Mid-February 2021 Newsletter

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See below for the Mid-February announcements! Featured in today's newsletter: WJOA Board Openings Pre-Purim 2021 Purim Spiel: 2/20 Book Club: 2/28 Shabbats: 3/19, 4/23 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! Pre-Purim 2021 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. The event also includes a costume contest and special performance by Michelle Slonim Rosenfeld and Ben Rosenfeld. RSVP to Brian for the link. 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. Join Us for Virtual Shabbat! Friday, Mar. 19, 7 p.m. Link to register here – Facebook event here   Save the Date: Friday, Apr. 23, 7 p.m. Schmooze News BOAST: Best of Astoria Winter Virtual Party 2021 Join us on Sunday, Feb. 21, from 4 – 5pm to celebrate the BOAST: Best of Astoria 2020 winners over Zoom! Please go to boast.nyc/party to sign up. There will be music from Dan Rauchwerk, Andrew Weiss, Jeff Prentky, and Dave Vargo, comedy from Michelle and Ben Rosenfeld, and we'll hear from some Queens community groups, including Queens Together, We Heart Astoria, and Astoria Pug. We will also have a raffle with prizes from Astoria Performing Arts Center, Astoria Bier & Cheese, The Bonnie, and The Thirsty Koala. (It is free to enter the raffle, but in order to do so, contact us through email or one of our social channels, Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.) There is a suggested donation of $10, and every dollar goes to support BOAST, which in turn supports local groups and establishments. We hope to see you there! Purim Events with Queens Groups Pre-Purim Workshops, Sunday, Feb. 21, 7 p.m. 7:00 – 7:45 p.m. Make noisemakers with WJOA member Jennifer Verbit. Click here to register. 7:45 – 9:15 p.m. Study the Book of Esther with WJOA member Lisa Huberman. Click here to register. Malkhut Purim Celebration, Thursday, Feb. 25 7:00 p.m. Zoom Happy Hour with Danielle Gold from Queens Jewish Project. 7:30 p.m. Main Program. Click here to register. A raucous table reading of the Megilah told by the perspective of the staff working for Haman at the Palace. Written by  Laura Antoniou. Readers needed! Contact Ilana at Malkhut if you are interested in being a reader. Malkhut will send you info after registering.  Hosted by Malkhut, Ohel Ayalah, the Wandering Jews of Astoria, and Queens Jewish Project. 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.  Ohel Ayalah Offerings Perusing the Purim Story Monday, Feb. 22, 7:00 – 7:30 p.m. May a woman read the Megillah (Scroll of Esther) for a man? Is a minyan (quorum of ten) needed for reading the Megillah? What are the other Purim mitzvot? Click here to register.   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, 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