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March 14, 2008 - Prayer/Dinner event
Tikvat Yisrael moved to a new location at P.S. 9. Saul Kaiserman led a spirited service minyan featuring a guitar and lots of singing. Kehilat Hadar and the Orthodox minyan rounded out the prayer service options. After services 150 people joined us for a catered dinner, which was followed by a session led by Rabbi Leon Morris titled "Do Labels Even Matter? Is American Jewry Post-Denominational?"
December 7, 2007 - Prayer/Dinner event Chanukah style
Our final event at the Abraham Joshua Heschel Lower School. Kehilat Romemu, Kehilat Hadar, and and orthodox minyan provided the prayer options for this program. After services everyone moved upstairs to the gym for a Chanukah themed dinner. Then attendees chose between a Chanukah song session featuring Rabbi Julia Andelman and a discussion with Rabbi Dan Levy on "Chanukah history, tradition and observance."
October 26, 2007 - Prayer/Dinner event
Attendees at this event were given four exiting prayer options to kick off the night. Shira Kline, a founding member of Storahtelling and RituaLab, led a hands-free Kabbalat Shabbat featuring meditative singing, chanting, and reflections on the previous week. Rabbi Judith Hauptman led a traditional and explanatory service with a short study session between Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma'ariv. Kehilat Hadar and an orthodox minyan provided the remaining prayer service options. Following dinner, Rabbi Hauptman and Elana Stein Hain, Resident Scholar of the Jewish Center, discussed Women and Jewish learning.
June 22, 2007 - Prayer/Dinner event
Kehillat Romemu partnered with Tikvat Yisrael for the first time. In addition to Romemu, TY 7 featured an Alternative Shabbat Service, a joint Kehilat Hadar and Shaare Zedek egalitarian minyan, and an orthodox minyan. Following dinner catered by Eretz in the Heschel gym attendees chose between the New Shabbat Table program and a discussion with Rabbi Nati Helfgot on Yeshivat Chovevei Torah and Open Orthodoxy.
March 9, 2007 - Prayer/Dinner event
Tikvat Yisrael kicked off its 2007 programming with a bang. The orthodox and traditional egalitarian services were supplemented by a contemplative service run by Shalom Gorewitz. The communal shabbat dinner that followed was attended by more than 120 people, and was catered by Eretz. Following dinner and the Grace After Meals (led in Tikvat Yisrael fashion by both a man and a woman), the participants could choose from three options for dessert: Nancy Lipsey gave a wonderful session about the the Binding of Isaac, Steven Schwartzberg led a group singing Zemirot (shabbat songs), and others schmoozed around dessert platters. It was a wonderful evening, and we look forward to putting what we've learned into the mix for our next program on June 22.
December 1, 2006 - Prayer/Dinner event
In order to create a greater sense of Jewish community on the Upper West Side, Tikvat Yisrael hosted multiple local minyanim (prayer services) simultaneously under one roof, followed by a communal Shabbat dinner. Over 250 people joined us for services; the dinner sold out at over 210 attendees. The event was co-sponsored by Hadar, KOE (Kehilat Orach Eliezer) and Kol Zimrah.
October 27, 2006 - Friday night oneg
Our fourth community oneg was co-sponsored by the JCC and included games, meditation, and a special performance by comedian Rachel Feinstein. Rachel is a regular at Caroline's, Stand Up New York, and at nightclubs across the country.
January 20, 2006 - Friday night oneg
Our third community oneg had another phenomenal turnout. Over 250 people joined us on Friday night at the JCC of Manhattan for a program cosponsored by Tikvat Yisrael, Kehilat Hadar, and the JCC. Comedian Matt Goldich engaged the audience with 40 minutes of stand-up comedy, Kehilat Hadar's Noah Arnow led a discussion session entitled, "The Power of Prayer: Prayer in times of crisis," and Rabbi David Almog ran another wonderful meditation session. A very wide variety of members of the Jewish community were in attendence and enjoyed boardgames, refreshments, and opportunities to meet, talk, and learn about each other. Thanks to the JCC and Kehilat Hadar for working with us on another fantastic cross-community success!
December 13, 2005 - Power of Prayer II - The Communal Prayer Experience
Abi Dauber Sterne, Director of Limmud New York, led a text-based discussion on the power of communal prayer. The discussion focused on why communal prayer has been so prevalent in Jewish communities throughout the ages, and looked at the reasons for why this is so. Those in attendance discussed the texts (from I Kings and the Babylonian Talmud (Berakhot) which sparked a discussion of what characteristics of communal prayer make it effective and desirable - the gathering of worshippers or the song-filled environment that often ensues... the session gave some fascinating insight into communal prayer, and everyone came away with some provoking food for thought.
December 2, 2005 - Power of Prayer Kickoff
Tikvat Yisrael kicked off the "Power of Prayer" Speaker and Discussion Series with guest speaker Rabbi David Levin-Kruss, who led a session titled "Ma'ariv vs. Moonlight". Through havruta, lecture, and discussion, Rabbi Levin-Kruss explored how holiness and prayer can be meaningful concepts for us today. Special thanks to Congregation Rodeph Sholom for welcoming us into their space.
September 23, 2005 - Shabbat Oneg
Tikvat Yisrael held a Shabbat oneg at the JCC. The evening was a great success, bringing in over 250 attendees for snacks, games, and more. Highlights included a meditation session led by Rabbi David Almog, a discussion led by Steven Schwartzberg on "The Power of Prayer" and a special performance by a capella group Tizmoret. The event was co-sponsored by KOE, Darchei Noam, and the JCC in Manhattan.
April 8, 2005 - Prayer/Dinner Event
Tikvat Yisrael held our third Friday night prayer/dinner event on April 8, 2005. With two hundred attendees and multiple seating options available, the event was a resounding success.
March 20, 2005 - Community Day of Study
Tikvat Yisrael cosponsored a Community Day of Study for Tsunami Relief and Reconstruction, held at The Jewish Theological Seminary. It was a day of Learning dedicated to raising funds for Tsunami Relief and Reconstruction and reflecting on Jewish issues raised by the South Asian tsunami and its aftermath. Funds raised went to benefit the Tsunami Relief and Reconstruction Fund of the American Jewish World Service. Teachers of the 45-minute sessions included: Aaron Dorfman, Rabbi David Halivni, Rabbi David Ingber, Rabbi Jeremy Kalmanofsky, Elie Kaunfer, Marshall Lesack, Mark Popovsky, Rabbi Joanna Samuels, Bill Shackman, Brent Spodek, Sara Tillinger-Wolkenfeld, and others. Topics will include: the role of the individual in responding to suffering; Talmudic and kabbalistic sources relating to the power of water; textual perspectives on the community's role in addressing poverty; and challenging God in the face of tragedy. The event was co-sponsored by Congregation Ansche Chesed, Congregation Habonim, Darkhei Noam, Kehilat Hadar, the Kesher Minyan, KOE, Selah, Congregation Sha'are Zedek, and Tikvat Yisrael.
January 16, 2005 - Tsunami Disaster Relief Fundraiser
Tikvat Yisrael worked with the Jewish Center of Manhattan to garner community support for a Tsunami Disaster Relief fundraiser from 11:30-2PM. Atthapong Koedkietpong, Counsel of Thailand and Ambassador Bernard Goonetilleke of Sri Lanka spoke about the devastation that occurred in their countries from the December 26 Tsunami, and about the warm international response that they have received. They answered questions about their interactions with the Israeli government's offers of support, and they expressed their thanks to the Jewish community for their help. The event raised over $4,100. Tikvat Yisrael was instrumental in coordinating cosponsorship of this event to include Kehilat Orach Eliezer (KOE), Kehilat Hadar, Kol Zimrah, Congregation Ohab Zedek, and the Jewish Center.
October 22, 2004 - Prayer/Dinner Event
TOur third Friday night event was a wonderful success. We were pleased to host Kol Zimrah as a visiting minyan, bringing our total number of simlutaneous prayer services offered to four. There were approximately 315 people present for services, and we were able to accommodate a sellout crowd of 230 for dinner. Tzachi Shalev gave a devar torah over dinner, and the food was catered by "A Baguette Bar."This event took place at the Abraham Joshua Heschel Lower School.
September 19, 2004 - High Holiday Learning Program
Tikvat Yisrael offered it's first High Holiday learning program, entitled Practical Repentance: Translating the Conceptual into the Practical. Held at the JCC of Manhattan, this event featured the Honorable Joel Blumenfeld of the Queens County Supreme Court who spoke about repentance in the courtroom and his first-hand experiences hearing repentant criminals and the effectivenss of and motivation behind such statements. Following the Judge were four discussion groups that met for 45 minutes each and then rotated. The event was followed by a brief Ma'ariv service and then a light dinner. Over 40 people attended this terrific event (the day after Rosh Hashanah and a fast-day to boot!) We would like to thank Elie Kaunfer, Marisa Harford, Zachary Thatcher, Eliot Kaplowitz, and Judge Blumenfeld for speaking and leading discussions at this event.
June 26, 2004 - Prayer/Dinner Event
Our second Friday night event was a wonderful next-step. We offered three prayer service options, 200 people were present for services between the three. Dara Frimmer spoke during dinner which was attended by over 200 people. We worked through the feedback from the March 26 event to make sure that this event would run more smoothly, and we were quite pleased with the results. This event was also held at the Abraham Joshua Heschel Lower School, and was catered by "A Baguette Bar."
March 26, 2004 - Prayer/Dinner Event
Tikvat Yisrael held its kickoff event! In the planning stages we were hoping to have a total of 100 people present (30 per each of our three prayer services). We were absolutely blown away when the dinner sold out at 145 a week before! There were 250 people present for the prayer service part of our first event, and we tried to accomodate as many people as we could for dinner (without running too short on food!). Uri Cohen spoke at dinner, which was catered by "Ma'adan." The feedback was absolutely incredible. Our first media article also appeared on this date in the New York Jewish Week, and this article also was instrumental in Tikvat Yisrael receiving some initial funding. This was a terrific start, one on which we hoped to build!
