July August 2007 Issue - Freehold Jewish Center
Transcription
July August 2007 Issue - Freehold Jewish Center
CHAI TIMES Congregation Agudath Achim 59 Broad Street Freehold, NJ 07728 732-462-0254 Rabbi Kenneth Greene Cantor David Amar OFFICERS President: Marcy Cortez 1st Vice President: Larry Edelstein 2nd Vice President: Jeffrey Wolf 3rd Vice President: Richard Greer Treasurer: Jeffrey Shapiro Corres. Sec’y: June Winkler Financial Sec’y: Gabriel Gurman Rec. Sec’y: Miriam Kapelushnik Exec. Director: Marvin Krakower TRUSTEES Sandy Altman Ross Basen Michelle Chesny Lewis Goldstein Debbie Gross Barry Hochberg Irv Kaplan Steve Kaplan Rob Kash Jeffrey Kneler Abby Kramsky Avi Labkovski Michele Moserowitz Lauren Nadler Wendy Sherman ACTIVE PAST PRESIDENTS Lou Barth, MD Jerry Einhorn Jack Feinstein Bernard N. Hochberg Jerome T. Kurman Rachelle Lederman Laurence B. Lubber David Metz Charles Miller Linda Perchuk Robert Rosin Volume 5, Issue 5 July 2007- August 2007 Tamuz - Av 5767 From the Rabbi's Desk... Dear Congregants and Friends, Thank you for all your support during my recent hospitalization; however, rather than focus on the months past, I would like to turn our attention this summer to something for the future. Many, I assume, have read or seen material dealing with global warming. As a nation, and as a faith community, I believe it is time we put this on our spiritual agenda. While the Christian community has been focusing on “stewardship” – humanity’s role vis a vis planet earth – for some time, it is a newer topic for many in Jewish circles. To help us begin to put the topic in a spiritual perspective, I would like to share in brief some questions that come from an Environmental Attitude survey jointly sponsored by the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, and Greenfaith, New Jersey’s interfaith environmental coalition. Its purpose will be to help us as individuals and as a congregation to begin to quantify our awareness and concern for environmental issues. Please measure your responses as follows: 1 Strongly Agree 2 Agree 3 Neither Agree Nor Disagree 4 Disagree 5 Strongly Disagree 1. Earth’s resources are finite and we should conserve them as much as possible. 2. People should buy products that are produced in an environmentally friendly manner. 3. It is our responsibility to leave the earth in better shape than we found it. 4. Nature is resilient and has the ability to cleanse itself. 5. People can take an active part in controlling the amount of resources used and the amount of waste products that are produced. 6. The Jewish tradition espouses that people should act as “stewards of creation.” 7. Following Jewish tradition we believe that G-d has granted us use of the earth, but G-d has absolute ownership. 8. Ultimately all life belongs to G-d, who sustains us and other creatures of the earth. 9. Caring for creation (advocating against pollution, waste, and energy standards) is a matter of social justice (Tikkum Olam). 10. Energy conservation in the United States can affect relationships in the Middle East. At home, we can begin to be more environmentally conscious by greater use of fluorescent or energy-saving light bulbs, driving habits, recycling bottles, cans, and paper products, considering Energy Star appliances. In the synagogue, we will begin to incorporate a variety of efforts to put us on the road to becoming a “greener” synagogue. Have a pleasant summer! Rabbi Kenneth Greene 2 Freehold Jewish Center Calendar July 2007 6 Friday Evening Service in Chapel 7:00 PM 7 Saturday Morning Service – Portion Pinchas 9:00 AM 13 Friday Evening Service in Chapel 7:00 PM 14 Saturday Morning Service – Portion Matot/Masei 9:00 AM 20 Friday Evening Service in Chapel 7:00 PM 21 Saturday Morning Service – Shabbat Chazon Portion Devarim 9:00 AM 23 Erev Tisha B’ Av 8:00 PM 24 Tisha B’ Av 7:15 PM 27 Friday Evening Service in Chapel 7:00 PM 28 Saturday Morning Service - Shabbat Nachamu Portion Va’etchanan 9:00 AM August 2007 3 Friday Evening Service in Chapel 7:00 PM 4 Saturday Morning Service – Portion Eikev 9:00 AM 10 Friday Evening Service in Chapel 7:00 PM 11 Saturday Morning Service – Portion Re’eh 9:00 AM 17 Friday Evening Service in Chapel 7:00 PM 18 Saturday Morning Service – Portion Shoftim 9:00 AM 24 Friday Evening Service in Chapel 7:00 PM 25 Saturday Morning Service – Portion Ki Seitzei 9:00 AM 31 Friday Evening Service in Chapel 7:00 PM September 2007 1 Saturday Morning Service – Portion Ki Savo 9:00 AM 3 Chai Times From the Desk of the President... As my first year of service as the President of Freehold Jewish Center draws to a close, I wanted to take a moment to recognize a few of the events, activities and individuals who contributed to making it such a fulfilling experience. First and foremost, my family and I join with the entire congregation in welcoming back Rabbi Greene from his recent medical problems. We are delighted to see the color return to his cheeks and the bounce to his step as he slowly resumes his schedule. May he only enjoy the best of health in the future. During the Rabbi’s absence, our shul continued to operate full steam ahead thanks to the diligent efforts of both Cantor Amar and Marvin Krakower who both stepped up and did an outstanding job. Without the additional support and contributions of the many volunteers from office support to morning minyons to Shabbat and Yom Tov services to the Family of the Year celebration, life would have been much more difficult. Thank you one and all. In early June, we recognized Sara and Larry Edelstein as well as their children Jesse, Amanda and Sabrina as the 2007 FJC Family of the Year. The Edelsteins contributions to our shul are numerous and thanks to the hard-working committee headed by Ross Basen, not only did we celebrate their years of service, but produced a successful fund-raising effort via the ad journal. The dinner in their honor was a wonderful event, with delicious food, musical entertainment and a lovely time was had by all who attended. Over the course of the past year, we have expanded the contributions of our teenage members by encouraging their participation in Shabbat services. Thanks to the efforts of Cantor Amar, many post-bat mitzvah girls have led Friday night services with an even larger number of post-bar mitzvah boys participating in Saturday morning services. Young people are the future of any shul and I strongly encourage the most recent class of Hebrew school graduates to continue the tradition. Our Hebrew school continues to flourish and this year we confirmed three young men-Josh Bleznick, Justin Kaabe and Jonathan Wolf during Shavuot services. Mazel tov on a job well done. Our calendar was brimming with events including a Post Thanksgiving Shabbat Dinner, Chanukah Party, Purim gala celebration, Comedy night for the adults and the annual Shabbat Across America dinner, to name a few. Both Sisterhood and FHSA hosted their share of events and all arms of the shul combined to host the Purim gala that was enjoyed tremendously by all who attended. If you weren’t able to join us for some of these events in the past, please make sure to check out our terrific new website (freeholdjc.org) for a constantly updated calendar of events as well as synagogue services and even the correct time to light your Shabbat candles. Jeff Wolf and his committee did an outstanding job, so please take a moment to check it out at: freeholdjc.org. Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank the outstanding Executive Committee and Board of Trustees for the 2006/2007 term. Larry Edelstein, Jeff Wolf, Ricky Greer, Jeff Shapiro, Larry Lubber, Rachelle Lederman and Miriam Kapelushnik, Ross Basen, Lew Goldstein, Debbie Gross, Gabe Gurman, Barry Hochberg, Irv Kaplan, Steve Kaplan, Jeff Kneler, Abby Kramsky, Lauren Nadler, Linda Perchuk, Wendy Sherman, June Winkler and Wendy Zucker. To those of you who will not be returning in the fall, just remember that we still know your phone number. Larry Lubber and Rachelle Lederman, a special thanks to both of you for your many outstanding years of service, we will miss your wisdom at our meetings. Congratulations and best of luck to the new board who will take office effective July 1, 2007. Join us for services soon and have the opportunity to speak with the various board members during our more informal summer services, Friday evenings at 7 pm and Shabbat mornings at 9 am. I look forward to davening with you soon. Best wishes for a safe and happy summer. Shalom. Marcy Cortez, President 4 Chai Times From the Desk of Cantor Amar… Dear Family & Friends, Every Jew is a letter in G-d's scroll. Our sages tell us that if a single Jewish soul had been absent from Sinai, the Torah could not have been given to us. The people of Israel While you are reading these words, I will have just returned from The Land Of Israel. This past month and a half I had the privilege, and honor to serve you not just as your Cantor, but also as your temporary spiritual leader. comprise a single, interdependent entity; the lack or deformity of a single Jewish soul, G-d forbid, would spell a lack or deformity in us all. But equally important is the inviolable "white space" which distinguishes each and every one of us as a unique individual. It was nice to feel the warmth and the Often, a strong sense of community and togetherness in our shul, while the Rabbi communal mission obscures the differences was away, and that is why I wanted to between its members, blurring them to a share with you a few words. faceless mass. Says the Torah: true, my A Torah scroll contains 304,805 letters, hundreds of thousands of letters spell a each handwritten in black ink on parchment single integral message. But this message is by a highly trained scribe. If a single letter comprised of hundreds of thousands of is missing or deformed, the entire scroll is voices, each articulating it in its own unfit for use. particular manner and medium. To detract Another important law regarding the Torah from the individuality and uniqueness of scroll is that each of its letters must be one is to detract from the integrity of the ringed by a blank strip of parchment. collective whole. Should a letter touch its fellow even by a hair, thereby violating the "white space" Let me finish by wishing a speedy recovery between them, again, the entire scroll is to our Rabbi, as well as saying thank you to disqualified from use until the error is all of you that helped in my absence. corrected. Toda & Shalom, Cantor David Amar 5 Chai Times From the Principal… Dear Parents, It is hard to believe that another school year has come to a close; and there was certainly lots going on before we celebrated at our Torah School awards evening. Kitah Bet did a fantastic job at their Friday night service. Mrs. Baer and the Cantor practiced with the class to prepare them for the service, and we gave each student their own siddur at the end of the service. The Cantor and Mrs. Sochet prepared the Daled class, and they should be very proud of how wonderful they did that night. We ended our school year with our Hebrew School Awards Evening. Our Alef through Daled classes were honored at the event. Our students worked very hard all year long, and thanks to so many people, our school year went along smoothly. Our teachers, along with Rabbi and Cantor, helped our students explore G-d, Judaism, laws, customs, Hebrew liturgy at each grade level, thus giving our students an opportunity to connect with their Jewish heritage. Our Board of Education members, under the charge of Debbie Gross, are always at the ready to lend a hand. The FHSA, our parents group, have been available all through the year and have made for a smoother journey throughout the year. We really appreciate all that Wendy Sherman, Susan Masin, Roni Pluskalowski, and all the parents have done. A special thanks goes to our aides – Ilana Cortez, Matt Kaplan, Eric Lederman, Jeremy Gross, and Drew Lubber. Last was our Hey Graduation. The students were wonderful and Mrs. Bero gave them an excellent year. Congratulations to our graduates: Alex Fligel Shelly Grinshpun Harris Kittner Stephen Laufer Ian Levinson Michael Meltzer Ari Morgenstern Daniel Nathanson Michelle Raff Andrew Saul I want to wish all of our Hebrew School families much luck and success in the coming year, and I hope you have a safe and happy summer. Sincerely, Marvin Krakower IF YOU ARE SICK, PLEASE LET US KNOW If you are sick, whether at home or in the hospital; if a loved one or another member of the congregation is sick and hospitalized, please notify the Synagogue office. In theory, we are notified by volunteers at CentraState Hospital regarding Jewish patients as they are admitted. In practice, this notification is sporadic and not fully reliable. We therefore rely on and request your help in letting us know whenever you or other members or family are in the hospital. We do not receive even occasional notification from any other hospitals in the area. We thus rely totally on our own membership to keep us informed about the well-being of other members. Please do whatever you can to help so that our members will receive a visit and contact from the Synagogue at those important and difficult times when they are ill. Thanks for your help! Rabbi Greene Marvin Krakower 6 Chai Times What’s Happening In Israel… f Exciting news! King Herod’s tomb was found in the Judean Desert in Herodium. King Herod was a very famous builder who built the wall around ancient Jerusalem. He also built the towns of Caesarea, Jericho and the fortress of Massada as well as other locations. He became the ruler of the Holy Land under the Romans around 40 BC. Archeologist found pieces of a limestone sarcophagus that was said to belong to the ancient king. The site where the fragments were found was destroyed during a Jewish revolt against the Romans in AD 66-72. It was destroyed in AD 71 a year after they destroyed the Second Temple. Archeologist Ehud Netzer has conducted archeological digs at Herodium since 1972. Outsiders have provided aid for the people of Gaza and yet they seem to be bent on continuing their terrorist activities. Though aid was supposed to be withheld from Gaza because of the Hamas government take over recent reports state that U.S. and European aid has actually increased. It is also reported that 31 tons of explosives have been shipped into Gaza during this time. Though there is a cease fire Kassam rockets continue to be fired, one killing a woman in the town of Sederot. Hamas and Fatah are on the verge of a civil war, fighting each other. Many civilians have died, however this has not made big headlines by the news media as the victims were killed by Arabs and not Israeli’s. The terrorist know that they want the destruction of Israel and will continue fighting to try to attain this goal. Some people feel military action is necessary. The Lebanon War made people feel the IDF can be defeated by terror organizations. The IDF has hopefully learned many lessons from the war and have corrected them. Israel needs to show the terrorist that the IDF is a competent organization. Everyday the terrorist in Gaza are building up and improving their defense. Many feel waiting will only make them stronger. Or else, we can just wait as it seems as if they are in the process of killing each other. I would like to thank Marcy Cortez, Amanda and Lisa Cortez, Miriam Kapelusnik, Rochelle and Steve Lederman, Eric Lederman and Cantor Amar and family for helping out at the synagogue’s table on Monmouth Walks for Israel Day sponsored by Federation. Your help was greatly appreciated. Lastly the Israeli committee would like to welcome Rabbi Greene back. You were missed by all. Have a great and healthy summer. Linda Perchuk 7 Chai Times Words from Membership... Summer is a time to kick back, relax, enjoy nature, and slow down the tempo of our lives. It’s also a great time to think about ways to increase the membership of our Shul. The summer schedule offers new opportunities to attend services with friends who may be interested in joining. Pick a balmy Friday night or a sunny Shabbat Saturday morning and introduce a new family to the Freehold Jewish Center. What better way to perform a summertime mitzvah than to contribute to the growth and sustenance of our Synagogue? The membership committee has been at work concentrating on advertising as a method to increasing the number of congregants. If, as you are sipping your iced tea or returning that tennis ball, you have an idea about advertising please call any committee member. Please inform the office if you plan on bringing in prospective members this summer so a scrumptious seasonal Oneg can be provided. Enjoy the summer, spend some time helping our synagogue family grow, and don’t forget the sunscreen! Ricky Greer Lew Goldstein was honored as the recipient of the first annual Freehold Jewish Center Service Award. The following is extracted from his thank you address. Being honored this evening, and my sincere thanks for that, is the result of my repaying a debt. Just over 17 years ago, tragedy struck my entire family resulting from a fire in our residence. That left me with my wife in St Barnabas Burn Center, 3 kids, and a 91 year old Dad, no home, little clothes and no food, and my middle son's Bar Mitzvah only 5 days away. The morning of the fire I had returned a Sefer Torah to the Synagogue after bringing it from Brooklyn. Help came from people like you via blood donations, clothing, food, shopping with the kids, tending the kids, help in getting permanent housing and an endless other things from many families. We survived as a result of this tremendous support from individual people representing the Synagogue community. As I said, I’m repaying a debt. Our continued thanks to individuals and to the Synagogue community. Sisterhood Happenings... This year, the Sisterhood of Freehold Jewish Center has been behind the scenes. We’ve helped where we are needed the most. We don’t look for recognitions or a thank you. As long as we were able to assist, we were content. We took a step back from a large fund raiser this year. Sometimes our events are overwhelming for just a handful of ladies to work. This coming year is going to be different. Many of our members have commented on their willingness to work an event. Well ladies, I’m holding you to it! Presently we are discussing a New Years Eve celebration. We’re going to party and everyone is invited to attend. Mark your calendars…2008 will be celebrated at FJC. Can you think of a better way to start the New Year off? Sure we can put the Synagogue on a back burner and attend only at holiday time that’s what so many of us do right? Well, this year is going to be different! Look the Synagogue’s way for your social activities. Have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you! Yes, Sisterhood has room for new members and so does our Shul. Just call the office and leave a message for me and I will be glad to speak with you. We are completing our cookbook! The committee is putting the final touches on it. If you forgot to send your recipe in, it’s okay. Just stop by the office and pick up a form. We can still add yours in. It’s been a wonderful experience to be the founder and the president for the past four years of our Sisterhood. With a full time job, family and a Sisterhood to run it’s been at times overwhelming and I want to thank June Winkler for stepping in and helping as co-president. Everyone’s input and help has been the backbone for our Sisterhood. Your time and effort has been shining from the beginning. You all deserve a big hug! On a sadder note we lost a dear member this past year. Sara Rosenberg, our dear Sara who had supported us from the beginning will be so deeply missed. She was a woman with a true Jewish spirit from the heart. I will never forget her eagerness to help raise money for the children of our Hebrew school. I was co-president of the PTO with Helen Hochberg and we held a garage sale in our parking lot. Sara and her husband Albert wanted to sell some of their clothes to help raise money for the children. They refused to leave the sale until the very end of the day. It was a very hot and sunny day, but Albert and Sara were determined to stay. They just wanted to help. That was their spirit. Many of you can recall going to Bingo and seeing Sara helping in the kitchen. Never asking for a thank you and doing her job with her warmest heart. Our shul is missing her smile on Saturday mornings. Here’s a memory ….take a sugar cube and dip it so gently into your tea for sweetness. Have a safe and enjoyable summer, Lauren Nadler Adult Education... We had a very successful series this year. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, the walking tour of the Lower East Side, has been postponed until fall. Stay tuned for updates on next year's schedule. We welcome your suggestions. Joel Storm Co Chairman 8 Congratulations to the Edelstein Family Freehold Jewish Center’s Family of the Year 9 DONATIONS Rabbi's Discretionary Fund David Metz in memory of Beloved Wife Sadie Yahrzeit Plaque Alex Marowitz in memory of Renee Marowitz Jeff and Debbie Shapiro in memory of Frank Blaustein Jeff and Debbie Shapiro in memory of Ruth Blaustein Yahrzeit Fund Carolann Damsky in memory of Joseph Weinroth Rhoda Farkas in memory of Abe Farkas Rhoda Farkas in memory of Pauline Farkas Stephen Friedman in memory of Dr. Morris Friedman Stephen Friedman in memory of Sylvia Friedman Helen and Harvey Greenberg in memory of Harry Offenbach Fran and Martin Goldfine in memory of Hyman Friedman Mona Handler in memory of Bernard Kamber Dorothy Kaplan in memory of Beloved Mother Tessie Katz Irving Kaplan in memory of Beloved Sister Elsie Berengarten Irving Kaplan in memory of Beloved Mother, Bertha Kaplan Marilyn Karaban in memory of Bruce Karaban, Loving Husband, Father, and Grandfather Betty and Allan Koplitz in memory of Benjamin Koplitz Jerome T. Kurman in memory of Beloved Mother Dorothy Kurman Liora Lacks in memory of Beloved Father Kurt Ermann Thomas Mazur and Jacqueline Pasternack in memory of Michael and Arlene Pasternak Thelma Meyer in memory of Edward Meyer Sheila Popowitz in memory of Beloved Husband Lester Popowitz Helene Randell in memory of Beloved Mother Dorothy Weiss Ada Richmond in memory of Sarah Weisbrod Norman Rubenstein in memory of Beloved Father William Rubenstein Beatrice Sagotsky in memory of Beloved Husband Samuel Sagotsky June Winker in memory of Nathan Guerrero Eleanor Weinberg in memory of Jan and Louis Pocress Elinore Weinberg in memory of Stanley Weinberg Judy and Larry Wolff in memory of Hyman and Berty Zimmerman Matching Fund Karen Silverman Siddur Marcy and Bruce Cortez and Family in memory of Betty R. Edelstein Lauren and Gary Nadler, Helen and Barry Hochberg in memory of Betty R. Edelstein 10 General Fund Ellen Bloom in memory of Stanley Blumstein June Winkler in memory of Stanley Blumstein Helen and Barry Hochberg with wishes for the speedy recovery of Rabbi Greene Dale and Lawrence Iserson with wishes for the speedy recovery of Rabbi Greene Fran Lehrfeld with wishes for the speedy recovery and good health of Rabbi Greene Karen and Jeff Wolf with wishes for the speedy recovery and good health of Rabbi Greene Barbara and Peter Krueger in memory of Sadie Metz Rhoda Leskowitz in memory of Sadie Metz Marlene Sorcher Neff in memory of Sadie Metz Bob and Susan St. Lifer in memory of Sadie Metz Dr. and Mrs. Benjamin Weinstein in memory of Sadie Metz Ricky and Bob Boyarsky in memory of Henry Rosenzweig Fay and Howard Ganz and Family in memory of Henry Rosenzweig Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hahn in memory of Henry Rosenzweig Judi Rabinovitz and Family, and the Cuso Family in memory of Henry Rosenzweig Barbara and Allen Rehert in memory of Henry Rosenzweig Levine, Furman & Smeltzer LLC in memory of Henry Rosenzweig Beverly and Peter Marx in memory of Henry Rosenzweig Frank and Pat Federici in memory of Renee Marowitz Rachelle and Jack Feinstein in memory of Pearl Krever Shelly and Jack Feinstein in memory of Adeline Goodman Suzanne Hochberg in memory of Beloved Father Joseph Garvin Myron and Roberta Fishbein in honor of Shirley Ring Jeff and Teri Kneler in honor of the 58th wedding anniversary of Jeff's parents, Gary and Fay Kneler Diane and Marvin Krakower in memory of Betty R. Edelstein Diane and Marvin Krakower in memory of Clara Sussman Jack and Lucie Sterling in memory of Marcia Goldberg Riviera at Freehold Sunshine Club in memory of Marcia Goldberg Vera and Ilia Kikozashvili Tree for Israel Doris and Jerry Brown in memory of Morton Levine Doris and Jerry Brown in memory of Sidney Rovner Michelle Chesny in memory of Sara Rosenberg Anita Jones -two trees in memory of Norman Price Michele and Louis Moserowitz in memory of Terri Barlin Wiliam Ward in memory of Jack Samuels Shirley and Larry Zinstein in memory of Beloved Father of Mrs. Sherry Glick Yizkor Susan Elgart Harvey and Joanne Kraut Thelma and Samuel Lubow Eleanor Weinberg in memory of Stanley Weinberg 11 Chai Times 12 13 14 Member of N J : (732) 625- 9991 NJ, NY & DC BARS NY: (718) 356 - 4909 LES R. KRAMSKY, ESQ. Attorney and Counselor at Law REAL ESTATE CLOSINGS NJ: (732) 625625-9991 NY: (718) 356356-4909 New Jersey Office New York Office 27 North Main Street 43 New Dorp Plaza Marlboro, NJ 07746 Staten Island, NY 10306 Tel: (732) 625-9991 Tel: (718) 356-4909 Fax: (732) 625-9992 Fax: (718) 356-5279 15 Experienced Verbal SAT Tutoring Individual Attention Reasonable Rates Phone 732-431-9210 [email protected] 38R West Front Street Keyport, NJ 07735 Phone: (732) 264-9555 Fax: (732) 264-9507 Email: [email protected] 16 17 18 19 20 Non-Profit Congregation Agudath Achim Organization Presorted Standard 59 Broad Street U.S. Postage Freehold, NJ 07728 PAID Freehold, NJ 732-462-0254 Permit N0. 71 www.freeholdjc.org Dated Material Deliver By Volume 5, Issue 5 July 2007-August 2007 Tamuz –Av 5767 July 6 Shabbat Candle-Lighting Times July 6 - 8:11 PM August 3 - 7:51 PM July 13 - 8:08 PM August 10 - 7:43 PM July 20 - 8:04 PM August 17 - 7:34 PM July 27 - 7:58 PM August 24 - 7:23 PM August 31 - 7:13 PM Our E-Mail Address to contact us. E-mail: [email protected] Our Web Site for valuable information Web Site: www.freeholdjc.org If you have good news that you would like to share, please call the shul office 732-462-0254. Joan Marcus became a grandmother on 4/30/07. A little girl, Dylan Julia, was born to Lauren and Eric Feld of Marlboro. Lauren is Joan's daughter.