Early February 2021 Newsletter

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See below for the Early February announcements! Featured in today's newsletter: WJOA Board Openings and New Member Shabbats: 2/12, 3/19 Game Night: 2/4 Purim Spiel: 2/20 Book Club: 2/28 Schmooze News WJOA Board Openings Interested in getting more involved with this group? The Wandering Jews of Astoria has openings for board positions. A small amount of time can help us plan events and strengthen the Jewish community in Western Queens. To learn more, contact us! Also, we would like to welcome Marina Bardash Nebro to the WJOA Board! Join Us for Virtual Shabbat! Friday, Feb. 12, 7 p.m. This week, a special guest will present the D’var Torah: host of the podcast Interfaith-ish and documentary producer, Jack Gordon! Jack Gordon is a DC-based photographer and media producer who has worked extensively serving top community development organizations both domestically and internationally. His work strives to reflect a dedication to service, to community-building, & to recognizing the inherent nobility of the entire human family. Jack created Interfaith-ish to have conversations about how we navigate the common ground and differences between our traditions. The show recently celebrated their 75th episode! Link to register here – Facebook event here   Friday, Mar. 19, 7 p.m. Link to register here – Facebook event here Virtual Game Night – Fishbowl Thursday, Feb. 4, 7:30 – 9 p.m. Join Emily, Ali and Jonah for a virtual game night. We'll play Fishbowl, which is a combination of Taboo, Charades, and Password. Check it out here. RSVP to Jonah, and he will send the Zoom link. It's gonna be fun! Here is the Facebook event. Virtual WJOA Purim Spiel Saturday, Feb. 20, 8 p.m. On the Saturday before Purim, we are going to try out the new medium of Zoom performance. Come and watch your fellow Wandering Jews perform in our annual Purim spiel. Contact Brian if you are interested in being part of the performance. Here is the Facebook event. Virtual Book Club Sunday, Feb. 28, noon Grab your favorite brunch food and join us as we eat, chat, and discuss the book "My Year of Rest and Relaxation" by Ottessa Moshfegh (304 pages). If you have any topics or discussion questions you would like covered, email Jonah. Also email him to get the Zoom link. Here is the link to buy the book at Astoria Bookshop. Here is the Facebook event. Schmooze News Ohel Ayalah Offerings "You Shall Have No Other Gods But Me": 21st-Century Idolatry Wednesday, Feb. 3, 6:30–7:30 p.m. Why does the Torah focus so much on idolatry? What are the "idols" we often find ourselves worshipping in our own day and age? Join OA LIC on February 3rd at 6:30 p.m. for online learning about the Ten Commandments and Judaism's relationship to idol worship. We'll explore Jewish texts and discuss their meaning for our lives today!  Click here to RSVP   Save the dates for Purim Events with Other Queens Jewish Groups Sunday, Feb. 21, 7 p.m. There will be some pre-Purim virtual events. The first activity is creating a paper grogger with Jennifer Verbit. There will be a few more activities following, with more details to come soon. Thursday, Feb. 25 As in years past, WJOA is partnering with Malkhut, as well as Ohel Ayalah and the Queens Jewish Project, on a Purim party and creative Megillah reading. More details about this virtual event are coming soon and we look forward to seeing you there! All registration for Purim with Malkhut and pre-Purim events will be on Malkhut's website. Collaboration between Malkhut, Wandering Jews of Astoria, Queens Jewish Project and Ohel Ayalah is made possible with a grant from UJA-Federation of New York.    Central Synagogue's 20s and 30s First Fridays Join Central Synagogue's 20s and 30s group in welcoming Shabbat on the first Fridays of the month. To get the link, RSVP to Rabbi Dan. Save the dates for First Friday Shabbats for the rest of the year: Friday, February 5 Friday, March 5 Friday, April 9 (special Second Friday!) Friday, May 7 Friday, June 4 Combat Food Insecurity in Our City! Mayor Bill de Blasio estimates that over 2 million people — roughly a quarter of the city — could be food insecure, according to a recent article by Eater New York, linked here. This article also details a number of ways that you can get involved with local groups to help combat hunger! Check it out and get involved! One of our favorite local groups is Astoria Fridges, community fridges that provide free, accessible food to the Astoria community 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you have an excess of food, donate some to an Astoria Fridge near you (click here for a map of locations). Have an event you'd like to organize or share? As always, please don't hesitate to send them our way! Stay safe and well during these trying times! —The WJOA Team