For a description of how to login to Zoom, click here. For our calendar of events, click here.
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Books and Bagels and The Rabbi’s Book Club Online
Sundays, 10am
Next Books and Bagels: Jan 24, 2021
Next Rabbi’s Book Club: Feb 28, 2021
We alternate months! For Books and Bagels, we discuss books of Jewish interest; bring a book to present or come to discuss the books that others bring. For The Rabbi’s Book Club, we discuss a single book chosen by Rabbi Drorah Setel in advance. To login via Zoom, click here. To connect via phone, call 1-929-205-6099 and use meeting ID 853 0537 9410.
Rabbi’s Book Club, Feb 28, 2012: The book for this meeting is Family Papers: A Sephardic Journey Through the Twentieth Century (available at bookshop.org by clicking here. Author Sarah Abrevaya Stein describes what she learned in tracing the records of her family over five generations, from their origins in the Ottoman Empire to their eventual dispersion throughout the world. For those of us raised on versions of Jewish history which focused on Ashkenazi Jews, the engaging book provides an important addition to our understanding of Jewish experience in the 20th century. Click here for a book club guide for the book.
Koffee & Kibbitz Online
Sundays, 11am
Nov 8, 2020: Judy Greenstein will speak to us about her participation in a Covid-19 vaccine trial. Judy writes: “I first read about the Pfizer phase 1 trial in the D&C in late spring, and will talk about my experience from the beginning to where I stand now. I will share not only the parameters of the study and my bloodletting, but also the information that I gleaned from Dr. Edward Walsh, the lead investigator. The title of the study is, “A phase 1/2, placebo-controlled, randomized, observer-blind, dose-finding study to describe the safety, tolerability, immunogenicity, and potential efficacy of Sars-Cov-2 RNA Vaccine candidates against Covid-19 in healthy adults.” Did I actually get the vaccine? Come hear what I think.”
To join the presentation via Zoom, click here: Kibbitz. To login by phone, call 1 929 205 609 and use meeting ID Meeting ID: 832 6624 3797.
Nov 15, 2020: 
What Do We Owe? A conversation on reparations with the Rochester Jewish Community featuring City Council member Mitch Gruber.
Join us for a discussion of Council member Mitch Gruber’s article, “To the Jews of my City” as we consider Jewish perspectives on reparations. For a better understanding of the issue, you may also want to read “The Case for Reparations” by Ta-Nahesi Coates and “The Torah Case for Reparations” by Rabbi Aryeh Bernstein. To join via Zoom, click here: Gruber. To login by phone, call 1 929 205 609 and use meeting ID 820 3115 5917.
Tikkun Olam Team Meeting Online
Monthly on Sundays, 11:30am – upcoming meetings: Jan 24, 2021 and Feb 28, 2021
“Tikkun Olam” means repairing the world. So far this year, we are running our annual food and clothing drive in spite of the pandemic, and we make regular calls to connect with Temple Emanu-El members. We also created and disseminated a Voter’s Guide, and ran a pledge drive to encourage our Temple members to vote. Please join us and hear what we’re doing next – we’d love to have your input and help. To join the meeting via Zoom, click here. To login by phone, call 1-929-205-6099 and use meeting ID 814 1494 5259.
Lunchtime Meditation Online
Every Monday, 12:15 – 12:45pm
Rabbi Drorah Setel leads our weekly meditation sessions. New folks are always welcome to join. To login via Zoom, click here: Meditation. To login by phone, call 1-929-205-6099 and use meeting ID 858 6591 7770.
Ritual Team Meeting Online
1st Tuesday of each month, 7:30pm – next meeting: Tuesday, Feb 2, 2021
All are welcome. To join via Zoom, click here: Ritual. To login by phone, call 1 929 205 609 and use meeting ID 869 2515 9460.
Men’s Club Online
2nd Tuesday of each month, 9am – next meeting: Feb 9, 2021
Open to all Temple Emanu-El men. To join via Zoom, click here: Men. To login by phone, call 1-929-205-6099 and use meeting ID 885 3606 1393.
Exploring Jewishness Online Course
2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month, 7-8:30pm
This course is intended both for those engaging with Jewish traditions for the first time and those who wish to understand them in a deeper way. It begins with the understanding that being Jewish takes a wide variety of forms which do not readily fit into single categories such as “religion” or “culture.” Classes will be an opportunity for us to explore multiple perspectives on core aspects of Jewish experience.
We will be meeting as a full class group the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Each participant will be assigned a study partner (or partners) with whom they will meet during the alternate week to prepare and discuss course materials.
The text for the course is Judaisms: A Twenty-First-Century Introduction to Jews and Jewish Identities by Aaron J. Hahn Tapper. It can be purchased at www.bookshop.org, an online store which benefits local independent booksellers. If you cannot afford to purchase the book, please contact Rabbi Setel (rabbisetel@gmail.com) who will obtain one for you.
The course is free to Temple Emanu-El members. A voluntary donation is requested of non-members. To join the class via Zoom, click here.
Nov 10: “Introduction,” p 1-11
Nov 24: “Narratives,” p 12-27
Dec 8: “Sinais,” p 28-44
Dec 22: “Zions,” p 45-59
Jan 12: “Messiahs,” p 60-71
Jan 26: “Laws,” p 72-94
Feb 9: “Mysticisms,” p 95-112
Feb 23: “Cultures,” p 113-139
Mar 9: “Movements,” p 140-167
Mar 23: “Genocides,” p 168-184
Apr 13: “Powers,” p 185-216
Apr 27: “Borders,” p 217-230
May 11: “Futures,” p 231-244
Board of Trustees Meeting Online
3rd Tuesday of each month, 7pm – next meeting: Jan 19, 2021
Our Board meetings are open only to Temple Emanu-El members; any Temple Emanu-El member may attend. To join the meeting via Zoom, click here: Board. To login by phone, call 1-929-205-6099 and use meeting ID 819 4415 3042.
Chevre Torah Online
Saturdays, 9:30-11:30am
Chevre Torah provides an in-depth discussion of the weekly Torah portion and highlights from the other books of the Bible, combining traditional commentaries with contemporary perspectives and the wisdom of our own experience. For the Hebrew blessing for Torah study, click here: Blessing. To join the discussion via Zoom, click here: Torah Study. To login by phone, call 1-929-205-6099 and use meeting ID 286 821 117.
Jan 16, 2021: Ex 7:8 – 8:15
Jan 23, 2021: Ex 11:4 – 12:28, Judges 19:1