WJOA Shabbat in the Park, Book Club, Fireworks, and BBQ

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

See below for the WJOA mid-June announcements! Featured in today's newsletter: Shabbat in the Park: 6/20 Book Club: 6/22 Astoria Park Fireworks: 6/26 Community Gathering & BBQ with Young Israel of Sunnyside: 6/29 Ultimate in Astoria Park: 7/27 Schmooze News 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 Astoria Park Fireworks, a Pre-4th of July Celebration Thursday, June 26, 7pm–9:45pm The Great Lawn in Astoria Park Join WJOA in viewing fireworks in Astoria Park for a pre-4th of July celebration. We will meet in the park. Specific location to be determined. Bring your own chair or blanket to sit on and your own dinner, or a snack to share. Feel free to arrive throughout the evening. Starting at 7:30pm there will be a special musical performance on the Great Lawn at Astoria Park by the Swingtime Band leading up to the grand display itself. Expect the fireworks to take place at/or beyond sunset, about 9pm. RSVP to Ali, so that we can plan how much lawn area to save. Here is the Facebook event. RSVP to Ali Community Gathering & BBQ with Young Israel of Sunnyside Sunday, June 29, 5pm–8pm 41-26 47th St, Sunnyside Join the Wandering Jews of Astoria and Young Israel of Sunnyside for an evening of fun, food and good company in Sunnyside for a Backyard BBQ. We'll have delicious and sizzling Kosher burgers, hot dogs, vegetarian options and more! This is a Kosher BYOB and potluck gathering for some additional sides and beverages. We are asking for $15 to attend, to offset the cost of the food. Please RSVP by Wednesday, June 25 to Jenna, so we know how much food to provide. After you pay by Zelle to [email protected] or by Venmo to @YoungIsraelofSunnyside, she will email you the potluck sign-up sheet and meeting instructions. We look forward to seeing you there! Here is the Facebook event. RSVP to Jenna Ultimate in Astoria Park Sunday, July 27, 10:30am Astoria Park North Lawn, 19th St and 22nd Rd WJOA Ultimate is back! Come play a game of Ultimate at Astoria Park on the North Lawn, by 19th St and 22nd Rd. No experience necessary, as we will teach the rules of the game (and you can also look them up in advance). Bring clothes to run around in, and cleats or running shoes. You can also come to spectate and cheer if you don't want to play. RSVP to Jonah by Friday, July 25. We may go out for food afterwards. 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 Central in the Park Saturday, July 5 3:00pm–7:00pm | Great Lawn, Central Park Staying in town over the holiday weekend and looking for a way to meet new friends? Join Rabbinic Intern Brooklyn Michalowicz for a summer Shabbat picnic on the Great Lawn at Central Park. Register   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