In This Issue
Hearing Enhancement Devices

Hearing enhancement devices are available during services at the security desk. In addition, there is a Hearing Loop in the Schafler Forum. Please switch hearing aid to T-coil.

Union Field Cemetery

Come visit and learn more about Rodeph Sholom's historic Union Field Cemetery. Discounted fees are available for CRS members. For more information, call our knowledgeable staff at 718-366-3748.

Bereavement Notices 

Click here if you would like to be informed of deaths in our community.
April 6, 2015
Community Engagement
Watch Rabbi Levine on 
MSNBC's Morning Joe

On Friday, April 3rd Rabbi Levine appeared on MSNBC's Morning Joe.   Alongside Father James Martin, the two discussed the beginning of Passover, Good Friday, and Easter.  Watch the clip here!
25th Annual Freedom Seder
With Memorial Baptist Church

 

Friday, April 10th following Erev Shabbat Services

 

Soon after the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery marches, our communities commemorate 25 years of working together toward achieving freedom.

$25 per person / children under 5 are free

 

To purchase tickets or for more information, please contact: freedomseder@crsnyc.org or 646-454-3043
Lunch Together 
"Enchantress"

Remaining dates: Tuesdays, May 19; June 9

Maggie Anton discusses the research behind her new historical novel, Enchantress. Come learn about the surprising prevalence of ancient Jewish magic in Talmudic times and how some of that sorcery is still with us today. Maggie is the award-winning author of the historical fiction trilogy Rashi's Daughters, and the new series Rav Hisda's Daughter.  Read more...

 

To RSVP or for more information, please contact: jjurek@crsnyc.org or 646-454-3039

Baking History: 
The CRS Sisterhood and RSS Parents Association 1st Annual Challah Bake
If it weren't for the history and tradition,
it would just be called "bread."


Join the CRS Sisterhood and RSS PA and make Challah baking history as we braid together dough, Jewish learning, and fun with your sisters. Read more...

To RSVP or for more information, please contact:  sisterhood@crsnyc.org

Erev Shabbat Service Honoring
Senior Cantor Rebecca Garfein


Join us as we honor Cantor Rebecca Garfein during a special Erev Shabbat service in celebration of her 15th anniversary as our Senior Cantor.  The service will feature our musicians and children's choir as well as special surprise guests.

 

For more information, please contact: jjurek@crsnyc.org or 646-454-3039

Dinner with AJ Jacobs:
The Global Family Reunion


A.J. Jacobs will join us for dinner to speak about his latest project: The Global Family Reunion - The Day the World Connects.

 

To RSVP or for more information, please contact: myran@crsnyc.org

Join us in welcoming our new 
Executive Director, Barbara Zakin!


After completing a careful and considered search process that began late last year, we are pleased to announce that Barbara Zakin has joined CRS as our new Executive Director.

Please join us for a special Congregational Pre-neg (like an oneg, but before Shabbat Services begin) to welcome Barbara in the warmest Rodeph Sholom way.

Click here to read a short interview with Barbara.

Click here to read the announcement message from Rabbi Levine.
Young Families Shabbat Dinner


Always a community favorite, these dinners are a great way to build upon existing friendships and make new ones within the Young Families group. Read more...

 

To RSVP or for more information, please contact: jjurek@crsnyc.org or 646-454-3039

Spring Shabbaton
What we talk about when we talk about Israel


Reporting in A Land of Few Facts with Jodi Rudoren, Jerusalem Bureau Chief of The New York Times. Read more...

 

The Ethics of War, Peace, and Against Academic Boycotts: Israel in the Ivory Tower with Professor Michael Walzer, Professor Emeritus of Social Science, Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton University. Read more...

 

To RSVP or for more information, please contact: adulted@crsnyc.org

Shireinu Integrated Erev Shabbat Service


This service is open to the entire community (members and non-members) and all ages are welcome.

This sensory sensitive service will share some of the key elements of our Shireinu Tefila experience with the whole congregation. This service will be ASL interpreted.

The clergy and Rodeph Sholom family look forward to sharing prayer, music, and fun together.

 

Fore information, please contact: shireinu@crsnyc.org

Calling All Musicians!

Are you a musician? Are you looking for a larger audience or do you just love to play? Do you want to inspire our Israel Parade experience and perform while marching up 5th AvenueIf you said "yes" to any of these questions, then join our mini-marching band that will help accompany the Rodeph Sholom contingent in the Celebrate Israel Parade on Sunday, May 31st! Led by Jack Linder, we are hoping to bring together a small band to play around 5 upbeat Israeli and Jewish tunes. With just a few rehearsals in advance, this will be an easy and fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon celebrating Israel and making music. If you are proficient in an instrument (you can decide for yourselves!) we would love to have you. Specifically looking for horns, percussion, and guitars.

For more information, please contact: mryan@crsnyc.org

PJ Library

Sign up and share the fun of reading!

 

Congregation Rodeph Sholom and PJ Library invite you to join in the fun of reading with FREE Jewish children's books and music. Click here to sign up or to receive more information.
Tikkun Olam

CRS Social Action Initiative:

E-Advocacy 

 

April E-Advocacy - Urge Congress to Restore Voting Rights:
 
On June 25, 2013, the Supreme Court in Shelby v. Holder invalidated sections of the Voting Rights Act that require areas with a history of disenfranchisement problems to seek pre-clearance from the Department of Justice before making election procedure changes.  Subsequent to this decision, many states have introduced, and in some instances passed, laws that restrict voting rights.  These laws often impact the poor, the elderly, racial minorities, and students.  Jewish scripture states, " What does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8).  Justice requires equal participation in the democratic process and unrestricted access to the ballot box.  As we mark the 50th anniversary of the passing of the Civil Rights Act and celebrate the 25th anniversary of the annual Rodeph Sholom and Memorial Baptist Freedom Seder on Friday, April 10th, the call to protect civil liberties under the law is clearer than ever.  Click here to ask your Members of Congress to support the Voting Rights Amendment Act. 

CRS Homeless Shelter 

 

Please help make sure we have volunteers to welcome guests to our CRS Homeless Shelter, Monday through Friday so that the 8 men who stay with us have a warm place to sleep. 

 

We need volunteers on: April 14, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30, as well as in May and June.
 

Sign up for a night today! Bring a friend, volunteer as a family, or we can match you up with a veteran volunteer. Contact RabbiMeyer@crsnyc.org for more information. Click here to sign up. Community service hours available. 

St. Xavier's Soup Kitchen

Sunday, April 19th, 2015 from 11:45AM-3:30PM


Nine volunteers needed! Help prepare and serve meals to visitors at the St. Xavier's Soup Kitchen in Chelsea with your fellow CRS congregants. All volunteers must be over the age of 14, and children under the age of 17 must be accompanied by an adult. To volunteer, sign up on VolunteerHub

Backpack Buddies

Every week during the school year, our Backpack Buddies program provides a targeted group of children from the Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center, right on the Upper West Side, with a backpack full of food.  Click here to find out more about the various volunteer opportunities (stocking shelves, packing backpacks, delivery) and to sign up to help.
Ongoing Adult Learning and Life

CRS Walking Group

 

Tuesdays at 9:15AM (weather permitting)

Meet at CRS

 

Come walk with us to stay healthy and fit, make new friends or spend time with old ones.  

 

This group is spearheaded by RSS parents and CRS congregants.  All are welcome!

 

For more information, please contact:

Book Club

 

Thursday, April 9th at 7:00PM

Next date: Thursday, May 14th

 

We are reading Like Dreamers by Yossi Klein haLevi.  Next month we are reading The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street: A Novel Hardcover by Susan Jane Gilman

 

To RSVP or for more information, please contact: bookgroup@crsnyc.org

Mah Jongg
 
Thursday, April 9th from 1:00-4:00PM
Remaining dates: Thursdays, May 14; June 11

Are you ready to play?  Do you want to learn?  Whether you're an expert or a novice, come enjoy a few hours of camaraderie (and the "bridge mix")!  Bring your own cards, or purchase them when you arrive.

To RSVP or for more information, please contact: mahjongg@crsnyc.org
Jewish Basics
The Vocabulary of Jewish Texts

Remaining dates: Wednesdays, April 22, 29; May 13, 20, 27

An introduction to basic Jewish culture, ritual, and living. This course is open to all who want the opportunity to take a closer look at why and how Jewish rituals have developed and how these rituals create meaning in our lives.

To RSVP or for more information, please contact: adulted@crsnyc.org or call 646-454-3029
Sisterhood Kos Kafe
(cup of coffee)

Meet your sisters of all ages from the Congregation to share coffee, light breakfast, and interesting conversation.  We will send you the address when you RSVP (we know, very secretive).

To RSVP or for more information, please contact: sisterhood@crsnyc.org or call 646-454-3101

Personal and Spiritual Pathways 

Through The Psalms

With Rabbi Jacqueline Ellenson

 

Friday, April 17th at 12:00PM

Remaining date: Friday, May 29  

 

The Book of Psalms contains expressions of all human experience and multiple manifestations of the ancient search for God's presence. Through the study of Psalms, we will gather for a personal and participatory learning experience, supplemented by poetry and song. 

 

To RSVP or for more information, please contact: adulted@crsnyc.org or call 646-454-3029

How to Raise a Mentsch

The Parenting Discussion Group

Led by Rabbi Spratt, Rabbi Laufer, 

and RSS Parent, Rabbi Erica Gerson

 

Wednesday, April 22nd from 8:45-10:00AM

Remaining date: Wednesday, May 6  

 

Whether you're thinking about how to bring Shabbat (and other Jewish holidays) to life in your home, or what a gratitude practice with your kids might look like-this monthly group offers an opportunity to ask the big, small, practical, and theoretical questions surrounding parenting in an intimate environment.

 

To register or for more information, please contact: adulted@crsnyc.org or 646-454-3029

Va'yinafash
 

 

Judaism asks us to create sacred moments, but that's hard to do without intention. Join us and prepare for your Shabbat - and other days - with sessions on mindfulness, using meditation, and focused text study, as well as other opportunities to stop, take a deep breath, and reflect on the life you are living.


To RSVP or for more information, please contact: mryan@crsnyc.org or call 646-454-3045

 Hebrew Classes

Taught by Sara Rosen 

Class Levels:

  • Beginning Hebrew Reading 
  • Continuing Hebrew Reading 
  • Beginning/Continuing Modern Hebrew 

Dates and times vary by level.  

 

To register or for more information (including dates and times), please contact: adulted@crsnyc.org 

or call 646-454-3029

Development
As part of the celebration of Cantor Garfein's 15th Anniversary at CRS, it is our wish to honor Cantor Garfein by building up the General Music fund.  This will allow Cantor Garfein to develop new musical projects that will enhance our members' synagogue experiences.  

 

Synagogue members who wish to make a contribution in honor of Cantor Garfein's Anniversary are asked to consider a gift to the Music Fund. You may make a gift online.  Please select "General Music Fund" in the drop down menu.  Checks should be made payable to Congregation Rodeph Sholom with "Music Fund" in the memo.

 

For more information, please contact Deborah Siegel at 646-454-3050 or  dsiegel@crsnyc.org.