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Temple Beth El of City Island
Your Shul By the Sea
480 City Island Avenue
Post Office Box 188
City Island, New York 10464
www.yourshulbythesea.org



















 

Temple Beth El of City Island
News by the Sea

July 2021
Tammuz-Av 5781

 

In this Month's Newsletter

   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 BerentShari 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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Spotlight on Stu Sorell
 

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)
 
Free to members.  Non-members are asked to contribute $54. No experience necessary. RSVP by email to yourshulbythesea@gmail.com.

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Ramp up into High Holidays: Lifting Higher 
Lifting Higher: Weekly Teshuvah Practice for the High Holy Days   July 18 – August 29images.jpg

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
 
Free to all. No experience necessary.  RSVP by email to yourshulbythesea@gmail.com.

 

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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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. 

 

CONNECT WITH US


CONTACT US


Street Address
480 City Island Avenue
City Island, New York 10464

Mailing Address
Post Office Box 188
City Island, New York 10464

General Email
yourshulbythesea@gmail.com

Synagogue Website
www.yourshulbythesea.org

Donations & Payments
https://tinyurl.com/tbe-donate
 


 

YOUR SHUL BY THE SEA


     

"Your Shul by the Sea" is a spiritually dynamic, loving and joyfully inclusive community dedicated to the heights and depths of Jewish tradition. We emphasize renewing the heart and soul of Jewish life.

Our members and friends hail from across New York's tri-state area. They describe us as truly warm and real, free of pretense. From the moment you enter whether live or digitally, you'll feel enfolded, welcome and embraced just as you are.

We proudly welcome diversity in all forms. Our leaders are women and men, LGBT and straight. We hail from across and beyond the breadth of Jewish denominations. We pray and play with our siblings in multiple faiths, sharing with us the human call to infuse all life with living spirit. 

We draw from all movements of the Jewish world. We reach beyond outdated labels. Our clergy are innovators in Jewish spirituality, and hail from the Academy for Jewish Religion and ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal.

Explore our website for more about our clergy, our uplifting Band and our education program. Welcome!

 

 

RABBINIC CONTACTS




R. David Markus

Rabbi & Spiritual Leader
Link for Email



R. Shohama Wiener

Rabbi Emerita
Link for Email

For pastoral emergencies, please also email the synagogue main office for prompt response: yourshulbythesea@gmail.com.


 

BOARD OF TRUSTEES &

COMMUNITY LEADERS



TBE's Board of Trustees are our Kohanim, community leaders in the spiritual flow of Judaism's ancient priesthood of service.

Executive Officers

   Jodie Sadovsky, President
   Rachel Stark, Vice President
   Stuart Sorell, Treasurer
   Elaine Belasco, Secretary

Trustees

   Shari Berkowitz
   Barbara Gold
   Bart Sobel
  
Advisory Council

   Bob Lerner
   Helen Lerner
   Arnold Wile
   David Stark
   R. Shohama Wiener
   Joel Meltzer
   Fern Hertzberg

Ritual Committee

   Bob Berent
   Shari Berkowitz
   Stu Goldstein
   Leslie Lichtman-Berland
   Monty Renov
   
 


MEMBERSHIP


Membership is open to all spiritual seekers who resonate with our joyful approach to renewing Judaism. We rely on membership and charitable support to keep our doors open to all regardless of means.

For membership information,
please contact:

Elaine Belasco
Membership Chair
718.885.2154
lainybel@aol.com


 


SUPPORT US


We depend on tzedakah (charitable support) to continue offering high-quality, low-cost spiritual community for all persons, regardless of means.

To make a 100% tax-deductible contribution, click here to give via PayPal:

   

On behalf of Your Shul by the Sea, thank you for your generous support of our vision for joyful spiritual Judaism in coastal New York and beyond.


 

BORDERLESS INCLUSION


Temple Beth El of City Island is proud to network with innovative communities across the spiritual spectrum that emphasize heartfelt inclusion and spiritual experience beyond labels and boundaries.

Rabbi David is a rabbinic fellow alumnus of

    

a former project of CLAL: Center for Jewish Life and Learning, whose participating clergy are helping lead the cutting edge of innovation in Jewish spiritual life.

 

 



RENEWAL IN ACTION


Temple Beth El of City Island inherits the spiritual tradition of innovation today re-inspiring Judaism and all spiritual life. 

We share the flow of spiritual innovation with cooperative spiritual allies here and around the world. Together we're building a living and breathing Jewish spirituality open to all.

In this spirit, TBE thanks proudly our spiritual partners at –
 

– which is helping pioneer the next phase of Jewish spiritual building for the 21st century. Learn more at Bayit: Building Jewish.
 
TBE draws from all streams and denominations of Jewish life, including the pluralist tradition of the New York Jewish seminary, Academy for Jewish Religion
and Jewish Renewal influences flowing in diverse ways, including the founders and alumni of 
 





PRIDE: LOVE WINS


    

Temple Beth El of City Island is a proud supporter of full LGBTQ equality and inclusion in Jewish life. We were among the first Jewish congregations in New York to legally solemnize same-sex marriages, and we have a long and proud history of LGBTQ leadership of our community.

For more information, please contact us or our friends at Keshet: For LGBTQ equality in Jewish Life.

    
 




DIVERSITY IN SPIRIT




Temple Beth El of City Island is rated as a top welcoming and inclusive synagogue for persons of all races, ethnicities and religions by the good people at Mocha Juden.

    

 



SHOP AMAZON FOR US


Please also support TBE with every Amazon purchase. Do your Amazon shopping from smile.amazon.com and designate Temple Beth El of City Island. Thank you!
 

 


 

COMMUNITY REQUEST:
MAKING SACRED SPACE @HOME


 

While we're all making our sacred spaces at home, we ask that all members and guests make a spiritual practice of being aware of the sounds in their surroundings.

Before services, please mute televisions, telephones and other electronic devices. If you have noisy pets, please place them in another room. If noise occurs, please make special effort to mute yourself.

Please consult our customs and policies for helpful guidance about ways to feel most comfortable in our community and make it your own. Thank you
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