Community News
July Snapshot and BIG NEWS
Hello, wonderful Shul by the Sea community! We hope this newsletter finds you well.
June brought two amazing Pride events. Thanks to Jodie and Phillis for having us in their yard, and thanks to the whole team for a wonderful morning of midrash, meditation and muffins. It was our first foray into combining face-to-face and zoom into one event. We are all learning!
For July 9, will will be having our first Kabbalat Shabbat back in our beloved sanctuary. Simultaneous zoom will be offered (best as we can.) Vaccinated people are welcome to attend face-to-face. Please see the details below.
For Shabbat by the Sea on July 23, we will be meeting at The Morris Yacht Club on City Island. Get ready for breathtaking views of the Sound and the Throgs Neck Bridge, and to feel the joy of being together. Simultaneous zoom will be offered (best as we can).
Aside from that, all TBE offerings continue online. The schedule on TBE's website is current for July: look under "Upcoming Events" on the right side, or "Calendar" on the top of the website.
The Zoom link and code for each event, class, program or service is listed on the website. Zoom links are listed here also. As before, each day's Zoom code is the same from month to month.
Please note these dates for July:
- Tisha B'Av on July 17 at 8:30 on zoom only. Join us as we descend into the difficult book of Lamentations (Eicha), only to begin our rise toward the Days of Awe
- Shabbat by the Sea on July 23 at Morris YC and zoom - more below
- Torah study continues: Please join Rabbi David and your fellow congregants for a lively Torah Soul Spa on Saturday mornings from 10:00-11:30am. No previous experience required. Zoom only.
- Lights and Flicks: Join our Saturday night movie series, curated by Barbara Gold. Movies are screen immediately after Havdalah, which begins at 7:30 pm. This month's offerings include David Attenborough's Year the Earth Changed on July 3 and the comedy Talking to God on July 31.
- Our embodied spirituality classes continue: Yoga with Daniella on Monday; Meditation with Tenzin on Tuesday; Feldenkrais with Rachel R. on Tuesday; Qi Gong/T'ai Chi with Avra on Wednesday; and Meditation with Barbara on some Fridays (July 2, 16 and 30): All are going full steam ahead for July. What a roster of talented spiritual mind-body practitioners we have!
- Two new course offerings for the ramp up to High Holidays: See details below and sign up! We started on June 30 (if you can believe it!).
Save the date for August
- Blessing of the Animals and Rosh Chodesh Elul kabbalat Shabbat, Aug 6 with R'David
From TBE's shared heart to your heart where you are, welcome to July – and thank you for loving Your Shul by the Sea.
Services begin in shul on July 9: A note from President Jodie Sadovsky
After much deliberation and review of the survey previously circulated, the Board has decided that only vaccinated people will be permitted in the building for live Friday night Shabbat services with masks being optional. This was not an easy decision; however, as Pikuach Nefesh (preserving life) takes precedence over all other commandments in Judaism, we feel this is the safest way to return to community and worship. The
Zoom option will still be available for those who cannot attend live services or do not live locally.
For your initial entrance into the Temple,
please enter masked. A greeter will ask you to
show your vaccination card or a photo of your card (or the NYS Excelsior Pass app) in order to give maximum assurance to all onsite participants. We will document receipt so that you will not need to present it again and you may enter with/without your mask based on your own comfortability.
If onsite participants additionally wish to wear masks, we invite that further precaution but won't require them because everyone will be fully vaccinated.
We are so excited to daven together in person!
As the High Holidays approach, we will adapt the policies as needed, based on best practices as outlined by the CDC and NYS.
Shabbat by the Sea - News!
We welcome you to Shabbat by the Sea, now at Morris Yacht Club (25 City Island Ave). We will be on the lawn/under a party tent, depending on the weather. Please consider making a donation to support these efforts. Bring your friends and loved ones. As of now, we do not anticipate checking vaccine status for Shabbat by the Sea, so you are attending at your own comfort level as far as masking and social distancing. Be ready to dance and sing with spectacular views. See you on July 23 at 7 PM (early start).
High Holidays - News!
We are so thrilled to tell you how our High Holidays planning is coming along. We have reserved the ballroom at
Morris Yacht Club, 25 City Island Ave, for
some of our High Holiday services (see details below). Morris YC is a beautiful space, with parking, and is fully handicap accessible. Details as far as masking, vaccines, and so on are too soon to tell...lots of things can change between now and Labor Day.
Please note: this is a huge amount of work for your Board, your rabbi and your band. It took a lot of time and effort to find an appropriate place, and it is a very big expense. But, this was what was required for us to welcome everyone with open arms (well, maybe with a wave from 6 feet away) as we always have. We welcome donations of time, schlepping and especially money to support these efforts.
Aug 28 - Selichot - stay tuned for details
Sept 6 - Erev Rosh Hashanah - zoom only
Sept 7 - Rosh Hashanah 1 and Tashlich - Morris YC and zoom
Sept 8 - Rosh Hashanah 2 - Morris YC and zoom
Sept 11 - Shabbat Shuvah - zoom only
Sept 15 - Kol Nidre - Morris YC and zoom
Sept 16 - Yom Kippur - Morris YC and zoom
More details as we approach Labor Day, but this is the plan for right now. Baruch HaShem!
Kabbalat Shabbat Schedule for July
Deep thanks to TBE's service leadership team – Bob Berent, Shari Berkowitz, Stu Goldstein, Leslie Lichtman-Berland and Monty Renov – for lifting us into Shabbat during their Friday night services.
Here's our Kabbalat Shabbat schedule (starting 7:30pm).
- July 2 – Shari & Monty - on zoom only
- July 9 - Rabbi David - in shul IF VACCINATED (bring proof) and on zoom
- July 16 - Leslie & Stu - on zoom only
- July 23 - Rabbi David - At Morris YC and on zoom - EARLY 7 PM start
- July 30 - Fifth Friday - on zoom only
Please join us for a wonderful start to Shabbat each week.
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From the Rabbi's Desk:
Our Power of “And”
By Rabbi David
One common theme I’m hearing from many of us is the “split screen” feel of this time. It’s great to be together physically together – “and,” there’s apprehension. Much has been messy in our world – “and,” it’s a relief to enjoy summer. Both impulses (“and” many others) are real.
This commingling of our seemingly inconsistent thoughts and feelings points to a core theme on our Jewish calendar as we move toward Tisha b’Av and the High Holy Days.
I’ll admit that I recoil at the mere mention of Tisha b’Av and the High Holy Days. I suspect you might, too. We’re already on the runway (Tisha b’Av starts July 17), “and” we’d rather enjoy the hazy lazy days of summer that just began. This year has been so turbulent that instinctively we crave ease. Who could blame us?
“And,” the High Holy Day journey of ancient tradition, which soon we will renew in our own ways and days, will offer us a banquet of beauty. Awaiting us are personal invitations to joy higher than high, dazzling insights about ourselves and our world, pathways of meaning that can heal hearts and transform lives.
“And,” while I know all that, I still resist writing these words. I don’t want to think of shorter days when the sun just reached its highest peak. After so many dark months – dark literally, and dark inwardly – can’t we enjoy some time on the proverbial sunny side of the street?
Both impulses are real – our call to greet the journey ahead with excited enthusiasm, “and” our understandable reticence to actually undertake that journey.
When we humans experience competing impulses, we tend to respond in one of three ways. We might try to emphasize one (yippee, it’s the High Holy Days!), or the other (boo, leave me alone!), or toggle between them in some middling compromise. You’re probably experiencing one (or more) of those responses right now.
But especially this year, as we emerge both physically and emotionally, I invite all of us to try a different approach – not one or the other, and not a compromise path. Rather, what if we let ourselves fully feel both sets of impulses? What if we can become fully excited about the High Holy Days ahead – our communal renewal as a people, the beauty of the season ahead, our great soul reboot – “and” also feel our resistance, laziness, self-protection or even rebellion?
What if we let ourselves feel it all? There’s a lot to feel – “and” especially so this year. There might be things we’d rather not feel, that we’re not yet ready to feel, that we’d rather forget. We might do all sorts of things to distract ourselves, to give ourselves a potent dose of amnesia.
Let’s enjoy the summer for all that this season offers – long days, open air, fresh fruits and safe onsite gatherings are gifts worth enjoying – but not to dull us. Let the joys of all we can enjoy this high-summer month also begin to rouse our awareness. As we limber up, we’ll naturally begin to notice anew what it is about ourselves that we’d rather not see or feel, including our reticence to take that journey. Naturally, the days ahead will begin to tug at us.
Soon the shofar will blast for the first time – sooner than we imagine, “and” right on time.
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Stu Sorell is our newest member of your Board by the Sea. Stu is a product of the NYC schools, starting at a PS in Throgs Neck and finishing with a Masters in Special Ed from Lehman College. Stu and his husband, Dennis, have been living on City Island since 2015, and have gotten involved in TBE and the City Island Civic Association. Stu is proud of his 35-year career as a teacher and assistant principal – and his son, Shane. Little known fact: Stu grew up with Yiddish as his first language!
We are so happy to welcome Stu to the team. TBE is always seeking talent and heart – and Stu brings both.
Summer Book Club with Rabbi David
This is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared
Join R. David for a summer journey into and through the High Holy Days using Alan Lew's bestselling masterpiece, This is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared (
available from Amazon).
We'll meet via zoom seven times between June 30 and September 12. IF YOU MISSED THE FIRST SESSION, IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO JUMP IN. Each session will cover one or two chapters keyed to the next step of the High Holy Day journey and its spiritual, liturgical and ritual themes.
Sessions will be 7:30pm on the following days:
• Wed. 7/14 (chapter 3, Tisha b'Av)
• Wed. 8/4 (chapter 4, Elul)
• Wed. 8/25 (chapter 5, Selichot)
• Wed. 9/1 (chapter 6, Rosh Hashanah)
• Wed. 9/8 (chapter 7, the Ten Days of Repentance)
• Sun. 9/12 (rest of book, Yom Kippur)
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Ramp up into High Holidays: Lifting Higher
Lifting Higher: Weekly Teshuvah Practice for the High Holy Days July 18 – August 29
Join R. David and Shari Berkowitz for a weekly kabbalistic journey up the Tree of Life for seven weeks leading to Rosh Hashanah. Each week will be themed to the sefirot (just like the seven weeks of counting Omer, except in reverse), with inner practices to support preparation for the High Holy Days.
Sundays 8:00-8:30 pm (with after-schmooze time)
July 18 – August 29
Zoom Links @TBE
click here for the July calendar in full
To access TBE's Zoom each day, click on that day's web link below. Or, you can go to Zoom enter the Meeting ID and Access Code manually.
To access by phone, dial Zoom's phone number (646.568.7788), then follow the prompts to enter the Meeting ID and Access Code.
SUNDAYS: CLICK HERE
Meeting ID: 317 145 140 • Code: 971260
MONDAYS: CLICK HERE
Meeting ID: 750 606 182 • Code: 855659
TUESDAYS: CLICK HERE
Meeting ID: 381 969 769 • Code: 097126
WEDNESDAYS: CLICK HERE
Meeting ID: 574 198 337 • Code: 753541
THURSDAYS: CLICK HERE
Meeting ID: 372 001 186 • Code: 132093
FRIDAYS: CLICK HERE
Meeting ID: 629 569 195 • Code: 175471
SATURDAYS: CLICK HERE
Meeting ID: 801 261 043 • Code: 374415
Healing List
TBE sends blessings of refuah shleimah (fullest healing possible) to these souls among and around us:
Anonymous (congregant)
Bob Berent (congregant)
Sue Camacho (friend of congregant)
Alana Fall (friend of congregant)
Audrey Giannakaris (sister of congregant)
Marla Lichtman (sister of congregant)
Tina Lichtman (sister of congregant)
Gary McGriff (friend of congregant)
Steve Roth (friend of congregants)
Ellen Ruth Topol (congregant)
Binyamina bat Zahava (child of congregant)
Lev Dovir miBeit Miriam (student of R. David)
Yonatan ben Hadas v’Aharon (friend of R. David)
R. Tovah bat Chanah (friend of R. David)
TBE keeps Healing List names for a month, subject to renewal. In case of a request for confidentiality, only clergy will know: names will be kept private.
To add/renew a name, or to seek Chesed Team support for personal needs arising from illness or other personal difficulty, email us (yourshulbythesea@gmail.com). For confidential requests, please contact R. David directly. Big thanks to Tenzin and Leslie for their work on this.
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Community News
Mazel tov! We wish a hearty Mazel Tov to Ellen Weinstein, who will become a Bat Mitzvah on July 25 in Manhattan. All the best on reaching this milestone!
CONFIDENTIAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. R. David wants to know if you are having a financial crisis, as he applies for more funding from UJA for emergencies such as these. Please contact him directly via email at davidevanmarkus@gmail.com. All information is strictly confidential.
Welcome new member, Lori Woliner! Lori has been a friend of the shul for a long time, via the Berents. She is a Bronx native, now bicostal, who learned her Yiddishkeit from her mom (doing well on Pelham Parkway) and her grandpa. Rabbi David recently performed a remote baby naming for her newest grandchild! Please welcome Lori.
WRITE FOR US! We invite you to make free announcements – joyous occasions, memorials, tributes and more. We also invite you to send us pictures, poems and essays. Submissions are due on the 20th day of the month by email to the newsletter editor, Shari Berkowitz, at shariellen@gmail.com.
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GIVE YOURSELF AND DEVICES A REST. Please silence all of your communication devices before services, especially for Barechu, Shema, Amidah and Kaddish. Thank you for uplifting the kedushah (holiness) of our sacred times.