Artists Wanted: Bring Beauty to Our Sukkah This Sukkot
You’re invited to make our Sukkah a beautiful celebration of art and nature! Create nature-themed art pieces—fruits, vegetables, flowers, trees, and more—up to 18x18 inches. ...
Holidays
Mishloah Manot
Mishloah manot is one of the four mitzvot of the Purim holiday. It literally means “sending of portions” and refers to a gift of food ...
“One Short Day In The City of Shushan” Purim Spiel Rehearsals
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- By Emma Miller
Calling all BJ performers! BJ Theater Company's annual smash-hit Purim Spiel is back and better than ever. This year's show One Short Day In The ...
Shavuot 101
Like many Jewish holidays, Shavuot is, in part, an agricultural celebration. Shavuot marks the first harvest. Shavuot also represents a milestone in the annual reenactment ...
BJ Theater Company Rehearsals: The Greatest Afikoman
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- By Emma Miller
Join the BJ Theater Company as we celebrate Pesah! Kindergarten-sixth graders are invited to explore the Haggadah through song and dance as we weave together ...
The Spirit of Giving
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- By Kiana Davis
Support our local community this winter with your contributions.
Hunger Doesn’t Stop for the Holidays
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- By Kiana Davis
Hunger doesn't stop for the holidays. Will you help us ensure WSCAH can provide New Yorkers in need with a holiday meal this season?
What is Yom Kippur?
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the culmination of a 40-day-long process of teshuvah—shedding the dysfunctional patterns in our lives, making amends for our ...
Opening the Gates: Observing Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur is the pinnacle of our introspective season. Throughout Yom Kippur, you will encounter prayer services that have some familiar elements and others that ...
Digging Deeper: A Spiritual Accounting
Kol Nidre, the prayer that begins our Yom Kippur experience, is most well known for its iconic and haunting melody. The Book of Life is ...
Foundation: What is Rosh Hashanah?
Rosh Hashanah not only marks the start of the Jewish year but also begins the Yamim Nora’im, the Days of Awe, a 10-day period that ...
Opening the Gates: Observing Rosh Hashanah
On Rosh Hashanah, we use special greetings, we eat sweet foods, and we perform the ritual of tashlikh—symbolically casting away our sins.
Digging Deeper: Opening Our Hearts
Throughout the month of Elul, in the lead-up to the Yamim Nora’im, we engage in heshbon nefesh, reflecting on who we are and who we ...
Mishloah Manot Exchange for BJ Members
Share in the joy of Purim with our mishloah manot exchange! Sign up and we’ll match you with another BJ member; each of you will ...
Add More Light: Rabbi Roly Matalon
The week of Hanukkah mirrors the reality in our lives that, most often, human achievement comes slowly, bit by bit, with commitment, patience, and discipline. ...
Add More Light: Anastasia Brown
I was born to play Elizabeth Bennett. I’d been reading Pride and Prejudice, over and over since I was 9 years old, and I knew ...
Add More Light: Martha Ackelsberg
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- By CTA
I recently returned from a trip to Israel and Palestine sponsored by Combatants for Peace, and I am happy to share some stories of how ...
Add More Light: Florence Manson
It has been many years now since I was on a silent retreat sponsored by the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. The morning schedule included a ...
Add More Light: Robert Bank
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- By Robert Bank
We celebrate Hanukkah during the Northern Hemisphere’s darkest time of the year. Amidst this darkness, I am fortunate to be surrounded by an abundance of ...
Add More Light: Jeannie Blaustein
How do we understand transformation? How can light enter a world bathed in so much darkness? Last year, on the 8th day of Hanukkah, my ...
Add More Light: Rabbi Felicia Sol
Even when it doesn’t appear that sustaining light is possible. Even when the odds are not in our favor. Even when there is uncertainty about ...
We Need 200 Backpacks for Asylum Seekers
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- By Kiana Davis
Help us put together 200 welcome backpacks with necessary toiletries and meaningful supplies for newly arrived asylum seekers in NYC.
We Need 200 Backpacks for Asylum Seekers
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- By Kiana Davis
Help us put together 200 welcome backpacks with necessary toiletries and meaningful supplies for newly arrived asylum seekers in NYC.
Ushpizin and Ushpizot: Welcoming Guests
The Kabbalists (Jewish mystics) instituted a practice of inviting ushpizin (celestial guests) to join us in the sukkah. They imagined that we could welcome a ...
Is It Time To Add Borscht To Our Seder Plates?
As Pesah begins, we feel all our senses come to life. Our seder plate—filled with the shank bone (zeroa), egg (beitzah), bitter herbs (maror), vegetable ...
Rejoicing in Being Together: Purim at BJ
Purim 2020 was an uncertain, fearful time as the world started to become nervous about COVID-19. Two years later, Jews around the world were thrilled ...
Purchase the Matzah You Need and Support the Fight Against Human Trafficking
We are proud to partner with Mitzvah Matzoh, a non-profit that harnesses the power of Pesah to expand freedom for those who need it most. ...
Mitzvah #4: Hear Megillat Esther
Megillat Esther is the literal scroll of parchment that the Hebrew text of the book of Esther is written on, but is most often used ...
Mitzvah #3: Host a Purim Seudah
One of the most important mitzvot of Purim is to host a seudah (a festive meal) on Purim day. Since Purim is known as a ...
Mitzvah #1: Send Mishloah Manot
The mitzvah of mishloah manot (literally: sending gift packages) consists of sending gifts of food to friends and neighbors. These gifts strengthen the ties that ...
Mitzvah #2: Give Matanot Le-evyonim
Giving matanot le-evyonim (literally, gifts to the poor) is a core mitzvah of Purim. In modern times, this can take the form of direct presents, ...
Join our Purim 5782 Hamentaschen Pledge Drive!
Help BJ spread Adar joy with homemade hamentaschen! Your freshly baked hamentaschen will be donated to BJ’s lunch program guests and to the Goddard Riverside ...
A Solo Seder with Ushpizin
Letter to the Editor Published in the New York Jewish Week on March 29 2020
Holidays Events
Light in the Darkness—A Hanukkah Bereavement Group
Venue: Remote Access OnlyAs Hanukkah approaches, we remember loved ones who we will miss during our holiday gatherings this year. With that in mind, we invite you to join us for a virtual bereavement group, facilitated by BJ Social Worker Jane Blumenstein, LCSW.
Hitoreri + Teen Hanukkah Party
Venue: Community House Location: 270 West 89th StreetHitoreri is our monthly teen-only Kabbalat Shabbat & dinner, and a favorite BJ teen tradition. Teens participate in a Kabbalat Shabbat service led by their own classmates followed by Shabbat dinner and time for the teens to catch up and hang out.
Community Oneg: Hanukkah
Venue: Middle Room Location: 270 West 89th StreetCome together after Kabbalat Shabbat to catch up with friends, meet new people, and enjoy delicious nosh and drinks, with a little extra light and sweetness for Hanukkah.
Community House Dedication in Honor of Rabbi Roly Matalon
Venue: Sanctuary & Community House Location: 270 West 89th StreetJoin us as we dedicate the BJ Community House in honor of Rabbi Roly Matalon’s 40 years of leadership and celebrate Hanukkah together! This special evening will include havdalah, candlelighting, singing, and an elevated party for all ages.
Shaharit: Hanukkah
Venue: Rabbi Rachel Cowan Chapel Location: 270 West 89th StreetDevelop a daily Jewish practice and help us make a minyan so our members can say kaddish for their loved ones. Join us in person Monday through Friday and other special days with Torah reading, and every day on Zoom.
Book Drive for PS 145
Venue: Reception Room Location: 270 West 89th StreetThis Hanukkah, donate new or gently used children’s books to help PS 145 students build their home libraries. Books for preschool through fifth grade are welcome, including picture books, early readers, nonfiction, and graphic novels in English, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian, and Mandarin.
Family Hanukkah Party
Venue: Sanctuary Location: 257 West 88th StreetFamilies with children in grades K–6 are invited to celebrate Hanukkah together! We’ll light the candles, sing Hanukkah songs, and enjoy sufganiyot.
20s & 30s UWS Hanukkah Celebration
Venue: The Gin Mill Location: 442 Amsterdam AvenueCelebrate Hanukkah with fellow 20s & 30s from across the Upper West Side! Join us at The Gin Mill for “Hanukkah on Tap”—an evening of community, connection, and celebration. Together, we’ll light the Hanukkah candles and celebrate the Festival of Lights!
Hag Habanot: Festival of the Daughters
Venue: Reception Room Location: 270 West 89th StreetCelebrate the North African Jewish tradition of Hag Habanot with Rabbi Felicia Sol! BJ members who identify as women are invited to gather for an evening of Hanukkah candle lighting, song, study, and a dairy/vegetarian potluck dinner.
Shaharit: Hanukkah (Rosh Hodesh)
Venue: Rabbi Rachel Cowan Chapel Location: 270 West 89th StreetDevelop a daily Jewish practice and help us make a minyan so our members can say kaddish for their loved ones. Join us in person Monday through Friday and other special days with Torah reading, and every day on Zoom.
Hanukkah Shabbat Dinner with Hazzan Ari Priven and Rabbi Alex Braver
Venue: Reception Room & Middle Room Location: 270 West 89th StreetCome together with your BJ community to celebrate the last night of Hanukkah. All ages are welcome at this Shabbat dinner, where we will enjoy good company, singing, and Hanukkah treats!
Early Childhood Purim Celebration and Megillah Reading (Age 6 and Under)
Venue: Sanctuary Location: 257 West 88th StreetEarly Childhood Families will enjoy a festive erev Purim together! There will be arts and crafts, games, tattoos and face paint, delicious pizza and hamantaschen, and a kid-friendly reading of the Megillah!
Early Childhood Pesah Service (Age 6 and Under)
Venue: Rabbi Rachel Cowan Chapel Location: 270 West 89th StreetFamilies will enjoy this spiritual and fun Pesah service full of singing, movement, learning, and a telling of the Passover story.
Early Childhood Shavuot Service (Age 6 and Under)
Venue: Rabbi Rachel Cowan Chapel Location: 270 West 89th StreetFamilies will enjoy this spiritual and fun Shavuot service full of singing, movement, learning, and some flower decorating!