VCJC News & Notes 1/16/2026

 

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center

News and Notes

Here's this week's edition of the VCJC News and Notes email. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful!

Reminders

2. Shabbos schedule
   
   
   Shabbos information is, as always, available on our website, both in the information sidebar and the events calendar.
   Here are the times you need:  
   Shabbos Candles Friday 1/16/26 @ 4:36 pm
   
   
   Shabbos Ends Saturday 1/117/26 @ 5:40 pm

   If you require an aliyah or would like to lead services, read from the torah or haftorah please speak to one of the gabbaim.

   
   

   This week’s kiddush, featuring a variety of salmon (3 different seasoned), tuna fish, herring, fresh gefilte fish, broccoli salad, pasta salad w/ dried tomatoes and peppers, and fruit salad will add an extra boost to your Shabbos enjoyment. It’s sponsored by the VCJC.  Come join us for services and stay to enjoy the kiddush and the company.
   

3. Interested in learning torah with a group of fellow members of your community?

   Want more details?

   Contact the VCJC office at 718-884-6105 or info@vcjewishcenter.org

   Or you can speak to Stuart Harris or Matthew Hartstein after davening on Shabbat morning.

   
   

4. About our new kiddushim
   For the past several weeks, the VCJC has upgraded its kiddush after Shabbos services. Kiddush now takes place in the ballroom. There is a greater variety of food, which can be enjoyed while seated at covered tables. Our aim is to offer a more enjoyable and meaningful experience, and to encourage conversation and interaction among attendees. This is an evolving effort. It has received very positive reviews so far; we’d love to have your opinion as well. Please join us for services and kiddush, and let us know what you think!
   
   

   
   

   
   

5. Shabbos parsha

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   Parashat Vaera 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת וָאֵרָא

   17 January 2026 / 28 Tevet 5786

   Parashat Vaera is the 14th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading.

   Torah Portion: Exodus 6:2-9:35

   Vaera (“I Appeared”) opens as God promises to redeem the enslaved Israelites and bring them to the Promised Land. When Pharaoh repeatedly refuses to let the Israelites go, God sends a series of plagues: water turning to blood, frogs, lice, wild animals, death of livestock, boils, and hail. [1]

   
   

   
   

6. January 19 is a double whammy
   It’s Martin Luther King Day and Rosh Chodesh Shevat!

7. You can do it! Give VCJC a boost!  Leave a (positive) review for us on Google
   The VCJC is working to build and grow for its next century in Van Cortlandt Village.  If you have had a good experience with us or recognize our value to the community, please consider telling the world about it.  Go to our Google Business Profile and leave a review.  Thanks!

8. Please help with information about buildings

   As part of rebuilding the membership and congregation, the Board of Trustees would like your help. There are a lot of either new or renovated buildings being put up in our catchment area. We would like to seek the cooperation of the owners / developers of those properties in publicizing these opportunities to live near an orthodox synagogue.  If you are aware of any of these buildings, please provide what information you can about them.  This could include the address, any contact information that might be posted, and any information about the building itself (size, type, etc.). Additionally, if you are aware of vacancies in existing buildings or of houses for sale, please let us know about that as well.

   
   

   
   

9. 3rd annual Community Cleanup Day for MLK Day
   We received the following in an email and are passing it on for your information.

   “My name is Spence Weitzen, and I work for GrowTorah, where we do experiential & environmental Torah education. I hope you're doing well!

   
   

   I'm reaching out as we're hosting our 3rd annual Community Cleanup Day for MLK Day with the UJA Federation of NY & Westchester Parks Foundation on Monday, January 19th, which also happens to be Rosh Chodesh Shevat! Here's a link to the event page.

   
   

   The event will take place at the Bronx River Pathway. We've had hundreds of participants collect hundreds of pounds of trash in the past while honoring the legacy of Dr. MLK Jr. and preparing for Tu B'Shvat.”
   
   
   Their flyer is below.  The snow date is March 29, 2026. Note that the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center is a collaborator!

   
   

10. An Appeal from the Met Council for SNAP help

    
    

    See the VCJC blog post from the Met Council’s announcement.

Our mailing address is:
Van Cortlandt Jewish Center
3880 Sedgwick Ave
Bronx, NY 10463