New stories and Community Event flyers, including Oct. 4 Simchat Torah celebrations this morning.
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Simchat Torah, everything seems to loosen.
By Misha Sauceda We come in everyday clothes—worn jeans, scuffed sneakers, T-shirts, warm hoodies. Children play in the Social hall. We talk and laugh. The atmosphere feels charged, different from an ordinary Shabbat morning. Then all the Torahs come out. Usually, opening the ark is a special moment.
The Séance Now Near You
Story and Photos by Paul Ross One of THE big questions — right up there after “What is the Meaning of Life?”— is “Is There Life After Death?” Most religions have answers but seances try to put you in touch with the only ones who really know: the dead. And now
NMJJ Wins Two New Mexico Press Association Awards in First Year Entering
The New Mexico Jewish Journal has won two awards in the 2026 NMPA Foundation Better Newspaper Contest, the statewide competition of the New Mexico Press Association, which has served New Mexico newspapers since 1900. This was the first year NMJJ joined NMPA and entered the contest. As a digital-only
Learn the meaning of loss ratio
By Merilee Dannemann | Triple Spaced Again If you have never heard of the term “loss ratio,” consider yourself lucky. That means you have never had to learn a certain unpleasant truth. “Loss ratio” means how much insurance companies have to pay for losses and other expenses compared to how much
Pay our legislators and demand ethical behavior: Support Constitutional Amendment 4
By Sherry Robinson | All She Wrote After years of debate, voters will have the chance to weigh in on a paid Legislature in Constitutional Amendment 4. In all the pros and cons so far, however, nobody has raised the big question: Who benefits by having volunteer legislators? Supporters (mostly Democrats)
OCTOBER 7th Commemoration ALBUQUERQUE & SANTA FE
Gatherings of remembrance Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 6:30 p.m. in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Free; registration required, and locations are shared upon registration. REGISTER HEREREGISTER HERETIP JARRETURN TO HOME HERE FOR MORE STORIES Community Supporters of the NM Jewish Journal include:
Jewish Community Foundation of New Mexico
Congregation
It’s Time to Really Raise The Roof!
RSVP BY OCT. 7th: RAISE THE ROOF on Oct. 11 All NMJJ readers, friends, and family are invited to RAISE THE ROOF, a good old-fashioned HOEDOWN at Congregation B’nai Israel on Sunday, October 11, 2026. The lively community-oriented event, featuring square dancing and a barbecue, is a
Recent stories, in case you missed them:
Jonah, The “Whale,” and What Causes, Prolongs, and May Ease Depression
By Judith Fein “Oh Jonah he lived in a whale. He made his home in that fish’s abdomen,” sings Spo’tin’ Life in the song “It Ain’t Necessarily So” from George Gershwin’s opera “Porgy & Bess.” In familiar adaptations of the Pinocchio story, the wooden puppet and Geppetto
Jewish Values: Talmud Torah
By Rabbi Min Kantrowitz - Jewish Values #9: Talmud Torah Each edition of NMJJ highlights one of the many Jewish values that guide our lives. Each of these values underlies our Jewish community, regardless of any individuals’ religious observances or practices. These values form the ethical structure of the community. They
The Jewish Side of Flamenco and How to See It
Story & Photos by Paul Ross In Mel Brooks’ remake of legendary director Ernst Lubitsch’s classic WWII dark comedy “To Be Or Not To Be,” a struggling Polish theatrical company learns that their Nazi occupier’s latest ban prohibits “Jews, Gypsies, and Homosexuals” from the theater. Upon hearing this, the
Remembering Together: Scenes from the Annual Gathering at Santa Fe’s Jewish Cemetery
Photos by Gay Block and Diane Joy Schmidt This year’s 2026 community gathering to remember was held on Sunday, August 30th, at 1:30 PM in the Jewish section of Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 417 Rodeo Road, Santa Fe. “In the Jewish tradition, securing a place for burial is the
Harvey Buchalter’s Two Callings: Scholar of Yiddish, Sculptor in Wood and Stone
Story and Photos by Ruth E. Thaler-Carter Buchalter will be showing his sculptures at “Jewish Life in NM through the Arts” in Santa Fe at the NM Jewish Historical Society Fall Conference, Oct. 25th. Many people with stellar professional careers also have a creative side that provides deep satisfaction.
Do You Want To Know Where You Really Come From?
By Judith Fein with Alex Denisenko When I grew up, I was mesmerized by my “foreign” grandmother. She had gray hair, sometimes wore nylon stockings that she rolled up at the top, had an accent, read a newspaper in Yiddish, and, like many other immigrants, never wanted to talk about
SEE MORE AT PAST ISSUES
KEEP SCROLLING to COMMUNITY EVENT FLYERS from around New Mexico. Click on the flyers and links for more information. Find your people - your stories, voices and perspectives. Sign up to receive the newsletter free twice monthly. (don't worry, we'll guilt you into becoming a paying subscriber later) Nationally Awarded, independent, keeping New Mexico's wildly diverse Jewish communities connected:
B'NAI ISRAEL Abq SIMCHAT TORAH SUN. OCT. 4 ~ Dancing with the Torahs begins at 10 a.m. Activities and lunch to follow
VIEW: https://bnaiisrael-nm.org/event/simchat-torah-hybrid-morning-services-2 Temple Beth Shalom Santa Fe SIMCHAT TORAH SUN. OCT. 4 10-12
OCTOBER 7 COMMEMORATION ALBUQUERQUE & SANTA FE - 6:30 REGISTRATION REQUIRED ~ CLICK BLUE BUTTON BELOW
CONGREGATION B'NAI ISRAEL ~ BBQ & HOEDOWN! RSVP BY OCT. 7 for SUNDAY OCTOBER 11, 2026! A structural engineering survey to literally Raise The Roof : B'nai Israel's 50-foot-high dome.
https://www.bnaiisrael-nm.org/calendar/events or call Synagogue office 505-266-0155 Read the whole megillah "RAISE THE ROOF" to learn all about the Engineering Survey Project to literally raise B’nai Israel’s 50-foot-high dome.
SUNDAY OCT. 11th Ron Duncan Hart | Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies | Kanter Lecture | Register at saved link below flyer |
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER: https://forms.zohopublic.com/scjs/form/October11Lecture/formperma/SYnLJ_FeNYFvGZxWRI9-3ZF-MxbTFiJ_ukz62vAMABQ OCT. 22 Thurs. 6:30-8:30 "SHINE" A SISTERHOOD CELEBRATION: An evening of friendship, connection & a little sparkle.
Where To Pray in New Mexico, a comprehensive list at Abq Jew:
RESOURCES - WHERE TO PRAY : https://www.abqjew.com/pray.php OCT. 8 CBI SISTERHOOD DINNER register ASAP!
CA BROTHERHOOD BRUNCH - RSVP by OCT. 8 at 2 pm!! A FILM & MUSIC-MAKING POWERHOUSE
RSVP BY OCT. 8 at 2 pm! https://www.congregationalbert.org/bhbrunch# NEW EVENTS in ARTS, EDUCATION and CULTURE AT THE JCC. Upcoming : Oct. 18 Fall Fest, Oct. 25 Bagels & Jazz, Nov: Bookfest
REGISTER: https://jccabq.org/connect-60/ https://jccabq.org/meeting/israeli-dancing/ OCT. 18 Sunday, 2 p.m. TBS Author Jeanne Simonoff, navigating dementia across her family
OCTOBER 18, 2 PM TBS Social Hall, with noshes, in Santa Fe OCTOBER 25 THE FUTURE OF ISRAEL ELECTIONS 2026 Analysis by TIMES OF ISRAEL and SHALOM HARTMAN Commentators, Moderator Bonnie Ellinger. ZOOM
CLICK TO REGISTER: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-NG5UmurTZy6GS5mFhzkhQ#/registration View all past lectures on THE JEWISH LEARNING CHANNEL .
OCT. 25 NM JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY FALL CONFERENCE!
LEARN MORE AND REGISTER: https://nmjhs.org/2026-fall-conference/ REGISTER: Academy of Jewish Learning, B'nai Israel
Our Religious School, the Academy of Jewish Learning at Congregation B'nai Israe l, is now open and accepting registration and enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year. Please reach out to our Religious School director Judith Segall for more information or with any questions. CALL 505-266-0155 or email School Director at cbi.abq.school@gmail.com Visit: https://bnaiisrael-nm.org/learn/religious-school
CALL 505-266-0155 or email School Director at cbi.abq.school@gmail.com Visit: https://bnaiisrael-nm.org/learn/religious-school AND, The Academy of Jewish Learning (AJL) at CBl is seeking part-time teachers for the 2026-27 school year for our students in grades pre-K through 6th grade. For more information on the school, the curriculum, and teacher responsibilities, contact Judith Segall, Director, cbi.abq.school@gmail.com 505-266-0155
New FALL Adult Education Classes, Congregation Albert Lehrhaus:
https://www.congregationalbert.org/adulteducation Scan the QR code or contact sarah@jcfnm.org SANTA FE DISTINGUISHED LECTURE SERIES. WATCH all on the JEWISH LEARNING CHANNEL: https://youtu.be/ZhhoUre1hfI?si=I3pXCQJaGpvh9l1_
SHABBAT WITH FRIENDS brings **SHABBAT DELIGHT**
https://www.shabbatwithfriends.org/ Check out Minyan Midbar's website: https://rabbidov-site.vercel.app/programs/minyan-midbar/ and see the next gathering
Questions? Contact Tzippi marshamazulis75@gmail.com Cookbook ORDER: https://sftbs.shulcloud.com/form/cookbook.html Welcome to Congregation Albert , your center for Jewish life in Albuquerque! https://bnaiisrael-nm.org/ TEMPLE BETH SHALOM SANTA FE'S REFORM SYNAGOGUE https://www.sftbs.org/ Jewish Community Foundation of New Mexico https://www.jfedeplc.org https://www.hamakomtheplace.org/ The Jewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque https://www.jccabq.org
Shabbat with Friends: Recapturing Together the Joy of Shabbat SIGN UP FOR NEW LECTURES. CLICK HERE https://www.distinguishedlectures.com/ https://www.nmjewishjournal.com/reliable-varied-sources-of-news-analysis-and-opinion-about-israel-and-the-us/ https://www.nmjewishjournal.com/donate/
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Community Supporters of the NM Jewish Journal include: Jewish Community Foundation of New Mexico Congregation Albert Jewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque The Institute for Tolerance Studies Jewish Federation of El Paso and Las Cruces Temple Beth Shalom Congregation B'nai Israel Shabbat with Friends: Recapturing Together the Joy of Shabbat New Mexico Jewish Historical Society HaMakom - Passionate Judaism in Santa Fe
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