Religion Brooklyn Boro

Faith In Brooklyn for Jan. 25

January 25, 2017 By Francesca Norsen Tate, Religion Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle
A still from the film Vice Versa, about the close friendship that develops between a young woman who’s terminally ill and the yeshiva student assigned to help her. Film still credit: Amichai Greenberg/courtesy of Brooklyn Israel Film Festival
A still from the film Vice Versa, about the close friendship that develops between a young woman who’s terminally ill and the yeshiva student assigned to help her. Film still credit: Amichai Greenberg/courtesy of Brooklyn Israel Film Festival
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Festival Showcases Thought-Provoking Films About Israeli Life and Culture

Brooklyn Israel Film Festival, Now in its 13th Year

The Brooklyn Israel Film Festival at Kane Street Synagogue is marking its 13th year presenting the best of new Israeli cinema. The festival features three nights of thought-provoking films. The 2017 films, which reveal diverse facets of Israeli life, include a powerful documentary about undocumented teenagers (Thursday), three episodes of an acclaimed TV series about an Arab-Israeli TV writer (Saturday), and a moving feature film about love and faith (Sunday). 

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The 2016 festival kicks off on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 8 p.m. with “Freedom Runners,” a powerful documentary about a charismatic and dedicated teacher who creates a running group for his students, young African refugees who live in Israel without any legal status. For these talented runners, this activity becomes a way to find their place in Israeli society. After the film, Rotem Ilan, advocate and founder of the NGO Israeli Children, will speak and take questions via Skype. The opening night reception is sponsored by Pride Caterers at 7:15 p.m.

The festival skips a night in observance of the Sabbath, and resumes on Saturday night, Jan. 27, at 8 p.m., with “The Writer,” a TV series about a successful TV writer who feels trapped by his own accomplishments and his ability to move between two cultures. Acclaimed Arab-Israeli writer Sayed Kashua blurs the line between fiction and reality, exploring the personal and political costs of success through his fictional alter-ego.

The Brooklyn Israel Film Festival concludes on Sunday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. with “Vice Versa,” a feature about a terminally ill young woman who refuses treatment and the yeshiva student enlisted to help change her mind. The two embark on an unexpected relationship that will change both of their lives, transcending the rules of religion, society and faith. 

Tickets are $16 for each night or $36 for the full series of three films. Online ticketing is now open; tickets can also be purchased at the door. For more information about the festival, go to kanestreet.org/biff2017 or facebook.com/brooklynIFF.

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Mayor De Blasio Announces New Center for Faith and Community Partnerships
Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced the creation of the Center for Faith and Community Partnerships to transform the way in which faith organizations and other community groups access city services.

The Center for Faith and Community Partnerships will serve as a direct line to City Hall, connecting local and citywide coalitions of leaders to services that increase equity and inspire civic engagement throughout our neighborhoods. Also making the announcement for Brooklynites was Pastor Gilford Monrose, director of Borough President Eric Adams’ Office of Faith-Based and Clergy Initiatives.

Mayor de Blasio made the announcement Jan. 12, at the Community Affairs Unit’s Annual Interfaith Breakfast, held at Gotham Hall. More than 400 clergy attended. The breakfast was made possible with generous support from Affinity Health Plan and additional support from B’nai Zion Foundation, the Christian Cultural Center, Council of Churches of the City of New York, Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, New York Board of Rabbis, Plaza Jewish Community Chapels, Sephardic Community Federation and UJA-Federation of New York.

“Many New Yorkers flock to their faith and community leaders in search of guidance and comfort in times of need, not knowing where to access City programs and services that can help them,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “The new Center for Faith and Community Partnerships will bridge this gap and support the valuable work our leaders already do.” 

The Center for Faith and Community Partnerships will be housed within the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit. Jonathan Soto will head the center. The office will hire new staff members, including borough coordinators.

“Houses of worship, as well as faith and community leaders, are often the first line of support sought by individuals and families, especially those who may have fallen on hard times and are in need of services,” said Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO and executive director at Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA), and who spoke last July at her late father’s Bethany Baptist Church in Bedford-Stuyvesant.  “The Center for Faith and Community Partnerships will foster a greater exchange of information to communities and faith leaders, ensuring that New Yorkers can expeditiously access services needed to improve their quality of life.”

Likewise, Nikki Lucas, female district leader of the 60th Assembly District in Brooklyn, said, “This a great center for the Mayor to create! The Center of Faith and Community Partnership will be a major asset to New York City’s diverse communities. As an active member of my community and house of worship, I understand the need for such a center and I am thankful to the mayor for creating it.”
Speakers’ Forum Series at Grace Church Will Explore Local, Worldwide Outreach Programs

Grace Church-Brooklyn Heights offers “Epiphany Sunday Adult Forums,” a five-week speaker’s forum series on Sunday mornings between its services. Each talk will feature leadership from several outreach organizations with whom Grace Church partners.
On Jan. 22, Matthew Marienthal, an organizer with East Brooklyn Congregations (EBC), is the guest speaker. EBC has gained acclaim as an active and effective coalition of member religious congregations, schools and homeowner and voluntary organizations who believe that people working together have the power to change their communities and their country for the better. EBC focuses its efforts on issues related to housing, education, public safety, parks and recreational space, and services for seniors. 

Although Grace Church is in the western part of the borough, parishioners have been active EBC volunteers for many years. Joining volunteers from other neighboring houses of worship, Grace parishioners tutor and do community organizing. They have worked for several years with high school students from Frederick Douglass Academy VII in Brownsville — another EBC member — providing academic tutoring, life skills mentoring and writing skills support. These one-on-one youth programs are a small but important way to effect changes in the present and future lives of our fellow Brooklynites. The Jan. 22 meeting explored how much more EBC needs done.

Denise Caravelle, executive director of CHiPS (Community Help in Park Slope), is the next speaker, on Jan. 29. CHiPS is the feeding program with which Grace has worked closely for some years. CHiPS, established in 1971 and with headquarters on the Fourth Avenue artery in Brooklyn, was provides meals to the needy and a shelter for homeless women and their infants.

Grace parishioner and vestry member Abagail Nelson is also senior vice president for Programs for Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD). ERD is the arm of the Episcopal Church that creates long-term development strategies worldwide as well as programs that address extreme poverty, disease, and the effects of disasters. Nelson will speak on Feb. 12.

Monica Greco, board treasurer of the Collateral Repair Project, will talk on her organization’s work with refugee care and resettlement, during the Feb. 26 forum.

Four of the five dates had been announced as of press time for this column. The season of Epiphany runs through Feb. 28 (Shrove Tuesday). Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on March 1.
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Grace Church also offers “The Life and Times of Martin Luther” to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the traditional beginning of the Protestant Reformation, in 1517.

The seminar will explore the theological, political, and social factors that allowed Martin Luther’s protest about papal indulgences to take root as a worldwide religious movement. The seminar will be based on James M. Kittelson’s book, “Luther the Reformer: The Story of the Man and His Career.” (Fortress Press, 2003). The Rev. Dr. Christian D. von Dehsen, a Lutheran pastor and theologian, will lead this series on Tuesdays, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, on Jan. 17, 24, 31; Feb. 7, 14. The programs are part of Grace Church’s ongoing Tuesday Bible Study series.

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Young Musicians Get to Try Their Hand at Plymouth Church’s Landmark Organ
Aspiring young musicians with some piano experience are invited to learn about and play on the King of Instruments.

The American Guild of Organists (AGO)-Brooklyn Chapter is sponsoring a Pedals, Pipes & Pizza event next weekend for young piano students at historic Plymouth Church in Brooklyn Heights. It will take place on Saturday, January 28th, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Pedals, Pipes & Pizza will provide a special opportunity to introduce children and young teens who have had some experience with the piano to the pipe organ. The program will include a demonstration by Plymouth’s director of music, Bruce Oelschlager, about organ registration, and a movie. John Klauder of the John Klauder Pipe Organ workshop will present on the inner workings of the instrument. The students will also have the chance to play Plymouth’s magnificent four-manual Aeolian-Skinner instrument. And of course, there will be pizza.

Readers with piano students or young choristers who would like to join the AGO-Brooklyn on Jan. 28 should contact Chapter Dean Ellen Wright via email or phone, as follows: [email protected] or 718-625-3903.
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The Brooklyn AGO chapter is also taking in football refugees, football widows and all others whose plans on Sunday, Feb. 5 do not include the Super Bowl.

The Brooklyn AGO presents a “Not-the-Super-Bowl Concert, that Sunday at 5 p.m. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Clinton St. in Carroll Gardens will be the host. Program includes an eclectic mix of music by Bach, Beethoven, Satie, Isaac, Mendelssohn and Hesse. Brooklyn-AGO members and their friends will perform works for organ, harpsichord, piano and voice.

Admission is $20 general admissions, and $10 students/seniors. Proceeds are tax-deductible and exclusively benefit the Brooklyn AGO’s scholarship competition fund. Tickets will be available at the door. 

For transit, take the F or G trains to Carroll Street station, or the B-57 bus, which runs along Court Street. Make sure to visit MTA.info to check in advance for weekend service disruptions.
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Guest Editorial: ‘The Good Response to Evil’

By The Rev. Steven D. Paulikas

Rector, All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Park Slope

Editor’s Note: The Brooklyn Heights Press’ religion editor invited Fr. Paulikas to contribute an op-ed based on his talk on “The Good Response to Evil.” It is particularly timely in a week when the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy is celebrated and Donald J. Trump prepares to be inaugurated as 45th President of the United States. Fr. Paulikas’ doctoral research at the University of Oxford focuses on evil in the work of Paul Ricoeur.

Some 125 people gathered recently at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Park Slope to share food and fellowship and to learn about the spirituality of non-violent resistance. The solid turnout on a dark and cold evening was evidence of the deep longing in our community to meet one another in a constructive way during this disturbing season in our country’s history. The event was sponsored by the Episcopal parishes of west and south Brooklyn, but attendees included people of a variety of faiths—or none at all. 

Your neighborhood Episcopal parishes were motivated to act by the profound need so many of us have to find a sense of moral orientation as we prepare for President-elect Trump to take office. In the context of both my pastoral ministry and personal encounters, I have witnessed anger, confusion, grief, and despair of a scale that is, for me, unprecedented. It is important to remember that in addition to being painful, such moral and intellectual disarray is easily manipulated by the forces many of us wish to resist. We organized this event as a resource of empowerment for all members of our community at a time when we are in great need of mutual support.

I had the honor of speaking at this event, and I chose as our topic “The Good Response to Evil: Envisioning a Way Forward after the Election.” Video and a transcript of the talk can be found here. I believe the key to an effective response to the election is to focus on evil deeds, not the individuals or groups behind the deeds we object to. It can be tempting to want to target the person or the party we predict will cause harm in the world, but this approach is as ineffective as it is dangerous. All of the great movements of non-violent resistance sought to heal the effects of evil in the world rather than attack someone in particular. From Gandhi to King to Mandela and Tutu, leaders in these movements were successful because they knew that the individuals in power come and go, so they focused their precious resources on permanent systemic change instead.  

We believe this is sacred knowledge. Movements of non-violent resistance have all been spiritual movements headed by spiritual leaders. I am convinced that the future of our world depends on the tending of our souls. Now is the time to pray, to find kindred spirits, and to become active in the faith communities that will be bulwarks of spiritual health regardless of what lies in store for us. Brooklyn — the Borough of Churches — can be the epicenter of this movement. The Episcopal churches in our area join all Brooklyn houses of worship in welcoming one and all to join in this work of ultimate significance.    


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