Category: Featured

A Weekend of Jewish Learning MARCH 11-13, 2016 “Mediterranean Mosaic:  Three Vignettes of Jewish Life and Culture”

Something new is coming this March…

Instead of a single scholar in residence, the Jewish Education and Enlightenment Program will feature three stimulating speakers exploring the worlds of modern Israel; medieval Spain, Egypt and Palestine; and twentieth century Italy.

SIGN UP FOR SHABBAT DINNER AND/OR LUNCH ON SATURDAY HERE.

 Olga Markus Friday night, March 11 begins with Shabbat dinner at 6:00 pm, followed by a Shabbat service with presentation by Olga Markus.  “My Israel: A Land of Miracles, Inspiration and Complexity”.

Ms. Markus holds a M.A. in Russian Language and Literature, from Kiev State Pedagogical University,  an advanced diploma in Jewish Education and an M.A. in Religious Education from the University of London,and currently works at the Council of Jewish Emigre Community Organizations (COJECO) the central hub for the Russian-speaking Jewish community of New York.

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Saturday morning, March 12, 2016,  a presentation by Liran Yadgar at 10:30, followed by a dairy luncheon at noon.

“The Jewish Game of Hearts” Judah HaLevi’s Voyage from Spain to the Holy Land

Liran Yadgar received his BA and MA from Tel Aviv University, and is a post graduate teaching fellow in the Judaic Studies Program at Yale University, and a Ph.D. Candidate in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at the University of Chicago. He will discuss, through a study of the poet’s letters and verse, the decision of the great poet and philosopher, Judah HaLevi to leave the Islamic west and emigrate to Palestine during the twelfth century. Following the route of Judah HaLevi’s travels in the Mediterranean will allow us to learn of Jewish life between the Islamic rule in Spain and Egypt and the Crusader holdings in Palestine.

 

Sunday morning, March 13, 2016, bagel brunch at 10:00, followed by Dr. Philip Balma’s presentation at 10:30.

Hiding in Plain Sight: Italian Jews in Mussolini’s Film Industry (and Beyond)

Dr. Balma received his MA and Ph.D. at Indiana University, Bloomington, and serves as Chair of Italian Studies and  Associate Professor of Italian Literary and Cultural Studies, Co-chair of Film Studies and is an affiliated member of the Judaic Studies faculty at the University of Connecticut, Storrs. He is the author of Edith Bruck in the Mirror: Fictional Transitions and Cinematic Narratives (Purdue University Press, 2014), a study of the novelist and director considered to be the most important Jewish writer addressing the Holocaust in contemporary Italy. Dr. Balma will address the complex, troubled, and seldom studied history of Jewish artists in the Italian film industry, from the Fascist period and the Anti-Semitic Race Laws up to and including current day Italy.

 

Join us for what is always an enjoyable and educational weekend of learning, food and fellowship at TE

TEMPLE EMANUEL PARTICIPATES IN REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT

refugees-are-human-beingsIn December 2015, Temple Emanuel helped to form the Jewish Community Alliance for Refugee Resettlement (JCARR), a collaboration of four synagogues working together to co-sponsor refugee families arriving in our area.  Welcoming refugees is intricately connected to our Jewish tradition, our heritage, and to our recent history of being refugees and wishing there had been more people reaching out to help us.  JCARR co-sponsors refugees who come through IRIS, the Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services.  Refugees may come from Iraq, Afghanistan, Congo, Eritrea, Sudan, even Syria.  We will sponsor families from any country and any religion.  TE member Jean Silk serves as the Coordinator of JCARR, which is supported by the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven and the Jewish Community Relations Council.

Anna Zonderman and Peter Stolzman are the leaders of TE’s refugee resettlement team.  Our team works with teams from Congregation Mishkan Israel, Congregation Beth-El-Keser Israel, and Congregation B’nai Jacob in task forces that deal with Housing, Transportation, Education and Cultural Orientation, Healthcare, Employment, Legal Services, Fund Raising and Finances.

For each refugee family we sponsor, we need to raise at least $ 5,000 to help subsidize rent and other necessities for half a year, after which families are expected to be independent. Volunteers start working before a new family arrives.  They find affordable housing, furnish and supply the home, and collect clothing.  JCARR volunteers meet the new families at the airport, offer them a warm welcome, and provide a culturally appropriate, meal upon their arrival.  They help them enroll in English classes, register children for school, learn to use public transportation, navigate the American health care system, and find jobs.  In some cases, sponsors obtain a donated car for refugees who know how to drive and are able to get a license.  Our congregations help refugees adjust to day-to-day life in our culture by providing cultural orientation and organizing social events that help us get to know each other.  As we work through challenges in cross-cultural communication, as we resolve problems that arise, as we share social experiences together, we come to understand and appreciate our differences and to recognize our commonalities, and long-lasting friendships are often the result!

Musician in Residence Weekend at Temple Emanuel – February 5-7, 2016

Promo Pic 1Join Temple Emanuel for a special weekend filled with music and joy! We are delighted to welcome Jacob “Spike” Kraus as TE’s Musician in Residence this year – here’s the full schedule of events.

Friday, February 5th at 6:30 pm – Family Shabbat Service

Saturday, Feb 6th at 7pm – Havdalah and Concert, with participation from Temple Emanuel Band.

Sunday, Feb 7th, 11:30 am – mini concert with students of TE religious school.

All events are free and open to public! Spike’s first full-length studio album ‘Shake off the Dust’ will be available for sale at the concert.

About the artist

Jacob “Spike” Kraus is an up and coming singer/songwriter. He is currently touring his first full-length studio album, “Shake Off The Dust,” which dropped in April 2015. Twenty-four years old and currently based out of Astoria, NY, Jacob is in his third year as the Assistant Director of Youth Engagement at Temple Sinai of Roslyn, where he also serves as the Music Director. Jacob has been song leading for over a decade at synagogues, day schools, and summer camps. He was the Head Songleader at URJ Eisner Camp for several summers and currently serves as Head Songleader at the URJ Kutz Camp.

Jacob graduated from Muhlenberg College in the spring of 2013 with a degree in Music Performance. A member of the Jewish A Cappella group Six13, JSK believes in music’s power as a community-builder.  He travels the country singing with communities and using Jewish music as a tool to educate and engage the next generation of Jews.

Find out more about Jacob and his music at www.jacobspikekraus.com.

Refugees welcome

refugees-are-human-beingsIn the recent weeks there has been much talk about refugees coming into this country. There has been no shortage of opinions offered, including some pretty offensive statements from politicians running for the highest office in the land. Some very real fears were expressed by the American public in light of the Paris terror attacks, fears that need to be addressed and taken seriously. And while no one can guarantee an absolute protection from terror, foreign or domestic, we as a society need to continue to be vigilant and committed to the safety of our country and our streets, supporting our security forces and our military in the difficult work that they do every day to keep us safe.

The United States prides itself on being a country that has welcomed refugees, seeking safety and peace, and has helped them become fully accepted Americans. Every year thousands of families arrive in this country, some in more distress than others, often having waited for months, sometimes years, for all the appropriate clearances. They arrive into the country legally and have some (limited) financial and other support from the U.S. Some need medical treatment; some suffer psychological trauma, especially those who escaped war-torn places. They have children that need to go to school; they need to learn English and find jobs, all the while adjusting to a brand new reality – wonderful, yet foreign.

Here we have a chance to do something truly special: open our hearts and welcome the stranger, in the best spirit of Judaism and Jewish hospitality. We have a chance to become the human faces at the end of the very long road – and in the beginning of an even longer journey of a new life. As I write these words, I am honored to know that a great number of local synagogues have organized to help IRIS settle the newly arriving refugees – some have partnered up with local churches, and some (including TE) are coming together with other synagogues and the Jewish Federation as part of Jewish Community Alliance for Refugee Resettlement (J-CARR), combining our efforts for a chance of greater impact, with our very own Jean Silk acting as coordinator of this community-wide effort.

In the next few weeks and months, as we get ready for the arrival of the families we will help re-settle, we will learn more about them and their needs. All we know for now is that they will be arriving shortly. Take a look around your home – perhaps there’s furniture and appliances that you may no longer need, but will help us turn a rented apartment into a loving home for the new refugees. Perhaps you can support the effort by offering a financial donation. Most importantly, please let Pete Stolzman and Anna Zonderman know if you are able to dedicate time to help in person – driving to appointments, helping to register for school, offering medical and other help and advice, among many other things.

Let us remember that we have an opportunity of a lifetime to do something for others. While we never expect anything in return, I guarantee you that this experience will transform OUR lives in most powerful way.

5th Annual Debbie Friedman Memorial Concert – January 31, 2016 at 10:45 (Snow Date)

Please note the new date – the concert on January 24th has been cancelled due to snow storm!

The Temple Emanuel Band, Children’s Choir, Adult Choir and Hebrew TE band at Debbie Friedman memorial concert 2012School invite you to join in a morning of singing and celebration in memory of the music and legacy of Debbie Friedman, z”l, on Sunday morning, January 31, at 10:45. (Snow date)
In addition to several iconic songs by Friedman, who passed in 2011, songs by two generations of musicians who were influenced and inspired by her ability to bring a woman’s voice and perspective into late 20th-century Jewish music and to write accessible songs combining liturgy and social commentary will be performed. Please bring your friends and your voices!

The event is free and open to public.

Tot Shabbat at TE – Friday, January 22, 2016 at 5:30 PM

TotShabbat2015-16Come celebrate Shabbat with Rabbi Michael in the beautiful TE sanctuary with songs and stories! Perfect for children under 5 and their families. Members and non-members welcome!
The Tot Shabbat service on Friday, January 22 at 5:30 pm will be followed by a Shabbat reception and dinner (in honor of our Leave a Legacy Campaign Supporters), allowing congregants of all ages to interact and enjoy the meal! We will have some teens to help out during dinner, allowing parents a chance to get to know more adults at TE.
To register for dinner, please follow this link.

Family Shabbat Dinner at Temple Emanuel to honor TE Legacy Initiative Supporters, January 22nd at 6pm

olives for dinnerYou and your family are invited to a Shabbat dinner on Friday, JanuaLeave a Legacyry 22, 2016

HONORING TE LEGACY INITIATIVE SUPPORTERS

We look forward to celebrating Shabbat together with you and your family.

Please RSVP by Monday, January 18th.

Hors d’oeuvres (adults) 6 p.m.
Dinner at 6:30 p.m.
Regular Shabbat Service 8:00 p.m.
(Please note that there will be a Tot Shabbat Service for our youngest members and their families at 5:30, allowing all generations of TE families to have Shabbat dinner together!)

All you ever wanted to know about Judaism, but were afraid to ask :)

Torah StudyAll TE members and friends are invited to sign up for the Basic Judaism Class led by Rabbi Farbman.
This course is for anyone interested in exploring Judaism-interfaith couples, those considering conversion and Jews looking for adult-level basics. This class introduces the fundamentals of Jewish thought and practice in 15 weeks. Topics include Jewish holidays and life cycle events, theology and prayer, Israel, history and Hebrew (optional).
No prior knowledge is necessary.

Come to the first session on Wednesday, December 2 at 7pm to find out more!

New Program: Jewish Short Story Discussion Group

IMG_1575When: Sunday mornings from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Dates: November 8, 15, 22 and December 6 and 20.
Join us for coffee and bagels in the TE swing space before we start what promises to be a lively series.

Interested in joining a book discussion group, but so pressed for time that finishing a long novel seems daunting? The solution? Come to TE’s new Jewish Short Story Discussion Group. Nothing to read ahead of time! We read the story live–and aloud–to each other, and then discuss it. Selections include stories by Philip Roth, Bernard Malamud, Steve Stern and more. Only one story is read and discussed at each get together. The group will be moderated by Temple Emanuel member, Bennett Graff, who holds a doctorate in American literature, and has moderated similar groups at the Institute Library in New Haven.