Greenwich Reform Synagogue Newsletter

    

November 13, 2013                             Kislev 10, 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
Message from the Rabbi
Generation J Religious School Registration
Warm Clothing Drive
Holiday Happenings
Shabbat Service Locations
Annual GRS Sisterhood Membership Dinner
Knit & Knosh
Chanukah Service & Dinner
Social Action
Adult Ed
Tzedakah
Around the Community
Calendar
calendar
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

Saturday, November 16 
10 am - New Member Brunch - home of Marc & Lisa Abrams

Sunday, November 17 
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 ClassGlobal Day of Learning

Monday, November 18
7:00 pm - Knit & Knosh - home of Marianne Tierney

Tuesday, November 19
11:15 am - Sisterhood Museum Trip
3:30 pm - Hebrew school @ GRS office
7:00 pm - Choir Rehearsal

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
7:00 pm - Choir Rehearsal

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 16, 2013

 Vayishlach

 (Genesis 32:4-36:43)

 

Jacob and Esau reunite.  However, just prior to their reunion, Jacob wrestles with what is perhaps a divine entity.  Following this struggle, God changes Jacob's name to Israel.  The portion also includes the story of the rape of Jacob's daughter, Dinah.  Later, God appears to Jacob and promises him the Land of Israel.  The portion concludes with the birth of Benjamin, the death of Rachel, and the death of Isaac.


bday
Happy Birthday to...
Charles Coran
Walter Pye
Matthew Kramer
Todd Furrer
Miriam Gruenbaum
Susan Hut
Jonah Robinson

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

Board Installation Shabbat Service featuring the GRS Choir 

Friday, November 15, 2013, 6:30 pm

St. Paul's Episcopal Church

200 Riverside Avenue in Riverside, CT


Please join Rabbi Sklarz and Cantor Lipton for a very special Choir Shabbat Service as we honor and install the GRS Board of Trustees.

The service will be followed by an Oneg Shabbat sponsored by the Wein Family.

*November anniversaries will be given a special blessing. 

Message from the Rabbi  

Rabbi USE THIS ONE!

Dear Friends,

 

Our Jewish tradition instructs us that we are responsible for the health and welfare of all human beings. Indeed the Jewish community is always ready to be of service to those whose lives have been hit by challenge or tragedy. Immediately following the reports of Typhoon Haiyan, Israel sent a team from the military over to the Philippines. Concurrently, Jewish organizations world wide have mobilized to provide necessary aid and supplies to our brothers and sisters in the Philippines. We should be assured that by donating to either to the Union for Reform Judaism Disaster Relief Fund our our Greenwich UJA, funds will care directly for the needs of those devastated by the typhoon.

 

I know that we all share the commitment to reach out 

to those in the Philippines at this most difficult moment.

Please see the information supplied below.

 

L'Shalom uvrachacha - with peace and blessing,

 

Andy

Rabbi Andy 

Disaster Relief for those affected by Typhoon Haiyan

You can help support the relief efforts in the Philippines through the URJ General Disaster Relief Fund. Aid groups are working to deliver safe drinking water, food and life-saving supplies to the disaster zones. You will also find a link to prayers for victims of natural disasters. Visit the website below for complete information and to donate.


You can also make a donation through UJA Greenwich. In the aftermath of the destruction brought upon by super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) has mobilized a communal emergency relief fund and has begun collecting donations. JDC staff experts are working with local authorities, the Filipino Jewish community, and global partners to quickly and efficiently respond to the rising death toll and catastrophic destruction, as well as assess the unfolding situation on the ground and ensure survivors' immediate needs are addressed. 

JDC's disaster relief programs are funded by special appeals of the Jewish Federations of North America and through the kindness of tens of thousands of individual donors to JDC. JDC organizes its relief activities with the U.S. Department of State, USAID, Interaction, the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Israeli relief agencies, and the United Nations. 100% of all contributions received by UJA in support of the relief effort will be immediately forwarded to JDC. To make a secure online donation to the fund through UJA Greenwich,  CLICK HERE.

Thanksgiving Dinner
& Chanukah Candle Lighting
Thursday, November 28th, 2013
at the home of Rabbi Andy & Sue Sklarz

thanksgiving-dinner.jpg With Thanksgiving and Chanukah right around the corner, Rabbi Andy & Sue Sklarz are pleased to extend an invitation to celebrate "Thanksgivukah" dinner and candle lighting at their home on Thursday, November 28th, to all who wish to attend. Kindly contact Laura by November 21st if you would like to join the Sklarz Family for such a joyous holiday. 
Generation J - Exploring Judaism Together
Registration is Still Open
Stanwich School Campus, 257 Stanwich Rd.

Enrollment is still open, so join us! 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.

GRS Sisterhood Trip to 

The Neuberger Museum of Art & Lunch

Tuesday, November 19, 2013, 11 am


Please join us for a docent-led, one-hour tour of The Compromised Land exhibit at The Neuberger Museum of Art, located at Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase, NY. The group will meet at the museum at 11am.

 

Following the tour, at 12:45pm, the group will enjoy lunch at The Cobble Stone Restaurant also located nearby in Purchase. 

 

The Sisterhood will sponsor entry to the museum, and each person pays for her own lunch. CLICK HERE to RSVP for the tour and lunch.

 

*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.

Knit & Knosh

Monday, November 18, 2013, 7-9 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!

Everyone is welcome, even those who just want to nosh!

At the home of Marianne Tierney, 8 Pintail Lane, Greenwich.

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.

Warm clothing drive

As we approach the cold winter months, GRS is undertaking a warm coat drive for those in need. Please bring coats, sweaters and other warm clothing, as well as sheets, towels and blankets, in good condition to the GRS office which we will donate to Neighbor to Neighbor. 
Social Action

Inspirica, one of the largest providers of services to the homeless in Connecticut and the largest in lower Fairfield County, is looking for volunteers on Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25.

If you would like to participate, please contact Joy Davis at jomarda@optonline.net.
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.
Tzedakah

Thank you for your generosity...

 

Annual Circle of Giving
  • Anonymous contribution
General Fund
  • Sandy & Steve Soule in loving memory of Don Brown
Ritual Fund
  • Emily Slayton in loving memory of Mattie Slayton 
 
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

Interfaith Conversations presents a talk on THANKSGIVUKKAH!  Monday, November 18, 7-8:30 pm.  At a private home in Greenwich, no charge.  RSVP by Friday, November 15 to Tatiana at 203-622-1881 or e-mail her at tn@jfsgreenwich.org to find out location of the program. 

 

The convergence of a Jewish holiday-Hannukah-with the secular holiday of Thanksgiving will bring people together for two big celebrations historically happening at the same time! How will you and your family experience this once-in-a-lifetime occurrence? Join the conversation about THANKSGIVUKKAH and this unique opportunity to combine traditions of food, drink, decorations, desserts, music and more!