VCJC News & Notes 9/4/2026

 

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!

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 9/4/26 @ 7:05 pm

Shabbos Ends Saturday 9/5/26 @ 8:08 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.

Our enhanced kiddush has been a popular hit.  Join us for services and stay to enjoy the kiddush and the company.

Selichot (at KCI 3220 Arlington Ave), Saturday 9/5/26 at 9PM

Shabbos parsha

Parashat Nitzavim-Vayeilech

This week’s Torah portion is Parashat Nitzavim-Vayeilech (read on 5 September 2026).

In Nitzavim (“Standing”), Moses addresses the Israelites, emphasizing the importance of following God’s covenant and of not worshiping other gods. He describes the process of repentance and returning to God, and stresses that God’s commandments are achievable and “not in the heavens.” Vayelekh (“He Went”) opens as Moses tells the people of Israel that he will not lead them into the land of Israel and that Joshua will take over. He instructs the people to gather and read Torah publicly every seven years. At God’s command, Moses writes a poem bearing witness to God’s covenant with the people of Israel. [1]

• Torah reading: Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30

• Commentary and Divrei Torah
  
  

LAST SUNDAY!! We had a Garage Sale and Ice Cream Social

It was a success!  People came, people bought, people had ice cream! We made ourselves known to some new folks that we hope to see again. We no longer have a lot of stuff we didn’t need.

 

And Louise Salant won the 50/50 raffle

Reminders and Announcements

• The Van Cortlandt Jewish Center Jewish History Book Club

  
  

  We are excited to announce the formation of the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center Jewish History Book Club. 

  Are you Interested in reading books on Jewish history and discussing them with fellow members of your community?
  For more information, or if you have already heard enough and want to join, visit the office during regular hours or call 718-884-6105 or email educationcommittee@vcjewishcenter.org

  
  

• Save the date: Kristallnacht observance and lecture, Sunday Nov. 8

  
  

  The Van Cortlandt Jewish Center will be holding its annual Kristallnacht Commemoration Program with speaker Larry Hartstein.  More info to follow. 
  
  

• 10 minutes of learning a day

  
  

  
  

  Free Online Video Classes on the Talmud: 10 Minutes a day brought to you by the Orthodox Union. Get a background lesson on the entire Talmud in 40 weeks. No Hebrew knowledge required. Click on the Link Below for more information.

  https://talmuddaily.org/?utm_source=ou&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=launch26&utm_content=full-list

  
  

• What works for you?
  Please Help Us Plan for Events
  We have created a survey, the 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
  
  

• The VCJC Chavurah
  The VCJC Chavurah meets every Tuesday Night at 7:30 PM.  All are welcome to join us as we continue to learn 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.
  
  

• VCJC Merch!

  We now have merchandise available with the VCJC logo and, in some cases, sayings.  We have shirts, hats, mugs, refrigerator magnets, and tote bags. These are provided through a Print On Demand (POD) model - so you pick what you like and order it.  It is then made to order and shipped directly to you.
  You can see an overview and some additional information on our VCJC Shop page.  You can go directly to the store itself to see all the things available, select sizes and colors, and get ready to flaunt your association with VCJC.

  
  

• VCJC is now active on social media - follow us!
  We have launched both a Facebook page and an Instagram page.  Both have a nice amount of content already and we are planning both regular posts and a greater variety going forward.  Please take a look and follow us! Links are below.

  
  

• 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!  

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