WJOA June Updates!

Shabbat and Potluck
Our next Shabbat and Potluck will be Friday, June 20th at 7pm. Please RSVP and receive the link to sign up for your dish by emailing Tanya at tayzikovich@gmail.com.
Upcoming dates: July 11

Shavuot Outing
We would like to make a group outing to attend the 10th annual Tikkun Leil Shavuot at the JCC in Manhattan THIS Tues, Jun 3 from 10pm to 5am. We will meet at 8:30pm at the 30th ave stop. RSVP to Ally at travelin.ally@gmail.com or at the FB event: https://www.facebook.com/events/696372963753382. Additional details can be found here: http://www.jccmanhattan.org/tikkun

Community Meeting
Save the date for our next WJOA Community Meeting on Sunday, June 8 from 3-5pm at Milkflower, 34-12 31st Ave. All are welcome! RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/253048051550337

Israel Day Celebration
Join the New York Mets for Celebrate Israel Night at Citi Field! Cheer for the Mets on June 11 and enjoy pre-game musical entertainment on the Mets Plaza celebrating Israel and its diverse and unique culture. Tickets are $14. Contact Sam at samschac @gmail.com to purchase a ticket, and RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/451822168295868
All seats will be together. Deadline to request a ticket is June 5th.

Trivia Night
Our next trivia night will take place next Thursday, June 12th at Irish Rover, 3718 28th Ave, at 7:30pm. $10 (total from all of us) - we could win big, people! Please RSVP to Ally at travelin.ally@gmail.com to attend, and check out the FB event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/287561224755171

Book Club
At our next book club meeting, we'll be reading For the Relief of Unbearable Urges by Nathan Englander, and will meet on Sunday, July 13 at noon for brunch. The location will be decided soon. This is a short book with short stories! RSVP to Jonah at jonah.schrogin@gmail.com, and check out the FB event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/494770173986555

Happy Hour
Join us at our next happy hour! Thursday, June 26th at 7pm at Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden, 29-19 24th Ave. RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/477003229100145

Schmooze News
Events @ Astoria Center of Israel, 27-35 Crescent Street:
Shavu'ot Dine-'N-Drash Date: Tuesday, June 3 Time: 6:30 pm
Potluck dinner and Kabbalat Shabbat Date: Friday, June 6 Time: Dinner 6:15 pm, service 7:00 pm
Blood Drive Date: Sunday, June 22 Time: 10:30 am - 4:30 pm
Game Night Date: Tuesday, June 23 Time: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

The National Havurah Summer Institute is happening in NH, Aug. 4-10. For more info: http://havurah.org/institute/about/about-the-institute/ We'd love to get a group together. Please let Ally know at travelin.ally@gmail.com if you have any interest!

A message from Eli:

The Thought Makes a Difference

Last Shabbos, I had an interesting conversation after an interesting shir with a congregant who I'll call Rachel. Rachel was telling me about her experience living in an Orthodox community. She grew up without much religious observance, but with very spiritual parents: Parents who were kind, nurturing and giving. Her journey lead her to become more observant and she moved to Borough Park. She was a bit overwhelmed.

All the people around her dressed more modestly and she felt insecure about her upbringing. She tried very hard to adapt herself, and was worried about being judged for her level of knowledge and observance. It was a struggle, and she became more self-conscious and felt less connected. It then dawned on her that part of the problem was that she viewed herself as different, and viewed the people she was now living around as different. We are all unique, but none of us are different. That was the moment for her that changed things. It didn't change things overnight, but the ice began to thaw.

Thought of the week: In what social situations do I view myself as different than those I interact with? In what social situations do I view others as different? What purpose does it serve?

Anyone interested in hosting a future Shabbat should email Mor at mormez@gmail.com. You should be comfortable with having about 20-25 people in your home.
As always, don't hesitate to send any stories/updates my way!
Tanya