ALBANY–Congregation Beth Emeth will host a conversation about racism in 2020 via live stream on Thursday, Aug. 13, at 7:30 p.m. The program titled “Shmooze with Rabbi Shpeen: A Conversation with Marcus Pryor about Racism in Our Community” is open to the general public. Pryor is an Albany native and is a local businessman who is active in many community […]

The Capital Region Antiracist Community Training Initiative is set to kick off its next program, a 21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge on Aug. 10. By signing up to take part, participants will receive daily e-mails with each day’s challenge. Communities around the country have conducted the curriculum, which includes daily suggestions for readings, podcasts, videos, observations, and ways to […]

Jeremy’s Circle, an organization helping children cope with cancer in their families in Israel  (www.jeremyscircle.org), will hold a virtual Zoom fund-raiser on Sunday, Aug. 9, at 3 p.m. Co-founder of Jeremy’s Circle, Pamela Becker, widow of Jeremy Coleman for whom the organization is named, will speak on “Meeting Children’s Needs During Pandemic, Novel Approaches in a Trying Time.” The program […]

ALBANY–B’nai Sholom Reform Congregation has announced the election of new officers and members to the board of trustees. At the recent 48th annual meeting, the congregation elected Julie Novkov of Loudonville, president; Ann Lowenfels of Delmar, president-elect; Eric Goldberg of Albany, vice president; Joan Savitt of Albany, finance vice president; Julie Friedman of Glenmont, secretary; and David DiPaola of Delmar, treasurer. The […]

ALBANY–Temple Israel President Gary Ginsburg has announced that Rachael Schertzer has been named the new executive director of the Conservative congregation on New Scotland Avenue. “I am very excited to step into this new role and to help move Temple Israel forward,” said Schertzer. “Temple Israel has been a community institution and leader for 72 years, and I am honored […]

Chabad of Colonie has announced that the organization will pass out free 100% cotton washable masks on Thursday, Aug. 6, from 4-5 p.m. at 284 Osborne Rd.  Those interested in obtaining a mask are asked to call 518-368-7886 to make a reservation prior to the drive by pick up. The mask give-away is part of the Chabad of The Capital District’s […]

Touro College, the nation’s largest institution of higher education under Jewish auspices, and the Orthodox Union (OU), the nation’s oldest and largest umbrella organization for the North American Orthodox Jewish community, have awarded Yael Gonzalez from Schenectady its Sarah Rivkah and Dr. Bernard Lander Scholarship. Yael, daughter of Margarita and Florentino Gonzalez, an Albany High School senior, plans to use […]

NEW YORK CITY – Herut North America, a leading American Zionist organization has developed an eBook offering ideas about how to improve Jewish unity in these challenging and polarizing times, and it is now being offered for free in time for Tisha B’Av. Herut North America’s free eBook The Challenge For Jewish Unityis now available at https://herut.net/jewishunitybook/ The eBook is authored by Joshua Goldstein, the chairman […]

ALBANY–Rabbi Donald P. Cashman of B’nai Sholom Reform Congregation recently retired  after 35 years of service. He conducted his final Shabbat service from the B’nai Sholom synagogue in Albany the last Friday of June. It was conducted via zoom. With more than 150 participant logons, B’nai Sholom organizers estimate that 175-200 congregants, family and friends came together to hear his […]

ALBANY– Two hundred and seventy eight local donors have made 523 legacy commitments to support the Northeastern New York Jewish community. These commitments are part of a collaborative endowment-building effort that includes eight Jewish organizations and congregations, the Jewish Federation of Northeastern New York and Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s Life & Legacy initiative, the goal of which is to provide future […]