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Family Havdalah, Nov 2023

Concert marks dedication of Historic Piano

On Nov. 19, 2023, Vassar Temple celebrated the dedication of its 1923 Mason & Hamlin Grand Piano at a special event featuring a piano concert.  This historic  piano was donated to the Temple by the Lemberger family, and restored with funds raised by the Music Committee.  Shown in front of the piano, Soloists:Joseph Bertolozzi,Ruthanne Schempf, Donor Barbara Lemberger, Soloists:James M.Fitzwilliam,Sylvia Buccelli

Temple teens trim Thanksgiving baskets, Nov 2023

Sukkah Decorators at work! Oct, 2023

Marcia Tanzman receives the 2023 Arnold Award

The annual Arnold Award for contributions to the ritual life of Vassar Temple was presented to Marcia Tanzman by Rabbi Renni Altman at the Selichot program.

Polly Lewis receives the Evelyn Kahn award, June 2023

The 2023 Evelyn Kahn Spirit of Sisterhood Award was presented to Polly Lewis at the Sisterhood Dinner on June 26th in recognition of her commitment to and unfailing support of Sisterhood. Congratulations to Polly on this well-deserved honor! The award was presented by Marcia Tanzman.

Founders Award 2023 - Ron Rosen

Ron Rosen receives 2023 Founders Service Award

Ron Rosen was presented with the annual Founders’ Service Award at the membership meeting on June 14th by last year’s recipients, Marcia and Glenn Tanzman.

Temple families clean up Grace Smith House for Mitzvah Day, May 2023

Temple families participate in Mitzvah Day, May 2023

Temple cemetery cleanup for Mitzvah Day, May 2023

Tiny Temple program with PJ library celebrating Yom Ha’atzmaut, May 1, 2023

Tibor & Noemi Spitz at their Vassar Temple presentation, November 20, 2022

Vassar Temple’s Tashlich ceremony and Rosh Hashanah family service at Sunset Lake,
Vassar College

 

Gail D’Alessio received the 2022 Stephen A. Arnold Award.
In the photo, Gail D’Alessio (l) is with author Anita Diamant at local Community Shabbaton.

Vassar Temple Purim Carnival 2022

 

Vassar Temple members at Unite Against Hate March/Rally, October 3, 2021: 
Rabbi Altman, Howard Susser, Lew and Hilary Wrobel.

 

Simchat Shabbat Service
Led by Rabbi Altman and Music with Cantor Goldmann – Hybrid
Friday, November 22 at 6 pm
The upper grades of the religious school will take part in the service by leading some of the prayers and performing a short skit based on the Torah portion.

Torah Study led by Rabbi Altman – Hybrid
Saturday, November 23 at 9 am

New Paths led by Rabbi Altman – Hybrid
Saturday, November 23 at 10:15 am

Vassar Temple’s 175th Anniversary Gala ~ Sunday, April 14, 2024

Dear Vassar Temple Friends,
 
What an amazing 175th Anniversary gala we had!  Our deepest thanks to Sandra Mamis and her incredibly hard-working gala committee.  Thanks to all who attended, to our many generous sponsors, as well as to those who placed ads and supported the baskets and wine pull!
 
In addition to the numerous proclamations announced Sunday evening, Sandra also reached out to our Assemblymembers, Didi Barrett and Jonathan Jacobson, who together sponsored a resolution in the Assembly.  



Assemblymember Barrett also arranged for an invitation to me to offer the Assembly Invocation in honor of our 175th.  I was privileged to offer it this past Tuesday to start that day’s legislative session.



Following the invocation (after some other introductions), Assemblymember Barrett officially introduced me and welcomed Sandra, who accompanied me to Albany and was able to sit on the floor of the Assembly Chamber. 



If you’d like to watch it, you can see the video here CLICK HERE (stay on after the invocation for Didi’s remarks) CLICK HERE or you can read my invocation CLICK HERE. 

Happy 175th Vassar Temple!
 
Renni

Please enjoy these memories from the Gala

Sandra Mamis ~ Opening Remarks ~ CLICK HERE

President’s 175th Anniversary Gala Message ~ CLICK HERE

Video from Senator Schumer ~ CLICK HERE

Gala SlideShow ~ CLICK HERE

Gala Commemorative Journal – CLICK HERE


Pictures from the Gala ~ Photography by Rachel Mamis, pictured above with her mother, Sandra Mamis ~ CLICK HERE

 

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Link to JFDC Calendar

      Welcome to Vassar Temple

  • Join a Reform congregation with a rich history and discover the powerful relevance of Judaism today.
  • Participate in projects that improve our world.
  • Delight in spiritual and intellectual growth.
  • Share your joys and challenges and achieve a sense of peace and belonging.
  • Enjoy opportunities for prayer, learning, social interaction, and Jewish and personal life-cycle support.
  • Enrich your life with meaningful rituals, caring friendships, and joyful celebrations.
  • Join a welcoming congregation where you are accepted as you are at any level of involvement.

 

Popular Links

Bulletin

 
 
Rabbi Altman and Cantor Goldmann on Yom Kippur 2021
 
 
Break fast at Vassar Temple

Vassar Temple members at Unite Against Hate March Rally (Oct. 3) Rabbi Altman, Howard Susser,  Lew and Hilary Wrobel.

From the Union For Reform Judaism / Reform Movement

Why Israel Celebrates the Ethiopian Jewish Holiday Sigd

Why Israel Celebrates the Ethiopian Jewish Holiday Sigd jemerman

Jewish Life Around the World
sigd
For many generations, the Beta Israel had longed to reach Jerusalem in a quest to renew their covenant with God and for spiritual redemption. So strong was their desire that they created a holiday as a time to pray for this miracle. They called it Sigd (meaning "worship") and celebrated it on the 50th day after Yom Kippur. This year it is celebrated today, November 4.

For Some of Us the Holidays Are Just…Hard

For Some of Us the Holidays Are Just…Hard jemerman

Death and Mourning
star of david starry lights
As we head into the holiday season, I am acutely aware of how much different this year is going to be than previous ones. I will be celebrating without my mom for the first time. My mother died in January 2021, and I'm still dealing with the unexpected waves of grief that wash over me, sometimes out of nowhere. As I head into this first winter holiday season without her, I'm not quite sure I know what to expect, other than everything is going to be very different.

Enjoy A Crockpot Shabbat

Enjoy A Crockpot Shabbat jemerman

Entree Recipes
Photo of a chicken stew dish in a bow
As the weather begins to get chillier, many home cooks pull out their trusty slow cookers to create easy yet warm dishes. Slow cooking is nothing new. It hasn't had staying power with Jewish communities just because the resulting food is delicious; it also allowed observant Jews to keep Shabbat by kindling a fire before sundown on Friday and keeping food warm until Saturday afternoon.

The Cost of Free Land

The Cost of Free Land jemerman

Secular Holidays
The author's Great-Great-Uncle Louie Sinykin posing with men in Dakota garb in South Dakota's Black Hills. Date unknown.
When I was a child growing up in the 1980s, the story I learned about Thanksgiving followed the classic script: it highlighted amity between the Pilgrims and their Indigenous neighbors. Due to this connection, the hunger of the European settlers was met with squash and turkey.