Greenwich Reform Synagogue Newsletter 
Daylight Savings Time comes to an end on Sunday, November 3 at 2 am. 
Don't forget to turn your
clocks back one hour!

October 30, 2013                             Cheshvan 26, 5774
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Online Payments

authorize.net GRS is pleased to offer our membership the option of making secure payments (via Authorize.net) of their membership dues, fees and school tuition. To begin CLICK HERE. 

 

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

GRS Office Location

GRS' OFFICES ARE NOW LOCATED AT

1037 E. PUTNAM AVE.,  RIVERSIDE, CT

 

PLEASE CHECK OUR  CALENDAR FOR DETAILS

 

SUNDAY RELIGIOUS SCHOOL AND ADULT ED CLASSES

WILL REMAIN AT

THE STANWICH ROAD LOCATION

 

HEBREW WILL BE TAUGHT AT OUR OFFICE LOCATION TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOONS 

 
In This Issue
Facebook
Online Payments
Office Location
Calendar
Torah Portion of the Week
Happy Birthday
Tree of Life
Caring Community
GRS Staff
Join Our List
Shabbat Service
Generation J Religious School Registration
Holiday Happenings
Shabbat Service Locations
Annual GRS Sisterhood Membership Dinner
Chanukah Service & Dinner
Adult Ed
Our Temple Family
Tzedakah
Around the Community
Calendar
calendar
Wednesday, October 30 
3:30 pm - Hebrew School@GRS office
 
Thursday, October 31 
3:30 pm - Hebrew School@GRS office

Friday, November 1
6:30 pm - Family Shabbat Service & Dinner -
home of Rabbi & Susan Sklarz
November birthdays
B'nai Shir

Sunday, November 3
9:00 am - Breakfast
9:30 am - Religious School
9:45 am - Advanced Beginner Hebrew
10:30 am - Adult Ed with Rabbi Rothman

Tuesday, November 5
3:30 pm - Hebrew School @ GRS office

Wednesday, November 6 
3:30 pm - Hebrew School@GRS office6:30 pm - Sisterhood dinner @ home of Marie Kimmel

Thursday, November 7
3:30 pm - Hebrew school @ GRS office

Friday, November 8
6:30 pm - Grades 6-7 Shabbat Service @ St. Paul's Episcopal Church

Sunday, November 10
NO RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
NO ADULT ED

Monday, November 11
GRS OFFICES CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE OF VETERAN'S DAY

Tuesday, November 12
3:30 pm - Hebrew School @ GRS office
7:30 pm - Executive Board Meeting

Wednesday, November 13
3:30 pm - Hebrew School @ GRS office

Thursday, November 14
3:30 pm - Hebrew school @ GRS office

Friday, November 15
6:30 pm - Choir/Board Installation Shabbat Service @ St. Paul's Episcopal Church
GRS House Band
November anniversaries

Sunday, November 17 
9:00 am - Breakfast9:30 am - Religious School9:45 am - Rabbi's Advanced Beginner's Hebrew Class10:30 am - Rabbi Rothman Adult Ed ClassGlobal Day of Learning
Tuesday, November 19
3:30 pm - Hebrew school @ GRS office

Wednesday, November 20
3:30 pm - Hebrew school @ GRS office
7:30 pm - Board Meeting

Thursday, November 21
3:30 pm - Hebrew school @ GRS office

Friday, November 22
6:30 pm - Chanukah Service & Dinner @ St. Catherine of Siena Church

Sunday, November 24
9:00 am - Breakfast
9:30 am - Religious School
9:45 am - Rabbi's Advanced Beginner's Hebrew Class
10:30 am - Rabbi Rothman Adult Ed Class

Tuesday, November 26
3:30 pm - Hebrew school @ GRS office

Wednesday, November 27
3:30 pm - Hebrew school @ GRS office
1st Night of  Chanukah

Thursday, November 28
GRS OFFICES CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE OF THANKSGIVING

Friday, November 29
GRS OFFICES CLOSED
6:30 pm - Shabbat Service in GRS office   

Torah Portion
November 2, 2013

 Toledot

 (Genesis 25:19-28:9)

The focus is on Isaac, Rebekah, and their family.  We learn that the twins, Jacob and Esau, struggle within Rebekah's womb, foreshadowing their relationship in life.  The portion includes the story of Esau selling his birthright to Jacob for a meal, as well as Rebekah and Jacob deceiving Isaac and causing him to bestow his blessing on Rebekah and Jacob deceiving Isaac and causing him to bestow his blessing on Jacob.  Rebekah then instructs Jacob to flee to her home town under the care of her brother Laban, in order to escape Esau's wrath.


bday
Happy Birthday to...
Rob Berkley
Pauline Franck
Hope Polidoro
Julianna Savitz
Daniel Arovas
William Berkley
Kyle Morgenbesser
Jenny Riskin
Glenn Wolff
Susan Sklarz

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
Committee members 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 Laura Seltzer at laura@grs.org. 
GRS Staff

Rabbi Andrew R. Sklarz, MA, MSW, RJE

  rabbisklarz@grs.org 

 

Cantor Sabrina Lipton

sabrinalipton@grs.org  

 

Stephanie Glaser

Executive Director

stephanieglaser@grs.org

 

Eliana Hall 

Director of Education

eliana@grs.org

 

Clarita Agulay

Bookkeeper

clarita@grs.org

   

Laura Seltzer

Administrative Assistant

laura@grs.org    

 

Peter Babivskiy

Caretaker


Join Our List
Join Our Mailing List

URJ NEW LOGO

Family Shabbat Service

Friday, November 1, 2013, 6:30 pm

The home of Rabbi & Sue Sklarz


Join us this Friday evening for a Family Shabbat Service, led by Rabbi Sklarz and Cantor Lipton, along with B'nai Shir, our Junior Choir.

 

The service will be followed by dinner, the main course will be provided by GRS.  CLICK HERE if you would like to attend and bring an appetizer, side dish, or dessert.

 

*November birthdays will be given a special birthday blessing.

Generation J - Exploring Judaism Together
Registration is Still Open
Stanwich School Campus, 257 Stanwich Rd.

Our students at Generation J continued learning about Shomer Adamah, protecting the earth last weekend, focusing largely on the biblical roots of our Jewish challenge to care for the earth. Our younger students heard and illustrated the story of Creation from Genesis, while our older students searched for Shomer Adamah in other parts of Torah and imagined modern ways that they might take on this sacred task. In our Olim class, grades 6 & 7, we are continuing to work toward our class Shabbat service on Friday, November 8th.


We always have room for more friends at Generation J, so check us out! For your convenience, click here for complete details.  If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Eliana Hall, Director of Education, at eliana@grs.org. 

Holiday Happenings

2013 Holiday Happenings

  

2013 Shabbat Service Locations

We want to thank you for your patience during this time of transition.  To make things more convenient, CLICK HERE for the location of our upcoming services.

However, as our calendar is always subject to last minute changes, it's always best to check the website or the newsletter.

PLEASE NOTE NEW DATE
Annual GRS Sisterhood Membership Dinner
Wednesday, November 6, 2013, 6:30pm at the home of Marie Kimmel 


sisterhood dinner
All members of the GRS Sisterhood* are invited to attend a fun, free, delightful dinner at the home of Marie Kimmel, at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, November 6th. You'll enjoy good food and wine, plus great conversations with new friends and old.
  

This GRS Sisterhood-sponsored event is free, but please bring a donation of non-perishable food that we'll share with the less fortunate through our local food pantry, Neighbor to Neighbor.

 

Please click here to RSVP or email Laura so we'll know how much food and wine we'll need.

 

*Not sure if you're already a GRS Sisterhood member or not?   You can check with the temple office to be sure. You probably are, but if not, the annual dues are only $36.

 

CHANUKAH SERVICE & DINNER
Friday, November 22, 2013, 6:30pm 
St. Catherine of Siena Church, Riverside, CT


Join us for Latkes, Dreidels, Menorah Lighting & lots of fun!

Celebrate Chanukah with
Greenwich Reform Synagogue
Friday, November 22, 6:30pm
at St. Catherine of Siena Church,
located at 4 Riverside Avenue in Riverside, CT

$18 for adults; $5 for kids
Includes catered dinner, music and other festive activities!

Bring your Menorah for a group candle lighting!

All are welcome!

Please CLICK HERE to RSVP.

Also, please bring an unwrapped holiday gift 
for a child in need.

Adult Ed - Fall 2013

Those who would like to register for Advanced Beginner's Hebrew, or interested in Beginner's Hebrew with Rabbi Sklarz Sunday's at 9:45am , please contact Laura at the GRS office.

Rabbi Robert Rothman, our Scholar in Residence, be leading a seminar on the Study of Jewish Contributions to Daughter Religions: Christianity and Islam.  In addition, throughout the year, we will also discuss current issues impacting on Judaism, the holidays, and other subjects of interest to the group.  
 
Rabbi Rothman, D.H.L., D.D., Ph.D., is the Rabbi Emeritus of Rye Community Synagogue.  He is widely published and has been our Scholar in Residence for many years.  He is a retired Navy Chaplain with the rank of commander.  The Sunday Study Group meets during the second hour of Religious School throughout the year (10:30).  While we generally have a topic for the year, each class is designed to be a stand-alone session, so come to as many as you are able.   All are welcome.
Our Temple Family

yahrzeit plain candle Our condolences go to Elyse Brown and her children, Jason, Rachel and Dylan, on the passing of Don Brown on October 23, 2013.

The GRS Family also extends its condolences to Steven & Nancy Peters on the passing of Steven's mother, Vera Peters, on October 25, 2013. 
Tzedakah

Thank you for your generosity...
  

Annual Circle of Giving

  •  Richard Simon
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, 1037 E. Putnam Ave., Riverside, CT  06878 or pay ONLINE.  For details on the giving opportunities available, please call the GRS office.
Around the Community

The Support Group Center of Jewish Family Service of Greenwich is offering the following support groups this summer. For more information or to register for any of the following, please visit www.jfsgreenwich.org or call Lisa Smith, LCSW, Executive Director, at 203-622-1881.

 

All groups take place at JFS, One Holly Hill Lane

Please contact Lisa Smith, LCSW, Executive Director,  at llsmith@jfsgreenwich.org or call  203-622-1881 for more information and to register.

  

  • CHAPTER 2: FOR EMPTY NESTERS 
  • BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP
  • JFS Rosh Hodesh It's a Girl Thing 7thGrade rogram 
  • REVERSAL OF FORTUNE
  • MAMMA MIA!
  • FOR SPECIAL BUBBIES AND ZAYDIES