“Together, we are learning and embracing this most sacred mitzvah of caring for the dead,” said Rabbi Rachel Timoner of Congregation Beth Elohim. “At the same time, we have been developing our own rituals to be mindful and respectful of the multiplicity of gender identities.”
For the past several months, CBE has been in the process of establishing the first Reform chevra kadisha (burial society) in NYC with co-partners Plaza Jewish Community Chapel, Temple Shaaray Tefila, and Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion. Many of our members have become volunteers. Read The Forward‘s coverage here.
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This week, Rabbi Kolin is co-chairing and presenting at the Multi-faith Initiative to End Mass Incarceration “Let My People Go” Conference. The conference is held at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA, and other speakers include Dr. Raphael Warnock. Rabbi Kolin’s plenary topic will be on the campaign to close Rikers.
Hanukkah is about our resilience and showing the world that we’re here.
Rabbi Green was interviewed today on WNYC’s All of it With Alison Stewart. Listen to the interview here.
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Everyone in every neighborhood has a role. That’s the contest we’re in—every voice matters.
Once again, Rabbi Timoner was quoted in an article about Jewish Americans confronting antisemitism. Click here to read the article.
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“Rabbi Rachel Timoner became increasingly worried that New York City Mayor Eric Adams was only hearing from conservative Orthodox Jewish leaders. So the progressive Park Slope rabbi invited 55 women clergy for a meeting with the mayor.”
Yasher koach to Rabbi Rabbi Timoner for being named among City and State NY‘s Faith Power 100! The list celebrates the most influential faith leaders in NYC, and we are extremely proud to see her many accomplishments recognized. Click here to read the full article.
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“We are all trying to figure out how to be Jews in the 21st century,” said Rabbi Matt Green, who led the blessings. “And this is it.”
Rabbi Green was featured in a New York Times article, “Shabbat is a Salve, and a Scene” about the ways in which young people are embracing Shabbat during a time of increased antisemitism. Read it here.
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Rabbi Rachel Timoner had always cherished Israel as a haven where Jews could aspire to their highest ideals. But after Benjamin Netanyahu won a sixth term as prime minister with the help of two far-right parties this month, she was shaken.
Rabbi Timoner and several CBE members were quoted in The New York Times‘ article, “Netanyahu’s Comeback Widens Divide Over Israel Among American Jews.” Read it here.
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“By going to this play, you are engaging with Judaism,” [Rabbi] Green said. “It’s not just about inspiring people to be involved with Judaism, but actually, it is a Jewish act to see this play.”
The Gett, which CBE co-commissioned with Rattlestick Theater, was covered in Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Read the article here.
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The events at Congregation Beth Elohim grew out of a chance encounter with the synagogue’s assistant rabbi, Matt Green, 32. He first met Mr. Rinksy in an O.J.M.-branded baseball cap.
“I asked him where he got it, and it turned out he was the genius behind the Instagram account,” Rabbi Green said. ‘I introduced myself as a rabbi, and we got to talking.
Rabbi Matt Green was quoted in The New York Times‘ coverage of the Old Jewish Men Fall Ball, which took place at CBE. Click here to read the full article.
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Our member Margery Cooper recently spoke to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency about climate change, a top policy concern for American Jews. Click here to read her thoughts on the importance of climate advocacy and her work with CBE’s Dayenu Circle.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, another CBE member, is also mentioned. He recently led the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, a $370 billion climate bill.
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A rabbi, a minister, and an imam walked into Lincoln Center—and the rabbi was our very own Matt Green! Rabbi Green was the rabbi for Lincoln Center’s Celebrate Love: A (Re)Wedding, a symbolic marriage ceremony for couples whose weddings had been postponed due to the pandemic.
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“As Jews, we ought to be contributing our voices to the reduction of gun violence.”
—Rabbi Timoner
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NPR’s Weekend Edition featured our recent Havdalah service, where we gathered on the steps of CBE in the wake of the Roe decision. Rabbi Timoner and Rabbi Kolin were both quoted in the piece. To paraphrase Rabbi Kolin, we will continue to demand sweetness from this world even when it feels the most bitter.
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This year, Rabbi Timoner was featured in The New York Jewish Week‘s 36 to Watch 2022! KM “DiCo” DiColandrea, former assistant director at CBE’s Yachad, was also recognized. We’re excited to see their work honored.
To read more about them and other Jewish New Yorkers making a difference in our community, click here.
“The current campaign that advocates for the teaching of the rudiments of secular education in ultra-Orthodox schools in New York State […] arose in response to the alarming numbers — in the tens of thousands, according to Yaffed — of Jewish children in New York State being denied the building blocks of secular knowledge. Without this education, there is a high likelihood of poverty.”
On Thursday, May 24th, Rabbi Rachel Timoner organized a group of 55 women and women-identifying rabbis and cantors to speak to Mayor Eric Adams. Representing all denominations, the group marks the largest and first ever group of women rabbis and cantors to speak to a NYC mayor.
Watch Rabbi Timoner address the press here:
Rabbi @rtimoner said that this is the largest and first ever meeting of women rabbis and cantors with a mayor of NYC.
“This is the face of Jewish leadership in New York City,” Timoner said. pic.twitter.com/dgD7Ot8aIV
— Jacob Henry (@jhenrynews) May 19, 2022
Read coverage of this event in The Forward, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, The Jerusalem Post, and The Times of Israel.
Watch Rabbi Rachel Timoner’s invocation @NYCMayor Eric Adams’ speech marking his first 100 Days in office. Rachel, a NYJA Board Member and Co-Founder, did us proud today with her powerful and prayerful remarks! @rtimoner @CBEBK @bradlander pic.twitter.com/UJlbE8lETy
— New York Jewish Agenda (@NYJewishAgenda) April 26, 2022
“NEW YORK (JTA) — Three rabbis and six Jewish teenagers were among those arrested Monday at a climate protest at the Manhattan headquarters of BlackRock, the largest investment management company in New York.
The demonstration, organized by the Jewish Youth Climate Movement with support from the interfaith organization GreenFaith, demanded the firm stop its investments in and cut ties with companies that fund the fossil fuel industry, which include Enbridge, Inc., Formosa Plastics and Shell.
Rabbis Rachel Timoner and Stephanie Kolin of Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope, Brooklyn, and Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster, vice president of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, were among those arrested.
“Judaism’s highest priority is saving lives,” said Timoner in a statement. “The Jewish youth who are leading us today understand that we are in a life or death moment, that we must divest from fossil fuels now in order to save lives.”
Read the full article from JTA here.
“When I first realized we weren’t going to be able to fill the sanctuary completely, I was disappointed. But now, I’m just really excited to be back. It’s still going to be incredibly uplifting,” Read the full article from NY Daily News that Rabbi Timoner was interviewed for here.
“My dad taught me that businesses thrive when the dignity of every human being is honored — workers, customers and shareholders alike. He taught me that there is no contradiction between being pro-business and pro-union. He taught me that our economy and society can be both prosperous and caring. He taught me that standing for the rights of workers is what it means to be a proud Jew.”
Please read this meaningful op-ed by our very own Rabbi Rachel Timoner for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
“Most of what we’ll be doing is out and around the Sukkah. Families can bring a blanket, have a picnic, but stay separated from other families, but [they] still have the feeling of community, the opportunity to be outdoors and the opportunity to celebrate the holiday.”
Rabbi Timoner was recently interviewed by NY1 outside the CBE sukkah. Read the full article here.
There once was a man on a journey who came across a beautiful palace, but the palace was on fire. He looked around, trying to find help to put out the blaze. He wondered, surely there must someone who owns this palace, someone who cares for it. This, the rabbis teach in the midrash (Genesis Rabba 39:1), was our ancestor Abraham.