WJOA Trivia Night, Happy Hour and Shabbat in the Park

Read about upcoming events and news from the Wandering Jews of Astoria.

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