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Few artists have had as much of an impact on American popular culture as Stan Lee. The characters he created—Spider-Man and Iron Man, the X-Men and the Fantastic Four—occupy Hollywood’s imagination and production schedules, generate billions at the box office, and come as close as anything we have to a shared American mythology. In the new biography by Liel Leibovitz, Stan Lee A Life In Comics, Liel focuses as much on Lee’s ideas as it does on his unlikely rise…

On Shavuot we celebrate the receiving of the Torah as the culmination of the Exodus from Egypt. Pirkei Avot 6:2 offers us an explanation of this connection by arguing that real freedom comes from a life of commitment to Torah. Join Ansche Chesed member Rabbi Bill Plevan to explore how this conception of freedom as responsibility match our conception of freedom in the individual or the political sphere? We will consider this conception of freedom in both Jewish thought and…

It is a tradition to eat dairy on Shavuot, and everyone loves blintzes and cheesecake. Join Ansche Chesed member Celia Reiss as she helps you to prepare for the holiday by teaching you to make her mothers blintzes Make sure to download the recipe  so that you will be ready to follow along. Equipment List Ingredients List Crepe or small fry pan 4 eggs 2 large bowls 3/4 cup milk Measuring cups 1/2 cup flour Measuring spoons Oil: 1 Tablespoon,…

We look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones, over Zoom, at the next Levana, a women's Rosh Chodesh social group at Ansche Chesed. Bring your own cup of tea or glass of wine,  as we check in with each other and prepare for the month of Sivan together. This month we are thrilled to welcome Rabbi Deena Cowans, who lead us in gentle yoga-inspired movement and meditation, and soulful stretching, as we welcome Sivan and prepare for Shavuot.…

Please join Ansche Chesed for a "Pre-Kun," an early evening of study and discussion before the onset of Shavuot, "the holiday of the giving of the Torah." During this inauspicious time, we will reflect on stories, poems and concepts about being surprised by revelation. Please join several teachers and scholars among our AC members, including Barry Holtz, Sofija Grandakovska, Daniel Nevins, as well as our clergy, who will present short and stimulating teachings. Please join the call at 6:30 for…

While we can't be together in person that does not mean that we cannot learn from each other. Forty years ago, AC member David Kronfeld put away a book that he had written, not sure if it would ever see the light of day. Now all these years later, "Tales of the Havurah" has been published and David is ready to share the story of the book, the stories behind the book, and some of the stories in the book. Tales…

While we can't be together in person, that does not mean that we can not learn from each other. Did you ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes of Saturday Night Live? Even now that they are doing shows from home, the sound continues to be an integral part of the magic that is the not ready for prime time players. Josiah Gluck has been helping to create that sound for 28 years. A true NYC native, Josiah Gluck is one…