2023 Gala.pptx

Congregation Tehillah celebrates Rabbi Linda's 15 year tenure and her innovations with youth leadership. This journal commemorats our first in-person GALA since before the pandemic.

1. RABBI LINDA SHRINER-CAHN 15 YEARS INTO A TEHILLAH ODYSSEY Rabbi Linda Shriner-Cahn has been a unifying voice of Congregation Tehillah for the past 15 years. On the occasion of her 15th anniversary as its spiritual leader, we explored her early days, priorities, and approaches, which emerge from a dedication to interconnectedness. Meeting and Evolving With a New Congregation The Congregation Tehillah interview service for Rabbi Linda Shriner-Cahn, leading and teaching at a Havdalah Motzei Shabbat, was held in someone’s home. Madeline Ritter and Tamara Fish, in the period before there were official leaders of the congregation, were among its organizers. Rose Beer, who elevates our services now with her talents and her band, was playing piano.  

2. “ Hearing a congregation singing together and being present in prayer, in the way that they were, felt very right,” Rabbi Linda recalled. Once hired, Rabbi Linda set out to know the congregants of Tehillah and to make it a welcoming place. “I needed to get the view from 5,000 and 10,000 feet.” She also knew that gaining traction in a community took time. In those early days, there were hired musicians, and Sariel Beckenstein , one of a number of service co-leaders, introduced Rabbi Linda to the music in a seamless fashion. Right away, Rabbi Linda appreciated that there was no set playlist; that, together, it was okay to try new things. She herself does not take a formulaic approach. She incorporates tradition but is not bound by it. Over time, her vision has evolved, such as designating Day 2 of Rosh Hashanah as a day of learning.

3. Rabbi Linda appreciates something different among the many with whom she has co-led services, including Cantor Gladys Gruenwald, Meir Beer, and Danny Guenzburger . She notes the exemplary teaching talents of co-educator Jay Stanton (“He always caught the ball”), and that Adina Ruskin and Wendy Levinson each brought something new to the mix. Tehillah Hebrew School (THS) Nearly five years into her tenure at Tehillah, the Rabbi was asked to become the principal of THS. She accepted this additional challenge and began to morph the school into the program grounded in ethical education that we know today. Philosophically, collaboration was important. So, too, was that each child be allowed to “stretch.” Respect for children was paramount. There should be “no coloring in the boxes.”

4. When teens were incorporated as teaching assistants, there was another shift. It became evident that there isn’t one path; that everyone is an individual, and that the “stretch” was different for each student. This was highlighted when engaging with students on issues of social justice. Each had different notions. Rabbi Linda revels in how thoughtful the young Hebrew School students are. They have felt comfortable enough to take risks, to ask hard questions, and to be “teachers to the adults in the room with their insights.” Social Media

5. Roles and Grants That Nourish Her Congregation, The Bronx, and the Nation In addition to her roles within Congregation Tehillah, Rabbi Linda serves as President of the Association of Rabbis and Cantors; Chair of the Interfaith Clergy Conference of Riverdale, Kingsbridge, and Spuyten Duyvil; Board Member of the Manhattan College Holocaust Genocide & Interfaith Center (HGI); and member of the Riverdale Jewish Community Partnership.   She has evolved the Interfaith Clergy Conference’s meetings from interfaith services to meetings held at the Hebrew Home and to social justice events at various locations, including online. The Conference has focused on such matters as relaying information on food and vaccination during COVID, working with social service organizations,

6. sharing work on environmental issues, and creating a community-wide network to aid refugees. Rabbi Linda also partners with local organizations. She collaborated with Marti Michael when Michael served as CEO of the Riverdale Y and continues to do so today on her work with refugees. Rabbi Linda has also been asked to provide the Invocation and Benediction at Lehman College, finding it moving and humbling, each time, to stand before such remarkable students and applaud all that they have accomplished. In her first year at Tehillah, getting her feet wet, discovering who occupied the space, and working to make the congregation a welcoming space, Rabbi Linda herself undertook no social action. But she soon started partnering with congregants to nourish the community with important grants that are, to her, acts of “creating community.”

7. An important friendship began when Dr. Mehnaz Afridi, Professor of Religious Studies at Manhattan College and Director of its HGI center, invited Rabbi Linda to be on a panel at the Islamic Women’s Conference in Istanbul eleven years ago. The experience expanded how Rabbi Linda saw the world and was the first of many fruitful collaborations. Knowing that there were interfaith opportunities to explore was a catalyst for several successful grants, including interfaith teen connections (and living the concept of “ hachnasat orchim ,” hospitality and welcoming guests) ; engaging interfaith families in a multicultural preparation for Passover through storytelling and art; and recognition of Muslim-Jewish community building in The Bronx by the US House of Representatives.

8. COVID-19 necessitated new ways of thinking and communing with peers to tackle immediate and long-term community challenges. One category of grant was directed at helping students through the pandemic: peer support during COVID-19 and a space, led by the congregation’s teens, for the younger students to process the first year of the pandemic. This magnified for all involved “the power of active listening and the importance of trust in active listening.” An earlier grant was intended to engage young children in a Jewish experience “beyond synagogue walls,” at outdoor markets in Riverdale and Washington Heights, to “plant seeds for future engagement.” With “Operation Game Changer,” Rabbi Linda sought to create an environment in which teens work in partnership with adult leaders in the community. The impact of this initiative led to the Board welcoming teen members with full voting rights, the brainchild of student

9. Julian Reich, and, subsequently, her podcast, “ Tehillah Talks ,” which features teens in a conversation with their rabbi. Yet another category of grant relates to the seasonal planting and horticultural education led by congregant Howie Waldman. “Nourishing the Jewish Spirit: Caring for our Environment” created a community garden— “inculcating a caring for our environment as part of Tehillah’s activities every year since the grant and engaging environmentally conscious members of Tehillah and the broader community.”   Two recent grants have been in the arena of anti-hate. The first followed Nikki Fisher sharing news of a brief film that addressed the vantage point of a biracial Jewish child. The second stemmed from Mayor Adams’ initiative, “Breaking Bread, Building Bonds,” in which clergy are asked to work to find common ground over a meal. In this case, there were 10 local clergy around a table.

10. Rabbi Linda listens to what congregants want and creates relevant opportunities to fit the vision. One of the most important grants delivered her and youth leaders to Israel. Impressively, she has received 75% of the grants for which she has applied.   Rabbi Linda is also proud of the roles and initiatives that have developed from expertise among the congregants such as the Caregiver Group run by Dr. Linda Jaffe Caplan. The group succeeded by breaking rules—by including individuals who fit into different demographics. Inspiration and Support A mother of two and now a grandmother to three, the Rabbi is uplifted and energized by time spent with her family. There is even a regular, early-morning call with her toddler grandson to engage with him in creative play after his big sister heads to school.

11. Rabbi Linda’s partner in life and in many Tehillah ventures is her husband David Shriner-Cahn, who generously serves the congregation in many ways. He has organized and called up the Torah learners, schlepped materials (and Torahs), edited “Tehillah Talks,” and set up and run the livestreams born in the COVID era. “I could not do what I do without him by my side, every step of the way.” Into the Future Rabbi Linda’s vision for the congregation, which has evolved with “the best synagogue Board,” began with a brainstorming session about values with Jay Stanton. Tehillah, they decided, was “a place where anyone could come wherever they were in their Jewish journey.”

12. Creating trusting relationships with people has been one of the hallmarks of Rabbi Linda’s tenure at Tehillah, and it has been important to take time to create the relationships. She is skeptical that a “mega congregation” would have offered her the same possibilities: “We’re not a warship, so we can tack really easily. Moving with the winds is an asset, not a liability” Rabbi Linda is proudest about empowering young people and enabling them to teach the younger students at High Holy Day services. And they return to teach and to pray and to share. One former student met with her to share that he was making Aliyah.

13. Rabbi Linda conceives of Congregation Tehillah as a welcoming community. “It is a community of lovingkindness” where members have each other’s backs, even if they disagree. She feels as though she has discovered her voice at Tehillah and is intent on letting members find theirs. 

14. Honoring our Youth as our Leaders   The young leaders that we are honoring at our 2023 Gala have continued to be an essential part of Tehillah, post B’nai Mitzvah, as they have joined the Tehillah Board as Student Board Members, as Assistant Teachers in our Hebrew School, leading children’s services on Shabbat morning and during the High Holy Days, active participants in “Tehillah Talks”, our regular podcast hosted by Rabbi Linda and more.   Coming through Tehillah Hebrew School, led by Rabbi Linda has introduced these individuals and others young people to Judaism in a unique way, allowing them to develop their own path of discovery, learning how to critically think, articulate how they feel about being Jewish in a productive and curious way as they continue to explore Judaism, each at their own pace. Thank you all for your invaluable contribution to Tehillah.

15. Blessings and Gratitude To All of our Honorees   Abi, Alexis, Bernie, Helena Jasmine, Julian, Natasha and Roma   For being who you are Being all that you are   For your many contributions To our community and beyond   With deep affection and pride   Rabbi Linda

16. Abi Baum Abi Baum just finished her first semester at Binghamton University where she is studying Psychology. She has been a member at Tehillah for about 15 years and has found a sense of community here unlike any other. “After going to Israel in the summer of 2019, I returned to help at the Hebrew School as a Teacher’s Assistant and later became a Student Board Member. At Hebrew School I found how much I love working with children. After graduating from high school in 2021, I worked at a preschool for a year between graduating and starting college. Now I am in school (taking as many Judaic Studies classes as possible), debating whether I’d like to become a clinical or school psycholoist . Whichever option I end up choosing, it all started with Tehillah and I am forever grateful for that.”  

17. Abi! We are so proud of you for all you have contributed to the Tehillah community. Congratulations to you and all the honorees! Love, Mom Dad and Sarah

18. Jasmine Hyman Jasmine Hyman is an almost graduate from Bennington College. At school, she is studying playwriting. She’s excited to see everybody when she’s home in the Bronx! She likes Vermont but misses the Bronx. She has been a part of the Tehillah community for about a decade and was one of the first Student Board Members. 

19. Our Dearest Jasmine,    Thank you for the pride and joy that you inspire. We look forward to seeing your talents unfold into the world as you continue your journey.    Mazel Tov to you and the other incredible honorees!!   n With all our love,   Mom and Dad 

20. Helena McHugh Helena is a rising Junior at Case Western Reserve University, where she is studying Neuroscience, Classics, and Public Health. Helena had her Bat Mitzvah at Tehillah. She was pleased to give back to the strong and supportive Tehillah community by volunteering at the Hebrew School for two years. Helena has also been a participant in the Tehillah Talks podcast and a Student Board Member at Tehillah.

21. Roma McHugh Roma is a rising 12th grader at The Beekman School. She had her Bat Mitzvah at Tehillah. Roma also served as an assistant teacher at the Hebrew school for a year. In addition to this, Roma has also been a participant in the Tehillah Talks podcast. She was a CIT at a sleep away camp in the Adirondacks. In her free time she enjoys playing Gaelic football and Soccer. Roma looks forward to continuing to be a Student Member on the Tehillah Board.

22. Dear Helena & Roma,   Thank you for emulating the wonderfully distinct teaching model behind your Hebrew School experience—for recognizing the importance of a Jewish education and taking part in the dissemination of cultural knowledge, warmth, and caring to the younger students at Tehillah .   Thank you for embracing the privilege behind your invitations to teach, to serve on an impactful Board led by Kathy & Susan, and to participate in thought-provoking podcasts with Rabbi Linda. We are very proud of you! Love, Mom & Dad

23. Alexis Muchnik Alexis is a rising 12th grader at Riverdale Country School where she is a part of the school newspaper and has regularly participated in the school’s plays and musicals.  Outside of school she enjoys playing piano and reading. Alexis’ family has been a part of Tehillah since 2017 and she had her Bat Mitzvah at Tehillah in 2019. Alexis has also appeared on episodes of the hit podcast Tehillah Talks , helps lead children services for the High Holy Days and is excited to continue to be a Student Board Member at Tehillah.

24. Mazal Tov, Alexis!   We are so very proud of everything you do and everything you are becoming!   Thank you for everything you do for Tehillah! We Love You, Mom, Dad, Ben, Babushka, and Cat

25. Julian Reich Julian has been a lifelong member of Tehillah. Julian greatly enjoyed serving as a teaching assistant at the Tehillah Hebrew School between 7th and 8th grades and was inspired by Rabbi Linda’s youth-centered approach to education. During his high school years, Julian led monthly children’s services and had the honor of serving as a Tehillah Student Board Member between 2018 and 2020. Since enrolling at the Macaulay Honors College, Tehillah’s values continue to inspire Julian and he hopes to incorporate the value of Tikkun Olam and service to others into a career as a public servant.

26. Natasha Reich Natasha has been a member of Tehillah since she was four years old. Her first role in Tehillah was providing creative percussive backup to Shabbat services with a child-sized tambourine. After her bat mitzvah, she was a teaching assistant at the Hebrew school for a year because she couldn’t get enough. During her high school years, she also stole your children once a month to run the children’s service on Saturday mornings. You can often find Natasha trying to make her mother laugh in the front row of services (don’t worry, Julian’s already telling us off). After graduating from Barnard College in 2021, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her Ph.D. in chemistry at the California Institute of Technology. She’s tried to find a synagogue on the west coast she likes as much as Tehillah, but that’s a pretty tall order.

27. We are so proud of Natasha and Julian’s path from first grade at hebrew school to becoming active participants in the Hebrew school and in the Tehillah community. We are grateful to the Rabbi for facilitating this journey and acting as mentor to our children and to the other exceptional honorees.  Mazel Tov to all of our honorees! Elizabeth Glass Reich and Nick Reich

28. Bernie Waldman Bernie is a graduating senior at Fieldston High School and will be attending Northwestern University in the fall. Besides his academic work, Bernie runs with the cross-country team in the fall, participates in musical theater in the winter, and plays Ultimate Frisbee in the spring. He is an aspiring jazz musician, playing trumpet and piano, and is also a leader of his school’s engineering club which competes in a national Rube Goldberg machine competition. Bernie is a Student Board Member of Tehillah, was Bar Mitzvah at Congregation Tehillah and appears on the congregation’s hit podcast Tehillah Talks.

29. Dear Bernie: Congratulations on being honored for all the ways in which you have supported Tehillah! We are so proud of you! Love Mom and Dad

30. We also want to acknowledge and thank several individuals who have pioneered and paved the way for others at Tehillah, creating a supportive and inclusive environment for all those beyond their B’nai Mitzvah. We recognize their contributions and look forward to their continued ties and involvement in the community. They continue to have a special place at Tehillah. Talya Guenberger Eli Guenzberger Talya Romano Elliot Feldman Adain Caplan Ben Markbreiter Juliana Quidone Hannah Waldman Sarah Baum Sophia Quidone Alysse Quidone Gideon Wiesen

31. We are so proud of our Tehillah graduates! Danny, Laura, Eli and Talya .

32. CONGRATULATIONS   Julian Reich   Natasha Reich     Morris Fisher, MD

33. Congratulations Alexis We are so proud of you Barak Tulin and Terri Cohen

34. We honor Rabbi Linda, an inspiration for our Young Leaders – and Grownups too.   Marcia and Jeff Golland

35. Rejoicing the spirit of L’Dor v Dor We celebrate a remarkable milestone and honor Rabbi Linda on her 15th year anniversary of devoted leadership, spirituality and ongoing teaching. We honor, recognize and appreciate the inspiring dedication of our youth leaders, who continue to teach us. Congratulations & many thanks to Rabbi Linda and our honorees: Abi, Alexis, Bernie, Jasmine, Julian, Roma, Natasha and Helena for all that you do to make Tehillah the community that it is today! Thank you all! Kathy and Marc

36. Congratulations to Rabbi Linda on 15 years of service for our community.   We so appreciate your devotion and commitment. Nechama and Farnoush  

37. Congratulations   Rabbi Linda and David Shriner-Cahn You have honored us with your leadership and friendship for 15 years.   You are the couple for all seasons. Our lives have been enriched by your compassion, our holidays filled with spirit and purpose and our souls with learning and the special music than brings us all together.   May you know what a special gift you are to us throughout the days of our lives. With love, The Eiseman Family

38. Kol Hakavod to Rabbi Linda and David And Love from the entire Ullendorff Gorfinkle family

39. The Tehillah Board congratulates RABBI LINDA SHRINER-CAHN on 15 years at Congregation Tehillah ! We are privileged to learn from a spiritual leader who lends great depth to our community Services Tikkun olam Biblical study THS Principal Grant development Interfaith Clergy Chair Lifecycle events Prayer Tehillah Talks podcasts 15!

40. You’ve built a strong connection to this community over the past 15 years. We’re very proud of you. Mazel tov!   Love, Kayla, Hubert, Quincy, and Orin Elliot, Judy, and Hila Mom/Omi

41. People wonder about the next generation of Jewish Leaders. We don’t! CONGRATULATIONS  Abi, Jasmine, Helena, Roma, Alexis, Julian, Natasha and Bernie. Your gifts to our community are immeasurable and we are so proud of you. To Rabbi Linda, Thank you for believing in us, in Congregation Tehillah. Thank you for gently teaching us what community is about,  what leadership is, what leading from behind looks like, and how to trust in ourselves. Thank you for being not only an excellent rabbi, but also treasured friend. We love you to the moon and back, -Matthew & Tamara & Ginger & Akiva

42. With much gratitude to Rose and Meir Beer for bringing their music, passion and spirituality to Tehillah today and each and every Shabbat. We love you and appreciate all that you do!   To the Tehillah Band, Sarah Banks, Nancy Dunetz , Farnoush Safavi and Daniel Savin (led by Rose and Meir), many thanks for your incredible gifts that you share with us throughout the year. You are all incredibly special – thank you!  

43. All our love to our dear, dear friend. All the Raiks

44. The Riverdale Y wants to extend a hearty Mazal Tov and profound appreciation to Rabbi Linda for her incredible work, dedication, and caring for Congregation Tehillah and the broader Jewish and general community. We are honored to partner with her on Riverdale Jewish Community Partnership projects and in supporting deeper connections within the Jewish community and in our interfaith community. Riverdale YM-YWHA 5625 Arlington Ave. Bronx, NY 10471 www.RiverdaleY.org

45. Mazel Tov to Rabbi Linda on her 15th year Anniversary at Congregation Tehillah Your endless energy, spirituality and commitment to the Tehillah community and its youth are an inspiration to all! We are so proud of all that you have done and continue to do! Love, Kathy, Marc, Susan, Michael, Adam, Philippa, Simone and Easton, Noah and Michelle

46. IN CELEBRATION OF our community of teachers & students who explore religion, language, history, and culture via text, critical thinking, and creativity THE TEHILLAH HEBREW SCHOOL (THS) gratefully acknowledges the leadership of RABBI LINDA SHRINER-CAHN on the occasion of her 15th year at Congregation Tehillah . Thank you for nurturing creative, caring thinkers from year one through B’nai Mitzvah and beyond.

47. To Linda With Love and Admiration From Melvin and Jill

48. Mazel tov, Linda, on 15 years!   Much love,    Fern and Richard Bregman

49. Congratulations to Rabbi Linda and the Honorees Daniel Savin

50. Congratulations to Rabbi Linda on her 15 th year Anniversary at Congregation Tehillah. Many thanks for all that you continue to do for our community! Congratulations to our honorees: Abi, Jasmine, Julian, Roma, Natasha , Helena, Alexis and Bernie! You are an incredible group of individuals and we are so proud of all you! Thank you Susan Goldman

51. Rabbi Linda Shriner-Cahn   Guiding & Shining Light  Tehillah is so blessed to have the best Rabbi! May you share many more years together to serve your congregation and make this world a better place. Cantor Natasha  Rabbi Shimon Hirschhorn 

52. Celebrating Rabbi Linda Shriner-Cahn’s 15 th anniversary Tehillah Congregation   Thank you for your amazing work with Manhattan College students, the Holocaus5, Genocide and Interfaith Education Board, and the Riverdale community. Your voice is so important to us all. You are a star and a sparkle that shines no matter what!   With gratitude. Mehnaz M. Afridi Board of HGI Manhattan College Students The Holocaust, Genocide, and Interfaith Education Center

53. Please visit: www.FrancesOelbaum.com Proceeds of original art or print sales from the website will go to Congregation Tehillah for up to a month.

54. Congratulations to Rabbi Linda on your 15th anniversary and all your wonderful accomplishments.   Mazel Tov Rhoda C. Rothkopf  Mazel Tov   To Our Aspiring Young Leaders   Your Voice is the Future and We Recognize Your Contributions. May You Continue to Go From Strength to Strength  Thank you on behalf of our Community.  The Eiseman Family

55. Mazel tov to all the honorees! It is an honor and a pleasure to be part of the incredible Tehillah community. Wendy Levinson and Rabbi Bob Kaplan  Thank you Rabbi Linda and David for all you ARE and for all you DO. Thanks to our YOUNG PEOPLE for serving on our Board, keeping us on our toes, And bringing out the best in us! Congratulations With respect and love, Nancy Shaw “Mazel Tov to Rabbi Linda and Tehillah” Louise Crowley

56. Mazel Tov Congregation Tehillah And especially its joyous singing soul, Rabbi Linda . Marti Michael Honors to Linda and the kids John Mayer Susan Ruskin- Mayher Congratula ti ons on 15 years, and may you continue to go from strength to strength! We love being joint (grand) parents, shmoozing , and hearing your wise and thoughful advice/commentary. With love and admiration, Bob Blumenthal and Beth Dwoskin

57. Mazal Tov Linda! עֲשֵׂה לְךָ רַב, וּקְנֵה לְךָ חָבֵר Thank you for being both a teacher and a dear friend. Sarah Jacobs & David Kronfeld Mazel Tov on this special occasion in the history of your community! We are honored to celebrate your young leadership and our invaluable member Rabbi Linda Shriner-Cahn who is forever youthful in spirit. -The New York Board of Rabbis

58. T o our Youth: CONGRATULATIONS T o Rabbi Linda: THANK YOU And my gaze, by teardrops blinded, Turned from winter’s cold and gloom, Met a brighter, fairer picture As the firelight lit the room; While beside me, warm and glowing, Sweet as by-gone summer hours, Stood a gift from friendship’s fingers— Softly tinted, fragrant flowers.   From Musings, a poem by Miriam del Banco (1932)   With immense pride, we honor the dedication and leadership of Natasha and Julian Reich over so many years. You are the ‘fragrant flowers,’ the future!   Love from Jessica, Patrick, Nathaniel, and Jason

59. Mazel tov Linda on your fifteen outstanding years at Congregation Tehillah.  We are so proud of you and all you have accomplished.  Our best wishes for many more years of serving your wonderful community.  With much love, Juliet, Barry, Sam and Gabriel "Congratulations to Rabbi Linda on her 15th Anniversary at Tehillah, and thanks to the youth leaders for all you do! – Lee Feldman & Chris Tokar "  Yasher K oach to our wonderful rabbi and our amazing teens. May you go from strength to strength. With gratitude, Allen and Mindy Prenner   Congratulations to All Larry Price and Nancy Samotin

60. Thank you! Dr Mehnaz Afridi Sarah Banks Sariel Beckenstein Rose Beer Meir Beer Rabbi Bob Caplan Nancy Dunetz Ed Eiseman Jennifer Firestone Tamara Fish Jerry Fishman Susan Goldman David Hyman Marc Horowitz Rachel Horowitz Laura Klein Roma McHugh Cantor Lois Kittner Steven Payne Alex Porter Julian Reich Sophie Quidone Alysse Quidone Farnoush Safavi Nancy Samotin Daniel Savin Rabbi Linda Shriner-Cahn David Shriner-Cahn Shira Silverman Bernie Waldman

61. Congregation to Rabbi Linda on your 15 th  year Anniversary   Love, Deborah Karpatkin and Ian Benjamin Gala Committee Elizabeth Glass Reich Susan Goldman Marc Horowitz Irina Kimmelfeld Larry Price Kathy Schreiner Nancy Shaw Adam Wiesen

62. Thank you to all who have brought us to this moment   To Tehillah   For being a caring community  For your love of music  For your hospitality For being a learning community  For planting and building  For being a holy place – maqom kadosh For creating a place where all are welcome  Fifteen years have flown quickly May we, at Tehillah, continue on the path of becoming our best selves with our doors flung wide open   We are grateful for being on this sacred journey with all of you! And to our family: Kayla & Hubert, Elliot & Judy  Quincy, Orin & Hila For being a source of joy, light, love and support   B’Shalom Rabbi Linda and David