VCJC News & Notes 4/7/2026

 

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center

News and Notes

Because of the Chag on Wednsday and Thursday this week, the News & Notes is going out on Monday night.

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 4/10/26 @ 7:12 pm
   Shabbos Ends Saturday 4/11/26 @ 8:16 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
   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 end of Passover
   

   APRIL 7 THE 7^th DAY OF PASSOVER CANDLE LIGHTING 7:09PM

   APRIL 8 SHACHARIT BEGINS 8:40AM

   APRIL 8 THE 8^th DAY OF PASSOVER CANDLE LIGHTING 8:13PM OR LATER

   APRIL 9 SHACHARIT BEGINS 8:40AM

   APRIL 9 YIZKOR APPROXIMATELY 9:40AM

   YOM TOV ENDS 8:14PM

   
   

4. Yom HaShoah / Holocaust Remembrance Day Observances
   Here are two observances.

   Holocaust Remembrance Concert

   Monday April 13th

   1:30 to 2:30 PM

   Vladeck Hall

   Includes candle lighting.

   Most songs sung in Hebrew, one each in Yiddish and English.
   Free admission.
   - - info thanks to Louise Salant
   
   
   The VCJC Observance
   Please join us!

   
   

   Place: VCJC Ballroom (3880 Sedgwick Ave, first floor)
   Time: April 13, 6:30PM for our local observance and 7PM for the TOLI Zoom observance.
   Free admission.
   Light refreshments.
   We will have our customary observance with candle lighting, but will also be doing something new.  TOLI, The Olga Lengyel Institute, has scheduled a program in partnership with the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center (White Plains, New York), Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County (Glen Cove, Long Island, New York), Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA), Living Links: Descendants of Holocaust Survivors, and the New York Board of Rabbis. Their program, Love, Loss, and the Legacy of the Holocaust: A Yom HaShoah Commemoration, is being live-streamed via Zoom.  
   The VCJC has arranged to have the live stream shared for the community.  Join us on April 13, 2026 at 6:30PM for our customary observance and at 7PM for the TOLI Zoom.  This will be an opportunity to participate as a community in their observance. See TOLI’s poster below.
   Please note that photographs and videos may be taken at this event, which may be incorporated into the synagogue’s public information and promotions.  Should you wish not to have your photograph included in the synagogue’s information efforts, please advise VCJC at info@vcjewishcenter.org
   
   

5. 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
   
   

6. 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.
   
   

7. Shabbos parsha

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   Parashat Shmini 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת שְּׁמִינִי

   11 April 2026 / 24 Nisan 5786

   Parashat Shmini is the 26th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading.

   Torah Portion: Leviticus 9:1-11:47

   Shemini (“Eighth”) opens with the consecration of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). Two of Aaron’s sons are consumed by a fire sent from God when they attempt to offer a “strange fire.” God describes the animals, birds, and fish that are permissible and prohibited for consumption, as well as some laws of ritual purity. [1]

   
   

8. 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!  
   

9. 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.

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.

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