Greenwich Reform Synagogue Newsletter
 
April 25, 2012                              Iyar 3 5772 


In This Issue
Calendar
Torah Portion of the Week
Happy Birthday
Tree of Life
Caring Community
GRS Staff
Facebook
Join Our List
Yom Yatzmaut Shabbat Service
Give A Ride, Need A Ride
Rabbi's Message
Important Update on Future Building Plans
Tzedakah
Our Temple Family
Israel's 64th Celebration!
Knit & Knosh
Pot Luck Dinner
Adult Ed Seminar
Young Israeli Concert
Adult Ed
Around the Community
Calendar
calendar

        

Wednesday, April 25

4:15 pm - Hebrew School

 

Thursday, April 26

7:45 pm - Hebrew 101

 

Friday, April 27

6:30 pm - Yom Hatzmaut Shabbat Service

House Band

 

Sunday, April 29

9:30 am - Hebrew 102

9:30 am - Religious School

10:30 am - Rabbi Rothman's Adult Ed Class

12:00 pm - Israel Day Celebration

 

Monday, April 30

7:00 pm - Knit & Knosh - home of Marcia Winpisinger 

  

Tuesday, May 1

7:00 pm - Choir Rehearsal

  

Wednesday, May 2

4:15 pm - Hebrew School

  

Thursday, May 3

7:45 pm - Hebrew 101

  

Friday, May 4

6:30 pm - Family Shabbat Service/Pot Luck Dinner

April & May Birthdays

B'nai Shir

  

Sunday, May 6

9:30 am - Hebrew 102

9:30 am - Religious School

9:30 am - Holiday Happenings 

10:30 am - Marv Berenblum Seminar

11:45 am - High School Class

 

Tuesday, May 8

7:00 pm - Choir Rehearsal

 

Wednesday, May 9

4:15 pm - Hebrew School

 

Thursday, May 10

7:45 pm - Hebrew 101

 

Friday, May 11

6:30 pm - 2nd & 3rd Grade Shabbat Service

 

Saturday, May 12

10:00 am - Tate Horowitz Bat Mitzvah

 

Sunday, May 13

9:30 am - Hebrew 102

9:30 am - Religious School

 

Tuesday, May 15

7:00 pm - Choir Rehearsal

 

Wednesday, May 16

4:15 pm - Hebrew School  

 

Thursday, May 17

7:45 pm - Hebrew 101

 

Friday, May 17

6:30 pm - Shabbat Service

April/May Anniversaries

House Band

 

Saturday, May 18

10:00 am - Cynthia Crispino Bat Mitzvah

 

Sunday, May 20

9:30 am - Hebrew 102

9:30 am - Religious School (last day)

 

Tuesday, May 22

7:00 pm - Choir Rehearsal

 

Wednesday, May 23

7:30 pm - Board Meeting

 

Thursday, May 24

7:45 pm - Hebrew 101

 

Friday, May 25

6:30 pm - Shavuot Shabbat Service

 

Monday, May 28

GRS OFFICES CLOSED IN OBSERVATION OF MEMORIAL DAY 


 

 

 

Torah Portion
April 28, 2012
Tazria/Metzora
(Leviticus 12:1-15:33)

In this portion, the Torah struggles with the laws concerning the skin affliction called tzara'at.  Tazria spends the bulk of the portion defining tzaraat and responsibilities surrounding the disease.  In Metzora, the Torah portion addresses purification from defilement, and the priests' role in promoting healing.
bday
Happy Birthday to...
Wendy Stober
Andrew Berkley
Sarah Buehler
Gerald Davis
Janice Romley
Jacqueline Shayer
George Handzo
Daniella Sklarz
Tate Horowitz
Andrew Reid
Alexander Coburn
Zachary Coburn
Richard Cohn
Taffy Holliday
Marianne Tierney
Tree of Life
(Etz Chaim)
Tree of Life
Celebrate the birth of a child, the bar or bat mitzvah of a loved one, the wedding or anniversary of a cherished friend or family member, a graduation or a retirement through a permanent dedication on the GRS Tree of Life!  Click here  for more information and to place an order.
Caring Community News
Ronnie Gurney and Eve Goldberg are co-chairs of this committee. Committee members will be able to provide assistance to temple members in times of need and to celebrate with them in times of joy. If you know of an ill or hospitalized member, please contact the office at (203) 629-0018.

You can help us to help each other. We encourage the participation of volunteers to keep in touch with our members through telephone calls, visits, by sending cards, etc...If you would like to be a part of this committee, please contact Erin Thomas at erin@grs.org
GRS Staff

Rabbi Andrew R. Sklarz, MA, MSW, RJE

  rabbisklarz@grs.org 

x223

 

Cantor Sabrina Lipton

sabrinalipton@grs.org x226

 

Stephanie Glaser

Executive Director

stephanieglaser@grs.org

x222

 

Lisa Gittelman Udi

Director of Education

lisargudi@grs.org

x227

 

Clarita Agulay

Bookkeeper

clarita@grs.org

x232

 

Erin Thomas

Administrative Assistant

Religious School Coordinator

erin@grs.org

x221

 

Peter Babivskiy

Caretaker


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Greetings!
Yom Hatzmaut Shabbat Service
Friday, April 27, 6:30 pm
yom hashoah candlePlease join  Rabbi Sklarz, Cantor Lipton and the GRS House Band for a musical tribute to Israel's 64th Birthday! 

The service will be followed by an Oneg Shabbat generously sponsored by GRS congregants, Richard & Pauline Franck. 

Give A Ride, Need A Ride

TYGRS

 

Are you in need of a ride to services? Or, would you be willing to give someone a ride to services?

 

If your answer to one of these questions is 'YES', please contact Erin Thomas at 203-629-0018 or erin@grs.org.

 

A  Message from Rabbi Sklarz

Rabbi USE THIS ONE!

Come and Celebrate ISRAEL this Shabbat!

 

Dear Friends,

 

Last week with the observance of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, we recalled, both during a special Hebrew school service and our congregational Shabbat worship, the darkest of chapters known to our people and humanity as a whole.

Indeed, the impact of the Holocaust has profoundly changed Jewish life for all of us. And yet, while the world reeled in the atrocities, the greatest of miracles for the Jewish people came to be: the birth of Medinat Yisra'el, the modern State of Israel. Without question, the return to our Jewish homeland has been the most powerful event to have taken place for our people in 2,000 years.

 

This Shabbat, in a service for all ages, we will rejoice with special liturgy, song and the bright sounds of the GRS Band, our "Miracle on the Mediterranean." Come be a part of it, as we recall the history and experience the delight of Yom Ha'Atzma'ut, Israel Independence Day, together!

 

B'rina - with joy,

 

Rabbi Andy 


Rabbi Andrew R.  Sklarz, MA, MSW, RJE

Important Update on the GRS
Future Building Plans

We are delighted to inform you that the contract with the Stanwich School has been signed, and all is on track for the closing on June 1, 2012.   Our search teams are in full swing, both to find temporary and permanent locations for our synagogue, religious school, and the future GRS preschool.  A number of options are under investigation, and although it's premature to share any details, it looks very promising.   We don't want to miss any possibilities, so if you have any suggestions for a temporary space, please contact Helen Stark at 203-622-1732 or stark110@optonline.net; if you have any recommendations for purchase options, please contact Sandy Soule at 203-637-7642 or sandy.soule@gmail.com.  

 

Tzedakah

Thank you for your generosity...

 

General Fund

  • Eric Lane & Joyce Talmadge, in memory of Phyllis Schreiber  

Tree of Life

  • Jan Mittleman & Paul Crispino, a bronze leaf in honor of Jacqueline becoming a Bat Mitzvah
  • Jan Mittleman & Paul Crispino, a bronze leaf in honor of Cynthia becoming a Bat Mitzvah 

A contribution to GRS is a wonderful way to celebrate joyous events and commemorate meaningful occasions.   

If you would like to make a contribution, please send your check to GRS, 257 Stanwich Rd., Greenwich, CT 06830.  For details on the giving opportunities available, please call the GRS office. 

Our Temple Family
GRS would like to welcome its newest members, Susan Chorney and Richard Lewine.  They are residents of Greenwich.
Israel 64th Birthday Celebration
Sunday, April 29, 2012, 12:00pm

Celebrate Israel's 64th Birthday in Greenwich!

In partnership with GRS and other Jewish organizations in Greenwich, CT.
Knit & Knosh
Monday, April 30, 7:00 pm

Would you like to knit, crochet or sew over good food and drinks, in good company?

Then, the GRS Sisterhood invites you to come and join us.  We welcome knitters of any age, gender or ability!  We would love to see more new faces!

At the home of Marcia Winpisinger:
395 Davis Avenue
Greenwich, CT  06830
Family Service & Pot Luck Dinner
Friday, May 4, 6:30 pm

Potluck DinnerAs the first Shabbat of the month, we would like to invite you to a Family Shabbat Service, followed by a pot-luck dinner.

If you would like to stay for dinner, please RSVP to Louise Salzer at salzerhouse@aol.com.

April and May birthdays will be called to the bimah for a special blessing, and B'nai Shir will be singing.
Save the Date:  Sunday, May 6, 10:30 am
Adult Ed Seminar

Please join us as GRS congregant Marv Berenblum leads a seminar on Sunday, May 6 at 10:30 am.  

 

THE DISPARITY BETWEEN HAVES AND HAVE-NOTS

- A CHALLENGE TO OUR TRADITIONAL FORM OF DEMOCRACY

 

The downward pressure on socio-economic mobility threatens the very essence of our democracy which relies on equal opportunity for all. 

Save the Date:  Thursday, June 21, 7:00 pm
Interfaith Young Israeli Concert

Greenwich Reform Synagogue, The Sholom Center & the Greenwich Fellowship of Clergy are co-sponsoring an interfaith concert featuring young Israeli (Arab and Jewish) musicians in Greenwich, on behalf of the Polyphony Foundation

 

The concert will take place at First Presbyterian Church at 7PM, followed by a reception at approximately 8:15PM.

 

This event is FREE and RSVP is required!  

Polyphony's mission is to "build a strong and culturally diverse civil society by exposing Arab and Jewish youth living in Israel and in their communities to classical music and by inviting them to participate in music education and training.  Polyphony's groundbreaking work has been recognized internationally, and it recently received the prestigious Yoko Ono Lennon Courage Award for the Arts.

Adult Ed
Hebrew 101 - Thursday evenings at 7:45 with Rabbi Andrew R. Sklarz, MSW.  An introduction to the Hebrew alphabet.  Students will develop the skills for reading prayer and the fundamentals of reading and writing modern Hebrew.  This course or equivalent background is required for those seeking conversion or Adult B'nai Mitzvah.  Temple members ($36) and non-members ($50) are welcome.  For registration and additional information, please contact Erin Thomas, erin@grs.org. 

 

Advanced Beginners Hebrew - Sunday mornings at 9:30 with Rabbi Andrew R. Sklarz, MSW.  Temple members and non-members welcome!  Members $36, non-members $50.  Please register by contacting Erin Thomas, erin@grs.org, so materials can be ordered prior to the program beginning.

 

Comparative Judaism with Rabbi Robert Rothman, Sunday mornings at 10:30.  Have you ever been confused about the different approaches to Judaism? In this course, we explore, compare and contrast the ideology and practices of the Orthodox, Reform, Conservative and Reconstructionist movements.

 

Around the Community
Jewish Family Services of Greenwich is offering the following programs, support groups and volunteer opportunities (For 

more information or to register for any of the following, please visit www.jfsgreenwich.org or call 203-622-1881):  

 

JFS Programs

  • Book Beat: A Woman's Night Out: Rich Boy, by Sharon Pomerantz, May 2, 7:30pm. $18
JFS Support Groups: (All groups $10 per session)
  • Broken Families, Broken Hearts: Co-facilitated by Rabbi Andrew Sklarz, Greenwich Reform Synagogue,   6 Thursdays beginning 3/29, 11-12pm.  
  • Mother and Me: A Discussion Group for Adults: No matter what you do - you just can't get along with your mother? You try to be understanding and patient but something just goes off in your head and you can't control your emotions. Come share your experiences, explore what triggers your reactions, and learn how to deal with it. Tuesdays, 12:30-1:30pm beginning April 3
  • Adult Divorce: Wednesdays, 5:30-6:45pm
  • Children (Grades 4-6) of Divorce: Weds., 4:30-5:45pm
  • Children (Grades 7-9) of Divorce: Tues., 4:30-5:45pm
  • Bereavement: Tuesdays, 10:30-11:30am

JFS individual adult, teen, child and family Counseling:

$150 per session, Sliding scales always apply  

 

JFS Volunteer Opportunities
Bikkur Cholim/Friendly Visitors/Grocery Shopper    
Greenwich Reform Synagogue
257 Stanwich Road
Greenwich, CT  06830
203-629-0018
203-629-0613 - fax

www.grs.org

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