Community Events and Activities Calendar

The following events have been created to enhance the reader’s participation and engagement with The Sunflower and the topic of “FORGIVENESS”. Check this calendar often since new events will be added periodically.

In order to plan appropriately, we ask that you RSVP to scalderone@sajes.org at one week prior to each scheduled event.

SAJES ANNUAL KICKOFF EVENT
Sunday, October 21 / 4:00-6:00 pm
Planting Fields Arboretum
1395 Planting Fields Rd., Oyster Bay, NY 11771, (516) 922-9200
An “Inside the Actor’s Studio” type interview with author Jonathan Rosen. Rosen will share his character inspirations and his perceptions of today’s post-modern word a world where individuals have more freedom and choices than every before. How do we compare the spiritual quests and lives of those raised today to those raised in a post Holocaust era. Does the search for meaning change the traditional definitions of what Judaism is to today’s Jew? And if so how? Held in the Burns Horticultural Center, Planting Fields Arboretum. This event is free. Dessert refreshments follow. Attendees are encouraged to register as an OTSP community-read participant prior to the event. Discounted books available. RSVP scalderone@sajes.org.

Special OTSP Sponsorship Opportunity…an informal 'Walk and Talk' with Author Jonathan Rosen prior to the above event with a sponsorship of $250 or more.

2:00-4:00 pm
Nature Walk with author and avid bird watcher, Jonathan Rosen. Rosen will lead an informal talk and discussion with OTSP Friend Supporters on the grounds of the Planting Fields Arboretum. Held outdoors weather permitting. Bring comfortable shoes and clothes. Light supper included. Limited space. Reserve early.

Bio Info: Jonathan Rosen is the author of two previous books, Eve's Apple and The Talmud and the Internet: A Journey Between Worlds, as well as numerous essays published in The New York Times, The American Scholar, and The New Yorker. He is currently general editor of the Jewish Encounters Series from Nextbook a project that matches great contemporary writers to subjects in Jewish life, history, and culture. He has a B.A. in English literature from Yale University, and was a graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley. Rosen created and oversaw the Arts & Letters section of The Forward from 1990-2000.

Saturday, September 8 / 6:00 pm
Selichot Pot-luck Dinner & Discussion
Temple Beth Emeth
Rabbi Alan Kay will lead a discussion on the themes in Joy Comes In The Morning.
RSVP Jay Zuckerman 331-2447 or joanjayz@netscape.net

Sunday, October 7 / 2:00-3:30
Performance Reading for JOY COMES IN THE MORNING
West Hampton Library, 7 Library Ave., Westhampton Beach 631-288-5715
A performance reading in the style of Radio Drama, with music and effects, of Jonathan Rosen's beautifully crafted mesmerizing novel of tragedy, frailty, love and hope seen through the eyes of Deborah, a reform rabbi wrestling with her own desires, and Lev, the science writer she loves. Underscoring from the music of Erich Wolfgang Korngold. Read by Gail Merzer Behrens and David Houston.
RSVP: scalderone@sajes.org. On-site contact. Nola Thacker, nthacker@suffolk.lib.ny.us

Sunday, October 21 / 6:30-8:30 pm
Lecture: Rejoice and Rejuvenate Jewishly: A Kabbalistic Interpretation of Jonathan Rosen’s, JOY COMES IN THE MORNING.
South Huntington Jewish Center, 2600 New York Avenue, Melville, NY 11747, 631-421-3224.
Please join us for a lecture and discussion with special guest, Mark Elber, author of “The Everything Kabbalah Book,” who will interpret Rosen’s novel from a Kabbalistic perspective and explain how a practice once the province of rabbinical scholars now attracts spiritually-minded people from all traditions and backgrounds. No fee for synagogue members / $10 non-members. Held in the Simcha Room.
RSVP: Gail Glickman at alfam@optonline.net

Bio info: Mark Elber was a graduate student in Kabbalah at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and the University of Pennsylvania, and also studied privately with various chassidic teachers. He teaches classes and lectures on Kabbalah, Jewish meditation, Hebrew, and other Hebrew topics. Elber teaches primarily in the Long Island and Manhattan areas in numerous synagogues including: Oceanside Jewish Center, Huntington Jewish Center, North Shore Synagogue, Woodbury Jewish Center, and Merrick Jewish Center. He is in the process of instituting a Jewish Meditation Center on Long Island.

Wednesday, October 24 / 7:15 pm
Performance Reading for JOY COMES IN THE MORNING
Sid Jacobson JCC, 300 Forest Drive, East Hills, NY 11548, 516-484-1545
A performance reading in the style of Radio Drama, with music and effects, of Jonathan Rosen's beautifully crafted mesmerizing novel of tragedy, frailty, love and hope seen through the eyes of Deborah, a reform rabbi wrestling with her own desires, and Lev, the science writer she loves. Underscoring from the music of Erich Wolfgang Korngold. Read by Gail Merzer Behrens and David Houston.
RSVP: Rich Zemser at RZemser@sjjcc.org

Fridays, October 26; November 2; and Nov. 9 / 9:15-10:00 am
On One Foot Ideas Café
Mid Island Y JCC, 45 Manetto Hill Rd., Plainview, NY 11803, 516-822-3535
Join us for a series of 45 minute discussions inspired by the themes from Jonathan Rosen’s, JOY COMES IN THE MORNING. Each week will feature a different guest facilitator who will offer a brief contemporary commentary and then open the floor for open and honest dialog. Topics and resources posted here one week prior and available at the Y. Don’t miss out! Perfect for those on the go! If successful, On One Foot will continue each week with new and exciting dialogs. Held in the main lobby. Attendees are encouraged to register themselves as an OTSP community-read participant which helps promote creative and engaging adult learning opportunities for the Jewish community. See registration page at www.otsp.org.
RSVP: No RSVP necessary. See above for registration details.

Sunday, October 28 / 10:00 am
Lecturer: Religious Formation through The Lens of Health and Healing
Huntington Jewish Center, 510 Park Avenue, Huntington, NY 11743-3797, 631-427-1089
Please join us for a lecture and discussion with special guest, Rabbi Mychal B. Springer, about how one’s medical experiences often causes a reexamination of one’s religious beliefs and practices. Rabbi Springer is the wife of author Jonathan Rosen. Event held in the Kiddush Lounge. Advance RSVP appreciated. No Fee.
RSVP mpash@verizon.net

Bio Info: Rabbi Mychal B. Springer is Associate Dean and Director of Field Education of the Rabbinical School at the Jewish Theological Seminary, where she holds the Helen Fried Kirshblum Goldstein Chair in Professional and Pastoral Skills. Mychal is a certified supervisor in the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education and a certified Jewish chaplain. Mychal has served as the Scholar-in-Residence at Camp Ramah in Palmer, MA. Before coming to JTS she was the Associate Director of the Jewish Institute for Pastoral Care at the HealthCare Chaplaincy in Manhattan. She lives in Manhattan with her husband, Jonathan Rosen, and their daughters, Ariella and Avital.

Sunday, October 28 / 9:15 am-11:30 am
Lecturer: Modern Metaphors of Faith in a World Defined by Science
Commack Jewish Center, 83 Shirley Court, Commack, NY 11725, 631-543-3311
Join us for a lecture and discussion with special guest, Rabbi David Nelson who believes that “ancient traditions, whose only claim to authenticity is that they are old, run the risk of becoming old-fashioned. But if an ancient tradition can claim to be not only ancient but also timeless and contemporary, it has a far greater chance of convincing each new, young generation of its value.” Rabbi David Nelson is the Associate Director of ARZA, The Association of Reform Zionists of America and author of Judaism, Physics, and God: Searching for Sacred Metaphors in a Post-Einstein World. “Nelson offers a provocative fusion of religion and science.”
RSVP: probertm@ujafedny.org.

This event is offered with support by J Learn. J Learn is funded by UJA-Federation of New York and is in partnership with the Jewish Education Service of North America. For more information please call 516-677-1833 or for a complete schedule of classes and events, click here.

Bio Info: Rabbi David W. Nelson, PhD, a popular lecturer and former senior teaching fellow at CLAL—The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, is director of the Jewish Life Connection at Bergen County YJCC in New Jersey, and president of Chavruta: A Community of Jewish Learning. He can be contacted at judaismphysicsgod@yahoo.com.

Sunday, November 4 / 12:00-4:00 pm
When Art, Text, and Contemporary Thought Collide: A fascinating look at the Judaic artwork of Debra Band
Art League of Long Island, 107 East Deer Park Rd., Dix Hills, NY 11746, 631-462-5400
Celebrated artist Debra Band will share her exceptional talent for creating illuminations and personalized designs inspired by Jewish tradition and culture. Working off of her newest book, I Will Wake The Dawn: Illuminated Psalms, Band will describe her approach for using text as the basis for creating a visual interpretations and midrash. Her technique includes command of many styles of illuminations from mid-Eastern periods, medieval and renaissance manuscripts, calligraphy, micrography, paper cut, and gold applications. She artwork employs parchment, fine calligraphy, color and precious metal leaf. Participants are encouraged to bring materials for working in their own media and will have the opportunity to select a piece of text and create their own visual interpretation. Join us for this very special lecture, discussion, demo and creative workshop. $45 Art League members and J Learn students; $55 for non-members.
RSVP scalderone@sajes.org / On-Site Contact Leigh Macario, Events Coordinator, lmacario@artleagueli.org.

This event is offered with support by the Art League of Long Island, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to broad-based visual arts education. For more information please call 631-462-5400.

Bio Info: Debra Band’s work in Hebrew illuminated manuscripts draws upon her love of both the manuscript arts and of Jewish tradition and learning. She holds a BA Honors in History from Concordia University in Montreal and an MS in Political Science from MIT, and turned full attention to Hebrew manuscript arts in 1987. Descended from an eminent rabbinic family, married into a family of scholars of modern Hebrew literature, and her extensive studies of Jewish texts and research into medieval European and middle Eastern paintings and manuscripts informs her work. I Will Wake the Dawn: Illuminated Psalms, published by Jewish Publication Society, is an intimate portrait wherein text and artwork merge within inches of the reader’s eye, and offers concise literary analysis that probes the subtle meanings of these poems. Her work continues to develop the concept of visual midrash. Debra resides in Potomac, Maryland.

Sunday, November 4 / 7:30-8:30 pm
Joy of Jewish Learning with Celebrated Artist and Author Debra Band
Gurwin Jewish Fay J. Lindner Residences, 50 Hauppauge Rd., Commack, NY 11725, 631-715-8500
Join us for a special hour with celebrated artist Debra Band. Band will showcase her exceptional talent for creating illuminations and lead a discussion, stemming from two selected psalms, about how the creation of visual interpretations and midrash from text can enhance an individual’s joy and connection to Jewish concepts.
RSVP: This event is not open to the public.

This event is offered with support by the Gurwin Jews Fay J. Lindner Residences. At the Fay J. Lindner Residences, you can have it all: The ultimate in luxurious assistive living in an environment that embraces the traditions of Jewish heritage.

Wednesday, November 7 / 2:00 pm
The Intimate Lives of Rabbis
Sid Jacobson JCC, 300 Forest Drive, East Hills, NY 11548, 516-484-1545
Amidst the pressures of rabbinic pulpits, many rabbis strive to balance between their professional and personal lives. Inspired by character Debra Green in Jonathan Rosen’s, JOY COMES IN THE MORNING, a panel of women rabbis candidly discuss their own personal faith journeys; the inspirations and challenges in their lives; the role ritual, family and God plays; and the tools that they use to help order their lives.
RSVP: Rich Zemser at RZemser@sjjcc.org

Wednesday, November 7 / 2:00 pm
Performance Reading for JOY COMES IN THE MORNING
Long Beach Public Library, 111 West Park Avenue, Long Beach, NY 11561, 516-432-7201
A performance reading in the style of Radio Drama, with music and effects, of Jonathan Rosen's beautifully crafted mesmerizing novel of tragedy, frailty, love and hope seen through the eyes of Deborah, a reform rabbi wrestling with her own desires, and Lev, the science writer she loves. Underscoring from the music of Erich Wolfgang Korngold. Read by Gail Merzer Behrens and David Houston. Held in auditorium.
RSVP: scalderone@sajes.org / On-Site Contact, Edie Kalickstein, Program Director, Long Beach Public Library.

Tuesday, November 13 / 8:30-10:00 pm
Dor L’Dor: What values will you share with the next generation?
South Huntington Jewish Center, 2600 New York Avenue, Melville, NY 11747, 631-421-3224
You are cordially invited to attend a presentation and workshop with Rabbi Ian and Suri Jacknis on family rituals and meaningful inheritances. This workshop will offer a chance to consider the tradition of writing ethical wills, to read some of the famous ones that have been collected and preserved as well as the chance to begin a rough draft/outline of what you might want to include in your own. Light refreshments will follow. Meet in the Simcha Room. No fee.
RSVP: Gail Glickman at alfam@optonline.net

Thursday, November 15 / 11:00 am-12:15 pm
Book Discussion with Fredda Klopfer
Sid Jacobson JCC, 300 Forest Drive, East Hills, NY 11548, 516-484-1545
Event details to come ????????
RSVP: Fredda Klopfer at fmklopfer@optonline.net

Thursday, November 29 / 8:15 pm
On A Jewish Journey: Confirmation Class Discussion with Rabbi Susie Heneson Moskowitz.
Temple Beth Torah , 35 Bagatelle Road, Melville NY 11747, 631-643-1200
This event is not open to the general public. For more information on adult Jewish education at Temple Beth Torah, please contact Rabbi Moskowitz at ravsusie@msn.com.

Thursday, November 29 / 8:15 pm
Discussion with Rabbi Rank
Midway Jewish Center, 330 South Oyster Bay Road, Syosset, NY 11791, 516-938-8390
Event details to come ??????
RSVP: Claire Dressman at lovoldies16@hotmail.com

Thursday, December 6 / 1:00 pm
Performance Reading for JOY COMES IN THE MORNING
Manhasset Public Library, 30 Onderdonk Avenue, Manhasset, NY 11030, 516-627-2300 x401
A performance reading in the style of Radio Drama, with music and effects, of Jonathan Rosen's beautifully crafted mesmerizing novel of tragedy, frailty, love and hope seen through the eyes of Deborah, a reform rabbi wrestling with her own desires, and Lev, the science writer she loves. Underscoring from the music of Erich Wolfgang Korngold. Read by Gail Merzer Behrens and David Houston.
RSVP: scalderone@sajes.org / On-site Contact Debbie Dellis Quinn, DellDeb@aol.com

Saturday, December 15 / 8:00 pm
An Interactive Drama w/Peter Asher Pitzele and "ExploraTorah"
Temple Beth Chai, 870 Townline Road, Hauppauge, NY 11788, 631-724-5807
Join us for Havdalah and a post-presentation discussion of faith, family and life journeys. Wine and dessert served. Ticket price: $5. RSVP by 12/12 to Temple Beth Chai at 631-724-5807. Event co-sponsored by Solomon Schechter Day School – Suffolk and Temple Beth Chai of Hauppauge.

Bio Info: Peter Petezle, Ph.D. was recently and for many years an adjunct faculty member of the Jewish Theological Seminary and Union Theological Seminary. He is currently Dean of Faculty of Storahtelling, Workshop Director for the intergenerational theater company Roots&Branches, and Faculty Member at Large: Institute for Contemporary Midrash. Peter developed Bibliodrama, which is now recognized as a principal methodology in the field of contemporary midrash. Peter has written many articles and two books: Our Fathers' Wells: A Personal Encounter with the Myths of Genesis, published by Harper SanFransisco and Scripture Windows: Towards a Practice of Bibliodrama, runner-up for the best book in Jewish Education, l998, published by Torah Aura.

Sunday, December 16 / 5:00-7:00 pm
Neshama Carlebach Concert!
Commack Jewish Center, 83 Shirley Court, Commack, NY 11725, 631-543-3311
The charismatic Neshama Carlebach, whose voice and enthusiastic presentation energizes audiences of all ages--whether she is singing popular Hebrew and Israeli songs or liturgical music--will appear in a concert in celebration of Commack Jewish Center's 50th Anniversary and SAJES On The Same Page community read. Refreshments afterward. Ticket prices vary. Sanctuary seats $45 / Gold Chairs $25 / 3rd Tier Chairs $18. Checks made out to Commack Jewish Center. Tickets will be sent out to all those who pay by Dec. 1 otherwise pick-up at the synagogue office.

RSVP: Ed Cohen at EAC071868@yahoo.com, visit http://www. commackjc.org/neshama.html, or call the Commack Jewish Center office.

Monday, January 14, 2:00 pm
Performance Reading for JOY COMES IN THE MORNING
Jericho Public Library, 1 Merry Lane, Jericho, NY 11753, 516-935-2639
A performance reading in the style of Radio Drama, with music and effects, of Jonathan Rosen's beautifully crafted mesmerizing novel of tragedy, frailty, love and hope seen through the eyes of Deborah, a reform rabbi wrestling with her own desires, and Lev, the science writer she loves. Underscoring from the music of Erich Wolfgang Korngold. Read by Gail Merzer Behrens and David Houston.
RSVP: scalderone@sajes.org / On-site Contact, Phyllis Cox, pcox@jericholibrary.org

Friday, February 15, 12:00 noon
Performance Reading for JOY COMES IN THE MORNING
Port Washington Public Library, 254 Main Street, Port Washington, NY 11050, 516-883-4400
A performance reading in the style of Radio Drama, with music and effects, of Jonathan Rosen's beautifully crafted mesmerizing novel of tragedy, frailty, love and hope seen through the eyes of Deborah, a reform rabbi wrestling with her own desires, and Lev, the science writer she loves. Underscoring from the music of Erich Wolfgang Korngold. Read by Gail Merzer Behrens and David Houston.
RSVP: scalderone@sajes.org / On-site Contact, Jessica Ley, Director of Program Planning, ley@pwpl.org