special events - Jewish Community Center
Transcription
special events - Jewish Community Center
Jewish LIFE Learning Is For Everyone Jewish LIFE Mission Statement: Jewish LIFE, a collaborative Jewish education program created by the JCC, Rabbis, lay leadership and Jewish agencies, strives to expand and enhance the Jewish educational opportunities offered to both affiliated and non-affiliated Jews in Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties. Jewish LIFE, a Community Adult Education Program, is Supported By: Chabad of Greater Somerset County; Chabad Jewish Center of Southern Somerset County; Chabad of Hunterdon County; Flemington Jewish Community Center; Congregation Kehilat Shalom, Congregation Knesseth Israel; Temple Har Shalom, Warren; Jewish Family Service of Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties; Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties; Or Chadash, the Reform Temple of Hunterdon County; Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center, Bridgewater; Jewish Center of Northwest Jersey; Temple Beth- El, Hillsborough; Temple Beth El, Somerset; and Temple Sholom, Bridgewater. Program Guide 2013-14/5774 Registration Form Event Date Event Price Patron*/ Benefactor** Excludes: Melton School, Imagine, October 2013 - June 2014 Starts Sun.,October 6 $650 by Sept. 10 $700 after Sept. 10 $50 per student Sunday, September 29 Free to Community Katherine Rosman: If You Knew Suzy Rabbi Deborah Prinz: On the Chocolate Trail Wednesday, October 9 Free to Community Yossi Klein Halevi: Like Dreamers Thursday, October 10 $8/advance- $10/door Imagine Event : Jewish Federation Tuesday, October 15 $72 per person Fraidy Reiss: UN-Arrange a Marriage...RE- Arrange a Life Sunday, October 20 Free to Community Thursday, October 24 Martin Fletcher: Jacob’s Oath $8/advance- $10/door Rabbi Ron Isaacs: Do Animals Have Souls? Wednesday, October 30 Free to Community Dr. Joel M. Hoffman: And God Said Thursday, November 14 $8/advance- $10/door Sunday, November 17 $8/advance- $10/door Martin Russ Federman: Russ and Daughters Letty Cottin Pogrebin: How to be a Friend to a Friend Who’s Sick Wednesday, December 4 $18/advance- $22/door The Irma Horowitz Film Series: Falafel and Films Thursday, December 12 $10/advance- $15/door Dr. Robert Harris: “Jews and Christian Read Scripture” Thursday, January 30 $8/advance- $10/door Ryan Murray: Anti-Semitism in the 21st Century Thursday, February 27 $8/advance- $10/door A Taste of Jewish Spain Saturday, March 29 $18 per person A Night to Celebrate Israel Thursday, April 3 Price TBD The Irma Horowitz Film Series: Falafel and Films Thursday, April 10 $10/advance- $15/door Sunday, April 27 Yom Hashoah Observance Rabbi Dayle A. Friedman: That Our Hearts May Grow Wise: Cultivating Wisdom as We Age Wednesday, April 30 Name: _____________________________________________________________ Address: _____________________________________________________________ City: ________________________ State:___________ Zip:________________ Phone#: _____________________________________________________________ Email: _____________________________________________________________ VISA M/C $8/advance- $10/door *Patron: $180 includes 1 Ticket with Reserved Seating for each Event. **Benefactor: $360 includes 2 Tickets w/Reserved Seating for each Event. Patron/Benefactor excludes: Melton School, Imagine, Celebrate Israel, Teen Trip to Israel. AmEx Expiration Date: _____________________________________ Name on Credit Card: _____________________________________________________ Free to Community Please call JCC Executive Director Laura Friedman for details: (908) 725-6994 x213 Account #:_____________________________________________________ • [email protected] I/We wish to pay by credit card: Total $180/Person - $360/Couple Celebrate Israel, Teen Trip to Israel. Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning Register by calling 973.530.3519 iEngage Engaging Israel: Foundations for a New Relationship Qty Signature:_____________________________________________________ Please complete and return the registration form with payment to: Jewish LIFE 775 Talamini Road Bridgewater, NJ 08807 Make checks payable to: Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center course registration information If you are interested in registering for any class listed under Course Offerings, please contact the host locations directly, using the following guide. Code Organization Code Organization BES Temple Beth El Somerset 1489 Hamilton Street, Somerset 08873 (732) 873-2325 Fax: ( 732) 873-3892 Denomination: Conservative Rabbi Eli Garfinkel OCH Or Chadash 149 Foothill Road Flemington, NJ 08822 (908) 806-2122 Fax: (908) 806-2162 Denomination: Reform Rabbi Joseph M. Forman CKS Congregation Kehilat Shalom 253 Griggstown Road, Belle Mead 08503 (908) 359-0420 Fax: (908) 359-8848 Denomination: Reconstructionist Rabbi Susan Falk CKI Congregation Knesseth Israel 229 Mountain Avenue, Bound Brook, NJ (732) 469-0934 Fax: (732) 356-1325 Rabbi Jack Kramer CJC-BR Chabad Jewish Center of Greater Somerset County 3048 Valley Road, Basking Ridge 07920 (908) 604-8844 Fax: (908) 604-0771 Denomination: Independent Rabbi Mendy Herson CJC-H Chabad Jewish Center of Southern Somerset County 26 New Amwell Road, Hillsborough 08844 (908) 874-0444 Fax: (908) 450-3333 Denomination: Independent Rabbi Shmaya Krinsky CJC-HC Chabad of Hunterdon County 90 Beaver Avenue, Clinton 08809 (908) 238-9002 Fax: ( 908) 238-9006 Denomination: Independent Rabbi Eli Kornfeld FJCC Flemington Jewish Community Center 5 Sergeantsville Road, Flemington 08822 (908) 782-6410 Fax: (908) 806-7736 Denomination: Conservative Rabbi Evan Jaffe HS Temple Har Shalom 104 Mount Horeb Road, Warren 07059 (732) 356-8777 Fax: (732) 356-0580 Denomination: Reform Rabbi Randi Musnitsky Jewish LIFE Events and Films JCNWJ JFS Jewish Center of Northwest Jersey 115 Youmans Avenue, Washington 07882 (908) 689-0762 Denomination: Reform Rabbi Mary Zamore Jewish Family Service of Somerset, Hunterdon & Warren Counties 150-A West High Street, Somerville 08876 (908) 725-7799 Fax: (908) 725-0284 Executive Director: Jerry Starr JFED Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon & Warren Counties 775 Talamini Road, Bridgewater 08807 (908) 725-6994 Fax: (908) 725-9753 Executive Director: Diane Naar SSBJCC Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center 775 Talamini Road, Bridgewater 08807 (908) 725-6994 Fax: (908) 725-9753 Exec. Director: Laura Friedman TBE TS Temple Beth-El, Hillsborough 67 U.S. Hwy. 206, Hillsborough 08844 (908) 722-0674 Fax: (908) 429-1418 Denomination: Reform Rabbi Arnie Gluck Temple Sholom P.O. Box 6007, North Bridge Street Bridgewater 08807 (908) 722-1339 Fax: (908) 253-0878 Denomination: Conservative Rabbi Ron Isaacs 3 Jewish LIFE New Adult Education Program Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning A Journey of Jewish Self Discovery Tuesdays: 9:30 am – 11:30 am October 2013 - June 2014 (30 weeks) Hosted by the JCC Registration by September 10: $650 Registration after September 10: $700 Melton School curriculum was developed by a team of scholars at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Classes integrate Jewish history, law beliefs, practices, ideas and terminology through the study of texts from ancient to contemporary. In year one you will cover RHYTHMS & PURPOSE. In Rhythms you will focus on the ideas, beliefs and sources that shape Jewish Life and practice, including the daily, weekly, monthly, annual life –cycle observances and customs. We will address the questions of why do Jews believe what they do and what are the theological concepts that unfold in the Bible, Talmud and other sacred text, both ancient and contemporary. What We Study The Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning fosters and enriches Jewish cultural literacy through our Core Curriculum, Foundations of Jewish Family Living, and Scholars Curriculum for graduates. The Melton School Core Curriculum is a comprehensive, sequential series of text-based lessons, comprised of four courses. Each course focuses on at least one major area of Jewish learning, and forms a thread in a carefully woven fabric which integrates Jewish history, religion, ritual, language, ethics, philosophy, literature, theology and contemporary Jewish life. Year One THE PURPOSES OF JEWISH LIVING (30 Lessons) Why do Jews believe as they do? What are the big questions of life and how do Jewish thinkers answer these questions? This course explores both ancient and modern responses to many of the major issues of Jewish thought and theology. THE RHYTHMS OF JEWISH LIVING (30 Lessons) What’s the point of living Jewishly? What ideas, beliefs, and practices are involved? This course examines a wide variety of Jewish sources to discover the deeper meanings underlying Jewish holidays, lifecycle, observances and Jewish practice. Link for registration forms: http://www.jccmetrowest.org/meltonschool or call Rhonda Lillianthal: 973.530.3519 Give us two hours a week.... We’ll give you 5774 years! Jewish LIFE thanks JCC MetroWest for bringing The Melton School of Adult Learning to our community. A $300 program subsidy may be available through the Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties. Contact Diane Naar at 908-725-6994 x202. 4 Jewish LIFE Events and Films New Adult Education Program Engaging Israel Foundations for a New Relationship Instructor: Rabbi Arnie Gluck Sundays: 4:00-6:00 pm Dates: October 6, 27; November 17; January 5; February 2; March 2; April 6; May 4; June 8 Location: Temple Beth-El, Hillsborough Fee: $50 per student Instructor: Rabbi Joseph Forman Sundays: 9:00-10:15 am Dates: October 6; November 3; December 15; January 26; February 23; March 23; April 6; May 4 Location: Or Chadash, Flemington Fee: $50 per student The Engaging Israel project attempts to construct a new narrative and language…the new narrative must reshape both ENGAGING ISRAEL: FOUNDATIONS FOR A NEW RELATIONSHIP A Hartman Institute Lecture & Study Series, Led by Rabbi Arnie Gluck from Temple Beth-El, Hillsborough and Rabbi Joseph Forman from Or Chadash in Flemington. Through video lectures, text study, and lively group discussion, we are pleased to bring the world-renowned faculty of the Shalom Hartman Institute into the community this fall. Going deeper than the political issues of the day, Engaging Israel re-frames the discussion about the enduring significance of the State of Israel for contemporary Jews worldwide. Advocacy programs alone – based on dire facts and figures about the precariousness of Jewish survival – often fail to engender a substantive connection for an increasing number of Jews, who see Israel’s impressive military and economic vitality and are unconvinced that it is a weak country that desperately needs help from world Jewry. At the same time, the political, economic, and cultural success of North American Jewry has diminished the compelling nature of the post-Holocaust survival narrative. The Engaging Israel course elevates the North American conversation about Israel by rooting it in Jewish values and ideas rather than in a response to crisis. We will explore questions such as: What are the benefits of Jewish sovereignty? How should a Jewish state exercise military power ethically? How do we create and maintain a Jewish democracy? Why should American Jews care about Israel? What values should a Jewish state embody? What can Israel offer the world? In this way, Engaging Israel will equip participants with a quintessentially Jewish values-based vocabulary to define and articulate why Israel and Zionism can and should be fundamental to our Jewish identity. Each session includes text study and discussion led by Rabbis Gluck and Forman, a video lecture by Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman, and a video dialogue between Rabbi Hartman and other top scholars and experts. Join us for this wonderful opportunity to learn from great scholars, from our local Rabbis, and from one another as we engage in thinking about the meaning that Israel can have in our lives and what our role might be in envisioning and building the future of the Jewish State. Jewish LIFE Events and Films 5 Jewish LIFE September Torah & Coffee Instructor: Miriam Krinsky Tuesdays: 10:00-11:00 am Dates: September 3 Location: CJC-H Fee: Free, Donations are appreciated The class is designed to enrich your week and will dive into the ancient words of the Torah to discover insightful and contemporary lessons on how to direct the struggles of challenges in our lives into reservoirs of strength and inspiration. Please join us for a NEW thought provoking class in the company of a warm and welcoming group of Jewish woman. Coffee will be served. The Torah Portion: Lunch & Learn Instructor: Rabbi Eli Garfinkel Mondays: 12:00 pm Dates: Begins September 16 Location: BES The weekly Torah portion is a locked vault with treasures inside. Unfortunately, too many Jews have forgotten the combination. Rabbi Eli Garfinkel will teach you how to open the vault of the weekly portion and how to enjoy the wealth of learning contained therein. Although the focus of the class will be on translated primary sources, no Hebrew language ability is required for this class. The Book of Proverbs Instructor: Rabbi Eli Garfinkel Tuesdays: 8:00 - 9:00 pm Begins: September 24 Location: BES The Book of Proverbs, also known as Sefer Mishlei, is a part of the Bible that remains unexplored even for many knowledgeable Jews. Come learn about the history and wisdom of this remarkable source of Jewish heritage. special events Katherine Rosman If You Knew Suzy A Mother, A Daughter, A Reporter’s Notebook Sunday, September 29 at 10:30 am Hosted by Or Chadash Free to the Community (Books are available for purchase at Or Chadash) Faced with the loss of her mother, Suzy, to cancer at sixty, Wall Street Journal reporter Katherine Rosman longs to find answers to the questions that we all wrestle with after losing someone we love. So she does what she does best: she opens her notebook and starts investigating. Along the way, Rosman discovered another side to her mother— a woman whose life was intricately connected to a host of characters her daughter hardly knew. As she browsed through her mother’s address book, she embarks on a cross-country odyssey that would take her into the heart of some quirky, colorful communities. It was her guide as she tracked down total strangers hoping to learn more about her mother. She explores and develops a new insight & understanding of a woman she thought she couldn’t know better. Rosman learned to understand her mother as she never imagined she could. She blends humor, honesty and old-fashioned reporting as she struggles with the bittersweet reality that sometimes we can’t truly know someone until after she is gone. At once comforting, candid and very funny, If You Knew Suzy is a heartfelt memoir against which readers can consider themselves and the lives of all those they love. BNG Poolside BBQ! Tuesday, September 17 Hosted by JFED SHAW Location: Poolside at the JCC Fee: $35 in advance • $40 at the door Rain or Shine 6 Jewish LIFE Events and Films Jewish LIFE Is Possible Only With Your Support Patron: $180 includes 1 Ticket with Reserved Seating for each Event. Benefactor: $360 includes 2 Tickets with Reserved Seating for each Event. Please call JCC Executive Director Laura Friedman for details. (908) 725-6994 x213 • e-mail: [email protected] October films Jewish Film Series at Temple Beth-El, Hillsborough special events Rabbi Deborah Prinz On the Chocolate Trail A Delicious Adventure Connecting Jews, Religions, History, Travel, Rituals, & Recipes to the Magi of Cacao Wednesday, October 9 at 7:00 pm Hosted by Temple Har Shalom Free to the Community Come on a delightful journey through the religious history of chocolate. You may think twice next time you pick up that piece of chocolate, and consider that you are not only enjoying a sweet treat, but partaking in a part of Jewish history. Explore the surprising Jewish connections to chocolate in this historical and gastronomic adventure through cultures, countries, centuries and religions. Rabbi Deborah Prinz draws from her world travels on the trail of chocolate to enchant chocolate lovers of all backgrounds as she explores tales of Jews in the early chocolate trade, and shows how Jewish values infuse chocolate today. With mouth-watering recipes, a glossary of chocolaty terms, tips for buying luscious, ethically produced chocolate, a list of sweet chocolate museums around the world and more, this book unwraps many tasty facts. It will be an evening of fun & chocolate followed by a book signing. Rabbi Prinz was awarded the Starkoff Fellowship and a Director’s Fellowship from the American Jewish Archives as well as a Gilder Lehrman Fellowship from the Rockefeller Library to pursue this research. In 1991, she was named “Woman of the Year” by Brandeis University National Women’s Committee. Making Prayer Real: Why Prayer Is Difficult & What to Do About It Instructor: Sarah Gluck Sundays: 8:45-9:45 am Dates: October 6, 20, 27; November 3, 17, 24; December 8; January 12, 26; February 2, 9, 23; March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; April 27; May 4 Location: TBE Drawing inspiration from more than fifty Jewish spiritual leaders from all denominations in a candid conversation about the why and how of prayer in Rabbi Mike Comins’s book Making Prayer Real, we will explore the challenges of prayer, what it means to pray, and how to develop a personal prayer voice. Rather than theology or the history of Jewish liturgy, the Making Prayer Real Course focuses on the skills and techniques that can make prayer profound, powerful, and transformative. Sessions will include learning and discussion, video interviews with leading Jewish spiritual voices on the art of prayer, and an exploration of traditional and innovative prayer practices. Prerequisite: Curiosity and a desire to explore the riches of Jewish tradition and rewards of Jewish living. All are welcome to join the conversation! Jewish LIFE Events and Films “ROOM 514” Saturday, October 12 5:00 pm Running Time: 90 minutes With special guest Amy Kronish, followed by se’udah sh’lishit (the traditional third meal of Shabbat), havdalah, and the award-winning “ROOM 514” (Israel, 2012) Winner: Special jury award at New York ‘s Tribeca Film Festival Shot in a minimalist style, the film asks questions about startling contemporary issues facing young people serving in the Israeli army. Are there varying codes of morality? Is there a conflict between security needs and basic human values? How should we behave as an occupying power? According to filmmaker Sharon Bar-Ziv, “The viewer is introduced to the conflict between Israel’s acute security needs and the human moral values of a society which carries collective historical and emotional ties to its land. This relates to the intense drama within the Israeli army culture, in which young soldiers are forced to deal with situations in which personal and national responsibilities contradict.” Amy Kronish works as a consultant in the field of Jewish and Israeli film and curates film programs. Previously, she directed coexistence programs at the Jerusalem International YMCA and served for 15 years as the Curator of Jewish and Israeli Film at the Jerusalem Cinematheque. She lectures and writes widely on film and is the author of two books on Israeli film: World Cinema: Israel (1996) and Israeli Film — A Reference Guide (2003). Mondays with Rabbi Jaffe Instructor: Rabbi Evan Jaffe Mondays: 8:00 am Dates: Begins Monday, October 7 Location: FJCC Spend your Mondays in meaningful conversation with peers. Discussions will be focused on topics of interests to participants. 7 Jewish LIFE October special events Yossi Klein Halevi Like Dreamers The Story of the Israeli Paratroopers Who Reunited Jerusalem & Divided a Nation Thursday, October 10 at 7:00 pm Hosted by Temple Beth-El, Hillsborough Like Dreamers is the story of seven paratroopers from the 55th Brigade, who in 1967 restored Jewish sovereignty to Jerusalem. Halevi follows them over the years as their ideologies and beliefs play a pivotal role in shaping a country. Like Dreamers is a nuanced, in-depth look at these diverse men and the conflicting beliefs that have helped to define modern Israel and the Middle East. Yossi Klein Halevi is a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and a contributing editor of the New Republic. He is the Author of At the Entrance to the Garden of Eden: A Jew’s Search for God with Christian and Muslims in the Holy Land. Torah Studies special events Instructor: Rabbi Shmaya Krinsky Thursdays: 8:00 PM Begins: Thursday, October 3 Location: The Renaissance Community in Somerset Fee: $25 Torah Studies program brings you the tradition of classical Jewish learning in a series of clear and engaging weekly classes. Probing the ideas and issues presented in each week’s Torah portion, the Torah Studies classes offer timely, meaningful lessons for living – from the most timeless of all texts. Kup* O’ Joe Caffeinated Conversations... with Rabbi Forman Fee: $72 Be sure to join Women’s Philanthropy for their biggest event of the year, “Imagine 2013!” Featuring Duo Dmitri, winners of numerous international piano and flute competitions. They will tell their poignant and touching story of how they emigrated to Israel with the assistance of the Jewish Federation system, interwoven with their beautiful music. Please contact [email protected] or 908.725.6994 ext. 253. *Kup is Yiddush for Head/Mind Instructor: Rabbi Forman Sundays: 9:00 am Dates: Oct. 6, Nov. 3, Dec. 8, Jan. 5, Feb. 9, March 9, April 13, May 4 Location: OCH Join Rabbi Forman on selected Sunday mornings at 9am for a lively conversation on a wide variety of topics: US and Israel politics, theology, Jewish practice, sacred texts and more. Feel free to suggest a topic for a future gathering. Coffee and refreshments always served. No RSVP necessary. 8 This year we will be assisting two agencies helping severely disabled children: Aleh Negev & Assocation for Retarded Citizens. Adv. Intermediate Biblical Hebrew Instructor: Sarah Gluck Sundays: 10:00 - 11:00 am Date: Oct. 6, 20, 27; Nov. 3, 17, 24; Dec. 8; Jan. 12, 26; Feb. 2, 9, 23; March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; April 27; May 4 Location: TBE If you have worked in The First Hebrew Primer or completed a comparable course of study, this class will continue to guide you in reading, understanding, and translating passages from the Hebrew Bible through building vocabulary, roots, and grammar. Textbooks: The First Hebrew Primer and The First Hebrew Reader. Jewish LIFE Events and Films Jewish LIFE Is Possible Only With Your Support Patron: $180 includes 1 Ticket with Reserved Seating for each Event. Benefactor: $360 includes 2 Tickets with Reserved Seating for each Event. Please call JCC Executive Director Laura Friedman for details. (908) 725-6994 x213 • e-mail: [email protected] October Introduction to Judaism special events Fraidy Reiss Founder & Executive Director of Unchained at Last UN-Arrange a Marriage.....RE-Arrange a Life Sunday, October 20 10:30 am Hosted by Or Chadash Fraidy Reiss is the founder and Executive Director of Unchained At Last, the only organization in the US that is dedicated to helping women leave arranged and forced marriages and to preventing women from becoming trapped in such marriages. The organization she founded envisions a world where every woman is free to choose whether, when and whom to marry — and whether to leave a marriage. We encourage you to watch this powerful documentary preview, featuring Fraidy Reiss, The Hen That Crows. http://vimeo.com/m/58994463 Fraidy will share some personal and powerful experiences with us. There will be time for discussion and questions from our community. Fraidy currently resides in New Jersey. Instructors: Rabbi Arnie Gluck & Sarah Gluck Sundays: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm Dates: Oct. 6, 20, 27; Nov. 3, 17, 24; Jan. 5, 26; Feb. 2, 23; March 2, 9, 23; April 27; May 4 Location: TBE Fee: TBD (based upon the cost of the textbooks) Registration & book fee required. URJ Introduction to Judaism is a course offered in partnership with Reform congregations for anyone interested in exploring Judaism — singles, interfaith couples, those considering conversion, and Jews looking for adult-level basics. This class will introduce the fundamentals of Jewish thought and practice in 15 sessions. Topics include Jewish holidays and life cycle events, theology and prayer, Israel, history and Hebrew. There are many reasons why people choose to register for Introduction to Judaism. Whatever you are seeking, “Intro” offers you a time and place to broaden your Jewish awareness. It can launch you on a path to deeper personal Jewish connection, help you acquire a basic Jewish vocabulary, and offer you intellectual and experiential knowledge of Judaism as well as the skills necessary to “do Jewish.” Intro is designed to be a meaningful, educational experience for any person interested in knowing & understanding Judaism and Jewish life. Special note: The Hebrew component will focus on beginning Hebrew reading (textbook TBD) in the first semester, and an introduction to liturgical Hebrew in the second (textbook: Aleph Isn’t Enough). Please contact Sarah Gluck (908-722-0674 x113 or [email protected]) to discuss how the second hour of the Intro to Judaism class (12:00-1:00 PM) can help meet your Hebrew needs. For more information on Fraidy Reiss and Unchained At Last go to: http://www.unchainedatlast.org/about/management-team/ Life in the Balance: Jewish Perspectives on Everyday Medical Dilemmas Instructor: Rabbi Shmaya Krinsky Tuesdays: 7:30 pm Dates: October 29 - December 3 Location: CJC-H Fee: $99 Instructor: Rabbi Mendy Herson Mondays: 7:30 pm Dates: October 28 - December 2 Location: CJC-BR Fee: $99 Modern medicine has brought us near miracles. It’s also brought us some of the most difficult decisions we’ll ever have to face. Are we obliged to prolong life even at the cost of terrible suffering? Should we legalize the sale of organs, such as kidneys, to save the lives of transplant patients? May a woman with a multiple-fetus pregnancy opt for fetal reduction, thus forfeiting the lives of some to possibly save others? When it seems that every available option is morally questionable, how do we decide? Fortunately for us all, Torah and the Talmud are not silent about such matters. And this course will show you what they have to say. When it comes to the ethics of medicine, we’re going to get real — in the most dramatic possible way. We’ll discuss actual case studies, examining many possible viewpoints as we come to grips with the issue that matters most: What kind of action or inaction should we take? When should we take it? And when do we edge too close to playing G-d? More intriguing than any fictional TV show, this course will prepare you for choices that you or a loved one may be called upon to make. It is also a fascinating exposure to little-discussed aspects of Judaism. Jewish LIFE Events and Films 9 Patron: $180 includes 1 Ticket with Reserved Seating for each Event, Jewish LIFE Jewish LIFE Is Possible Only With Your Support Benefactor: $360 includes 2 Tickets with Reserved Seating for each Event, Please call JCC Executive Director Laura Friedman for details. (908) 725-6994 x213 • e-mail: [email protected] October Mishneh Torah: The Masterwork of Maimonides Instructor: Rabbi Arnie Gluck Tuesdays: Hebrew text study, 7:00-7:30 pm English text study & discussion, 7:30-8:30 pm Dates: October 8, 15, 22, 29; November 12, 19; December 3, 17 Location: TBE No presentation of Jewish tradition is clearer or more interesting than Maimonides’ code of Jewish law, the Mishneh Torah. Embedded within its lucid presentation is his bold and creative philosophy of Judaism, which has much to offer us in our quest for a compelling modern Judaism. Elementary Hebrew Reading Instructor(s): Robert Grant & Jessica Jentis Fridays: 9:30-10:30 am Sundays: 9:00-10:00 am Begins: October 11 Location: TS special events Return Engagement! Martin Fletcher Jacob’s Oath Thursday, October 24 at 7:00 pm Hosted by the JCC Jacob’s Oath is set in 1945 Germany. It is a story of love and revenge. World War II has just ended; and the Holocaust survivors begin their long walk home. Among them are Jacob and Sarah. They meet in Heidelberg, their home town and fall in love. But Jacob has sworn to take revenge on the concentration camp guard who beat his brother to death. He made this promise as his younger brother died in his arm. The guard nicknamed “The Rat” is also from Heidelberg. As Jacob waits for him to return home after the war he is torn. He must choose. Does he seek revenge for the past or live for the future? Does he choose love or hate? Martin Fletcher was NBC News’ Middle East correspondent and Tel Aviv Bureau chief for 32 years. He currently works for NBC as a Special Correspondent. He reports as needed from Israel. He is one of the world’s most respected television news correspondents. He has received 5 Emmys, a Columbia University DuPont Award, six Overseas Press Club awards, several Edward R. Murrow awards, a Hugo gold medal for a documentary on Israel which he shared with other NBC staffers, and a Nation Jewish Book Award. He has written four books to date. This course will teach students how to read Hebrew. (Please email Rabbi Isaacs at [email protected] and indicate which day you are interested in.) Pirke Avot: Judaism’s first self-help book Rediscovering Judaism: Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah Class Instructor: Rabbi Ron Isaacs Tuesdays: 10:50-11:50 am Date: Begins Tuesday, October 8 (5 sessions) Location: TS Instructor: Rabbi Ron Isaacs Sundays: 10:00-11:00 am Dates: Begins Sunday, October 20 (This is a two year long course.) Location: TS The Talmudic tractate known as Pirke Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) is a book of wisdom and ethical advice. According to the ancient rabbis, one who desires to be virtuous must fulfill the precepts of the book. Come study and learn to be virtuous. (This is a continuation of last’s year, beginning with chapter 3.) Temple Beth El, Somerset Film Class Topics in the first year will include: Synagogue Instructor: Rabbi Eli Garfinkel Geography, the Jewish calendar, the 613 Tuesdays: 8:00 - 9:00 pm Mitzvot, how Jewish law develops and is interpreted, and Jewish theology and G-d Date: Last Tuesday of the Month talk. For students continuing in year two of (Starting October 29) this course, Hebrew reading is a requirement. Location: BES The Temple Beth El Film Class is back by overwhelming popular demand! We’ll watch and discuss movies and documentaries that speak to the state of Jewish life in our day. Many of them are award-winning masterpieces. If you are not a member of Temple Beth El and would like to receive the movie schedule when it is available, please send an email to rabbigarfinkel1@ mac.com. 10 Jewish LIFE Events and Films Jewish LIFE October special events Isaacs Photo courtesy of the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum JCC Instructor: Rabbi Ron Isaacs Wednesday, October 30 • 1:00 pm Hosted by the JCC The Author Rabbi Ron Isaacs, Ed.D, is the rabbi of Temple Sholom in Bridgewater, New Jersey and co-director of its Hebrew High School. A former adjunct lecturer in the Graduate Rabbinical School of the Jewish Theological School, he is the author of more than one hundred books. Rabbi Ron Isaacs can be reached directly through his website at www.rabbiron.com. barcode A Pet–Lover’s Guide to Spirituality Are dogs mentioned in the bible? Is it permissible to hunt animals for sport? Can I bless my cat? Do animals have souls? Is there an afterlife for my pet? How do I grieve for my dog and what prayer can I say? From the mundane to the perplexing, Rabbi Ron Isaacs answers all your questions about animals and pets in a warm, wise, and witty manner. He brings his many years of personal experience as both a pet owner and a rabbi to create a family-friendly resource whose advice you will cherish and use repeatedly in your day-to-day lives. If you’ve ever wanted a guide to turn when you have an animal or pet question, Do Animals Have Souls will fill the bill beautifully. Do Animals Have Souls? Do Animals Have Souls? Cover Design by Oscar Rijo KTAV Rabbi Isaacs presentation will present Jewish views of animals, pet ownership, and interesting animal and pet questions that he has received and will answer, including: Can I say the Mourner’s Kaddish for my pet who has died; What’s a Bark Mitzvah; Is there a blessing for pets; Is there an afterlife for my dog; and is there such a thing as Kosher Pet Food? His newest book is Do Animals Have Souls? A Pet Lover’s Guide to Spirituality. November Judaism, Magic and Superstition special events Dr. Joel M. Hoffman And God Said How Translations Conceal the Bible’s Original Meaning Thursday, November 14 at 7:00 pm Hosted by the JCC For centuries, translations of the Bible have obscured our understanding and appreciation of the original text. Now And God Said provides readers with an authoritative account of significant mistranslations and shows how new translation methods can give readers their first glimpse into what the Bible really means. And God Said uncovers the often inaccurate or misleading English translations of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament that quotes from it. Acclaimed translator Dr. Joel M. Hoffman sheds light on the original intention of the text and the newly developed means that readers can use to get closer to it. In And God Said his fresh approach has united the topics of religion, language, and linguistics to offer the first modern understanding since the Bible was written. Acclaimed translator Dr. Joel M. Hoffman sheds light on the original intention of the text and the newly developed means that readers can use to get closer to it. In And God Said his fresh approach has united the topics of religion, language, and linguistics to offer the first modern understanding since the Bible was written. Dr. Joel M. Hoffman, an expert in translation, Hebrew, and the Bible, is known for his “fresh insights and interpretations about religious life in the 21st century.” A popular speaker, Dr. Hoffman presents to churches, synagogues, community groups, and university audiences across the world. He holds a Ph.D. in linguistics and has served on the faculties of Brandeis University and Hebrew Union College. Instructor: Rabbi Ron Isaacs Mondays: 7:30-8:45pm Begins: Monday Nov. 4 (3 sessions) Location: TS Is there such a thing as Jewish magic? Are Jewish exorcisms for real? What is the evil eye? Do Jews believe in evil spirits and demons? Come and learn why Tuesday is the most auspicious day for a Jewish wedding, why many people still say “pooh pooh pooh, why Jews don’t count people and much more Learn to Chant Torah Instructor: Cantor Natan Fetman Sundays: 10:00 am Begins: Sunday, November 3 Location: TS The chanting of Torah is a highlight of any prayer service. Come learn trope (musical notation) from Cantor Fetman. He will take you on a musical journey that will lead you to the skill of Torah reader. Dr. Hoffman is the chief translator for the popular 10-volume series, My People’s Prayer Book (winner of the National Jewish Book Award) He is the author of the critically acclaimed In the Beginning: A Short History of the Hebrew Language (NYU Press), and, most recently, And God Said: How Translations Conceal the Bible’s Original Meaning (Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Press), which explores how translation mistakes mask the original meaning of the Bible. Jewish LIFE Events and Films 11 Jewish LIFE November Ask the Rabbi special events Instructor: Rabbi Ron Isaacs Sundays: 11:00-12:00 pm Dates: Nov. 3; Nov. 17; Dec. 1 Location: TS Martin Russ Federman Russ & Daughters Reflections and Recipes from the House that Herring Built Years ago the Prophetess and Judge Deborah sat under her palm tree and fielded the questions of her people. She offered her advice and wisdom. Using this biblical model, come to the Library with your personal questions and ask the rabbi. (Emailing your questions in advance would be helpful: [email protected].) Sunday, November 17 at 10:30 am Hosted by Or Chadash The former owner/proprietor of the beloved appetizing store on Manhattan’s Lower East Side tells the delightful, mouth-watering story of an immigrant family’s journey from a pushcart in 1907 to “New York’s most hallowed shrine to the miracle of caviar, smoked salmon, ethereal herring, and silken chopped liver” (The New York Times Magazine). Jewish Views of Miracles Mark Russ Federman, grandson of founder Joel Russ, took over the running of Russ & Daughters from his parents in 1978 and turned it over to the fourth generation, his daughter Niki and nephew Josh, in 2009. He has appeared individually and on panels at The Smithsonian Institute, The Museum of the City of New York, The New York Public Library, and The Conference of the Food Writers and Food Journalists Association, among many other venues. He makes frequent guest appearances on radio and television. Mark and Russ & Daughters were most recently featured on the PBS documentary The Jews of New York, on Lidia Bastianich’s PBS series, Lidia Celebrates America, and on Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations. Russ & Daughters is filled with charming tales about how an ambitious hardworking family turned their passion for selling delectable fish into an institution with a devoted national clientele for almost 100 years. 12 Instructor: Rabbi Ron Isaacs Tuesdays: 10:50-11:50 am Begins: Nov 12 (5 sessions) Location: TS This class will explore the nature of the Jewish miracle and the miracle stories in the Jewish Bible and rabbinic literature. Divine Justice Instructor: Rabbi Eli Garfinkel Tuesdays: 8:00 - 9:00 pm Begins: November 12 Location: BES So why do bad things happen to good people? Why do good things happen to bad people? There are many answers to the question, and more than one can be true depending on the situation. In this class, we’ll tour the spectrum of possible approaches to this eternal question. Jewish LIFE Events and Films December films Jewish Film Series at Temple Beth-El, Hillsborough special events Letty Cottin Pogrebin How to Be a Friend to a Friend Who’s Sick Wednesday, December 4 at 12:00 Noon Program and Luncheon • Hosted by the JCC Co-sponsored by: Brandeis National Committee, Somerset Chapter; Jewish Family Service; Jewish Federation Women’s Philanthropy; Hadassah; Temple Beth-El, Hillsborough Sisterhood; Temple Beth El, Somerset Sisterhood; Temple Sholom Sisterhood. Everyone knows someone who’s sick or suffering. Yet when a friend or relative is under duress many of us feel uncertain about how to cope. Throughout her recent bout with breast cancer, Letty Cottin Pogrebin became fascinated by her friends’ and family’s diverse reactions to her and her illness: how awkwardly some of them behaved; how some misspoke or misinterpreted her needs; and how wonderful it was when people read her right. She began talking to her fellow patients and dozens of other veterans of serious illness, seeking to discover what sick people wished their friends knew about how best to comfort, help, and even simply talk to them. Now Pogrebin has distilled their collective stories and opinions into this wide-ranging compendium of pragmatic guidance and usable wisdom. Her advice is always infused with sensitivity, warmth, and humor. It is embedded in candid stories from her own and others’ journeys, and their sometimes imperfect interactions with well-meaning friends. How to Be a Friend to a Friend Who’s Sick is an invaluable guidebook for anyone hoping to rise to the challenges of this most important and demanding passage of friendship. Letty Cottin Pogrebin is an award-winning journalist, widely published opinion writer, acclaimed public speaker, admired political activist, and author of several nonfiction bestsellers including Growing Up Free, Getting Over Getting Older, and Deborah, Golda and Me. Her last book was a novel, Three Daughters. She resides in New York. “Sholem Aleichem: Laughing in the Darkness “ Saturday, December 14, 7:00 pm Location: TBE Running Time: 93 minutes Winner: The Lia Award, Jerusalem Film Festival, 2011 This is not only a story of Sholem Aleichem, it’s a story of a people, a place, a changing world, and a language. It is an invigorating and fascinating biographical documentary that should be required viewing for anyone with a love for the written word. The movie tells the tale of this genius who created with brilliant humor an entirely new literature. Sholem Aleichem was not just a witness to the creation of a new modern Jewish identity, but one of the very men who shaped it. Yiddish literature best describes this Jewish transformation, and nowhere was this more acutely true than in the stories of Sholem Aleichem Using rarely seen photographs and archival footage, and interviews with leading experts and the author’s own granddaughter, author Bel Kauffmann, the film brings to life Sholem Aleichem’s worldly and timeless stories. The Irma Horowitz Film Series Featuring Falafel & Films Israeli Short Films Presented by Ma’aleh School of Television Film and the Arts in Jerusalem Jewish Federation Super Sunday Sunday, December 8 9:30 am - 1:30 pm Food, Fun, Prizes VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! The Strength of a People, The Power of a Community Go to www.jfedshaw.org for more details. Thursday, December 12 at 6:30 PM Hosted by the JCC The Ma’aleh School “The Breakfast Parliament” Every morning, veteran members of Kibbutz Ein Tzurim get together in the empty dining room. Here their “parliament” reverently discusses the inner politics, gossip, and agricultural developments of the kibbutz, as well as the upcoming 60th anniversary celebrations. When the kibbutz votes to stop serving breakfast, the parliament members embark upon a struggle that will bring the kibbutz’s entire existence into question. “The Ranch” David is the owner of a ranch in a remote settlement that will soon be evacuated by the army. He has already experienced eviction from the Sinai in 1982, and this time he has decided to give in quietly. This causes a serious confrontation with his idealistic 17 year old son, Oriah, who is prepared to fight the eviction body and soul. Awards Include: First Prize, Festival of South California 2006, and First Prize for “Beginnings” festival, International Student Competition, St. Petersburg 2006 “The Rabbi’s Daughter” It is the story of three daughters of rabbis, directed by the daughter of a rabbi. The four women have chosen a different path to that of their parents, and now they face inner dilemma, communal censure and the sacrifices that have to be made. Awards include: Student’s Prize, Israeli Documentary FIlmmakers Forum, 2012 - Aliza Shagrir Prize, 2011. Special Pitching Award, “Kolnoa Darom” Sderot Israel 2011 & - The Israeli Documentary Filmakers Forum Prize 2012 This program is supported in part by the Irma Horowitz Endowment Fund. Jewish LIFE Events and Films 13 Jewish LIFE January special events films Jewish Film Series Dr. Robert Harris “Jews and Christian Read Scripture” “ABOUT FACE” Thursday, January 30 7:00 PM Hosted by the JCC Jews and Christians generally lived in close proximity to one another in the 12th century: there were no ghettos yet established, and they dressed alike and spoke the same languages in day to day life. But of course stark differences marked their interrelationships, as well! This session examines the commonalities as well as the differences between Jews and Christians in medieval biblical study; the relationships and mutual influences that rabbis and churchmen had on one another (particularly in northern France) and, in particular, the polemics through which they typically interacted. Dr. Robert Harris is associate professor of Bible at The Jewish Theological Seminary, teaching courses in biblical literature and commentary, particularly medieval Jewish biblical exegesis. He lectures on biblical narrative and Jewish liturgy in congregations & adult education institutes around the country. One of his most popular series is “Unfolding the Text: An Introduction to Jewish Medieval Bible Commentaries”. An expert in the history of medieval biblical exegesis, Dr. Harris’s dissertation was titled The Literary Hermeneutic of Rabbi Eliezer of Beaugency. In 2004, Dr. Harris published a book in the Brown Judaic Studies series, Discerning Parallelism: A Study in Northern French Medieval Jewish Biblical Exegesis. In addition, he has published many articles and reviews in both American and Israeli journals. He is has a BA in Ancient Studies from Columbia, and a BHL in Talmud from Jewish Theological Seminary. He also received an MA in Judaica, MPhil in Bible, rabbinical ordination, and a PhD from Jewish Theological Seminary. Trope Workshop Instructor: Cantor Emily Pincus Tuesdays: 7:00-8:30 pm Dates: January 7, 14, 21 and 28 Location: TBE This is a multi-level class for those who have studied trope before, as well as for those who are absolute beginners. Students will work chevruta-style according to ability, and different weekly assignments will be geared to different levels. Enthusiasm is important, vocal ability is not! Prerequisite: The ability to read Hebrew with vowels. Textbook: The Art of Torah Cantillation: A Step-by-Step Guide to Chanting Torah. 14 Moderator(s): Melanie Shapiro, Marianne Goldsmith Date: TBA Location: Bridgewater JCC Running Time: 97 minutes FREE to the Community What would you do if your family was driven from the only home you had ever known after being beaten, thrown in the streets and arrested without ever having committed a crime? What would you do if you had the chance to come back and face your enemy? Would you seek revenge, or, would you forgive? About Face tells a remarkable, yet previously untold story of thousands of young Jewish immigrants who fled Germany and Austria in the early days of Hitler’s regime, only to perform on “about face” returning to confront their oppressors on the field of battle as American GIs and British Tommies in WW2. These stories are ones of heartbreak, courage and ultimately, the triumph of the human spirit. Featured in the film is Karl Goldsmith, husband of Marianne Goldsmith of Bedminster & father of Melanie Shapiro of Bound Brook Alef-Bet: From the Beginning Instructor: Rabbi Eli Garfinkel Tuesdays: 8:00 - 9:00 pm Begins: January 7 Location: BES Have you been telling yourself that you are going to learn to read Hebrew? Do you need a refresher course? Come learn the building blocks of Jewish identity, the letters and vowels of the Hebrew alphabet. This class is intended for adult students. the Jewish Bible and rabbinic literature. Jewish LIFE Events and Films February Ryan Murray Anti-Semitism in the 21st Century: An Ongoing Threat Thursday, February 27 7:00 pm Hosted by the JCC Winter BNG! Thursday, February 6, 2014 7:30 pm Location: Somerset Adult Day Center Bridgewater, NJ Visit www.jfedshaw.org for more details. The Prayerbook in the Bible: The Book of Psalms Instructor: Rabbi Arnie Gluck Tuesdays: Hebrew text study, 7:00-7:30 pm English text study and discussion 7:30-8:30 pm Dates: February 4, 25; March 4, 11, 18, 25; April 8, 29 Location: TBE Unique among the books of the Bible, Psalms is a text not for study, but for spiritual and ritual expression. Psalms enables people to pour out their hearts in prayers and conversation with God. We will explore the essence of this book, its core ideas, and why it has acquired its unique status in Jewish life. To Be a Jew in the Free World: The Struggle for Identity in Modern Times Instructor: Rabbi Shmaya Krinsky Tuesdays: 7:30 pm Dates: Feb. 4th - March 11 Location: CJC-H Fee: $99 special events Instructor: Rabbi Mendy Herson Thursdays: 7:30 pm Dates: Feb. 6th - March 13th Location: CJC-BR Fee: $99 It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. One side of the coin promised security, acceptance, and affluence with the escape from anti-Semitism and discrimination; while the other threatened assimilation, confusion of loyalties, and the possibility of disappearing as a nation. In To Be a Jew in the Free World, we examine the personal and religious struggles that individuals and communities confronted as they faced the challenges of changing times: stories that provoke debate and shed insight into what it means to live as a Jew today. Jewish LIFE Events and Films Ryan Murray of Watchung Hills Regional High School will highlight some of the key issues and events concerning the ongoing problem of anti-Semitism, both locally and internationally. Many of these stories receive limited media attention and yet it is only through recognition and education that we can effectively counter the threat of antiSemitism in the 21st century. Ryan Murray teaches an elective course titled Holocaust & Genocide at Watchung Hills Regional High School in Warren NJ. Since Mr. Murray took over the course in 2010 it has expanded from fourteen students to nearly two hundred students. There is also an honors course which provides students with the opportunity to receive college credit in conjunction with Kean Universities ID 1800 course, “Holocaust, Genocide, and Modern Humanities.” Mr. Murray has worked on numerous school wide programs to help foster genocide awareness, such as bringing honors students to the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. In November of 2011, Mr. Murray sponsored a month long program at the high school aimed at genocide awareness and social action. The program included a traveling museum display honoring up standers during the Holocaust and concluded with a school wide assemble presented by Rwandan Genocide survivor and activist Jacqueline Murekatete, raising over three thousand dollars for Jacqueline’s community center in Rwanda. In April 2012, Mr. Murray was awarded the Jack Zaifman Humanitarian Award for his work in Holocaust education. This past year Mr. Murray’s students partook in the One Million Bones initiative to help end genocide and Mr. Murray was a key speaker at Kean University’s panel discussion regarding the New Jersey mandate on Holocaust education alongside former Governor Kean and Executive Director of the NJ Commission on Holocaust Education, Dr. Paul Winkler. PJ LIBRARY IS A NATIONAL BOOK PROGRAM implemented on a local level. It is a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, and it is made possible through partnerships with philanthropists and local Jewish organizations throughout North America. PJ Library mails free, high-quality Jewish children’s books and music to families across the continent on a monthly basis. Today, more than 70,000 families in more than 135 communities in the United States and Canada are able to explore the timeless core values of Judaism through the art and literature of these free children’s books. All families raising Jewish children from age six months through five, six, seven or eight years, depending on the community, are welcome to enroll. Contact Stacey Herman for more information at [email protected]. 15 Jewish LIFE March films special events A Taste of Jewish Spain Master guitarist, singer, and storyteller Gerard Edery will be our special guest. Saturday, March 29 at 6:00 pm Hosted by Temple Beth-El, Hillsborough Fee: $18 Join us for this “Taste” of Jewish life event, when we will enjoy the rich cultural and culinary traditions of Jewish Spain. Jewish Stories Instructor: Rabbi Eli Garfinkel Tuesdays: 8:00 - 9:00 pm Begins: March 18 Location: BES Jewish Film Series Temple Beth-El, Hillsborough “Turn Left at the End of the World Saturday” March 8 at 7:00 pm Location: TBE Running Time: 110 Minutes Doors will be open at 6:30 pm for hors d’oeuvres and schmoozing. Two wins and six nominations by the Israeli film academy, 2004 In Avi Nesher’s warm and humorous film, very British Indian Jews who immigrated to Israel seeking a better life are resettled in a town near the desert, and must learn to cope with their Moroccan Jewish neighbors, with their differences in language, customs, and attitudes. The film explores the hardships and surprises that come with the integration of multiple families with different ethnic backgrounds and their struggle with immigration and prejudice. The film is about the clash of the mild-mannered Indians with the outgoing and overzealous Moroccan immigrants, and how it affects the lives of two teenage girls who form a deep bond with each other. Stories and the Jews go together like peanut butter and jelly. Rabbi Garfinkel will teach this class about Jewish stories written by authors such as Sholom Aleichem, S.Y. Agnon, Saul Bellow, and others. We’ll use the book Great Jewish Short Stories, edited by Saul Bellow. Jewish LIFE Is Possible Only With Your Support 16 Patron: $180 includes 1 Ticket with Reserved Seating for each Event, Benefactor: $360 includes 2 Tickets with Reserved Seating for each Event, Please call JCC Executive Director Laura Friedman for details. (908) 725-6994 x213 • e-mail: [email protected] Jewish LIFE Events and Films Jewish LIFE The Jewish LIFE Festival of Books & Culture is made possible in part by a grant from the Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon & Warren Counties. The JCC thanks the Jewish Book Council for making this program possible. April The Irma Horowitz Film Series Featuring Falafel & Films A NightOurto Celebrate Israel Community’s Support of Israel and Bond Event Israeli Short Films Presented by Ma’aleh School of Television Film and the Arts in Jerusalem Thursday, April 10 6:30 pm Hosted by the JCC “First Night” Thursday, April 3, 2014 Raritan Valley Country Club Bridgewater, New Jersey The Ma’aleh School 20 year old Emunah, an orthodox bride, accompanies her new husband to their new home on the night of the wedding. Emunah awaits the wedding night with hesitations and expectations. To her disappointment, the first night unfolds completely differently to how she has imagined. Lack of experience, embarrassment and the gap between imagination and reality, all cast their shadow on the wedding night and on the following days. Can this young marriage survive its first week? Awards: First Prize, Festival of Religion, Trento, Italy 2006 More details to come! special events Community-Wide Yom HaShoah Program Sunday, April 27 • 7:00 pm Temple Sholom Free to the Community Program details to come. “New Year’s Resolution” On the eve of the Rosh HaShana festival, a 38-year-old single woman announces to her orthodox family that she plans to have a child by artificial insemination. The family members react with shock and disbelief and the woman finds herself wavering in her resolve to carry out her New Year’s resolution. “I’m Ready” The special relationship between an elderly father and his Down syndrome son breaks down when the father’s memory begins to fail due to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. The collapse of their stable and happy routine forces upon the two a painful resolution of their problems. Awards: First Prize, Jewish Film Festival, Athens Georgia USA 2011 “Alone” A rare glimpse into the lives of three divorced Ultra-Orthodox women, who tell about their daily hardships, fears, and diminished status in the eyes of the community. Above all, their dearest wish is to marry again. Award: Best Documentary, Jewish Film Festival Jerusalem Cinemateque 2012 This program is supported in part by the Irma Horowitz Endowment Fund. Jewish LIFE Events and Films 17 Jewish LIFE April special events Rabbi Dayle A. Friedman That Our Hearts May Grow Wise: Cultivating Wisdom as We Age Sunday, April 30 at 12 Noon Location: Wilf Campus Sponsored by Wilf Campus and JFS We suggest aging is the “final exam” of our spiritual life. We investigate the possibilities within Jewish life’s spiritual curriculum for acquiring the character traits (middot), spiritual tools and perspective to ready ourselves for the challenges we will inevitably face. Lecture and discussion. Rabbi Dayle A. Friedman, MSW, MAJCS, BCC, is a spiritual guide, social innovator, chaplain, and scholar. She has pioneered the development of a Jewish spiritual vision for aging, healing and spiritual care. She wrote Jewish Visions for Aging: A Professional Guide to Fostering Wholeness (Jewish Lights, 2008) and edited Jewish Pastoral Care: A Practical Handbook from Traditional and Contemporary Sources (Jewish Lights, 2nd edition, 2011). She founded and directed Hiddur: The Center for Aging and Judaism of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. Rabbi Friedman offers training, consulting and spiritual guidance through Growing Older, her Philadelphia-based practice, www.growingolder.co. She is currently working on her next book, Provisions for the Journey: Jewish Wisdom for Growing Older. films Jewish Film Series Temple Beth-El, Hillsborough “Nora’s Will “ Wednesday, April 23 7:00 pm Location: TBE Running Time: 92 Minutes Winner: 7 Mexican Ariel Awards, including Best Picture, 2010 It’s always a pleasant surprise to discover a film you know nothing about and find that it transports you in ways you never expected. So it is with “Nora’s Will,” a film that never telegraphs its surprises, and offers both low-key and broader comedy, even as it finds its way to the heart. This tale, set in Mexico, of a man’s fight against his dead ex-wife’s final wishes, is wryly comic. Set in a world which takes deft pokes at the occasional rigidity of organized religion, Jose discovers that his exwife has left behind meticulously laid plans for a Passover seder and, inadvertently, a mysterious photo that may unlock a longtime secret. A Joyful Introduction to Talmud Instructor: Rabbi Eli Garfinkel Tuesdays: 8:00 - 9:00 pm Begins: April 29 Location: BES Among those who have never experienced Talmud study, the very word Talmud conjures images of old men in black coats swaying as they talk about seemingly irrelevant details of Jewish law. Come to this class and discover for yourself that learning Talmud can not only be enriching but enjoyable as well! No prior experience with Talmud or Hebrew is required. 18 Jewish LIFE Events and Films Jewish LIFE The Jewish LIFE Festival of Books & Culture is made possible in part by a grant from the Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon & Warren Counties. The JCC thanks the Jewish Book Council for making this program possible. May Realizing Your Potential: Transformational Life Teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Instructor: Rabbi Shmaya Krinsky Tuesdays: 7:30pm Date: May 13th - June 24th Location: CJC-H Fee: $99 Instructor: Rabbi Mendy Herson Mondays: 7:30pm Date: May 12th - June 16th Location: CJC-BR Fee: $99 Who am I? Why am I here? How do I achieve my purpose in life? This brand-new course offers unique perspective on life’s biggest questions—an outlook responsible for reviving Jewish life from the ashes of the holocaust, and a vision that has empowered so many to realize their inherent goodness and to discover the same within others. Realizing Your Potential is about reaching for the purpose of existence, by actualizing the powerful latent opportunity that exists within each individual and by utilizing singular deeds to incrementally achieves the impossible. Join us on a fascinating journey as we encounter the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s unique philosophy and outlook on life that touched so many lives and shaped Chabad into what it is today. June films Celebrate Israel Parade Jewish Film Series Temple Beth-El, Hillsborough Sunday, June 1 Fifth Ave • New York City “THE SECRETS” Saturday. May 3 7:00 pm Location: TBE Running Time: 127 Minutes Two brilliant young women discover their own voices in a repressive Orthodox culture where females are forbidden to sing, let alone speak out. Naomi convinces her father to postpone her marriage for a year so that she might study at a seminary for women in the ancient Kabbalistic seat of Tzfat. Naomi’s quest for individuality takes a defiant turn when she befriends Michelle, a free-spirited and equally headstrong fellow student. This is a film about religious and sexual intolerance, about reconciling opposing beliefs, about matching the fervor of feminism against religious patriarchy, and, in some ways, is even a social comedy. It contains an object lesson for the whole genre involving romance and the battle of the generations. The performances by the three leading actresses are particularly compelling. Jewish LIFE Events and Films Jewish LIFE Is Possible Only With Your Support: Patron: $180 includes 1 Ticket with Reserved Seating for each Event Benefactor: $360 includes 2 Tickets with Reserved Seating for each Event Please call JCC Executive Director Laura Friedman for details. (908) 725-6994 x213 • e-mail: [email protected] 19 Summer 2014 Teen Trip to Israel www.jccmaccabiisrael.org Experience Israel with friends from your community. This unique life changing experience includes a comprehensive tour throughout Israel with leadership seminars, social action (Tikken Olam) activities and more. The 2014 Israel summer adventure includes visiting and exploring Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, climbing Masada, floating in the Dead Sea, hiking, camel trekking and a traditional Bedouin meal, hanging with Israeli teens, getting to know about everyday life in the Jewish State, and much, much more! More information to come! Jewish LIFE 775 Talamini Road Bridgewater, NJ 08807