What has PRS been doing?

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At PRS we believe in strengthening our relationship with one another, with our community, and with the natural world. In June we elected a new board to help guide us
throughout the coming year, and keep us true to our mission. Your new board is Cathy Duke (president), Adele Stern (vice president), Jack Weinstein (treasurer), Priscilla Goldfarb, Marty Saltzman, Glenn Lebwohl-Steiner, and Diane Botnick. We extend our great thanks to retiring
Board member Diane Philips. This past year we prepared Thanksgiving meals for 250 families in our community, held an adult Hanukkah party, aided a new Afghan family in our town, celebrated the world’s oldest environmental holiday tu b’ish v’at, and had the most wonderful
on line services for our High Holidays, enabling friends and family to join from afar. And I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge our close relationship with St. Mary’s Church, its leaders and congregation. We invite them to join in our activities and they in ours, help them with their
fundraising, and learn about each other.
 

We are planning some zoom Shabbat services this summer and fall, as well as some in person events (see the calendar). We are hoping to hold in person High Holiday services this year unless the pandemic refuses to cooperate in which case we will again hold virtual services.
We are looking forward to honoring our veterans with a dinner and service (Nov. 11) and to sharing the joys of lighting our menorahs, eating latkes, and hearing words from Rabbi Helaine on Hanukkah. And we will again be part of the community effort to provide Thanksgiving meals
to those who do not have their own in conjunction with St. Mary’s and Our Lady of Loretto.
 

We invite you to be a part of PRS. It’s a good place to make new friends and have good food. It’s a good place to learn a bit about our rich Jewish history and heritage. And it’s a good place to share in the warmth of Rabbi Helaine Ettinger, our extraordinary rabbi. We will again
have adult education sessions online which have proven to be a source of understanding and stimulation.
 

If you would like to learn more about PRS contact Cathy Duke at cathye95@aol.com or
914 450 4188. She would be happy to talk with you and arrange a zoom invitation to any of our
on line services.
 

WHAT ELSE HAS PRS BEEN UP TO RECENTLY?

PRS responds to the war against Ukraine

PRS joined a community-wide effort to bring medical supplies to a Ukrainian orphanage with the help of a local Ukrainian family, making a substantial donation to the effort.

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We also were part of a special non denominational service held at
St. Mary’s Church.

PRS OBSERVED HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE

PRS led a unique Holocaust remembrance service in which the synagogue took the lead in a zoom community program with the big assistance of the Fish Library and Butterfield Library.  Thanks to the terrific planning of co-President Adele Stern and Karen Thompson of the Fish Library, PRS presented a program about Jewish life in Ukraine past and present.  With the help of a film of Dr. David Fishman, an expert on Russian and Ukrainian Jewry, and moving poetry readings by Elie Wiesel and our own Kathy Gonick, and capped off by the remembrances of our dear Henry Stern, a Holocaust survivor, Rabbi Helaine wove together the connections between the past and present.  It was a moving evening for all.  

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PRS HELPS AN AFGHAN FAMILY IN COLD SPRING

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In conjunction with other local volunteers and under the guidance of Ossining for Refugees, a HIAS partner, PRS members have been assisting a young Afghan family settling in our community.  Volunteers have helped them arrange health care, visits to our local food bank, and many other actions designed to assist the family in achieving independence as soon as possible and to introduce them to all Philipstown has to offer. The parents are wonderful, outgoing individuals, with two early little children.  PRS is proud to be part of this community effort.

If you would like to take an active role in helping the family please contact Cathy Duke.

If you would like to make a donation to help us in our efforts, please send a
check to the following:

Philipstown Reform Synagogue
PO Box 94 
Cold Spring, NY 10516.

All funds donated to PRS are tax
deductible to the fullest extent under the law.