Wandering Jews of Astoria

WJOA Trivia Night, Happy Hour and Shabbat in the Park

5/26/2025

See below for the WJOA mid-May announcements!

Featured in today's newsletter:
Trivia Night: 6/5
Happy Hour in LIC: 6/12
Shabbat in the Park: 6/20
Book Club: 6/22
Schmooze News

Trivia Night

Thursday, June 5, 6:30pm – 9:15pm
Halsey's (30-95 33rd St, Astoria)

Please RSVP to Laura so she can save seats. The WJOA Trivia team will return to celebrate another victory at Halsey's. Join us on Thursday, June 5 at 6:30pm to help reserve a table and grab Happy Hour drinks before Trivia begins at 7. Halsey's Trivia has become extremely popular, so we are hoping to take advantage of expanded outdoor seating now that the weather is getting warmer. In the event of rain on June 5, we may have to transition to an indoor Happy Hour nearby if there is not enough space for us (they do not take reservations). We hope to see you there! Here is the Facebook event.

RSVP to Laura

Happy Hour in LIC

Thursday, June 12, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Focal Point Beer Co (43-50 12th St, LIC)

Come hang with WJOA as we go to Focal Point Beer Co in LIC, which was a BOAST: Best of Astoria & LIC 2024 Winner for Best Bar for Beer and Best Outdoor Drinking in LIC. There is ample indoor and outdoor seating and the vibe is relaxed. There are only snacks served there, but you can bring in pizza from around the corner (Lupo Rosso) or Mexican food from next door (Sobremesa Cocina Mexicana). RSVP to Jonah by Tuesday, June 10, so he can make a reservation. Here is the Facebook event.

RSVP to Jonah

Shabbat in the Park

Friday, June 20, 6:30pm – 9:00pm
Astoria Park

Join us for the next Wandering Jews Shabbat, as we return to Astoria Park. We'll sing Kabbalat Shabbat and have a vegetarian potluck dinner. RSVP to Brian. We'll send you the location and a spreadsheet so you can tell us what vegetarian delicacies you can share for dinner. Here is the Facebook event.

RSVP to Brian

Book Club Brunch and Discussion

Sunday, June 22, noon – 2pm
Location TBD

The next Book Club book for the Wandering Jews of Astoria (WJOA) will be Goyhood by Reuven Fenton (288 pages). We'll meet for a discussion and brunch potluck at location TBD. Come with a question or two if you'd like. We will be joined virtually by the author for part of it! Here is the link to the book at Astoria Bookshop. RSVP to Jonah by Thursday, June 19 if you can make it, and he'll send you the address and potluck signup form. Here is the Facebook event.

RSVP to Jonah

Schmooze News

WJOA member Eli Steier has a YouTube series of two-minute videos called Whole Heart Torah Fundamentals. You can check it out here.
- These short clips are designed to introduce and deepen key Torah concepts such as the significance of the unity of Hashem, Hashem's love for us, and the importance of being wholehearted.
Central 20s & 30s
- The Future of the Middle East with Israel Policy Forum (& Mix and Mingle Opportunity)
  Monday, June 16
  6:00 – 7:30pm | Pavilion
  Israel Policy Forum hosts a diverse panel discussion with Israeli, Palestinian, and Saudi speakers about the future of the Middle East. Following the talk, 20s & 30s are invited to join an exclusive mix & mingle for young professionals with the speakers and IPF Atid. This program is part of our “Prospects for Peace” series. Register here
Central 30s & 40s
- New group alert!
  Central Synagogue now has a group for those in their 30s and 40s. The group goes to Shabbat services at Central on the third Friday of the month, followed by a bar nearby to schmooze. (They also have other events.) You can sign up here to get on the email list, and the WhatsApp group is linked here.
Donate to Aid in the Israel-Gaza Crisis
- We are heartbroken and devastated by the Israel/Gaza war. You can contribute to GlobalGiving's Israel-Palestine Crisis Relief Fund, which provides emergency relief and long-term support to people in need.
Donate to Aid in the Ukraine Crisis
- In February 2023, WJOA board member Jonah Schrogin volunteered at JCC Krakow, where he packed and sorted food for Ukrainian refugees. If you'd like to contribute to JCC Krakow's Ukraine relief program, here is their Ukraine Appeal. JCC Krakow is a 501(c)(3) organization, so any donations made are tax-deductible. Please write “Ukraine donation via Jonah Schrogin, int vol” in the comment box.
- Jonah has another fundraiser, this one benefitting GlobalGiving's Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund. This supports more than 80 non-profit organizations on the ground in Ukraine and in the surrounding areas providing humanitarian aid, such as shelter, medical care, food, and clean water. Contribute here, and you can get more information by emailing Jonah, including seeing a recorded presentation.

Have an event you'd like to organize or share? As always, please don't hesitate to send them our way!

—The WJOA Team

WJOA Club Room Shabbat, Happy Hour and Board Games

5/26/2025

See below for the WJOA early May announcements!

Featured in today's newsletter:
Club Room Shabbat: 5/9
Happy Hour: 5/13
Board Games at Bohemian Hall: 5/18
Book Club: 6/22
Schmooze News

Club Room Shabat

Friday, May 9, 6:30pm–9:30pm
Jonah's apartment building in LIC

Join us for the next Wandering Jews Shabbat, as Jonah hosts us at his building's Club Room in LIC. This special Shabbat will be led with musical accompaniment, and the vegetarian potluck dinner has pizza included. It is $10 to attend, and that will help offset the cost of reserving the room. Please RSVP to Jonah by Thursday, May 8 at 6pm. This will be a larger capacity Shabbat, but space is still limited so RSVP early. After he receives your payment, he will provide the OneTable registration link, address, and potluck sign-up for sides, beverages and desserts. Here is the Facebook event.

RSVP to Jonah

Happy Hour

Tuesday, May 13, 6:30pm
Sweet Afton (30-09 34th St, Astoria)

Join us in going back to an Astoria favorite—Sweet Afton! We will get there by 6:30pm to catch Happy Hour 4pm-7pm, which includes $2 off house select cocktails, spirits, draft beer and wines. Check out the menu here. Sweet Afton is also one of the BOAST: Best of Astoria & LIC 2024 winners for Best Bar for Cocktails in Astoria. Check out BOAST and other winners in the DRINK section here. Please RSVP to Jennifer so she can save you a seat. Here is the Facebook event.

RSVP to Jennifer

Board Games at Bohemian Hall

Sunday, May 18, 2pm–6pm
Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden (29-19 24th Ave, Astoria)

Join the Wandering Jews for Board Games at Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden! We'll play outside if the weather is nice, but there is also an indoor option downstairs if it is rainy or windy. Come by any time between 2pm and 6pm. Please RSVP to Laura so that she can save seats and to sign up to bring a board game (optional, but recommended). Here is the Facebook event.

RSVP to Laura

Book Club Brunch and Discussion

Sunday, June 22, noon–2pm
Location TBD

The next Book Club book will be Goyhood by Reuven Fenton (288 pages). We'll meet for a discussion and brunch potluck at location TBD. Come with a question or two if you'd like. Here is the link to the book at Astoria Bookshop.
RSVP to Jonah by Thursday, June 19 if you can make it, and he'll send you the address and potluck signup form. Here is the Facebook event.

RSVP to Jonah

Schmooze News

WJOA member Eli Steier has a YouTube series of two-minute videos called Whole Heart Torah Fundamentals. You can check it out here.
- These short clips are designed to introduce and deepen key Torah concepts such as the significance of the unity of Hashem, Hashem's love for us, and the importance of being wholehearted.
Central 20s & 30s
- The NYC Shabbat Collective
  Friday, May 16, 6:30pm
  Hebrew Union College
  Join us for our final Shabbat celebration of the season, with uplifting music, delicious food and drinks, and a vibrant community of Jews in their 20s and 30s from across the city. Register
Central 30s & 40s
- New group alert!
  Central Synagogue now has a group for those in their 30s and 40s. The group goes to Shabbat services at Central on the third Friday of the month, followed by a bar nearby to schmooze. (They also have other events.) You can sign up here to get on the email list, and the WhatsApp group is linked here.
Donate to Aid in the Israel-Gaza Crisis
- We are heartbroken and devastated by the Israel/Gaza war. You can contribute to GlobalGiving's Israel-Palestine Crisis Relief Fund, which provides emergency relief and long-term support to people in need.
Donate to Aid in the Ukraine Crisis
- In February 2023, WJOA board member Jonah Schrogin volunteered at JCC Krakow, where he packed and sorted food for Ukrainian refugees. If you'd like to contribute to JCC Krakow's Ukraine relief program, here is their Ukraine Appeal. JCC Krakow is a 501(c)(3) organization, so any donations made are tax-deductible. Please write “Ukraine donation via Jonah Schrogin, int vol” in the comment box.
- Jonah has another fundraiser, this one benefitting GlobalGiving's Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund. This supports more than 80 non-profit organizations on the ground in Ukraine and in the surrounding areas providing humanitarian aid, such as shelter, medical care, food, and clean water. Contribute here, and you can get more information by emailing Jonah, including seeing a recorded presentation.

Have an event you'd like to organize or share? As always, please don't hesitate to send them our way!

—The WJOA Team

WJOA Passover Movie Night, Mimouna at Milkflower and Shabbat at ACI

4/17/2025

See below for the WJOA mid-April announcements!

Featured in today's newsletter:
Passover Movie Night: 4/17
Mimouna at Milkflower: 4/20
Shabbat with ACI Young Professionals: 4/25
Trivia Night: 5/1
Author Event with Reuven Fenton: 5/4
Club Room Shabbat: 5/9
Schmooze News

Passover Movie Night

Thursday, April 17, 6:30pm
Ali's apartment in Astoria

Join the Wandering Jews of Astoria on Thursday, April 17 as we resume our tradition of Passover movie night! 6:30pm arrival time, 7pm showtime! We have the vast array of Mel Brooks movies to choose from and we will vote that night. Please bring a snack to share and we ask that it is kosher for Passover. Please RSVP to Ali for her address. Here is the Facebook event.

RSVP to Ali

Mimouna at Milkflower

Sunday, April 20, 7pm
Milkflower (34-12 31st Ave, Astoria)

Join WJOA as we break Passover with delicious pizza at Milkflower, a BOAST: Best of Astoria & LIC 2024 Winner for Best Pizza in Astoria. RSVP to Jonah by Tuesday, April 15 so we can make a reservation. Here is the Facebook event.

(Mimouna is a Jewish celebration marking the end of Passover and a return to chametz.)

RSVP to Jonah

Shabbat with ACI Young Professionals

Friday, April 25, 6:30pm–10pm
Astoria Center of Israel (27-35 Crescent St, Astoria)

Join us for post-Passover Shabbat services and potluck dinner being hosted at the Astoria Center of Israel synagogue with their Young Professionals group. Mark your calendar for Friday, April 25, as we gather for a special dairy/pareve potluck dinner. RSVP to Brian to get the sign-up sheet. Here is the Facebook event.

RSVP to Brian

Trivia Night

Thursday, May 1, 6:30pm–9pm
Halsey's (30-95 33rd St, Astoria)

Please RSVP to Laura so she can save seats. The WJOA Trivia team will return to celebrate our previous victory at Halsey's. Join us on Thursday, May 1 at 6:30pm to help reserve a table and grab happy hour drinks before trivia begins at 7pm. Halsey's trivia has become extremely popular, so we are hoping to take advantage of expanded outdoor seating now that the weather is getting warmer. In the event of rain on May 1, we may have to transition to an indoor happy hour nearby if there is not enough space for us (they do not take reservations). We hope to see you there! Here is the Facebook event.

RSVP to Laura

Author Event with Reuven Fenton

Sunday, May 4, 3pm–5pm
LIC

Reuven Fenton, who is a longtime writer for the New York Post, published a novel in 2024 called Goyhood. The book is about a devoutly Orthodox Jewish man who discovers in middle age that he's not, in fact, Jewish, and embarks on a remarkable road trip through America's Deep South with his estranged ne'er-do-well twin brother to come to grips with his fate. We'll be sitting down with Reuven to have a discussion about his book. We hope you'll join us! Please RSVP by Thursday, May 1 to Jonah, and he will provide the address. Space is limited. Here is the Facebook event.

RSVP to Jonah

Club Room Shabat

Friday, May 9, 6:30pm–9:30pm
Jonah's apartment building in LIC

Join us for the next Wandering Jews Shabbat, as Jonah hosts us at his building's Club Room in LIC. This special Shabbat will be led with musical accompaniment, and the vegetarian potluck dinner has pizza included. It is $10 to attend, and that will help offset the cost of reserving the room. Please RSVP to Jonah by Tuesday, May 6. This will be a larger capacity Shabbat, but space is still limited so RSVP early. After he receives your payment, he will provide the OneTable registration link, address, and potluck sign-up for sides, beverages and desserts. Here is the Facebook event.

RSVP to Jonah

Schmooze News

WJOA member Eli Steier has a YouTube series of two-minute videos called Whole Heart Torah Fundamentals. You can check it out here.
- These short clips are designed to introduce and deepen key Torah concepts such as the significance of the unity of Hashem, Hashem's love for us, and the importance of being wholehearted.
Central 20s & 30s
- Passover Wine Tasting
  Thursday, April 17
  6:30–8:30pm | Central Synagogue Pavilion
  Wine is a major part of the Passover seder, but are we taking the time to truly appreciate the fruit of the vine? Enjoy delicious Israeli wine at a special tasting led by "Israel Wine Girl” Jody Nestel and Central member Michelle Aspis. Chocolate and cheese pairings will be provided. Register
Central 30s & 40s
- New group alert!
  Central Synagogue now has a group for those in their 30s and 40s. The group goes to Shabbat services at Central on the third Friday of the month, followed by a bar nearby to schmooze. (They also have other events.) You can sign up here to get on the email list, and the WhatsApp group is linked here.
Donate to Aid in the Israel-Gaza Crisis
- We are heartbroken and devastated by the Israel/Gaza war. You can contribute to GlobalGiving's Israel-Palestine Crisis Relief Fund, which provides emergency relief and long-term support to people in need.
Donate to Aid in the Ukraine Crisis
- In February 2023, WJOA board member Jonah Schrogin volunteered at JCC Krakow, where he packed and sorted food for Ukrainian refugees. If you'd like to contribute to JCC Krakow's Ukraine relief program, here is their Ukraine Appeal. JCC Krakow is a 501(c)(3) organization, so any donations made are tax-deductible. Please write “Ukraine donation via Jonah Schrogin, int vol” in the comment box.
- Jonah has another fundraiser, this one benefitting GlobalGiving's Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund. This supports more than 80 non-profit organizations on the ground in Ukraine and in the surrounding areas providing humanitarian aid, such as shelter, medical care, food, and clean water. Contribute here, and you can get more information by emailing Jonah, including seeing a recorded presentation.

Have an event you'd like to organize or share? As always, please don't hesitate to send them our way!

—The WJOA Team

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WJOA Trivia Night, Happy Hour and Shabbat in the Park

Trivia Night

Happy Hour in LIC

Shabbat in the Park

Book Club Brunch and Discussion

Schmooze News

WJOA Club Room Shabbat, Happy Hour and Board Games

Club Room Shabat

Happy Hour

Board Games at Bohemian Hall

Book Club Brunch and Discussion

Schmooze News

WJOA Passover Movie Night, Mimouna at Milkflower and Shabbat at ACI

Passover Movie Night

Mimouna at Milkflower

Shabbat with ACI Young Professionals

Trivia Night

Author Event with Reuven Fenton

Club Room Shabat

Schmooze News

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