Welcome to the Mishkan Ha'am Community    The Westchester-Riverdale Reconstructionist Group  


 

Mishkan Ha'am A Reconstructionist Community   

Our Rabbinic Leader David Basior is  currently featured on the cover of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College's annual report and on page 7:


Message from David:


Dear Community,

The Talmud tells us that Sinai, where we spiritually arrive on Shavuot, is where we all once stood - together. Commenting on the verse "Not with you alone do I seal this covenant, but with whoever is here, standing with us today before our God, and with whoever is not here with us today." (Deuteronomy 29:13), in Shavuot 39awe are told that all of us - Israelites now and the future, converts now and in the future - were all present.

Mishkan Ha'am is beautifully living this tradition as handed down. We strive to be a community that includes all Jews irregardless of our status, past, present or future. No matter how you found us, no matter where you stand now, let us remember that once, we all stood together. And let us remember that this tells us it is possible to do so again. May we stand together many times this May before our summer-slow down. May we come to events we do not normally come to. May we make the effort to invite someone new. May we stand together once again.

Blessings,
David

Link to last month's Rabbinical Message

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Upcoming Events


Friday, May 31st, Community Friday Night Pot Luck Dinner, 7pm-9pm. Welcome Shabbat with us, all together around the dinner table. Rabbi David will lead us as we say the blessings, share the weekly torah portion, and sing Shabbat table songs. All ages welcome. For more information, contact Susan at Suepa11@aol.com or Naomi at 

If you are interested in chatting with Rabbi David, he is keeping the following virtual office hours:  
Mondays 10:30-1:30pm, Wednesdays 1:30pm-3:30pm.
Looking Ahead:
Saturday, June 1st, She'arim Shabbat Closing Siyyum, 9:30-noon.

Sunday, June 2nd, Annual Meeting, 10 am-1:30 pm. Location: David and Phyllis Saphras' wonderful backyard in Irvington. (If it rains, please check your email for the location.) This is the most important meeting of the year for our members. We'll be setting next year's goals for programming, membership outreach, and other aspects of our operations. We'll also be selecting officers and committee chairs and members for the next year, and approving the upcoming budget. This is your chance to weigh in on what's important to you, to decide what has been working well, and to consider ways to improve. We urge everyone to join us, so that we can have your input. The Annual Retreat is a potluck brunch, so please e-mail Phyllis at psaphra@gmail.com to let her know what you're bringing, and to get directions if you need them. Bring a lawn chair.  Babysitting will be provided.  

Other Events of Jewish Interest:


Like to try to help restart dealing with "the situation," somehow, someway?
Israel Talks microgrants applications just went online recently: http://www.theisraeltalks.org/#!microgrant/c80s
Please contact Dave Saphra if you are interested: dsaphra @ gmail.com

She'arim is Recruiting! Know a family searching for the right Hebrew school experience for their young ones?! She'arim/Gateways is Mishkan Ha'am's approach to Hebrew school that acknowledges there are different entry ways for all of us. In mixed age classrooms, our young people experience Hebrew, community building and the Jewish calendar through interactive, hands-on ways. If you or someone you know might be interested, please be in touch with Amanda Ascher at amandafalick@hotmail.com. We meet Thursday afternoons in the First Reformed Church in Hastings-on-Hudson and we are currently looking to fill a class for young people in grades K-1. We also have limited openings in grades 2-6. Be in touch today!

We Need Your Help:
Looking for volunteers to host David Please check the sign-up sheet linked in our regular emailings to see which weekend you would be best for you to host.




Unless otherwise noted, all events take place at 
The First Reformed Church of Hastings:




GOT OLD CELLPHONES?  USED PRINTER CARTRIDGES?
Save your used cell phones and printer cartridges for the Mishkan recycling program that will give us a few extra dollars for programming!
 Collect from your friends and relatives too!  There is a box set up at the church, or you can contact Lois Heitner at loyoga49@gmail.com


HIWP Backdoor Thrift Shop

The Hebrew Institute of White Plains seeks donations of gently used clothing, bedding, coats, hats, shoes, handbags, housewares,

and costume jewelry for its thrift shop, which serves lower income patrons from White Plains and the surrounding areas.  

Donations, which are tax-deductible, may be dropped off during store hours, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesdays through Thursdays. 

Access to the shop is from the back parking lot at 20 Greenridge Avenue in White Plains.  The shop phone number is (914) 358-5575.

Do You Have a Laptop That is No Longer Used? Hebrew School Needs It!

Mishkan Ha'am's She'arim/Gateways Hebrew School is looking for donations of laptops with working wifi capabilities.  

Our classrooms now have wireless access and we would like to develop 21st century lessons and activities.  

Mishkan Ha'am will provide a thank-you letter for your donation for tax purposes.Please note the following requirements:
~ laptop (mac or pc)
~ wirelesscapability
~ power cord
~ all documents removed/erased from hard-drive
Please email mishkanhaam.shearim@gmail.com if you think you have a potential laptop to donate.

Leslie Lieman or Rabbi David Basior will contact you about the specifications and when/where to drop-off.
Thanks in advance for your generous contribution to Hebrew School.

Check out the following inspiring website:
http://www.kippotforhope.org