Shabbat Shalom ~ Behar Bechukotai 2025

Shalom WJC Family,

As we prepare for Shabbat this week, many of us are carrying the extra burden of heavy feelings, such as sadness, anger, despair, or fear, as a result of the murder in cold blood of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, z”l. Yaron and Sarah committed themselves to supporting Zionism, the Jewish State, and the Jewish people, including through their work at the Israeli Embassy. We are chilled by the cold reality of this clearly Antisemitic attack. To help bring in the warmth of Shabbat, I offer this prayer for lighting candles composed by my colleague Mordechai Rackover.

As Jews we are used to having to hold multiple emotions at once and even with this darkness we want to think of the good and the ways to come together. We had a prime example of a great way for the community to come together last Sunday at our 80s themed Gala. I hope you were able to make it and have a great time (Tami and I sure did!) Mazal tov to our chairs Joanna Shlesinger and Erica Strongin and all those involved. You truly did an amazing job. It was a fun night of partying, honoring, and nostalgia. In honor of it, my weekly Torah Talk on this week’s parshiyot addresses nostalgia as an important spiritual tool. Click the video link below to check it out. And if you didn’t get a chance to sign up for one of the amazing sign-up parties being offered, including a scotch tasting led by me and hosted by Lauren and Scott Sholder at their home, you can still sign up by clicking here.

Looking forward we have a few amazing opportunities to come together to celebrate, learn, and experience Jewish culture:

The Moth Shabbat – Friday, May 30th – 8pm – after a Community Shabbat Dinner and services join us for our annual Moth Story Slam. This year’s theme is “The Streets were Lined with Gold, or Were They?: Family Stories of Immigration.”  Join us as our WJC storytellers spin yarns of how they or their family members left their birthplaces for other countries seeking a better Jewish life.

Coming for dinner? Register here.

Tikkun Leil Shavuot – Sunday, June 1st – 7pm – after a traditional Shavuot dairy feast, we’ll nosh and celebrate the wisdom of our faith and our community in a nighttime learning session led by members of the community and our clergy. Check out the amazing lineup of teachers here, including high school students, Juilliard musicologists and the director of the JTS Cantorial School.

Coming for dinner? Register here.

Yizkor Memorial Prayers – Tuesday June 3rd – 7am or 9:15am – as is our custom on weekday holidays, there are two opportunities to recite the Yizkor memorial Prayers with your WJC family. At an early, 7am service (with no sermon) and at a later service at our normal time, starting at 9:15am (for Yizkor arrive by 10:45am.)

Kol Rinah Concert – Sunday June 8th – 2pm – The Jewish Chorale of Westchester, which has been performing in Westchester and nearby Connecticut for over 20 years, will perform in Hebrew, English, Yiddish and Ladino.  The program is an eclectic group of Jewish songs of inspiration and devotion, upbeat songs, and even a Broadway hit. Something for everyone! Discounted tickets for WJC members are $14 in advance, paid by check only to Kol Rinah. Please leave your check with the WJC office. You will receive an email confirmation. Please note that tickets will be more expensive at the door.

In the meantime, it should be a lovely Memorial Day Weekend Shabbat in shul. We will be celebrating the auf ruf of Jacob Fortinsky and Leah Linfield and the family will be doing a lot of the leading Friday night and Torah reading Saturday morning. It should be quite the simcha! Mazal tov to Gila and Jerry and their machatunim.

One more mazal tov to our Rabbinic Intern, now Rabbi Claire Shoyer. Rabbi Dalton, Cantor Goldberg, and I had the opportunity to attend JTS’s beautiful ordination ceremony yesterday. I will be speaking a little about it, and about the state of the American Rabbinate, on Saturday morning.

See you in shul,

RJA