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METNY Annual Dinner 2011

Monday Night, June 6 @ Park Avenue Synagogue

We're delighted to introduce our honorees for this year's Annual Dinner.

Each one is unique and was chosen to be honored for good reason.

For Rabbi Moshe Edelman, it is his long-term impact on United Synagogue over 19 years and his creation of enduring, impactful leadership programs.

We admire Steve Katz's visionary leadership that he made his synagogue in Greenwich a "charismatic kehillah" through mission-driven motivations, meaningful engagement and quality mediums to share their message.

Sharon Steinberg is being honored because she led METNY during a time of tremendous change, facilitated vital discussions that led to a re-imagining of how the region/district operates, and developed new leaders for the next generation.

Please join us on Monday, June 6, at the Park Avenue Synagogue for a joyous celebration of METNY USCJ. All proceeds go to scholarships for youth, the future of our movement and Conservative Judaism.

Magen Tzedek Responds to Agudath Israel

A Press Release from Magen Tzedek

Magen Tzedek, which will provide kosher certtification for ethical practice associated with food production, represents one of the most significant contributions of our movement to the North American Jewish community. You can find more information at magentzedek.org.

You will find in the next paragraph a response to Agudath Israel's attack on Magen Tzedek.

The misleading statement by Agudath Israel concerning Magen Tzedek is a misrepresentation of a very important development in kosher food production in America. Magen Tzedek is based on our assertion that biblical and rabbinic law mandate fair treatment of workers (בל תלין) , humane treatment of animals (צער בעלי חיים) and care of the earth (בל תשחית and שמירת הארץ) which can be translated into measurable standards applicable to commercial food production. These standards were developed in collaboration with SAAS, an organization acknowledged worldwide for its expertise in ethical certification programs.. [read more] 

Yom HaZikaron/Yom Ha'Atzmaut:

Israel Remembrance Day/Israel Independence Day

May 9 & 10, 2011 / 5 & 6 Iyar, 5771 

• Two minutes of Israel by Rabbi Paul Freedman,  Director, USCJ Israel Commission

United Synagogue Youth 

Latest News 

 

Regional Convention and 8th Grade Experience are booming!

 

METNY USY Regional Convention (RC) and 8th Grade Experience are booming! We have gone from 377 participants just last year to 411 for 2011 and the numbers are growing ! The theme "What is Jewish Music?".

 

We'd like to thank the Regional Board for all of their hard work in putting together programs and making sure Convention will be both educational and fun.  Our convention co-chairs, Avi Pusateri and Shelby Levinson, have done an incredible job bringing the convention theme to life. Louisa Alter and Jordan Mor have also contributed a great Senior night program as our Senior night cochairs!

 

  

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Check out the new USY website:

  

 

 

 

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You're invited...

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS	vs	WASHINGTON NATIONALS
You're invited to join the United Synagogue Alumni Association for dinner and drinks in support of USY's 60th anniversary. Wednesday June 15 - Nationals Park @ Wasthington DC Doors open 6:00 p.m. Game begins 7:05 p.m.  More info

 

*There will be several galas to celebrate 60 years of USY! Stay tuned!

Bin Laden and Judaism

Three Rabbis' Takes on Bin Laden's Death 

Hidon HaTorah

METNY's Annual Bible Quiz, Sunday, May 1, at JTS 

All 12 teams wave as the final round begins  

Thanks again to the judges: Rabbi Steven Axelman, Josh Foster, Tamar Schwartz, and Marge Wise, as well as the volunteers, Naomi Snider, Manny Korman, Abe Eisenberg, Michael Fleischer, and Elan Weinberger.

And, of course, yasher koach to Rabbi Moshe Edelman for organizing this year's Hidon. We also appreciate the hachnasat orchim of JTS.

"The kids had a marvelous experience, and the spirit was one of learning and friendship, with just enough competition to be motivating and interesting."

- Charles Litman, Religious School Principal,

Temple Israel of South Merrick

District Happenings

Upcoming Events Around METNY

Temple Beth El of Bellmore Presents:

Harry & Eddie: The Birth of Israel

High Holiday Hiring

From the Jewish Theological Seminary

Interested in hiring a rabbinical or cantorial student from the Jewish Theological Seminary for High Holiday services at your congregation?  Rabbinical and cantorial students can deliver sermons, lead davenning, run children's programs, and more. 

For further information, contact Catharine Clark, Director of the Rabbinical & Cantorial Student Placement Service at JTS, for more information at 212-678-8000. Her email address is rsps@jtsa.edu.
 

Synagogue Assist Teams

METNY District is reaching out to all of our synagogues to offer valuable support and advise to our member kehillot. In addition to, and in conjunction with, our outstanding professional staff, experienced lay leaders will consult with you, privately and in confidence to assist and work with you in the areas
1) finance and 2) management.

Take advantage of this available assistance by contacting Rabbi Savenor, Rabbi Edelman or Norman Korowitz, District Chair, at metny@uscj.org or 212-533-0800. 

We are here to help. 

METNY on the Road

On Thursday, April 28, Tamar Schwartz and Eddie Ward, member of the youth commission and former Chazak Division Director, met with the parents of the candidates for METNY USY Regional Board. 

On Sunday, May 1, Rabbi Edelman led the Annual METNY Hidon HaTorah. 

On Sunday-Monday, May 1-2, Rabbi Savenor visited the West Coast to facilitate a leadership workshop at Congregation Beth El in La Jolla, CA. This synagogue is featured this month in the USCJ Calendar.

On Tuesday, May 3, Rabbi Edelman met with Rabbis Rafi Rank of Midway JC, Syosset, Ian Jacknis of S. Huntington JC, and Melvin Sirner of Beth El Synagogue Center, New Rochelle, to discuss outreach to intermarried couples and families. (see photo, below)

Tonight, Tamar Schwartz will be at Hillcrest Jewish Center for a Summer Scholarship Committee Meeting.

On Monday, May 9, Rabbi Edelman will celebrate Yom Ha'Atzmaut with Merrick and Bellmore congregations. 

On Tuesday, May 10, Rabbi Savenor will meet with the leadership of the Whitestone Jewish Center in Queens. 

On Tuesday, May 10, Rabbi Savenor and Rabbi Edelman will be at the meeting of New York Rabbinical Assembly @ JTS for NYC rabbis.

On Wednesday, May 11, Rabbi Savenor and Rabbi Edelman will be at a meeting with Israel Bonds. Dr. Jack Wertheimer will speak on "Linking Jewish Youth with Israel".  

Yasher Koach Corner 

Yasher Koach to Rabbi David Senter and president Larry Kurtzman of Manetto Hill Jewish Center on their being featured in the Jewish Week. The article, titled, "Out of the Display Case, Into the Ark," discussed Manetto Hill's 'Holocaust Torah' which was rededicated for regular readings.

Yasher Koach to Rabbi Gordon Tucker, Temple Israel Center, White Plains, for being included in Newsweek Top 50 Rabbis List. Did you know that 17 people featured on the list were ordained by JTS? Click here to learn more. 

Yasher Koach to USY and website designer, Hirsch Fishman, on the new USY website.

Happy Mother's Day!

Articles:

• A Jewish Mother's Day by Matthue Roth, Mixed Multitudes 
• Mother's Day 2010: Is it Jewish? by Brad Hirschfield (Editor's Note: While the article may have been written in 2010, the conversation is timeless) 
• Pitching Your Team to the Next Generation by Rabbi Charlie Savenor

Resources for Jewish Mom's:  

• Torah Topics for Today: a resource that empowers parents to have meaningful and relevant Jewish discussions with their children at home. This site was developed by Fred Claar, former METNY board member.
• Metroimma: an online community for Jewish moms.
• Kveller: a Jewish twist on parenting
• Family In Orbit: 21st century parenting.