A MESSAGE FROM THE WESTCHESTER BOARD OF RABBIS

A MESSAGE FROM THE WESTCHESTER BOARD OF RABBIS

The Westchester Board of Rabbis is shocked and saddened by the tragic events of December 14, at Sandy Hook Elementary School.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and with the residents of Newtown, Connecticut.  Our tradition teaches that every human life is sacred for we are all created in God’s image.  We stand committed to this belief and will work toward insuring a better, safer world for all of God’s children.

We pray that the 20 children and 6 educators, who were so cruelly and senselessly killed, will be wrapped in God’s eternal embrace.  We pray that their memories will be come to be blessings.

The Westchester Board of Rabbis

President:  Rabbi Jaymee Alpert

Executive Committee:  Rabbis Morris Barzilai, Sandy Bogin, Lester Bronstein,

Jonathan Morgenstern, Mara Nathan, Gordon Tucker

Immediate Past President:  Rabbi Joshua Davidson

How Will You Light Your Chanukah Menorah This Year?

Enjoy this video from these inventive Technion students....and if you have a better way to light the menorah this year, we'd like to hear about it!

 

 

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Random Roundup

Here are some articles, videos, and websites we've found interesting this past week...take a look and let us know what you think!

First up, click here to read the latest statements from local elected officials supporting Operation Pillar of Defense.  Our thanks to the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York for collecting them all in one place.

Take a moment to read this post from Robyn Faintich of JewishGPS who asks how we define - or how we SHOULD define - what it means to be part of the "organized Jewish community."  She raises some important questions and kicks off a valuable conversation (through social media and in the comments on her blog).

Donniel Hartman says "Thank you, Prime Minister" in this blog post at The Times of Israel.

At Forbes we found this interesting article entitled "3 Entrepreneurial Lessons from the Jewish Experience."

Westchester Jewish Council board member Larry Frankel shared this link where you can view his photos from the JNF President's Society Mission to Israel.

For a little fun, enjoy this article where Jewcy identifies what they believe might be the best Jewish marriage proposal video of the year. Be sure to watch the video - which includes a visit to White Plains!

And, finally, just in time for Chanukah, this new musical mash-up from four members of the Maccabeats is sure to put a smile on your face.

Westchester Stands with Israel - A Night of Solidarity

This Tuesday November 20, 2012

Temple Israel Center of White Plains, 280 Old Mamaroneck Road, White Plains

 

 Click HERE for event details and registration (requested, but not required).

Annual Westchester/Fairfield Thanksgiving Diversity Breakfast 2012

In partnership with AJC Westchester, the Duchesne Center at Manhattanville College, and many other area synagogues and organizations we were proud co-sponsors of this annual event, held Thursday, November 15, 2012.

Honored at this year's event were Reverend Sarah Henkel, Multi-Cultural Coordinator of the Hudson River Presbytery, Rabbi Rigoberto Emmanuel Viñas, Lincoln Park Synagogue, and Bishop Martin Nelson, Bezer Holiness Church.

Click the above links to view videos of interviews with each of the honorees.  A slideshow of photos from the breakfast is available here.

In Reponse to the latest Middle East events...

Below please find a small sample of some of the important information that has been created in response to the latest Middle East events. We thank the JCRC of NY, Dennis Monasebian of NOW Israel, Mona Abramson of the Westchester Jewish Council, the Jewish Federations of North America and the JCPA for their ongoing support and information sharing.

We also invite you to attend our long - scheduled Westchester County “Night of Music and Solidarity” this Saturday night, Nov 17, 7:30 PM at Temple Israel Center of White Plains, 280 Old Mamaroneck Road, White Plains.  The evening is produced by Kol Hazzanim (the Cantors of Westchester) and the Westchester Jewish Council with grant support from UJA-Federation of NY.  You may register when you get there (doors open at 7:00 PM) and the cost is $25 per person payable to the Westchester Jewish Council.  As of this email, we have 300 confirmed registrants.  The evening will serve as a community builder as 21 Cantors inspire us with song as we join together in response to the challenges of “Hurricane Sandy” and the unsettling situation in the Middle East.  If your schedule permits, we would love for you to join us.

Finally, we would be remiss not to mention the stalwart recovery efforts from “Hurricane Sandy” throughout the region.  It is nothing short of inspirational to see so many of our member organizations and synagogues involved in the disaster recovery.  UJA-Federation of NY continues to remain ready to assist you in your mobilization.  Visit their website for the latest information on how UJA-Federation is responding to the community’s needs.

   

ISRAEL ACTION ITEMS

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Here are words of support conveyed by President Obama to Prime Minister Netanyahu in their telephone call last evening (readout below), as well as the statement issued by the State Department yesterday.

We are also gratified that Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) filed a resolution today expressing “unwavering” support for the State of Israel and reaffirming her right to “act in self-defense.”  In addition to this resolution, New York’s elected officials have issued many statements of support, including those from Senator Charles Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congress Members Rangel, Engel, Ackerman, King, Lowey, Maloney, Meeks, Nadler, McCarthy, Clarke, Israel, Bishop, and Congresswoman Elect Meng. New York State leadership has also spoken out, including: Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos. New York City's leaders have issued statements as well, including: Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio, New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, District Attorney Charles Hynes, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Councilmembers Garodnick and Halloran and former NYC Comptroller William Thompson.  The list is growing each hour.

 Please click here for a listing of these important statements.
 

RESOURCES:

1. Readout of the President’s Phone Calls with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Egyptian President
2. Suggested messaging from the Ministry of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs

3. Backgrounder and talking points from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
4. Recording of yesterday's conference call briefing with Amb. Ido Aharoni, Consul General of Israel in New York
    

FOLLOW UP ITEMS:

1. Stay up to date by visiting the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs website as well as the Israeli Consulate in New York's Twitter and Facebook pages. 
2. Please share this story from Tablet Magazine with your networks.
3. Musician Alanis Morissette is now under a lot of pressure to cancel her upcoming visit to Israel, please like this page and encourage her to go. 
4. Two  additional articles of interest:

·        This op-ed by former URJ President Rabbi Eric Yoffie is recommended reading: “A call to U.S. progressive Jews: Support Israel's 'get tough' policy in Gaza”

·        Gaza Cyber-battle Almost as Fierce as Missile War

Jewish and Israeli Relief Efforts Underway

Here's a smattering of links (in no particular order) covering some of the many efforts by Jewish and/or Israeli organizations providing relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Israeli Volunteers Head to NY to Help in Sandy Relief Efforts

Israeli Aid Missions Providing Relief to Hurricane Sandy Victims

Jewish Groups Begin Sandy Relief Efforts

You Don't Walk Away You Just Help

In Wake of Hurricane Sandy Disaster, Jewish Volunteers Step Up