ספר ישראל, Sefer Israel, Inc.  

"Something of a neighborhood institution, this East Villager's satisfying American basics (with some Middle Eastern accents) are dished up in mellow confines; it's a brunch hot spot, so get there early to avoid the line – and even earlier to snag a coveted outdoor seat" – ZAGAT
Open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner!
BREAKFAST/LUNCH Mon – Fri 9am – 4pm (lunch menu starts at noon)
BRUNCH every Sat & Sun 8:30am – 4pm
DINNER every night 4pm-close

Our hearts go out to all of our neighbors. To any and all who were displaced by the fire, please simply bring proof of address for a free meal. East Village comes together! Please feel free to repost

In addition to our Saturday and Sunday brunches, this coming week we will also be serving brunch on Monday, Oct 13th for Columbus Day (9am-4pm)!!

בקורת:
OMG. The food here is amazing! Love love love. My friend & I were seated right away but the service itself was average. Took awhile to catch the waitress's attention to pay our bill (even saw some customers get out of their seats to wait in line by the register).
I got the beef/bacon bolognese dish and my friend got the avocado toast. Initially I wanted the Norwegian eggs benedict or potato pancake dish but was sadly informed it was only available certain days for brunch. (I will definitely be back one day to try it!) The OJ is made fresh daily and the raspberry sparkling lemonade was pretty good as well.
They also have a good amount of seating indoor (3 rooms) and outdoor.

One of my favorite brunch spots! There's always a crowd waiting for a table here, but if you come as a party of 2, you barely have to wait at all! I think my boyfriend and I waited only 5-10 minutes when we arrived during prime brunch hours.
We ordered the smoked salmon eggs benedict and the steak and eggs. I've never had a bad smoked salmon eggs benedict and Cafe Orlin's tasted like the usual. My boyfriend's steak and eggs was really good! It's a healthy portion of steak, eggs, and 2 pieces multi-grain bread. The highlight of this dish was the creamy spinach sauce! Don't use the butter that's provided for your bread. Instead, take the bread and wipe your plate clean of the green sauce. It's seriously THAT good!

LSS is a diverse and vibrant Modern Orthodox Congregation that provides religious, social, and educational services and outreach to the unique Jewish community of the Upper West Side. The synagogue strives to be a model in the integration of Halachic Judaism and contemporary life to the broader Jewish community.

In 1964, in the living room of an apartment in Lincoln Towers, a part-time rabbi from Yeshiva University named Steven Riskin took the budding Lincoln Square Conservative Synagogue by storm. His originality, charm and boundless energy captivated members and moved them to a more traditionally observant Judaism, in turn sparking a growing Jewish renaissance on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.

Before long, a new synagogue-in-theround made its debut at 200 Amsterdam Avenue, and the excitement at the renamed Lincoln Square Synagogue brought hundreds of young single professionals to the neighborhood, creating a vibrant scene for mixing and matching. Young families were also drawn to LSS, attracted by the dazzling teachings of Rabbi Riskin, assisted by Rabbi Herschel Cohen z”l and Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald, and the gorgeous melodies of Cantor Sherwood Goffin. “The New Orthodox” they called it on the cover of New York Magazine. Who knew? But as members struggled to navigate between the laws of Jewish tradition and the secular values of the surrounding society, Lincoln Square Synagogue began to see its destiny.
Just down the street from the temples of high culture at Lincoln Center, Lincoln Square Synagogue quickly established itself as a temple of an innovative kind, showcasing the classical and the contemporary, history and modernity. With joy and pride, the challenges of present-day living were brought into harmony with the ancient traditions passed down through the generations. The sacred liturgical texts of tefillah were infused with a new vitality as haunting, time-honored melodies shared the stage with the music of Shlomo Carlebach and The Rabbi’s Sons. The thirst for wisdom was quenched with the scholarship of Rashi and Rambam blended with the insights of 20th-century thinkers like Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaCohen Kook and Rabbi Joseph Dov HaLevi Soloveitchik. Everything old was new again.
What emerged was a synagogue with its own, unique, invigorating rhythm: home to meaningful and enthusiastic worship, to be sure, but also a place to establish lifelong friendships, build businesses and organizations, find soul mates and nourish the next generation through education and religious instruction. Thousands of Jews of all ages and backgrounds had come together to create a true makom kadosh, providing support for each other in times of sorrow and sharing joy in times of simcha. LSS was now a unified community whose commitment to Judaism and love of humankind extended beyond self and family to the world at large. You could walk in off the street for the first time, as so many did, and feel you’d been here before.
As the years flew by, the stunning success of Lincoln Square Synagogue brought with it newfound responsibility: to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse membership, an ever-expanding neighborhood and a 21st-century world. New solutions for new realities were required that would acknowledge the changing landscape, while staying true to the synagogue’s core principles and personality. Recognizing the difficulties faced by those forced to care for their children and their parents at the same time, and those older members in need of help, LSS became the first local Orthodox synagogue to add a part-time social worker to its core staff, guiding those needing support and companionship through the complicated maze of social service programs.
Identifying a resurgent thirst for Torah study on an individual, one-on-one level, LSS members founded the first full-time Modern Orthodox/Religious Zionist Kollel in the New York metropolitan area, offering the learned and the uninitiated new and exciting educational opportunities that reflected a love of Torah as well as eretz yisrael and am yisrael – the land and the nation of Israel.
And always mindful of the needs of the greater Jewish community, LSS members created the Lea Segre Tomchei Shabbos Fund providing free meals to those recovering from illness and childbirth or sitting shiva, as well as the Louis Lazar Benevolent Fund providing free religious articles like siddurim, mezuzot, and tefillin to those in need. All of this and weekly Bikur Cholim visits to Roosevelt Hospital every Shabbat afternoon, annual clothing drives, and a dedicated Chesed Fund that supports a variety of charitable causes in New York and across the country. As our sages teach, “olam chesed yibaneh” – acts of kindness build the world – and Lincoln Square Synagogue always does its part.
In 2013, LSS continued the next phase of its history and moved 100 yards south to 180 Amsterdam Avenue.

קהילת שארית ישראל נוסדה במנהטן, ניו יורק בשנת 1654, על ידי מגורשי ספרד ופורטוגל, ונחשבת לקהילה היהודית הוותיקה בארצות הברית. בית הכנסת של הקהילה, המכונה גם "ספרדי-פורטוגזי" ("Spanish and Portuguese"), מתפקד כאורתודוקסי. ממוקם ברחוב 70 (מערב), ניו יורק.
הקהילה נוסדה ב-1654 על ידי 23 מהגרים יהודיים, שבאו מברזיל, ונחשבת לקהילה היהודית הממוסדת הראשונה בארצות הברית.[דרוש מקור] במשך השנים, השתתפו חברי הקהילה במאבק למען זכויות אזרחיות ליהודי ארצות הברית, ובהדרגה השיגו את מבוקשם. מכיוון שהקהילה הייתה הקהילה היהודית היחידה בעיר ניו יורק עד שנת 1825, שארית ישראל תפקדה בתור המרכז של החיים היהודיים, סיפקה מקום לתפילה ולימוד – הן חילוני והן תלמוד תורה, כמו גם מקום לשירותים דתיים (אוכל כשר, מקווה וכו') ומפגשים חברתיים.

Weekday Services January 31 – February 5, 2016 5776 – Mishpatim – Sunday – Friday – January 31 – February 5, 2016
SCHEDULE
Morning Services
Sunday 8:00 am
Monday – Friday 7:15 am

Sunday – Thursday 6:30 pm
Shabbat Services February 5 – 6, 2016 Mishpatim – 5776 – Friday Eve & Saturday – February 5 – February 6, 2016
SCHEDULE
Friday
Candle Lighting 5:00 pm
Services 5:00 pm

Saturday
Morning Services 8:15 – 11:45 am
Torah Reading: Mishpatim
Seuda Shelishit & Class 3:55 pm
Minhah & Arbit 4:55 pm
Sunset 5:19 pm
Habdalah 5:48 pm

Park East Synagogue is dedicated to providing the opportunity for spiritual growth, Jewish education and spiritual comfort for individuals, families, and our community.
Park East Synagogue is inclusive of all people seeking a meaningful Jewish life, regardless of degree of observance, knowledge of Jewish tradition, age, or affiliation.
Park East Synagogue is committed to providing inspiring Jewish and general studies education to children and to adults; its Religious School, Early Childhood, and Day School with its emphasis on cultivating a Jewish life rich in tradition and unrivalled in general studies has been, and continues to be, a source of character and vitality for its congregation.
The synagogue’s influence, strength and dynamism in the community derive from the members of our congregation. We value and honor the role our congregants fulfill in defining and shaping our future and that of the Jewish community, in New York City and beyond.

Shacharit
February 28 at 9:00 am EST
February 29 at 7:45 am EST
March 1 at 7:45 am EST
Mincha
February 28 at 5:40 pm EST
February 29 at 5:40 pm EST
March 1 at 5:40 pm EST

I'm not going to leave a synagogue less than a five star but I'm a little confused why I was kicked off the steps of the back entrance. I have never seen anyone come in or go out that way. I'm Jewish. There are cameras everywhere and a Police station a few doors down. They are not paticularly comfortable steps to sit on. The reason I like to sit on those steps is because it's a temple and also because it's close to Police. A few criminals are paying people to harass me every day and when I'm on those steps is the only time they leave me alone. Thanks guys

על המקום:
So I'm touring the LES with my wife and friends when someone says, "Let's get some waters so we don't die today." We look across the street, and as if out a vision, the Holyland Market appears. Fortune had smiled upon us, as only on my birthday would I enter my first Jewish bodega.
As luck would have it, the entire bodega was out of water! But never fear, as they had something even better. Giant challahs.
I'm used to secret bodega gems like Zaragoza, where you can unexpectedly find tacos. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect a bodega of my people.
As we walked around the LES sharing bread, dipped in the bowl of chocolate that my sister-in-law randomly had, I felt like a big birthday mensch.
Standouts include the hummus (best and creamiest on earth), the borekas (homemade flakiness), the babka (chocolate or cinnamon, both dense circles of breakfast joy), the packaged snacks (junk food, but unique junk food), the candy near the register, and that Nutella-esque chocolate spread. They also carry pita from Pita Express, which is a beautiful, beautiful thing.
Also, Hebrew-language women's magazines, which will explain how to lose all the weight you've gained by shopping here.
Best. Pita. Ever. The super fluffy thick kind. And all the Elite chocolate you could possibly want! I ended up getting chocolates, zaatar, pita and other things that I have to request from my parents when they go to Israel. Now I can just hop on the F, go to St. Marks Place and by all that stuff that I crave. Will definitely make the trek back!

אין חוויה ישראלית יותר מלשבת במסעדת "12 כסאות" המעולה ולאכול ג'חנון, פלאפל, מג'דרה או קוסקוס ביום שבת בבוקר עם חברים. בדרך כלל זמן ההמתנה ארוך, אבל ככה זם עם מסעדות טובות, אבל ההמתנה בהחלט משתלמת. מומלץ !

Some buds may have heard of Aroma before because it is one of the biggest and most successful espresso bars in Israel. They opened up in 1994 and have about 25 locations in Israel and have recently opened up a couple of locations in NYC and in Florida. They pride themselves on their coffee and they have their arabic beans imported from Africa. They are currently expanding to more international cities and I foresee a lot more success in their future. The menu is influenced by Israeli culture as well as various Mediterranean and Middle Easter flavors.

Aroma sits in the upper west side on 72nd between Amsterdam and Columbus, but they also have additional locations in the lower east side and in Soho.  The decor is modern with lots of red and blacks, comfy chairs and long tables for communal dining.  The location in the UWS has both downstairs and upstairs seating and with wall length windows, the espresso bar has tons of natural light coming in.  The upper level actually has an outdoor deck so they get major bonus points for that feature.

The cafe is definitely busy but despite the continual bustling crowd, the noise level never gets unbearable.  Because of the various communal dining tables throughout, it definitely has the feel of a place that if you came every day for a few months, you would be easily able to make friends with someone else who came everyday for a few months.  It has a good mix of both locals and tourists which sometimes is difficult to find.  The major drawback of Aroma is their lack of free WIFI.  The city that never sleeps has also become the city that is always connected; therefore, it only makes logical sense that any establishment that markets themselves as a “espresso bar” which in layman’s terms is just a coffee house, there should be free internet.  I understand that this is to limit the individuals who will come and sit for the entire day, order one coffee and get refills, but if that is the case, they just need to password protect and it and put a time limit  on it.  However, not having free WIFI just makes people angry and not want to visit your establishment regardless of how good the food is and how awesome your upstairs outdoor deck is.

Onto the food.  Aroma serves up both breakfast and lunch with various hot options for both.  For breakfast, they have the standard egg sandwiches, omelettes and also french toast (which looked delicious), and they serve breakfast all day.  They also have your typical collection of pastries but those give a sort of starbucks pre-made feel (though they are baked fresh daily) and judging from other reviews that I have read, there is nothing spectacular about them.  For lunch, they offer numerous types of sandwiches and salads ranging from an avocado sandwich with avocado spread, red onions, parsley, jalapeños, lettuce, tomatoes to a vegan portabello with grilled mushrooms,pesto, tomatoes, arugula, red onions to a steak sandwich with steak, mayo, jalapeño, sauteed onions & red peppers, and swiss cheese.  They really cover their bases by having a little bit of everything for everyone because they also have a grilled chicken sandwich, a turkey sandwich and a salmon sandwich, so essentially no dietary constrictions are not considered.  They also have numerous different and fun salads which I was extremely happy to see because my biggest pet peeve is when places have a caesar salad, a house salad and some salad with some pre-frozen grilled chicken strips thrown on top.  Really? Come on.   For example, Aroma has a quinoa salad with organic quinoa, tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, mint leaves, and red onions (I know, right!), a mozzarella beet salad with mozzarella cheese, beets, tomatoes, red onions, homemade garlic croutons and arugula, and a warm garbanzo bean salad with garbanzo beans, hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, homemade garlic croutons, and a tahini sauce. You must be wondering how I made my choice.  Let me tell you, it was extremely difficult and I had to let a couple people go ahead of me before I finally came to my conclusion

I ended up opting for a salad because I knew that I would be having authentic Italian that evening, so I had the Sweet Potato lentil salad which had arugula, red onions, lentils, sweet potatoes, granola, goat cheese, olive oil and a lemon dressing. Yes, it was delicious.  Everything was fresh, yummy and came together extremely well.  Although I know that they were trying to keep the dressing simple, I did feel that the dressing could of at least used a little bit of seasoning because it really added nothing to the salad.  However, the ingredients of the salad itself featured a little bit of sweet, a little bit of pungency, a little bit of sharpness and a whole lot of flavor.

Oddly enough, despite my being in an espresso bar I did not opt for any coffee on that day (really, this is a major shocker), however, as previously discussed they really pride themselves on their coffee and judging by the many people who just came in for a quick cup to go, I am certain that it is good.  The prices are not cheap but wont break the bank (around $10.00 for a full meal with drink), so it is definitely comparable to other similar style restaurants and cafes.

All in all, I did enjoy my lunch and I would be inclined to make a weekly stop in.  I think they should definitely reconsider their stance on WIFI and continue to expand to other cities because their inventive sandwiches and salads are definitely a huge draw.

Imported coffee
Checkout our various tyes of imported coffee.
Great Music
Our DJs will entertain you like never before.
Finest Cuisine
From Italian to Tex-Mex, you will find all types of food
Nice Staff
You will never forget our smile and professional attitude.

When my husband and I were in the East Village to see an off, off Broadway show, we happened across this eclectic eatery called Spiegel. We both loved the choices of interesting international dishes. I had the fish tacos which were excellent, with two big pieces of Mahi. My husband had the Tunisian sandwich which is a creation of marinated tune, chick peas, potatoes and harissa. He described it as tuna with layers of flavors and textures. We will be coming back the next time we are in the neighborhood.

Hummus is one of the few foods that leaves you feeling satiated without spiking your blood glucose levels. It's tasty and nutritious, but also low in calories. Hummus is vegetarian dish, actually it's also vegan. Basically made up of 60 – 70% water, chick peas, Tahini (from sesame seeds) olive oil and lemon, it's considered a grain / legume, but if you eat it with bread it's actually a complete protein. A great source of dietary fiber, Hummus also packs the good monounsaturated fats like Omega 3 and is rich in vitamins C, E, K, and B6 to name a few, but it doesn't stop there. Minerals like Maganese, Copper and Sodium are accompanied by Iron, Folate, Thiamin, Calcium, Magnesium and Zinc.

ABOUT

Glasserie is located in the former home of Greenpoint Glass Works. The building was erected in 1860 by Christian Dorflinger, an immigrant from Alsace, to house his expanding Glass Factory. The operation included kilns, docking facilities on Newtown Creek, and a production line. The factory itself also included housing for the employees in its wings. This cut glass was so highly regarded that special pieces were requested for the White House collection. In 1882 the factory came into the possession of the Elliot P. Gleason Manufacturing Co, and in 1902 was renamed The Gleason-Tiebout Glass Co. Gleason-Tiebout operated out of the building for years, employing around 300 people. The prints throughout the restaurant are from original glass fixture catalogues (kept safe by the Corning Glass Museum). We are told that divers in Newtown Creek have found some of these original glass fixtures. Gleason-Tiebout continued operations in the building until 1946 when it moved across Newtown Creek to Queens.
OUR FOOD PHILOSOPHY

Glasserie believes in good food. We do our best to find the freshest and most superior product from as close to us as possible. We then manipulate the product as little as possible to achieve the desired result and still honor the integrity of the plant or animal in its original form. We value old recipes from our grandmothers and great grand mothers and bring them to our neighborhood in an approachable way. Our roots are in the Mediterranean and focus is on Middle Eastern flavors and culture mixed in with contemporary techniques.
JOIN TEAM-G

Glasserie is growing quickly and often looking to fill new kitchen and front of house positions. We would love to hear from you !
Please email resume and cover letter to [email protected] to join Team-G.
Chef: Eldad Shem Tov
General Manager: Andrea Graugnard

RABBI DANIEL SHERMAN

Rabbi Daniel Sherman joined West Side Institutional Synagogue in 2013. He studied at Yeshivat HaKotel in Jerusalem and then earned a BA from Yeshiva College, where he won the award for Talmudic Excellence. He earned his rabbinic ordination at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, where he was a Maybaum Scholar as well. Prior to recieving his semicha, he interned at Congregation BIAV in Overland Park, Kansas. Rabbi Sherman is also the Co-Director of TorahLetzion, an organization that assists motivated high school students afford a gap-year in Israel. He also spent many summers at Camp Nesher serving as the Head of Staff Beit Medrash Program, chinuch Rebbi, and Assistant Athletic Director.

CANTOR ZEV MULLER
Cantor Zev Müller, our very own "Chazzan Zevi", was raised in a house of Rabbis and Chazzanim. His father, Rabbi Aron Müller, is the Rabbi of the Jewish community in Baden, Switzerland, and his uncle is the famous Cantor Benjamin Müller of Antwerp, Belgium. Chazzan Zevi studied in the renowned Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak, Israel, and in Beth Medrash Gavoha of Lakewood, New Jersey. Zevi received his BA in Cell Biology & Neuroscience summa cum laude from Rutgers University, and his MA in Biological Sciences from Columbia University. He is currently a graduate student at the Center for Theoretical Neuroscience at Columbia University.
Cantor Müller has studied Chazzanut and voice for many years with acclaimed cantors and opera singers, and has been leading high holiday services since the age of 18. He is a Spinto Tenor with a full range and with variations of color and dynamics. Despite his young age, Cantor Müller is well regarded in the cantorial world and is often invited to perform at concerts, officiate Chuppot and daven as a guest Chazzan around the world. In 2010, Cantor Müller recited the Kel Moleh Rachamim prayer at the UN General Assembly in commemoration of the Holocaust.
Cantor Müller has been the cantor at WSIS since 2007 and has become an integral part of the shul and the community. Though well-versed in traditional Chazzanut, Chazzan Zevi has integrated more contemporary-styled music, which encourages participatory davening and singing. Chazzan Zevi has inspired many with his warm heartfelt services and attracts many locals and visitors to the synagogue.
Besides his role as Cantor, Zevi also lectures and gives shiurim on Gemara, Jewish and Halachic topics for members of the shul and the broader community. He also finds time to teach Chazzanut, Nusach and voice to adults and children. Zevi and his wife, Chaya, live on the Upper West Side.

The Jewish Community Center – Chabad of West Queens
Mission Statement
To assist the residents of West Queens, achieve their spiritual, physical and emotional goals through exemplary educational, religious, cultural and social programming and celebration.
To provide support in times of need, illness or emergency
To promote and strengthen Jewish awareness, pride and identity to all Jewish individuals and families regardless of affiliation or background
To provide a warm community home where everyone is made to feel welcome & comfortable.
About our Center

The JCC – Chabad LIC was created with one goal in mind – to offer all Jews, even those with little or no background – a home, and an education and memories that will inspire them for a lifetime. We strive to evoke a sense of history, love for the land of Israel, and a genuine understanding of what Judaism is all about, and thereby develop strong Jewish pride.

Our center is founded on the principle that, while people embrace many levels of observance in their personal lives, there should be a place for no labels, and all affiliations. A place where people can develop a sense of community and enhance their own spiritual experiences of Judaism.

We realize that when it comes to spirituality, it is NOT "one size fits all." We have therefore created a multifaceted program with various sub organizational departments to cater to the different needs of the many parts which comprise a community.

Each department is managed by an individual of our staff that is fully dedicated to the development and expansion of that division. We aim to ensure maximum efficiency and quality of its programming so that everyone's needs can be catered to with the appropriate attention.

Whatever department you are involved with, the trademark feeling of warmth and creative spiritual excitement flows through every program. We provide everyone with a taste of joyful Judaism according to their own specific interests, while at the same time being part of the larger community through its dynamic unifying energy of love, acceptance and commitment to non judgmental spiritual growth.

rabbi and wife.jpgAbout Rabbi Zev and Rivka

Rabbi Zev Wineberg was born in Vancouver. From the age of twelve, he started Yeshiva, traveling within Canada, USA, South Africa, Israel and Budapest.

Rivka was born and raised in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, and from a young age began volunteering in Jewish day camps throughout the US, and Ukraine. She studied in Israel and upon completion began teaching within the Chabad community.

Both knew they wanted to work within the framework of Jewish Community Service.

In 2006, with the guidance of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of blessed memory, Rabbi Zev & Rivka Winberg were given the opportunity to expand the work of Lubavitch in West Queens, by beginning to serve the spiritual needs of the Jewish population in the up-and-coming neighborhood of Long Island City. It is a fast growing suburb – attracting many Jews. There was a need to reach out to an overwhelming population which was uncommitted and under affiliated.

Zev and Rivka came with an agenda of Ahavat Yisrael, unconditional love for every Jew, to assist, help and infuse the community with the exciting programming and Jewish experience that have become synonymous with this vital organization. Through innovative programming such as public Menorah lightings, Passover Seders, lectures and cultural events, holiday workshops for children, The JCC – Chabad LIC quickly became a household name, reshaping the landscape of the Jewish experience in West Queens.

About The LIC Synagogue

Imagine worshipping in an atmosphere of total inclusion and acceptance, where you are welcome and encouraged to ask questions, where you are implored to be as non-judgmental of your neighbors as they are of you. This is the atmosphere that has been created in this Shul which we call home. Friday night services are lively Carlebach style and followed by L'Chaim and Kugel. Shabbat services are traditional and include a Dvar Torah – contemporary Torah thought from Rabbi Zev. The weekly Kiddush is focused on celebrating milestones in the community and our families.

All Jews are welcome regardless of background, knowledge, or level.

The creation of husband-and-wife team Chef Einat Admony and Stefan Nafziger, this “Mediterranean meets Middle East” restaurant has a diverse and playful menu that draws inspiration from Chef/Owner Einat Admony's Israeli roots. Weekly specials based on local seasonal ingredients and an extensive list of organic wines from that region demonstrate the personal touch that has made Taïm a critically acclaimed success. Chef Admony’s newest project, Bar Bolonat, is now open at 611 Hudson Street!
The Balaboosta cookbook is now available at your favorite bookseller – or pick up a signed copy at the restaurant!

Nestled among the faux bistros and precious bars of Nolita, Hoomoos Asli is a welcome, no-fuss spot offering quick and cheap Israeli cuisine. Ceiling fans whirl above small wooden tables and cheesy '90s trance music plays over the speakers. Lunch draws a large international crowd of 20-somethings and NYU students, who come to feast on falafel, which arrive tucked in homemade, ridiculously fluffy pitas overflowing with chopped tomatoes and cucumbers. Dinner boasts an equally laid-back scene as couples enjoy entrees like schnitzel, pan-fried chicken covered in breadcrumbs and spices, and the Jerusalem mixed grill, a succulent combination of lamb, chicken and beef served with caramelized onions over rice. Lingering over cups of Turkish coffee and talking politics is encouraged. And although Hoomoos Asli doesn't serve liquor, the bring-your-own-wine-and-beer policy adds to this hole-in-the-wall's casual charm. — Dakota Smith

Recommended Dishes
Babaganoush, $5.17; Jerusalem mix grill sandwich, $11.16

We’re doing something special for Purim this year, and the more of you participate, the more special it will be! Sign up for our first-everMishloach Manot Project to send your friends and fellow Stanton members traditional Purim food baskets. We prepare them for you, you sit back and enjoy Purim, proceeds go to the shul, and everybody wins!

How does it work? You should already have received an e-mail with instructions and your very own log-in code. Simply log-in to the Purim Project site and select the people you want to send to from the list of participants ($5/person or $180 for as many names as you want). The baskets will be available to be collected at the shul on Purim night,March 23, and Purim morning, March 24, when you come for megillah reading. (Please note, each participant receives one basket with a list of all the people who gave to them.)

We are honored to host the Honorable Martin Shulman this Shabbat, February 6, for a special talk in honor of Parashat Mishpatim (Laws). Judge Shulman’s talk on “Selected Torah and Secular Social Laws – No Need to Re-invent the Wheel,” will take place at 12:15pm, after kiddush, and will be followed by mincha. All are welcome!

Celebrate Shabbat with Stanton and the rest of America next week!
We will be having a community Shabbat dinner on Friday night,March 4, for the nationwide Sabbath observance known as Shabbat Across America. Click here to sign up now! The cost is $35/person or $30 for shul members. Sponsorships of $100 include dinner for two. Please let us know if you would like a vegetarian entree.

Grill 212 offers delicious dining, carryout and delivery to New York, NY
Grill 212 is a cornerstone in the New York community and has been recognized for its outstanding Mediterranean cuisine, excellent service and friendly staff.
Our Mediterranean restaurant is known for its modern interpretation of classic dishes and its insistence on only using high quality fresh ingredients.

ביקורת:
This is a non-pretentious, very authentic, very teensy Mediterranean joint tucked semi-underground. The portions are enormous; you can definitely split an entree and both end up quite stuffed! This is doubly true if you go for the salad bar, which is magnificent – especially the eggplant dishes. Yum. It would be nice if the food had a bit more salt/herbs/spices, but if you're ordering for home use you can just drown it in your favorite hot sauce. It's supremely affordable.

very low key and delicious. Ive spent some time with yemenite folk and the chicken soup with koubanah bread and hilbeh at Grill 212 is like sitting down with them. Generous salad bar, great laffa, nice staff, moderate price….how could you go wrong?

Incredibly fresh food. Excellent shakshukah. Tiny, tiny dining area. Friendly service. Hummas is delicious and homemade. Baby chicken was succulent. Will certainly return. Great place to take out, as well. But you cannot beat the sizzling freshness of dining in.

קהילה קדושה יאנינה הוא בית כנסת הנמצא ברחוב ברום (Broome)‏ 280 בין רחובות אלן (Allen) ואלדרידג' (Eldridge) בלואר איסט סייד במנהטן ניו יורק. הוא נבנה בשנים 1925-‏1927 ותוכנן על ידי סידני דאוב. הוא בית הכנסת היחיד בחצי הכדור המערבי שנוהגים בו בנוסח הרומניוטים השונה גם מנוסח אשכנז וגם מנוסח ספרד.
לקהילה קדושה יאנינה יש ייחוד בהיותו בית הכנסת הרומניוטי היחיד בחצי הכדור המערבי הקהילה נוסדה ב-1906 על ידי מהגרים יהודי יוונים מיואנינה, אבל בית הכנסת לא הוקם עד 1927. השנים מאז ועד מלחמת העולם השנייה היו שנים של שפע לקהילה הרומניוטית בלואר איסט סייד. כיהנו בבית הכנסת שלושה רבנים ובימים הנוראים היה בית הכנסת מלא מפה לפה. אחרי מלחמת העולם השנייה עבר חלק גדול מבני הקהילה לרבעים אחרים וחלקים אחרים של מנהטן כולל הרלם, ברונקס וברוקלין. קהילות אלה כבר אינן פעילות היום. למרות שהקהילה התמעטה באופן קבוע מאז ימי הזוהר שלה לפני המלחמה הרי עדיין מתקיימות תפילות בבית הכנסת בשבתות ובחגים. למרות שיש לבית הכנסת רשימת תפוצה של 3,000 אנשים הרי, לעתים קרובות, חסרים אנשים למניין בתפילות השבת. סיורים מודרכים מתקיימים בכל יום ראשון למבקרים. לקהילת יאנינה יש חלקה בבית העלמין בוולווד (Wellwood). שם יש גם מצבת זיכרון ליהודי יאנינה שנספו בשואה.

הבניין נוסף לרשימה הלאומית של מקומות היסטוריים ב-30 בנובמבר 1999 וצוין כנקודת ציון של העיר ניו יורק ב-11 במאי 2004 . הוא עבר שיקום נרחב ב-2006.
Congregation Kehila Kedosha Janina
A small synagogue in New York City's Lower East Side is reaching out to make people aware of its congregation's heritage through a museum that familiarizes people with its customs and history.
The synagogue is virtually unchanged since being built in 1927 by Romaniote Jews from Janina, Greece. In 2004, it was designated a landmark by the City of New York.
Both memorabilia and the museum's tour guides describe the story of the Romaniote Jews, from their entry into Greece in the first century to their current life in America.
Differences between Greek Romaniote Jews and the Greek Sephardic Jews who fled from Spain to escape the Inquisition are featured: The two groups speak different languages and have distinct customs.

The synagogue is open for Shabbat services at 9:00 a.m. and on holidays. Look for the schedule of "Holiday Services" on our sidebar menu.
The Museum is open from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sundays, or please contact us if you wish to have a special appointment.

מעדניה, קפה, חנות מכולת.
Eighty Years, and 3 generations later, Zabar's family business is still going strong.
Our father and mother, Louis and Lillian Zabar, started the business
back in 1934, opening a 22-foot-wide shop along NYC’s Broadway at West 80th Street. Louis was a real stickler for quality, roasting his own coffee, and personally visiting smokehouses to sample and inspect the fish – rejecting far more than he accepted.
The principles and practices of our founder and father continue to guide us: Respect the customer. Never, ever stint on quality. Offer fair value. And last but not least, keep searching for the new and wonderful.
Without question, this last point has accounted for some memorable moments. Back in the 1960’s, we introduced New York to Brie, in the ‘70’s we brought them sun-dried tomatoes and gnocchi, and in the ‘80’s, we got so excited about caviar – and wanted everyone to taste it – that our prices set off a so-called “Caviar War”. (Incidentally, we won.)
Over the years, the business kept growing, and today we span practically the entire block front. With our sons, daughters and their cousins, we’re still at it – hand-slicing meltingly delicious smoked fish behind our deli counter…offering tastes of the latest artisanal cheeses…setting out fresh-baked batches of rugelach (it’s our Bubbe’s recipe)…overseeing the roasting of our special coffee blends (we sell 400,000 pounds a year!) Retire? Not on your life – we’re having too much fun!
As Louis taught us, to succeed as a family business, you have to love each other, and love the business – in our case, great food, great service, great prices, great folks. We ask you, what’s not to love?!
Here’s to another 80 years, and then some! Heartfelt thanks for your patronage.

Our Store On Broadway
Zabar's has to be experienced, in person, to truly be understood. You have to see the crowds, hear the banter of our sales help, smell the croissants baking, admire the rich brown hues of our coffee, sample cheese from every corner of the world, enjoy the beauty of hand sliced nova, walk upstairs and see the largest selection of imported copper cookware anywhere… it really is a one of a kind adventure.

Ben’s New York Kosher Delicatessen Restaurant & Caterers
We Cure Our Own Corned Beef, Our Chicken Soup Cures Everything Else!SM

Ben’s is a family-owned and operated restaurant & delicatessen that has been serving up the finest authentic New York Kosher delicatessen and eastern European comfort foods for more than 44 years. Customers love Ben’s homemade soups, hot pastrami, fresh-cut cole slaw, baked knishes and crunchy all you can eat pickles. All of Ben’s soups, salads, sandwiches and dinners are freshly prepared. Ben’s has seven convenient locations: Three on Long Island in Carle Place, Greenvale and Woodbury, and one each in Midtown Manhattan; Bayside, Queens; and Scarsdale, NY; and Boca Raton, Florida with free delivery service available to many communities near the stores.

Chabad of the Upper East Side is part of a world-wide organazation of Chabad-Lubavitch, under the leadership and guidance of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson.
There is no mystery about our philosophy: Love every Jew; educate every Jew; reach out to help every Jew. We open our arms and hearts to all, regardless of education or affiliation. That is a commitment that we have honored on the Upper East Side since 1993

Synagogue
Friday Evening
Mincha & Maariv:
5 minutes after candle lighting

Shabbat
9:00 AM: Chassidic Philosophy
9:30 AM: Morning Services
10:30 AM: Reading of the Torah accompanied by penetrating Chassidic insights into the Torah and it's relevance to our personal lives

Kids Shul: 10:15 AM -12:15 PM
with Mrs. Rivkah Dayan

Followed by Kiddush

Mincha, Seuda Shlishit followed by
Evening services, Havdallah and The Living Torah.
Call for exact times.

Sunday & Legal Holidays
The Upper East Side Kollel
Learning: 8:30 AM
Morning Services: 9:00 AM
followed by breakfast and 1:1* learning until 1:30 PM

Monday-Friday
The Upper East Side Kollel
6:45 1:1 Learning
7:30 AM – Morning Services
followed by breakfast and 1:1* learning until 12:30 PM

Jewish Identity Grows On Manhattan's Upper East Side
Marlene Rosenberg, a successful senior business management consultant has been living around the corner from Chabad of the Upper East Side for as long as she can remember. But it was only in the past year that she took courage and ventured in gingerly, despite her fears that the experience would be too intimidating.
“Both my parents were Jewish, but we grew up with no real knowledge or Jewish traditions,” she said. “I didn’t read Hebrew, and knew nothing about how to participate at services.” When her sister died a year ago, the loss triggered a hunger, and Marlene was on a quest for something that would bring comfort and meaning to her life.
Of the estimated 56,000 Jews who live on Manhattan’s Upper East Side—the area bounded by the East River to Central Park and 59th Street to 96th Street—only 15,000 affiliate in some way.
“The UES has one of the wealthiest, most assimilated Jewish populations anywhere,” Rabbi Benzion Krasinianski, director with his wife Chanie, of Chabad of the UES, said. “But with this many Jews who don’t affiliate at all, the need and the possibilities are tremendous.” He recalls that when he moved to the area 21 years ago to establish Chabad of the UES, many thought he’d come to the wrong neighborhood.
“People told us frankly that they didn’t see how Chabad would be relevant to Jews here who have reached the summit of success in their careers; that they would have no interest in anything spiritual.” But some like Marlene, sensitive to an existential void that begs a different kind of answer, eventually find their way to Chabad of the UES on East 77th Street and First Avenue.
Others connect when they send their children to Chabad’s popular preschool which has grown to 75 children; or to its Hebrew School where at any given time, 50 adolescents are being prepared for their bar-bat mitzvahs.
Chabad facilities here include the $13 million Schneerson Center for Jewish Life sponsored by George Rohr & Family and the Jacques & Hanna Schwalbe Mikvah sponsored by Peter Schwalbe. The building, featuring a sanctuary, classrooms, commercial kitchen and social hall bookended by a beautiful, spa-like mikvah on its below-ground level that is used by 400 women a month, and an open-air playground on the roof, is bursting at the seams.
Peter Schwalbe recalls that when “we first started building about 12 years ago, I used to say to the rabbi: ‘What if we build this spectacular building and no one shows up?’” But they now have children on a waiting list for admission to the preschool because, he says, “there’s simply no room.”
The Krasinianskis, parents of a large family, deliver a standard of programming and services that often exceeds the expectations of Upper East Siders. “The Upper East Side is a trend setting community and has repercussions around the world. If mikvah is good enough for Park Avenue women, it must be good enough for everyone,” says Chanie.
Nicknamed 7:11 for opening its doors every morning shortly before 7 and closing at 11, the Chabad center sees hundreds of Jews on an average week and more than that participating in its varied and dispersed programs and services: besides the preschool and Hebrew school, it offers well attended adult education classes, a Kollel, daily prayer services, a Friendship Circle. Under the Krasinianski’s leadership, Chabad on the UES has opened Chabad of Hunter College, Chabad Israel Center of the UES, Chabad Young Professionals, and most recently, Chabad’s Medical Outreach program.
Owing to the largest concentration of world class hospitals, including Sloan Kettering, Columbia Presbyterian, Cornell, Lenox Hill, and Mt. Sinai, the Krasinianski’s recently decided to recruit a young couple dedicated to serving this sector.
“We are often called upon by people who end up here unexpectedly, traumatized by a sudden medical crisis. They need someone to turn to, to lean on, who can help them out with medical referrals, Shabbos accommodations, sometimes with language barriers.”
In addition, Chabad’s designer thrift shop, Solomon's Wive's Designer Resale & Thrift on East 89th Street, brings people together for a good cause. Managed by Donna Pressman, who helped Mussa Zakon set up the thrift shop, the store’s proceeds go to support Chabad’s educational and social activities. The shop, says Pressman, is “where we take the material and turn it into something spiritual.”
But above all, says Rabbi Krasinianski, Chabad is here to teach Torah. “There is a real thirst—even among a more traditional element—for Chasidic study. People come back because once they’ve been exposed to the inspiration and depth that Chabad Chasidism offers, they appreciate the difference it makes in their lives.”
Long-time supporter Deborah Aronow with her husband Joseph Aronow—who recently made a generous corporate grant towards lessonsintanya.com, an online Tanya class featuring daily Tanya sessions with Rabbi Krasinianski—has known the Krasinianskis since 1992.
Although she admits that she was one of those Upper East Siders who might have thought she’d have no need for Chabad, getting to know Chabad through the Krasinianskis, who are now “family,” has taught her the timeless relevance of Torah. “There was nothing like this when I was growing up. Chabad has brought light, learning and acceptance” to Jews on the UES. “It’s not an old-fashioned thing that doesn’t apply today. Everything that you experience with Chabad has an application today.”
On a December Friday night, some 55 people—all congregants of the Reform New York Shul led by Rabbi Burt Siegel joined Chabad for Shabbat dinner. None had ever been to Chabad before, and they were curious to participate at a traditional Shabbat dinner. After the dinner, Rabbi Krasinianski opened the floor to a “stump the rabbi” session.
“They had so many serious questions; they were so engaged and interested to know more about the Torah’s perspective on a wide gamut of issues. They stayed on for hours.”
Marlene’s first exposure to Chabad, she recalls, was disarming. “They greeted me so warmly and made me feel so welcome. I felt no pressure at all.” There was a first Passover Seder, and then the High Holidays was another first. Soon she was coming more frequently, and now she’s sharing with others her newfound sense of belonging, an inspired Jewish identity, and the rich Torah content that Chabad has introduced to her life. Today, she’s at Chabad every Shabbos and takes time off of work for the rabbi’s Wednesday class.
“It’s opened a whole new world to me, both intellectually and socially. I’ve made new friends here. I’ve truly fallen in love with what I found here at Chabad.”