

Israeli Ambassador Asher Naim will be speaking on "The Middle East Conflict" at the Orangetown Jewish Center. The event will take place on Sunday, February 27, at 12 noon. Tickets are $18/person; RSVP to lrosenbergmd@yahoo.com. [more info]

The Josh Nelson Project will be performing on Saturday night, March 12 at 8pm at the Paramount. This concert is presented by the First Hebrew Congregation of Peekskill. [more info]

Merrick Jewish Centre's singing sensation Cantor Ethan Leifer is playing his 5th concert at the Merrick Jewish Centre on Sunday Night March 13th, backed up by a full band. [more info]

Cantor Joshua Nelson, the "Prince of Jewish Gospel," and friend of Josh Nelson of the Josh Nelson Project (see block, above), will be performing at North Shore Jewish Center on Sunday night, March 20, at 7pm. Tickets are still available. Call 631-928-3737 for more info, or check out the Facebook event.

National Jewish Disability Awareness Month

Resources from USCJ

February is National Jewish Disability Awareness Month. Many resources are available on the USCJ website to assist you in designing activities during the month. Check out www.uscj.org/accessibility. Please share your activities with us by sending an email to palmer@uscj.org. The more you share, the more information we can share with others interested in building awareness and making their synagogue programs and services more welcoming and inclusive for people with disabilities.

METNY on the Road

Pictured here are Rabbi Sternstein and the Yorktown JC faculty pointing to the program they created for the school while Rabbi Sternstein leads a congregational trip

to Israel the first two weeks of March.

On Sunday, January 30, 2011, Dr. Elissa Kaplan, lead educator for the PaRDeS Yaakov program, facilitated the workshop, "Shalom, Eretz Yisrael!" Introducing Israel to Grades Aleph through Hey for the religious school faculty, led by Rabbi Seth Sternstein, at the Yorktown Jewish Center.

This past weekend, Rabbi Savenor and Tamar Schwartz, METNY Director of Youth Activities, and Mindy Liebman, Youth Commission Chair, joined over 400 USYers and Kadimaniks at at the USY Mid-Winter Kallah at the Huntington Hilton.

On Wednesday, February 9, Rabbi Savenor attended the UJA Think Tank session. That evening he met with the board and spiritual leaders of Congregation Tifereth Israel in Glen Cove (see photo, above).

Also on Feb. 9th, Rabbi Moshe Edelman, METNY Associate Director, attended the RANSAQ (Rabbinical Assembly of Nassau, Suffolk and Queens County) meeting at Oceanside Jewish Center.

This evening, the METNY staff will join METNY synagogue leaders at Temple Beth Sholom, Roslyn Heights, for the USCJ Strategic Plan presentation by Rabbi Steven Wernick, CEO, USCJ. [more info]

On Feb. 15th, Rabbi Edelman will meet with our newest congregation, Chavurat Emet. Click here to read an article about Chavurat Emet by Marc Katz, METNY District Vice Chair.

On February 16th, Rabbi Savenor will meet with the board of Midway Jewish Center.

Yasher Koach Corner

Yasher Koach to Marc Savenor, the lead donor for the new Fuchsberg Center initiative which provides Shabbat meals and housing to lone soldiers. [see article above]

Yasher Koach to Rabbi Bill Plevan on his installation at Shaare Zedek this Saturday night, February 12. Rabbi Savenor will be representing METNY at the installation.

Yasher Koach to Rabbi David Senter on his installation at Manetto Hill Jewish Center on February 13. Rabbi Edelman will be the installing officer, and Irwin Scharf will make a presentation, and Alan Reid, METNY Senior Vice Chair, will be in attendance as well.

Yasher Koach to the following METNY kehilot which are participating in Context, the flagship adult education program of The Institute for Jewish Learning at JTS. [more info]

Congregation Ansche Chesed

Congregation Or Zarua

Congregation Sons of Israel

Conservative Syn. Adath Israel of Riverdale

East Midwood Jewish Center

Forest Hills Jewish Center

Hillcrest Jewish Center

Hollis Hills Jewish Center

Huntington Jewish Center

Israel Center of Conservative Judaism

Kane Street Synagogue

Park Slope Jewish Center

Temple Israel Center

Temple Sholom

Town and Village Synagogue

Looking Ahead...

Programs and Events from USCJ and its Movement Affiliates

The Louis Finkelstein Institute for Religious and Social Studies at JTS presents, "GenNext: Religious Leadership 40 and Under," A panel discussion on religious leadership in the next generation. The event takes place on Monday, February 28, 7:30 p.m. Admission is free, but reservations are required. RSVP online at www.jtsa.edu/gennext or call (212) 280-6093.

This coming July 2011, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism is sponsoring its first ever Family Israel Experience. The program has a multi-generational approach with activities designed for youth, teens, adults and even active grandparents! For questions about the program, contact Rabbi Charles Savenor at savenor@uscj.org or Jo-Anne Tucker-Zemlak at zemlak@uscj.org. For questions about registration, contact our travel partner, Authentic Israel, at info@authenticisrael.net. [more info]

Join the Conservative Yeshiva for a memorable summer experience in Israel with students from all over the world! Session I: July 3-July 21, 2011, Session II: July 24-August 11, 2011 (Sessions will not be repetitive). Beginning and advanced students are welcome. For more information or to apply, see the summer webpage or email us at cyoffice@uscj.org

What do you love?

Do you love...community?

Do you love...prayer?

Do you love...shopping?

Do you love...learning?

Do you love...Shabbat?

All of that - and more - can be found at Ka11ah, December 1-4 in La Jolla, California. This Valentine's Day, give yourself a gift. Registration opens March 15.

Ka11ah: an unconventional convention; an unforgettable Shabbat.

For more information, call 646-519-9275 or email convention@uscj.org.

Valentine's Day and Judaism

To Send or Not to Send: Is That the Question? Rabbi Mike Uram explains the halakhic implications of celebrating this traditionally Christian holiday. [read more]