Dear RTFH Family,

There are many ways to do Judaism. It might have been some cheesecake last week on Shavuot. Maybe you stood up for Pride somewhere in the world as a Jew supporting our values of inclusion and welcome. Or maybe it was reading an article going deeper into the Israel-Hamas war.

In the coming days, we have a variety of ways to celebrate being Jewish even as we move towards summer.

• On Friday, June 21, we’ll observe Juneteenth at 7pm Shabbat services recognizing that freedom for one is needed for freedom for all. We’ll also celebrate our Board of Trustees who work so diligently to make our Temple thrive.
• On Friday, June 28, we’ll say a bittersweet farewell to our accompanist, Joe Davidian, for the years of music and spirit he shared with us as he moves out of state.
• You can be in a movie! An independent filmmaker Daniel Solé shot a short film at Temple recently and now needs additional footage to round it out. On Friday, June 28, we’ll be recording audio (no visuals) of part of the service. On Monday, July 1, he needs background players for his film that takes place on Shabbat in a synagogue. See info below.

With a more relaxed schedule, we hope during this time of year, you can add a little more Judaism to your life.

L’shalom,

Rabbi Mark

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

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

Monday 7/1/24 Independent Film Shooting at RTFH

Friday 7/5/24 Shabbat Evening Services at 6:15pm (BBQ Dinner After Shabbat Services)

Friday 7/12/24 Shabbat Evening Services at 7pm

Friday 7/19/24 Shabbat Evening Services at 7pm

Friday 7/26/24 Shabbat Evening Services at 7pm

Friday 8/2/24 Shabbat Evening Services at 7pm

Sunday 8/4/24 Mini-Mitzvah Day

Juneteenth and Board of Trustee Installation Shabbat Services

Friday, June 21^st at 7:00 pm

Celebrate Shabbat with your RTFH Community. We’ll recognize Juneteenth, commemorating a moment in history when American slaves were finally free. We’ll also officially install our Board of Trustees and recognize the hard work and commitment they bring to our synagogue. Bring Shabbat into your life.

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

2024-2025 Board of Trustees

Executive Board:

Seth Diamond - President

Stephanie Lazarus - Vice President

Elizabeth Fisher- Vice President

Jill Manis - Treasurer

Jane Pinkett- Secretary

Andrew Kimler - Special Counsel to the Executive Board

Board:

Gina Drangel

Susannah Gilbard

Michael Katz

Marcy Keltai

Barbara Lederman

Melissa Moyal

Fred Pagan

Michael Samuels

Amy Schless

Women’s Connection Representative to the Board:

Rebekah Cabonargi

Past Presidents:

Jerry Ball

Diane Levy

Phyllis Rosenberg

Neil Rosenblatt

Lois Silverman

Celebrate Joe Davidian

Friday, June 28 at 7pm

Our wonderful accompanist, Joe Davidian, is moving to South Carolina. We want to say thanks before he leaves. Join us at Joe’s final Shabbat service as we celebrate his talent, kindness, and soul.

Joe will be moving to Greenville, South Carolina as a Jazz Studies Instructor at the Fine Arts Center. FAC is South Carolina’s First Public High School for the visual, creative and performing arts.

We send Joe our deepest thanks and best wishes.

Mazel Tov to Sheryl Hausman and Family!

Our Office Administrator, Sheryl Hausman, her husband Todd, and her son Zachary are being honored at their synagogue, Havurat Yisrael, this coming Monday, June 24. Mazel Tov to the Hausman family for this recognition and all our love from your RTFH family.

Help Make the Jewish New Year Sweet for Everyone!

Please help to make 2024 the sweetest year ever by purchasing a Rosh Hashanah gift of honey for you, your family, or friends.

This distinctive 8-ounce jar of kosher honey arrives in time for Rosh Hashanah, decorated with a festive label, and includes a personalized card reading “Shana Tova—Wishing you a Healthy and Happy New Year.” This card also lets the recipients know that a donation has been made in their honor to THE REFORM TEMPLE OF FOREST HILLS. The cost is $14.00 per jar.

All purchases will help our Women's Connection to fund and support vital temple programs throughout the year. You can purchase online via credit card or PayPal.

**If you are paying by check**

ORT is no longer accepting checks directly so we will place the orders internally. If paying by check, you MUST send your order form and a check for the full amount of your order payable to RTFH Women's Connection to Temple. Put Attention WoCo on the envelope. Please be prompt. We MUST have all order forms and checks in the WoCo mailbox by Thursday August 1, 2024.This will allow ample time for us to place your order.

To order online, go to https://orthoney.com/RTF.

*If you are paying online*

**Please note: TUESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2024 DEADLINE FOR FREE SHIPPING OF ONLINE ORDERS.

**ALL ORDERS placed AFTER that date will incur a $8.00 shipping charge**

September 12 is the last day to order for delivery by Rosh Hashanah 

If you are having trouble accessing your previous orders follow the instructions below:

Do not log into your account. Just click on "I ordered in a previous year" and select option 3: By Phone, Zip and Last Name

Put in the last 4 digits of your phone number, your zip code and the first letter of your last name.

It will ask "is this you?". You should click on Yes which will bring up your old order and it will then ask if you accept the free shipping terms.

You must click on every teal bar and either EDIT, DELETE or ADD TO CART. Once that is done, the bar turns purple. When the last teal bar is edited, deleted, or added to the cart, the system will assign the order a new number and you can then add more recipients and/or checkout. We are only accepting credit cards and PayPal as payments this year.

For more information, please email Chairperson Shelley Radbel at anniesarmada@gmail.com

With Sweetest Regards,

The Honey Team

MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Stay tuned for details about a Temple postcarding party

this summer at Mini-Mitzvah Day!

ORDER POSTCARDS FOR VOTERS IN COMMUNITIES

 IMPACTED BY BARRIERS TO VOTING

Join with members of our Social Action Team to participate in the Reform movement's Every Voice, Every Vote nonpartisan postcarding campaign to encourage voting by those who might not otherwise exercise their right to vote.  

Postcard Kit Request Form

NEW STATES, NEW DATES

Arizona: order kits between 6/13 and 7/1

Georgia: order kits between 7/2 and 7/17

Texas: order kits between 7/18 and 7/31

Mailing dates for the general election will be specified in kits. 

ORDER POSTCARDS TO ENCOURAGE VOTERS 

TO PROTECT AND EXPAND

REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM IN FLORIDA

Join with members of our Social Act Team and Women's Connection to educate voters about what is at stake for reproductive freedom in Florida. Urge voters to vote YES on Issue 4 to limit government interference with abortion access.



Reproductive Freedom Postcard Kit Request Form

Order kits now to be mailed by October 1st. 

See the Social Action Team's Current Initiatives page on RTFH's new website for more details.

Please contact Social Action Team member Rabbi Irwin Goldenberg at irwingoldenberg2@gmail.com to let him know how many postcards you will be mailing 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

If you need help logging in to the Temple website member page, 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. 

See the Social Action Team's Worldwide Efforts page of our new website for ways you can help support 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.