December Highlights Eight Candles Shmona Neyrot

Transcription

KISLEV / TEVET 5769
December Highlights
Annual Fund Progress
New Retreat Plans
Mayor Cory Booker Coming
Ruth Messinger at TJC
Havurah Information
pg. 5
pg. 16
pg. 21
pg. 22
pg. 23
RABBI’S MESSAGE
December 2008 • Vol. 113 No. 11
Chazan, Chazan, V’Nitchazan - Our Great
Chazan and How We Benefit from his Vision
SERVICE SCHEDULE
I feel very blessed to share the bimah and the religious leadership
of this congregation with Rabbi Annie Tucker and Cantor Murray
Simon. It is a pleasure to work with them every day and an honor
to share the leadership of our service with these two wonderful
people on Shabbat and holidays. Since I first came to The Jewish Center three and a half
years ago, Cantor Simon has shared with me so much of his knowledge and love for this
congregation and our traditional liturgy, and I have gained tremendously from what he
has taught me. On Shabbat morning, when I listen to him daven I am in awe of his talent
and his understanding of the music and the ancient words of our tradition. He understands what it means to be our Shaliach Tzibur, to represent our congregation before
God and to lead us in prayer. He has served this congregation very well for thirteen years
and I pray that God gives him the strength to do so until his retirement. We here at The
Jewish Center know how talented he is and we honor him every Shabbat by singing along
and by letting ourselves be inspired by his leadership of our service.
I am pleased to tell you that The Jewish Theological Seminary is also aware of his talent
and leadership, and they will be honoring him, along with a
(continued on page 2)
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Keeping up with my December
newsletter tradition, and honoring
Chanukah, I am pleased this month to
eight of the many bright
Shmona Neyrot recognize
“candles” glowing at The Jewish
Center. There are of course many
great things happening at TJC, many of which I am aware, and I
had to narrow down to just eight to mark the special number of
Chanukah. But what I enjoy the most is knowing that others are always having their own
special experiences at TJC, in classes, services, or interactions with others. I always appreciate when people share with me their satisfaction with programs or moments at TJC.
Eight Candles
Shabbat Worship Schedule
Fridays at 6:30 p.m.
Saturdays at 9:45 a.m.
Library Service
Saturday, December 13, 27 at 10:30 a.m.
Junior Congregation - (Shabbat Layeladim)
Saturday, December 6, 13, 20 at 10:30 a.m.
Mini Minyan - (Shabbat Latze’eerim)
Saturday, December 6, 20 at 10:30 a.m.
Family Service - (Shabbat Lamishpachah)
Saturday, December 13 at 10:30 a.m.
Tot Shabbat - (Shabbat Lataf)
Saturday, December 6, 20 at 11 a.m.
Midweek Minyan Schedule
Sunday at 8:30 a.m.
Wednesday at 7 a.m.
BAR/BAT MITZVAH SCHEDULE
Saturday, December 6
Bat Mitzvah of Marielle Kirstein
Daughter of Melinda and Philip Kirstein
9:45 a.m.
Bar Mitzvah of Eric Zutty
Son of Jill Zutty and Eric Zutty 4:30 p.m.
Bat Mitzvah of Jennifer Schapire
Daughter of Roberta Sloan and Robert Schapire
9:45 a.m.
My eight candles to highlight are as follows, in no particular order, and again with the
disclaimer that there are many more bright spots to praise but not enough space for all:
Bat Mitzvah of Sophia Eisenberg
Daughter of Janet and Steven Eisenberg
4:30 p.m.
#1 - Vav Programs
Now that our daughter Peri is in the Vav class and beginning preparation to become a
Bat Mitzvah, I get to experience for the first time how interesting and exciting the programming at TJC is for her and for Lori and me as parents. It is truly a family learning
experience. What I appreciate the most is that the program led by Rabbi Feldman, Rabbi
Tucker, Gila Levin, Fran Amir, and Deborah Dunn Solomon is not like cramming before a
test. The process teaches the fundamentals of the service, praying, the Torah, and many
other aspects not just to prepare for one special day, but more important, to prepare for a
lifetime of pride and practice in Judaism.
(continued on pg. 2)
Bar Mitzvah of Harrison Paszamant
Son of Darlene and Jay Paszamant 4:30 p.m.
SHABBAT CANDLE LIGHTING
December 5
December 12
December 19
December 26
➤
➤
➤
➤
4:14 p.m.
4:15 p.m.
4:17 p.m.
4:21 p.m.
Rabbi’s Message (continued from pg. 1)
number of other Cantors from the Cantors
Assembly, at a special Convocation ceremony on Tuesday, December 9th at 3:30
p.m. at JTS in New York City. During this
Convocation, Cantor Simon will be receiving an honorary Doctor of Music degree to
mark more than forty years of dedicated
service as a Chazan in congregations in
Massachusetts and here in Princeton. A
number of us from TJC are planning to go
to the Convocation and it would be a wonderful honor to Cantor Simon if we could
organize a group from our synagogue.
There will also be a time for us to mark
this important milestone in the Cantor’s
career when JTS will honor him here at
President’s Message (continued from pg. 1)
#2 - Adult B’nai Mitzvah Program
B’nai Mitzvah are not just for our
younger members. We just celebrated the
B’not Mitzvah of fourteen women in our
congregation. The ruach in the sanctuary
and luncheon following the service was
emotional and exhilarating. How do you
follow up such a special event? With an
encore! The new Adult B’nai Mitzvah class
is just getting started; it will be led by
Rabbi Feldman, Rabbi Tucker, Cantor
Simon, and Edna Noiman. It’s not too late
to join, so please contact these teachers if
you would like to get involved and participate in this incredible religious, educational and social journey.
#3 - Israeli Affairs
Our co-chairs for Israeli Affairs Joel
Schindler and Naomi Vilko are pouring
their passion for Israel into our programming calendar this year, and the results
are some outstanding events not to be
missed. I am especially looking forward
to the tremendous opportunity to hear
Cory Booker speak at TJC on February 8,
2009. Cory Booker, an ardent supporter
of Israel, is the mayor of Newark, and an
exceptionally engaging speaker. Look for
more details on this and all the other
interesting events in the works from our
Israeli Affairs committee.
#4 - Arts and Cultural Affairs
Judy Levine and Summer Pramer, our cochairs for Arts and Cultural Affairs, will
soon be presenting the latest art display to
grace our lobby gallery. On December 14
there will be a reception with refreshments
from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., to meet Rabbi
Joshua Plaut and view his portfolio entitled
“Sparks of Splendor - Portraits of Jewish
Women from East to West.” The vivid
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TJC for a breakfast event on Sunday morning March 15th, 2009. By participating in
either or both of these events we will not
only honor Cantor Simon but we will also
strengthen the relationship between TJC
and JTS, the academic and spiritual center
of Conservative Judaism worldwide,
encompassing a world-class library and five
schools that train tomorrow’s religious,
educational, academic, and lay leaders for
the Jewish community and beyond.
There are many titles that can be used to
describe the work that Cantor Simon does
for our congregation and community, such
as Cantor, Shaliach Tzibur (the one who
leads the congregation) and others. But the
title I prefer is Chazan, which means
color photographs portray Jewish women
from communities around the world.
We’ll be able to view the magnificent
images and purchase them as well. We can
all look forward to stepping in from the
cold December weather to see the warm
images.
#5 - Havurot
In the spirit of my candle metaphor for
this article, this one is a great example of
the classic saying about how one candle
can light another and both glow brighter.
The Havurah committee is now actively
forming havurot, groupings of members
with shared interests, demographics, or
stages of life. They are an ideal way to
form bonds with others. I see them as
especially useful for newer members interested in meeting fellow congregants,
longer-term members who would like to
get engaged with a group of peers to recapture a closer-knit ambiance within TJC, or
anyone in between who would like to form
relationships. Thank you to our Havurah
committee members (Martha Friedman,
Ziona Silverman, Mim Gershen, Faina
Sechzer, and Nancy Lewis) who you can
contact to learn about joining a havurah.
#6 - Shema Koleinu
As you can read on page 25, Shema
Koleinu meetings are underway, with many
more to come. They are opportunities to
meet in informal sessions with Rabbi
Feldman and some of our lay leaders to discuss whatever is on your mind. This candle
is like a braided Havdalah candle - braided
because the Shema Koleinu meetings
themselves are great opportunities to share
thoughts and visions for the TJC, and also
offer the added benefit of generating great
ideas and feelings that will shed light into
the future of TJC.
“visionary” and directly connects to some of
our great prophetic leaders in the Bible. A
Chazan sets the liturgical vision of our congregation by leading worship to God, selecting the liturgical music for our service and
training others to lead the service and read
from the Torah. It is a sacred vision from
which we benefit on a regular basis.
Chazak, Chazak, V’nitchazek - May
Cantor Simon and our congregation continue to go from strength to strength.
Rabbi Adam Feldman
Rabbi Feldman may be reached at
afeldman@thejewishcenter.org or 609921-0100, ext. 203.
#7 - Jewish Center Women
Here’s a candle that is burning brightly.
JCW has always been a blessing to TJC, and
their contributions to our synagogue community are extensive. They have provided
the new lobby furniture, chairs for the
social hall, light sticks for Neilah, refreshments for the High Holidays, and flowers
to the staff and clergy. JCW delivers challah to new members, and runs our Purim
Shaloch Manot basket program. All this
happens while they also run a huge array
of programs from educational to social.
Flip through any copy of the newsletter
and you will see how vibrant this group is
and how fortunate we are to have them
associated with TJC.
#8 - Latkes and Vodkas
Last and not least, a toast to Neil Wise,
our Director of Youth and Family
Programming, who is orchestrating with a
group of volunteers a new event called
“Latkes and Vodkas.” On December 20,
there will be spirits in the air and in the
glasses as we have the opportunity to
socialize over Chanukah latkes. The
unique event is not a fundraiser, just a
chance to get together for a fun holiday
celebration.
And of course there is the shamash candle, the one that lights the other eight.
That one is obviously all the staff, lay leaders, volunteers, donors, and congregants
who make all of this possible.
Thank you and happy Chanukah.
Michael Feldstein
TJC President
The Jewish Center Newsletter is a monthly publication of The Jewish Center, 435 Nassau Street, Princeton, New Jersey, 08540
CANTOR’S Notes
International Festival of Jewish Culture The Best Chanukah Present
As you may know,
Hassidism has its
roots in the city of
Krakow with the
great Baal Shem
Tov (Master of the
Good Name). One of the tenets of
Hassidism is prayer through song or
niggun (melody). How appropriate it is
that the world’s largest music festival
takes place there.
This tremendous festival has been held in
Krakow for over fifteen years now, and the
former Jewish district of Kazimierz has
itself steadily regained its colors during
those years. Kazimierz may still be somewhat rundown in parts, but it’s now one of
JTS Rabbinical Student
Annie Lewis Helps
Hurricane Victims
in Houston
Congregation Brith Shalom is located on
Bellaire Boulevard just outside Houston,
Texas, in the city of Bellaire. In September, the
synagogue found itself sharing its neighborhood with Hurricane Ike while the Category
Two storm battered the city and surrounding
area with 110-mile-an-hour winds.
Though it suffered water and property
damage, the synagogue emerged mostly
unscathed. But the same could not be said
for its congregants, as half of the shul’s 500
families were left without power in the wake
of the frightening storm. They turned to
Brith Shalom for help, care, and guidance.
Dr. Ron Moses, president of Brith
Shalom, called JTS, and The Rabbinical
the most spellbinding areas in Kracow,
and the Festival of Jewish Culture is
undoubtedly one of the brightest feathers
in its cap.
Every year in June or July visitors are
able to enjoy celebrated Jewish and
Jewish-inspired acts from across the globe
strutting their stuff in Kazimerz’s synagogue, cellars, theatres and cafes. Among
regular performers, hot names to look out
for are Kroke, Brave Old World,
The Krakow Klezmer Band and
Ukrainian newcomers The
Kharkov Klezmer Band.
In addition to all this music,
every year there is an interesting
program of book launches, lectures, tours of Jewish sites with
international experts, and even
introductions to the weird and
wonderful world of Jewish cuisine - in short, a unique insight
into Poland’s rich Jewish legacy.
During the Renaissance and
Baroque eras, Jews talked of
Krakow as a “Jewish Paradise,” such was
the extent of their freedoms and of the
richness of cultural life in the city.
A key support player in the festival will
be the Galicia Museum (ul. Dajwor 18).
School asked its students if any of them
could-on just a day’s notice-travel to
Houston in advance of Rosh Hashanah.
Within a few hours, six students had volunteered, and the synagogue invited two
second-year students, Aviva Kremer and
Annie Lewis (daughter of TJC congregants
Nancy and Neil Lewis), to assist in recovery efforts and help make a sweet Rosh
Hashanah possible for the community.
Arriving on September 25, the students
got to work right away, checking on elderly
congregants, working at a local food bank,
arranging a meal-exchange program for
erev Rosh Hashanah, and applying themselves to other tasks, before their departure
three days later. Annie noted that despite
the hardships endured as a result of the
hurricane, “Most people we met were in
good spirits.”
Aviva and Annie also had the chance to
use the training they’d received in spiritual
leadership from The Rabbinical School. “I
This recently-opened enterprise deserves
a special mention, not simply due to its
program of events for the festival, but also
for its permanent exhibition, which could
not come more highly recommended if
you’re curious about Poland’s Jewish legacy. Their exhibition is nothing short of a
masterpiece.
Every year the festival culminates in a
huge open air concert on the picturesque
Szeroka Street (the aptly named Wide
Street). It’s a lot of fun and there’ll be
plenty of dancing and merry-making to
round things off.
This year’s festival takes place from June
28 to July 6, 2009, which coincides with
the Poland/Israel Mission I am leading
with the Cantors Assembly. Give yourself
the best Chanukah present ever by joining
others and me from The Jewish Center on
our trip. I’ll be in Krakow at The
International Jewish Culture Festival to be
swept up in a swirl of Jewish music. Will
you? Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity. Please contact me for details.
I wish you and yours a joyous Festival of
Lights - Chag Orim Sameyach!
Melodically yours,
Cantor Murray E. Simon
had done a unit of pastoral care over the
summer and this was very similar work,”
Aviva said. “We also led a shiur [teaching
session] about Psalm 27 to enhance
Slichot, which had been delayed a week due
to curfew restrictions and power outages.”
The students’ work brought praise and
gratitude from the community. “They made
a big impact in a short time,” said Rabbi
Ron Teller of Brith Shalom.
For rabbinical candidates Aviva and
Annie, their efforts were mitzvot they were
glad to perform. As Aviva summed up the
experience, “The community was welcoming: everyone was
happy that we were
there and glad that
JTS sent us to help.
It made us feel
really good.”
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RABBI TUCKER’S MESSAGE
As a Bostonian at
heart,
having
grown up about fifteen miles outside
the city, I have
always loved the
following story
about the Head of
the
Charles,
Massachusetts’ annual fall crew competition. My colleague, Rabbi Moshe Waldoks,
recounts the year that he went to watch
the big meet, thrilled to see that Yeshiva
University - a well known Orthodox rabbinical school - had sent a team to participate in the event. With great excitement,
Rabbi Waldoks cheered on the Jewish rowers, watching every race that they competed in. Each and every time, the YU team
came in very last. When the meet was
over, Rabbi Waldoks went to seek out his
Jewish compatriots and found them
slumped along the banks of the Charles. “I
hope you don’t mind my saying so,” offered
the rabbi, “But I’m a little disappointed in
your performance. Why don’t you hang
out with the guys from Harvard or Yale perhaps you can pick up some pointers!”
A few months later, Rabbi Waldoks
bumped into the head of the YU crew team
who approached him enthusiastically.
“You were right, Rabbi,” said the coach.
“The guys from Harvard and Yale really do
have a different method and it works much
better.” “Yes?” prompted the rabbi. “To
begin with,” said the coach, “they have six
guys who row and only one who shouts!”
Rabbi Waldoks describes this Head of the
Charles tale as a “moral fable” because it is
has a clear and simple message: while it can
be very satisfying to scream and yell, the
way to really get things done in this world
is to act. In Waldoks’ words, “If you want to
achieve anything, you have to go out and
find people who are willing to put their oars
into the water and begin to row. You can’t
expect things to happen just because someone is shouting.” As it says in the great
rabbinic compilation Pirkei Avot (1:17), “It
is not the explanation that is essential but
rather the action.” While writing or teaching or speaking out about the injustices of
our world is important, acting to create
change is what is truly essential.
This month we have the enormous privilege of welcoming to TJC one of the Jewish
community’s greatest agents of social
4 change, Ms. Ruth Messinger, the pres-
ident of American Jewish World Service
(AJWS). An international development
organization providing support to more
than 400 humanitarian projects throughout the world, AJWS has been at the forefront of working to end genocide in
Darfur, fighting hunger, disease, and
poverty in the developing world, and
matching American Jews with serious service opportunities in the Americas, Asia,
and Africa. Since 1998, Ms. Messinger has
led AJWS and has been honored for her
work by the Jewish Council for Public
Affairs, the American Jewish Committee,
and many of our country’s rabbinical colleges. For the past seven years she has
also been named one of the “50 most
influential Jews of the year” by the well
known Jewish newspaper, the Forward.
On Saturday, December 13, Ms.
Messinger will join us for Shabbat morning services where she will deliver a D’var
Torah entitled Jews as Global Citizens:
Our Responsibility in the World.
Speaking of her own experiences in developing nations, Ms. Messinger will propose
how American Jews, who enjoy greater
affluence and influence than ever before,
can do our part to alleviate poverty,
hunger, violence, disease and oppression
throughout the world. By embracing our
obligation to assist all people in need,
regardless of race, religion or nationality,
we can help to ensure social justice for
coming generations.
I hope that you will join us for what is
sure to be an informative and inspiring
morning, an opportunity to learn from one
of the humanitarian visionaries of our age
and to think about the role that each one
of us can play in helping to transform our
world for the better. If you would like further information, please feel free to contact
me by either phone (609-921-0100 x213)
or email (atucker@thejewishcenter.org).
Hundreds of years ago, a small band of
daring and heroic Jews reminded the
world that brute strength is no match for
conviction, courage, and faith in God. May
we, like the Maccabees, use these tools to
bring healing to a much broken world!
Chodesh Tov (Happy New Month!) and I
look forward to seeing you on the 13th.
Rabbi Annie Tucker
The Jewish Theological
Seminary
cordially invites you to attend a
CONVOCATION
honoring
Hazzan Murray E. Simon
Princeton, New Jersey
and other members of the
Cantors Assembly
who have served the
Conservative Movement
and the Jewish people with
distinction
e
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
12 Kislev 5769
3:30 p.m.
Reception immediately following.
The Jewish Theological Seminary
3080 Broadway (at 122nd St.)
New York City
e
Admission is by ticket only.
Please contact The Jewish
Center office for more
information.
Please arrive by 3:15 p.m.
to allow sufficient time to
enter the JTS campus
and to be seated, and please
have photo ID available.
Annual Fund
Report
We’re Over Halfway There!
Halfway! Wow! Well, before we start popping our Champagne corks, we need some
sober reflection. “We’re over halfway
there” is one of those “the glass is half full
or half empty” statements.
Don’t get us wrong: The Jewish Center is
grateful for every dollar contributed, but...
The Annual Fund goal for 2008-09 is to
raise a minimum of $350,000, the amount
needed to support TJC’s operational
expenses. In 2007-08, 54% of the congregation contributed $304,000. The Annual
Fund needs a 15% increase in giving to
meet this goal.
As of this writing, 27% of the congregation has contributed over $184,000. The
average increase per congregant unit has
been 5.9%. If that trend continues, we
would raise $321,000, an historic amount,
but one that would leave us $29,000 short
of the amount TJC needs.
One of the two families who gave $7,200
last year, before the Manhigim (Leaders)
level was instituted, has pledged $10,000
this year (a 39% increase). There are two
more families at the Manhigim level, and
that is very encouraging. Further, a number of families have increased their contributions to bring them up to the next level.
You make the goal a reality. If you
haven’t renewed your pledge, please consider doing so with an increase. If you
haven’t given before, please do now. Our
other goal is to have 65% of the congregation participate this year. Remember, your
donation will be recognized on our donor
wall in the main lobby at the levels below.
Of course, you can remain anonymous if
you choose.
Manhigim - Leaders
Giborim - Heroes
Amudim - Pillars
Shomrim - Guardians
Bonim - Builders
Tormim - Supporters
Haverim - Friends
$7,200 and above
$5,400 and above
$3,600 and above
$1,800 and above
$900 and above
$500 and above
$180 and above
You can pledge/contribute in a variety of
ways: by e-mail to TheAnnualFund@thejewishcenter.org; or go to www.thejewishcenter.org, click on “Giving,” click on
“Annual Fund,” enter the amount and
click “charge.” Or can just send your contribution check to TJC.
We recognize that these are difficult
financial times, and that’s why we need
your commitment to meet the needs of
our community. Please Support The
Jewish Center of Our Lives!
Todah Rabbah,
The Annual Fund Committee
Stu Axelrod, Co-Chair
Walt Meyer, Co-Chair
Here is the list of the new contributors
since October 17 - we offer our most sincere thanks to all of them:
Adele Agin
Eleanor Angoff
Carolyn Angoff
Alec and Diane Arons
Sanford and Gilda Aronovic
David and Carol Atkin
Judith Axelrod
Dick and Vicky Bergman
Michael and Ruth Blumenfeld
Evan and Jennifer Cadoff
Jay and Helen Edelberg
Jonathan and Terri Epstein
Laurence and Helen-Ann Epstein
George Faigen and Naomi Sussman
Lillian Fishbein
Howard and Suzanne Franzblau
Barry and Bobbi Freedman
Eliot and Marsha Freeman
Jonathan and Ilene Gershen
David Goldfarb
Kenneth and Michelle Goldman
Michael and Naomi Goldin
David and Nadivah Greenberg
Melissa Hager and Curtis Johnson
Israel and Harriet Heilweil
Herbert and Carol Horowitz
Hanan and Helaine Isaacs
Anne Jaffe
Steven and Sara Just
Norman and Irene Katz
Jason and Arielle Kay
Lorne and Nina Keller
George Kleinman
Keith and Abby Knuckey
Michael and Randi Koss
Charles and Anne Kreitzberg
Arthur Lehrhaupt
Rachel Lehr
Sher and Jeanne Leiman
Bruce Leslie and Leslie Gerwin
Morty and Sue Levine
Bob and Judy Levine
Lawrence and Lisa Lieberman
Avron and Sally Magram
Warren Mitlak and Tirza Wahrman
Henry and Arlene Opatut
Sybil Parnes
Adam and Lauren Pechter
Robert and Mary Pickens
Mark and Carol Pollard
David and Joan Rosenfeld
Mik Rosenthal
Marty and Martha Rossman
Robert Seidenstein and Marilyn Riley
Douglas and Marcie Shavel
Joyce Sokolic
Ken and Ann Sokoloff
Joseph Straus and Sally Goldfarb
Martin and Margaret Tuchman
Rabbi Annie Tucker
Adam and Ann Warner
Thomas and Stephanie Will
Joshua and Advah Zinder
Photography
Exhibit
"Portraits of
Jewish Women
from East to West"
Sunday, December 14
2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Jewish Center Lobby
We invite you to view
a new collection of
color photographs
by Joshua Eli Plaut.
Please join Joshua Plaut rabbi, Ph.D., historian, scholar, and photo ethnographer at this unique show.
5
Save the
Date
Jewish Center Women
Presents
Stitch & Kvetch
January 24
A Group for Needlework and Community Service
Join Us in December
Jewish Center Women
Tuesday, December 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Presents
Home of Sally Steinberg-Brent
239 Shady Brook Lane, Princeton - 609-921-1457
JCW Shabbat
All Skill Levels are Welcome
Knitting, Crochet, Needlepoint, Cross Stitch, Embroidery
For hundreds of years, women have gathered to knit and sew and
chat, while creating beautiful items for their families and neighbors.
JCW welcomes
all congregants to celebrate this
special Shabbat service, led by
Jewish Center Women.
Join us to honor the extraordinary
women in our community.
In that Tradition . . .
We will teach and learn from one another. We will discuss various
community service projects that can benefit from our talents and
efforts. Future meetings will be scheduled in members’ homes.
Kiddush luncheon will follow services. Watch for more information.
RSVP to Carole Braun, 609-497-3405 or cbraunnj@aol.com
A Program of Jewish Center Women at The Jewish Center of Princeton
Jewish Center Women
and TJC Sustainability Committee
Invite You to an Evening of
CLASSY KOSHER COOKING
Thursday, January 15 7- 9 p.m.
Cyndi Kleinbart’s Kitchen
6 Littlebrook Road, Princeton
Featuring: Sandy Stollar,
After working at the Russian Tea Room and Osteria del Circo, Sandy Stollar, a graduate of the CIA, recently decided to become a personal chef. Her
clientele includes Jersey housewives who want to expand their knife skills, NYC dinner parties, and workaholics too busy to feed themselves. Stollar
also teaches cooking classes at the Center for Kosher Culinary Arts in Brooklyn.
Members: $40
Non-Members: $50
JCW/Sustainability Committee Cooking Event- January 15, 2009 Reservation
Name___________________________________________________________________
Number of Attendees __________ @ $ ____ pp
Total Enclosed _____________
Make checks payable to Jewish Center Women. Reservations must be received by ___________.
Questions? Contact Cyndi at ckleinbart@comcast.net.
6
WO M E N
JEWISH CENTER
delicious food and most important added
to the relaxed and fun ambiance that
enabled men and women alike enjoy the
evening. Thank you to Wendy Richmond
and Lauren Pechter for coordinating this
successful event.
The month of November proved to be
busy and exciting for Jewish Center Women
(JCW). On November 9 we introduced our
new and expanded Sunday morning Torah
Study Sessions, entitled JCW Lilmod.
Thank you to everyone who participated in
our interesting and educational discussion
led by Rabbi Feldman about “Talmudic
thought through the study of text.” Our
next Lilmod session will be Sunday,
December 14 at 11 a.m. Rabbi Tucker will
lead a discussion about Yehuda Amichai,
the influential and beloved Israeli poet. See
the flyer in this newsletter for more info on
content, location, etc. Please mark your
calendar with the following dates for JCW
Lilmod for the 2008-2009 year: 2/1, 3/15,
3/29 and 5/29. They will be led by Leora
Batnitzky, Rabbi Feldman, Rabbi Roth and
Rabbi Tucker, respectively. Topics, times
and locations to follow.
JCW hosted its Fourth Annual Wine
Tasting Party on November 15 at the
Hopewell Valley Vineyards. The beautiful
setting enhanced the award-winning wine,
A Thank You also goes out to Stephanie
Will for opening up her home on
November 18 for our monthly “Stitch and
Kvetch” gathering. We enjoyed a warm
and intimate evening with friends while we
shared knitting, cross-stitch and various
needlework skills. Please join us on
December 9 at 7:30 p.m. for our next session at the home of Sally Steinberg-Brent
at 239 Shady Brook Lane, Princeton. All
experience levels are welcome. Please
mark your calendar with the following
dates for “Stitch and Kvetch” for the 20082009 year: 1/13, 2/10, 3/17. If you have
any questions, please contact Carole Braun
at 609-497-3405 or cbraunnj@aol.com.
Womanspace is a non-profit agency in
Mercer County serving victims of domestic
violence and sexual assault. JCW is proud
to represent TJC as we raise awareness of
this critical social concern. Together with
Womanspace and The Princeton Clergy
Association, we will be participating in a
Service of Light and Hope at the Jewish
Center on Thursday, December 11 at 6 p.m.
Please join the community as we share our
support by lighting a special candle - a
powerful symbol of warmth, comfort
and prayer for victims, survivors and
their families.
Would you like to enjoy a relaxing night
out with good healthy food, good wine, and
good friends? Please join us on Thursday,
January 15 when we team up with the
Sustainability Committee to present “An
Evening of Classy Kosher Cooking.”
Personal chef Sandy Stollar will prepare
dinner at the home of Cyndi Kleinbart.
Please see the flyer on page 6 for more info
on time, details and Sandy Stollar’s
impressive résumé.
The JCW Shabbat service will be held on
January 24 at 9:45 a.m. Please mark your
calendars for this very special service to be
led by JCW, to honor many of the extraordinary women of the Jewish Center. Services
will be followed by a Kiddush luncheon.
If you are interested in learning more
about JCW or would like to get involved in
planning an upcoming event, please contact Anne Rutman at 609-730-8166 or
jrskiapr@aol.com or Amy Berk at 908-4314353 or dasb9999@yahoo.com.
B’Shalom,
Anne Rutman
Amy Berk
Co-Chairs, Jewish Center Women
JEWISH CENTER WOMEN 2008-2009 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
December 11
December 14
January 15
January 24
February 1
Feb/Mar TBA
March 15
March 25
March 29
April 26
May 29
Womanspace: Service of Light and Hope Ceremony
JCW Lilmod: Torah Study with Rabbi Tucker
Cooking Demonstration/Sustainability
JCW Shabbat
JCW Lilmod: Torah Study with Leora Batnitzky
Chico's Wardrobe Night
JCW Lilmod: Torah Study with Rabbi Feldman
Spring Trip
JCW Lilmod: Torah Study with Rabbi Roth
JCW Spring Membership Luncheon
JCW Lilmod: Torah Study with Rabbi Tucker
7
Tichon Teens Hard
at Work in Biloxi!
Nursery News
Shalom!
What a great
time we have
been having in
the Nursery
S c h o o l !
Thanksgiving
was on our plate
as each class made a
traditional Thanksgiving
item shared by all the students at their
classroom feast. And as I mentioned last
month, a real live turkey visited the
school! Anyone who wanted to do so had
the opportunity to pet the turkey.
Now we are looking ahead to our students’ favorite month and getting ready
to celebrate Chanukah in a variety of
ways. Fifth grade students from
Solomon Schechter Day School in East
Brunswick will visit with us at our
Chanukah Round Robin Day on
December 19. They will dance and sing
with us as we travel through the Social
Hall experiencing the Chanukah smells
of latkes frying, Chanukah gelt as we
make chocolate treats, spinning dreidels
and Chanukah crafts. On Monday
December 22, our 2 1/2 year old students
will entertain their families with a special
show led by our dear music teacher, Gina
Giuffre. Gina will join us again with the
3’s and the 4’s as they dazzle their families with Chanukah spirit on Tuesday,
December 23.
Open enrollment for the 2009-2010
school year begins this month as well
and includes our presently-enrolled families in preparing for next year. I ask you
once again to get the word out to your
friends and family. It’s a real joy for me
to show our school to prospective nursery parents and Jewish Center members.
I wish you all a joyous Chanukah, and
may the lights from your menorah
shine brightly and cast a warm glow
on your holiday.
B’Shalom,
Gayle Wagner
8
5769 • 2008
Princeton
scholars
THE JESS EPSTEIN
LUNCH - AND - LEARN SERIES
WITH
PRINCETON SCHOLARS
at Noon
Presents
PAUL STARR
Wednesday, December 17 at Noon
speaking on
“Freedom’s Power:
The History and Promise
of Liberalism”
Paul Starr is professor of sociology and
public affairs at Princeton University and
co-founder and co-editor of The
American Prospect. At Princeton, he
holds the Stuart Chair in
Communications and Public Affairs at
the Woodrow Wilson School. He received
the 1984 Pulitzer Prize for Nonfiction
and Bancroft Prize in American History
for The Social Transformation of
American Medicine and the 2005
Goldsmith Book Prize for The Creation
of the Media. His 2007 book, Freedom’s
Power is now available in paperback; he
will be providing updates on the themes
of the book and related issues on a blog
at freedomspower.com. Professor Starr
has written extensively on American
society, politics, and both domestic and
foreign policy. In 1990, with Robert
Kuttner and Robert Reich, he co-founded The American Prospect, a liberal
magazine about politics, policy, and
ideas. It now appears monthly in print
and online. A short book by Professor
Starr, The Logic of Health-Care
Reform (1992, reissued in a revised and
expanded edition in 1994) laid out the
case for a system of universal health
insurance and managed competition.
Don't miss this unique opportunity to
hear this outstanding scholar on an significant topic. Bring a dairy lunch. And
bring a friend.
Religious
School news
Making a Difference
When students become B’nai Mitzvah at
The Jewish Center, part of the process
includes ten hours of community service
work known as the Chesed Project. The
word “chesed” implies a good deed or an
act of kindness and through the years the
project has evolved to consist of “face
time” rather than fund raising, so that
our students are actually involved with
people. It is our hope that our B’nai
Mitzvah students, through these acts of
caring, learn that they can make a difference in our community. Many continue
their projects well past the expected
hours and many move on to other activities that help those in need.
This past week, nine of our Siyyum
Tichon students - Zoe Crain, Sarah
Devery, Ricki Gross, Nicole Heker, Carly
Rossman, Jordan Roth, Sarah Solomon,
Barak Schnaidman and Abby Stern took this responsibility a step further by
giving up their NJEA vacations days and
volunteering in the relief effort in Biloxi,
Mississippi. Rabbi Tucker and I were privileged to accompany them. (See photos
on page 8)
This is our third year taking students to
Biloxi and the landscape has changed significantly since our first trip three years
ago. When we arrived at the airport we
were amazed to see the progress that has
taken place. There are no longer blue
tarps covering non existent roofs, or
buildings with blown out windows. There
are no longer piles of rubble or inaccessible streets. There is no longer a
makeshift airport or post office.
However, despite the fact that much of
the destruction has been cleaned up one
cannot help but to be struck with the
emptiness that still exists. The beautiful
homes, businesses and hotels that
spanned the oceanfront are no longer
there - empty lots are in their places.
There are still twisted business signs, driveways, cement steps and foundations of
houses and business that once existed.
There are some new hi-rise apartments,
hotels, casinos, stores and restaurants
dotting the beach front, but for miles,
most of the land remains empty as people cannot afford to rebuild.
Gone too are most of the relief agencies
and scores of volunteers that came to
help. Many of the government workers
and private groups have moved on to
other disaster areas and only a few
remain. It is not easy to find work
opportunities although the need is
tremendous. Fortunately, we have wonderful contacts in Biloxi who led us to
the Tennessee Baptist Church, an organization that maintains Camp Gospel for
volunteers. Through them, we worked
on two houses being built for families
currently living in FEMA temporary
homes. We painted walls and floor
boards, cleaned up after contractors,
organized building supplies and did yard
work. We really felt that we made a difference in the lives of these families. The
mitzvah of Tikkun Olam, repairing the
world, sometimes takes the form of
rebuilding it one piece at a time.
We also had the opportunity of reconnecting with our friends at Beth Israel
Congregation. Since we saw them last
year, they have broken ground on a new
building further inland and are trying to
sell their “close to the beach” property.
We had services and dinner with several
congregants on Friday night and a few
returned for Shabbat morning services
and lunch with us the next day.
Celebrating Shabbat with them reinforced the idea of Klal Yisrael, the connection between Jewish people all over.
Maimonides teaches us that the highest
form of tzedakah is to give anonymously,
so that the giver does not know the recipient and the recipient does not know the
giver. Our students did just that in Biloxi.
They gave of themselves to work on building homes for people they did not know
and who would never be able to thank
them. The Biloxi community is still very
grateful for all those who come to help.
As a group of eleven, we were not easy to
miss but wherever we went, we were welcomed, praised and blessed. Little did
they know that it was the other way
around - that we were the ones who felt so
fortunate to be able to be there.
B’Shalom,
Fran Amir
December Dates to Remember:
Tuesday, December 2
Year 2010 B’nai Mitzvah Meeting
Wednesday, December 3
JFCS Community program featuring
Jackson Katz, on gender violence prevention for men and boys, at Rider
University
Thursday, December 4
Jackson Katz program at Princeton
High School
Sunday, December 7
TJC Blood Drive
Tichon/USY event at Federation Super
Sunday
JFCS Community program featuring
Robert Brooks on Raising Resilient
Children, at Congregation Beth Chaim
Womanspace Candle lighting at dismissal on Jessica’s Garden
Family Service for Gan, Alef and Bet;
Heh Mitzvah Mall set up and Supper
Sunday, December 14
Heh Mitzvah Mall
Zayins visit seniors for Chanukah
Three day and Mechina Chanukah program
Sunday, December 21
Schoolwide Chanukah Program from
11 a.m. -1 p.m. for all students
No early/late session regular classes
Gala Rick Recht concert at 12 noon for
the entire congregation
Last Day of Religious School
Sunday, January 4
Religious School resumes
SPECIAL MEETING
FOR POLAND/ ISRAEL
MISSION
You are invited to attend a special
meeting for the Poland/Israel
Mission to take place June 29 - July
14, 2009 led by Cantor Murray E.
Simon. The meeting is Wednesday
December 10 at 8:15 p.m.
Cantor Simon will show a DVD
especially prepared for the trip.
The Mission is under the auspices
of the Cantors Assembly that has
negotiated with three governments
(the Republic of Poland, the State of
Israel and the U.S. Embassies of
Israel and Poland) to plan many
extraordinary events. Please come
to the meeting and learn about this
exciting trip!
9
Aging in Place Program
1 to 2 p.m.
Beth El Synagogue,
50 Maple Stream Road - East Windsor, NJ
***Free to seniors***
“Fact or Fiction?
The Truth About Sleep As We Get Older”
About half of all seniors have difficulty falling or staying asleep. Join us for a fascinating presentation on good sleep hygiene and various sleep disorders. Our speaker is Rochelle Zozula, Ph.D., DABSM, Behavioral Sleep Medicine Specialist at Capital Health System.
Call Linda Meyer, Coordinator of Aging in Place Programs, at 609-987-8100 by December 15 to RSVP
10
Library
This month we
celebrate the wonderful holiday of
Chanukah and add a
book with Chanukah
in its title. But don’t
let the title fool you. It is
about much more, like the problems in
raising a child and how Jewish tradition
can help.
Recent acquisitions:
Jewish Stories from Heaven and
Earth: Inspiring Tales to Nourish the
Heart and Soul edited by Dov Peretz
Elkins. Universal stories of kindness,
hope, faith and discovery by the famous
and not-so-famous. Gift of the author.
Can I Have a Cell Phone for
Chanukah? By Sharon Duke Estroff.
The essential scoop on raising modern
Jewish kids.
Spiritual Radical: Abraham Joshua
Heschel in America by Edward M.
Kaplan. The life of one of America’s greatest religious thinkers, during World War
II and in the decades afterward.
Farewell, Babylon by Naim Kattan. A
memoir telling of a young Iraqi Jew coming of age in the turbulent 1940s.
Tradition: Orthodox Jewish Life in
America by Mal Warshaw. A portrayal from
1976, done mostly thorough 208 photographs, that is probably largely valid today.
The Jewish Americans: Three
Centuries of Jewish Voices in America
by Beth M. Wenger. A fascinating panorama of Jewish life in the United States with
hundreds of remarkable photographs.
Women’s Reading
group
We will meet on Monday, December 8 at
7:30 p.m. in the Adult Library to discuss
Broccoli and Other Tales of Food and Love by Lara
Vapnyar, who wrote There Are Jews in My House, a book
we read and discussed in the past. The book is a collection of
short stories about Eastern European émigrés in New York
in the late twentieth century. The book has been called “a
delightful new collection in which food and love intersect,
along with their overlapping pleasures, frustrations, and
deep associations in the lives of her unforgettable characters.”
All of our books can be ordered online through TJC website
at www.thejewishcenter.org where you can click on the
Amazon link to earn a commission for the synagogue.
Multiple copies of our selections are also available at Borders
Bookstore and at the Princeton Public Library on the “Book
Club” table by the entrance. For a list of previous books or
for other information, please contact Louise Sandburg at
louise@sandsmith.com.
The Sunflower by Simon Wiesenthal.
The confession of a dastardly act by a
Nazi soldier and a symposium by the
famous and not-so-famous on how it
should be treated.
Marc Chagall by Jonathan Wilson. A
biography that demonstrates how the subject’s life constitutes a canvas on which
much of twentieth-century Jewish history
is vividly portrayed.
The following items are missing. If you
have one of them, please return it
promptly to the box on the Library desk:
Jewish Questions: Responsa on
Sephardic Life by Matt Goldish
The Guggenheims: A Family
History by Irwin Unger
Tikkun for Sept.-Oct., 2008
Have Your
Children
"Flown the
Nest"?
Save the Date!
Special Shabbat dinner
and discussion
for "empty nesters"
on Friday, January 23details to follow
Condolences
To Nedda Pollack on the passing of her beloved
mother, Bernice Miller.
To Kathy Ales on the loss of her beloved mother,
Edith Ales.
To Adam Schwartz on the passing of his beloved
father, Robert Schwartz.
To Will Bynes on the passing of his beloved sister,
Louise Bynes.
11
THE CLIMATE PROJECT PRESENTATION
The Climate Project Presentation is an interfaith, informationpacked slide show about the causes and impacts of climate
change. Through credible, accessible science, engaging stories, and theological reflection, participants will learn essential
information about the environmental crisis and how we can
address it. The presentation was created by Al Gore, and is an
up-to-date, faith-based version of the presentation in the film, An Inconvenient Truth.
Please join us at The Jewish Center for this presentation on Wednesday, January 14 at
8:15 p.m. Our presenter will be the Rev. Jenny Phillips, founder of Creation Change, a
United Methodist non-profit organization that equips people of faith for dynamic
response to our changing environment. Her work helps people of faith see their own
encounters with God in nature reflected through Hebrew and Christian scriptures.
Rev. Phillips has been trained by Al Gore to present a faith-based version of his slide
show from the film, An Inconvenient Truth. She is a 2007 National Council of Churches
Eco-Justice Fellow. Jenny has a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in
New York City and lives in Brooklyn, NY.
A Message from Linda Meisel, LCSW, Executive Director Jewish Family &
Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County
Dear Congregants,
The following programs are available to all members of our Jewish community:
Project Re-Employment – A three session workshop focused on job transition,
resume review, personal self assessment and related skills to promote successful
reentry into the job market. The next session begins December 5 at 10 a.m.
Connections – A weekly educational workshop that will provide an opportunity
to discuss important issues such as how to manage your money when you do not
have a job, how to tell your children and how to manage your marriage during
the stress of unemployment. The series begins December 4 at 7 p.m.
Hebrew Free Loan Society – A program that can provide individuals and families with interest free loans.
Kosher Food Pantry – A resource that is available to help families in need
stretch their food dollars.
To enroll in any of these programs, please contact Jewish Family and Children’s
Service of Greater Mercer County and ask for Debra Levenstein at 609-987-8100
or via email at debral@jfcsonline.org
We know that families are hurting – WE ARE YOUR JEWISH 9-1-1 and we are
here to help. if you have a neighbor or a friend who needs our services, please
encourage them to call so that we can provide the caring and support they need.
12
Be COOL
Come to SHUL!
Children’s Services Schedule
December 6
Shabbat Lataf (Tot Shabbat preschool)
Shabbat Latze'eerim
(Mini Minyan - K-2nd grade)
Shabbat Layeladim
(Jr. Congregation - 3rd - 5th
grade, Heh Early 2 will lead)
Vav Seminar
Zayin Torah Class
December 13:
Shabbat Mishpachah (Family
Service - preschool - 2nd grade)
Shabbat Layeladim
Zayin Torah Class
December 20:
Shabbat Lataf
Shabbat Latze'eerim
Shabbat Layeladim (Gimmel
Late 1 will lead)
Vav Seminar
Zayin Torah Class
December 27:
Children should attend services
in the Main Sanctuary
How to Receive Credit for Services:
Religious School and Day School
Students (Grades K-5, Vav on
Shabbat when Vav Seminar is not
held)
1. Remove child’s card from index
card box in the front lobby
2. Deposit card in receptacle (Do
not write on the card. Date will
be recorded after Shabbat)
Vav: Attendance will be taken at the
Vav Seminar.
Zayin: Attendance will be recorded in
the Zayin Torah class.
Todah Rabbah to Jennifer and
Jeremy Black for sponsoring a
Kiddush at Shabbat Latze'eerim in
honor of their daughter
Shira's sixth birthday!
If you would like to sponsor an Oneg
at any of the above services in honor
of your child's birthday or another
special occasion, please contact Ellen
Pristach for further information.
Contemporary Kosher Cooking
Kosher is not just gefilte fish and kugel anymore.
We celebrate Chanukah with oil, lots of oil. We remember the miracle of the long lasting flask of olive oil by enjoying all
types of fried foods. Join us the week before Chanukah to learn how to fry the perfect latke. We’ll try some latke variations
including sweet potato, zucchini and gluten free latkes. I guarantee the baked salami will be everyone’s favorite at your
next party. And we’ll try some very special Israeli olive oil as a dip for pita.
Perfect Latkes and other Party Food
Sunday, December 14
9 to 11 a.m.
At the Jewish Center
$20 / family to cover food and material costs
Please RSVP so we can be sure to have enough to go around.
January 11 - Challah & Parve Desserts • February 8 - Vegetarian
March 1 - Fun Foods • March 29 - Pesach
April 29 - Israeli Barbeque • May 17 - Dairy & Fish
For more information contact Gayle Schindler
973-731-8822 • gayleschindler@comcast.net
An Adult Education Program of The Jewish Center of Princeton
“Acts of kindness
are among those
things that have no
limits.” Mishnah Peah 1
Bikur Cholim
The Bikur Cholim Committee provides a variety of functions
which help our Jewish Center family in need. We are comprised of
a group of people ready to assist when a fellow congregant requires
help due to an illness or disability. The kinds of things we've done
for one another in the past and are planning for the future are:
*sending get well cards to congregants
*driving people to and from hospital procedures
*picking up medicine from the pharmacy
*supermarket shopping
*bringing meals
*visiting people in the hospitals and in the senior care facilities
*organizing a blood drive
*doing errands
*New* *We are able to provide rides to and from Shabbat services.
We ask that if you or a family member are hospitalized that you
call The Jewish Center office and let us know. The Office will then
notify Alison and Margie, Co-chairs of the Bikur Cholim Committee,
and an email will go to the entire committee asking for volunteers
to make a hospital visit or do whatever may be helpful.
Please call Alison Politziner, (609) 924-3066, or Margie Atwater,
(732) 398-9761, for more information.
13
Letters From Israel
BY PETER SMITH
Ruins of the Last Days
[TJC member Peter Smith, husband of
Louise Sandburg, was on a six month
assignment to Israel. He lived in Haifa.
Here is the next in his occasional series of
Letters from Israel.]
RUINS OF THE LAST DAYS
The ruins at Tel Megiddo and Caesarea
are more impressive in their history than
they appear today. Piles of stones making
up low walls, fragments of columns and
capitals strewn along the road - these are a
testament to the destructiveness of man
(and nature plays its part with the occasional earthquake) but they are not too
dramatic now.
Caesarea is on the coast a half-hour south
of Haifa. Two thousand years ago it was
14
built by Herod the Great as a magnificent
harbor for commerce with Rome, and the
outline of his breakwaters can still be seen
under the waves. It became one of the
most important cities in the region, but its
fortunes waxed and waned over the ages
and finally the city was lost to history in
the 13th century after the Crusades and
the Muslim response. Only in the last few
decades has it gradually reemerged from
the dunes and today there are many fine
walls to see. The visitors’ center on the
pier puts on a great
show with videos
and talking holograms. There are
numerous restaurants and art galleries and the beach
is crowded with
swimmers. The surrounding area is full
of golf courses, spas,
and a huge power
station (not designed
by Herod) dominates
the skyline.
Tel Megiddo is twenty miles inland and
is said to be one of the most significant
archeological sites in the country. Its
importance is due to its location at a key
junction on the road from the south (and
Egypt) to the north (Syria and
Mesopotamia). The site has seen tremendous battles in times past, from the earliest
written instance in 1479 BCE right up
through the Napoleonic campaigns and
into the First World War. It’s a large
mound some 300 feet high rising out of
the surrounding plains. This hill is in fact
an artifact, the result of adding new construction on top of old, each raising the
mound a little more.
As the various cities that were sited at
Megiddo were destroyed, then rebuilt, then
destroyed and rebuilt many more times,
the Tel grew. (The destructiveness of man
may be on display, but also his resilience.)
Archaeologists have uncovered over twenty
distinct cultures like layers in a cake, ranging from 4000 BCE, through the Egyptian
and Solomonic eras to 400 BCE, when the
site was finally abandoned. Although
James Michener’s 1965 novel The Source
was set at a fictional Tel called Makor, it is
based on the example of Megiddo. He tells
stories of each of the civilizations of the
layers in a fine sweeping style that covers
the whole history of Judaism.
The problem with a rich history in a
small country is that the new is plastered
on the past often erasing it. I couldn’t see
the layers myself. All I could do was
stumble about on large stones in the ferocious heat and try to figure out the layout
with help from the displays. There is one
famous feature of the Tel that does raise
the excitement, and that is the 9th century
BCE water system - a great shaft dug into
the mound linked to a horizontal tunnel
than runs for two hundred feet to the
source of a spring which could keep the
fortified city supplied with water in the
event of a siege. There is no water at the
spring these days - just mossy stones but
it’s an amazing construction.
I could
appreciate the importance of water, and the
tunnel was a welcome relief from the sun.
Because of Megiddo’s key location and the
numerous battles that have been fought at
the site it is not surprising that the final
battle between good and evil that will bring
the end of mankind is prophesied to take
place at Megiddo. Har Megiddo (the hill of
Megiddo) has morphed into the fearsome
Armageddon, the end of days. Pilgrims of
the End Time flock to the site and when I
was there, three busloads of Nigerians
from Tel Aviv had gathered on a sacred
area at the top of the Tel and were chanting
and reciting aloud from the book of
Revelations to encourage the apocalypse
along. This eschatology has a powerful
attraction to many people. Yet over the
centuries there has been innumerable
prophesies that the last days are about to
come at a specific date and time (next
Tuesday, 4 pm), but this has failed to happen so far, while the ruins of Tel Megiddo
are still here, bleached in the sun.
15
Men’s
CLUB
The saddest part of the holidays being
over is that we have to take down The
Jewish Center Sukkah. But the Men’s
Club was there. Many thanks to the volunteers who took time away from raking
leaves on that chilly Sunday morning.
Using power screwdrivers in constant
motion we were done in time to get home
for a second cup of warm coffee.
gregants celebrate the holiday and fulfill
the mitzvah of putting up a Sukkah. We
received tremendously positive feedback
on this and hope to continue in future
years. In particular, a special thanks to Ed
Simon and Elyssa Malakoff and her daughters for helping to disassemble congregants’ (and Rabbi Tucker’s) Sukkot.
Watch for details on the upcoming
Superbowl party on February 1. And stay
tuned for other Men’s Club functions
including a Texas Hold ‘em Tournament
and Indoor Golf.
Mark Deitch & Lou Klimoff
This was the first year that the Men’s
Club offered the Roving Sukkah Crew that
helped congregants with their Sukkot;
happily we were able to help several con-
Rosh Hodesh:
It’s A Girl Thing!
2008-2009 Calendar
All meetings will take place at The Jewish Center
* 8th graders will meet from 6 - 7 p.m. followed by
dinner from 7 - 7:30 p.m.
* 9th graders will begin with dinner from 7- 7:30 p.m.
followed by the gathering from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Need Kippot?
Kippot for your weddings or
Bar/Bat Mitzvah celebrations are
available in a variety of colors and
fabrics. Color swatches are available for your review in the Gift
Shop. Prayer benchers are also
available in a variety of styles, and
they too are available for you to see
in the Gift Shop. Orders take four
weeks to process, so plan ahead
and order early! Hours for ordering are BY APPOINTMENT ONLY!
Please call Gail Alba at (609) 2750469.
CHANGE OF PLANS!! NEW DATE!!
REJOICE•RENEW•RELAX
TJC WOMEN'S RETREAT
AGE 13 AND UP
Friday, April 24 Sunday, April 26, 2009
Tuesday, December 16 (Tevet)
Tuesday, January 27 (Shevat)
Thursday, February 19 (Adar)
Thursday, March 26 (Nisan)
Thursday, April 23 (Iyar)
Tuesday, May 26 (Sivan)
To sign up for Rosh Hodesh: It’s A Girl’s Thing,
please watch your mail for more information or
contact Rabbi Tucker, (609-921-0100 ext. 213,
atucker@thejewishcenter.org.)
16
We’ve taken the time to rethink our strategy for creating a
weekend retreat for members of our congregation. We learned
from other synagogues that some of the most successful
retreats were more focused on a specific group rather than the
entire congregation. Given the success of women's programming at TJC, we thought a women's retreat is a good place to
start. With the decline in the economy, we also thought that
the expense of one or two family members attending is more
affordable than for a family of four or five.
Strengthen your connection to your synagogue community
while rejuvenating your spirit at the beautiful Pearlstone
Retreat Center in the countryside of Maryland just a few hours
from Princeton. Take a break from your routine and enjoy a
cozy, relaxing and spiritual weekend with Rabbi Tucker and
other women from TJC. More details on cost and programming
will follow in the months ahead.
Contributions
We appreciate the thoughtfulness of those who
support The Jewish Center by remembering
and honoring friends and loved ones through
their generous contributions.
General
Rakefet Kasdin becoming a Bat Mitzvah
from Rick and Polly Straus, Robert Seidenstein
and Marilyn Riley
Eve Niedergang becoming a Bat Mitzvah
from Robert Seidenstein and Marilyn Riley,
William Jemas and Jane Milrod
Deborah Yaffe becoming a Bat Mitzvah
from Barbara and Loeber Landau
Meryl Klein becoming a Bat Mitzvah
from Irene Shieh
Jess Deutsch becoming a Bat Mitzvah
from William Jemas and Jane Milrod
Corey Thompson
from Gail Shapiro-Scott and David Scott
In memory of
Jerome Keller
from Barry and Elaine Sussman
Louis Fisher
from Betsy and Don Rosen and family, Ron and
Barbara Berg, Jill and Gregg Kaufman, Lisa and
Mark Bergman and family
Helen Silverstein
from Betsy and Don Rosen and family
Larry Shindelman
from Betsy and Don Rosen and family
Harold Gardenswartz
from Joan and David Rosenfeld
Barci Thaler
from Martin and Martha Rossman
Lillian Weber
from Joanne and Milton Brown, Carol and
Robert Schwartz
Don Arons
from Jon, Gabi and Joe Shavel
Paul Wang
from Allen and Rhona Porter
Sidney Zagorin
from Howard and Marilyn Zagorin
Sylvia Zagorin
from Howard and Marilyn Zagorin
Max Friedman
from Seymour and Dorothy Friedman
Aliza Medina
from Thomas and Danielle Walker
Elias Shylit
from Ben and Sharon Shylit
Hyman Grossman
from Estelle Bartels
Sam Weisblatt
from Mildred and Lewis Weisblatt
Helen Auerbach
from Herbert and Maxine Gurk
Jonathan Pauker
from Carolyn, Lizzie, and Melanie Pauker
Eugen Blau
from Leslie and Stephanie Blau
Edith Gelzer
from Arnold and Bernice Gelzer
Milton Lieberman
from Marcie and David Lieberman
Gould Nursery Scholarship Fund
In honor of
Birth of Joan Levin’s grandson Benjamin
from Cynthia and Jake Sage, Eliot and Marsha
Freeman
Adult Education
In honor of
The Hattie Griffin Fund
Ricky Shechtel
from Barry and Elaine Sussman
Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class
from Helaine and Hanan Isaacs
In honor of
Scott Borsack’s speedy recovery
from The Shechtel Family
Birth of Joan Levin’s grandson Benjamin
from Esther and Murray Siegel
In memory of
Robert Dias
from Michael and Naomi Goldin
Adult Library
In honor of
All B’not Mitzvah participants on October 25
from Edward and Deirdra Flax
In memory of
Louis Fisher
from Ricky and Andrew Shechtel, Gail and
Dennis Alba
Mark Levin
from The Rossman Family
Jewish Center Women
In memory of
In memory of
Pauline Margaretten
from Judith Bronston
In honor of
Alice R. Braveman
from her sister Pauline Braveman Endy, sister-inlaw Phyllis Braveman and nieces and nephews,
Peter Dreier, Harry Dreier, Eric Endy, Michael
Endy, Daryl Endy Klein, Barbara Ann Braveman
Paster and Peter Braveman
Ricky Shechtel's special birthday
from Kristy and Michael Gothelf
New Siddur
Katrina Fund
Cantor’s Music Fund
In honor of
Rabbi Feldman and Cantor Simon
from Nina and Lorne Keller
Rebecca Pankove
from Simon and Melissa Pankove
Elliott Golden's Bar Mitzvah
from Andrew and Carol Golden
In memory of
Benjamin and Freda Frydenzohn
from David and Michelle Weisbord
New Humash
In honor of
Marjorie Chernikoff becoming a Bat Mitzvah
from Craig and Denise Feder
Nursery School
In memory of
In memory of
Larry Shindelman
from Lois Shindelman
Boris Blumin
from Michael and Naomi Goldin
Mark Levin
from Elaine and Barry Sussman
Children’s Library
In honor of
Ricky Shechtel's special birthday
from Nina Keller
Birth of Joan Levin's grandson Benjamin
from Ellen and George Pristach
Birth of Fran and Assaf Amir’s granddaughter Morgan
from Ellen and George Pristach
Margie Chernikoff becoming a Bat Mitzvah
from Roslyn and David Vanderbilt
Birth of Judy and Mike Leopold's granddaughter
Celia Madeline
from Eliot and Marsha Freeman
In memory of
Bernard Fishbein
from Lillian Fishbein
Laura Peskin
from Sybil Parnes
Ina and Paul Gilbert
from Roslyn and David Vanderbilt
Rabbi's Discretionary Fund
In honor of
Our High Holiday Aliyot and Torah Reading
from Robin and Jeff Persky
Rebecca Pankove
from Simon and Melissa Pankove
Rabbi Feldman and Cantor Simon
from Nina and Lorne Keller
Rabbi Feldman for hosting Erica and Ephraim during the baby naming of Paul and Barbara
Schwartz's granddaughter
from Ephriam and Erica Edelman
Elliott Golden's Bar Mitzvah
from Andrew and Carol Golden
In memory of
Robert Linder
from Gloria Linder
Dr. Jesse Vogel and Hilda Vogel
from Gloria Linder
Lillian Weber
from Marsha and Eliot Freeman
Contributions (continued on p. 22)
In
17
18
ShabbatAliveService
Friday, December 19
at 6:30 p.m.
Join
Rock the House
Cantor Simon and the TJC band
as they
with Shabbat !
There’s only one important
move left: selecting the right
attorney.
Hanan M. Isaacs, Esq. —
“Compassionate Counsel;
Tough Advocate.”
We bring over 28 years of experience,
and provide you with advice you
can trust.
❖ Family Law
❖ Civil Rights/Employment
Litigation
❖ Real Estate and Business
Litigation
❖ Criminal Law/Municipal Court
❖ Mediation and Arbitration of
Divorce, Family, and General
Civil Disputes
19
Adult Education
Fall 2008 / 5769
Hebrew on Sundays with Edna Noiman
Beginners (Matchilim) will be from 12 noon to 1 p.m.
Intermediate (Mamshichim) will be from 11 a.m. to
12 noon
Classes follow the Religious School Schedule
Tuition: $175.00 for 27 classes
Books not included in tuition
Learning Hebrew is not just for kids! Remember what you
learned all those years ago or start from the beginning!
Beginning Hebrew is for those who can read the letters and
want to learn contemporary Hebrew. Intermediate is for those
who have studied in TJC's adult Hebrew classes or who have
previous knowledge of Hebrew vocabulary and grammar.
Classes have requirement for a minimum number of students. RSVP to myarin@thejewishcenter.org or call 609-9210100 ext. 201. Although these classes have begun, new students are welcome!!
Shabbat Bible BaBoker (Bible in the Morning)
with Rabbi Annie Tucker
Every Shabbat Morning
from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m.
Come join our weekly Shabbat morning discussion of
Parashat HaShavua (the weekly Torah portion). Filled
with lively exploration and debate of the Torah's many wonderful (and often challenging) stories and themes, our Bible
BaBoker group has been meeting for two years and always
welcomes new participants regardless of background.
Study with us every week or whenever you can make it! We
look forward to learning together.
“Walking on the Edge of the Seam: Jerusalem
and the West Bank” led by Ruth Schulman
Sunday, December 14 - 4 p.m.
We will have a special discussion on Sunday, December 14
at 4:00 p.m. led by congregant Ruth Schulman. Ruth will
describe her recent trip to Israel to attend a conference
organized by Rabbis for Human Rights.
20
Maimonides - His Interpreters and His Influence
with Rabbi David Wolf Silverman
Classes: Tuesday evenings - 7:30 to 9 p.m.
December 2
Moses ben Maimon is undoubtedly the greatest Jewish
philosopher of all time. He occasioned controversy both in
person and in his books and letters, some of which are still
studied in yeshirot, seminaries and universities today. His
arguments, conclusions, and political philosophy will be
the focus of our study together. Come and see!
Texts: Guide for the Perplexed (any translation) Mishneh
Torah (any translation) and The Letters of Maimonides.
Weekday “Bible BaBoker (Bible in the Morning)
in the Afternoon”
with Rabbi Annie Tucker
December 2, and December 16
5 to 6 p.m.
Like its Shabbat morning counterpart (see above for
more information), this class provides an opportunity to
study the many wonderful and challenging texts of
Parashat HaShavua (the weekly Torah portion) in a comfortable and engaging environment.
Adult B'nai Mitzvah Program
with Rabbi Tucker
Weekly Sunday classes began on November 23
9 to 10:30 a.m.
One of TJC's most intense and rewarding programs of study is
our two year adult B’nai Mitzvah course, beginning again this
fall. Culminating in a Shabbat morning service led by members of the class, this wonderful program involves weekly study
sessions with our clergy, Hebrew language instruction, training
in Torah cantillation, and more. Most important, the program
lets participants develop close relationships with one another
and to reflect on the role that Judaism plays in their life today.
All are welcome regardless of background!
Regular classes will meet from 9-10:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings; the class began on November 23rd but you are still welcome to join. The cost for the program is $360/year but money
should not be a barrier to participation - please contact Rabbi
Tucker (atucker@thejewishcenter.org, (609) 921-0100 x213) if
you have concerns about fees.
Talmud in the Afternoon
with Rabbi David Wolf Silverman
Shabbat Afternoons from 3:30 to 5 p.m.
December 6, 13
We shall explore the minor tractates of the Babylonian
Talmud. They yield fascinating insights into the manners and
mores of the ancient Rabbis. Some of the texts have direct
relevance to our own times--either in agreement, opposition
or qualification. Come and see!
Torah on Thursdays - Classes with Rabbis
Feldman and Tucker
December 4, 11, and 18
Miracles in Jewish Tradition with Rabbi Tucker
7:15 to 8:30 p.m.
Chanukah is often thought of as the quintessential holiday of miracles, but in this way it is far from unique. From
the splitting of the Red Sea to the “daily miracles which
attend us” that we mention each day in the Amidah, Jewish
tradition has long embraced a belief in miraculous occurrences and a sense of wonder in the unexplained. In this
class we will explore our own ideas and beliefs about miracles and study together texts both classical and contemporary that can help us to better understand the mysterious
phenomena of the world around us. In our final session
we will also look specifically at the miracles of the
Chanukah story, helping us to prepare for the upcoming
Festival of Lights
Tzedek, Tezedek Tirdof - Social Justice in our
Contemporary World with Rabbi Feldman
8:30 to 9:45 p.m.
One of the guiding principles of the Conservative
Movement is social justice. According to the Torah, our
purpose is to make the world more just, sacred, and compassionate - in other words, more closely reflecting the
image of God. Judaism guides us in this sacred task by
inspiring us to work to repair the world. The prophetic
ideal of social justice found ample expression and concretization in the corpus of the Halakhah that sought to
create a society concerned with the welfare of the homeless, the impoverished, and the alien. As modern Jews, we
need to reaffirm our commitment to social justice and
freedom for men and women of all faiths and ethnic origin.
There are countless texts that have been written on this
subject and we will focus on a number of them in the hope
that they will inspire us to action - as individuals and as a
community. The challenge will be to read the ancient texts
with a modern eye so that we can bring these ideals to our
modern society. Together we can meet this challenge.
SAVE THE DATE
MAYOR CORY BOOKER
Honorable Cory Booker, Mayor of City of Newark, a
strong supporter of Israel, a brilliant orator and a
rising star in American politics, will speak at The
Jewish Center February 8, 2009 at 4:30 p.m. This
event is sponsord by our Israeli Affairs Committee.
His topic will be
“The Importance of a Strong
US/Israel Relationship”
Mayor Booker has begun
work on realizing a bold
vision for the city.
Newark's mission is to
set a national standard
for urban transformation
by marshalling its
resources to achieve
security, economic abundance and an environment
that is empowering for individuals and families. As
of July 1, Newark led the nation among large cities
for reductions in shootings and murders, achieving
decreases of more than 40% in both categories.
Among other recent notable achievements in the
past two years under Mayor Booker's leadership,
the City of Newark has committed to a $40 million
transformation of the city's parks and playgrounds
through a groundbreaking public/private partnership. He has been recognized in numerous publications, including Time, Esquire, New Jersey
Monthly, Black Enterprise and The New York Times.
Mayor Booker received his B.A. and M.A. from
Stanford University, a B.A. in Modern History at
Oxford University as a Rhodes scholar, and completed his law degree at Yale University.
21
RUTH MESSINGER VISITS THE
JEWISH CENTER
We are honored and excited to
announce
that
Ruth
Messinger, president of
American Jewish World
Service, will discuss the role of
“Jews as Global Citizens” at
sermon time on Shabbat
morning, December 13.
Speaking of her own experiences in the developing world,
Ruth will propose how
Photo by Chrystie Sherman
American Jews, who enjoy
greater affluence and influence than ever before, can do their
part to alleviate poverty, hunger, violence, disease and oppression. Sharing the words of dedicated Jews from communities
across the United States - college and rabbinical students,
community leaders and skilled professionals - she will tell of
the enormous transformative impact volunteering and advocacy can make in the modern era. By embracing our obligation to assist all people in need, regardless of race, religion or
Contributions (continued from pg. 17)
Rabbi's Discretionary Fund (continued)
nationality, we have the capacity to ensure social justice for
coming generations. As Jews who take seriously our role as
global citizens, we will contribute to tikkun olam, the fixing of
the world.
Ruth W. Messinger is president of American Jewish World
Service (AJWS), an international development organization
providing support to more than 400 grassroots social change
projects throughout the world. Ms. Messinger assumed this
role in 1998 following a 20-year career in public service in
New York City. She is an active member of her synagogue and
serves on the boards of several not-for-profit organizations.
In honor of her tireless work to end the genocide in Darfur,
Sudan, Ms. Messinger received an award from the Jewish
Council for Public Affairs in 2006. She was awarded honorary
degrees from Hebrew Union College (2005) and Hebrew
College (2007), and recently received the “Crown of Good
Name” award from Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and
the “Women of Vision Award” from the American Jewish
Committee. For the past seven years, she has been named one
of the “50 Most Influential Jews of the Year” by the Forward.
Ms. Messinger has three children, eight grandchildren, and
one great-grandchild.
Louis Fisher
from the Rossman family, Helaine and
Hanan Isaacs
memory of
In memory of
Lillian Weber
from Walter and Linda Meyer
Jeanette Katz
from Miriam G. Levine
Robert Freeman
by Marsha and Eliot Freeman
Lillian Weber
Religious School
Social Concerns
In honor of
In honor of
In honor of
Kef Kasdin
from Laura Kahn
Birth of Fran and Assaf Amir's granddaughter
Morgan
from Cynthia and Jake Sage
Louise Sandburg becoming a Bat Mitzvah
from Harvey Rosen and Marsha Novick, Antoine
and Noemie Gerschel
Deborah Yaffe becoming a Bat Mitzvah
from Barbara and Loeber Landau, from her parents James and Elaine Yaffe
Adult B'not Mitzvah Class of 2008
from Deborah Yaffe
Shabbat Luncheon Fund
Tree of Life
In memory of
Steven Levine Special Education Fund
Cecile and Arrel Friedman
from Martha Friedman and Harold Heft
Lillian and Allen Weber
Larry Shindelman
Mortimer and Sally Shakun
Youth and Family Programs
In honor of
Rakefet Kasdin becoming a Bat Mitzvah
from Jason and Arielle Kay
Jacob Schwimmer becoming a Bar Mitzvah
In memory of
In honor of
Birth of Joan Levin's grandson Benjamin
from the School Committee
Birth of Fran and Assaf Amir's granddaughter Morgan
from the School Committee
Shabbat Meal for Mourners Fund
In memory of
In memory of
Jerome Keller
Louis Fisher
Larry Shindelman
Helen Silverstein
from Barry and Terri Rossman
Edith Ales
22 from Helaine and Hanan Isaacs
Torah Repair Fund
Dr. Mark Levin
from John and Eleni Passalaris
Louis Fisher
from Ed and Lori Simon
In honor of
Birth of Judy and Mike Leopold's granddaughter
Celia Madeline
from Walter and Linda Meyer
Louis Fisher
from Jacqui Schreiber and Peter Miller, the
Carnegie Family
Lillian Weber
from The Carnegie Family
Helen Silverstein
from The Carnegie Family
Ellie Schweber
Judy Margolin
Faina Sechzer
Amy Trachtenberg
CORNER
Thanks to all of you who sent in requests to
become part of a new Havurah! The committee has met and we are pleased to announce
the formation of three new Havurot:
Families with School-aged Children, Empty
Nesters, and “Baby Boomer-age Singles.”
We would like to focus on forming Havurot
for two other groups. One is for young marrieds, ages 20s or early 30s. The other is for
families with young preschool-aged children.
If you fit into either of these groups and
would like to meet other couples/families,
please complete the form below.
Please complete the form below and return
to The Jewish Center, 435 Nassau Street,
Princeton, New Jersey, 08540 or email
<marthafriedman1@aol.com>
Name: _____________________________
Address: ___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
Phone: ___________________________
Email: ___________________________
Family member names and ages of children:
___________________________
___________________________
Anyone who has requested to be in a
Havurah was contacted in November, and an
organizational meeting for each of the new
Havurot will take place during November or
December. A member of the Havurah committee will be at the first gathering to help
facilitate the creation of your Havurah and
help the group plan the first few meetings.
Formation of Havurot is ongoing throughout the year. If you would still like to join a
Havurah, complete the form below and
return to TJC office, or email <marthafriedman1@aol.com>. Please consider signing up
to help coordinate your new Havurah.
Havurah Committee:
Martha Friedman
Mik Rosenthal
Nancy Lewis
Ziona Silverman
Mim Gershen
Sustainability Committee
Organic Garden
The plans to have the Sustainability
Committee’s organic garden at The
Jewish Center are moving forward in two
major ways.
The first will be a meeting with Rabbi
Feldman in the near future to plan a possible Tu B’Shevat Seder to be held in
February 2009. This Seder will raise our
consciousness about the fact that organic
gardening represents the Judaic concept of
tikkun olam - healing the world (in this
case by creating sustainability) - and by
___________________________
Havurah Preferences:
___ Families with Young Children
___ Holiday Celebrations
___ Families with School Aged Children
___ Jewish Learning
___ Empty Nesters
___ Israeli Families
___ Singles
___ Intergenerational Families
___ Seniors
___ Pursuing the Arts (Music, Theatre)
Additional Suggestions:
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
___ I’d be interested in helping to coordinate
my Havurah
enabling us to enjoy celebrating Tu
B’Shevat together.
The second is that with your help we will
set up a Resource Center to help congregants connect with each other online as
they create their own organic gardens
(small and experimental as they may be) at
their own homes. This will help form a
core group of congregants who will then
help us construct the organic garden at
The Jewish Center. By starting online first,
we can bring people together to learn
about organic gardening and have them
meet at The Jewish Center, and at each
others’ gardens at various times to share
information and results in person.
TJC Blood Drive:
Give a Little,
Give a Lot
The next blood drive at the Jewish
Center is scheduled for Sunday
December 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
in the Youth Lounge.
Over the course of a lifetime, one in
three people will need a blood transfusion while only 2% of the population in NJ donates blood. This puts
premature infants, cancer patients,
accident victims, and others with lifethreatening medical problems in a
precarious situation.
Each blood donation can directly
affect the health of three people. Your
donation also helps the family and
friends of patients who are comforted
knowing this lifesaving substance is
available for a loved one. Also, donating blood and making sure it is available for members of our community
is a mitzvah and an important civic
responsibility.
Please set aside an hour in your
schedule on Sunday December 7 to
help save a life! To be eligible you
must be at least 17 years old and
weigh 110 lbs. Some form of ID is
required. All donors will receive a
free eco-friendly grocery bag, blood
pressure and hemoglobin test, and
learn their blood type. For an
appointment please contact Ilana
Atwater at <ilanabeth@aol.com> or
call Lynne Ross at 609-439-6834.
We invite you to begin this process now!
When we have created this infrastructure
we can build much further more quickly to
see our TJC organic garden come to
fruition. Actually, what we are doing is
simultaneously creating a havurah that
will bring us together to focus on organic
gardening and sustainability and to create
friendships we would not otherwise have.
Please contact Mik Rosenthal,<ingatherer@earthlink.net> to express your interests about the possible Tu B’Shevat Seder,
your own organic garden, and the organic
garden at The Jewish Center, and we will
start networking immediately!
23
Youth and Family Programming
From Neil Wise
December Youth Programs at The Jewish Center
Haverim, Kadima and USY
Youth Musical Grades 3rd and 12th
Youth Calendar of Events
December 14 Tryouts
Kadima and Haverim
December 14 Parent Meeting
December 7 Laser Tag
January 4, 11, 25, February 1, 8, 22 Rehearsals
March 1 Musical
March 15 Musical Performed at Greenwood House
USY
December 7 Super Sunday
December 7 USY Meeting
December 21 – 28 International Convention, Washington, DC
USY - Grades 8th thru 12th
USY, United Synagogue Youth, provides the highest level of programming for high school youth
from grades 8th thru 12th. USY challenges our
youth to strengthen their religious, cultural, and
communal commitments, to develop leadership
skills, achieve higher levels of responsibility, both
personally and as a member of the community
and to do it all while having a great time! In the
process, students form friendships which last a
lifetime and store many cherished memories.
Membership in USY provides the opportunity to
participate in all chapter activities and numerous
regional events including several conventions
throughout the year. Our award winning chapter
was recognized in several areas of programming
at last year’s Regional Spring Convention.
KADIMA - Grades 5th thru 7tth
Kadima offers 5th thru 7th graders the opportunity to participate with other Jewish children in an
informal social atmosphere. Participation is sure
to instill positive feelings in your child about his or
her Jewish identity, as well as open the opportunity for new friendships and a lot of fun. Kadima
offers a varied schedule of social activities, holiday celebration, and community service events. In
addition to our program, the Kadima chapter participates in regional activities. Our youth will meet
other Jewish 5th thru 7th graders from all over
New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.
HAVERIM - Grades 3rd & 4th
24
Haverim, invites all 3rd and 4th graders to join
together once each month for an afternoon of fun
with other Jewish children. Haverim is designed
to provide the group with fun activities while promoting the opportunity for making friendships
that will grow stronger through their youth group
years. Members will participate in social activities, community service events and holiday celebrations.
Shema Koleinu
During his Kol Nidre sermon, Rabbi
Feldman asked the congregation to take
a more active role in sharing our insights
and our visions for the The Jewish
Center. He proposed to meet with
groups of congregants in their homes to
facilitate discussion and feedback so that
all of our voices are heard. These meetings will be known as Shema Koleinu,
which means “Hear our Voices.”
Many congregants have asked about
being part of these meetings, and a list of
those scheduled for the next three
months is below. If you are interested in
attending or hosting a meeting, please
contact Lori Simon at lol05@aol.com or
at 609-731-6497. We will try to accommodate your preferences for dates and
locations as we are able.
Please note the following meeting dates
and locations, each to begin at 7:30 pm:
December 10 at the home of Judy and
Moshe Margolin
December 17 at the home of Carol and
Larry Shatoff
January 21 at the home of Brigitte and
Maurice Sasson
February 18 at the home of Lori Weir
and Brig Henderson
We will update you each month about
dates and locations of future meetings.
Let us hear your voice!
Kadima and Haverim Event
Sunday, December 7
Join us for Laser Tag at Solar Eclipse Laser Tag!
Laser
Tag
in Pennington
*Bus leaves TJC at 1 p.m. and returns at 5 p.m.
Cost: $30 for Members $35 for Non-Members
Please return payment and permission slip to TJC office by December 4
Questions? Call or email Elizabeth Skale (Kadima advisor)
at elizabeth skale@yahoo.com/215-498-4524
Or Ronit Johnson (Haverim advisor) at rjohnson@thejewishcenter.org / 609-529-4211
Price includes laser tag, bus ride, snack, and fun!
25
PAUL B. PAPIER
P
Papier Photographic
S T U D I O S
papierphoto.com
136 Riverside Drive
Princeton, NJ 08540
Phone 609.924.0560
pbp99@yahoo.com
Need A Tallis?
Fabulous Selection for Women and Men
& Bar/Bat Mitzvahs
Discount
Prices
732-613-8018
Call for an appointment
www.ekippah.com
Yarmulkas by Amy L.L.C.
Plus Ladies’ Head Coverings & Judaica Gifts
EXPERIENCED TUTOR
Princeton University graduate with Ph.D.
TJC member
ALL GRADE LEVELS, MANY SUBJECTS
Including English, math, French, history, writing, study skills,
homework monitoring
Personalized attention, tailored to your child’s needs
609-921-0792
tutoring.princeton@gmail.com
Educational Coach
SAT I • SAT II - Writing Subject Test
PSAT • SSAT • College Essay Editing
26
609-683-4368
arose70@hotmail.com
Contributions
The Jewish Center is so grateful for the many donations that you give both in
honor of joyous occasions and in memory of beloved family and friends. To make
the logistics easier and the gifting choices clearer, a donor form is printed on the
back of each monthly newsletter. Donor forms are also available in the Main Office.
We thank you for the generosity that goes into each of these donations!
Your name(s) as you would like it to appear in newsletter: __________________________________________________________
Donor’s Address ____________________________________________________________________________________________
❑ In honor of:
Occasion: ❑ In memory of:
Name(s) as you would like it to appear in newsletter: ______________________________________________________________
Send donation acknowledgement card to:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Please remember, acknowledgment cards are sent for contributions of $18 or more. A listing will be posted as you would like it to appear in the
newsletter for any donated amount.)
Amount Enclosed: ______________________
Please indicate your choice below and mail this form and a check to The Jewish Center, 435 Nassau St., Princeton, NJ 08540. If
you are interested in planned giving opportunities, please call Linda Park in The Center Office, 609-921-0100, ext. 205.
Funds
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General
Adult Education
Adult Library
Arts & Cultural Affairs
Biloxi/Katrina Fund
Building Development Fund
Cantor’s Music Fund
Children’s Library
College Connection
Confirmation Class Israel Trip Fund
Cy and Jackie Meisel Nursery
Scholarship Fund
Feldstein Israel Travel Scholarship Fund
Goldie and Motel Bass Social Concerns Fund
Gould Nursery Scholarship Fund
Hattie Griffin Fund
Irving N. Rabinowitz Computer Fund
Israeli Affairs Fund
Jess Epstein Lunch-and-Learn Fund
Jewish Center Women
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❑
❑
❑
❑
❑
❑
❑
❑
❑
LaShir
Men’s Club
Neimark Senior Mitzvah Fund
New Siddur ($35) New Humash ($55)
Nursery School
Nursery Educator’s Enrichment Fund
Nursery Playground Fund
Rabbis’ Discretionary Fund
Religious Affairs
Religious School
Religious School Special Shabbat
Religious School Professional
Development Fund
Ruth Miller School Cultural Fund
Sapoff Art Purchase and Restoration Fund
Shabbat Luncheon Fund
Shabbat Meal for Mourners Fund
Silver Circle Scholarship Fund
Social Concerns
❑
❑
❑
❑
Steven Levine Special Education Fund
Torah Repair Fund
Youth and Family Programs
Wallack Family Fund
Plaques and Remembrances
❑ Memorial Plaque $350
❑ Tree of Life Leaf $216
(to commemorate a simcha)
Giving Opportunities
❑ Adult Ed Lecture or Series $300-$600
❑ Sponsor a Shabbat Kiddush Luncheon
$1,500 or Shabbat Kiddush $400
❑ Donation toward Youth Lounge
recreational equipment
*Now you can donate through our website. Go to www.thejewishcenter.org and
follow the instructions!
Office:(609) 921-0100 Fax: (609) 921-7531 School: (609) 921-7207
E-Mail: info@thejewishcenter.org
Website: www.thejewishcenter.org
Adam Feldman . . . . . . . . . .Rabbi
Murray E. Simon . . . . . . . . .Cantor
Anne E. Tucker . . . . . . . . . .Rabbi
Dov Peretz Elkins . . . . . . . .Rabbi Emeritus
Linda Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Director of Operations
Fran Amir . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Principal, Religious School
Gayle Z. Wagner . . . . . . . . . .Director, Nursery Program
Gila Levin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ritual Director
Neil Wise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Director, Youth and Family Programs
Michael Feldstein . . . . . . . .President
Gil Gordon . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Vice President-Administration
Bruce Hecht . . . . . . . . . . . .Vice President-Finance
Susan Falcon . . . . . . . . . . . .Vice President-Education
David Greenberg . . . . . . . . .Vice President-Religious Affairs
Linda Schwimmer . . . . . . . .Recording Secretary
Linda Grenis . . . . . . . . . . . .Past President
28
Deadline for January Newsletter -- December 12, 2008
Non Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
435 Nassau Street, Princeton, New Jersey 08540
Permit No. 172
Princeton, N.J.
TIME VALUE

December Highlights Eight Candles Shmona Neyrot

Transcription

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