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Synagogue Leadership Conference
Workshops From the Conference
 The convention's theme, "Profiles in Chutzpah," presented "out of the box thinking" that leaders can utilize to enhance and inspire their kehillot, congregations.
This week, we're featuring a video of part of a presentation by Tamar Schwartz, METNY Director of Youth Activities; and Sloane Rosenberg, METNY Executive Assistant; entitled, "The Fundamentals of Engagement" -- A New Approach to Building Community:
 | | "The Fundamentals of Engagement" |
Read more about the session
For more from the conference, see the profile of Chutzpah Award winner Fredda Klopfer, below.
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Become a JNF Affiliate
An Opportunity to Earn $$$ for Your Synagogue
 The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and Jewish National Fund have developed a wonderful new joint program to help your congregation earn new income simply by doing what comes naturally - connecting to the land and people of Israel.
Through the JNF Affiliate program, a special link or button will be placed on your congregation's website. This link will take the user to a unique JNF-USCJ web page. When trees are purchased and/or donations are received through this web page, your congregation will receive 20 percent of the total purchase. JNF will send a check quarterly to your congregation. (Please note that your congregation will receive its portion of the funds paid only through the link on your website, not to donations made directly to JNF's own site.) PLUS, JNF will also send 5 percent of all funds received through the link to United Synagogue to support United Synagogue's Israel programs.
Become an Affiliate Today! |
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 "Profiles in Chutzpah" Case Study #2:
Fredda Klopfer: Rolling Up Her Sleeves to Reinvigorate the Brand
One of the innovative aspects of this year's Synagogue Leadership Conference was the Chutzpah Awards. We have reformatted the award entries as case studies in leadership and Chutzpah. During the coming weeks, we will feature a case study of a Chutzpah Award winner with guiding questions for you and your kehillah leadership to discuss. This week we feature Fredda Klopfer, Congregation Tifereth Israel, Glen Cove.
Situation/Challenges: As Congregation Tifereth Israel in Glen Cove began rebuilding its base through outreach and innovative programming and services, their Synagogue School doubled its enrollment in just 1 year. They were getting young families to join the congregation and put their children in the Hebrew School before they had a professional staff available and trained to teach them. [read more]
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District Happenings
News & Events From Around the METNY District
"There Ain't Nothing Like a Dame" at Bellmore Jewish Center By Popular Demand, The Bellmore Players of Bellmore Jewish Center present a new Musical Revue, featuring such hits as Luck be a Lady, Copacabana, and Dancing Queen. Show dates: April 2nd at 8pm; April 3rd at 2pm. Ticket Prices: Adults $18, Students $15. [more info]
A. O. Scott, NY Times Film Critic, Lectures at Park Slope JC
The Park Slope Jewish Center is proud to present The Holocaust in Film, a four-session lecture series taught by A. O. Scott, New York Times film critic, with illustrative clips. This course will explore some of the ways that a uniquely horrific and painful historical experience has been commemorated, reconstructed and even turned into entertainment. The weekly course is on Sundays, 7-9 pm from March 20 through April 10. [more info]
Comedy Night at Lake Success Jewish Center Join us on Saturday night, April 2 at 9pm (doors open at 8pm) for the Jewish Comedy Tour with comedians Bernie Fursh, Dan Hirshon, Max Cohen, Gilad Foss and Doug Adler. You'll laugh your head off and split your sides. If you don't join us, you won't forgive yourself! [more info]
RILI's "Israel Education in the Experiential Setting" Conference The National Ramah Commission and Ramah Israel Leadership Initiative is hosting it's 2011 Spring Conference at Congregation Shaare Zedek on April 3: "Israel Education in the Experiential Setting" Sunday, April 3, 2011 · 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Congregation Shaare Zedek · 212 W. 93rd Street, New York, NY The conference has been underwritten by a grant from the Legacy Heritage Fund, and is offered to the general public, including lunch, free of charge. RSVP to Shoshana Holzberg-Pill at (212) 678-8881. For more info, click here.
Discussion With Authors of "Sacred Trash" at JTS
BJ and JTS are co-sponsoring a fascinating talk with Adina Hoffman and Peter Cole, authors of Sacred Trash- The Lost and Found World of the Cairo Geniza. The Talk will take place on Sunday, April 10 at 4:00PM at JTS's Women's League Seminary Synagogue, 3080 Broadway (at 122nd Street). Sacred Trash is a story of buried scholarly treasure that rivals in drama, scope, and importance the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and sheds profound light on 900 years of Jewish life. Dr. David Kraemer, JTS's professor of Talmud and Rabbinics will serve as moderator. Free; R.S.V.P. required here. Please arrive early and have photo ID available.
Swingtime Big Band at Bellmore Jewish Center On Sunday, April 10, at 3pm, Bellmore Jewish Center will host a night of big band swing music. The Swingtime Big Band vividly brings to life the music of the Swing Era, featuring classics tunes from Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey and other legends who made the 30's and 40's swing. [more info]
Passover session with Rabbi Michael Paley, scholar-in-residence at UJA-Federation of New York
Come to this session, entitled "Song of Songs, Meal of Meals, Night of Nights," and find out why Rabbi Akiva believed that the Song of Songs was actually the holiest book in the Bible -- and why we read it on this important holiday. Thursday, April 14, 5:30 - 7:00 pm, at the UJA-Federation of New York: Seventh-Floor Conference Center, 130 East 59th Street (between Lexington and Park avenues). To register or request an assisted listening device, please contact Rebecca Russo at russor@ujafedny.org or 212-836-1661.
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USY's 60th Celebration & METNY USY
Ross Abelow, Rabbi Savenor, Karen Brooks, and Wendy Glick Planning for the USY's 60th anniversary celebrations
"Why USY Matters"
A Note from Rabbi Steve Wernick, CEO, USCJ
At a very challenging time in my life following the death of my mother when I was 15, USY taught me the real meaning of kol yisrael aravim zeh b'zeh -- All Israel is responsible one for another. My friends and their families, those gleaned through USY nurtured me and comforted me and inspired me. USY, I believe, saved my life and set me on the path that I continue to travel.
Save the date:
METNY's USY 60th Gala on Sunday, November 20, 2011. Look out for more info coming soon!
Baruch Dayan Emet: Robert Perla
May Robert's memory be for a blessing, and may the family be comforted amongst the mourners and builders of Zion and Jerusalem. [shiva info]
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CharlMETNY on the Road
This Monday-Wednesday, March 28-30, Rabbi Charles Savenor attended the Rabbinical Assembly convention in Las Vegas. He co-presented a session with Bob Leventhal, senior Alban consultant, entitled "Strategic Staffing Conversations." Watch sessions from the convention here. (see photos, below)
Pictured above are Rabbis: Aaron Brusso, Barry Dov Katz, Robyn Fryer Bodzin, josh Gruenberg, Howard Hoffman, Jeffrey Hoffman, Ian Jacknis, Steve Kane, David Schuck, Joel Schwab, Howard Stecker, Gordon Tucker, Jon Waxman, and David Wise
On Wednesday, March 23, Rabbi Savenor met with Ross Abelow, Karen Brooks, and Wendy Glick planning for USY 60th Anniversary events. (see block, above)
Rabbi Savenor visited Bellmore Jewish Center on Thursday, March 24, to lead a discussion on transitioning to equal participation for women in tefillah and egalitarianism. (see photos, below)
 |  | Rabbi Savenor with the leadership of Bellmore Jewish Center
| From left to right:
President Ian Wald, Rabbi Avraham Rabinowich, International USCJ President Richard Skolnick, and Rabbi Savenor
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On Tuesday, March 29, Tamar Schwartz visited visit Temple Beth Sholom, Roslyn Heights for USY summer scholarship applicants.
This evening, March 31, Tamar will visit Hillcrest Jewish Center for a second summer scholarship meeting for USY summer program applicants. Click here to donate to METNY USY so that you can help send USYers to Israel & on Wheels this summer. On Tuesday April 5, Rabbi Savenor and Tamar Schwartz will meet with the METNY field staff. On April 6, the Norman Korowitz and METNY District Council will meet at 820 2nd Ave. |
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Yasher Koach Corner
Yasher Koach to Rabbi Ephraim Pelcovits on his installation at East 55th Street Conservative Synagogue on Sunday, April 3 at 5 pm. [more info]
Yasher Koach to the Solomon Schechter School of Manhattan on the grand opening of their new building this Sunday, April 3,
at 2 pm. [more info]
Yasher Koach to Temple Beth Sholom, Roslyn Heights, on the launch of their re-designed website!
Yasher Koach to Bruce Varon, Koach USY Divisional Director; and Marisa Kelley, KOACH Divisional President, on the 240 USYers who have signed up for the Koach Kinnus this weekend. This is the most ever for a KOACH kinnues!!! We appreciate New City Jewish Center for hosting.
Mazal Tov to David Siegel, former METNY USY Director, on delivering his Senior Sermon at the Jewish Theological Seminary on April 6th. |
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Israel & the Middle East
"The War Against the Jews Goes On"
An article by Ed Koch: "The latest Palestinian violence against Israelis, and the continuing abandonment of Israel by most of the international community, inevitably bring to mind the abandonment of the Jews during the Holocaust."
[read more]
Salute to Israel Parade
Sunday June 5. The Salute to Israel Parade is the largest event in the world celebrating the Anniversary of Israel's independence!
[more info]
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Programs & Resources
Pesah is Coming! The Rabbinical Assembly Pesah Guide is now available! Download the Guide
Nefesh B'Nefesh Aliyah Fair The Crowne Plaza Times Square
Sunday, April 3, 2011, 12:30 to 5:45pm. Special Programming for people planning to make Aliyah in 2011. [more info]
Nativ Info Session at Beth El Synagogue Center, New Rochelle Meet with the Director of Nativ, Yossi Garr. Open to all who are interested to hear about the program -- for applicants and Parents. Sunday April 3rd, 7:00pm-8:30pm. For more info, contact native@uscj.org.
Shalom Rockland Day Thinking of moving out of the city? Join us for Shalom Rockland Day to see what we are all about, as we highlight all that is great about making your home Rockland. The first 100 to register from outside Rockland and come join us on April 10th will receive a $100 gift card to the Second Ave. Deli! [more info]
Last Taste of Adar The Daily Show reports on the Eruv issues in Westhampton Beach. Watch the Video |
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