January 2016 - Congregation Beth Mordecai

Congregation Beth Mordecai
A Jewish Home for the Soul
January 2016
Tevet /Sh’vat 5776
Shabbatapalooza is a weekend experience to
encourage you to spend more Shabbat with us.
There are discrete services & events through
the weekend. Come for more than one!
January 30 - 6:30pm
Woodbridge Lanes
January 29 - 7pm - Beth Mordecai
Share in the holiness of Shabbat with eating,
singing, storytelling, dancing & schmoozing.
It’s Shabbat for the mind, soul & body.
White Out Shabbat is sure to leave you dancing
and singing in the street. Come dressed all in
white to reflect the purity in our hearts and get
ready for a service like none you’ve ever seen!
7:00pm - DAIRY Potluck Dinner
8:00pm - Musical Service
Tell us what you’ll bring on our Facebook event page.
Come bowling …’nuff said!
RSVP to Rabbi Saks (ari.saks@gmail.com)
January 31 - 9:30am
Beth Mordecai
$10 members
($20 non-members)
Come to the first of four brunch hours where we learn from
great teachers on the four pillars of our community:
Belonging, Tradition, Faith, and Shabbat.
The morning begins at 9:30am with a tefillin service. Feel the
power of the ancient tradition of “laying” (wearing) tefillin.
Men and women are both encouraged to participate.
January 30 - 10am - Beth Mordecai
Be inspired by beautiful Jewish images in a
special service with songs and prayers on the
big screen! This fun Shabbat experience will
be followed by a Kiddush lunch.
RSVP to Rabbi Saks (ari.saks@gmail.com)
At 10:30, over a tasty brunch, we will explore the world of
Israeli innovation in the field of technology, learning about
what makes Israel such a technical powerhouse. Brunch will
be followed by a communal experience of one of Israel’s
most original and innovative “technologies”: Israeli dance.
Sponsorships available. RSVP to Rabbi Saks.
Synagogue & Contribution Information
Congregation Beth Mordecai
Established 1897
Address
Office Phone
Rabbi’s Phone
Office E-mail
Rabbi’s E-mail
Office Hours
Website
224 High St., Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
732.442.1373
732.442.2431
OfficeBethMordecai@gmail.com
Ari.Saks@gmail.com
10am - 2pm Monday - Thursday
http://BethMordecai.org
“Tzedaka is equal in importance to all other commandments combined.”
-Talmud
I am pleased to make a contribution of $ __________________
to the following fund…
Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund
Allows the rabbi to support special programs and individuals in need.
General Fund
Synagogue Staff
Rabbi
Ari Saks
Executive Director Elliot Rubin
Applied to the operating budget of the congregation.
Friday Night Oneg Fund
Used for cookies and other noshes following Friday night services.
A contribution of $75 supports one oneg.
Board of Trustees
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
Past President
Past President
Past President
Past President
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Acknowledge the Occasion through
Beth Mordecai
Shabbat Morning Kiddush Fund
Alan Roy
Cheryl August
Marc Fertik
Scott Gursky
Norman Silverstein
Michael Gast
Ron Miskoff
Larry Deutchman
David Bennett
Ann Blog
Steve Safran
Louis Sher
Used for luncheons and noshes following Saturday morning services.
A contribution of $125 supports one Kiddush.
...in honor, memory or appreciation of:
____________________________________________________________.
My Information:
Name
____________________________________________________
Address ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Phone
____________________________________________________
Committee Contacts
Caring
Duck Race
High Holidays
Sherry Weber
Alan Roy
Marc Fertik
David Bennett
Oneg/Kiddush
Betty Fertik
Jeremy Strauss
Strategic Planning Marc Fertik
YJPA
Stella Morrison
908.451.9708
908.403.4303
732.390.3348
732.494.9029
732.407.0821
732.331.4049
732.390.3348
Please send this contribution form and check directly to the synagogue office.
Checks should be made payable to “Congregation Beth Mordecai”.
Contributions to the above listed funds may
also be made on the synagogue website
through our secure PayPal link.
Thank you for your generous and thoughtful support of our funds
which keep the synagogue running & help with a multitude of worthy
projects that enrich & invigorate our community.
Todah Rabbah - many thanks to you all!
Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund Donations
Marilyn Davidoff
Ronit & Raphael Zimak
Miriam & Jay Hamelburg
General Fund Donations
Janet Cohen
Elyse Lyons
Andrew Safran
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Message from Rabbi Saks
A New Year Thought: Going Backward to Move Forward
Dear Hevreh,
Everyone loves a fresh start. A new chance, a new opportunity to do something and be someone
we couldn't be before. Sometimes the things that stop us are institutional -- the places in which
we find ourselves and the people with whom we surround ourselves. Yet, more often than not
what blocks us from growing and becoming the person we can truly become is the voice inside
our heads telling us that "this is who you are" and "you can never be something more."
Thankfully though we have a few times over the course of the year -- our birthdays, new years, anniversaries, etc. -in which the cycle of the year seems to pause for a moment so that we can restart our lives for the better. Though
these are simply arbitrary times of renewal, they help us close one chapter of our lives in order to begin another. This
act of closing is central to the feeling of freshness that accompanies a new beginning. We don't have to hold onto
whatever ills or mistakes from the past that have built up over the course of time. We can move forward with a
lightness to our being, a sense of possibility that is not encumbered by the drudge of emotional baggage.
Yet no matter how much we might yearn to free ourselves of our past, to shut up the voices that tell us we cannot
be better than who we are, we can never escape our past. In fact Jewish wisdom teaches us that in order to
renew our lives, in order to begin or restart the process of growth, we must learn from the lessons of the past.
As Jews we never forget. Understanding our history reminds us that we persevered the Egyptians, the Greeks, the
Romans, the Nazis, and every civilization that believed they were the fresh start for a better civilization; participating
in our life cycle moments, whether it's with the cutting of foreskin or the breaking of matzah, recalls our strength to
survive. And in the midst of all that work of memory, we believe albeit paradoxically that we can refresh our future.
Take for instance the Hebrew word "return" -- hazar)‫ )חזר‬As a verb, this word is used to denote the action of the
Jewish new year: doing repentance -- hazar bitshuvah )‫ )חזר בתשובה‬which literally means "returning in repentance."
In other words, the act of spiritual renewal (i.e. repentance) is an act of returning, as if we are returning to our true
spiritual selves that we once were but forgot. What's more, the way in which we do that act of returning is by
"practicing" the ancient methods that helped our ancestors renew their spiritual lives -- fasting, praying, studying,
and doing mitzvot like circumcising our male children and eating matzah on Passover. And what's the Hebrew
word for practice"? Hazarah )‫ )חזרה‬which contains the root of hazar. In other words, to renew our lives, we
return to who we were.
But perhaps the most interesting meaning of the root hazar is one you might not expect -- hazir, meaning "pig." Pigs,
in Jewish tradition, are one of the most vile creatures alive. In the Babylonian Talmud (Masekhet Berachot 25a) Rabbi
Papa said "the snout of the pig is like manure." Rashi understands this to mean that a pig's snout is, by its very nature,
inherently filthy. It can never be cleaned even after a pig has washed itself.
More than simply an example of the rabbis' contempt for pigs, I think that this teaching is very instructive to the nature
of "return" at the root of the Hebrew word for pig (hazir) and the Jewish process of renewal. Our past is full of filth, manure-like experiences that we wish we could forget. And our wish to restart, to move forward without the encumbrance of the past is predicated upon our aversion to dealing with that filth our past carries for us. We feel that we
need that clean slate given to us by moments like a new year. But the fact of the matter is that even if we wanted to,
we can never escape our past. It's always with us whether we like it or not. Judaism is not naive enough to believe
that we can leave the filthy parts of our past behind. Rather to whatever degree we can, we must acknowledge
and examine that "filth" through the practices of our tradition. It's not easy by any means, but if we want ourselves
and our institutions to be better and stronger, we must recognize what brought us here -- the good and the bad -because only by looking backward can we hope to move forward.
May our new year be one of great blessing built upon the lessons of all our past experiences.
Kol Tuv,
Rabbi Ari Saks
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Shabbat Experiences
Friday Night Services - Fridays - 8pm - Open to All
Join us for spirited and lively participatory services. Each service includes elements of singing, storytelling and
conversation with the community. Monthly themes:
Celebration Shabbat - January 1
Commemorate your birthday or anniversary in the upcoming month with a special Friday night celebration,
to be followed by a Blowout Oneg Shabbat. (To sponsor an oneg contact Jeremy Strauss.)
Pardon the Interruption - February 12
A series of 3 conversations that interrupt the Jewish ritual service in order to understand different prayers
and sections of the service on a deeper level. The conversations, each 5-7 minutes long, are thematically
tied and interspersed throughout the service.
White Out Friday Night - January 29 - 7pm
Share in the magic and holiness of Shabbat with an evening of eating, singing, storytelling, dancing and
schmoozing. It’s Shabbat for the mind, soul and body. White Out Shabbat is sure to leave you dancing and
singing in the street. Come dressed all in white to reflect the purity in our hearts and get ready for a service
like none you’ve ever seen!
Saturday Morning Services - Saturdays - 10am - Open to All
Traditional, egalitarian and informative. We connect participants to traditions while actively engaging them in the
service. There is ample opportunity for in-depth learning of the prayers and the Torah Portion. Monthly themes:
Torah Talk - January 2
Delve into the rich teachings of the week’s Torah reading. In lieu of a formal sermon, we will pause the
service after the Torah reading for a lively 10-15 minute discussion on how we can apply the wisdom of
the Torah to the needs of our every day lives.
Pardon the Interruption - February 13
A series of 3 conversations that interrupt the Jewish ritual service in order to understand different prayers and
sections of the service on a deeper level. The conversations, each 5-7 minutes long, are thematically tied
and interspersed throughout the service.
Shabbos, Schnapps & a Schtickle of Yiddishkeit - January 16 - 9am
Learn about Jewish tradition, religion and history with an early morning sip of schnapps (optional!). The
experience runs in lieu of services. We’ll schmooze with families from Tot Shabbat as they have a kiddie
Kiddush, then learn something interesting together according to Tot Shabbat’s theme for the month, and
we’ll wrap up with Kiddush. This program is intended for ALL members of Beth Mordecai, especially those
who are more interested in learning & discussion than services.
Current Events Sermon - January 15
Rabbi Saks will deliver a formal sermon on a Jewish
interpretation of a relevant current events topic.
732.407.0821
bettymf@me.com
732.331.4049
straussjer@gmail.com
January 16 - 10:00am
Theme: Tu B’Shevat
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Jewish Experiences
?
E
ASK TH
RABBI
Ask the Rabbi
January 20 - 12:00pm
Menlo Park Mall Food Court
Have a question? Have a seat! Bring your
lunch and ask the rabbi ANY question you
like...seriously! First person to come will get a
free drink from the rabbi!
January 16 - 6:30pm
Seabra’s The Armory - 200 Front St., Perth Amboy
Come by for Happy Hour at Seabra’s Armory for
drinks, appetizers and great people!
January 10 - 11am - Congregation Beth Or
70 CR 516, Old Bridge, NJ
Join Rabbi Saks & Rabbi Mishkin to discuss some
practical advice in navigating the tricky waters
when children have intermarried. The session is
open to those who registered for the Grand parents Circle series. Contact Rabbi Saks for
information (ari.saks@gmail.com).
January 30 - 1:15pm - Beth Mordecai
in Perth Amboy
A monthly support group to help couples
negotiate issues related to faith, tradition & family
that stem from having different faith backgrounds
and religious traditions. Co-facilitated by Rabbi
Saks & Reverend Anne-Marie Jeffrey.
LIGHT CANDLES
SHABBAT ENDS
Jan. 1
4:23pm
Jan. 2
5:27pm
Jan. 8
4:29pm
Jan. 9
5:33pm
Jan. 15
4:36pm
Jan. 16
5:40pm
Jan. 22
4:44pm
Jan. 23
5:47pm
Jan. 29
4:53pm
Jan. 30
5:55pm
Friday, February 16
Feb. 5
5:02pm
Feb. 6
6:03pm
7:00pm
Private Home in Perth Amboy
Come celebrate Shabbat at a private home
in Perth Amboy with other young adults and
families. Contact Stella for more details and
to RSVP (YJPerthAmboy@gmail.com).
Feb. 12
5:10pm
Feb. 13
6:11pm
Feb. 19
5:18pm
Feb. 20
6:19pm
Feb. 26
5:27pm
Feb. 27
6:26pm
Times are specific to Perth Amboy; from Chabad.org.
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Caring Committee
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Visits
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In Loving Memory
A DONATION HAS BEEN MADE TO THE SYNAGOGUE BY:
Lois Berkowitz, in memory of Edward Berkowitz
Rhona & Fred Bernhardt, in memory of Fannie Sherman
Sheila & George Brown, in memory of Abraham Welkis
Martin Clawans, in memory of David Clawans
Debra & Howard Cohen, in memory of Florence Griger & Isadora Cohen
Paula & Martin Cutler, in memory of David Levinson
“The soul of man is the candle of G-d.”
- King Solomon’s Proverbs
Marilyn Davidoff, in memory of Steve Davidoff
Michael Denes, in memory of David Buchsbaum
Phil Eichen, in memory of Roslyn & Anna Eichen
Barbara & Jerome Eisner, in memory of Sarah Okner
Judy Gilbert, in memory of Stewart Gilbert
SERVING THE JEWISH COMMUNITY
since 1919
Family Owned & Operated
3rd Generation Craftsmen
Stone Memorial Designs
Granite - Cemetery Inscriptions - Bronze
Factory Showroom
329 Florida Grove Rd.
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
732.442.1268
www.shevco.com
Penny Gampel & Steve Jaffe, in memory of Ditty Gampel Shapiro
We Remember
Robert Arky, in memory of Bertha Arky
Dori Klang, in memory of Morris Shulman
Joan, Emily & Andy Kossowsky, in memory of Philip Kossowsky
Janet Lipman, in memory of Herbert Lipman
Bernice & Bernard Magier, in memory of Ana Magier
Shelli & Lewis Mandel, in memory of Murray Mandel
Arlene & Seymour Miller, in memory of Louis Wedeen
Lori & Ron Miskoff, in memory of Mollie Epstein
Bobby Pivnick, in memory of Lena Lewkowitz
Ronnie Hirschorn-Polnerow, in memory of Seymour Spector, Bertha
Hirschorn & Kevin Polnerow
Arleen Price, in memory of Harold Boerer
Elaine & Gordon Reibman, in memory of Frank & Gussie Gold and Emil
Landau
Nicole & Barry Rosengarten, in memory of Isadore Jacobson
JAMES J. FLYNN, MANAGER
424 East Ave.
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
732.826.0358
NJ Lic. No. 4152
BRENDAN J. FLYNN, MANAGER
319 Amboy Ave.
Metuchen, NJ 08840
732.548.2134
NJ Lic. No. 4105
23 Fords Ave.
Fords, NJ 08863
732.826.0358
NJ Lic. No. 2158
Vardi & Alan Roy, in memory of Israel Joseph Roy
Lorraine Scheps, in memory of Celia Zelbo
Suzanne, Jeffrey & Mark Schwartz, in memory of Albert Schwartz
Helen Wong Seidman, in memory of Miriam Esther Seidman
Ronna & Richard Silberberg, in memory of Mollie Kohn
Libby & Allen Weingarten, in memory of Pauline & Samuel Weingarten
MAY THEIR MEMORY BE FOR A BLESSING.
Who Do I Call?
When a death occurs, the emotional moment can cause confusion. Some important phone calls need to be made.
− 1st, a medical authority must be contacted to sign a death certificate.
− 2nd, the funeral home must be contacted to make arrangements to transfer the deceased to the funeral home.
− 3rd, contact the synagogue. A death may occur at any time of night or day; it is important to leave messages
in a few places to ensure the rabbi will get back to you.
Please call/email: Rabbi Ari Saks | 732.442.2431 or 732.442.1373 | ari.saks@gmail.com
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Reminder
JANUARY
01
08:00pm - Shabbat Services - Celebration Shabbat
02
10:00am - Shabbat Services - Torah Talk
05
13:30pm - Veterans Home Visit
08
08:00pm - Shabbat Services
10
11:00am - Grandparents Circle
15
18:00pm - Shabbat Services - Current Events Sermon
16
09:00am - Shabbat Services - Schnappes & Schtickle
16
Vi10:00am - Tot Shabbat
16
16:30pm - YJPA Happy Hour
19
03:30pm - Veterans Home Visit
20
12:00pm - Ask the Rabbi
29
07:00pm - Shabbat Services - White Out Shabbat
30
10:00am - Shabbat Services - Video Shabbat
30
11:15pm - Faithful Families
30
16:30pm - Bowling!
31
19:30am - Mordy’s Brunch Hour
Can you lend a hand?
Volunteers are needed for:
Office Assistance
Writing for the Bulletin
Caring Committee Visitors
Opening Up for Services & Events
Shabbat Morning Coffee Set-Up
Organizing & Sponsoring Kiddush
To help, please contact the office!
224 High Street
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
A Jewish Home for the Soul
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Congregation Beth Mordecai