Keynote speakers at the event will be Ishi Sahni, development director of GrowNYC; and James White, lay leader at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church-Harlem. Sahni will describe Project Farm, the organization’s planned sustainability and education center. White’s presentation will be “Fighting Global Warming Means Environmental Justice!” Their presentations begin at 1 p.m.

Information and guides to action will be featured at more than 10 tables in the church undercroft. They will cover programs on recycling and composting, energy conservation and solar energy, “green” volunteering in parks and community gardens, and water conservation, among others. Special children’s activities will illustrate the theme as well. Judy Gorman will also give a performance.

Following the 1 p.m. talks, participants will be invited to browse the tables and speak with the organizers and presenters. Coffee and tea will be available throughout the event.

Moreover, First Unitarian Church will have information on its annual E-Waste Recycling weekend, this year to be held on May 14 and 15, in conjunction with the Lower East Side Ecology Center. Those bringing their unwanted computers and other electronic devices will be able to bring them directly to the Ecology Center’s truck, which will be parked outside the chapel entrance to First Unitarian Church.

The First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn defines itself as “a joyful, loving, religious community that inspires and empowers people to grow spiritually, care for one another and work for social justice and stewardship of the earth.” The congregation was established in 1833 and has been worshipping in its gothic revival sanctuary in Brooklyn Heights since 1844.

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Israeli Dance Classes Offered at Mount Sinai

Longtime Brooklyn Heights resident Elaine Sohn will introduce participants to some wonderful new melodies and dances from Israel. Instruction will be geared toward beginners. Remember to bring comfortable dancing shoes! No partners are necessary.

Sohn has been teaching folk dance for more than 30 years. She began a dance group at NYU while a student there, and over many years has taught classes at the Brooklyn Heights and Kane Street synagogues, as well as some special classes at Union Temple and St. Francis College. This past fall, she started an international dance group at the Jubilee Senior Center on Pierrepont Street. She leads a weekly intermediate international dance group, which has been meeting on Monday nights in Brooklyn Heights for more than 20 years.

Israeli Dance meets on Tuesdays, March 1, 8, 15 and 22 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Congregation Mount Sinai. The cost is $20 for the series. RSVP to the synagogue office at 718-875-9124.

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Purim Celebrates Survival and Victory Of Jews in Ancient Persia and Today

Judaism’s most raucous and fun-loving holiday, Purim, begins at sundown on Wednesday, March 23.

The story of Purim (the Hebrew plural word for “lots” (drawing lots/selecting the day of execution that instead became a day of defense) is based on the Book of Esther and unfolds a survival story of the Persian Jews. The story is familiar to many — a beautiful young Jewish woman, under the tutelage of her father-like relative Mordechai, impresses King Xerxes/Ahasuerus of Persia, then proves her courage when having to intercede for her people at the right time. Mordechai has also helped to save the king’s life from an earlier plot. The arrogant, evil Haman is hanged on the gallows he built and the Jews of Persia survive; a new edict is issued allowing the Jews to defend themselves against their enemies. This victory is celebrated with merrymaking and parody plays called a Purimshpiel.

The baroque composer G.F. Handel wrote an oratorio about Queen Esther. However, readers may also know that Hugo Weisgall’s “Esther,” which premiered at New York City Opera in 1993, was a dark-horse success. The New York Times, in a 2009 review, reported that City Opera’s then-new General Manager and Artistic Director George Steele revived Weisgall’s opera, intuitively bucking the critics’ predictions, and ticket sales swelled.

Weisgall himself was born into a family with several generations as cantors. He received an extended ovation at the 1993 opening of “Esther.” He died at age 84 in 1997.

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Congregation Mount Sinai also offers programs on the fun and victorious festival of Purim. The first is a Purim series running on Tuesdays, March 1, 8, 15 and 22 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Mt. Sinai will host a family Purim celebration, with activities, games and dinner on Saturday night, March 19. On Purim eve, Mount Sinai will present its annual Megillah reading, starting at 6:30 p.m.

The cost for the Tuesday night Purim series is $20. Contact [email protected] to register.

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More on NightShul

Death, Zombies and Sex Remain Popular Study Topics

Last week’s “Faith” column announced a new NightShul series at the East Midwood Jewish Center (EMJC). More information on the courses became available this week.

NightShul, which is EMJC’s adult continuing education Series, features classes on three enthralling topics: death, sex and zombies.

“Friendship or Death: Instructive Stories about Study Partnerships in the Talmud” features teacher Rabbi Matt Carl. Talmud study is known for the use of the study partnership model (the hevruta, or study by friends), but what has it really meant in practice and what is its history? The answers are surprising and the conversation will be fascinating, organizers promise.

Throughout history, the rabbis were not afraid of any topic, including sex. This course (teacher: Rabbi Sara Zacharia) will explore several Talmudic stories regarding sex and marital obligations — and what happens when these obligations are not met. The class will examine examples of these highly charged texts.

Stories of zombies, vampires and ghosts, forever popular in movies and television, are ways of taming one’s fears of real death. What would happen if people turned some of that investment of time and money in fantasy and fears into exploring the sacred practice of levayah (accompanying) that brings together spirituality, sustainability and social justice? This class (teacher: Rabbi Regina Sandler-Phillips) will explore ancient Jewish traditions regarding “interlife.”

Merchant sponsors include Astoria Bank, Sherman’s Flatbush Memorial Chapel, Almac Hardware & Paint Center and by numerous individual donors.

NightShul starts with a wine-and-cheese social hour at 7 p.m., with the classes starting at 8 p.m. For more information, visit emjc.org or call 718-338-3800.

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Lenten Programs Focus on Papal ‘Year of Mercy’

Pope Francis has invited Catholics to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Doors in this Jubilee Year of Mercy. The Jubilee Year of Mercy began on Dec. 8, 2015 and will continue through Nov. 20, 2016. Catholics throughout the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn and the Maronite Eparchy of Brooklyn are invited to visit the designated places of pilgrimage with Holy Doors.

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church offers two Lenten evenings of reflection titled “Mercy Calls Us By Name.”

In his book “The Name of God is Mercy,” Pope Francis offers the reader insights into finding God’s presence in the most unexpected places. In two Lenten workshops, participants will explore passages from the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures and, through consideration and prayer, respond to the question “How does mercy call each one of us by our name?”

Gary Cushing, a former pastoral associate at Assumption Parish, will facilitate these evenings of reflection on Tuesdays, March 8 and 15, starting at 7 p.m. Cushing is now chair of the religious studies department and campus minister at St. Joseph High School in Downtown Brooklyn.

He holds theology degrees from St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire (BA, New Testament studies) and from Union Theological Seminary in New York City (MA, theology and ethics). Cushing has served in the ministry of religious education and faith formation for almost 20 years. He has offered workshops for catechists and directors of religious education in the Archdiocese of New York, led workshops for parish catechetical teams, facilitated days of reflection for high school faculties and guided parish retreats.

In addition to his ministry at St. Joseph, Cushing serves as Rites of Christian Initiation of Adults director at Holy Trinity Church on the Upper West Side in Manhattan.

Interested readers may contact the Assumption Parish office at 718-625-1161 during office hours to register. Assumption Church is on Cranberry Street between Henry and Hicks streets, in Brooklyn Heights.

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Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral parish invites the faithful to walk through the Holy Doors and join in an evening of prayer to receive the blessings of this Jubilee Year. The evening will include a gospel reflection, a walk through the Holy Doors, opportunity for confession, a Eucharistic healing service and Divine Liturgy, concluding with Lenten dinner and a family movie.

This evening of prayer at Our Lady Of Lebanon Cathedral takes place on Saturday, March 12, at 4 p.m., at the 113 Remsen St. entrance (corner of Henry Street and Remsen Street). For more information and parking, contact 718-624-7228.

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During the weekend of March 4-5, the parish of Sacred Hearts-St. Stephen will observe “24 Hours for the Lord,” as part of the Year of Mercy Jubilee. Pope Francis is inviting every parish around the world to open its doors for 24 hours so that the faithful might encounter Jesus Christ anew in the Sacrament of Confession and Eucharistic Adoration.

All groups in the parish will be participating in the devotions: March 4, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 12:30-10 p.m.; March 4, suffering and death of Christ — Eucharistic Adoration in the church at 7 p.m.; March 5, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for children, from noon to 1 p.m., and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, from 1 to 5 p.m.

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Milestones in Faith:

Congregation B’nai Avraham Marks 27 Years As Heights’ Orthodox Synagogue

Community Honors Three Local Leaders at Annual Dinner

Congregation B’nai Avraham’s founding is the fruit of the desire to establish an Orthodox Shabbat minyan in Brooklyn Heights. Thanks to Rabbi Shimon Hecht of Congregation B’nai Jacob in Park Slope, who supplied members with a Torah scroll, books, a very young man named Rabbi Aaron Raskin to lead services and read from the Torah, and lots of dedication, footwork and support, this desire was fulfilled.

There were enough for a minyan (the required 10 adult males needed for a public prayer service), so the first and only Orthodox synagogue in Brooklyn Heights had its roots. The Congregation was officially founded as a religious corporation in December 1988. It was named B’nai Avraham in honor of Stephen Rosen’s grandfathers, both of whom had the Hebrew name “Avraham.”

Rabbi Raskin noted that “B’nai Avraham,” literally “children of Abraham,” is the name given to converts, and the congregation has had many converts among its members.

After nine months at the Rosens’ home, the congregation rented a parlor floor apartment on Clinton Street, but getting in for services proved a challenge because the landlady insisted the front door remain locked.

After a stint at a commercial space on Clinton Street, Congregation B’nai Avraham moved to its current home at 117 Remsen St., where it has been for 20 years. The Brooklyn Heights Synagogue, previously at that site, moved three doors away to the larger site, which was the former Brooklyn Club, and sold 117 Remsen St. to B’nai Avraham.

This year’s dinner, which was held Tuesday, March 1 at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in Battery Park City, honored noted civil rights attorney Sanford Rubenstein, Devorah Plotkin and Roberta E. Weisbrod.

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