Happy Thanksgiving! Lots of WJOA Events Coming Up

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See below for the mid-November announcements! Featured in today's newsletter: Happy Hour and Movie: 11/29 Hudson Valley Hike: 12/4 Museum Exhibit Tour: 12/10 Hanukkah Gift Wrap: 12/13 Havdalah, Hanukkah and Christmastime for the Jews: 12/24 Book Club: 1/8 Schmooze News Happy Hour and Movie Tuesday, November 29, 6pm The Ditty, 35-03 Ditmars Blvd Let's get together for a post-Thanksgiving meet-up: Happy Hour and a movie! Tuesday nights at The Ditty is movie night. We are so excited that Tuesday the 29th is Home Alone!  Our start time for meeting up is 6pm so we can find good seats. The movie starts at 8:30pm. There is no extra admission for the movie. Official Happy Hour time at The Ditty is 4–7pm. Come for drinks, dinner, and the movie. Stay for as long or little as you can; it will be nice to say hello to old friends and new. Please RSVP to Jennifer so that we can save you a seat. Here is the Facebook event. Hudson Valley Hike Sunday, December 4, 10am  Grand Central Information Booth Meet us at the Grand Central Information Booth at 10am to take a ride up to Irvington. We’ll have lunch at a café and then take a leisurely hike down the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail to Hastings, stopping at historic sites and enjoying breathtaking views of the Hudson Valley in late autumn. Let Brian know if you’ll be joining us. Here is the Facebook event. Museum Exhibit Tour – New York: 1962–1964 Saturday, December 10, 2pm  The Jewish Museum, 1109 5th Ave (by E 92nd St) Back by pre-pandemic popular demand, join WJOA member Meredith Nicholson for a tour of the Jewish Museum's latest two-story exhibit New York: 1962–1964, what Meredith thinks is one of the best original exhibits the museum has done since she started working there. Not to mention that, like every Saturday, there's no charge for your visit! RSVP to Meredith. Here is the Facebook event. The museum is fully ADA compliant and there is a quieter area for sensory breaks. Hanukkah Gift Wrap Tuesday, December 13, 6pm  Oliver's Astoria, 37-19 Broadway Suddenly it's the middle of the holiday season and you still have to wrap your gifts! Bring gifts you actually need wrapped and Jennifer will show you a great technique. You can bring wrapping materials if you have something specific to use. Otherwise all wrapping materials will be provided.  We will meet at Oliver's Astoria, which has great menu choices for food and drinks. RSVP to Jennifer. Here is the Facebook event. SAVE THE DATE: Havdalah, Hanukkah Candle Lighting and Christmastime for the Jews Saturday, December 24, evening time TBD  Jujube Tree, 35-02 30th Ave; Regal UA Kaufman Astoria, 35-30 38th St Join us after Shabbat for Havdalah and Hanukkah candle lighting at Astoria’s premiere kosher Chinese/Pan-Asian food restaurant. After dinner, we will walk down to Regal US Kaufman Astoria to see movies of your choosing. More information coming soon! Book Club Brunch and Discussion Sunday, January 8, noon Location TBD The next book will be The Angel of Losses by Stephanie Feldman (304 pages). We'll meet for a discussion and brunch on Sunday, January 8 at noon. Location TBD. Please RSVP to Jonah. Here is the Facebook event. Schmooze News Central Synagogue 20s & 30s FIRST FRIDAY: Light Friday, December 2, 2022, 6:30–8:45pm In-Person This December, light a candle (or eight) with Central Synagogue 20s & 30s as we spark and sparkle our way through FIRST FRIDAY: Light. We’ll gather for a delicious dinner, a spirited service, and a slew of tasty holiday treats (AKA sufganiyot AKA doughnuts) that will get you in the holiday spirit, stat. Join us for a Shabbat-y kickoff to the (warm, bright, shiny, cozy month that includes the) Festival of Lights! Register here. (Cost is $18) Check out a brand new Jewish satire site: From the Desk of the Rebbitzman, brought to you by the husband of WJOA co-founder Rabbi Cassi Kail! This site is filled with songs, lists, Rebbitzermons, and other content which gives a bit more of a tongue in cheek look at Judaism. He was recently featured in the Jewish News Syndicate for some more background information. Donate to Aid in the Ukraine Crisis WJOA member Jonah Schrogin has a fundraiser benefitting GlobalGiving's Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund, which 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 presentation. American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC): Emergency in Ukraine Response JCC Krakow: Ukraine Crisis Appeal Help with Hurricane Ida Relief Hurricane Ian is one of the strongest hurricanes to hit the United States, landing in Florida and then South Carolina after its deadly sweep across Cuba. The powerful hurricane has caused rising fatalities, catastrophic damage, and mass displacement. Your donation to the Hurricane Ian Relief Fund will provide immediate and long-term relief in affected communities. Donate to GlobalGiving's Hurricane Ian Relief Fund. Have an event you'd like to organize or share? As always, please don't hesitate to send them our way! —The WJOA Team