Blog Posts

WJOA Ice Cream Happy Hour, Trivia and Shabbat in the Park

6/4/2026

See below for the WJOA early June announcements!

Featured in today's newsletter:
Shabbat Hosting Interest Survey
Ice Cream Happy Hour: 6/18
Trivia: 6/24
Shabbat in the Park (LIC): 6/26
Book Club: 7/12
Brunch: 8/9
Schmooze News

WJOA Shabbat Hosting Interest Survey

Please fill out the form below to let us know if you're interested in hosting Shabbat dinners in the future. You can let us know which neighborhood you live in, how many people you can host, and if you want to do a full kabbalat Shabbat services before the meal, or just kiddush and motzi. Thank you in advance!

Fill out the survey

Ice Cream Happy Hour

Thursday, June 18, 7pm – 8:30pm
Ample Hills Creamery Astoria (34-02 30th Ave, Astoria)

Join WJOA for an almost-summer Ice Cream Happy Hour. We will gather at the Ample Hills Creamery in Astoria. All of Ample Hills is officially kosher certified for its ice cream. Check out their flavors here. To attend or to ask any event questions, please RSVP by Wednesday, June 17 through Partiful here, so that we can expect you there. Here is the Facebook event.

RSVP on Partiful

Trivia Night

Wednesday, June 24, 7pm – 9:30pm
Finback LIC (29-37 41st Ave, LIC)

Please RSVP on Partiful here by Tuesday, June 23 so that we have an accurate count for teams. The WJOA Trivia team will compete at Finback LIC on Wednesday, June 24. Come at 7pm to grab a drink, catch up with the group, and help hold seats until trivia begins at 7:30pm. All are welcome, whether you are a trivia star or an enthusiastic cheerleader. We hope to see you there! Here is the Facebook event.

RSVP on Partiful

Shabbat in the Park (LIC)

Friday, June 26, 7pm – 9pm
Gantry Plaza State Park (47-40 Center Blvd, LIC)

We're heading to the waterfront park in LIC! We'll be in the area directly behind the Queens Public Library at Hunters Point (47-40 Center Blvd). Bring a blanket or lawn chair to sit on. Before the meal we will only be doing kiddush and motzi, not a full service. Please RSVP by Wednesday, June 24 through Partiful here, then we'll send you the spreadsheet to sign up for the vegetarian potluck. Here is the Facebook event.

RSVP on Partiful

Book Club Brunch and Discussion

Sunday, July 12, 12pm – 2pm
Location TBD (Astoria or LIC)

The next Book Club book will be Becoming Eve: My Journey from Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi to Transgender Woman by Abby Stein (272 pages). We'll meet for a discussion and brunch potluck at location TBD in Astoria or LIC. Come with a question or two if you'd like. Here is the link to the book at Astoria Bookshop. RSVP on Partiful here by Thursday, July 9 if you can make it, and we'll send you the address and potluck signup form. Here is the Facebook event.

RSVP on Partiful

Brunch

Sunday, August 9, 12pm – 2pm
Astoria Provisions (12-23 Astoria Blvd, Astoria)

Join WJOA for a summertime brunch! This place has great food. Check out the menu here. RSVP soon on Partiful here as space is limited. Hope to see you there! Here is the Facebook event.

RSVP on Partiful

Schmooze News

Save the Date
- June 28, 2026, 2pm – 5pm
- WJOA will partner with Central Queens Against Hate for a walking tour of Queens’ religious institutions. Food will be provided! More information and RSVP coming in the next newsletter.
Central 30s/40s
- Central Synagogue has a vibrant, lay-led group for people in their 30s & 40s. The group regularly sits together at Shabbat services, goes out for Shabbat drinks, and organizes additional events for holidays and general gatherings.
- To learn more, email Marina at [email protected].
WJOA member Eli Steier has a website called Whole Heart Torah, for resources on Jewish meditation and spiritual direction.
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

WJOA Trivia, Shavuot and Book Club

6/4/2026

See below for the WJOA mid-May announcements!

Featured in today's newsletter:
Shabbat Hosting Interest Survey
Trivia: 5/20
Shavuot Dinner and JCC Tikkun: 5/21
Book Club: 7/12
Schmooze News

WJOA Shabbat Hosting Interest Survey

Fill out the survey