Malkhut is hosting this year’s Western Queens Shavuot with collaborator Queens Jewish Project and guest Astoria Center of Israel! Join us to celebrate fullness and experience wonder as we gather around Ruth’s table to feast with our bodies, minds and spirits.

 

At the heart of this celebration will be a literal feast – a potluck that celebrates the ethnic and cultural diversity of our community. Throughout the evening we’ll feast our minds and spirits through the chanting of the 10 commandments from the Torah, and through the exploration of biblical and mystical texts, music, art, and rich discussion. This event is supported by UJA-Federation of NY.

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Date & time: Thursday, May 25th, 5:30 - 10pm

Location: St Mark's Episcopal Church, 33-50 82nd St, Jackson Heights, NY 11372 (indoor and/or outdoor locations weather permitting)

Who: Everyone, all ages are welcome. Read Malkhut's inclusivity brit.

Potluck: For the feast of Ruth, we want to celebrate the richness and diversity of our community through the foods that represent our journeys and identities. You can prepare something that represents who you are, or just buy and bring something you love! We'll nourish ourselves in body and spirit, savoring the ingredients that give our community flavor and the journeys that brought us to this space.  There will be optional time to share stories about the identities to hold—but your presence is a gift, however you choose to join us!  

• Please bring your food in a serving dish and bring serving utensils. Food should be dairy, vegetarian (no meat). Please label your food with common allergens (nuts, sesame, soy, gluten, etc) and be prepared to leave with your leftovers.

Accessibility: This event will be in a few different spaces, all on the ground floor or outside (weather permitting; some of the ground outside is uneven). There is an all-gender, single-stall bathroom that is accessible from the ground floor, however it’s not ADA compliant. There will be a quiet, sensory space available throughout the event. 

COVID: You'll be asked to attest to following Malkhut's COVID protocols. 

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Schedule (subject to change):

• 5:30pm: Egg Cream Happy Hour & Ice Breaker with Danielle Gold from Queens Jewish Project: This Ashkenazi American carbonated beverage might not have eggs or cream, but it's lots of fun to make and drink. Bring your mishpokhe to this family friendly happy hour with vegan and dairy-free takes on this tasty classic

• 6:20pm: Candle Lighting, Kiddush, Torah reading 

• 6:45pm: Motzi & Potluck & discussion (see above for info about potluck)

• 7:50pm: Zohar study with Rabbi Goldenberg, “Adorning the Bride”. Who is this “bride”? What are the adornments? And what is our role in adorning her? The practice of an all-night vigil of Torah study on the eve of Shavuot, known as a Tikkun Leil Shavuot, originated in Medieval kabbalistic (Jewish mystical) circles. We will study texts from the Zohar, the seminal Jewish mystical work, and unlock the secrets of our practice of Tikkun Leil Shavuot - to “adorn the Bride.”

• 8:35pm: Psalm learning with Malkhut Rabbinic Intern Emily Herzlin, Malkhut Music Director Kris Wettstein & Malkhut Lay Leader Lisa Huberman. Shavuot is a moment of “wow” in the Jewish calendar when we receive revelation, see sounds and hear visions. Psalms of Praise are a literary tradition of expressing the “wow.” In this psalm session, you will have the opportunity to create your own psalm of praise in one of three modalities. The groups will come back together and there will be time for a few folks to share their creations.

  • Music with Kris: create your own chant using text from the psalms. No musical training necessary.

  • ​​Poetry with Emily: write your own personal psalm of praise.

  • Art with Lisa: create a visual psalms

• 9:20pm: Learning with Astoria Center of Israel Rabbi Josh Rabin, "Do People Deserve the Torah?" 

• 10pm: End

 

We need your help! We're looking for volunteers to arrive early and assist with setting up chairs and preparing the space for the event. At the end of the night, we need assistance with cleaning up. If you can lend a hand with either or both of these tasks, please be in touch. 

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Register Here: