Announcements

5 consecutive Saturdays, 6:30 pm
Starting April 21, Rabbi Philip Lazowski will lead a weekly study session on Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers). A light meal will be served. Free & open to the public; Join us!

Prayer book Hebrew the Easy Way. Class will cover basic prayer book Hebrew vocabulary and grammar to help students decode the meaning of Shabbat morning service prayers.  Some knowledge of the alef-bet required, but beginners are welcome.

Mondays, *Sept. 11-Nov. 20 – 7:30-9:00 pm.
Instructor: Judith Fox
Class is FREE,w/$25 materials cost for textbook
Make check payable to The Emanuel Synagogue. Register for this course through the Emanuel office, (860) 236-1275
*late enrollment ok; contact Judith for details.

Come for a spirited Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat service on Friday, Aug. 4, at 6 p.m.
Services will include a Shabbat story, Hazzan Cohn on guitar and will be held outdoors in the Siegal Garden.
A festive Oneg sponsored by the Emanuel Brotherhood will follow the service.
All are welcome!

The Emanuel Synagogue invites the community to “Shabbat Under the Stars”
Friday, June 9, 2017
5:15 p.m.–Snacks & Schmooze; Kids’ activities
6-7 p.m.–Family-Friendly Outdoor Shabbat Service
7-8 p.m.–BBQ dinner
Reservations for dinner are now closed. Come for outdoor services!
Send checks payable to The Emanuel Synagogue, 160 Mohegan Drive, West Hartford, CT 06117
Adults (13 and older)–$14; children(7-12)–$7; children under 6 (no cost); family cap–$40.
Prospective members–No cost
To register, click here:

Sunday, June 25, 2017
8:00am – 1:00pm
If you have any household hazardous waste items, please bring them to the synagogue parking lot for safe disposal.
For more information, go to www.themdc.com

Come Join Emanuel Softball.
A great way to interact with Emanuel members while having fun!
Compete against other local synagogues such as Beth El & Chabad
We need players to represent Emanuel, even if you can’t make every game
Sundays from 9:30 – 11:30, beginning June 4 through the summer
Co-Ed Slo-Pitch Softball League
We Need MALE and FEMALE players
College and High School students welcome! (16 and up)
Games are played at Hall High School and King Philip Middle School
Please contact Lance Goldberg for more information 860-233-7729 lancegoldberg@hotmail.com
Sign up now & join the fun!

An interactive Shabbat program for kids of all ages!
Friday, May 19, 2017
Kid-Friendly Service at 5:30 p.m.
Dinner at 6:15 p.m.
Foosball, ping-pong and games to follow!!
$10 per adult
$5 per child
Under age 4—free
RSVP to school@emanuelsynagogue.org or 860.233.2774 no later than May 17, 2017
Click here to enter online:

The Emanuel Synagogue Green Team is launching new sustainability initiatives. In an overall effort to become more sustainable, the synagogue is partnering with Hazon to receive the Hazon Seal of Sustainability.
The Green Team members will audit The Emanuel’s sustainability practices and receive training to implement three projects by the end of the calendar year.
The projects will be determined in the near future. Hazon Seal of Sustainability certifies that a Jewish organization has committed to meet a set of criteria marking it as a good world citizen with regard to its environmental practices
and impact on climate change.
The Emanuel Synagogue Board of Trustees and clergy are proud of the commitment
to sustainability and its role as a national leader in the realm of Jewish sustainability.
If you have any questions or suggestions for the Green Team, please email greenteamemanuel@gmail.com. Learn more at www.hazon.org/seal

The Jewels in the Crown Award, given by Women’s League of Conservative Judaism, honors achievement in offering programs that nurture and sustain Jewish life and vitality in local communities. Sisterhoods must meet the criteria of a wide range of activities — those developed and sponsored by Women’s League as well as home-grown programs and initiatives.
Some of our Sisterhood’s noteworthy programs this year were an engaging speaker on holistic health; a talent show fundraiser; a kitchen shower to restock and revitalize the synagogue kitchen; joint programming with other Sisterhoods, such as Bunco Night and hosting a speaker from the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame; and our annual Women’s League events including Sisterhood Shabbat and Torah Fund dinners.
Emanuel Sisterhood is being recognized at a special program at summer convention in July in Virginia.

Due to the snowstorm, the Emanuel Synagogue will be closed on Tuesday, March 14, 2017. Due to the travel ban, there will be no morning or evening minyan. Stay safe!

Rabbi David J. Small, spiritual leader of The Emanuel Synagogue, is the recipient of a Doctor of Divinity degree, honoris causa, bestowed by the Jewish Theological Seminary.
He received the honorary degree in a March 2 convocation honoring members of the Rabbinical Assembly who have served as rabbis for 25-plus years. The ceremonies were held at Sutton Place Synagogue in New York.
Dr. Sheila Silverman, Emanuel Synagogue president, said, “While at the JTS Convocation honoring those rabbis serving their communities for 25 years or more, the emotional depth of a rabbi’s role spoke to me. As president, I am well aware of Rabbi Small’s duties, but performing a duty is not the same as being emotionally present in someone’s life when they need you most. That’s what our rabbi does. To do so whenever the need arises requires a lifelong, compassionate and skilled commitment to the job.”

Give us your old eye glasses and give the gift of sight!
During January and February, bring your old eye glasses to one of the boxes at each synagogue entrance. The Yadeynu Committee will send them to the Eyes of Hope program, which will refurbish and distribute them to people who cannot afford glasses or who have no access to glasses.
Eyes of Hope is a charitable program of VSP Global, a group of eye care companies that has provided free eye care and glasses to nearly a million people worldwide.
Please do not bring any cases for the glasses.

7th Grade Shabbat Experience, 9:15am library, led by Carolyn Topol,
REMEMBER!! 7th grade students do not have school on the Sundays after the Shabbat Experience, but younger siblings do have Religious School. This
counts toward service attendance and Frozen Yogurt Day.
Mini Minyan: K-2nd Family Service, 10:30am, Chapel led by Deborah Mehlman, For children in grades K-2nd and their parents, this service is packed full of wonderful activities for parents and students to do together. Please sit with your children during this service. This service counts towards service attendance & Frozen Yogurt Day!
Challahpalooza Preschool Service, 11:00am, Early Childhood, Center led by Barbara Fink
For children 5 and under and their families. Sing! Dance! Play! Pray! Learn about Shabbat in an interactive way followed by kiddush with the entire Emanuel community.
RSVPs are appreciated for each of our kids Shabbat programs. 860-233-2774    school@emanuelsynagogue.org

Sponsored by the Adult Education Committee and the Ritual Committee.
9:30am Saturday mornings
This is an opportunity to enrich our understanding of, and enhance our participation in, the Shabbat morning service. The structure of the service, an exploration of prayers– including their content and melodies– will all be touched upon.
A series of monthly Shabbat morning “services” will be offered, each approximately one hour in length; participants will then join the regular service in the Sanctuary. These special learner’s services will be led by our Rabbinic Intern, Leora Kling Perkins– a most inspiring and enthusiastic teacher – in collaboration with Rabbi David Small and Hazzan Sanford Cohn. Congregants are welcome to attend as many sessions as they wish.
Dates:  January 29, February 4, March 25, April 1, and May 20– these are subject to change.

Sisterhood’s Gift Shop is offering a 20% off sale on all Hanukah merchandise starting this Sunday December 18th running a full week.
Hours:

• 9:00am-12:15pm , Sundays,when religious school is in session.
• During the week when the synagogue office is open.

Contact: Lisa Tesser 860 232-1665 or Debbie Bettan 860 231 1861

The Emanuel Synagogue’s Early Childhood Center invites you to have a bagel and learn about Tu B’shvat the Jewish new year for the trees.through songs, stories,crafts and activities.
Sunday, January 24, 2016
10:30am – 12:00noon
RSVP appreciated for materials preparation. For more information and to RSVP contact the school office at 860-233-2774.
The program is free of charge and open to the community. For children 5 and under and their families.

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Join us on Friday, February 19, 2016
for Shabbat dinner at 6:15pm
Services begin at 5:15 pm
Sponsored by the Magalheas and Wu families
Please RSVP by February 12, 2016 so we know how much food to have!
barbarfink@gmail.com
If you are interested in sponsoring a Shabbat dinner contact the synagogue office!

The Emanuel Synagogue Sisterhood is sponsoring a mitzvah project collecting aluminum “Tabs for Tots” which will be used towards recycling. The proceeds will benefit Shriners Children’s Hospital in Springfield and Boston Burns Hospital in MA to purchase medical equipment, wheelchairs, orthotics, hospital beds, and other needs for a child’s medical care. The hospital in Springfield specializes in orthopedics, prosthetics, cleft lip and pallet care.
No child (under the age of 18) is ever refused regardless of ability to pay.
Please place your tabs in the respective containers in the Synagogue to help a child in need.
Please contact Audrey Yanofsky if you have any questions at 860-690-6139

Give the perfect gift. Give blood!
Sunday, December 11, 2016
9:00 am to 2:00pm
To make an appointment call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org. Enter sponsor code Emanuel. Save up to 15 minutes at your donation. Visit redcrossblood.org/rapidpass to get started
Download the Blood Donor App.

For children 5 and under and their families.
Saturday, December 17, 2016
11:00am – Noon in the Early Childhood Center
Sing! Dance! Play! Pray!
Learn about Shabbat in an interactive way followed by kiddush with the entire Emanuel community.
This program is free and open to all.
RSVPs are appreciated. 860-233-2774    school@emanuelsynagogue.org

Monday, November 21, 2016
7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Joyce Kessler’s home
11 Seminole Circle, West Hartford (food may be left near Joyce’s garage)
Please drop off frozen turkeys and nonperishable food items between 7:00 am and 6:00 pm at the above address.  Please include traditional Thanksgiving food (i.e., stuffing mix, cranberry sauce) as well as healthy food choices (i.e., tuna, peanut butter, cereals). The food will be donated to Foodshare
If you wish to make a monetary contribution please write a check to the Emanuel and write “turkey drive” in the memo line. The money collected will be donated to Foodshare and the Anja Rosenberg Kosher Food Pantry at Jewish Family Services.
Sponsored by B’Yadeynu of The Emanuel Synagogue, call Joyce Kessler 860-232-7449 with questions.

Sponsored by the B’Yadaynu (Social Justice) Committee
Tuesday, October 11, 2016 (Bring your food before sundown)
Bring non-perishable  food items to be distributed to the Anja Rosenberg Jewish Family Services Kosher Food Pantry and the West Hartford Food Bank.
As in the past, monetary donations are URGENTLY needed to help support a kosher meal program for the elderly. Last year we received wonderful congregational support for this effort. Please consider helping again. The program has provided kosher meals for elders for over 20 years at Federation Square in West Hartford and Federation Homes in Bloomfield.  The program also provides kosher meals for people from New Haven, New London, Waterbury, Bridgeport and Stamford.
Checks may be made out to The Emanuel Synagogue. Please write JFACT Fund in the memo line.
Most needed food items:  white tuna in water, peanut butter, canned fruit , cereal, mayonnaise, salad dressing, Near East rice and couscous mix. Please check all your donations and make sure food is not past expiration dates.

Questions? Contact: Risa Davidson, 860-236-8889, risagdavidson@gmail.com