High Holy Days Sermons 5779
Click here to listen to our rabbis’ High Holy Days sermons:
• Rosh Hashanah First Night, First Day, and Second Day with Rabbi Roly Matalon
• Rosh Hashanah First Day and Second Day with Rabbi Felicia Sol
• Kol Nidre with Rabbi Erin Glazer
• Kol Nidre, Yom Kippur Morning, and Yom Kippur Afternoon with Rabbi Felicia Sol
• Kol Nidre, Yom Kippur Morning, and Afternoon with Rabbi Roly Matalon
• Yom Kippur Afternoon with Rabbi Marcelo Bronstein
Video is also available for services that took place in the BJ Sanctuary and Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Friday Evening Service: Please Note Change of Time!
Shabbat Evening Services: PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF TIME!
From September 7, Kabbalat Shabbat will begin at 6:30PM
From October 5 throughout the winter, Kabbalat Shabbat will begin at 6:15PM
From March 15 throughout next summer, Kabbalat Shabbat will begin at to 6:30PM
Paying it Forward Shabbat Dinners
Beginning Friday, October 12 | Various Times | Various Locations
Have a delicious Shabbat meal, build closer relationships, and help strengthen the BJ community all at the same time! Beginning on October 12, BJ members will be hosting a series of Pay-It-Forward-style Shabbat dinners in their homes.
What does this mean? Each dinner is open to BJ members from particular cohorts of the community; in signing up to attend, you are committing to host a Shabbat dinner of your own for other BJ members in the weeks or months ahead. You could host the same people who attended the first dinner, or invite an entirely new group from your own social circle at BJ. The choice is yours!
Not sure how to host a Shabbat meal? No problem. We’re rolling out a slew of workshops and online resources, including a complete Shabbat Dinner Hosting Guide.
Israeli Book Club
Sunday, October 14 | 5:00-6:30PM | Location Given Upon registration
BJ’s Israeli Book Club is more than just your typical reading group—it is an intimate encounter with Israeli culture, society, and politics. Join us for a good read and nuanced conversation that will help you gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of contemporary Israeli issues.
About Our Holocaust:
Beautifully translated from Hebrew, Our Holocaust is a novel narrated by a nameless child of Holocaust survivors. A prizewinner in Israel, it tells the story of relatives who are “collected” by virtue of the fact that they themselves have no one to call their own family since many of their parents, children, brothers and siblings were murdered during the Holocaust.
Monday Meditation Minyan
Mondays, beginning October 15 | 6:30-7:00PM | BJ Chapel
Whether you have a deep meditation practice or are interested in exploring mindfulness for the first time, we invite you to join us for Monday Meditation Minyan, led by Yael Shy. Each session will begin with wisdom from the Jewish tradition, followed by focused meditation (with some guidance), a short discussion, and an opportunity for community members to recite Mourner’s Kaddish. No experience necessary; all are welcome.
Monday Meditation Minyan meets weekly, with the exception of national and Jewish holidays.
POSTPONED: Ritual Lab: Emerging from a Year of Mourning
POSTPONED: Mondays, October 15, 22, and 29 | 7:00-8:30PM | BJ Middle Room
Become a member of this year’s first Ritual Lab cohort, delving into the experience of mourners completing a year of saying Kaddish for a loved one. The daily action of saying Kaddish is among the most powerful of Jewish rituals, and yet there can be an additional sense of loss when the year of mourning concludes. Join Cantor David Mintz for an opportunity to explore the wisdom of our tradition, broaden our understanding of Jewish ritual, and together, co-create a new ritual to mark the act of emerging beyond the year of mourning.
The Five "W"s of Prayer: Who/What/When/Where/Why
Mondays, October 15-November 5 | 7:00-8:00PM | BJ Community House
Whether you have a committed prayer practice, find yourself lost in the siddur, or consider yourself somewhere in between, join Rabbinic Fellow Abi Weber for this five-part series as we explore the five W’s of prayer. Why do we pray? What are the components of prayer? When do we pray? Where do we pray? To whom do we pray? God? Ourselves? The community? By delving into ancient texts and contemporary conversations looking at the large theological questions of prayer, as well as its everyday practicalities, we will gain a deeper understanding of this Jewish spiritual practice. Each class will stand alone, so new participants are always welcome.
The Classical Prophets of Our Times with Hillel Friedman
Tuesdays Beginning October 16 | 10:00AM | 4th Floor Conference Room
Join Rabbi Hillel Friedman, longtime BJ member, for a perusal of the classical prophets. Together we will study excerpts from the classical prophets and apply their wisdom to our concerns in the 21st century.
"Soul Food" Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Felicia Sol
Tuesdays, October 16-December 18 | 12:30-1:45PM | BJ Middle Room
Kadima@BJ Shirah with Shira
Tuesdays, October 9-December 18 | 4:00-4:45PM | BJ Community House
Kadima@BJ is excited to announce a new Hebrew immersion class geared towards children ages 2-5. Shira Averbuch will lead children and their parents and caregivers in music, stories, and movement. Children will gain a sense of community rooted in Jewish tradition, while gaining exposure to Israeli culture, Hebrew language, and holiday customs. Cost for the fall semester is $200 for members and $300 for non-members. Both members and non-members may receive a sibling discount ($50 off). Contact Danielle Freedman for more information.
“Wiki-Torah: Genesis” Weekly Torah Study with BJ Rabbinic Fellow Tobias Divack Moss
Tuesdays, October 16-December 18* | 6:30-7:45PM | BJ Chapel
Way before Wikipedia, Judaism developed an ever-expanding network of texts. Using the weekly portions from Genesis as our starting point, we will follow these links of tradition that connect text to text, and generation to generation. Warm up the room with your presence and a cup of tea. New participants of any background are always welcome. Please sign up to let us know you are coming.
*No class on October 23 or December 4.
Baby Fingers
Wednesdays, October 10-November 14 | 3:30-4:30PM | BJ Middle Room
Learn American Sign Language through songs and play with other parents, educators, and children close to your child’s age. Go home each week with new vocabulary and new tunes to enhance communication between you and your child, with added focus on Judaic concepts, traditions, and holidays. Whether you intend to incorporate sign language in your life for the long term, or simply during this pre-verbal/developing verbal time, watch in awe as your child discovers the world of language. See the research come to life, as music and sign language both aid in the development of language and literacy. Stories, songs, games, and movement to music are included in our teaching methods. The 6-session series costs $120 for members, $180 for non-members. Contact Mike Witman with questions.
Teen Learning Series
Wednesdays, October 2018 through May 2019 | 6:00-7:15PM | Reception Room
Want a chance to learn, study, and discuss some of the most intriguing issues facing Jewish teens today? Join us as we explore R-rated Talmud, the complexities of Israel, civil rights, poverty, and race within Judaism. Sessions will be facilitated by Aniko Gomory, Ayala Wasser, Rabbi Felicia Sol, Moshe Samuels, and outside facilitators. Read more »
Introduction to Judaism
This course offers an overview of the core beliefs, practices, and history of Judaism and the Jewish people. We hope to deepen the understanding of those just beginning to explore Jewish life as well as of those who would like to participate more fully in the life of the Jewish community. No prior knowledge or experience necessary. Individuals: $435 (members)/$660 (non-members); Couples: $650 (members)$980 (non-members). Please contact Billie with questions.
BJ/SPSA Racial Justice Meeting
Wednesday, October 17 | 7:00PM | SPSA, 263 West 86th Street
This meeting is open to all who want to get involved with the program. Hear updates from subcommittees and help us determine priorities.
Everyday Ethics with Rabbi Adina Lewittes
Wednesdays starting October 17 | 7:00-8:30PM | Frankel Hall
Ethical questions of war and peace, global warming, immigration, and healthcare can be overwhelming. And yet, consciously or not, we answer critical ethical questions every day as we order our coffee, pay our workers, dine with our friends, and even shop online.
Read more »
"In the Mirror" Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Roly Matalon
Thursdays, October 18, 25; November 1, 29; December 6, 13, 20; January 10, 17, 24; March 7, 14, 28; April 4, 11 | 12:30-1:30PM | Location Provided Upon Registration
We will continue our close reading of short stories about the lives, struggles, and concerns of the Talmudic rabbis, in order to uncover deeper layers of our own selves and to become better equipped to wrestle with our human nature. No knowledge of Hebrew is required; you are welcome to bring your own lunch to class. This series is free of charge, but open to BJ members only.
Bim Bam in the Fall!
Fridays through December 14 | 10:15-11:00AM, 11:15AM-12:00PM | BJ Chapel
Bim Bam gives children under three a fun space to explore Shabbat through interactive songs and stories while learning traditions such as lighting candles, saying Kiddush, and giving tzedakah. The 10:15AM session features both English and Hebrew songs, while the 11:15AM session is full Hebrew immersion. The series (12 classes) is $240/members and $360/non-members. After the first registered child, each additional child receives 50% off. New BJ members may attend for free. The program is led by Shira Averbuch. Questions? Contact Danielle Freedman (x260). No class on November 23. Read more »
Bo-i Kallah
Friday, October 19 | 6:15PM | Reception Room
Join Rabbi Roly Matalon and BJ Music Director Dan Nadel for an alternative Kabbalat Shabbat service featuring melodies from the Sephardi and Mizrahi traditions, verses of Shir haShirim (Song of Songs), and beautiful piyutim (liturgical poems). Transitioning meaningfully into holy time by weaving together all of these elements, we invite you to bring a new dimension to your Kabbalat Shabbat. Read more about this service here.
Hakhanah laTefillah
Every Other Saturday Beginning October 6 | 8:45-9:25AM | BJ Chapel
Join Rabbi Roly Matalon to prepare the soul and open the heart for Shabbat morning prayers through the singing of piyutim and reflections on kavannah. This series is open to all, no registration necessary.
Notary Services for BJ Members
Business hours | BJ Community House
Our Human Resources and Administrative Associate, Shakeara Hatchett, is now authorized to provide notary services (for personal or business purposes) to all BJ members. Email Shakeara to set up a notary appointment.
Volunteers Needed for Hesed: Shabbat Connections
Our community is strongest when we care for each other in times of need. Do a deed of lovingkindness by connecting with members of the BJ community who are homebound, lonely, or in need of some extra care. With regular and consistent phone calls we can brighten the days and warm the hearts of those who need it most. Please contact Joni Brenner at ShabbatConnections@bj.org for more information on how you can help.
Meals for New Parents
Service and Hospitality: Volunteer with the Judith Bernstein Lunch Program
Thursdays | 11:30AM-1:00PM | Frankel Hall
Every Thursday at BJ we welcome guests into our synagogue for a delicious lunch, friendly companionship, and music performed by a BJ member every other week. Join our lunch program by volunteering and taking part in the warm and welcoming atmosphere we offer to our guests. To learn more about this opportunity or to volunteer contact Larissa Wohl or call x272.