More information about current openings coming soon!

March-April 2026 "Michael Muskat: Making Every Moment Count"by Marcia Muskat By happenstance, Michael came of age in Stuyvesant Town. By design, he made every moment count. From conversationally rich dinners with his parents to hanging out with his neighboring friends in 6 Stuy Oval. From having a catch with his PS 61 buddies in playground #11 to flirting with the JHS 104 girls in playground #10. Michael couldn’t have wished for a better time or place to grow up, unencumbered as it was by social media. Michael’s family belonged to the traditional Town & Village Synagogue which taught its students how to daven (the Yiddish word for “pray”). But with T&V not having a synagogue of its own, his parents…

~ For all upcoming Sisterhood events, please see the main Sisterhood page ~ March-April 2026 "Happy Spring! Bringing Joy and Light Into Community"by Sisterhood Leadership Team member and Programming Lead Suellen Eshed As the days get brighter and we “Spring Forward,” the Sisterhood of East End Temple is sponsoring several ongoing and new programs, some with a focus on women (Rosh Chodesh, Lilith Seder), most with a focus on the community at large. We look forward to celebrating Purim and Passover, dancing, playing and studying with each other, and continuing to meet amazing members of our community. Here’s how we are doing that in March and April. WE CELEBRATE PurimMarch 2-3In January and February, we launched our annual sale of…

East End Temple Men's Club Sisterhood of East End Temple Sisterhood Programs Sisterhood Columns

March-April 2026 "The Legacy of Partnership"by Brian Lifsec As Rebecca and I approach the end of our terms as co-presidents, I have been reflecting on the future, our time as leaders and, what leadership means in our congregation. Leadership in a community like ours does not live in one person. It lives in partnership. It lives between co-presidents who share responsibility and trust one another enough to speak honestly, listen carefully, and step in when the other needs support. It lives in the daily work with clergy, educators, and staff through collaboration, tension, mutual respect, and shared purpose. It lives with a board that engages, lay leaders who step forward, and a congregation that understands leadership as something we do…

Read the latest columns from our clergy! From the Rabbi's Study Cantor's Notes

March-April 2026 "Purim and Moral Courage" Purim is often regarded as a joyful, even raucous holiday — costumes, laughter, drinking, and noise meant to drown out the name of Haman. But beneath the celebration lies a complex ethical question: When does personal risk become a moral obligation? In the Purim story, this inflection point comes when Mordechai asks Esther to confront King Achashverosh. Her initial response was fear and hesitation. Approaching the king without being summoned was a capital offense, and revealing that she had concealed her Jewish identity endangered her further.  Silence would be safer for her, but it would mean abandoning her community. To help Esther muster her courage, Mordechai asked, "Who knows whether you have come to…

March-April 2026 "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn"by Mindy Sherry It was about this time last year when two families asked a simple but powerful question: “We want to have an East End Temple Brooklyn class. How do we make this happen?” In that moment, what had been a quiet hope began to take root.  Spring is the season of possibility – when the ground softens, seeds are planted, and new life begins to grow. Looking back, that conversation feels like early spring: no fully formed plan yet, only vision, partnership, and a shared willingness to build something together. With determination and collaboration, we worked through logistics – space, structure, and scheduling. By September, the Brooklyn class officially launched, meeting each…

East End Temple has signed on to a number of “friends of the court” briefs and other letters: Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety (Supreme Court) Communal Letter to National Education Association President Becky Pringle Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety DACA State of Texas, et al. v. United States of America, et al. DACA Vidal v. Duke *DACA Amicus 2nd Circuit DACA Amicus 9th Circuit El Paso County Texas et al v Trump et al 2019.05.01 Border Wall Amicus ND-Cal 2019.08.22 Border Wall Amicus 9th Circuit DACA Amicus SCOTUS 20-828 FBI v Fagaza Amici Curiae Brief in Support of Respondents 19-71 FNU v Tanvir Brief of Amici Curiae in Support of Respondents Fuqua…

March-April 2026 "Purim-Inspired Responses to Antisemitism" Public intellectual Bret Stephens recently generated a lot of heat and a bit of light by suggesting that the Anti-Defamation League should be dissolved, with funding instead going to positive initiatives for Jewish life. He indicated that many existing initiatives to combat antisemitism were a waste – and that making Jewish communal life even more joyful, connective, and appealing was a better use of time and resources.  Stephens has a (small) point. Major organizations, with massive budgets and large staffs, have not stemmed the tide of antisemitism, while smaller ones fostering inspired Jewish life remain underfunded. Jewish joy and communities of purpose are powerful counters to antisemitism. At the same time, a subtler tact…

Torah portions (text only): https://www.sefaria.org/topics/category/torah-portions List of bet mitzvah prayers with Mishkan T'filah (Shabbat) page numbers For blessings/prayers, click the audio player under each title to hear the blessing/prayer sung/chanted Torah blessings: Blessing before Torah reading Blessing after Torah reading Haftarah blessings: Blessing before Haftarah reading Blessing after Haftarah reading Prayers: Adonai S'fatai (Trad.) Aleinu (1st paragraph) Aleinu-V'ne'emar (conclusion) Avot V'Imahot Barchu (Siegel) Chatsi Kaddish (Evening) Ein Kamocha-Av Harachamim Friday Night Kiddush G'vurot (with winter and summer insertions) Hallelu (Sufi) Kedusha (Shur) Ki Lekach Tov-Eitz Chayim (Trad.) Ki Mitzion/Baruch Shenatan L'dor Vador (Zim) Lecha Adonai Nisim b'Chol Yom (Morning Blessings) Shema (Pik) Shema (Trad.) Shema-Echad-Gadlu Tallit Blessing V'ahavta (first paragraph) V'ahavta (l'maan tizkeru) V'Shamru (Rothblum) Yehallelu-Hodo Al Eretz

Being a member of Sisterhood helps to create a community and a sense of belonging, connecting and growth, for the benefit of us all.  By listening to you and your interests and passions, we create meaningful programs and initiatives which connect us to each other and the greater community.  Your annual dues contribution is used to fund our programs, support our religious school, sponsor social justice initiatives, and so much more. If you are a member of East End Temple, your annual contribution to Sisterhood was included on your bill. Thank you for checking the box!   Otherwise, we welcome your contribution or your gift of membership for a friend or family (starting at $36) through our online form. Checks are also…

Recent articles on pertinent topics by (or featuring) Rabbi Josh Stanton, Cantor Olivia Brodsky, Director of Congregational Learning Mindy Sherry and Asst. Dir. of Congregational Learning Tehilah Eisenstadt: 1/27/26 - Writer's Rumpus, "Interview with Jewish #Kidlit #Picturebook author Doreen Klein Robinson" 1/20/26 - Publisher's Weekly, "Religion Book Deals: Jan. 21, 2026" 12/23/25 - CBS News, "Interfaith leaders on practicing religion during holiday season" 12/18/25 - Christianity Today, "Bondi Beach Shooting Compels Christians to Stand with Jews" 12/16/25 - Christianity Today, "Hanukkah Attack in Australia and Christmas Hospitality" 10/28/25 - Jewish Federations of North America blog, "How Nostra Aetate transformed Catholic-Jewish relations 60 years ago" 10/24/25 - Religion News Service, "A ceasefire on Simchat Torah restored our spirit. Now, Jews need…

from The Ukrainian Institute of America:What can I do? Stay informed with credible sources of news like The Atlantic Council UkraineAlert. Contact your state and local representatives and let them know you support the strongest measures possible to constrain Ukraine's aggressors. Find your congressional representatives with this link. How can I help? The Afya Foundation (our partner organization for whom we have collected medical supplies for many years) has an Amazon wish list of urgently needed items. The items will be sent directly to Afya, and they are packing pallets of supplies to send to Ukraine. The World Union for Progressive Judaism has launched the Ukraine Crisis Fund to support the Ukrainian Jewish community. To learn more and/or to make a donation: https://wupj.org/give/ukraine/ HIAS…

Shanah tovah! The Men’s club welcomes you to the High Holy Days and autumn season. We are excited for all upcoming events. For those unaware, the “Men’s” Club is not just for men -- our events are for all congregants of EET, interested parties, and friends. We are always expanding our programs to better serve EET and its congregants. The Men’s Club now recognizes those in bereavement buy planting trees in Israel and providing minyan members at shiva (upon request). We provide candlesticks, alongside kiddush cups from the Sisterhood, in EET bet mitzvah gift bags. We help EET with small “IKEA-sized” needs, such as the dishwasher in the kitchen, to help EET and its staff avoid larger professional costs. Monthly meetings are usually…

We have ordered a variety of recently published books that are on display in our Helene Spring Library. The titles and prices of the books that are available to be sponsored are listed below, and we hope members will continue their tradition of donating a book or books of their choice. All books will have member’s name and in honor of/memory of inscribed on the bookplate. For online payment, click here (make a donation to Sisterhood-Helene Spring Library Fund and add a note with the title of the book you would like to sponsor). If paying by check, click here for a printable form and complete the coupon at the bottom. Thank you for your generosity. [Books that are crossed…

For bet mitzvah students if you're not at home, or to listen to recordings of different prayers: https://eastendtemple.org/torah-and-prayer-resources/ A word about "bet mitzvah": Last spring, following careful study, the Central Conference of American Rabbis issued a recommendation that Reform communities use the term “Bet Mitzvah.” Bet is the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet and does not have a gendered connotation. It stands for Bar, Bat, or B'Mitzvah at the same time and provides our children and their families with the flexibility not to share more of their gender identities than they would like to at their Jewish coming-of-age ceremonies. Bet also references the Hebrew word for “home,” so that the term Bet Mitzvah references the “Home of Mitzvah.”    Bet mitzvah at…

The Boomers of East End Temple (BEET) is a chavurah (group) formed to build connections among the baby boomer (officially defined as born between 1946 and 1964) community. We look to schedule programs that may interest the generation who grew up through massive social changes which strongly influenced who we are today. During these programs, most of which are open to the general baby boomer community, we enjoy sharing special memories unique to our generation as well as educating and supporting each other as we continue on our current life's journeys. One of our most popular events is our intimate (members-only) Friday, Shabbat potluck dinners where we share our thoughts on a boomer-related topic, ensuring that everyone gets to know…

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: Password:

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: Password:

[The Book of Remembrance is also available as a printable PDF] MEMORIALIZED ON THE TREE OF LIFE Anna AlmanMorris AlmanCharles BaderSamuel BeckerEsther BershonPvt. Arthur A. BierCharles BirnbaumBella CukierwarMaurice CukierwarBenjamin DimitmanIda EdelmanSamuel EdelmanDorothy A. EhrenreichAnnie L. FeinJennie GordonLouis GordonShelley Anita GorenSusan Helen GorenSamuel Gruber Max HeibergerRalph M. HolzmanIda HorowitzMorris HorowitzElla KesslerBernard R. King Myron KrugmanRose KrugmanShirley Kaplan LandauSidney LandeJacob LiebermanSarah LiebermanSamuel MaitFlora MorgensternLouis MorgensternLeonard NewmarkLucille NewmarkCelia Perlow Joseph PolanskySarah PolanskyLorence L. PollenBarnett RosalskyPesha RosalskyRose RothEmma RudingerJulius RudingerIsaac SertnerNorma SertnerNettie SperberAaron SteinRose SteinIda SussmanMamie WassermanEphraim WeissteinSarah WeissteinBilly Youchah MEMORIALIZED ON THE MEMORIAL BOARD AAllan AbramsRobert AbrahamYetta AdelmanDr. Hyman AlexanderJoseph AlexanderMildred Alexander Sarah AlexanderNorman AltszulerRita AltszulerHarry AmerRose Amer Dr. Joseph S. AmsterWanda H. AschermanAdela AusterIsrael Auster B May Hartley BarclayWade Crawford Barclay Eugene…

Thursday, April 17 at 6:00pm (in person and Zoom)Open to Sisterhood members using she/her pronouns, plus one guest (ages 13 and older)Click here to register, indicating whether you will join in person or on Zoom. Indicate name(s) of participants.Led by Cantor Brodsky, everyone participates in reading from a Haggadah written especially for us, focused on the women in the Passover story, praying in feminized Hebrew. We sing songs and dance with tambourines, honor women of valor, use a Miriam's Cup for water and place a symbolic orange on the seder plate. If attending in person, space is limited so please reserve as soon as possible and indicate your contributions to the potluck dinner or seder items. If you are not…

Virtual Community Second-Night Seder Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 5:00pm (Pre-Seder Schmooze at 4:45pm) Our virtual seder is free and open to all. Everything you need to join us is on this page: how to register and receive the Zoom link, items to have in your home, an online Haggadah, and guidelines for joining our Zoom seder. Click here to register Once you are registered, you will receive an automated confirmation email with the subject line East End Temple Virtual Seder Confirmation. PLEASE KEEP THAT EMAIL: it will include your personalized Zoom link.  All are welcome to register. (Please don’t forward your own Zoom link, or the other person will appear onscreen with your name.)   List of suggested items…

Dear Fellow Congregants: It is thanks to the foresight and generosity of those who came before us that EET has entered its eighth decade with strength and vibrancy. We are grateful to them for establishing a spiritual home that cultivates relevant Jewish life through connected community. Now it is our turn to make certain our tradition continues for generations and that EET continues to be a beacon for downtown Jewish life. The EET Legacy Circle will bring together members like you and us, who are eager to help ensure our Jewish community’s future for generations to come by naming East End Temple as a beneficiary in their estate plans. Planned gifts of all sizes can play a significant role in…