Week of Events
Other Israel Film Festival
Presented by the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan and the Israel Film Center, this year's Other Israel Film Festival highlights the stories of those working together for coexistence and an end to violence. BJ is proud to once again be a partner on this important project.
7th Grade Trip to Boston
Attention 7th graders: Join this year’s class trip to Boston! We will explore what living a full Jewish life means in light of modern history and current events, while bonding with peers and connecting to the BJ community outside the classroom.
Sunday, December 8, 2024
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December 8, 2024 –Shaharit (Online)
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December 8, 2024 –Arvit (Online)
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December 8, 2024 –Winter Wisdom: A Pre-Hanukkah Mini-Retreat
Shaharit (Online)
Develop a daily Jewish practice and help us make a minyan so our members can say kaddish for their loved ones. Join us every day on Zoom, and in person on Mondays, Thursdays, and other special days with Torah reading.
Winter Wisdom: A Pre-Hanukkah Mini-Retreat
This uplifting gathering, led by Jewish meditation teachers Alison Cohen and Yael Shy and co-sponsored by BJ, will interweave guided meditations with wisdom from Judaism and other traditions for meaningfully entering winter and Hanukkah.
Monday, December 9, 2024
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December 9, 2024 –Shaharit (In Person and Online)
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December 9, 2024 –Arvit (Online)
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December 9, 2024 –Connections Cocktail Hour
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December 9, 2024 –Parenting as a Spiritual Practice with Rabbi Becca Weintraub
Shaharit (In Person and Online)
Develop a daily Jewish practice and help us make a minyan so our members can say kaddish for their loved ones. Join us every day on Zoom, and in person on Mondays, Thursdays, and other special days with Torah reading.
Connections Cocktail Hour
Join us for a relaxed hour with good conversation and your favorite drink. All are welcome.
Parenting as a Spiritual Practice with Rabbi Becca Weintraub
Explore how parenting can be a vehicle to our own Jewish spiritual practice and how together we can raise connected, thoughtful, and empowered mensches. This havurah (group learning/cohort) is open to parents with children ages birth through 18.
Tuesday, December 10, 2024
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December 10, 2024 –Shaharit (Online)
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December 10, 2024 –Shirah with Shira
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December 10, 2024 –Mindfulness Prayer Practice Group
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December 10, 2024 –Arvit (Online)
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December 10, 2024 –Intro to Judaism
Shaharit (Online)
Develop a daily Jewish practice and help us make a minyan so our members can say kaddish for their loved ones. Join us every day on Zoom, and in person on Mondays, Thursdays, and other special days with Torah reading.
Shirah with Shira
Join our Hebrew immersion class for 3- and 4-year-olds with Shira Averbuch. Through music, stories, and movement, children will gain a sense of community rooted in Jewish tradition while gaining exposure to Israeli culture.
Mindfulness Prayer Practice Group
We invite you to join this group, led by Jonathan Silver, as we search for deeper kavannah (intention) in our prayers, ritual practice, and weekly Torah portion.
Intro to Judaism
Whether you want to deepen your understanding of Judaism, are considering conversion, or are curious about this rich tradition, this class is for you. We’ll discuss fundamental concepts, explore theology and prayer, cultivate personal practices, and build meaningful relationships together.
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
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December 11, 2024 –Shaharit (Online)
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December 11, 2024 –Jewish Meditation with Rabbi Shuli Passow
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December 11, 2024 –Blood Drive
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December 11, 2024 –Arvit (Online)
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December 11, 2024 –M’kom Shalom: A Place of Peace
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December 11, 2024 –Tap Dancing on Everest: A Book Talk with Mimi Zieman
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December 11, 2024 –Israel Processing Space for Parents
Shaharit (Online)
Develop a daily Jewish practice and help us make a minyan so our members can say kaddish for their loved ones. Join us every day on Zoom, and in person on Mondays, Thursdays, and other special days with Torah reading.
Jewish Meditation with Rabbi Shuli Passow
Start your day with soulfulness and equanimity with this weekly mindfulness meditation practice, led by Rabbi Shuli Passow and informed by themes from the Torah portion.
Blood Drive
When just one pint of blood from a single donor can save up to three lives, every one of us can choose to be someone’s hero. Save a life by donating this December at the BJ Blood Drive.
M’kom Shalom: A Place of Peace
This Zoom support group is for those who have lost a loved one to suicide. Facilitated by Rabbi Simkha Y. Weintraub, LCSW, and Dr. Adena Greenberg, Ph.D., the support group will meet monthly on Wednesdays.
Tap Dancing on Everest: A Book Talk with Mimi Zieman
This riveting tale of adventure and empowerment is the story of a 25-year-old medical student who is part of a team attempting a new route on Mount Everest. Mimi will be in conversation about her book with BJ member James Stulman.
Israel Processing Space for Parents
We know that our children are hearing about current events in Israel from many sources. This monthly group is a space for those raising children in K-7th grade to discuss how we talk about Israel with our children.
Thursday, December 12, 2024
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December 12, 2024 –Shaharit (In Person and Online)
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December 12, 2024 –In the Mirror: Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Roly Matalon
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December 12, 2024 –A Taste of Talmud: Daf Yomi with Rabbi Shuli Passow
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December 12, 2024 –Aging Alone Together: Creating a Caregiving Team
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December 12, 2024 –Camp Shabbat Kickoff
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December 12, 2024 –Arvit (Online)
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December 12, 2024 –With A Little Help From Shabbat: BJ Theater Company’s Camp Shabbat Performance
Shaharit (In Person and Online)
Develop a daily Jewish practice and help us make a minyan so our members can say kaddish for their loved ones. Join us every day on Zoom, and in person on Mondays, Thursdays, and other special days with Torah reading.
In the Mirror: Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Roly Matalon
Through close reading of short stories about the lives, struggles, and concerns of the Talmudic rabbis, we will uncover deeper layers of our own selves. This year we are studying Chapter 7 of Tractate Baba Metzi’a, with its fascinating stories of both piety and perversion.
A Taste of Talmud: Daf Yomi with Rabbi Shuli Passow
Dip into the world of daf yomi (daily Talmud study) with this weekly look at highlights from the past week’s pages. All are welcome—you do not need any prior experience studying Talmud.
Aging Alone Together: Creating a Caregiving Team
Elder Care Strategist Cynthia Perthuis will explain, offer tested suggestions, and answer questions. This will be the first of three sessions presented by the "Aging Alone, Together" havurah.
Camp Shabbat Kickoff
Kick off Camp Shabbat with a pre-Shabbat celebration for kids in kindergarten through 6th grade. It is the perfect way to prepare for a weekend filled with camp-themed fun and community. We can’t wait to see you there and celebrate together!
With A Little Help From Shabbat: BJ Theater Company’s Camp Shabbat Performance
Join us as the BJ Theater Company takes the stage to present With A Little Help From Shabbat. This kick-off to Camp Shabbat will showcase students in K-6th grade as they share stories and songs of Shabbat.
Friday, December 13, 2024
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December 13, 2024 –Shaharit (Online)
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December 13, 2024 –Parashat Hashavua with Rabbinic Fellow Joe Blumberg
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December 13, 2024 –Bim Bam
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December 13, 2024 –Tot Shabbat
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December 13, 2024 –Likrat Shabbat: Camp Shabbat Edition (K-7th Grade)
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December 13, 2024 –Kabbalat Shabbat: Camp Shabbat
Shaharit (Online)
Develop a daily Jewish practice and help us make a minyan so our members can say kaddish for their loved ones. Join us every day on Zoom, and in person on Mondays, Thursdays, and other special days with Torah reading.
Parashat Hashavua with Rabbinic Fellow Joe Blumberg
Join BJ Rabbinic Fellow Joe Blumberg for a lively study of each week’s Torah portion, with a focus on the three paradigms of connection in Jewish text.
Bim Bam
Bim Bam gives children three and under a fun space to get ready for Shabbat through interactive songs, movement, and stories, while practicing traditions such as lighting candles and saying Kiddush.
Tot Shabbat
Families enjoy a kid-friendly Kabbalat Shabbat service filled with singing and dancing. Services are followed by a dinner complete with Shabbat blessings and songs. While adults are finishing their meal, children engage in play and exploration.
Likrat Shabbat: Camp Shabbat Edition (K-7th Grade)
Kick off Shabbat with some Friday night learning, music, food, and community building. The evening will start with candle lighting, Shabbat-related activities, and services, followed by a delicious dinner.
Kabbalat Shabbat: Camp Shabbat
Join us for a unique Kabbalat Shabbat service led by our BJ teens and Kadima students as we celebrate Camp Shabbat. We will welcome Shabbat with camp ruah (spirit) and your favorite camp melodies. Come in your favorite camp t-shirt and Shabbat best.
Saturday, December 14, 2024
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December 14, 2024 –Shabbat Morning Services
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December 14, 2024 –Early Childhood Shabbat Service (Age 6 and Under)
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December 14, 2024 –Shabbat Morning Services (2nd-6th Grade)
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December 14, 2024 –Arvit and Havdalah
Early Childhood Shabbat Service (Age 6 and Under)
Children will sing, dance, learn, and move during this lively service, featuring songs, stories, Torah readings, and more! This service is intended for families with children in first grade and younger.
Shabbat Morning Services (2nd-6th Grade)
Join us every Saturday morning for a lively Shabbat Service for kids in grades 2-6. Parents can stay or join the community in the Sanctuary. Services are led by Rabbis Deena Cowans, Becca Weintraub, and our music educator Yaira Spitzer Tilchin!
Arvit and Havdalah
Join us in virtual community for Arvit (the evening service), as we maintain a collective spiritual practice while supporting all those in our midst who are saying Kaddish. We will conclude with havdalah and end Shabbat together as a community.