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Check back as we enhance this service in the coming weeks to include donations to more GRS funds.

Shemot
(Exodus 1:1-6:1)  

In this portion the Torah introduces the grand story of slavery to freedom.  The Israelites in Egypt are fruitful and multiply, but a new pharaoh, who does not remember Joseph, fears the Israelites and persecutes them with hard labor.  He tries to kill their male babies, but is thwarted by the righteous midwives.  Moses's mother hides him in a basket in the Nile to escape Pharoah's decree and then is raised by Pharoah's daughter.  After killing an Egyptian, he flees to Midian, where he marries Tziporah.  God, having heard the outcry of the suffering Israelites, appears to Moses out of the burning bush at Mount Horeb (Sinai).  Identified as "Ehyeh-Asher Ehyeh' - "I will be what I will be", God gives the reluctant Moses the charge of freeing his people.     

Rabbi Andrew R. Sklarz, MA, MSW, RJE

  rabbisklarz@grs.org 

Cantor Sabrina Lipton

sabrinalipton@grs.org  

Stephanie Glaser

Executive Director

stephanieglaser@grs.org

Lisa Gittelman Udi

Director of Education

lisargudi@grs.org

Clarita Agulay

Bookkeeper

clarita@grs.org

Denise Cooper

Administrative Assistant

denise@grs.org

Allie Zur

Youth Advisor

orlie414@aol.com  

Corinne Morrell

Relocation Assistant

relocation@grs.org

Peter Babivskiy

Caretaker

Please join us as we celebrate our Family Shabbat Service where we'll hear our youth choir, B'nai Shir, sing, followed by a pot luck dinner and an Oneg Shabbat. 

Bring a main course, side dish, salad, dessert or drinks, then dine in style 

with your family and GRS friends. 

Contact Louise Salzer at salzerhouse@aol.com to bring a dish.

*January birthdays will be called to the
bimah for a special blessing

Dear Friends,

2012 ended with an unanticipated for bang for us on New Year's Eve as Susan and I skidded on black ice and our car crashed into a brick wall, deploying the air bags. Thank God, both of us walked away unscathed and will be able to deal with whatever is required for our car.

This event only reinforced how fortunate we are, thus providing a reminder that there are so many in our midst who just can't "walk away." 2012 has been a devastating year on so many levels, and the events beckon us to consider the ways in which we can be of service to others.

Next week, Cantor Sabrina and I will take another trip to the Rockaway section of Queens to bring supplies to those whose lives have been turned upside down following Hurricane Sandy. We ask you to once again to kindly bring non-perishable foods, cleaning supplies, diapers, clothing and toys to our office.

Let us make the year ahead a better one by reaching out to others.

L'Shalom - for peace,

Rabbi Andy

Rabbi Andrew R. Sklarz, MA, MSW, RJE

With the goal of creating a GRS Memory Box, kindly send your photos, artifacts and personal pieces (in prose or poetry) which share significant moments in our history to Denise at denise@grs.org.  

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 Denise Cooper at 203-629-0018 or denise@grs.org.