VCJC News & Notes 9/13/24

 

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
   
   
   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 9/13/24 @ 6:49 pm
   Shabbos morning services at 8:40 am.  Please join the services if you can do so safely. 
   Shabbos Ends Saturday 9/14/24 @ 7:52 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.
    

3. We are getting rave reviews for the VCJC Calendar

   Order Your VCJC Memories Calendar Today!
   We are thrilled to announce the release of the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center’s 2024-2025 calendar, featuring beautiful photos of the center today and a few from its cherished past. This calendar is a special keepsake, perfect for former members, Hebrew School alumni, and anyone with ties to the neighborhood, both past and present.

   
   

   Read all about it on our blog.  You can order it from the forms on the blog post.

   
   

   Available for just $18, this calendar offers more than just a way to mark the days—it’s a way to stay connected to the VCJC community. The cover page can be personalized with a custom message, making it a thoughtful gift for Rosh HaShanah, birthdays, anniversaries, or other celebrations. Whether for yourself or a loved one, it’s an excellent gift for anyone with a special connection to VCJC.

   
   

   Celebrate the New Year by cherishing the old memories and making new ones with this special calendar!

   
   

4. Space for rent
   The VCJC has space available for short term rentals.  If you, or anyone you know, needs either office or event space, please let us know or let them know, or both. You can review the information on our blog post.

5. Shop at the VCJC Online Affiliate Store!

   Reminder: we negotiated a discount on Sukkahs from an independent vendor.  The discount is higher than any other discount they offer, to the best of our knowledge. Save 12% at SukkahMart.com by using the coupon code VCJC12.  Tell everyone you know! (Especially those that need a sukkah or schach.) See more on our Holiday Sales page.
   
   
   We’ve just posted several member-recommended books on the Sabbath Sales page - take a look, then take a read.

   
   

   What makes our store special is that some items are recommended by members of the VCJC community themselves and all items have been reviewed and represent curated selections.

   
   

   The store is still a work in progress—so while there are many empty spaces at the moment, we’re actively building it out and adding new items to serve you better. We welcome your suggestions and feedback as we continue to expand our offerings! Think of the empty spaces as things you will want to look at later.

   
   

   On the VCJC Shopping Blog, we post about specific areas of interest and spotlight exciting new products. The blog is a great resource for discovering special finds.

   
   

   Visit the VCJC affiliate store through our website today,and help support the center while finding great products for yourself or loved ones!
   

6. We have a Rollator style walker available
   It has been donated to the VCJC.  If you need one, let us know.  We’d appreciate a donation for it.

   
   

Our mailing address is:

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center

3880 Sedgwick Ave

Bronx, NY 10463

DEC Announces "Summit September" Theme for Love Our New York Lands Photo Contest

Contest Accepting Photo Submissions through Sept. 30

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar announced the September 2024 Love Our New York Lands photo contest. September’s theme is “Summit September” to help increase awareness of principles and guidelines that encourage safe, accessible, respectful, and sustainable use of public lands heading into the fall season.  

 

“During Summit September, DEC is encouraging New Yorkers to get outside and enjoy the outdoors and the special places they love,” DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said. “New York State is home to a wide range of lands and sites, scenic peaks and summits, providing ample opportunities to take a break from day-to-day challenges and connect with nature. During their outdoor adventures this month, DEC is encouraging New Yorkers to capture images that reflect safely and responsibly reaching their personal summits, in whatever form that may take.” 

 

New York State has a wide range of opportunities to get outside and enjoy activities year-round, including birding and wildlife viewing; warm-weather adventures such as swimming, biking, and horseback riding; cold-weather pursuits such as skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling; and challenging adventures like geocaching or rock and ice climbing. For accessible recreation, check out DEC’s Accessible Recreation destinations webpage. 

 

The Love Our New York Lands campaign, launched in 2020 by DEC and the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, encourages all users of State-owned lands to recognize that these lands are shared by ALL of us, our families, and our neighbors, and we all need to take care of them. The campaign includes guidance on Leave No Trace™ principles so that visitors can do their part to help ensure these special places are protected for future generations. Love Our New York Lands encourages visitors to be respectful of other visitors in these shared spaces. Visitors are asked to share trails, treat people with kindness, and leave things as they found them for others to enjoy. Visitors are encouraged to think of themselves as responsible for helping protect these irreplaceable destinations for future generations. More information is available on DEC’s website.

 

Five winning pictures will be chosen that feature creative shots of the public enjoying outdoor activities on public lands all across New York State. Prizes will be awarded to the winning entries. Photos will be judged on the following criteria: originality; artistic composition; technical quality; and whether the photograph showcases people enjoying New York’s outdoor activities safely and responsibly.

 

Summit September submissions should be emailed to social@dec.ny.gov by Sept. 30, with the subject line Summit September, the full name of the submitter, the State land or site where the image was taken (if applicable), and the submitter’s Instagram/social media handle as appropriate.   

 

DEC encourages New Yorkers to join the State’s ongoing efforts to protect lands and resources for generations to come by minimizing impacts, carrying out what they carry in, and encouraging others to care for our shared lands, as well. 

 

New Yorkers can take action to give back: 

• Participate in one of DEC’s Love Our New York Lands Stewardship Days, including the last stewardship day in 2024, scheduled for Sept. 28;
• Get involved with local trail crews to help build and maintain trail systems nearby, and Adopt a Trailhead;
• Take a Leave No TraceTM workshop or become a Leave No Trace^TM educator;
• Apply for a stewardship position in the Catskills or Adirondacks;
• Explore becoming an Assistant Forest Ranger; and
• Volunteer with one of DEC's many natural resource programs.

August Contest Winner 

DEC’s Love Our New York Lands August “Accessible Recreation” theme highlighted the importance of removing barriers for New Yorkers of all ages and abilities. The winning photo depicts an adaptive hike for people with mobility impairment, submitted by Scott Trager.

 

View the winning photos on DEC’s Flickr page.