Stephen Wise Free Synagogue
SWFS
“School stopped being a place you go. We became the school,” says ECC Assistant Director Melissa Hume. Last month, Melissa was among five educators who received the Jewish Education Project’s Young Pioneers Award for creating exceptional educational experiences for their students and their families during challenging times.
“Before COVID, the Emergency Food Program had never missed a day in 27 years,” says Scott DiSavino, who oversees some 250 volunteers as the Emergency Food Program’s volunteer coordinator. “But we had to close our doors last year until we were able to re-open in September.” If you’ve ever come to the synagogue early on a Saturday morning, you’ve probably seen Scott standing out front, offering a warm smile and kind words to our guests as they line up to receive donated food packages.
“The hardest part was hearing how disappointed our kids were,” says Director of Youth Education Rabbi Rena Rifkin, who had to call 14 Religious School families in March to coordinate new b’nai mitzvah plans. “Our students spent a full year in tutoring and were getting so excited — but just as they were setting up for a field goal, the goal post moved back.”
How Stephen Wise Produced This Year’s High Holy Days
The Stephen Wise community mourns the passing of Allen Jay Sever, our retired music director.
Stephen Wise Free Synagogue is excited to welcome our new cantorial intern, Joe Flaxman!
30 West 68th St
New York, NY 10023
(212) 877-4050
info@swfs.org
