Mar 2015 Bulletin

Adath Shalom
A Conservative Synagogue
MARCH HAPPENINGS AT ADATH SHALOM
1 Sun
9:00am
9:30am
10:00am
10:30am
9:30am
4 Wed 6:00pm
7:00pm
5 Thu 9:30am
4:15pm
6 Fri
9:30am
11:30am
5:30pm
7:15pm
7 Sat
8 Sun
9
10
11
12
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
13 Fri
14 Sat
9:00am
1:00pm
7:30pm
9:00am
9:00am
9:00am
10:20am
10:30am
12:30pm
3:00pm
7:00pm
12:00pm
7:30pm
9:30am
4:15pm
7:00pm
9:30am
7:15pm
9:00am
15 Sun
9:00am
9:00am
10:30am
12:15pm
2:00pm
17 Tue 7:30pm
18 Wed 7:00pm
19 Thu 9:30am
4:15pm
7:00pm
20 Fri
9:30am
5:15pm
7:15pm
21 Sat
9:00am
9:45am
10:30am
10:30am
22 Sun 9:00am
9:00am
10:30am
10:30am
10:30am
12:15pm
Religious School
Child Friendly Megillah Reading
Purim Carnival, under age 5
Purim Carnival, open to all
Writers’ Circle
Megillah Reading/Costume Parade
Purim Shpiel: Morty Wonka & The Hamentaschen Factory
Florence Melton Mini School
Religious School
Shabbat Shapers
Morristown Soup Kitchen Lunch
Pajama Neshama
Kabbalat Shabbat Service – Bet Class Family Service
5:38pm Candle Lighting
Shabbat Service, Parsha Ki Tisa
Shabbat Mincha Service
Mincha Bar Mitzvah of Jason Kalver
Purim Ball honoring Maxine & Jerry Moses and Marcy Thailer
Religious School; SNAP training for Dalet/Grade 4
Minyan, Torah Discussion and Breakfast
Snap Clinic Training
Sweet Tastes of Torah with Rabbi Hammerman
Writers’ Circle
Youth Talent Show Run Through
Youth Talent Show
Sisterhood Uptown Art Fun-raiser
Chazak Luncheon
Mah Jongg
Florence Melton Mini School
Religious School
The Jewish Angle
Shabbat Shapers
Kabbalat Shabbat Service
6:46pm Candle Lighting
Shabbat Service, Parsha Vayak’hel Pekudei
Bat Mitzvah of Debra Perlmutter
Religious School
Minyan, Torah, Discussion and Breakfast
Writers’ Circle
Family Conversational Hebrew
Gottesman RTW Academy Kids Fashion Show
Board of Directors meeting
Parent Program on Social Thinking
Florence Melton Mini School
Religious School
Torah on Tap
Shabbat Shapers
Shabbat Shalom at the JSDD
Kabbalat Shabbat Service
6:53pm Candle Lighting
Shabbat Service, Parsha Vayikra
Bat Mitzvah of Ariana Ravitch
Jr. Congregation (Gr 3-6)
Shabbat Chavurah (Gr K-2)
Tot Shabbat (Pre-K)
Religious School
Minyan, Torah Discussion and Breakfast
Hey Parents’ B’nai Mitzvah Meeting
Women’s Rosh Chodesh
Writers’ Circle
Family Conversational Hebrew
continued on page 2
10 Adar 5775 —11 Nissan 5775
MARCH 2015
841 Mountain Way
Morris Plains, NJ 07950
Office: 973-539-8549
Fax: 973-539-4884
Web: www.adathshalom.net
Bulletin email address:
[email protected]
Phone Extension
Moshe Rudin, Rabbi
[email protected]
Jack Korbman, Cantor
[email protected]
Brian Kalver, Student Cantor
[email protected]
Charlotte Frank,
Education Director
[email protected]
Juan Isaza, Facilities Manager
[email protected]
Pam Jorlett, Religious School
Administrator
[email protected]
Jayne Karten, Program Director
[email protected]
Laurie Lindner,
Synagogue Administrator
[email protected]
Jessica Davy, Youth Advisor
[email protected]
Rebecca Fish,
Teen Education Coordinator
[email protected]
Maxine Moses, Bulletin Editor
[email protected]
Susan Solomon,
Synagogue Social Worker
[email protected]
Michael Stepak, President
[email protected]
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111
120
107
121
106
105
108
Synagogue Office Hours
Monday-Thursday
Friday
9:00am - 4:00pm
9:00am - 3:00pm
Rabbi’s Drop-In Hours
Tuesday
4:00pm - 6:00pm
Feel free to call anytime!
MARCH HAPPENINGS AT ADATH SHALOM continued
23
24
25
26
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
27 Fri
28 Sat
29 Sun
9:30am
7:00pm
7:30pm
9:30am
4:15pm
6:30pm
9:30am
7:15pm
9:00am
9:00am
10:20am
10:30am
12:15pm
1:00pm
Serving at Dover Soup Kitchen
Parenting Skills Teen Issues – Part I
Mah Jongg
Florence Melton Mini School
Religious School
Shema Dedication Service
Shabbat Shapers
Kabbalat Shabbat Service
7:01pm Candle Lighting
Shabbat Service, Parsha Tzav
Bar Mitzvah of Ben Brandes
NO RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
Minyan, Torah Discussion and Breakfast
Sweet Tastes of Torah
Writers’ Circle
All Youth Groups: Chocolate Seder
Passover Fun with Rabbi Rudin at Morris County Library
This circle of chairs is the circle of inclusion
at Adath Shalom. The chairs were created
by all of our Religious School classes from
kindergarten through grade 7/Gan to Zayin.
We welcome all into our circle.
Table of Contents
TOPIC
PAGE
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
REMARKS FROM RABBI RUDIN
4
5
FROM OUR SOCIAL WORKER
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL NEWS
BNAI MITZVAH
YOUTH NEWS
6-7
8-9
10-12
13
ISRAEL TRIP RECAP
COMMITTEE NEWS
TRIBUTES & TZEDAKAH
COOL EVENTS
16-17
18-19
26-28
29-43
Click on listing to link to specific page
2
Friday, April 3
6:45 am
Siyyum Service
5:30 pm
Community Seder
Saturday, April 4
9:00 am
1st day of Passover, Shabbat
Sunday, April 5
9:00 am
2nd day of Passover
Friday, April 10
9:00 am
7th day of Passover
Saturday, April 11
9:00 am
8th day of Passover, Shabbat
(Yizkor is recited)
3
President’s Message
What a rough, cold winter it has been! On three successive Mondays, we had to close the
synagogue office because of all the winter storm warnings calling for heavy snow, sleet and
freezing rain. If we count the holidays of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents’ Day, the
synagogue office was closed five Mondays in a row. Congregants Steve and Carol Mandel who
traveled to Antartica this winter said it was actually warmer there than in Morris County! Alas,
March has finally arrived and that means spring, daylight savings time and longer and warmer
days. At Adath Shalom, March also means celebrating the joyous holiday of Purim. You will
soon be receiving your Adath Shalom Mishloach Manot Purim baskets. Purim baskets will also be sent to Adath
Shalom college students, residents of the Jewish Service for the Developmentally Disabled and clients of the Jewish
Relief Agency.
Thank you to everyone who participated in purchasing Purim baskets and thank you to Robin Suskind for organizing
this mitzvah fundraiser. This year we had more congregants participating and raised more money for the synagogue
than ever before.
On Sunday, March 1 at 9 am, Student Cantor Brian Kalver will lead a child friendly Megillah Reading, followed by
our annual Purim Carnival at 10:30 am. Children under age 5 are welcome to come to the Purim Carnival starting at
10:00 am. On Wednesday, March 4, we have our regular Megillah reading and Costume Parade at 6:00 pm,
followed at 7:00 pm by our Purim Shpiel, Morty Wonka and the Hamentaschen Factory, featuring the Adath Shalom
Dancing Hamentaschen. Our Purim celebration culminates with our Purim Ball on Saturday evening, March 7 at
7:30 pm when we will honor congregants Maxine Moses, Jerry Moses and Marcy Thailer for their service and
dedication to Adath Shalom. The Mardi Gras themed BYOKB (Bring Your Own Kosher Beverage) adults only
evening will feature DJ entertainment, dancing, comedy, tricky tray prizes and lots of great desserts. Even though
we are celebrating Purim, this is not a costume ball so there is no need to dress like Mordechai, Esther or Haman.
Just come celebrate and have fun. Tickets are $36.00 per person and they will be available at the door for those who
do not RSVP in advance.
This March, we will also have a very special dedication service at Adath Shalom. Please join us on Thursday
evening, March 26 at 6:30 pm for the dedication service of the Shema sculpture installed on the right bimah wall in
the Sanctuary. Congregants Arnold, Michelle and Jeffrey Dunn are donating the wood sculpture in memory of their
son and brother Mark. The Dunn family is also sponsoring a dinner after the dedication service. Limited seating is
available for the dinner. RSVPs for the dinner must be received by Jayne Karten ([email protected]) by
March 6.
If it’s March, it’s also time to start planning for the High Holidays. (Yes, the planning starts six months in advance.)
Andrea Malmud and Jim Lieberman will be this year’s High Holiday Co-Chairs and Student Cantor Brian Kalver
will again be joining us for the High Holidays to help Rabbi Rudin and Cantor Korbman lead services.
This March, we also celebrate simchas with several of our congregant families. I want to wish a Mazel Tov to Jason
Kalver (March 7), Debra Perlmutter (March 14), Ariana Ravitch (March 21) and Benjamin Brandes (March 28) as
they are called to the Torah this month to celebrate their Bar and Bat Mitzvahs.
Finally, please join us on Friday night, March 6 at 7:15 pm for our monthly Kabbalat Shabbat Family Service, which
is also the 2nd grade class service. A special dessert oneg sponsored by the 2nd grade class parents will follow the
service. Mazel Tov to the 2nd grade class and their families!
Wishing everyone a Happy Purim!
Regards and Shalom,
Mike Stepak
4
Remarks from Rabbi Rudin
Masks
So.... It's Purim! Chag Sameach!
Everyone's wearing a mask.. Starting with the characters in the Megillah - the usurper Ahashverosh, the wily, hateful Haman, Mordechai whose sackcloth is exchanged for royal robes and of course, Esther, the concealed queen.
Everyone wears masks on Purim - our children transform and joyfully parade their alter egos, and maybe we even
join in the fun and don our own masks.
What's with this holiday where even G-d is disguised in the Megillah as coincidence and chance? What are we to
make of this nested masquerade that begins in sorrow, yet ends in joy?
Maybe we can start with one more question: do masks conceal or do they reveal? Don't masks show our inner,
hidden selves? Don't they reveal the deeper layers of our identity, the parts of us we hold back?
Writer Hannah Arendt said that it is possible to express our unique individuality only through the aegis of a
culture. Our selves are lived through our masks; our language, values, history, allusions, stories, images, the
world of metaphors are the palate through which we illuminate the manuscript of our lives.
Walking down Ben Yehuda street in Jerusalem this evening, I came upon King David, Queen Esther, Deborah the
Judge, Elijah the Prophet. Their essence of valor, faith, passion, sadness and joy, irony and sincerity all reflected
in the faces of those I encountered and spoke with - my fellow Jews, my brothers and sisters of the House of
Israel. This one's grandparents from Poland, that one's from Morocco, another's from Yemen or Ethiopia - but all
expressing their essence through this language of Hebrew, this rich and growing Jewish culture, these values that
have enabled us to surmount every challenge and become a source of blessing.
This Purim, add to your mask of Jewish self-expression. Learn and relish words of Hebrew, Yiddish or Ladino. Study a new text, sing a new song, taste a new flavor, daven a new prayer, add a layer of depth and meaning
to who you are and what you are endlessly becoming.
Embody Queen Esther and stand revealed - give some tzedaka, give gifts to loved ones for no other reason than
that it's Purim.
May this Purim holiday inspire you to new engagement and new connections; may it inspire us to renewed energy
and renewed commitment.
Chag Sameach! Amen!
Rabbi Rudin
5
Susan Solomon
Synagogue Social Worker
21st Century Parenting
Parenting has always had its challenges and its varying theories of what works. Every generation
thinks their parenting issues are different and more demanding than the previous one. The literature does indicate some key differences in 21st century children’s experiences and parenting.
Adath Shalom has decided to address such issues via Parent Education Programs. The first of
these programs will be aimed at parents of teens and pre-teens. It is a 2-part program taking
place on March 24 and May 5. If you are unable to attend both sessions, please join us for either program to gain
perspective on this key century children’s experiences and parenting.
Is it Typical Teen Angst or More Serious?
(See next page for program details)
Here are some thoughts to ponder about parenting issues in the 21st Century…
An article in Time Magazine, July 05, 2012, “Modern Parenting: Do We Really Need to Reinvent the Wheel? “
stated, “the 21st Century presents particular parenting challenges: the rise of social media and the 24/7 day,
globalization, changing demographics and adult roles, high-stakes testing in earlier and earlier grades. Even
children’s bodies have changed, with earlier puberty and growing rates of obesity. Anxiety is in the drinking
water, everywhere.” And ... American children express that what they want most from their parents is
“de-stressed emotional engagement”.
Regarding the fear of bad things that can happen to our children in today’s world and the fast and relentless
publicity of such events, there is an article in Psychotherapy Networking, Sept./Oct. - “Bubble-Wrapping our
Children, The Perils of Overprotective Parenting”. These situations, it reports, lead to a constant state of anxiety
for parents and children. It also lessens the opportunities for children to learn how to handle risks and take
responsibility, often leading to higher levels of unsafe risk-taking. At the same time, parents concerned about
monitoring their child too much often becoming too permissive. Michel Unger writes, “...resilience is nurtured
when children have the support they need to develop competencies and self-efficacy, then our role as caregivers
becomes that of crossing guards, rather than jailors.”
Two points stand out from article in Psychotherapy Networking, Sept./Oct., “The Rise of Two-Dimensional
Parent, a New Kind of Attachment” by Ron Taffel, PhD, chairman of board of the Institute for Contemporary
Psychotherapy in New York. First, Ron Taffel explores the challenges of the “Overinvolved parents who keep
their kids on a bullet-train of activity...” and that “...restful downtime is necessary for kids’ brains to synthesize
new information, slow comfort time and may also be necessary to internalize secure attachment”. Second, Taffel
states, “I’m regularly startled by the sophistication of parents about childhood psychiatric diagnoses and their
hawkeyed vigilance for sign of the same in their children”. Despite the incredible good that early detection has
done, parents are “inspecting for potential disorder with great worry on part of parents” and “transmit overanxious concern through vigilant attachment.”
We plan to explore various areas of 21st Century Parenting. If you have children or grandchildren,
I hope to see you at these programs. I welcome suggestions for future topics – just email me at
[email protected].
Susan Solomon, M.Ed., MSW, LCSW
Synagogue Social Worker, JFS MetroWest, Adath Shalom
973-539-8549 ext. 108
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7
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL NEWS continued
From Charlotte Frank / Education Director
March comes in like a lion and
goes out like a lamb – let it be true
this year!! Go away winter!!
as much as we can. We know we do more than some,
less than others, but we are on our “journey” with our
goal set of being as inclusive as we can be.
February was Jewish Disabilities
Awareness Month and it was very
much a part of what was going on
in Religious School. We started the
month off with our Chairs of Inclusion Project, which
saw each class create a chair that would represent how
their class/community made room at the table for
everyone. We read stories, talked and learned as communities and then created the art that showed what we
had internalized from the lesson. If you didn't get to
see our chairs on display in the synagogue lobby
during February, you missed quite the exhibit. Our artwork was displayed with the amazing exhibit from the
WAE Center of JSDD (Wellness, Arts Enrichment
Center of the Jewish Services for the Developmentally
Disabled).
We have a very busy month ahead of us, starting off
with the Purim Carnival on Sunday, March 1. We will
have a child friendly Megillah reading followed by the
carnival for the morning. Please do not dress your child
in costume for the carnival - it is a safety concern.
Please send your child with money to buy tickets and
food at the carnival. We will be selling bagels with
cream cheese, drinks and hamantashen. The carnival
opens for under age 5 at 10 AM and for Religious
School and everyone else at 10:30 AM. Adult volunteers are always appreciated. Zayin class/grade 7,
Kadima and USYers are all going to be helping that
morning.
The following paragraph was taken from a blog written by one of the founders of Matan, Meredith Polsky.
I was blessed to have been able to study with Meredith
and the amazing people of Matan. Their teachings
have impacted everything we try and do here at Adath
Shalom to make our community a successful home for
inclusion of all who want to be part of our community.
We each bring different gifts, but together we are better than the sum of our parts. We are blessed with
amazing teachers, children, parents, aides and loyal
friends of the Religious School who help make us the
best that we can be.
Judaism teaches that every person is created in
God’s image. At Matan, this is something we think
about every single day of the year. During February, Jewish Disability Awareness Month, our goal
is to reach those in our community who do not
necessarily focus on this everyday – not because
they disagree, but because “Jewish Special
Needs” is just not on their minds at every given
moment. We hope to hear from new voices, reach
someone we haven’t reached before and open
doors that may have previous been to include and
honor people with an array of diverse strengths
and abilities.
We want our community to follow these goals as set
forth by Meredith above and we aim to make it happen
Megillah reading and costume parade will be held on
Wednesday, March 4 at 6 PM, followed by the
Purim Shpiel. Plan to come out in costume and celebrate with the synagogue family.
On Friday, March 6 at 7:15 PM, the Bet class/Grade 2
will be part of the Family Shabbat service. We hope
that you will join us for this wonderful, joyous light
service using the family siddur. There will be a festive
oneg following the service sponsored by the Bet class
families.
Sunday, March 8 will be our final SNAP (Special
Needs Athletic Program) training clinic for the Grade
4/Dalet class. (The first session for Grades 5-7/Hey Zayin took place on Sunday, February 22.) We are
delighted to have created this connection with SNAP,
which will be another venue for our children to do long
term Mitzvah projects.
At the end of March, the synagogue will celebrate the
new artwork installed in the sanctuary. Thursday,
March 26 at 6:30 PM following Religious School there
will be a dedication service and we are hoping that all
of our fourth graders will be able to stay and recite the
Shema in “sign” language for this service. We also
hope to display the artwork that the Dalet students
created this month to highlight their learning the Shema
and its meaning, as well as its centrality to us, the Jewish people.
Charlotte
8
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL NEWS
From Charlotte Frank / Education Director
The Zayin class led the rest of the grades in learning about Israel in honor of Tu B'Shevat. With songs led by Hadar, our Rishon,
followed by four stations and ending with Israeli snacks - we had an amazing day! Hadar and Zayin students got rave reviews
from all the teachers for running such a great program. Yasher koach and todah rabah. All of your hard work, paid off Hadar.
Yasher Koach to the following Religious
School students who have completed
their Shabbat Attendance requirements.
Rayna Emdur
Aleph/Grade 1
Ellie Baum
Aleph/Grade 1
Rachel Some
Zayin/Grade 7
Danit Schachman
Gimel/Grade 3
Brett Isralowitz
Dalet/Grade 4
Rebecca Diaz
Vov/Grade 6
9
B’NAI MITZVAH
Debra Rachel
Perlmutter
(Devora Rivka)
will become a
Bat Mitzvah on
March 14, 2015
Debra is the daughter of Amy and Stuart Perlmutter and sister to Jeremy. She attends Brooklawn
Middle School where her favorite subject is Reading &
Writing. Debra takes hip hop and jazz, and is also a
cheerleader. When Debra grows up, she would like to
be an author.
To Debra, becoming a Bat Mitzvah means entering her Jewish adulthood, which opens the door to new
opportunities and change. She is proud to be a Jew
because we are the chosen people and there are not
many of us in this world. It makes her feel unique and
very special.
Debra’s wish for the future is to not only have a
happy and healthy life, but to also bring happiness to
others. Her Bat Mitzvah project is a reflection of that.
Debra has been volunteering at Lester Senior Housing
in Whippany, NJ. It’s been so rewarding spending time
with the residents. She looks forward to visiting with
them and they can’t wait to see her!!
Benjamin Samuel Brandes
(Chayim Yisrael)
will become a
Bar Mitzvah on
March 28, 2015
Ariana Ravitch
(Avrahama Miriam Devorah)
will become a
Bat Mitzvah on
March 21, 2015
Ariana is the daughter of Jamie Grosslicht and
Frank Ravitch and sister to Elysha. She attends Briarcliff Middle School where her favorite subject is Social
Studies. When she grows up, she would like to be an ice
skating coach and a teacher.
To Ariana, becoming a Bat Mitzvah means she
is growing up and it is the start of her journey as a
Jewish adult. She is proud to be a Jew because she loves
her culture and traditions.
Ariana’s wish for the future is to continue her
studies and do mitzvot. She would like the Rabbi to
speak about her determination and perseverance in all
that she does. Her Mitzvah project is an ongoing
project that she started with her girl scout troop, making
people aware that bullying can happen to anyone at anytime.
Benjamin “Ben” is the son of Lisa and Brion Brandes. He attends Banyan
School where his favorite subject is Science. He is learning to play the trombone
& the steel drum and he plays on the school basketball team. Ben loves music,
sports, cooking and doing anything creative. When he grows up, he would like to
design hotels, be a famous chef or even a rock-star DJ.
To Ben, becoming a bar mitzvah means becoming a young man and being
even more responsible. Ben loves everything about being Jewish - all of the special traditions and rituals, celebrating holidays, lighting the Shabbat candles each
week and trying his best to help others.
Ben is very excited to share his Bar Mitzvah day with both of his grandmothers, as they too become B’nai Mitzvah. Benjamin’s wish is that someday
there will be no cancer, homelessness or hunger in the world. Ben decided he
wanted to do several mitzvah projects. He has helped make bracelets to raise
funds for the Pink and Blue movie, the documentary for male and female BRCA
and breast cancer awareness; prepared and served food at the Dover Soup Kitchen; volunteered at the Community Food Bank of NJ making hundreds of bags of
pasta to be distributed throughout the state; and helped to prepare food monthly as
part of Mitzvah Meals/Emily’s Kitchen here at Adath Shalom. In addition, Ben
helped to build walls at Habitat for Humanity for local low-income housing.
10
Hi, I am Peri Manoff. I am working with the Mandy B. Reichman
Feeding Program for my Mitzvah Project. The program was started in
2002 in memory of my cousin who died at the age of 22 after a twoyear battle with cancer. The Program is a weekly Mitzvah project
where bagged meals of sandwiches, fruit and desserts/snacks are prepared and delivered to a neighborhood in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
I
am volunteering on Tuesdays to help prepare the bagged lunches for
families who have learned they can count on the Program for help.
Help me keep this program going with donations of Ziploc sandwich
bags, gloves for food preparation, grocery bags, snacks and cookies.
There will be bins labeled Mandy B. Reichman Feeding Program in the
Religious School wing of our Synagogue.
Thanks in advance for donating to the Program and helping me make a
difference for so many needy families!
One way to honor your son or daughter at their Bar/Bat
Mitzvah is to have family and friends read from the
Torah. This is also a meaningful way to honor loved ones
on their Yahrzeit. Cantor Jack will record a CD for you
and give you the text. Please contact the Synagogue
Office to request a Torah portion and CD.
11
Jacob Badian — Mitzvah Project
My Mitzvah project (Bar Mitzvah date May 30, 2015) is raising money and items for my Uncle
Alan’s group home. My uncle is very special to me. He was born on July 27, 1968 and was
deprived of oxygen at birth. Since medicine was not as advanced as it is today, it became
apparent when he was two years old that he was not developing like the other toddlers.
Ultimately, he was place in an institution for people with developmental delays. The institution was shut down and Uncle Alan was moved to a group home in Freehold, NJ where he
still resides.
He has been living in this group home with four other men for over 35 years. They are all
wonderful guys and I love seeing my uncle and spending time with him. My uncle is nonverbal, but his expressions are worth a thousand words when he sees familiar faces. When I
visit him he loves to go bowling, watch basketball and go to the park. On our last visittogether, we took him Pumpkin picking and went on a hayride. He had a blast and even
brought pumpkins back to his house for everyone to decorate. His home is very nice, but
they are in need of many new items. State funding cuts have reduced the amount of money
that his home gets per year for general upkeep and entertainment. With your help, Alan and
his “brothers” can have some new items that will allow them to live better and healthier lives
in their home.
When I decided that I wanted Alan’s home to be my mitzvah project, I reached out to the
group home director and found out what specific items they can use and need. Instead of
flowers on the Bimah, I would like to have a big basket full of art supplies (all washable),
games (ages 3-10), tennis balls, sensory toys and DVDs (all rated G-PG).
A bin is located in the Religious School Wing for donations. Thank you in advance for your
generous donations.
STEVEN M. ROTHBARD FOUNDATION
The Steven M. Rothbard Foundation was created by his family in an effort to perpetuate the memory of Steven
Rothbard, who was tragically killed in a car accident in 1997. The Foundation offers scholarships to four-year
college-bound high school seniors who are superior scholar-athletes or scholar-musicians. To qualify, the recipient, male or female, must be a member of the current graduating class, among the top third in rank, planning to
attend a four year institution of higher learning in the fall following graduation and have participated in either a high
school athletic or music program.
For an application, please call Laurie at the Synagogue office.
Completed applications must be mailed by March 31, 2015 to:
The Steven M. Rothbard Foundation,
c/o Beth Felsen, President
26 Black Birch Drive, Randolph, New Jersey 07869
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YOUTH NEWS
Tot Shabbat (Pre-K) with Morah Shari
Saturday, March 21 at 10:30am in the Kindergarten Room
This month we are going to make Elijah’s cup in Tot Shabbat! The children will decorate a cup with stickers and
then they will be able to use the cup at their Passover Seder. Hope to see you! It will be so much fun!
Shabbat Chavurah (Kindergarten—Grade 2) with Morah Helaine
Saturday, March 21 at 10:30am in the “old” four-year old room
Please join us this month as we celebrate Passover. We will read a book, sing Passover songs and practice the four
questions. We will play a game - who stole the chametz? - and act out the exodus from Egypt. Looking forward to
seeing all of my friends.
Junior Congregation (Grades 3–6) with Morah Deb
Saturday, March 21, 9:45-11:45am in the Beit Midrash/Library
A sacrifice was what? Join us we learn what the different sacrifices were and the different types according to the
Torah.
We are looking for gently used tefillin. We want our children to learn
and wear tefillin, but it is expensive to buy sets. If you have a set to
donate, we will be glad to be the caretakers for the set.
13
Mazal Tov Shabbat Services
Share your simcha (anniversary, birthday, birth of child or grandchild,
engagement, promotion, retirement and more!) with your Adath Shalom family.
Please fill out the form on page 23 to recognize your celebration. A placard sharing your
simcha will be displayed on the Oneg or Kiddush Table and your simcha will be
announced from the bima during services.
Dear Teachers, Congregants, Children and Friends,
I just want to thank anyone who donated, sent a card, came in and gave me a hug, or
acknowledged the loss of my dog Julia, who many of you know was like a child to me.
She was the world to me. Her loss was a huge shock and the pain just can’t be described. She really was my life for 11 years.
I have already scheduled a payment with your donation.
Again, many many thanks.
Love,
Pam
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Tu B’Shevat Seder, February 8, 2015
The Seeds of Hope are already sprouting!
Incredible!
The vegetable seeds we planted at our
Tu B’Shevat Seder are already shooting
up - talk about blessings.
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Adath Shalom Israel Trip
February,2015
A Recap on the Redeye
by Rabbi Rudin
Dear Brothers and Sisters, shalom!
I completed the following lines as our plane just arrived in Newark and taxied to the gate, the sense of
Israel still very much with me. I humbly offer it: jet lagged, ragged and fragmented as it is, such
moments are when we are at our most genuine, if not at our most eloquent.
Sunday morning, 5:30 AM March 1st
For me personally, being a Jew in the active rather than the passive sense - Jewishness as something that
I did rather something that I was- began when I first arrived in Israel back in 1978.
That started it all for me: my forty-year passionate love affair with Judaism, the Jewish people, Torah,
social justice, advocacy, Shabbat, davening, Jewish music, Hebrew, felafel… it all goes back to that first
arrival at Ben Gurion Airport and, as if in a dream, coming home to a place I’d never been before.
Maybe that is why I am so passionate about the importance of a visit - or better yet, multiple visits; or
even better yet, a period of time living, studying and working in Israel.
The beauty of Israel as an entry into Jewish civilization is that it’s unmitigated. No one presents it to
you - you find it in your own way, on your own terms. It’s as if another gate to Jerusalem is added to
the Seven classic gates and opens: a gate that was built just for you, a pathway to self-discovery at the
deepest level. It’s a communal experience, a place where we all have a stake - but more than that, it’s a
personal, private and deeply intimate one.
Yes, it’s also about the sightseeing, the shopping, the new tastes, sights, smells and adventures. It’s
about the hotel rooms and buses and how people don’t know how to stand in line, or the twenty year
olds with the M16 rifles slung casually over their shoulders and the photo ops and the loud group of
tourists who cut in front of you.
But it’s more. As Reuven Lavi, our tour guide, told us more than once: Everywhere else, the past is history - that is, HIS story. But here, it’s Our Story.
Jerusalem of Gold, of Copper, of Light Are we not the harp of all your songs?
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Adath Shalom Israel Trip
continued
All during our amazing visit to Israel, to places familiar and new, to the new, the old, the really old and
the ancient - again, Reuven’s words - I kept on thinking one thing: I so wish that every member of our
shul was there with us. As I touched that Wall, I tried to imagine the hands of every member of Adath
Shalom touching the Wall with me.
A trip to Israel is always transforming, but I believe that experiencing Israel as a synagogue community
has a nurturing power that strengthens us all. In my vision, there would be a way to make community
pilgrimages to Israel a regular feature of Adath Shalom communal life that would include making the
trip affordable to everyone and at times of the year that work for everyone. A challenge, a vision, a
dream, a hope - but Israel is the land of challenges, of visions, dreams and of hopes.
To those who took part this go around, Yeshar Ko’ach and thank you for the gift of your presence. I invite you to continue and to build on your connection to Israel.
To those considering joining us for a family-oriented trip in August, Yallah! Adventure awaits! Yes,
it’s hot in August, but the air conditioning is great; the Mediterranean, the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan
River and even the salty Dead Sea are awesome places to swim and relax; and in Jerusalem, a cool, holy,
refreshing breeze always blows in the evening down from the mountain passes whispering your name but don’t take my word for it, come and see yourself!
Overlooking Jerusalem from the Mountain of Olives.
Our travels took us deep into space and time: from the ancient
vistas of the Old City to modern Jerusalem’s shining night life;
from intriguing ruins to fast-paced markets, stirring overlooks
and sanctuaries of memory; from the Golan to the shores of the
Dead Sea. It was truly a journey into the Jewish collective soul.
And then there was the culinary hit of the journey: shawarma!
Ten days of tastes, sights, sounds, markets and museums, laughter and tears, enjoying hospitality from people’s homes to city
centers - an incredible story and an incredible people.
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COMMITTEE NEWS
Lifelong Learning
Ellen Muraskin & Cookie Samuels, Co-Chairs
Chazak
Join us on Tuesday, March 10, 12 noon for On the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Opening of Fiddler on the
Roof
Fiddler on the Roof is based on short stories written by the greatest of all Yiddish writers, Sholem Aleichem,
about the trials and tribulations of Tevye the Dairyman. But a 50-year gap took place between the time that
Sholem Aleichem put the finishing touch on his last Tevye story and the opening of Fiddler on the Roof on
Broadway in 1964. Who was Sholem Aleichem? How did this transformation take place? Who kept the
flame alive? How did the play differ from the stories? And why is it so popular around the world? These
issues and more will be explored at Bennett Muraskin's informative talk.
We look forward to seeing you! RSVP by March 7 is a must so we know how much lunch to prepare! Call
Cookie Samuels at 973 366-0763 or email her at [email protected]. And bring your friends!
Oldest Established Permanent Floating Book Club
All dates are Wednesdays at 7:30 pm unless indicated. RSVP to Ellen at [email protected] to find out
who is hosting in any particular month.
March 25: World Without You by Joshua Henkin
April 29: Crooked Mirror by Louise Steinman
May 27: The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman
June 24: Indignation by Philip Roth
Summer, date TBD: Sonata for Miriam by Linda Olsson
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COMMITTEE NEWS
Sisterhood
Fran Heller, Meredith Ross, Carol Wolosin, Co-Presidents
SAVE THE DATE…. and let's CREATE!
Monday, March 9, 7-9 pm
Join SISTERHOOD for an "arty" party FUN-raiser
to paint and partake in some wine and snacks!
Channel your inner Picasso at Uptown Art Denville
28 Diamond Spring Road, Denville, NJ 07834
$42 includes art instruction, supplies, painting, and snacks
BYOB
P.S.: No artistic ability needed, but we promise you will leave with a masterpiece!
Spaces are limited! Open to all - bring a friend or two!
Please RSVP ASAP to [email protected]
and mail or drop off payment payable to Adath Shalom Sisterhood.
Your payment will guarantee your spot.
***** DON’T WAIT - Let’s Paint! *****
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EDITH PICON
Pediatric
Speech/Language Pathologist
Consultations, Evaluations
and
Therapeutic Services
This space
available for
YOUR ad
152 Summit Road
Florham Park, NJ 07932
Hours by Appointment:
(973) 377-6316
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The following article on Adath Shalom's trip to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in January appeared
in the February 19 edition of the New Jersey Jewish News. This trip was made possible by the generous donations to
the Mosberg Family Holocaust Education Fund and the work of the Holocaust Education Committee. The article can
also be viewed online at http://njjewishnews.com/article/26275/synagogue-shoa-project-looks-for-answers#.VOzbXkLitco
Synagogue Shoa project looks for answers
by NJJN Staff
February 18, 2015
A Jan. 18-19 trip to the United States Holocaust Memorial
Museum in Washington for 44 members of Congregation
Adath Shalom in Morris Plains was the culmination of a
months-long multigenerational exploration of how the
Shoa happened. The community met with survivors of
the Holocaust and of the Rwandan genocide, heard from
a representative of the NJ Commission on Holocaust
Education, watched several documentaries, and engaged
in plenty of discussion.
They plan to continue their exploration and are planning
a trip to Europe next spring that will tentatively include
stops in Berlin, Prague, Vienna, and Cracow and sites of
tragic events of the Holocaust, including Auschwitz.
“It has been 70 years since the liberation of Auschwitz,
and humanity has not yet emerged from the shock of that
awful revelation, not yet processed the meaning of the
Holocaust,” wrote Adath Shalom’s Rabbi Moshe Rudin in
a report about the congregation’s work. “As a community,
across generations, we have begun our own journey of
the search for meaning in the terrible catastrophe. Our community’s journey has led us into
uncomfortable territory and difficult topics, but it has also brought us closer together.” He added,
“To be a Jew is to engage in Jewish learning with the faith that even the darkest moments contain
something that can inspire the future, nourish hope, affirm life.”
The study began in response to a talk survivor and synagogue member Edward Mosberg gave
last spring during the community’s Holocaust Remembrance Day program. The ongoing resulting
series was made possible by a Holocaust Education Fund created by Mosberg and his wife,
Cecille, and through the leader ship of congregation member Sam Varsano, son of a Holocaust
survivor.
“Seeing the numbers on my father’s arm is what started this for me,” Varsano said. “There were
no answers forthcoming to my questions — only tears. It wasn’t until my first son was born and
my father would hold the baby in his arms for hours — walking all around the house until Josh fell
asleep — that my father began to tell what had happened.
“Now,” said Varsano, “I want the young people especially to not only learn what happened but to
understand; we cannot sit quietly ever again. We must always be ready to respond.”
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BULLETIN ADS
To place an ad, please contact
the Synagogue office
973 539-8549
Full Page $150/month
Half Page $80/month
Quarter Page $45/month
Business Card $30/month
Adath Shalom is a member of:
Annual ads:
Pay for 10 months
and get two months free
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Giving is a part of our Jewish heritage and our Jewish way of life. Traditionally, Jews give “tzedakah” to commemorate occasions,
both happy and sad, and to acknowledge honors (aliyot), accomplishments, friends...almost anything. Giving can take many forms.
One can give of their time and effort to the Jewish community or to the synagogue. One can give books, tapes, or other necessary
and tangible items. Many, however, choose to give money, either to individual funds available through the synagogue, or to the
general fund, allowing the leadership to use the donation in whatever way it deems most necessary.
ADATH SHALOM EXTENDS A MAZAL TOV TO:
The Brandes Family
On Ben becoming a Bar Mitzvah
Zachary Freiheiter
On being awarded the Boy Scouts' Ner Tamid emblem
Stephen and Enid Greenfogel
Mazel Tov on the birth of their granddaughter, Sloane Amaya
The Grosslicht and Ravitch Families
On Ariana becoming a Bat Mitzvah
The Kalver Family
On Jason becoming a Bar Mitzvah
The Perlmutter Family
On Debra becoming a Bat Mitzvah
MARCH ONEGS AND KIDDUSHES
ARE SPONSORED BY:
The Brandes Family
In honor of Ben becoming a Bar Mitzvah
YAHRZEIT DONATIONS TO THE HOEXTER FAMILY
CARING FUND WERE RECEIVED FROM:
Steven & Fern Bukowiecki
In memory of Richard Bukowiecki
Alan & Joan Gopin
In memory of Ruth Gopin
YAHRZEIT DONATIONS TO THE GENERAL FUND
WERE RECEIVED FROM:
Edith Davidson
In memory of Bella Sacks
Eden & Phyllis Wenig
In memory of Sam Cantor
DONATION TO THE MOSBERG FAMILY
HOLOCAUST EDUCATION FUND
WAS RECEIVED FROM:
Northeast Concrete Products LLC
The Grosslicht and Ravitch Families
In honor of Ariana becoming a Bat Mitzvah
YAHRZEIT DONATION TO THE MOSBERG
FAMILY HOLOCAUST EDUCATION FUND
WAS RECEIVED FROM:
The Kalver Family
In honor of Jason becoming a Bar Mitzvah
Richard & Alison Karl
In memory of Felix Freiheiter
The Perlmutter Family
In honor of Debra becoming a Bat Mitzvah
YAHRZEIT DONATIONS TO THE TORAH FUND
WERE RECEIVED FROM:
Bet Class
In honor of their class service
Lawrence & Emily Golomb
In memory of Lillian Golomb
YAHRZEIT DONATION TO THE RABBI’S
DISCRETIONARY FUND WAS RECEIVED FROM:
Olga Menczer
In memory of Maximo Goldberger
Judi Botfeld Silver
DONATION TO THE TEACHER ENRICHMENT
FUND WAS RECEIVED FROM:
DONATION TO THE CANTOR’S DISCRETIONARY
FUND WAS RECEIVED FROM:
The Leinwand Family
In honor of Eitan becoming at Bar Mitzvah
The Leinwand Family
In honor of Eitan becoming at Bar Mitzvah
DONATION TO THE SPECIAL NEEDS
FUND WAS RECEIVED FROM:
YAHRZEIT DONATION TO THE CANTOR’S
DISCRETIONARY FUND WAS RECEIVED FROM:
Larry & Judy Appel
In honor of the Chairs of Inclusion Project
Richard & Alison Karl
In memory of Marion Kurtz
TREES WERE PLANTED IN ISRAEL BY:
DONATIONS TO THE HOEXTER FAMILY CARING
FUND WERE RECEIVED FROM:
Mim Willinger
In memory of Ivan Basch
In memory of Andrew Jackson Chavis
Stephen & Carol Mandel
Wishing a speedy recover to Ruth Badian
Barry & Donna Zucker
In honor of the birth of Stephen & Enid Greenfogel’s
granddaughter, Sloane Amaya
Jackie Harris
In memory of Ivan Basch
KOL NIDRE DONATION WAS RECEIVED FROM:
Matthew & Elizabeth Drucker
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SISTERHOOD TRIBUTE FUND
A thru M Elaine Blafer
(973) 402-6268 or [email protected]
To:
From:
To:
From:
N thru Z Patti Siegel
[email protected]
Liz and Scott Bleier
Mazal Tov on Jessica’s Bat Mitzvah
Maxine and Jerry Moses
To:
Lisa Epstein
Wishing you a speedy recovery
Maxine and Jerry Moses
To:
From:
From:
To:
From:
Rob Greenberg
In honor of your speedy recovery
Elaine and Elliott Blafer
Elzbieta and Rick Ravin
Mazel Tov on Aliyah’s Bat Matzvah
Maxine and Jerry Moses
Mati Sicherer
In loving memory of your mother, Eva Braun
Maxine, Andy & Janey Smith
Donations gratefully accepted:
Tree in Israel
Prayer Book
Chumash
Tree of Life
Memorial Plaque*
$ 18.00
$ 54.00
$ 72.00
$ 180.00
$ 360.00
Celebrate your simcha with us
by sponsoring a Kiddush!
Cost: $360
Please contact synagogue office
*names on memorial plaques will be
included in our Yizkor book every year
Please contact synagogue office
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COOL EVENTS in March
Adath Shalom Beit Midrash Adult Education
Come and explore, discuss, learn, laugh, share and connect!
Great Opportunities for informal Jewish learning on Sunday mornings!
Davening and Parsha Schmooze!
Jewish prayer is most powerful when shared as a community. Join our seventh graders
and adults for a short morning service (30 minutes) to begin your week with a spiritual
blast! Then stick around for one of Rabbi Rudin’s inspiring discussions about the weekly
Torah portion over breakfast for learners of all backgrounds!
9:00 AM - 10:15 AM in the Sanctuary and Kiddush Room
Dates: Every Sunday when Religious School is in session
Sweet Taste of Torah with Rabbi Richard Hammerman
For over 40 years, Rabbi Hammerman has been intimately involved in almost every
aspect of the Conservative/Masorti Movement. We are delighted to offer his classes.
Jewish writings are filled with wisdom, humor, warmth and charm. Rabbi Hammerman will
guide us in a tour of the delicious vintages of the Jewish wine cellar.
Kiddush Room: 10:20 AM - 11:20 AM
Dates: March 8 and 29
Writers’ Circle
Writing is one of the most powerful forms of self expression. Here’s a great opportunity for
Adath Shalom writers and those with an interest in writing. Here’s a chance to have your
material read and responded to by other writers. Any subject, any amount of writing experience - just come with a piece of writing you’re willing to share. Facilitated by Pauline Hahn.
Rabbi’s Office: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Dates: Every Sunday when Religious School is in session
Family Conversational Hebrew:
Learn how to speak Hebrew as a family! Join us for a fun and informal half hour of learning
vocabulary, phrases and useful expressions through games, informal exercises, music,
videos and more! A great way to augment and enrich your child's Jewish education.
Beit Midrash: 12:30 PM - 1:15 PM
Dates: March 15 and 22
Free for Adath Shalom Members!
RSVP to [email protected]
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Pajama Neshama
Fridays: March 6, May 1, June 5
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Bring your pre-school children in their PJs for an
age-appropriate Shabbat Service, singing, a craft
and a bedtime story - all concluding with a light
child-friendly Shabbat dinner!
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THE JEWISH ANGLE
Get spiritual, have a nosh, have fun!!
Short davening, discussion and dessert with Rabbi Rudin.
For Adults
Thursday evenings at 7:00 PM in the Beit Midrash
March 12
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2014-2015 Saturday Morning
Monthly Youth Services Schedule
Energetic, fun, interactive services, discussions and games to help your child
connect with Judaism, develop their character and feed their spiritual selves!
Junior Congregation (grades 3-6) 9:45 am with Debbie Cirkus
Morah Debbie brings stories and prayers to life and creates a welcoming prayer environment!
Shabbat Chavurah (grades K-2) 10:30 am with Helaine Schreiber
Morah Helaine is a dynamic educator who shares her love of Judaism with her students!
Tot Shabbat (pre-Kindergarten) 10:30 am with Shari Berman
Morah Shari is an engaging educator who makes Shabbat fun for our kids!
March 21
April 18
May 16
June 20
RSVP to Pam Jorlett at [email protected]
or just come by
After Youth Services conclude, please join us in the
Main Sanctuary for the conclusion of the Shabbat Service
and then Kiddush in the Social Hall
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Adath Shalom presents...
Shabbat Shalom at the JSDD
18 Jeffrie Trail, Whippany
March 20, 5:15 - 6:15 PM
Rabbi Rudin and Company will bring some
Shabbat simcha to the residents of the Jewish Service
for the Developmentally Disabled in Whippany
with snacks, conversation, stories and games.
RSVP to Rabbi Rudin at [email protected]
if you can join us!
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HAZAMIR,
THE INTERNATIONAL JEWISH TEEN CHOIR
WILL BE PERFORMING AT LINCOLN CENTER
MARCH 22, 2015, CONCERT AT 4:00 PM
Our member and student cantor Brian Kalver is on the board of
the foundation that oversees HaZamir, the International Jewish
High School Choir. Each year HaZamir puts on a gala concert
with hundreds of singers from across the US and Israel. The
repertoire is Jewish choral music of the highest order and the
quality of these concerts is phenomenal.
Tickets are $20 each for orchestra seats at Avery Fisher Hall
(after a group discount and a subsidy from an anonymous
HaZamir supporter). We need 20 people to get the group
discount, and can bring no more than 30 at the reduced price.
For more information contact Brian Kalver at [email protected]
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Adath Shalom
A Conservative Synagogue
841 Mountain Way, Morris Plains, NJ 07950-1955