Dear Friends,

This year, with Passover just around the corner, we find ourselves in circumstances that none of us could have anticipated. Many of us have left New York City to seek refuge outside of the city; others are hunkered down at home. We are separated from friends and family and dealing with stresses and anxieties that none of us would have imagined just one month ago.

As we confront these challenging times, Fifth Avenue Synagogue is working harder than ever to ensure that our community remains cohesive and strong. Although our building is closed, we have strived over the last few weeks to create a virtual shul that offers opportunities for learning and davening. We are providing classes every day of the week, programs on topics that are both religious and secular in nature (including an informative panel on the health and mental health effects of COVID-19), youth programming, communal davening of Shacharit, as well as Kabbalat Shabbat services, recorded video clips with inspiring Torah messages, and we have coordinated Passover resources for those who need them. In addition, on a human level, shul staff have been reaching out daily to members of our congregation, particularly those who might be alone or more vulnerable.

We continue to work as hard as ever, if not harder, to provide a spiritual home for you and your families. Thank Gd, although we have certainly made changes to our maintenance schedule, we have not had to lay off any of our staff at this time.

We know that some of you may experience financial stresses related to the pandemic affecting our world. This may impact the finances of the synagogue going forward. For those of you who have the capacity, we ask that you consider donating now to Fifth Avenue Synagogue’s annual campaign to allow our critical work to continue. Your donations will allow us to continue paying our staff and will support the maintenance of our physical facility. In addition to providing fundamental financial support, tzedakah is one of the best “investments” we can make in nullifying a negative decree from Hashem.

Your donations will allow us to continue providing resources to our families during this trying time, and will ensure that our community remains strong and flourishes spiritually. Please click here to make a donation. You may also mail a check to:

Attn: Annual Campaign

5 East 62nd Street

New York, New York 10065

(Please note that the synagogue is able to receive all mail sent through the Postal Service.)

If you would like to make a pledge to the FAS Annual Campaign, you may also contact FAS President Jacob Gold at jacob@jacobdgold.com or 212-980-0140; FAS Vice-President Kim Heyman at kimheyman@gmail.com or 917-282-8022; or Rachel Akrongold, COO at FAS, at rachel@5as.org or 314-719-7344. Pledge payments may be made until Rosh Hashana.

We thank you in advance for your continued support, and we encourage you to reach out to us by phone (212-838-2122) or by email if we can be of assistance to you or your family.

We pray that our prayers and tzedakah merit a refuah sheleimah for all those affected and that all of us will soon merit a complete salvation.

Our warmest regards always,

Rabbi Eli Babich

Dr. Walter Molofsky, Chairman

Jacob Gold, President

Rachel Akrongold, COO

                        DAF YOMI CLASS with RABBI SHMUEL FISHELIS

Via Conference Call, see bulletin for details

     6:30 AM weekdays, 7:15 AM Sundays, and Shabbat mornings 8:00 AM

5:30 PM weekdays and Shabbat Afternoons (with Rabbi Kaplan).

  Shabbat afternoons, class times vary, see Shabbat bulletin for schedule.

                          PROPHETS CLASS with RABBI ELI BABICH

Via Zoom video conference, see bulletin for details.

   Join us as we continue to explore the lives of the Prophets Samuel, King David,             King Solomon and others. Study these dynamic Biblical personalities and see how            their lives and legacies left us not only with incredible stories but with valuable life lessons as well.       

                                     Monday, April 27, at 6:30 PM at FAS.

                                                                             Please RSVP to Tanya@5as.or.g

                      TUESDAY NIGHT TALMUD CLASS with RESIDENT SCHOLAR

RABBI DR. MICHAEL ROSENSWEIG

Via Zoom video conference, see bulletin for details.

       Rabbi Rosensweig’s weekly Talmud class on Tuesday nights at 7:30 PM at FAS.

Rabbi Rosensweig is teaching Tractate Chulin.