This Week at Emanu-El
December 4 – December 10, 2023 | 20 – 27 Kislev 5784
Highlights
New Member Tour
We are excited to invite the congregation’s newest members to join us for an exclusive New Member Tour with Mark Heutlinger (Administrator Emeritus) and our Museum Curator Warren Klein on Tuesday, December 5th at 5 PM. Mark will share his insights on the extraordinary history of our Fifth Avenue Sanctuary. After the tour, Warren will show select items from our archival collection in our Library. Please join us for this much-anticipated pre-Chanukah event.
If you have any questions, please contact the Membership Office at or (212) 507-9514. We look forward to seeing you at the tour!
Tuesday, December 5 | 5:00 PM
Temple Emanu-El | One East 65th Street
Emanu-El Downtown Chanukah Makers Workshop
Tinker, create and play while learning all about Jewish holidays and culture. Create your own menorah to celebrate Chanukah! Emanu-El Makers is free of charge to all Religious School Lab learners. All others $25 per person.
Wednesday, December 6 | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Emanu-El Downtown | 429 West 20th Street
Special Multifaith Chanukah Candle Lighting at Temple Emanu-El, in partnership with the New York Board of Rabbis.
We are honored to welcome distinguished guests:
- Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York
- Reverend A.R. Bernard, Christian Cultural Center
- Sabeeha Rehman, Author of We Refuse to Be Enemies: How Muslims and Jews Can Make Peace, One Friendship at a Time
We encourage you to invite your friends and family of all faiths to join us in this celebration of interfaith fellowship and unity as we bring light into the world, one candle at a time.
Thursday, December 7 | 5:00 PM–5:30 PM
Fifth Avenue Sanctuary steps | Corner of 5th Avenue and 65th Street
Chanukah Shabbat Family Service and Celebration of Light Community Party
- 4:30 – 6:00 PM Party and dinner for young families and nursery school
- 6:00 – 7:00 PM Chanukah Shabbat service (note: young families and nursery school may leave at 6:20 PM)
- 7:00 – 9:00 PM Party and dinner for families in our religious school and those with children ages 5 and up
Friday, December 8 | $36 per family, includes dinner
Temple Emanu-El | One East 65th Street
Special Chanukah Oneg and Lecture with Dr. Alyssa Cady
After the Shabbat evening service, join us for a special Chanukah oneg followed by a lecture and Q&A with Director of the Temple Emanu-El Center for Interfaith Dialogue Dr. Alyssa Cady on the history, meaning and evolution of Chanukah.
Friday, December 8 | 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Temple Emanu-El | Leventritt 402
Tot Shabbat: Chanukah Edition
Families with pre-school and nursery school families are invited to join Rabbi Amy Ehrlich and Hadar Orshalimy to celebrate Chanukah with joyful music, delicious holiday food and menorah lighting Be sure to invite grandparents and other loved ones.
Saturday, December 9 | 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Temple Emanu-El | Leventritt 402
Emanu-El Downtown Chanukah Teddy Bear Rave
Get squishy. Get cuddly. Get ready to let loose. Join us for a Teddy Bear Rave to celebrate Chanukah. Spin like a dreidel on the dance floor and let all the energy out! We’ll have some awesome crafting for Chanukah, latkes, a donut robot, and so much more.
Saturday, December 9 | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Emanu-El Downtown | 429 W 20th Street
A Hub Chanukah Party (Ages 21-39)
Dreidels, gifts, sufganiyot…you’re never too old (or young) to celebrate Chanukah! This Chanukah, we will throw an epic celebration for Young Professionals in NYC. A night of surprises, music, fun and an oil-infused culinary extravaganza by star chefs Jake Cohen and Joan Nathan.
Saturday, December 9 | 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Temple Emanu-El | One East 65th Street
Young Members Circle Chanukah Party
Please join the Young Members Circle for candle lighting and some schmoozing. We are excited to partner with Eat, Drink & Be Merry Hospitality for a cocktail party with festive drinks and classic Chanukah bites like latkes and sufganiyot. Plus ones are welcome.
Monday, December 11 | 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
The Stumble Inn | 1454 Second Avenue
Downtown Emanu-El Dinner with Dana
Join our Let’s Play teacher, Dana Glat, for an intimate Chanukah pizza party. Visit our classroom, light the candles, and make friends, old and new. Suitable for children ages 0–4.
Tuesday, December 12 | 4:00 PM – 5:15 PM
Emanu-El Downtown | 429 W 20th Street
Baby Shabbat: Chanukah Edition
Join other families for a cozy celebration filled with dance, song and candlelighting. Led by Tkiya and Rabbi Amy Ehrlich, our Baby Shabbat is a special 30-minute adventure tailored for the tiniest members of our community — perfect for children 18 months and younger. Swing by for a morning where fond memories and new friendships are waiting to be made!
Friday, December 15 | 9:15 AM – 9:45 AM
Temple Emanu-El | Ivan M. Stettenheim Library
Teen Havdalah and Skyscape
7th–9th graders are invited to Havdalah at the Central Park Information Kiosk at Columbus Circle at 6:30 PM before walking over to Skyscape together. Our evening will end at 8:30 PM.
Saturday, December 16 | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Central Park Information Kiosk | West 59th Street
Teen Chanukah at The Edge
10th–12th graders are invited to The Edge at 4:00 PM. We will gather at the top for quick blessings as we watch the sunset together. Following our time at The Edge, we will be having dinner at the Skylight Diner. Our evening will end following dinner.
Sunday, December 17 | 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
The Edge | 30 Hudson Yards
Tweens & Teens Situational Awareness Training
Join Senior Director of Security and Logistics Mitchell Stein as he empowers tweens and teens with essential knowledge on situational awareness. To prioritize safety, we are offering an opportunity for 11-16-year-olds to learn best practices in this crucial area. Registration is required. Pizza dinner will be provided.
Monday, December 4 | 6:15 PM – 7:15 PM
Temple Emanu-El | One East 65th Street
Situational Awareness Training for Members
Join us for an in-person Security Training session with Mitchell Stein, director of security at Temple Emanu-El. He will train members on situational awareness and active threat safety applicable in all settings in your everyday or to talk about important news.
Wednesday, December 6 | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Temple Emanu-El | One East 65th Street
Being Jewish on Campus Today
Being a Jewish student on a college campus is perhaps harder today than ever before. Julia Jassey, CEO of Jewish on Campus, knows that better than most. A recent University of Chicago graduate, Julia didn’t set out to lead the charge against antisemitism on college campuses. But a brush with casual Jew-hatred her freshman year changed the course of her life. This event is for high school juniors, seniors and their families. Current college students and parents are welcome, too.
Wednesday, December 6 | 7:30 PM
Online Only
DOROT: New Zoom Programming for Children of Holocaust Survivors (2Gs)
Are you looking for a safe, welcoming forum to explore your experience as a child of Holocaust Survivors? These monthly, drop-in gatherings will be co-facilitated by Dr. Irit Felsen and Dr. Jenni Frumer. The structure of each gathering includes a brief overview of the purpose of engaging 2Gs in co-creating and participating in a safe virtual community to explore and share experiences. Breakout rooms are encouraged, initially to promote introductions and connections, after which specific themes for each breakout room may emerge. Join us for one or all.
First Wednesday of each month beginning December 6 | 7:00 PM – 8:15 PM
Online Only
Save the Date
At the Streicker Center
50 Years of Ms. with Jennifer Weiss-Wolf and Abigaile E. Disney
In December 1971, abortion was illegal in 30 states. Women had limited access to credit and educational institutions often rejected them as students. A group of prominent women writers and activists chose that moment to launch Ms. magazine, to explore and push forward a feminist agenda. When Ms. hit newsstands as a stand-alone publication with an open letter signed by 53 women acknowledging their abortions, its 300,000 copies sold out in eight days, generating 26,000 subscription orders. 50 Years of Ms. celebrates this act of independence, showcasing articles that reflect progress made in the past five decades and underscore the journey ahead. Join Jennifer Weiss-Wolf, executive director of partnerships and strategy at Ms., and Abigail E. Disney, philanthropist and activist, for a conversation.
Monday, December 4 | 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM
Temple Emanu-El | 10 East 66th StreetIn-Person & Virtual Event
Worship
Shabbat Services
Friday Evening Shabbat Service
6:00 PM
Fifth Avenue Sanctuary
Saturday Morning Torah Study**
9:15 AM
Saturday Morning Shabbat Service*
10:30 AM
Fifth Avenue Sanctuary
*Service will be livestreamed on Experience Emanuel, Facebook and YouTube.
**If you’re interested in participating in Torah Study, please contact Membership at by Friday at 3 PM.
Bimah flowers for this week’s Shabbat services are dedicated by the Azoulay Family, in loving memory of Lillian Azoulay; and by Jim, Susan and Hannah Baumann, in loving memory of Hannah Hirschhorn Baumann.
If you would like to sponsor flowers for the bimah in honor of a celebration or simcha, or in memory of a loved one, click here.
All Services are Livestreamed on Experience Emanu-El, Facebook and YouTube
Daily Sunset Service
Join us for our 30-minute Virtual Daily Sunset Service at 5:30 PM, Sunday to Thursday, online at Experience Emanu-El, Facebook or YouTube.
BECOME A READER IN OUR DAILY SUNSET SERVICE
Our time-honored Daily Sunset Service has offered weekday worship without interruption since 1945. This lay-led service functions under the auspices of the temple Men’s Club and is conducted by members of the congregation. Recently, it has attracted a sizable virtual viewership. Please note that Daily Sunset Services are online only and not in person.
We welcome temple members to become new readers for this service. To learn more, please contact Jonathan Slaff, chairman of the Readers Panel, at .
The Cemeteries of Congregation Emanu-El
SALEM FIELDS and BETH-EL
Individual and family plots are available, along with a limited number of above-ground crypts and niches in our community mausoleum. For more information, please call Mark Heutlinger at the Temple Office, 212-507-9511.
Charles S. Salomon
THE UNIVERSAL FUNERAL CHAPEL
1076 Madison Avenue | 212-753-5300
Our service is available in the temple, home or our chapel.
