• building self.

    Values. Character. Ethics. Spirituality. Hope. Joy.

    Building a better world begins with building a better you.

  • together.

    All personal and religious orientations are welcome to participate in our movement to build more meaningful lives inspired and guided by Conservative Judaism. 

    Congregation Habonim welcomes you home.

  • in the community.

    Congregation Habonim welcomes you.

  • religious school.

    The Anne Hahn Religious School is...

    • Steeped in Jewish values, traditions and rituals

    • Interactive and engaging

    • Meaningful and substantive

    • Challenging, dynamic and diverse

    • An active dialogue between staff and participants

    • Nurturing, warm and playful

  • upfront and personal Torah study.

    Under the guidance of our clergy and our highly qualified instructors, the Religious School students take a look at the Parsha of the week.

News & Upcoming Events

Congregation Habonim welcomes you to the Upper West Side!

Religious School at Habonim 

Nursery School Admissions for 2017-2018 School Year

Meet Our Clergy, Staff and Board

Rabbi Barry Kenter

Musings Parashat Balak 5777

From at least the 10th century, and probably earlier, Jews have entered synagogues reciting the words of Bilaam, Balak’s hired imprecator and curse-maker, Mah tovu ohalekha Yaakov, mishkenotekha Yisrael, “How goodly are your tents O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel.” 

 Even earlier than that there was a proposal that we recite the entire section about Balak as part of the Shema Yisrael. Only the fact that this would have placed an undue burden on the congregation because of its length prevented this from happening.

Especially given the reality that throughout much of rabbinic midrash there is no reason to believe the legitimacy of Bilaam’s blessings, and that over and over again, our Sages maintain that Bilaam was seeking to condemn Israel despite the presumed blessing tone of his words and despite the Torah’s reminder that it was God who placed these words into Bilaam’s mouth, why do we enter the synagogue citing the words of Bilaam? Are there not other verses that might be more appropriate?

Permit me to suggest that we cite Bilaam because it is precisely that his words reflect the reality and the rationale for our continued existence: our homes, synagogues and schools and our dwelling apart. It is our societal distinctiveness that historically enabled not only our survival as a people but indicated the mission that was (and remains) ours as Jews. (Continued here) 

Learn more about Rabbi Kenter here.

    Cantor Bruce Halev

 

 

 

 

Rina Cohen Schwarz, Religious School Director

 

Tina Lobel

Tina Lobel, Nursery School Director

 

 

 

 

Ann Obsatz, Associate Nursery School Director

 

 

 

Welcome from President Neil Goldstein

Elaine Witkoff

On behalf of Congregation Habonim I am pleased to extend a hearty greeting.  Our mission and goal is to provide a Jewish spiritual home for members and our community and to provide an environment in which we can learn and grow and share important life-cycle events, knowing that we are joined and supported by a caring community in a warm and welcoming environment.

 

Read More

 

Tot Shabbat (ages 5 and under, with parents/caregivers)

Tot Shabbat (ages 5 & under, with parents/caregivers) - on the first Fridays of each month, September through June - is an opportunity for our youngest children to socialize in a community and to engage with other Jewish families. This is also an excellent opportunity for our non-member families to get to know us and to become familiar with our family and children's programming.

Tot Shabbat (ages 5 and under, with parents/caregivers)

Tot Shabbat (ages 5 & under, with parents/caregivers) - on the first Fridays of each month, September through June - is an opportunity for our youngest children to socialize in a community and to engage with other Jewish families. This is also an excellent opportunity for our non-member families to get to know us and to become familiar with our family and children's programming.

Community Shabbat Dinner - A Post-Pesach Mimouna Feast!

For the entire community. Kabbalat Shabbat service at 6:30 pm, followed by dinner. Join us to celebrate Mimouna, a North African Jewish holiday held after the end of Pesach. Dinner will feature traditional Moroccan food: couscous, chicken, specialty salads and other goodies, plus burger & hotdogs for our more "picky" eaters. $18 per person, $54 maximum for families of 3 or more, children under age 5 free.

Sisterhood Book Group Group (all invited)

The book will be Moonglow by Michael Chabon. Contact [email protected]. 

Sisterhood Book Group Group (all invited)

The book will be A Tale of Love and Darkness by Amos Oz. It is a long book so get started soon! Contact [email protected]. 

Tot Shabbat (ages 5 and under, with parents/caregivers)

Tot Shabbat (ages 5 & under, with parents/caregivers) - on the first Fridays of each month, September through June - is an opportunity for our youngest children to socialize in a community and to engage with other Jewish families. This is also an excellent opportunity for our non-member families to get to know us and to become familiar with our family and children's programming.

Pages

Subscribe to Congregation Habonim RSS