Welcome Home
Founded over 170 years ago in 1854, Congregation Gates of Heaven is a reform synagogue in Schenectady, New York, a member synagogue of the Union for Reform Judaism, and the oldest Jewish congregation in Schenectady. We are the spiritual home of over 300 member families, including over 100 students in Gates Quest, our re-imagined supplemental school.
Items of Interest: Please apply, volunteer, or garden
Temple Community Service Corps High School Students can now apply for community service internships locally. See the details. Applications due as soon as you can, Apply here.
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We Need Your Help! 
Honor Our Veterans – Volunteer to Place Flags
Families and individuals are invited to join us in honoring the memory of our deceased Veterans by placing and/or removing American flags at their graves at our CGOH cemetery on Watt Street.
This is a meaningful way to show gratitude and respect – and it’s quick and easy with a team!
Volunteer Dates:
Place Flags: Wednesday, May 21 at 4:00 PM
Remove Flags: Sunday, June 1 at 9:00 AM
Please sign up in advance by calling the office at 518-374-8173 or emailing Tammy at Tammy@cgoh.org. Rain dates will be shared with all volunteers if needed.
Thank you for helping us honor our heroes!
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Raised Garden Plots available
Two (2) open garden plots available. First come, first served. Contact Mary at her email. memmatthews6@gmail.com.
May - June
See weekly programming links on bottom of this page
Wednesday, May 14 Sisterhood Book Group Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, 7:00 PM home of Ellen Eisenberg
Sunday, May 18, 9:30AM - 12:00 PM, Gates Quest Last Day of School
Sunday, May 18, 1:00 PM, Congregation GOH, Annual Meeting
Monday, May 26, Office Closed, Memorial Day
Senior Moments, Wednesday, May 28, Noon to 1:30 PM
Sunday, June 1, 7:30 PM, Confirmation Service, Erev Shavuot
Monday, June 2, 9:00 AM, Yizkor Service, In person Hatkoff Room or Virtually through LiveStream. Office Closed
Thursday, June 5, 7:00 PM, Mensches & Mimosas recognition of Elisa Harrington-Verb, Hatkoff Room
FRIDAY Office Summer hours begin (June-August), 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Friday, June 6, 5:45 PM, Jammies & Jeans
Sunday, June 15 at 5:00 PM, Josh Cooper-Ginsburg will sing the National Anthem & Rabbi Matt Cutler will throw the first pitch. Sign up here $11/person
Thursday, June 19, Office Closed, Juneteenth 
July
Get Ready for Sycamore Collaborative's 2025 Summer Meals Program!
It’ll be here before we know it—and planning is already underway. This year, instead of focusing on a single week, we're inviting individuals and groups to sign up for one or more specific days to help serve meals. The program will run Tuesday, July 1 through Friday, August 29, with sites open Monday through Friday (except Monday, June 30 and Friday, July 4).
We will have 10 sites this year and we are looking for volunteers to help at the
following 5 sites (however you may sign up for any of the sites see the attached flyer 1: for location, dates & times, flyer 2: map of locations):
- Tribute Park: volunteer arrival at 11:00AM, lunch service 11:30AM-12:30PM
- Central Park: volunteer arrival at 11:30AM, lunch service 12:00-1:00PM
- Southgate Apartments: volunteer arrival at 11:45AM, lunch service 12:15-1:15PM
- Jerry Burrell Park: volunteer arrival at 11:45AM, lunch service 12:15-1:15PM
- Mont Pleasant Library: volunteer arrival at 12:00PM, lunch service 12:30PM-1:30PM
A few important pieces of information:
- Service and distribution of meals is 1 hour, but we ask volunteers to stay for about 2 hours in order to prep and clean up.
- We will be serving hot meals again this year.
- This can be a group or an individual opportunity. Two volunteers per site per day is ideal. However, if you are part of a group and would like to bring more, that is okay, too.
- We will be hosting a training course for all Summer Meals volunteers on Tuesday, June 3rd . All volunteers are required to complete the training.
- If you cannot attend the training in person, you will be provided with a video that you can watch.
For more information and/or to volunteer to help at a Summer Lunch site, email Kerrie
Wolf-Piechota at kerrie@sycamorecollab.org or Kate Koutsourades at kate@sycamorecollab.org.
Mitzvah of the Month
See weekly programming links on bottom of this page
We are collecting donations for the upcoming May (or very recent) B'nai Mitzvahs:
Tessa Lynch’s Bat Mitzvah project is raising money for the non- profit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. This organization works with not just Broadway performers and crew but for theater professionals across the country. They work to inform, teach, and help support those living with HIV/AIDS. They also work to support the national theater community whenever there is a disease (COVID) or other medical issue that affects the theater community. This issue is very close to Tessa’s heart, as she’s been involved with our local theater groups, whether it’s performing with DramaKids, doing a summer program with SCT, or with her dance studio. Link to donate in honor of Tessa Lynch
Link for Jill Gilman's Project For Jill's bat mitzvah project, she decided to collect supplies and raise money for the Homeward Bound Dog Rescue of New York (HBDRNY). HBDRNY is not a shelter and does not have a facility, all the dogs live in foster homes in the area. The dogs eat, sleep, and live with their foster family so the family gets to know the dog well, which gives them the opportunity to match families up with the dogs so a home really is forever! The rescue group relies on donations to pay for food and medical bills (including spaying and neutering all the dogs, and vaccinations).
Noah Baxt's Bar Mitzvah project is asking for donations for Linclusion. It is an organization started by a friend of the family from summer camp for kids like her youngest son who is nonverbal and has been diagnosed with autism. Its mission is to provide the opportunity for kids of all abilities to be able to experience the magic of summer camp with the organization’s support. Here is the website for more information https://www.linclusion.org
To donate to Linclusion in honor of Noah use this QR code:
In addition to our Mitzvah of the Month cause, Sycamore Collaborative has a desperate need for diapers, all sizes. Please consider donating diapers now. All donations can be dropped off at our main entrance.
Thank you for all the shoes, children's books, & diapers. Please keep the diapers coming!
CGOH Trip to Cuba, January 25 - February 1, 2026
Led by Rabbi Matt Cutler
See the exciting places & activities here
Stays in Trinidad and Havana, Land Price (double occupancy)/person: $3800 by card, discount if paid by check, additional cost for single occupancy,
Flight to/from Miami & hotel (pre-post trip) not included
Contact Ayelet 518-783-6001 for details & reserve your spot.
Join us for weekly programming:
Community and Coffee Wednesdays at 1:00 PM Zoom / Hatkoff Room
Talmud Study Thursdays at 12:00 PM Zoom / Hatkoff Room
Torah Study Saturdays at 9:00 AM Zoom / Hatkoff Room
Wed, May 14 2025
16 Iyar 5785
STUDENT TO STUDENT
Our Weeping Higan Japanese Cherry Trees
Taken 4-21-2025 Note: 5-5-2025 The beauty is past! Help sponsor future trees & their care. Cherry Blossom Fund Link
Mitzvah of the Month
We are collecting donations for the upcoming May B'nai Mitzvahs (see next section below).
We love learning about organizations or causes to collaborate with for our ongoing Mitzvah of the Month social action projects.
B'Mitzvah Projects
Noah Baxt's Bar Mitzvah project is asking for donations for Linclusion. It is an organization started by a friend of the family from summer camp for kids like her youngest son who is nonverbal and has been diagnosed with autism. Its mission is to provide the opportunity for kids of all abilities to be able to experience the magic of summer camp with the organization’s support. Here is the website for more information https://www.linclusion.org
To donate to Linclusion in honor of Noah use this QR code:
Tessa Lynch’s Bat Mitzvah project is raising money for the non- profit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. This organization works with not just Broadway performers and crew but for theater professionals across the country. They work to inform, teach, and help support those living with HIV/AIDS. They also work to support the national theater community whenever there is a disease (COVID) or other medical issue that affects the theater community. This issue is very close to Tessa’s heart, as she’s been involved with our local theater groups, whether it’s performing with DramaKids, doing a summer program with SCT, or with her dance studio. Link to donate in honor of Tessa Lynch
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Link for Jill Gilman's Project For Jill's bat mitzvah project, she decided to collect supplies and raise money for the Homeward Bound Dog Rescue of New York (HBDRNY). HBDRNY is not a shelter and does not have a facility, all the dogs live in foster homes in the area. The dogs eat, sleep, and live with their foster family so the family gets to know the dog well, which gives them the opportunity to match families up with the dogs so a home really is forever! The rescue group relies on donations to pay for food and medical bills (including spaying and neutering all the dogs, and vaccinations).
