Who We Are • Rapid Response • Get Involved • Upcoming Opportunities
LEARN HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED
WED, SEP 27 AT 7:30 PM (ONLINE)
Join Cantor De Lowe and Rabbi Spratt, by zoom, on Monday, September 27th at 7:30 pm for a short presentation to learn about the many ways our CRS community joins together to perform Tikun Olam. Fellow congregants will describe the volunteer work they pursue with passion.
Who We Are
CRS clergy, staff and congregants who work together to help to repair our world. We are people of all ages from a variety of backgrounds who find comfort in collaborating with like-minded souls on issues we are passionate about.
We have a long history of housing the homeless, feeding the hungry, comforting the sick, welcoming the stranger and helping the needy. We also believe in the importance of advocating for change to address systemic problems in our society.
RAPID RESPONSE
The Little Shop of Kindness
Volunteer at The Little Shop of Kindness (12 West 40th St). Student volunteers have returned to school and staffing levels are low!
The Little Shop of Kindness offers free clothing, toys and books, has a lawyer available and will have a shower van parked by the store for asylum-seekers use.
Volunteers are needed to help sort clothing as well as assist migrants by guiding them through the store and being their “personal shopper.”
Volunteers can sign up for open shifts at the store on Team TLC’s website.
FEATURED OPPORTUNITIES
Backpack Buddies
Help pack backpacks of shelf-stable food for school-aged children who are food insecure. Volunteers are needed to pack at CRS and/or drive deliveries to local schools. All supplies will be provided. Volunteers are welcome every week or as your schedule allows.
Future Sessions:
Days for Girls
St. Matthew & St. Timothy Church 26 W. 84th St.
Help empower girls and women at Days for Girls, a grassroots non-profit organization that makes and distributes re-usable, sustainable feminine hygiene kits to over one million girls and women in New York City, around the country, and abroad. Overseen by Sisterhood, You do not need to know how to sew to participate. This is a great parent-and-child (age 12+) opportunity.
Email nyc@daysforgirls.org to register.
Future Sessions:
Lunch with Asylum Seekers
Asylum seekers living in NYC shelters are unable to cook their own meals and have no space to just hang out. Join us as we welcome our neighbors for lunch at CRS, offer social services for them and their kids and give them a safe space to relax.
Future Sessions:
Direct Service
Make a difference in someone’s life.
For over 10 years, CRS members have been packing and delivering backpacks of food to meet the great demand of food insecurity. While many school-aged children are eligible for free breakfast and lunch during the week, these benefits don’t extend into the weekend or school breaks and many children simply do not have the food they need.
Help empower girls and women at Days for Girls, a grassroots non-profit organization that makes and distributes reusable, sustainable feminine hygiene kits to over one million girls and women in New York City, around the country, and abroad. Overseen by Sisterhood, You do not need to know how to sew to participate. This is a great parent-and-child (age 12+) opportunity.
Asylum seekers living in NYC shelters are unable to cook their own meals and have no space to just hang out. Join us as we welcome our neighbors for lunch at CRS, offer some social services for them and their kids and give them a safe space to relax.
Mitzvah Sessions
Discover your passion.
NOV 11 • 2:00 PM
Project Sunshine supports children and families facing medical challenges by harnessing the healing power of play. CRS congregant and Project Sunshine manager Greg Feigeles inspired us to assemble 150 kits which were distributed to two hospitals. Let’s surpass our record in November! Adults and children (ages 6+) are welcome to register.
Registration coming soon.
DEC 10 • 3:00 – 5:00 PM
West Side Campaign Against Hunger is on a mission to alleviate hunger by ensuring that all New Yorkers have access, with dignity, to a choice of healthy food and supportive services. Help to reduce food insecurity by unloading deliveries, packing food, setting up and helping to distribute healthy food to WSCAH’s customers.
Registration coming soon.
JAN 15 • 9:00 – 11:00 AM
Undies for Everyone provides new underwear for over 200,000 US children living in poverty or crisis. With newfound confidence and self-esteem, students are ready to learn and grow.
Registration coming soon.
Justin Callis (he/him), our Cantorial Intern, is a fourth-year student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music. He is the recipient of the Reuben Peretz Abelson Prize for dedication to Yiddish Song, the Temple Israel of Boston Cantorial Prize, and the Lee Gura Memorial Prize for Aptitude in Synagogue Choral Music.
Known for his sweet and “sumptuous” (New York Times) tone, American-born Doori Na took up violin at the age of four and began his studies with Li Lin at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He quickly made his first performance with orchestra at age seven with the Peninsula Youth Symphony as the first prize winner of the concerto competition. Thereafter Mr. Na went on to win top prizes in The Sound of Music Festival, The Korea Times Youth Music Competition, the Chinese Music Teacher’s Association, The Menuhin Dowling Young Artist Competition, The Junior Bach Festival, VOCE of the Music Teacher’s Association of California, and The Pacific Musical Society. Receiving full scholarships to private high school Crossroads School of Arts and Sciences in Santa Monica, he moved to Los Angeles to study with renown violin teacher, Robert Lipsett, at The Colburn Music School. There he appeared as soloist with the Palisades Symphony, Brentwood Symphony, and Torrance Symphony. During that time, the summer of 2004 was Mr. Na’s first time at the Perlman Music Program where his expression and musical identity were greatly influenced. He has been a part of the program ever since and participated in many of their special residencies in Florida, Vermont, New York, and Israel.
Violinist Michael Roth is a native of Scarsdale, NY and received his early musical training with Frances Magnes at the Hoff-Barthelson Music School. He attended Oberlin College and Conservatory, continuing his studies with Marilyn McDonald. At Oberlin, he won the Kaufman Prize for violin and First Prize in the Ohio String Teacher’s Association Competition. He completed his Master of Music degree at the University of Massachusetts where he worked with the distinguished American violinist and pedagogue Charles Treger and was a recipient of the Julian Olevsky Award. Mr. Roth is currently associate concertmaster of the New York City Ballet Orchestra and has appeared in chamber music and as a soloist with the company, most recently in the debut of “Slice Too Sharp”, a ballet of Biber and Vivaldi violin concerti, and “After the Rain”, violin music of Arvo Part. In addition he is a member of the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, Principal 2nd violin of the Westchester Philharmonic, the American Composers Orchestra and the New York Pops. He was concertmaster of the Vermont Mozart Festival Orchestra for many years and often appeared as soloist there, as well as at the Caramoor and Bard Music Festivals. He has played and toured internationally with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the New York Chamber Soloists.
Sarah Adams, viola, performs locally with the New York Chamber Ensemble, the Claring Chamber Players, the Sherman Chamber Ensemble, the Friends of Mozart, and the Saratoga Chamber Players.
Praised by the New York Times as “irresistible in both music and performance.” flutist, 
Rabbi Mira Weller (she/her) received her ordination at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles in May 2022. She studied Culture and Politics at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and received her Master’s in Jewish Education at the Rhea Hirsch School of Education at HUC-JIR. She is the proud recipient of awards for her studies in rabbinic literature, her work in Jewish education, and she was granted the Myrtle Lorch Pfaelzer-Monroe Pfaelzer Award for an Outstanding Female Rabbinical School Student (2022). Rabbi Mira speaks Hebrew and Spanish (so please practice with her!). She has a passion for uncovering new possibilities in the great wealth of our tradition and for making music inspired by Judaism’s many cultures. Her guilty pleasures include cupcakes, classical music, and philosophy.
Based in New York since 2001, South African-born pianist, composer and producer has performed on four continents in leading venues such as Carnegie Hall, had her original music performed in venues such as New York’s Lincoln Center, appeared on a host of recordings of classical, world music and multi-genre recordings and produced numerous recordings and inter-disciplinary programs from Cape Town to Los Angeles. She has created her own unique language at the piano, made up of techniques she developed and experimented with to expand the piano into a full electro – acoustic orchestra.
Alan Goodis is a touring Jewish musician playing over 150 events a year. Born and raised in Toronto, Alan is a proud product of URJ Goldman Union Camp Institute. Noted for his dedication to building relationships and community through music, Alan tours throughout the US to serve as an Artist-In-Residence and performer at Temples, Youth Conventions and Jewish summer camps.
Julie Silver is one of the most celebrated and beloved performers in the world of contemporary Jewish music today. She tours throughout the world, and has been engaging audiences with her gorgeous compositions and liturgical settings, her lyrical guitar playing, her dynamic stage presence, and her megawatt smile for over 25 years.
Dan is a product of the URJ Jewish camping movement. He has toured Jewish summer camps across North America for the last 15 years. A classically trained singer, Dan received his Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance at the University of North Carolina. In 1995, realizing the potential of music to make powerful connections with Jewish youth, Dan established the Jewish rock band Eighteen. Since that time, Dan and Eighteen have released 13 albums. Songs like, L’takein, B’tzelem Elo-him, Kehillah Kedoshah, Chazak, Sweet As Honey, and Asher Yatzar have become Jewish communal anthems throughout North America.
Naomi Less is an internationally celebrated singer/songwriter, ritualist and educator. Beloved for her warm smile and inviting presence, communities celebrate her imagination and innovation, tenderness and pizzazz! Her original music is sung in worship communities worldwide. Naomi serves as Co-Founder, Ritual Leader and Associate Director of Lab/Shul and is a leader in amplifying women’s voices through her work at Songleader Boot Camp and her Jewish Women Rock show on Jewish Rock Radio. Naomiadvocates for people struggling with fertility journeys as a performance artist and speaker for Uprooted: A Jewish Response to Fertility Challenges. Fun fact: Naomi and her husband wrote the song shine/Yivarech’cha, a Friday night blessing, specifically composed for URJ Crane Lake Camp, sung every Friday night in the dining hall.
Her destiny became obvious to Joanie Leeds’ parents when, at the tender age of 2, Joanie grabbed the performer’s mic at a party and belted out the entire song“Tomorrow” from Annie. Jaws dropped! No one could remember ever hearing a big voice like that coming from one so tiny and certainly no one would have thought she would one day earn a GRAMMY® Award for her original music.
A composer, multi-instrumentalist, and prayer leader, Elana Arian is one of the leading voices in contemporary Jewish music. Elana’s music is part of Jewish life across the globe, and her compositions are sung in spiritual communities, summer camps, and synagogues from Louisville to London, from Chicago to the CzechRepublic, and everywhere in between. Elana just released her fourth album of original music, The Other Side of Fear, and her compositions have been published in countless Transcontinental Music collections. Elana serves proudly on the faculty of Hava Nashira (Oconomowoc, WI), the Wexner Heritage Foundation (Aspen, CO), Shirei Chagiga (London, England), and as an instructor at the Hebrew Union College in New York, where she teaches in the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music. Elana has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Tanglewood, and perhaps most memorably, five separate appearances at the (Obama) White House. She lives in New York with her wife, Julia, and their two daughters, Maya and Acadia.
Known for his unique, engaging, and deeply soulful approach, Noah Aronson is considered one of the most sought after Jewish musicians in North America, making over 65 community appearances each year.
There is a reason why Time Magazine has listed Michelle in their Top Ten list of Jewish rock stars.
Kol B’Seder has been composing and performing contemporary Jewish music since the early1970s. Rabbi Dan Freelander and Cantor Jeff Klepper met as college students; over the past 50years they have released numerous CDs and songbooks. With Debbie Friedman (z”l) and others, they forged a new musical sound for American Jewish camps, schools and synagogues. Their songs, such as “Shalom Rav,” “Modeh Ani,” and “Lo Alecha,” have become traditionalJewish melodies around the world. They are delighted to be inaugurating their fiftieth anniversary celebration by appearing in support of URJ camps, where they first composed and incubated many of their early songs.
New York bassist Roger Wagner enjoys a long and diverse career. As soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral bassist, Mr. Wagner has appeared on many of the world’s great concert stages.
Margaret Kampmeier, 
Leonard Bernstein described 
Sarah Adams 
Michael Roth
Our initiative for young children and their grown-ups provides a slate of offerings including Shabbat and holiday celebrations, music, classroom readiness programs, and new parent experiences. During the pandemic, we have leaned on $1m of seed funding for Sholom Sprouts established through this campaign as we offer age-appropriate virtual programs for our families with young children, who are the future of our community. We look forward to welcoming our littlest members and their grown-ups back to our new fifth floor, as well as hiring a Program Assistant to increase the capacity of Sholom Sprouts to grow. This program provides a crucial entry-point to the congregation and membership for young families.
