Divrei HaRav Words from the Greenpoint Rabbi

Shabbat Shalom!

Friday night
Candle Lighting 4:33pm
Friday night services will not meet this week.

Shabbat morning –
Services begin at 9am promptly, kiddush to follow at 11am promptly. We are making a concerted effort to start and end services on time. Please come early to ensure we can keep to our times.
We will be reading Parshat Beshalach, The Song at the Sea.
The rabbi is out of town and will not be giving a sermon. But, we are looking for congregants to give some the sermons. If you’d like to work with the rabbi to give one, please contact the rabbi.

Thank you to Harold and Carol Bretstein for sponsoring this week’s kiddush – bagels and lox are the menu.
To join the back up kiddush rotation and sponsor once a quarter or whenever there is a special occasion please contact jenkrant(at)ymail(dot)com
Shabbat ends 5:38pm

Super Bowl Shabbat
February 4 at 7pm (Details to follow)
Join the Meet Up group First Friday @ Greenpoint Shul, http://www.meetup.com/FirstFriday/

New Rabbi’s Class on the Joseph Stories – We started a new class that will meet Tuesdays at 8:35 at the rabbi’s home. It’s never too late to join. Please bring a Genesis if you have one (otherwise one will be provided).

Wednesday’s Hebrew Night
Beginner Hebrew classes – Continue at the rabbi’s home at 8pm to meet at the rabbi’s house. If you are interested, please contact the rabbi at rabbi(at)greenpointshul.org}

For Happenings at our shul Garden check out Facebook

Become a Fan of the Greenpoint shul on Facebook!
Check out our website for more info – greenpointshul.org

Learn the Service! – If you are interested in attending a class to learn the service please contact the rabbi at rabbi@greenpointshul.org. Classes will be held 20 minutes before services begin on Friday nights and Shabbat mornings. Please RSVP!

Regular Service Times:
Friday night at 7pm (one hour)
Shabbat morning at 9am (two hours), followed by kiddush

Sunday – Sober Parents – AA: Alcoholics Anonymous Sober Parents with free babysitting will meet at our shul every Sunday at 10:00. Often, parents who are recovering find themselves torn between going to meetings to take care of themselves and being there for their children. We are therefore thrilled to have a new group attend our shul allowing parents to do both.
Tuesday – Cocaine Anonymous – CA normally meets at the shul on Tuesdays 7:00 – 8:00. CA is non-denominational but we are comforted that Jews who are suffering from drug addictions have an opportunity to attend meetings in a shul rather than a church. As a Jewish community, it is crucial that we are a supportive community, giving space for people to recover. Please spread the word.

Shabbat Shalom! – If you are around on Shabbat morning, please come help make the minyan!

Friday night
Candle Lighting 4:20pm
Friday night services meet at 7pm

Shabbat morning -
Services begin at 9am promptly, kiddush to follow at 11am promptly. We are making a concerted effort to start and end services on time. Please come early to ensure we can keep to our times.
We will be reading Parshat Va’era, 7 of the 10 plagues are introduced. The sermon will now be prior to Torah reading at approx 9:50. We are looking for congregants to give some the sermons. If you’d like to work with the rabbi to give one, please contact the rabbi.
To join the back up kiddush rotation and sponsor once a quarter or whenever there is a special occasion please contact jenkrantz@ymail.com
Shabbat ends 5:25pm

Communal Shabbat Moroccan Dinner: Our monthly Friday night events continue with Shabbat in the Maghreb: Arriving in Morocco over two millennium ago and growing to a population of 250,000, the history of the Jews in Morocco is ancient and rich. Please join us on Friday, January 7th at 7:00 p.m. for a Moroccan Shabbat, including a North-African-themed Kabbalat Shabbat, a special guest to share a traditional song and a few brief words, and a catered Moroccan meat dinner (there will be plenty of vegetarian dishes as well). The dinner is $13.00 per a person: www.greenpointshul.org/morocco.html

Our very own Gaby Brechner is one of the creators of the Off Broadway puppet show called Baby Universe. Rebeccah and I saw the show and we enjoyed it and were very impressed – go for it! www.wakkawakka.org/babyuniverse.html Because of your connection to the shul, you will get a $10 discount on the tickets. The code is “GREENPOINT”. The show got a great review in the Post today, 4 Stars in Time Out this week and voted the 2010 First Runner Up for Puppet of the Year in the NY Times on Friday. It is playing until Sunday January 9th.

New Rabbi’s Class on the Joseph Stories – We are starting a new class that will meet Tuesdays at 8:45 at the rabbi’s home. The first class will begin January 4th. Please bring a Genesis if you have one (otherwise one will be provided).

Tuesday’s Hebrew Night
Beginner Hebrew classes – A new class is beginning this Wednesday, January 5th at 8pm to meet at the rabbi’s house. If you are interested, please contact the rabbi at rabbi@greenpointshul.org}

For Happenings at our shul Garden check out Facebook

Become a Fan of the Greenpoint shul on Facebook!

Check out our website for more info – greenpointshul.org

Learn the Service! – If you are interested in attending a class to learn the service please contact the rabbi at rabbi@greenpointshul.org. Classes will be held 20 minutes before services begin on Friday nights and Shabbat mornings. Please RSVP!

Regular Service Times:
Friday night at 7pm (one hour)
Shabbat morning at 9am (two hours), followed by kiddush

Sunday – Sober Parents – AA: Alcoholics Anonymous Sober Parents with free babysitting will meet at our shul every Sunday at 10:00. Often, parents who are recovering find themselves torn between going to meetings to take care of themselves and being there for their children. We are therefore thrilled to have a new group attend our shul allowing parents to do both.
Tuesday – Cocaine Anonymous – CA normally meets at the shul on Tuesdays 7:00 – 8:00. CA is non-denominational but we are comforted that Jews who are suffering from drug addictions have an opportunity to attend meetings in a shul rather than a church. As a Jewish community, it is crucial that we are a supportive community, giving space for people to recover. Please spread the word.

Shabbat Shalom!

Friday night
Candle Lighting 4:15pm
Friday night services meet at 7pm

Shabbat morning
Services begin at 9am promptly, kiddush to follow at 11am promptly. We are making a concerted effort to start and end services on time. Please come early to ensure we can keep to our times.
We will be reading Parshat Shemos, we begin the book of Exodus. The sermon will now be prior to Torah reading at approx 9:50. We are looking for congregants to give some the sermons. If you’d like to work with the rabbi to give one, please contact the rabbi.
To join the kiddush rotation and sponsor once a quarter or whenever there is a special occasion please contact jenkrantz@ymail.com
Shabbat ends 5:20pm

Communal Shabbat Moroccan Dinner: Our monthly Friday night events continue with Shabbat in the Maghreb: Arriving in Morocco over two millennium ago and growing to a population of 250,000, the history of the Jews in Morocco is ancient and rich. Please join us on Friday, January 7th at 7:00 p.m. for a Moroccan Shabbat, including a North-African-themed Kabbalat Shabbat, a special guest to share a traditional song and a few brief words, and a catered Moroccan meat dinner (there will be plenty of vegetarian dishes as well). The dinner is $13.00 per a person: www.greenpointshul.org/morocco.html

New Rabbi’s Class on the Joseph Stories – We are starting a new class that will meet Tuesdays at 8:45 at the rabbi’s home. The first class will begin January 4th. Please bring a Genesis if you have one (otherwise one will be provided).

Lost!
If you found a pocket knife that was left in the coat closet please return it to the closet or tell the rabbi. Helpful features about the knife: 4 inches long, tan handle and it says “stainless” and “Brazil” on it.
Please return it to the closet if it is in your possession.

Our very own Gaby Brechner is one of the creators of the off Broadway puppet show called Baby Universe, which will be performed very soon. Check out the show www.wakkawakka.org/babyuniverse.html Because of your connection to the shul, you will get a $10 discount on the tickets. Good luck Gaby! Can’t wait to see it!

Tuesday’s Hebrew Night
Beginner Hebrew classes – A new class is in the works for January, please contact the rabbi at rabbi@greenpointshul.org}
Congratulations to the Intermediate Hebrew Classes who finished their work and know the Friday night service. For those who missed it and want to take this class, please contact the rabbi.

For Happenings at our shul Garden check out Facebook

Become a Fan of the Greenpoint shul on Facebook!

Check out our website for more info – greenpointshul.org

Learn the Service! – If you are interested in attending a class to learn the service please contact the rabbi at rabbi@greenpointshul.org. Classes will be held 20 minutes before services begin on Friday nights and Shabbat mornings. Please RSVP!

Regular Service Times:
Friday night at 7pm (one hour)
Shabbat morning at 9am (two hours), followed by kiddush

Sunday – Sober Parents – AA: Alcoholics Anonymous Sober Parents with free babysitting will meet at our shul every Sunday at 10:00. Often, parents who are recovering find themselves torn between going to meetings to take care of themselves and being there for their children. We are therefore thrilled to have a new group attend our shul allowing parents to do both.
Tuesday – Cocaine Anonymous – CA normally meets at the shul on Tuesdays 7:00 – 8:00. CA is non-denominational but we are comforted that Jews who are suffering from drug addictions have an opportunity to attend meetings in a shul rather than a church. As a Jewish community, it is crucial that we are a supportive community, giving space for people to recover. Please spread the word.

Shabbat Shalom!
Friday December 17th – Asarah b’Tevet (10th of Tevet) – Tomorrow is one of the fast days in which we remember the beginning of the destruction of the Temple. Specifically we focus on the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem. It begins Friday morning at 6:01am and ends at 5:08pm. Though rare, this fast day is the only fast day that can ever fall out on a Friday. This week we will not be having services at 7pm as though the fast in time-bound, one should pray the evening service before one eats. Therefore for this week, services will be at 4:15pm and the service will be much faster to allow for people to return home to have their break fast Shabbat dinner. at 5:08pm.

Friday night
Candle Lighting 4:11pm
Friday night services meet at 4:15pm

Shabbat morning
Services begin at 9am promptly, kiddush to follow at 11am promptly. We are making a concerted effort to start and end services on time. Please come early to ensure we can keep to our times.
We will be reading Parshat Vayichi: The last portion in the book of Genesis
We are looking to reinvigorate the kiddush social time. We would like to find a group of people who would be willing to donate a kiddush to the shul once every 3-4 months to ensure that every week we have a wonderful lunch for our community. If you’d like to sponsor a kiddush for a special occasion or join the rotation, please contact jenkrantz@ymail.com
Shabbat ends 5:16pm

Tonight, Thursday night December 16th, at 7:30, in Prospect Park Parade Grounds 1, on the south side of the park, the rabbi will be speaking at a rally against hate speech against people who are gay made by members of the Jewish community.

Thank you to Jen Rosenberg for organizing the Clothing Swap – it was a huge success and brought in over 35 people in to the shul producing 9 bags of left overs for charity.
Communal Shabbat Moroccan Dinner: Friday night January 7th at 7pm – The theme will surround Moroccan food and will be a meat meal. (Vegetarians will have plenty to eat!) It will be catered so we are asking people pay $12 to cover the cost of the food.

Lost!
If you found a pocketknife that was left in the coat closet please return it to the closet or tell the rabbi. Helpful features about the knife: 4 inches long, tan handle and it says “stainless” and “Brazil” on it.
Please return it to the closet if it is in your possesion.

New Rabbi’s Class on the Joseph Stories – We are starting a new class that will meet Tuesdays at 8:30 at the rabbi’s home. The first class will begin January 4th. Please bring a Genesis if you have one (otherwise one will be provided).

Our very own Gaby Brechner is one of the creators of the off Broadway puppet show called Baby Universe, which will be performed very soon. Check out the showwww.wakkawakka.org/babyuniverse.html Because of your connetion to the shul, you will get a $10 discount on the tickets. Good luck Gaby! Can’t wait to see it!

Tuesday’s Hebrew Night
Beginner Hebrew classes – A new class is in the works for January, please contact the rabbi at rabbi@greenpointshul.org}
Congratulations to the Intermediate Hebrew Classes who finished their work and know the Friday night service. For those who missed it and want to take this class, please contact the rabbi.

For Happenings at our shul Garden check out Facebook

Become a Fan of the Greenpoint shul on Facebook!
Check out our website for more info – greenpointshul.org

Learn the Service! – If you are interested in attending a class to learn the service please contact the rabbi at rabbi@greenpointshul.org. Classes will be held 20 minutes before services begin on Friday nights and Shabbat mornings. Please RSVP!

Regular Service Times:
Friday night at 7pm (one hour)
Shabbat morning at 9am (two hours), followed by kiddush

Sunday – Sober Parents – AA: Alcoholics Anonymous Sober Parents with free babysitting will meet at our shul every Sunday at 10:00. Often, parents who are recovering find themselves torn between going to meetings to take care of themselves and being there for their children. We are therefore thrilled to have a new group attend our shul allowing parents to do both.
Tuesday – Cocaine Anonymous – CA normally meets at the shul on Tuesdays 7:00 – 8:00. CA is non-denominational but we are comforted that Jews who are suffering from drug addictions have an opportunity to attend meetings in a shul rather than a church. As a Jewish community, it is crucial that we are a supportive community, giving space for people to recover. Please spread the word.
~The one year anniversary brought in over 30 people to the meeting. It was exciting, lively and inspiring. They constantly thanked the shul for allowing us to host them in our downstairs space. May many people find comfort and sobriety through our shul.

Candle Lighting – 7:38 PM
Friday night services begin at 7:30. (They last around an hour)
Shabbat morning services begin at 9:30.
The weekly Torah portion is Parshat Shoftim
Havdala and the conclusion of Shabbat – 8:40 PM

An Update on the Garden: We’re looking for people who can volunteer watering. If you have time, please contact flyingheron.nat@gmail.com.

Learn the Service! – If you are interested in attending a class to learn the service please contact the rabbi at rabbi@greenpointshul.org. Classes will be held 20 minutes before services begin on Friday nights and Shabbat mornings. Please RSVP!

Become a Fan of the Greenpoint shul on Facebook!

Weekly Mincha Minyan – Monday through Thursday at 3pm afternoon services, Mincha, are held in an office building located at 250 Greenpoint Ave 4th Floor between Newel St and Jewel St. The rabbi teaches a short, 5 minute class following services. Services last 15 minutes tops.

It is not to early to start thinking about the High Holidays. Please join us for free HH Services.
Rosh Hashanah (and Shabbat)
Wednesday night September 8 – 6:45pm (followed by dinner, please rsvp for the dinner on our website greenpointshul.org)
Thursday, Friday morning services begin at 9am.
Shofar 11am approx
Babysitting on Thursday and Friday begins at 9am (please let us know so we can have the appropriate number of babysitters)
Children’s Service begins at 10:15
Tashlich Thursday 5:00, meeting at the shul
Thursday night at 6:45pm
Friday night at 7pm
Shabbat morning services begin at 9am

Yom Kippur September 18th
Kol Nidrei, Friday night 7pm
YK/Shabbat morning 9am
Yizkor 11am approx
Children’s Service 10:45
Mincha + Neila, Saturday afternoon – 5pm
Fast ends at 7:41 followed by a break fast meal

Succot (September 22nd at night)
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings services 7pm
Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings services 9am
Saturday we plan to have a women’s Megillah reading of Kohelet

Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah (September 29th at night)
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings services 7pm
Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings services 9am
(Thursday night the 30th and Friday morning, the 1st, is Simchat Torah with much singing and dancing)

Sunday – Sober Parents – AA: Alcoholics Anonymous Sober Parents with free babysitting will meet at our shul every Sunday at 10:00. Often, parents who are recovering find themselves torn between going to meetings to take care of themselves and being there for their children. We are therefore thrilled to have a new group attend our shul allowing parents to do both.
Tuesday – Cocaine Anonymous – CA normally meets at the shul on Tuesdays 7:00 – 8:00. CA is non-denominational but we are comforted that Jews who are suffering from drug addictions have an opportunity to attend meetings in a shul rather than a church. As a Jewish community, it is crucial that we are a supportive community, giving space for people to recover. Please spread the word.

Services are free! But please let us know if you hope to attend, so we can better plan.

Rosh Hashanah (and Shabbat)
Wednesday night September 8 – 6:45pm (followed by dinner, please rsvp for the dinner on our website greenpointshul.org)
Thursday, Friday morning services begin at 9am.
Shofar 11am approx
Babysitting on Thursday and Friday begins at 9am (please let us know so we can have the appropriate number of babysitters)
Children’s Service begins at 10:15
Tashlich Thursday 5:00, meeting at the shul
Thursday night at 6:45pm
Friday night at 7pm
Shabbat morning services begin at 9am

Yom Kippur
Kol Nidrei, Friday night 7pm
YK/Shabbat morning 9am
Yizkor 11am approx
Children’s Service 10:45
Mincha + Neila, Saturday afternoon – 5pm
Fast ends at 7:41 followed by a break fast meal

With much gratitude to Hashem, we are very excited to share the good news with all of you. Baby Boy Appelbaum was born at 3:37 pm on Thursday June 17th, the 5th of Tammuz. Rebeccah was great and thank Gd, both are doing well.
As traditionally there are no invitations to a bris milah – this is merely a letter of information. We know not everyone is around or going to be able to make it into Greenpoint or even will be in the area, but we wanted to share the info with you.

Gd willing, the Bris Milah will be on Thursday June 24th – services at 7:30, bris at 8:15 with breakfast to follow. It will be held at our shul – Greenpoint Shul (www.greenpointshul.org) at 108 Noble street (zip 11222) For those who ask “Where is this place greenpoint?” it is the northwesternmost tip of Brooklyn.

You can get there via

Driving:
the Williamsburg or 59th street bridges, 495 or the BQE (we are right below queens).

Subway:
We are along the G train (you might also ask where this is) at the Greenpoint Ave stop (use the Greenpoint Ave Exit) and walk South To Noble.
The G train crosses with the 7 (42nd street) and L (14th street) trains for easy commuting into the city.

Much Love,
Rebeccah, Maurice, Helen and Baby

(If you are receiving this more than once, our apologies)

Shalom,

We had a wonderful Shavuot dinner on Tuesday night. Thank you Steve Katz for organizing it and thank you to Jascha Pruess for helping to sponsor it. We had robust minyanim for both days, thank you to all who were able to make it.
We’re back at it – tomorrow is Shabbat!

Candle Lighting – 7:53
Friday night services begin at 7:15 this week! (They should last about 45 minutes.)
Shabbat morning services remain at 9:00 am.
The weekly Torah portion is Parshat Naso – The longest individual parsha in the Torah. Discusses Priestly Blessings, a Jewish Monk and questionable adultery.
Havdala and the conclusion of Shabbat – 9:01

Sunday – Sober Parents – AA: Alcoholics Anonymous Sober Parents with free babysitting will meet at our shul every Sunday at 10:00. Often, parents who are recovering find themselves torn between going to meetings to take care of themselves and being there for their children. We are therefore thrilled to have a new group attend our shul allowing parents to do both.

Monday – Hebrew Level II – We are winding down this Hebrew class as our class prepares for graduation on Friday June 4th! Please come join the celebration as Michael Goodstein and Samara Klein will (separately) lead the Friday night service amid much song followed by a dinner in their honor. Services will begin 7:15. Please let us know if you’d like to attend.

Tuesday – Cocaine Anonymous – CA normally meets at the shul on Tuesdays 7:00 – 8:00. CA is non-denominational but we are comforted that Jews who are suffering from drug addictions have an opportunity to attend meetings in a shul rather than a church. As a Jewish community, it is crucial that we are a supportive community, giving space for people to recover. Please spread the word.
Tuesday – Hebrew Level I – is now meeting on Tuesdays at 7:30. Contact the rabbi if you missed this class rabbi@greenpointshul.org

Wednesday – Talmud Class – Will meet this week at our usual time, 7:30 at the rabbi’s home. We are discussing philosophical and theological issues like resurrection of the dead. Please join us the words of the Talmud really come alive!
Shabbat Shalom!

Beginner Hebrew Class – Level I beginning the week of April 19th. Day and time are still being determined. Please email me rabbi@greenpointshul.org if you are interested so we can work out a mutually convenient date.
In 6 classes you will learn how to read. Even if you’ve never seen an Alef before, after six weeks you will read fluently after attending these classes. Bold yes, but I’ve seen it happen.

Candle Lighting – 7:03

Friday night services begin at 7:15 this week! (They should last about 45 minutes.)
Shabbat morning services remain at 9:00 am.
The weekly Torah portion is not read due to Passover. Instead a much shorter reading replaces it.
Song of Songs – King Solomon’s epic love song to be chanted by women and men of our congregation.
The Rabbi’s drasha will be “Counting – The Omer and Mourning”
Havdala and the conclusion of Shabbat – 8:04

Monday and Tuesday morning Passover services will begin at 9:30.
Tuesday we will be saying Yizkor, approx. 11 a.m. The holiday ends 8:08 p.m. Then eat as much bread as you’d like. If you sold your chametz through the rabbi, you will be able to eat it, Tuesday night at 9:30 p.m.

Hebrew Level II – The Hebrew class which normally takes place on Mondays, at 7:30 will not meet this week due to Passover. Level II is looking at Friday night services with an eye toward learning how to lead the services, while picking up the melodies, vocabulary, prefixes and suffixes along the way.
Hebrew Level I – We are going to restart Level I – Beginner’s Hebrew in just couple of weeks. In six classes you will learn how to read Hebrew – no joke! No prior experience necessary. You will learn how to read. The classes are free, the timing is not yet finalized. Please email the rabbi to work out a mutually convenient time. rabbi@greenpointshul.org

Cocaine Anonymous – CA normally meets at the shul on Tuesdays 7:00 – 8:00. Due to Passover, they are not meeting this week and will resume the following week, April 13. CA is non-denominational but we are comforted that Jews who are suffering from drug addictions have an opportunity to attend meetings in a shul rather than a church. As a Jewish community, it is crucial that we are a supportive community, giving space for people to recover. Please spread the word.

Talmud Class – will resume this Wednesday night at 7:30 – 8:30. We gather around a table, eat some cake (made with flour!) and learn some Talmud. The class meets at the rabbi’s house. No prior experience necessary.

Keep in mind, that for any honor, memorial or other significant event (Opening Day!), you can always commemorate it by sponsoring the weekly kiddush.

Shabbat Shalom,