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Education

Temple Israel & Temple Concord Adult Education Committee Presents:

“The Transformation of the Marriage Market in the Eastern Sephardi Diaspora”

Sunday, January 12
10 am to noon
Temple Israel, Vestal
Light Brunch provided

Professor Dina Danon will speak on the transformation of the Jewish marriage market in the Ladino-speaking diaspora during the modern age. Her talk will provide an overview of the traditional marriage market and discuss the various ways in which it changed in the late Ottoman period (late 19th and early 20th centuries), focusing specifically on forms of bridal capital such as dowries and trousseaux.

The entire community is welcome to attend.  There is a suggested donation of between $5-20 per person.  RSVP, by email to the Temple Israel Office or call the office at 607 723-7461.

Categories
Announcement

December 2024

Letter from the Rabbi

Dear Temple Israel Community,

Hodesh Tov! Wishing you a good new month of December and of Kislev! As we approach the end of 2024, we find ourselves in the start of Winter, preparing for the shortest days of the year, and our Festival of Lights Hannukah, which will accompany us into the year 2025!

Our holy work to bring light to the world continues to be of great need as we continue to pray for the immediate return of the Israeli hostages held in Gaza, an end to the ongoing war, and a greater peace for Israel and the world. Our relief at the news of a ceasefire with Hezbollah has this week been overshadowed by the heartbreaking news of the death of Omer Neutra ז״ל, a young Israeli from New York who was deeply involved in Conservative Jewish life and community.

As we continue to pray for peace and security throughout land of Israel, we look forward to joyous events in our local Jewish community this month and beyond! On the first Shabbat of December 12/6, a large group of Kids, Families and community members will gather to celebrate a Shabbat together with prayer, dinner, and play. If you haven’t yet RSVP’ed, you are still welcome to join us!

Later in December, on Sunday 12/22 from 10 AM – Noon, we will have our next TI/TC Adult Education program here at Temple Israel! I will be sharing powerful creative words of contemporary Israeli women compiled through. You can read more about the program (insert where in the bulletin there’s a description)

Beyond December, I’m excited to announce that in March we will welcome a good friend of mine Zach Mayer for a special Musician-in-Residence Weekend! Zach will join us on Purim Day through Shabbat and Sunday morning, bringing traditional and new Jewish music for us to sing and enjoy together! A forming group is working to plan several events for March 14 – 16 and we could use your support! Everyone’s help would be appreciated: musicians who’d like to join a Saturday night concert and Purim-Shabbat party planners alike!

In these dark Winter days, we have the change to come together and to cultivate the light of Shabbat and Hannukah and to strengthen our special local Jewish community!

Rabbi Micah R. Friedman

הרב מיכה שמחה פרידמן 

Categories
Announcement

December 2024

Letter from the President

Dear Members and Friends of Temple Israel,

     After the fast pace of autumn holidays, we were tempted to take a breath, but the Temple Israel family has kept up a continuous pace of activities, December promises more to come. Each of us is part of this family, and we sustain each other through difficult moments and celebrate the high points.

As Rabbi Friedman pointed out in his recent drash for parsha Toldot on families in conflict (see The Reporter, Vol. LIII, No. 24, November 29th, if you missed it), as a group we hold diverse views, yet we are able to address difficult issues and find common purpose. In our own country and our own time, challenges abound, anti-semitism is a serious concern – but we have much to be thankful for, as we live in a land of plenty and of opportunity, subject to the rule of law.

It has been our privilege to observe a number of family events in our congregation over the Thanksgiving weekend. This past Shabbat, we celebrated the anniversary of Howard Warner’s Bar Mitzvah and he chanted the Haftorah to mark the occasion. Meanwhile, Dave Channin read the Torah portion as his son and his new bride were called to the Torah to celebrate their recent wedding. The Channins and Warners sponsored a very special Kiddush which all enjoyed. On Sunday, over two dozen of us gathered in the Chapel for a minyan service to honor the Yahrtzeit of Steve Malkin’s father Alec.

Perhaps you would like to participate in a service or sponsor a kiddush to mark an event in your family. Rabbi Friedman and the Board members are happy to facilitate any sort of celebration in addition to those we have programmed. Meanwhile, please join us on Friday, December 6th for a family-oriented erev Shabbat service and dinner. Check our website templeisraelvestal.org for the latest updates!

I take this opportunity to thank you for keeping up with your dues and donations which are vital to enable us to deliver our programs, education, and services. We have launched once again the Temple Israel Lottery for 2025. Contact the TI Office to buy tickets, each of which will have hundreds of chances to win throughout the year – any time the NYS Lottery is drawn (except on Saturday!) Tickets make great Chanukkah gifts for children and grandchildren, who can watch for their number to come up all year long.

Some of our regulars have headed South for the Winter, so your attendance at our Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday services (in-person or on zoom) is greatly appreciated. Enjoy the spiritual and thermal warmth of your extended Temple Israel family!

b’shalom,
Art

Arthur B. Siegel
President – Temple Israel