To add your event to the Community Calendar, please email your event information (in the below format) to: Eli@jccs.org
MARCH 2010
2: 8:00 pm - Fairfield University Bennet Center. Martin Indyk, Vice President and Director for Foreign Policy at The Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. will speak on "Will there ever be peace in the Middle East?" on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at 8: 00 pm. Sponsored by the University’s Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies, admission to this event is $25 per person, and open to the public. Call 203-254-4010 to reserve a seat, or visit www.fairfield.edu/bennett for more information.
6: 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM - Ezra Academy Annual Fundraising Gala and Auction, Honoring Jody Ellant and Howard Reiter. At Congregation B'nai Jacob, Woodbridge. For more information: contact Steve Wendell, Director of Development, EzraAcademy 203-389-5500 x13, swendell@ezraacademy.net
7: 4:00 p.m. - Join the Single’s on the Go Wine Tasting Party at
7: 3:00 PM - Movie Marathon at Congregation Beth El, Fairfield. Wine and Cheese, soft drinks and popcorn will be followed by showing of Holy Land Hardball, the story of Boston bagel maker Larry Baras who wanted to create a professional baseball league in Israel. The story is compelling, funny, and appeals to a wide audience even if you aren't a baseball fan. Optional Kosher Chinese dinner available with advance reservations (deadline March 3rd) for $12 per adult, $10 per child age 6-16. A second movie will be shown at approximately 6:45 PM - Orthodox Stance. Russian immigrant Dmitriy Salita juggles his two worlds as a boxer and an Orthodox Jew in this documentary that follows the diligent young fighter's struggle to devote himself to both of these elements in his life. No charge for movies only, optional donation for pre-movie snacks and drinks, dinner pricing as above. For more information, contact Susan Mittag at 203-374-5544 or congbethel@aol.com.
11: 1:00 pm - Cong. Rodeph Sholom Hazak Meeting and Luncheon 1:00 p.m. R.S.V.P. to the synagogue office at 334-0159.
14: 9:30 am - Cong. Rodeph Sholom Sisterhood Breakfast & Show ("From Corsets to Consciousness") 9:30 a.m. & 10:15 a.m. R.S.V.P. to the synagogue office at 334-0159.
16: Fairfield Hadassah General meeting. For more information, please email afodeman1@aol.com 16: 8:00 pm. - The Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies and the Center for Catholic Studies at Fairfield University will present Dr. Reuven Kimelman, Professor of Classical Judaica, Brandeis University, at the Fourth Annual Lecture in Jewish-Christian Engagement titled, “The Seduction of Eve: Why Did She Do It?” Professor Kimelman has authored several books and has published widely in journals of scholarly and popular interest on Bible, history, ethics, liturgy, current affairs, and the history of Jewish-Christian relations. This free event will take place at 8:00 p.m. in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business on the Fairfield University campus. Seating is limited, and reservations are requested. Call the Bennett Center at (203) 254-4000, extension 2066. 18: 8:45 am - Join the Chabad of Faifield's Jewish Women's Circle for a Trip to Crown Heights. Discover the mysteries of Chassidic life in Brooklyn. A Sightseeing tour, shopping, and lunch! Leaving Fairfield at 8:45 a.m., returning approx 4:30 p.m. $36/person (lunch included). To RSVP call 203.373.1118 or email Miriam@ChabadFF.com 20: 8:30pm - Lamplighter Celebration. Join Chabad of Fairfield for an elegant evening in celebration of Jewish life and learning. Info + RSVP www.ChabadFF.com/Lamplighter or 203.373.1118.
21: Fun "Pre-Holiday" Family Workshop - The Matzah Bakery. (Passover - the Celebration of the Exodus.) Are you curious about the meanings behind the Jewish Holidays, and how to enjoy them with your family at home? This family workshop, co-sponsored with Chabad of Fairfield, assume no prior knowledge about the Holidays, and is designed to engage all kinds of families with young children in fun activities, songs and foods related to the upcoming Jewish Holidays. (No Membership at JCC or synagogue required for these workshops.) Sunday afternoon at the JCC. For details, start time and more information, call Vivian Rockmacher, BJE Director, at 372-6567, x.127, or Vivian127@jccs.org. 28: 4:30 pm - Join the Israeli Young Emissaries for a Maccabia! Maccabia is the Israeli version of the Olympic games. We will have a family event with lots of Israeli sports, contests and suprises. At the end of the event, Medals will be given. For more information, please contact Dvir Dor at 203-610-3235, or dvir_dor@walla.com, or Keren Shemesh at 203-610-7157, or krnsms@gmail.com
APRIL 2010 7: 7:30 pm - Join the Israeli Young Emissaries for a Mimuna! Mimuna is the Moroccan way to end Passover with a big celebration. We will be doing belly-dancing, making traditional desserts, singing and having a lot of fun. For more information, please contact Dvir Dor at 203-610-3235, or dvir_dor@walla.com, or Keren Shemesh at 203-610-7157, or krnsms@gmail.com
8: 7:00 pm - JCC Film Series "The Little Traitor." In 1947, Palestine, just a few months before Israel becomes a state, 12 year old Proffy Liebowitz has grown up under British occupation and wants nothing more than for the occupying British to get out of his land. One evening, Proffy is seized by Sergeant Dunlop. Instead of arresting Proffy, Dunlop escorts him home and a friendship develops. While Proffy has learned a great deal from his mentor, he is also shunned by his friends for this friendship and called a "traitor" by his neighbors and community. Films are for mature audiences only. Admission $5 in advance/ $8 at the door. For more information, or to reserve your seats in advance, please contact Vivian Rockmacher at (203) 372-6567, ext. 127 or vivian127@jccs.org.
11: 4:00 pm - Yom Hashoah Holocaust Memorial. This annual event brings the community together to Remember, to listen to the testimony of Holocaust Survivors who live in our local area, and to honor the memories of those who perished in the Shoah. This year, our Israeli Emissareis Dvir Dor and Keren Shemesh will be co-planning this program. For more information on this important community event, please call Laurie Gross at (203) 372-6567, ext. 172, or Lauriegross@jccs.org. 12: 4:30 pm - Fairfield University’s annual Holocaust Remembrance Service and Candle Lighting Ceremony will take place on the university campus in the Egan Chapel of Saint Ignatius Loyola from 4:30-6:00 p.m. Holocaust survivor, Stanley L. Ronell, who was born in Krakow, Poland and hidden in both Poland and Hungary by “the Righteous Among Nations,” will be the featured speaker. The Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies and KADIMA (the University’s undergraduate Jewish cultural club) will co-sponsor this event with Campus Ministry. For reservations, please call the Bennett Center at (203) 254-4000 extension 2066. 15: 7:00 pm - "JCC Film Series "One Day You'll Understand." Official Selection: Toronto and Berlin film festivals. As the 1987 trial of Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie unfolds on television, Victor Bastien reviews old family documents and finds a distressing Aryan declaration from his late father, a discovery that throws Victor's conception of his family's history into darkness. His mother Rivka keeps silent about the past, while his sister Tania defends their father's declaration. Burning with the need to unearth the truth, Victor takes his family to the tiny village where Rivka's parents were forced to hide during the war. Films are for mature audiences only. Admission $5 in advance/ $8 at the door. For more information,or to reserve your seats in advance, please contact Vivian Rockmacher at (203) 372-6567, ext. 127 or vivian127@jccs.org.
17: JCC Schoolboy/Schoolgirl Classic is the longest running, all star, high school basketball game in the country. This Saturday night tournament features a girls game between CT East and CT West, followed by a boys game between CT and NJ. For more information, please contact Nicolle Camara at (203) 372-6567, ext. 144.
18: - Hadassah Big Gifts Fundraiser to benefit Hadassah Hospital. To be held at a private home TBA. For more information please contact Debbie at 203-371-4915.
20: 7:30 pm - Join the Israeli Young Emissaries at the JCC to mark Israeli Remembrance Day for the fallen soldiers and the victims of terror, and celebration that is Independence Day. Join us as we remember and honor those who are no longer with us, and acknowledge gratefully our Independence. For more information, please contact Dvir Dor at 203-610-3235, or dvir_dor@walla.com, or Keren Shemesh at 203-610-7157, or krnsms@gmail.com
20: Fairfield Hadassah General meeting. For more information, please email afodeman1@aol.com 20: The Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies at Fairfield University will present a free lecture by Dr. Leonard Greenspoon, Klutznick Professor of Jewish Civilization; Classical and Near Eastern Studies; and Theology at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. The title of Dr. Greenspoon’s talk will be “Textually Speaking: How and Why Jews Translate the Bible.” Seating for this event is limited and individuals interested in attending are requested to make reservations. Please call the Bennett Center at (203) 254-4000, extension 2066. 22: 7:00 pm - JCC Film Series "Everything Is Illuminated." The story of a young man's quest to find the woman who saved his grandfather in a small Ukrainian town that was wiped off the map by the Nazi invasion. What starts out as a journey to piece together one family's story under the most absurd circumstances turns into a surprisingly meaningful journey with a powerful series of revelations -- the importance of remembrance, the perilous nature of secrets, the legacy of the Holocaust, the meaning of friendship and, most importantly, love. Films are for mature audiences only. Admission $5 in advance/ $8 at the door. For more information, or to reserve your seats in advance, please contact Vivian Rockmacher at (203) 372-6567, ext. 127 or vivian127@jccs.org.
25: 5:00 PM - Annual Couple of the Year Gala at Congregation Beth El, Fairfield, honoring Dara and Steven Robifker. For more information about the gala or advertising in the journal, contact Susan Mittag, Executive Director at 203-374-5544 or email congbethel@aol.com. 26: 6:30 pm - Poker Night at the JCC! A joint event with Congregation Bnai Torah of Trumbull, join us for a fun evening out with dinner at 6:30pm, Texas Hold 'Em at 7:30pm, and a good time with friends 'till its all over! Great final table prizes! Admission includes a pasta & salad dinner, drinks of all kinds, and a set of chips to start play with. $70 in advance, $80 at the door. For more information, contact Carol at 203-372-6567, ext. 175, or email Carolr@jccs.org. MAY 2010 1: SAVE THE DATE! - A Community Concert to benefit the Israeli Young Emissaries program in our community. Details will follow soon. 2: 4:00 pm - The Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies will host its Annual Judaic Studies Donor Reception from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Musical entertainment will be presented by singer Hadar Orshalimy. The purpose of this event is to recognize and thank those individuals who have made a financial commitment of a minimum of $100 to the Bennett Center for the 2009-2010 Academic Year. Admission to the Donor Reception is by invitation. Individuals interested in supporting the Bennett Center and its programs are requested to contact Elaine Bowman at the Center by calling (203) 254-4000, extension 2066 or emailing Ebowman@fairfield.edu 3: 10:00 am – 3:30 pm Women's Auxiliary of The Jewish Home for the Elderly, Annual Spring Luncheon and Boutique at The Waterview in
5: A Taste of Merkaz. Please join us in a special event celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Merkaz Community High School serving teens and their families. Watch for the upcoming information about this exciting community celebration. Merkaz is a program of the JCCS, and is funded by the UJA-Federation Annual Campaign. For more information, please call (203) 372-6567, ext 139. 12: 7:30 p.m. at the JCC. - The Frank Jacoby Foundation Jewish Lecture Series presents Charles London author of "Far From Zion: In Search of a Global Jewish Community". The frequent flights of Jews from persecution and numerous relocations have seen the establishment of Jewish communities in some of the most surprising places. London explores Jewish communities in far-flung places who have chosen to remain in the countries of their birth, despite intense pressures to flee. At the same time the book explores widespread Jewish communities struggling with their relationship to the larger world. Charles London is a former research associate with Refugees International. Admission: $5 in advance / $10 at the door. For more information or to reserve a seat, please contact Vivian Rockmacher at (203) 372-6567, ext. 127 or vivian127@jccs.org. 15: Cong. Bnai Israel will host a special evening to mark Rabbi James Prosnit's 20th year at B’nai Israel. For more information, please call the synagogue office at 203-336-1858.
16: 4:30 pm - Join the Israeli Young Emissaries for a Kibbutz style Shavuot Celebration! See how Israel marks this harvest holiday, and enjoy the huge “white” celebration of dance, dairy food, songs and many surprises! For more information, please contact Dvir Dor at 203-610-3235, or dvir_dor@walla.com, or Keren Shemesh at 203-610-7157, or krnsms@gmail.com
JUNE 2010 6: 7:30 P.M. - Graduation Ceremony for Merkaz - Community High School for Judaic Studies. Taking place at Congregation Beth El, 1200 Fairfield Woods Road in Fairfield, Merkaz Graduation is a special ceremony with an opportunity for our community to recognize the commitment of its teens to Jewish education. Please join us as our students share their memorable experiences at Merkaz, sing, perform, and deliver special readings as part of the program. Merkaz is a program of the JCCS, and is funded by the UJA-Federation Annual Campaign. For more information, please call (203) 372-6567, ext 139. 11: 10:00 am - JCC Early Childhood proram presents "ECD 4's Special Shabbat." Entire families of our 4-year-olds will gather to celebrate a joyous Shabbat together, and mark a special time in the lives of our growing children. For more information about this event, or our Early Childhood program, please call Ellen Winston, ECD Director, at (203) 372-6567, ext. 122. 28: The Men’s Club of The Jewish Home for the Elderly George Lipton Golf and Tennis Invitational at Rockrimmon Country Club in Stamford, CT. PRO-AM Golf Tournament, Afternoon Golf Tournament and Tennis Tournament. For more information, please contact Dayna Hayden, Coordinator, Auxiliaries & Events, 203-365-6409 or dhayden@jhe.org.
SEPTEMBER 2010 13: SAVE THE DATE! UJA/Federation Annual Golf & Tennis Outing. More information to follow, or call Carol Robbins at 203-372-6567, ext. 175..
OCTOBER 2010 23: 8:30 pm. Cocktail Reception to celebrate the opening of the Jewish High School of Connecticut. JHSC Campus, Congregation B’nai Israel, 2710 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604. For information call 203-275-8448, or email info@jhsct.org. 28 & 29: Weekend Speaker: Dr. Stephen M. Berk at Congregation Beth El, Fairfield. Stephen M. Berk is Professor of History at Union College in Schenectady, New York, former Chair of the Department of History, Director of the Program in Russian and Eastern European Studies and Faculty Advisor to the Jewish Student Organization. He is the author of Year of Crisis, Year of Hope: Russian Jewry and the Pogroms of 1881-1882. Details and topic to be announced. Call 203-374-5544 or email congbethel@aol.com for more information.
