Summer Shul Continues!

Friday, July 16, 7pm- Kabbalat Shabbat Up On the Roof

Join us for Kabbalat Shabbat at 7pm on Amie Gross' rooftop terrace in Battery Park for an amazing view and even better company. We will move inside if it rains. RSVP required - please email the office and let us know how many are coming and what you will be bringing.

Friday, July 23, 7pm- Zimmun at Romemu
The New Shul is heading uptown to celebrate Shabbat with Romemu. Join us after services for a special potluck dinner with Z-moom (zimmun)- an open mic performance where you can bring your singing, music and other talents to enrich our Shabbat experience. Offerings can be in any form- poetry, music, dance, or simple prose.

Please bring a dish to serve 4-6 hearty portions. Couscous, salads, and pastas are all great examples.

Shabbat will begin at 7pm, with the potluck following at 8:30pm

at West End Presbyterian Church-165 West 105th St. Entrance on Amseterdam Avenue.

Thursday, August 5- Raytones
Come and hear some blues, jazz and rock played by New Shul members Rob McDougle, Daniel Ray and Barry Tempkin with the Raytones.

The show starts at 8:30pm at Bar 169, 169 East Broadway at (Rutgers Street). The nearest subway is the F train to East Broadway.

And don't forget to join us every Thursday for Torah Schmooze at the communal Table at Le Pain Quotidien (550 Hudson St at Perry Street), from 6-7pm. Any and all comers are invited to talk about the weekly Torah portion.

Summer Shul: Torah Schmooze - Parshat Pinchas, for discussion on July 1

Our first Torah Schmooze was a huge success, with twelve of us pondering and puzzling over the meaning of Bilam and his talking she-donkey. Who knows what next week will bring?

Join us on Thursday, July 1st at the communal table at Le Pain Quotidien (550 Hudson Street at Perry Street), from 6:00-7:00 pm. Any and all comers are invited to talk about next week's Torah portion, Pinchas.

You'll find below two sets of links. The first set is to various translations of the portion itself, in case you don't already own a chumash. The second set points to various sources of commentaries, thoughts and articles about the portion.

B'Shalom, Aaron

**********************************************************

Parshat Pinchas: Numbers (Bamidbar) Chapters 25:10 – 30:1

The text itself:

· English translation #1 (with Hebrew) from Chabad is here (entire portion on one page)

· English translation #2 (with Hebrew) from Mechon Mamre starts here (each chapter is on one page)

· English translation #3 (without Hebrew) from Aish is here (entire portion on one page)

Commentaries:

· some views from the Reform movement can found here and here

· for some Reconstructionist views, look here

· thoughts/readings/interpretations from the Conservative movement (USCJ) can found here

· for some Orthodox/Chabad perspectives, see here

· a collection of articles from across the ideological spectrum can be found at MyJewishLearning.com here

Summer Shul: Torah Schmooze - Parshat Balak, for discussion on June 24

From Aaron Seeskin:

Please join us for our first Torah Schmooze.

The Details: I will be sitting at the communal table at Le Pain Quotidien (550 Hudson Street at Perry Street), this Thursday, June 24, from 6:00-7:00 pm. Any and all comers are invited to talk about next week's Torah portion, Balak. No special knowledge or expertise is assumed or needed, only a willingness to read the portion in advance (as much of it as possible) and an interest in talking about it, wherever that conversation might go.

You'll find below two sets of links. The first set is to various translations of the portion itself, in case you don't already own a chumash. The second set points to various sources of commentaries, thoughts and articles about the portion.

NOTE: It's not expected that participants will have read more than one translation or will have looked at any of the commentaries. I've simply included them for those who might be interested. Also, these lists are not meant to be authoritative or exhaustive. If anyone comes across or knows of other sites, whether for translations of the portion or for commentaries, please let me know and I'll be happy to include them.

I'm really looking forward to this Thursday and hope to see you there!

B'Shalom, Aaron

**********************************************************

Parshat Balak: Numbers (Bamidbar) Chapters 22:2 - 25:9

The text itself:
English translation #1 (with Hebrew) from Chabad is here (entire portion on one page)
English translation #2 (with Hebrew) from Mechon Mamre starts here (each chapter is on one page)
English translation #3 (without Hebrew) from Aish is here (entire portion on one page)
Commentaries:
some views from the Reform movement can found here, here and here
for some Reconstructionist views, look here
thoughts/readings/interpretations from the Conservative movement (USCJ) can found here
for some Orthodox/Chabad perspectives, see here
a collection of articles from across the ideological spectrum can be found at MyJewishLearning.com here

This Past Shabbos Service

By Moshe Rothenberg

As a member of The New Shul for the past two and a half years, it has been a transformative experience each and every time I have participated in a New Shul event, and last Shabbos morning service was no exception. I had gone with the sole expectation of being an usher, having asked Amy, who gives so generously of her time and with all of her soul, how I could give back to the community.

As it turned out, the only people I knew there were her, Rabbi Dan, and Melanie, three people who create an enormous amount of safety for me, and which I was able to utilize as the service unfolded.

I had never met the Bar Mitzvah young man, Miles Golzer, or his family before, and there were no other New Shulers in the congregation that I knew. Nevertheless, the service was extraordinary.

The Torah reading was about the rebellion that Korach led against the leadership of Moses in the desert (doomed to failure). Miles gave another extraordinary d'var; I say 'another' because I have yet to go to a Shabbos morning service with a Bar/Bat Mitzah young person giving a d'var where I was not duly impressed by what was said regardless of age.

So here was Miles talking about Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mao Tse-Tung and Jewish partisans during World War II. He stated, "A rebel is considered someone who questions or goes against the majority, and ironically, that is how I live. I will stand up for what I believe in no matter what the majority say... I will not give into peer pressure. I will stand by my word. I will keep my faith."

Are these not extraordinary words and ideas? If my rabbi were to say them, I would respond with a big appreciation. When Miles stated my own belief system, namely the hope that rebellion does not lead to violence, but that there are situations when violence for the sake of self-defense becomes necessary to support the cause, I responded by saying out loud, "Amen."

It is my fervent hope that many of us in The New Shul will come to Shabbos morning services and hear the words of these young prophets, our B'nai Mitzvah, our future. If and when you come, I have little doubt you will share my conviction that the parents, rabbis, teachers and others have done an extraordinary job in raising the next generation.

More Change, More Change

Calling all Tzedakah Bottles!

(the ones you decorated to collect funds for the Water Filtration System in Peru)

Please bring your bottles to Kabbalat Shabbat tomorrow night, Friday, June 18 at 6:30pm.

If you do not have a bottle – toss a donation into our communal jug

Our goal: $4,000

THE MORE CHANGE, THE MORE CHANGE

Thank you!

To read more about The Mayim project, click here.

Summer Shul is Here!

Join us for one or both of our first two Summer Shul events!

Torah Schmooze, Thursday, June 24

Would you like to keep your toes dipped in Jewish waters this summer while everyone else flees to the beach? Join New Shul member Aaron Seeskin for an informal weekly Torah schmooze at Le Pain Quotidien's communal table, 550 Hudson Street (at Perry Street), on Thursdays from 6:00-7:00 pm starting June 24.

No special knowledge or expertise is needed, nor is there any specific agenda: anyone with a willingness to read the week's Torah portion (as much as possible) ahead of time and an interest in discussing it with fellow New Shulers is cordially invited to attend. Each Friday, an email will be circulated for the following Thursday's meeting that includes links to the portion (in Hebrew and English) as well as to other relevant or interesting websites.

If you are interested in participating, please email Aaron at: rogueregime at gmail dot com.

Bang on A Can Marathon, Sunday, June 27

David Lang, center of photo

New Shul member David Lang is the Pulitzer Prize and Grammy Award winning composer and founder of the incredible Bang on a Can Festival, now in its 23rd year. David has offered to spend some pre-concert time with us talking about the history of Bang on a Can, and preparing us for what to expect from this 12-hour marathon of strange music from around the world. David will meet us at the marble staircase in the Wintergarden at the World Financial Center at 11am--the concert starts at noon.

Check back for more Summer Shul events which will be posted soon.

Kabbalat Shabbat, June 18

Join us this Friday, June 18 at 6:30pm for a Kabbalat Shabbat service where we will discuss this week's Torah portion, Chukat. In it, Moses famously strikes the rock in order to have it yield water (instead of talking to it). Check out this video to learn more:






See you Friday!

Trash Trophies At Sustainable NYC

From member: Cindy Ruskin

On Wednesday, June 16^th, 5:30-7:30

At Sustainable NYC

139 Avenue A, At 9^th Street

The Andrew Glover Youth Program is a community-based non-profit organization that provides crime prevention programs for young offenders and at-risk teens from the Lower East Side and East Harlem.

The art program motivates troubled teens to have positive attitudes and goals providing them with opportunities for self-expression, experimentation, discovery and creativity. Trash Trophies are an eco-friendly spin on hunting trophy heads. They are made of recycled laundry and detergent bottles, plastic containers and bottle caps. By creating Trash Trophies, kids are challenged to have a vision, solve problems, and pay attention to detail. The success of this project has helped kids gain a greater sense of pride in their work, in their abilities, and in themselves.

For information about the Andrew Glover Youth Program please visit: www. Agyp.org

For information about the AGYP art class, please contact: cindy@cindyruskin.com

Get Your Dance On!

Oh, how we wish we were invited to this wedding!

Let's Take a Walk

From member/artist Marie Christine Katz:


The performance Let's Take a Walk #8 will take place as part of Figment Art Event on Governors Island.

Sunday June 13th at 1pm by the ferry terminal.

(Performance time 50 min)

Please join us, participate and if on Twitter you can invite your Twitter friends to join the walk from anywhere in the world.

For more information go to
http://letstakeawalkmc.blogspot.com/
http://figmentproject.org/2010/events/figment-nyc-2010/

Performed by
Justin Ahiyon, Lindsay Davis & Marie Christine Katz

Once a month I go for a walk,
People all over the world
Join me in real time using directions
I send via Twitter.
We walk together, apart.

Hotel Modern's Kamp at St. Ann's Warehouse

From May 30 - June 13, dozens of toy theater artists from around the world are joining forces to create Great Small Works' 9th International Toy Theater Festival. This "colossal event of miniature proportions" features the American Premiere of Hotel Modern's extraordinary Kamp from June 2 - 6.

Holland’s Hotel Modern is known for blending music, film and performance in evocative miniature performances that treat historic subject matter subtly and sensitively. In Kamp, they dare to imagine the unimaginable, recreating life in Auschwitz on an epic scale in miniature on St. Ann's stage. Seen throughout Europe, this marks Kamp’s first and only American engagement. It is a performance for those who love theater, puppetry, and history; as well as families, who want an entryway for their children to one of the twentieth century’s defining human events.

“The performance is so gripping that when it ends the audience is unsure whether to clap or leave the theatre silently.” - Holland’s major daily, Noordhollands Dagblad

The company of three stays after every performance to talk with audiences and show them around the installation. We at St. Ann’s are passionate about this work and proud to be able to bring it to New York, if only for 6 performances from June 2 -6.

Because Kamp is so extraordinary, and here for such a short time, we’d like to make a special offer for you to share with your members, friends, families, and followers.

The Sixth Borough

From member: Asher Remy-Toledo, founder of No Longer Empty

The Sixth Borough on Governors Island An art exhibition exploring notions of memory of the past. Opens Saturday, June 5 from 11:00am - 4:30pm Curators Manon Slome and Julian Navarro Featured Artists Amelia Biewald | Mary Walling Blackburn | Daniel Bohzkov | Adam Cvijanovic | Teresa Diehl | Pablo Helguera | Natasha Johns-Messenger | Kaarina Kaikkonen | Andrea Mastrovito | Alan Michelson | Clive Murphy | Trong Gia Nguyen | Luis Gonzales Palma | Marina Rosenfeld | Ted Riederer | Raimundo Rubio | Vadis Turner | Monika Weiss | Wendy Wischer Featured Program Not a Place, An Outlook Curated by Regine Basha, a film series featuring Julieta Aranda, Luke Fowler, Peter Hutton, Jenny Perlin, Steve Roden, Erin Shirref, and Javier Tellez Showtimes: 12-5pm, running every 30 minutes // June 19-20-21 | July 2-3-4 | September 3-4-5 | September 17-18-19 Location: Fort Jay Theater For more information about The Sixth Borough exhibition, upcoming performances and events, visit www.nolongerempty.org. Please check our website for updates on performances, childrens worshops and special events. Directions Free ferries run to Governors Island from the Battery Maritime Building (10 South Street, Manhattan), on Fridays from 10am-3pm hourly, and Saturday and Sunday, at 10am, 11am, and every half hour until 5:30pm. For more transportation directions, visit: www.govisland.com. For press inquiries, email press@nolongerempty.org.

The Fix-Up Show

From: Laura van Straaten, friend of The New Shul

Celebrities join singles in THE FIX-UP SHOW
Hosted by J. Keith van Straaten
Real celebrities. Real singles. Real fun.

Dating shouldn’t be a solo effort. THE FIX-UP SHOW brings together a panel of three people—two who know the singleton well, and one celebrity who has never met the person—and has them question potential suitors in an effort to make a match. The matched pair wins a meal at a local restaurant and goes on a real date! How did our panel do? Find out the following week!

It’s “I’ve Got A Secret” meets “Love Connection” –live on the New York stage.

Unlike other dating shows over the past 30 years, THE FIX-UP SHOW promises civility, with no humiliation, objectifying, drunken seduction or having to eat bugs to prove one's affection. It's a dating show where the participants have an actual chance of finding a good date. It’s real, spontaneous and fun, the kind of show you could bring your mom to…or fix her up on. Old or young, gay or straight, all are given a chance to find love on THE FIX-UP SHOW.

WHEN:

• SNEAK PREVIEW: Tuesday, June 1 - 8pm
• Tuesdays June 8, 15, 22 - 9pm
• Thursdays July 8, 15, 22 - 9pm

WHERE: The Triad - 158 West 72nd Street - 2nd Floor

TICKETS: $15 cash at the door. $10 advance via SmartTix – www.smarttix.com or (212) 868-4444.
The Triad has a two-drink minimum and is a cash-only venue.

INFO: (646) 450-4FIX [4349] or www.thefixupshow.com