Why IS this Temple different from all other Temples?

The Garden City Jewish Center is a Reform Congregation that welcomes members from all denominations and those families that are of dual faith background. It has members from all over Nassau County, and several from Queens!

How's the Religious School?

Led for many years by our principal, Carolyn Hoera (MS Elementary Ed, Special Ed., Early Childhood, and Art) and the patient, funny and wonderful Rabbi Stephen Goodman, the GCJC has a Sundays-only program that focuses on Hebrew, Judaic culture and History, through the use of songs, cooking, Art, Music and small group instruction. All students become very comfortable leading the service, so there are very few jitters when it comes to Binei Mitzvah! Classes: Pre-K through Bar or Bat Mitzvah, and many of our teens continue for a two year Confirmation class, studying Ethics, Bio-Ethics and Comparative Religions. First day of Religious School is Sunday September 12^th.

Aren't the High Holidays coming up soon? (Are tickets extra?)

Hurry, Rosh HaShana is on Thursday, September 9^th and Friday, September 10^th, with services beginning at 10:00 AM. Yom Kippur Services are on Saturday, September 18^th, beginning at 10:00 AM. We offer Childrens services and fun activities on 9/9 and 9/18 from 10:30- 12:30, so parents can worship peacefully upstairs. Members never pay extra for High Holidays. (BTW, there has never been a building fund in more than 55 years of GCJC history). Dues are very reasonable.

How do I sign up?

Simply call 516-248-9180 and leave a voice mail message, or e-mail us at info@gardencityjewishcenter.org. Also, drop by any regular Friday evening service (begin approx 8:00 PM), to meet Rabbi Goodman and see if this relaxed, friendly, low-key Congregation is for you. Join this year to have your children begin their Jewish education or for you to find comfort, spiritual guidance, and a warm friendly house of worship.

The Garden City Jewish Center was recently mentioned in the Garden City News.  Click here to read the article about the Garden City Jewish Center.

Sukkot story and photos published in the Garden City News. Click here to see photos of Sukkot.

The Garden City Jewish Center is a thriving Reform congregation in which Jews of all denominations, dual-faith families, singles, and students are welcome.

Members from all over Long Island celebrate Regular Shabbat services on Friday evenings.

"Sundays-Only" Religious School for Pre-K through Bar/Bat Mitzvah students. Active Sisterhood. Adult Education.

Modest membership dues and no building fund. Call for Membership and Religious School registration information.

The GCJC has member families from Garden City and many surrounding towns, including New Hyde Park, Rockville Centre, Mineola, Franklin Square, West Hempstead, Malverne, Lynbrook, Floral Park, Baldwin, Great Neck, Westbury, Garden City Park, Elmont, East Hills, East Meadow, Hempstead, Albertson, Valley Stream, Merrick, Manhasset, Williston Park, Bayside, and more. For information, e-mail info@gardencityjewishcenter.org, or call 516 248-9180.

Friday September 3

• 8:00 p.m. Summer Service, Parashat Nitzavim-Vayeilech (Deut. 29:9-31:30), Leader: The Rabbis Goodman

High Holy Days 5771 (2010)

Saturday September 4

• 8:30 p.m. Cake & coffee, a movie, then late-night service
• 11:00 p.m. Selichot Service

Rosh Hashanah

Wednesday September 8

• 8:00 p.m. Erev Rosh Hashanah

Thursday September 9

• 10:00 a.m. First Morning Rosh Hashanah
• 10:30 a.m. Children's Service*

Friday September 10

• 10:00 a.m. Second Morning Rosh Hashanah
• 8:00 p.m. Shabbat Shuvah, Parashat Ha-azinu (Deut. 32:1-52)

Saturday September 11

• 11:00 a.m. Torah Study

Sunday September 12

• 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - Open House at the Rabbi's House

Yom Kippur

Friday September 17

• 8:00 p.m. Kol Nidrei

Saturday September 18

• 10:00 a.m. Morning Service
• 10:30 a.m. Children's Service*
• 3:00 p.m. Minchah Service
• 4:45 p.m. Yizkor (Memorial) Service
• 5:30 p.m. Neilah (Closing) Service
• 6:30 p.m. Break the Fast

* Children’s services will also be held at these times, starting at 10:30 A.M. Children must be accompanied by adults during the children’s service to control their behavior.

Wednesday September 22

• 8:00 p.m. SUKKOT EVENING FAMILY SERVICE

Thursday September 23

• 11:00 a.m. SUKKOT MORNING SERVICE

Friday September 24

• 8:00 p.m. SHABBAT CHOL HAMO’ED SUKKOT EVENING

Saturday September 25

• 11:00 a.m. SHABBAT CHOL HAMO’ED SUKKOT MORNING, CELEBRATION OF DR. RISHA LEVINSON’S 90^TH BIRTHDAY

Wednesday September 29

• 8:00 p.m. SHMINI ATZERET & YIZKOR SERVICE

Thursday September 30

• 11:00 a.m. SHMINI ATZERET & YIZKOR SERVICE

Friday October 1

• 6:15 p.m. SIMCHAT TORAH PIZZA PARTY
• 7:00 p.m. SIMCHAT TORAH FAMILY SERVICE & CONSECRATION OF NEW STUDENTS

Saturday October 2

• 11:00 a.m. Torah Study

Each Jewish year goes around in a circle, and at the Religious School of the Garden City Jewish Center, the circle for 2010-2011 is just starting.  Activities for the early Fall will be centered around Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur Children’s Services, with planning and creating decorations for the harvest “sukkah”.  Families wil then enjoy the holiday of Simchat Torah, with a pizza party and the consecration of new students into the Religious School.  Chanukah will be celebrated with a latke and dessert party, followed by Rabbi Stephen Goodman reading to young and old by the light of the traditional menorah candles.

 

Purim will be a wild and crazy winter holiday (that seems like a mix of New Year’s Eve, Halloween, and Mardi Gras) and will be followed by a student-run Purim Carnival with lots of fun for the children.  The students will participate in a Passover model Seder in April, cooking and baking many of the traditional foods themselves in class.  At the end of May, the Lag B’Omer game day will be a sort-of Quiz show and Color War, with students showing off what they have learned along the way.  The picnic games and snacks will add to the celebration of a job well done!  Also during the course of the year, there will be student-led services, computer games in Hebrew, lots of songs and art projects, even fun at break time.

 

The school program, led for more than 20 years by Ms. Carolyn Hoera and Rabbi Stephen Goodman, features Sundays-only sessions that go from 9-11 AM for Pre-K through 2^nd graders, and 9 AM-1 PM for 3^rd grade through Bar/Bat Mitzvah students.  The students participate in a short, very “hands on” service at the start of each Sunday session, followed by splitting up into four groups and attending classes in Hebrew, Bible History, Jewish History, Ethics and Culture (Music, Art and Cooking) throughout the rest of the day.  Time goes by very quickly and the focus is on making the Religious School program informative and fun.

WWW http://www.gardencityjewishcenter.org