5/15/24-Connections Weekly-Remembering the Importance of Yom HaAtzmaut

Dear RTFH Family,

Being Jewish is more complicated than ever. Attacks on Israel, the war in Gaza, protests, rising antisemitism, and so much more create complex feelings and reactions to the daily news and our own Jewish lives. Coming together as a community is one of the strongest ways to express our Jewish pride and to learn from each other.

This Friday, May 17, we’ll share in a Yom Ha'Atzmaut Shabbat service celebrating Israel’s 76th birthday. At a time of real challenge in Israel, we share our support for the Jewish state even when we don’t always agree with every decision of the government. Join us at 7pm for songs and prayers connecting us to Israel.

May is also Jewish American Heritage Month. Among the events in New York City is “Unity in Diversity” sponsored by Borough President Donovan Richards. The event will be held on Monday, May 20 at 1pm in the Helen Marshall Cultural Center at Queens Borough Hall (120-55 Queens Blvd., Kew Gardens, NY 11424). I have the honor of emceeing this event, which will include a panel discussion and, of course, refreshments. It is open to the public – RSVPs are required.

Whether at services, study, social justice, community, or family time, we look to celebrate our Judaism every day.

L’shalom,

Rabbi Mark

Friday 5/17/24 Shabbat Evening Services-Yom Ha'Atzmaut Observance/Women's Connection Installation

Sunday 5/19/24 Religious School Closing Session

Sunday 5/19/24 PA Coffee & Cake, Moving Up & Bagel and a Schmear

Monday 5/20/24 Unity in Diversity

Wednesday 5/22/24 ToFHY Board Elections

Friday 5/24/24 Shabbat Evening Services

Tuesday 5/28/24 Congregational Annual Meeting

Friday 5/31/24 Shabbat Evening Services-12th Grade Graduation/ToFHY Board Installation

Sunday 6/2/24 Israel Day Parade

Sunday 6/2/24 Queens Pride Parade

Thursday 6/6/24 Women's Connection

Thursday 6/6/24 Men's Study

Friday 6/7/24 Shabbat Reshon-All Grades

Saturday 6/8/24 Temple Tots Shavuot

Saturday 6/8/24-Sunday 6/9/24-ToFHY End of Year Trip

Tuesday 6/11/24 Shavuot Evening & Confirmation Service

Friday 6/14/24 Shabbat Evening Services-Pride Shabbat

Saturday 6/15/24 Forest Hills Chamber Music Series Concert

Friday 6/21/24 Shabbat Evening Services-Juneteenth & Board Installation

Friday 6/28/24 Shabbat Evening Services-Farewell to Joe Davidian

Shabbat Evening Services

Yom HaAtzmaut Observance/Women's Connection Installation

Friday, May 17 at 7:00pm

The RTFH congregation is invited to join Friday evening services in-person or via livestream at www.rtfh.org/live

Services will also be streaming live at:

youtube.com/reformtempleofforesthills

Congratulations to the incoming board of Women's Connection for 2024-2025

Executive Board Members:

Co-Presidents: Jaime Kinyon and Phyllis Rosenberg

Vice President Membership: Marcy Keltai

Treasurer: Susan Grunberg

Recording and Corresponding Secretary: Rebekah Cabonargi

Board Members:

Julie Alexander

Rebekah Cabonargi

Judy Downer

Audrey Frankel

Mollie Frender

Susan Grunberg

Judy Hendelman

Susan Jolles

Micky Josephs

Marcy Keltai

Cheryl Kimler

Jaime Kinyon

Jane Pinkett

Lois Silverman

Phyllis Rosenberg

Abigail Horowitz is celebrating her Bat Mitzvah!

Saturday, May 18th at 10:30 am

Mazel Tov to Abby, her parents Dee Dee & Dan Horowitz and her brother Andrew!

The RTFH congregation is invited to join Saturday morning services via livestream at www.rtfh.org/live

Services will also be streaming live at:

youtube.com/reformtempleofforesthills

For her bat mitzvah project, Abby channeled her love of reading by volunteering at and collecting books for an organization called Book Fairies.

Book Fairies is an organization dedicated to providing donated books to under-resourced communities on Long Island, NYC, and internationally. Since 2012, they have donated over 4 million books!

During spring break, Abby volunteered at the Book Fairies warehouse. She sorted books by categories, flipped through them to check their condition, and packed them into boxes.

Abby has also been collecting books at school and from family and friends. So far, she has collected over 7 boxes of new and gently used books.

Abby is grateful for the opportunity to share my love of reading with others.

For anyone interested in making a monetary donation, you can go to the Book Fairies website, www.thebookfairies.org, and click on donate funds to support of Abby’s Mitzvah Project.

Please let your voice be heard by joining us Tuesday May 28th at 7:30pm for our Annual Meeting. This is your chance to hear updates on our redevelopment work and on our Temple’s finances. We welcome your thoughts and questions on both of these important matters. The meeting will also feature an exciting look at our Temple’s redesigned web site which will debut shortly. The meeting will take place in the sanctuary and will also be live streamed. You’ll have an opportunity to ask questions whether you are in person or on the livestream. We look forward to seeing you!

If you cannot attend, please send in the attached proxy no later than Friday, May 24.

Annual Meeting Letter

Proxy 2024

Show Your Pride!

March with RTFH in the Queens Pride Parade on Sunday, June 2 at noon in Jackson Heights, Queens - 37th Avenue from 89th Street to 75th Street.

Wear your best pride and rainbow clothes as we show the world that LGBTQ+ people and issues matter! A great event for adults, teens, kids, families, friends, allies, and everyone.

Israel Day on 5th, 11:30am – 4:00pm on June 2nd

It has been such a hard road since October 7th!

This year, I (Cantor Emily) am going to express my support for Israel by marching with the Hostages Families Forum in the Israel Day on 5th parade. If you’d like to come with me, please do two things:

1. Fill out this form https://bit.ly/BTH_ISRAELPARADE for registration

2. Email me at cantorpincus@rtfh.org, so I knows you’re coming and can communicate details as they become known.

The parade is from 11:30am-4:00pm, but the time we are there will be shorter, depending on our allotted march time.

Am Yisrael Chai, BRING THEM HOME!

ToFHY End-of-the-Year Trip for All RTFH Teens

Saturday, June 8-Sunday, June 9

ToFHY is going on the road!

Trip includes transportation by Coach Bus, Black Light Mini Golf and the Mirror Maze at American Dream Mall, joint shul-in (sleepover) with the youth group at Temple Shalom in Aberdeen, NJ and Six Flags Great Adventure.

Open to all 7th-12th Grade RTFH members

Price: $81 which covers everything except lunch on Sunday

FINAL WEEK TO ORDER!

Every Voice, Every Vote 2024 Postcard Campaign

Join with members of our Social Action Team to participate in the Reform Movement's nonpartisan postcard campaign to encourage voting across the country.

When we last sent postcards, the URJ's Religious Action Center told us that voter registration increased in those states where we sent cards. We made a difference!

Get together with friends to make a real impact on voter turnout. Have a postcarding party!

The Reform Movement's Every Voice, Every Vote Postcard Kit Request Form

Each postcard kit contains instructions, a sample script, voter addresses, and 30 postcards. You will need to provide the stamps for your postcards.

Kits ordered now will be for voters in Virginia and will need to be mailed between April 26 and June 3.

Our democracy is stronger when every voice is heard and every vote is cast and counted.

Please contact Social Action Team member Rabbi Irwin Goldenberg at irwingoldenberg2@gmail.com to let him know how many postcards you have mailed and for any questions.

Torah Study on the Book of Judges -

Saturdays at 9am

Enrich your Jewish self with our Jewish story and text as we continue our fascinating, fun, and unpredictable study together online. Join any time. We are currently exploring the book of Judges. No previous reading or knowledge needed. Join any time.

For the Zoom link, please see your most recent eblast or contact our Office Administrator Sheryl Hausman at sheryl@rtfh.org.

Birthday Connection

Birthday Connection is a really wonderful and easy fundraiser sponsored by Women’s Connection. At the beginning of each month, a list of Temple members who are celebrating birthdays is posted on the Temple website member page RTFH Birthday Connection.

All you need to do is fill out the online form (paper copies are available via email, or regular mail if requested) and indicate to whom you would like to send birthday greetings. Each greeting is $1 – the total is payable to Women’s Connection via credit card or check. Women's Connection will send that person a personalized Happy Birthday greeting listing everyone who donated in their honor.

Hard copies of birthday connection lists with instructions are available in plastic hanging bins in the lobby of the temple near the coat room. Please take one on your way home after services, a meeting, or Religious School.

Send Birthday Wishes Today!

Birthday Connection-June

For our Temple member website page login and password, please conflict our Office Administrator Sheryl Hausman at sheryl@rtfh.org.For our Temple member website page login and password, please contact our Office Administrator Sheryl Hausman at sheryl@rtfh.org.

Meditation Sit with Cantor Pincus

Fridays at 1:30pm

Get ready for Shabbat with some quiet relaxation time! This 30 minute Meditation Sit with Cantor Emily will incorporate Jewish text, music, and of course, silence.

For the Zoom link, please see your most recent eblast or contact our Office Administrator Sheryl Hausman at sheryl@rtfh.org.

In the aftermath of the October 7th massacre in Israel, RTFH formed the Israel Support & Action Committee (ISAAC) in order to explore ways our community can provide urgently needed assistance to devastated Israeli families and members of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). After contacting Israelis on the ground and searching for the best way to help, we are asking you to support the Shiloni Project.

The Shiloni Project was founded by Hila Shiloni, an Israeli photographer and activist. She and a group of Israeli moms formed this grassroots organization to meet the specific needs of displaced families and soldiers (food, clothing, medicine, eyeglasses, etc.). All items are personally delivered. The project strives to build personal connections with those they aid by humanizing the recipient with messages of care and dignity. Moreover, the project is supported by Rabbi Emeritus, Rabbi Mayer Perelmuter and Debby Perelmuter.

We are now collecting donations which our Temple will forward to the Shiloni Project. Please give generously by clicking here.

To learn more about the Shiloni Project and listen to personal accounts of their work, click here.

The Shiloni Project represents the start of ISAAC's efforts to raise awareness and support for Israel in these very difficult times. Stay tuned for additional outreach efforts by ISAAC. If you have any questions or interest in joining our efforts, please contact Andy or Cheryl Kimler at akimler@aol.com .

How You Can Help!

* Consider calling or writing your Congressional representatives or Senators to encourage their continued commitment to Ukraine

* Make a donation to:

RAZOM

UNITED 24

Launched by President Zelensky

You can select the direction of your donation to these critical areas: defense and demining, medical aid, rebuilding Ukraine.

Join British Actor Mark Strong (Sherlock Holmes) to raise funds to equip a school with a bomb shelter so that students can return to in-person learning.

Charities helping Jews of Ukraine

Music Together at RTFH!

We are so thrilled to return to our RTFH home with our beloved

Music Together®️program! for Babies through 8 yr olds

Enroll Today!

MusicTogetherwithMusicandMe.com

718-229-0033

Thank you for your support of

The Reform Temple of Forest Hills

Learn more at www.rtfh.org and click “Donate" at the top of the page or go directly to rtfh.org/donate

·Choose to make a donation in honor or in memory of a friend or family member and the recipient will immediately receive a warm email notifying them of your donation.

·Yahrzeit Fund: send a donation in memory of loved ones and a private note is instantly sent to the recipient!

·Tax benefit letters will be provided by the Temple Office after the end-of-the-year fully detailing your donations.