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Calendar

 

Thursday, May 22

7:30 pm - Executive Board Meeting 

Friday, May 23

6:30 pm - Shabbat Service in GRS office

Monday, May 26

Memorial Day, GRS office closed

Tuesday, May 27

7:00 pm - Choir rehearsal

Wednesday, May 28

7:30 pm - Board Mtg.

Friday, May 30

6:30 pm - Shavuot Shabbat Service at First Congregational Church, Old Greenwich

Saturday, May 31

10:00 am - Bar Mitzvah Rafer Friedman

Sunday, June 1

9:45 am - Adult Ed Trip to Jewish NYC Landmarks

Tuesday, June 3

7:00 pm - Choir Rehearsal

Friday, June 6

6:30 pm - Family Shabbat Service & Dinner at Rabbi's home

Tuesday, June 10

7:00 pm - Choir rehearsal

Friday, June 13

6:30 pm - Shabbat Service @ the GRS Office

Tuesday, June 17

7:00 pm - Choir rehearsal

Wednesday, June 18

7:00 pm - Annual Meeting

Friday, June 20

6:30 pm - Shabbat service at Round Hill Community Church, Anniversary blessings

Saturday, June 21

9:00 am - Benjamin Wolff's Bar Mitzvah

Tuesday, June 24

7:00 pm - Choir rehearsal

Friday, June 27

6:30 pm - Social Action Shabbat Service @ the home of Bob & Helen Stark

Torah Portion
May 17, 2014

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

Custodian

An Extraordinary and Awe Inspiring GRS Experience

Dear Friends,

This past Sunday, under the auspices of our Adult Education Committee, and through special arrangements made by congregant Marv Berenblum, GRS hosted speakers Ahmad and Abir El Assaad.

Following the events of September 11, 2001 and reinforced by the 2010 Arab Spring, this remarkable Lebanese husband and wife team have devoted their time, energy and personal resources towards ending the cycle of hate and violence within their native land  (and throughout the Middle East) with their founding of "Saving the Next Generation" (SNG).

As Abir El Assaad commented in a recent interview with the Connecticut Jewish Ledger, "The concept of SNG came out from searching for a way to confront the rising radical movements that are taking control of the majority of the underserved children in this part of the world. We found out that the only reasons for allowing such radical movements to grow are poverty and lack of education. And in order to face these fundamentalist movements and organizations and save the children from their claws, the solution has to be civil; a solution that aims to spread a philosophy that values life in opposition to the philosophy of death that is promoted by the extremist and fundamentalist organizations; a solution that believes in the next generation and gives these children an alternative opportunity to live their lives as any kid throughout the world, and a chance to pursue their higher education in one of the best universities in Lebanon and abroad."

The El Assaads spoke of the educational camp programs they offer for children at age ten which continues throughout high school.  The couple ultimately enables the students to continue their education either at a private Lebanese or American university.  At present, the El Assaads have brought 1,500 SNG students into their camp program and are funding higher education for 125 high school graduates. As Marv added, the "El Assaads are very ambitious; they want to scale the program up to 50,000 kids across the Middle East."

The El Assaads have been in discussion with organizations including Seeds of Peace and the Anti-Defamation League.  Though SNG is at an early point in its evolution, its mission is strong and it offers a very real  potential for changing the world. For a fuller discussion of SNG please click here to see the article in the Jewish Ledger. Suffice to say, the work the El Assaads have undertaken is truly remarkable.

May the seeds for peace blossom!

L'Shalom,

Rabbi Andy

The caring members of our GRS Social Action Committee continually take on projects in order to help those in need, both within our larger community and around the globe.  For years GRS has been collecting and cooking food which the members of the Social Action Committee, and more recently, the students of Gen J, have been serving each month at Inspirica. However, our relationship has recently expanded...

GRS is now "in partnership with Inspirica." Inspirica provides a host of services for those who are, as the motto expresses, journeying from "homelessness to home."  Inspirica's beautiful, modern facility is located on nearby Franklin Street in Stamford, close to the Greenwich border. We are seeking volunteers, adults and mature teens, who can lend their skills in the following areas, including:

• tutoring
• babysitting
• offering children's recreational activities
• helping prepare those who endeavor to enter the job market
• in other various realms, including resume writing and interview skills.

• New twin bed sheet sets, twin blankets, bath towels, washcloths
• Personal hygiene items for men, women and children-Full size shampoos, soaps, conditioners, razors and deodorant
• Frangrance free liquid laundy detergent
• Disposable diapers - all sizes (newborn to training pants)
• Baby wipes
• Non-Perishable food

Additionally, we are looking for volunteers to donate and serve food the first Saturday of each month to Inspirica's Women's Shelter. To find out what is needed, you can contact the GRS Office or sign up at Shabbat Services. Forms will be on the Oneg Shabbat table or on each chair.