Havdalah, Chanukah and Christmastime for the Jews is on 12/24!

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See below for the mid-December announcements! Featured in today's newsletter: Havdalah, Chanukah and Christmastime for the Jews: 12/24 Book Club: 1/8 WJOA Shabbat: 1/20 Schmooze News Havdalah, Chanukah and Christmastime for the Jews Saturday, December 24, 5:30 p.m. Jujube Tree, 35-02 30th Ave; Regal UA Kaufman Astoria, 35-30 38th St A coinciding of holidays! Join us for this year's post-Shabbat Chinese food and a movie at Jujube Tree. We'll meet at Jujube Tree for Havdalah, lighting the Chanukah for the seventh night, and dinner. After dinner, we'll journey to the nearby movie theater (Regal UA Kaufman Astoria) and watch the movie of your choice (highlights this year include Avatar: The Way of Water, I Wanna Dance with Somebody, The Whale, and Pinocchio). Come for just dinner, just the movie, or both. Hope to see you there! If you'd like to join, RSVP to Jonah by Thursday, December 22 at 8 p.m. Here is the Facebook event. 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. WJOA Shabbat Friday, January 20, 7 p.m.  Laura's apartment Join us for Shabbat services and a potluck dinner at Laura's apartment. E-mail Laura to RSVP. You will receive a spreadsheet to sign up for what vegetarian dish you’re bringing. Being fully vaccinated is required, and a rapid test within 24 hours is recommended. Check out our Facebook event for more details. Schmooze News The BOAST: Best of Astoria & LIC 2022 Survey is now LIVE! Tell us your favorite things to eat, drink, do and see in the neighborhoods. Please fill it out by Friday, December 23, and add your name and email at the end for a chance to win a prize. Write-ups are appreciated! boast.nyc/survey On Wednesday, December 21 at 7 p.m., celebrate the fourth night of Chanukah with music, drinks and Judaica artists from Astoria and beyond, at QED (27-16 23rd Ave, Astoria)! ChanukART is a celebration of Jewish art, design, creativity, tradition and community. Each artist will participate in a lively conversation on modernity, Jewish meaning-making, ritual, art and community. Live music by Melissa Gordon. Artists include Dana Schwimmer of Lily Toya, Doris Domoszlai-Lantner, Jordan and Jessica Diatlo of Modern Mensch/Leadoff Studio, Paul and Daniel of Toppy's Garage, and Rivka Procaccia. ChanukART is a project of Ayelet Pearl (Av Rimon) with Stephanie Luxenberg (Studio Shoshan). For more information see the Facebook Event here. To purchase tickets and other info here. NOTE: To purchase tickets you will need to affirm that you have read and agree to the QED Covid policy here. Art designed by Julie Maschler. From Joshua Kail, husband of WJOA co-founder Rabbi Cassi Kail: "The Jewish community of Astoria plays a key role in my recently published story of Jewish fiction. Please enjoy and share The Rabbi Who Was Saved By Jesus." 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 Ian 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