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

Calendar

 

3:30 pm - Hebrew school @ GRS office   

Thursday, December 19

3:30 pm - Hebrew school @ GRS office

Friday, December 20
6:30 pm - Shabbat Service at GRS office  

Sunday, December 22
NO HEBREW SCHOOL

NO HEBREW 102/TORAH STUDY

Tuesday, December 24
NO HEBREW SCHOOL
7:00 pm - Choir Rehearsal

Wednesday, December 25

GRS OFFICE CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS
INSPIRICA
NO HEBREW SCHOOL  

Thursday, December 26
NO HEBREW SCHOOL

Friday, December 27
6:30 pm - Celebrate Shabbat at Home   

Sunday, December 29
NO HEBREW SCHOOL
NO HEBREW 102/TORAH STUDY

Wednesday, January 1
GRS OFFICE CLOSED
NO HEBREW SCHOOL

Thursday, January 2
NO HEBREW SCHOOL

Friday, January 3
6:30 pm - Family Shabbat Service & Dinner @ home of Rabbi & Susan Sklarz
B'nai Shir
January birthdays

Sunday, January 5
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, January 7
3:30 pm - Hebrew School @ GRS office

Wednesday, January 8
3:30 pm - Hebrew School @ GRS office

Thursday, January 9
3:30 pm - Hebrew School @ GRS office

Friday, January 10
6:30 pm - Tu b'Shevat Shabbat Seder @ St. Paul's Episcopal Church

Sunday, January 12
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, January 14
3:30 pm - Hebrew School @ GRS office

Wednesday, January 15
3:30 pm - Hebrew School @ GRS office

Thursday, January 16
3:30 pm - Hebrew School @ GRS office
7:30 pm - Executive Bd. Mtg.

Friday, January 17
6:30 pm - Choir Shabbat Service @ St. Paul's Episcopal Church

Sunday, January 19
NO RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
NO HEBREW 102
NO ADULT ED

Monday, January 20
GRS OFFICE CLOSED
Martin Luther King Day

Tuesday, January 21
3:30 pm - Hebrew School @ GRS office

Wednesday, January 22
3:30 pm - Hebrew School @ GRS office

Thursday, January 23
3:30 pm - Hebrew School @ GRS office
7:30 pm - Board Meeting

Friday, January 24
6:30 pm - Shabbat Service @ GRS office

Sunday, January 26
9:00 am - Breakfast
9:30 am - Religious School
9:45 am - Rabbi's Advanced Beginner's Hebrew Class
10:30 am - Rabbi Rothman's Adult Ed Class

Tuesday, January 28
3:30 pm - Hebrew School @ GRS office

Wednesday, January 29
3:30 pm - Hebrew School @ GRS office
4:30 pm - B'nai Mitzvah Workshop @ GRS office

Thursday, January 30
3:30 pm - Hebrew School @ GRS office
7:00 pm - Rabbi's Torah Study Class

Friday, January 31
6:30 pm - Grades 4-5 Shabbat Service @ St. Paul's Episcopal Church

Torah Portion
December 21, 2013

 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 pharoah, 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' 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

Eliana Hall 

Director of Education

eliana@grs.org

Clarita Agulay

Bookkeeper

clarita@grs.org

Laura Seltzer

Administrative Assistant

laura@grs.org    

Peter Babivskiy

Caretaker

The 2013 Union for Reform Judaism Biennial

Dear Friends,

Once every two years, clergy, professionals and laity of URJ congregations across the globe gather together for a week of study, prayer and serious discussion of issues facing our movement, the larger Jewish community and our world.  Last week, Sue, Alex and I were privileged to be with some 5,000 Reform Jews for the 72^nd Biennial, held this year in San Diego.  While of course, the thought of sunny California at this time of year sounds particularly enticing, the truth is that the majority of the time - often from early morning prayer till late at night, we were found within meeting rooms of the San Diego Convention Center.

Together we celebrated the 100^th anniversary of Women of Reform Judaism (formerly known as the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods) and the 75^th anniversary of NFTY (North American Federation of Temple Youth). Also highly recognized were the remarkable accomplishments for social justice of the Religious Action Center (known as "The RAC") in Washington, DC and the achievements towards religious pluralism and equality of the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC). Time was devoted to the presentation of strategies for youth engagement, outreach and the development of new liturgy and music.

Throughout the convention a host of workshops and classes were offered specifically designed for clergy and laity.  It was an honor for me to engage in the study of Jewish texts with some of the leading Jewish thinkers of our day, as well as explore the liturgy of the new Machzor (High Holiday prayerbook) slated to be published in 2015.  Each morning and evening I attended Tefilah,(prayer service) witnessing experimental forms of prayer including yoga with Hebrew chanting, and more traditional forms of worship.  In addition, I attended sessions, referring to the recent Pew Study, focused on Outreach (inclusion) and youth engagement.

The highlight of the Biennial is always Shabbat.  I cannot describe the sense of ru'ach (spirit) which permeated the room when the voices of 5,000 passionate Reform Jews joined together in prayer on both Friday night and Saturday morning.  Special ceremony was given to honor the leaders of NFTY and Women of Reform Judaism.

While I could write on and on about the various programs,

and of course I will happily share my experiences,

the truth is, to understand how transformative the URJ Biennial is, one needs to be there.  During the decade in which I served as rabbi in Philadelphia, I recall that at one Biennial in particular, a member of our delegation called his wife and expressed, "I can't put this in words, you will just have to experience it for yourself in the future." And so in two years, I look forward to a delegation from GRS joining me and experiencing an indescribable week with those who share our love and devotion to our ever growing and evolving Reform Movement.

 Rabbi Andy

Holiday Happenings is a monthly drop-off program for 3 and 4 year-olds on Sunday mornings from 9:30-11:30 am.

Children are immersed in a high energy learning environment, rich with the spirit of Judaism and community. Together, they will learn about their Jewish selves through song, dance, art, stories, fun, and friends!

Upcoming Dates:

January 12 - Tu b'Shvat (New Year of the Trees)

March 16- Purim

April 6 - Passover

May 4 - Israel Celebration

Participants need not be members of Greenwich Reform Synagogue to enroll:

Members-Free     Non-members-$125

For more information or to enroll, please contact Eliana Hall at eliana@grs.org.