Shabbat Shalom ~ Shavuot 2025

Shalom WJC Family,

Of the dozens of concerns that have been pressing on the Jewish community of late, one that must be addressed is the effect these times are having on our children. We have talked a lot about the state of things on college campuses, but how is this turbulent time affecting the Jewish identity and life experience of kids in high school?

To explore the answer, join us for a very special discussion – part of our Tikkun Leil Shavuot, the series of classes and discussions we host on the first night of Shavuot (Sunday, June 1st). I will be hosting two of our extraordinary high school seniors, Annika Lee, who is on her way to Brown, and Jonah Baron, heading for Wake Forest. They have interesting, and sometimes surprising, perspectives on what it’s like to be a student at Mamaroneck High School, the college search experience, and their expectations for campus next year.

Our Shavuot night of learning will also feature 3 interesting and varied presentations sure to get us thinking deeply about Jewish identity and this holiday. WJC member and professor of musicology at Juilliard, Jonathan Yaeger, and Cantor Goldberg will present on musical interpretations of the Book of Ruth. Dr, Daniel Olson, Camp Ramah Asst. National Director, will explore themes from an important Zionist speech exploring the complexities of 1941 and how the speech sheds light on the complexities of today. And Rabbi Cantor Shoshi Levin-Goldberg, now Director of the Cantorial School at JTS, will discuss what happens when our momentous occasions look different from how we imagined them.

It should be a really meaningful and important evening. I hope we’ll see you there. Then Monday and Tuesday are Shavuot, including Yom Tov services each morning and evening services with teaching both nights. As usual on weekdays, we will offer the Yizkor Memorial Prayers twice Tuesday morning, at an early service that will start at 7am and at the regular 9:15 service (for Yizkor to arrive by 10:45am.)

And of course, before Shavuot we will celebrate Shabbat tonight with two services at 7pm, our weekly traditional service and a Rhythm & Ruach service, followed by our annual Moth storytelling extravaganza. The Moth features “True Stories told Straight from the Heart.” This year WJC members will tell true stories on the theme: The Streets were Lined with Gold, or Were They?: Family Stories of Immigration.

On Saturday morning we will celebrate the bar mitzvah of Daniel Kivell – mazal tov to his parents Danna and Jonathan. So, lots to come and enjoy over the next few days at WJC.

See you in shul,

RJA