VCJC News & Notes 3/27/2026

 

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

1. 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 3/27/26 @ 6:57 pm
   Shabbos Ends Saturday 3/28/26 @ 8:01 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.

   
   

   Come join us for services and stay to enjoy the kiddush and the company.

   
   

2. About our new kiddushim
   If you missed the fantastic food at last week’s kiddush, you still have a "last chance" for a spread of deli meat, Challah rolls, etc. (aka Chametz) before Passover!!!!

   Reminder that 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!
   

3. Schedule for the beginning of Passover
   EVENING OF MARCH 31ST – BEDIKAT CHAMETZ (search for chametz) After 8:14

   APRIL 1ST  LAST TIME TO EAT CHAMETZ 10:29AM

   APRIL 1ST LAST TIME TO BURN/ANNUL CHAMETZ 11:44AM

   EREV PASSOVER CANDLE LIGHTING AFTER 7:02PM

   EARLIEST TIME TO BEGIN THE FIRST SEDER 8:05PM

   1ST DAY OF PASSOVER APRIL 2ND  SHACHARIT BEGINS 8:40AM

   1ST DAY OF PASSOVER APRIL 2ND CANDLE LIGHTING AFTER 8:06PM

   2ND DAY OF PASSOVER APRIL 2ND  SHACHARIT BEGINS 8:40AM

   EREV SHABBOS APRIL 3RD CANDLE LIGHTING 7:04PM

   1ST DAY OF CHOL HAMOED PASSOVER APRIL 4TH SHACHARIT BEGINS 8:40AM

   SATURDAY APRIL 4TH SHABBOS ENDS 8:08PM

   
   

4. Please Help Us Plan for Events
   We have created a survey, Van Cortlandt Jewish Center Community Event Planning Survey, to help us set the direction for our activities.  We’d really appreciate your taking a few minutes to fill it in. Here’s the link: SURVEY
   
   

5. The VCJC Chavurah
   The VCJC Chavurah will not be meeting the next two weeks because of Passover.  Our next meeting will be April 14th at 7:30PM when we will begin meeting every Tuesday Night at 7:30PM.  All are welcome to join us as we continue to learn Tractate Berachot together.

   No cost to attend and no prior experience is needed.

   If you are interested in learning torah with a group of fellow members of your community, but want more details, contact the VCJC office at 718-884-6105 or info@vcjewishcenter.org, or speak to Stuart Harris or Matthew Hartstein after davening on Shabbat morning.
   
   

6. Shabbos parsha

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   Parashat Tzav 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת צַו

   28 March 2026 / 10 Nisan 5786

   Parashat Tzav is the 25th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading.

   Torah Portion: Leviticus 6:1-8:36

   In Tzav (“Command”), God tells Moses about the sacrifices offered in the Mishkan (Tabernacle), including a meal offering brought by the high priest, guilt offerings, and offerings of thanks. Moses initiates Aaron and Aaron’s sons for priestly service in the Mishkan. [1]

   
   

   
   

7. You can do it! Give VCJC a boost!  Leave a (positive) review for us on Google
   -->You can do this!  We know you can! YES, YOU!

   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. From the Teaneck shuls group's moderators:

   
   

   “A First Amendment Auditor known as Zhoie Perez or "Furry Potato" has plans to come to the NY/NJ area soon. Please be advised that this person has a history of wearing a Burkha and standing outside Jewish institutions saying Arabic words to incite a reaction. This person takes their time to study all related laws and will press charges for anything possible.

   It is imperative that if anything like this is seen we do not engage this person directly.  Please call the police and deter other community members from engaging.”
   
   
   Please be aware of this and govern yourselves accordingly.  Do not give this person, should he show up at VCJC any basis for any legal action.

If you need to sell your chametz, here’s the form.  Fill it out and send it back.

AUTHORIZATION   I, the undersigned, fully empower and permit Rabbi Nosson Lowenthal to act in my place and stead, and on my behalf to sell all chametz possessed by me knowingly or unknowingly, as defined by Torah and rabbinic law, and to lease all places in which chametz owned by me is found, especially at: (Address) __________________________________________________________________   The chametz that I possess includes the following:   TYPE OF CHAMETZ (GROCERIES, LIQUOR, TOILETRIES, ETC.) EXACT LOCATION (KITCHEN, LIVING ROOM, PANTRY, CABINETS, ETC.) APPROXIMATE VALUE $                                                                  Total $ ___________________   Date ______________________        Signed _______________________________________   Printed name ____________________________________ Cell # ______________________     Please complete this part if you will be away for all of Pesach:   I specifically authorize Rabbi Lowenthal to sell all chametz located anywhere in my home at the above address and at any other location that I own, and to lease my entire home and any other areas in my possession (with the exception of the following room in my home: ________________________________________). The keys to my home can be found with: (name) _____________________________________ at: (address) ___________________________________________________________________                                                   Signed _____________________________________________   DOCUMENT OF SALE   I hereby sell all chametz to Stephen Boatti, 4780 Delafield Avenue Bronx, New York 10471. I also lease the places that the chametz is found, especially at the above indicated address, to Mr. Boatti for a period of ten (10) days. This sale and rental are to take effect on Wednesday April 1st, 2026 corresponding to 14 Nisan 5786, before 11:30 A.M. Further details concerning all the above are recorded in the above authorization form and in a lengthier document of sale. Signed _____________________________________________

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.

3rd annual Community Cleanup Day for MLK Day

This event, for which the VCJC is an acknowledged collaborator, has now been scheduled for March 29.  See the poster below. Registration link

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