October 2012 - The Jewish Center

TISHRI / CHESHVAN 5773
OCTOBER Highlights
Holidays Continue
Gift Boutique
Schools
Contributions
Calendar
pg. 4-5
pg. 8
pg. 8-11
pg. 20-21
pg. 26-27
RABBI’S MESSAGE
October 2012
A few weeks ago, I spoke to the congregation on Shabbat
about the meaning of a critical word in Jewish living. The
word is “Mitzvah” which some translate as “good deed”. I
shared with the congregation the direct translation of commandment as well as some others I have learned from my
teachers, including choice or opportunity. My favorite is what
my teacher, Rabbi David Wolpe, taught me by saying that the
mitzvot are the language we use to communicate with God.
SERVICE SCHEDULE
Of all of the 613 mitzvot in the Torah, of all of the mitzvot that I observe in my life,
the one that stands out for me is the mitzvah I will observe in the coming weeks –
dwelling in my sukkah. From the time I was very young, I can remember my family building our sukkah together in our backyard and inviting guests to join us for
meals. We were one of the only families in our community that had a sukkah, and
my mother loved to teach people about our holiday. We always made it fun for
the kids by including some interesting decorations (once we used candy including
tootsie rolls that did not last very long) and we played many games in our sukkah
(including a game of golf in the backyard when I tried to see how many shots it
took to hit the ball into the sukkah).
(continued on page 2)
MESSAGE FROM RABBI TUCKER
Rabbi Avi Geller tells the following story about a man who
once traveled from America to the village of Radin, Poland,
to visit the great Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagen, author of many
famous codes of Jewish law. The man knocked on Rabbi
Kagen’s door and was greeted by an elderly, stooped gentleman who asked him to please enter. Looking around,
the visitor noticed that the rabbi’s house was as bare of
furniture as if it had been hit by a hurricane. Just one
table, two chairs, a bookcase and a bed adorned the sparse abode.
“Rabbi, may I ask a question?” said the man. “I don’t notice any furniture in
your home. Have you fallen on hard times?”
The rabbi, unaffected by his guest’s chutzpah, turned to the visitor. “And may I
ask you a question, young man?”
“Certainly,” came the reply.
“Where is all your furniture?”
(continued on page 2)
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Vol. 63 No. 2
Shabbat Worship
Fridays at 6:30 p.m.;
Saturdays at 9:45 a.m.
Library Service
Saturday, October 13 & 27
at 10:15 a.m.
Midweek Minyanim
Sunday at 8:30 a.m.;
Wednesday at 7:00 a.m.
6:45 a.m. on October 17
BAR/BAT MITZVAH SCHEDULE
Saturday, October 13
Bar Mitzvah of Adam Britton, son of
Richard and Leslie 9:45 a.m.
Saturday, October 20
Bar Mitzvah of Daniel Hubert, son
of Steven and Randy 9:45 a.m.
Saturday, October 27
Bat Mitzvah of Samantha Kushner,
daughter of David and Susan 9:45
a.m.
Bar Mitzvah of Isaiah Makow, son of
Ken and Erica 4:30 p.m.
SHABBAT CANDLE LIGHTING
October 5
6:16 p.m.
October 6
6:00 p.m.
October 7
6:00 p.m.
October 12
6:05 p.m.
October 19
5:55 p.m.
October 26
5:45 p.m.
The Jewish Center
Newsletter is a monthly
publication of
The Jewish Center,
435 Nassau Street
Princeton, NJ 08540
(Rabbi’s Message cont’d from page 1)
Today, my family builds our Sukkah and I get even more pleasure being the parent than I did when I was the child. There
may be more work for me to do now (schlepping the material, fitting it all together, making sure the electricity works,
etc.) but there is also so much more pride. We all love to decorate our Sukkah and the kids usually convince me to sleep in
the Sukkah for at least one night. It is an opportunity to invite
guests to eat with us and to discuss whether it is too hot or
too cold – do we have bees or do we need sweaters.
As I do every year, I will say the appropriate blessings whenever I eat in our Sukkah. We will make Kiddush and say the
Birkat HaMotzi when we begin our meals and say Birkat
HaMazon when we finish. These blessings are important but
they are quite similar to the blessings we say at every meal
throughout the year. The one blessing that is unique to eating
in the Sukkah is:
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech HaOlam Asher
Kidishanu B’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu L’shev BaSukkah
In light of my new understanding of the word mitzvah which
is a part of this blessing, I want to offer a new translation:
Praise are You, Lord our God, Sovereign of the Universe,
who has given me the opportunity to be in my Sukkah.
Thank you God for giving me the privilege to invite guests
into our Sukkah.
Thank you God for giving me the opportunity to be more
aware of my natural surroundings.
Thank you God for helping me acknowledge the transition
from one season to the next.
Thank you God for proving me the opportunity to create
memories for my family.
Thank you God for allowing me to be your partner in creation.
Thank you God for inspiring me to help create peace in our
world even though it can be as fragile as the Sukkah.
Baruch Ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech HaOlam Shechiyanu,
V’Kiyimanu, V’higianu Lazman HaZeh.
Praise are You, Lord our God, Sovereign of the Universe,
for granting us life, sustaining us and enabling us to reach
this day.
Chag Sameach – May this year’s celebration of Sukkot be a
wonderful holiday for all of us and I hope to see you at the
TJC Sukkah any time during the holiday.
Rabbi Adam Feldman
afeldman@thejewishcenter.org
(Rabbi Tucker’s Message cont’d from page 1)
“I have a custom kitchen, oak dining room table, and
beautiful bedroom set - all at my house in New York,” said
the man indignantly. “Do tourists generally take such
possessions along in a moving van? I’m only passing
through!”
The great rabbi gave his guest a gentle smile. “As for this
world, I also am only passing through,” said Kagen. “Then
again, aren’t we all?”
This month we celebrate the festival of Sukkot, moving
from comfortable homes filled with furniture into the simplest of booths which serve as our temporary shelter for
the holiday. We dwell in sukkot to remember the structures our ancestors lived in while wandering in the desert,
to recall the clouds of glory that graced the Israelite people on their journey through the wilderness, and to celebrate the wonders of the autumn harvest season. We
also dwell in booths as a symbol of human frailty and vulnerability, the extent to which we are all only passing
through this world and are dependent upon God’s benevolence for safety and protection.
For most of us, trading our permanent homes for the temporary sanctuary of a sukkah is a delight, a charming
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departure from everyday life and an opportunity to live
cleaner, simpler, and closer to nature. But for many citizens of our world, the experience of living without a
home is not a choice but rather a difficult daily reality.
The Mercer County Alliance to End Homelessness reports
that in our area alone, over 800 people experience homelessness on any given day. Homeless children are three
times more likely than other children to have emotional
or behavioral problems and approximately 20% do not
regularly attend school. As we voluntarily leave our
homes for the eight short days of the Sukkot holiday, our
thoughts are with those for whom living without secure
walls is far from a choice. As we think about the tzedakah
we might distribute during these weeks surrounding the
holiday, I encourage us to perhaps consider organizations
that work to prevent and help remediate this difficult
issue.
Looking ahead towards the upcoming festival, I wish you
all a month filled with the joys of nature and the pleasures
of trading the permanent for the temporary!
Chag Sameach (Happy Holidays),
Rabbi Annie Tucker
atucker@thejewishcenter.org
ANNUAL FUND DONORS
since
June 2012
Fredrick Appel and Marilyn Besner
Brad and Cathy Bailey
Teddy Bartels
David and Amy Berk
Michael and Beatrice Bloom
Dan Brent and Sally Steinberg-Brent
Randall and Deborah Brett
Richard and Leslie Britton
Philip and JoAnn Carchman
Rabbi Joel and Majorie Chernikoff
David and Denise Cheskis
Marc and Marcie Citron
Reuben Cohen
David Dobkin and Suzanne Gespass
Jonathan and Terri Epstein
Richard and Joanne Fishbane
Barry and Bobbi Freedman
Eliot and Marsha Freeman
Jonathan and Beth Frieder
Samuel and Irene Goldfarb
Michael and Naomi Goldin
Lewis Goldshore
Susan Goldstein
Gil and Ellen Gordon
David and Nadivah Greenberg
Joel and Susan Heymsfeld
Steven and Randy Hubert
Lawrence and Susan Kanter
Lionel and Gail Kaplan
Robert Karp and Linda Oppenheim
David and Susan Kushner
Corey and Mindy Langer
Donna Laurie
Bruce Leslie and Leslie Gerwin
Joan Levin
Neil and Nancy Lewis
Avron and Sally Magram
Alan Medvin and Harriet Kass
Cy and Jacqueline Meisel
Matthew Menken
Jerry Neumann and Naomi Richman Neumann
Simon and Melissa Pankove
Brian and Lois Perkins
Barry and Naomi Perlman
Jeffrey and Jan Picker
Don and Karen Polakoff
Mark and Carol Pollard
Stephen Pollard and Jessica Stevens
Joe and Sheryl Punia
Eva Rapkin
Harvey Rosen and Marsha Novick
Dana Rosen
Donna Rosen
Phillip and Anne Rutman
Joshua and Rebecca Sarett
Adam and Michal Scheer
Steve and Iris Schulman
Mitch and Diane Schwartz
Robert and Carol Schwartz
William and Leigh Segal
Larry and Carol Shatoff
Jon Shavel and Ruth Harris
Rick and Polly Strauss
Jesse and Marissa Treu
Rabbi Annie Tucker
Milan Vaclavik and Joan Spindel
Danielle Walker
Alan and Robin Wallack
Matthew and Suzan Wasserman
Bobby Willig and Ginny Mason
Matthew and Iris Zambrowski
Jerry Zeldis and Shary Stamm
Joshua and Advah Zinder
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New Torah Tables
By Peter M. Smith
Ed. Note: The Jewish Center is now the proud owner of two new Torah reading tables,
beautifully built by Peter Smith. Here is Peter’s description of the project.
The initial challenge was to fashion a Torah reading
table (shulchan) for the High Holy Day services at
Riverside. The one reading table we had, one of a pair
likely built in the late 50’s, had been used in the Beit
Midrash and relocated to the Sanctuary for the High
Holy Days. Its mate is long since missing. In the past, a
reading table for Riverside was fashioned from a
school podium and plank of wood, both of which are
now missing.
We briefly considered other approaches and concluded that a new table for Riverside would be the right
solution. The question of design was obviously to the
fore. The simplest approach
was to copy the existing
table, which was modest
and serviceable. (An internet search offered numerous elaborate, not to say
flamboyant, designs.)
However, on discussion, it
was pointed out that there
were some problems with
the current table, namely,
the angle of the top was
too steep and papers slid
down, the top was rather
too high from the floor,
there was an extraneous
nuisance door under the
top, and attaching a microphone to the front for the services required screwing
the microphone base to the wood, which over time
marred the front. The new table would be made in
the same style but modified to address these problems. The plan was that, when the new one was completed, the old one would be refinished to match it.
So far so good.
Quarter-sawn red oak veneer was used for the dominant material, laid over plain plywood, with standard
red-oak plywood for the top. All edges were finished
with solid red oak. The angle of the top was reduced
to 8o from 16o, the height lowered to 40” at the front
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(instead of 46”), casters were inset slightly, and only
one shelf was required. The top was also a bit larger,
at 48x36”, and detachable from the base. The shape
and size, with the outward spread of the sides, followed the existing table. A Star of David was fashioned from walnut and attached to the front. Three
coats of hand-rubbed satin polyurethane completed
the finish.
When delivered to the Beit Midrash, it matched closely the existing light oak furniture and was considered
to be an all-round improvement. The old table,
thought to have been in use for over 50 years, was
taken back to the workshop for refinishing. The
hope was to rescue as
much as possible and by
use of the same oak
veneer, match the new
one. (The tables would
not be seen together, so
an exact copy was unnecessary.) It soon became
apparent that the old
table could not be saved:
it was built like a tank
with many layers of wood
and heavy nails, and
modification was hopeless. Only its Star of David
could be reused. Thus a
second new oak table was built to the same dimensions as the first. One additional feature was added to
this second table: the top swiveled round so that the
Aron Kodesh or the congregation could be faced during services as needed.
The end result is that we now have two new oak
Torah reading tables. One (with the swivel top) for
the Beit Midrash and for yearly use at Riverside, and
the second for the Sanctuary on High Holy Days and
occasional use as required. The Star of David on the
Beit Midrash table is our link to the past.
Our Thanks To…
Mike Straus-Goldfarb, son of Sally Goldfarb and
Joseph Straus, for his consistent and careful handling of the McCaffrey’s receipts. Thanks to his
efforts, The Jewish Center has been able to
steadily earn donations from McCaffrey’s charitable program. In the past, TJC staff would tabulate
the receipts two or three times a year. Mike’s
work ensures that the receipts don’t expire and
enables staff to focus on other tasks. Thank you,
Mike!!
If you shop at McCaffrey’s, please drop off your
cash register receipts in the box in the lobby.
McCaffrey’s donates 1% of the pre-tax total on
the receipt.
Start the Conversation – What is a
Healthy Dating Relationship?
How to talk to your child about healthy dating
relationships – for parents of middle and high
school students.
Jennifer L. Hartstein, PsyD, is our keynote speaker discussing the promotion of positive relationships, red
flags of an unhealthy relationship: that parents can
look for and that they can teach their children to look
for. Current research is showing that dating violence is
starting in middle schools at times, so it is important
for parents to know how to talk with their children
about it, and be willing to do so early and often.
Date: Thursday, November 15, 2012
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Questions? Contact Lara Wellerstein @ 609987-8100 or laraw@jfcsonline.org
Information Session for TJC
Women’s Trip to Eastern Europe
Wednesday, October 10, 7:30 p.m.
On April 21 to 30, the women of TJC are again taking flight!
This time we are headed for the rich culture and beauty of
Eastern Europe where we will visit the cities of Budapest,
Vienna, and Prague touring the region’s many sites of both
Jewish and secular interest. Special highlights are (tentatively) to include:
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Prague’s Old Town Square, Charles Bridge and Jewish Quarter
Vienna’s Ringstrasse, New Jewish Museum, and Schonbrunn Palace
Budapest’s Castle Hill and Dohany and Rumbach Street synagogues
Shopping at Great Market Hall and on upscale Vaci Street
Taking part in an apfelshtrudel cooking demonstration
A night of music at the Vienna State Opera and of Black Theater in Prague
Shabbat with the Czech Jewish community
Luxury hotel accommodations, great food and wine, and lots of female bonding!
Please join us at Rebecca Crain’s home, 302 Stone Cliff Road in Princeton, for an information session on
Wednesday, October 10 at 7:30 p.m. Whether you are already planning to join us or simply interested in
learning more, we hope to see you there.
Registration for this trip is now open! Please contact either Rebecca (rkcrain@aol.com, 609-688-8868) or
Rabbi Annie Tucker (atucker@thejewishcenter.org, 609-921-0100 x213) for further information.
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YOU’RE INVITED!
The 26th Annual
GIFT BOUTIQUE,
SILENT AUCTION & CAFE
The Joan Levin School of Early Childhood Education is
preparing for its 26th Annual Gift Boutique and Silent
Auction on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. One of the
biggest parts of the day is a Silent Auction, for which
we would like your help.
Donate an Item or a Service
Our mission for our Silent Auction is to collect a
selection of special items...those that cannot be
bought in stores and items that would not compete
with the shopping offered by the Gift Boutique vendors. Here’s where we need YOUR help... Do you or
does anyone among your family or friends have an
item to donate, or a business that may be able to
donate to the Silent Auction? Do you …
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
ELECTION DAY
9 am to 6 pm
*
*
*
*
The Joan Levin School of Early Childhood Education
435 Nassau Street Princeton, NJ
For more information (609) 921-7207
* Over 20 Boutique Vendors *
Jewelry, Women & Children’s Clothing, Handbags,
Doll Clothing, Hair & Beauty Products, Toys, Outerwear,
Accessories, Belts, Judaica, and more
*Bid at the Silent Auction*
Health, Beauty and Wellness, Travel Getaways &
Adventures, Wine & Cuisine, Kids & Family Fun,
Shopping & Gifts galore, Essential Services, Tickets
Please!
*Café*
Join us for breakfast, lunch, or a snack!
Coffee, Bagels, Salads, Sandwiches, Delicious Home
Baked Goods and Our Famous Mushroom Barley Soup!
Sponsored by:
The Joan Levin School at The Jewish Center
All proceeds go directly toward
scholarships and enrichment activities for our
early childhood education program.
*Open to the Public, Free Parking, Free Admission
and Free Babysitting 11:00-12:00 and 4:00-6:00*
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*
have season tickets for a sports team that you
would be willing to share?
know a general contractor or a landscape
designer who could donate a project?
know a chef who would be willing to give a
private dinner at someone’s home?
have a vacation home or a time-share you
could give up for a week?
know any other business owner who would
donate products or services?
Become a Corporate Sponsor
We invite you to become a corporate sponsor of this
event. In addition to making a donation to the
School’s fundraising event, this will be a great advertising opportunity for your company. The Gift
Boutique / Silent Auction is well attended by residents of the Princeton community, congregants of
The Jewish Center as well as other neighboring communities in our area.
Corporate sponsor signage will be displayed prominently at the Boutique and Café on posters and in our
Silent Auction Booklet.
Advertise
Perhaps you would like to advertise in our auction
booklet. It is a great way to get your business noticed
while supporting the School. There’s still time to submit your information.
To become a Donor, Corporate Sponsor or to advertise please call Gayle Wagner at 609-921-7207.
Early Childhood EducationNews
Shalom Everyone!
The ECE had an awesome start
to school. On the first day we
celebrated the 30th birthday of
early childhood education here at
The Jewish Center. Mazel Tov to all
who teach here now and to all who taught along the
way.
The month of September was delicious, filled with
apples and honey, and yummy round challah. The holidays are keeping us busy as we learned about Rosh
Hashanah and Yom Kippur, all while getting acclimated
to school and meeting new friends. Now that we are
settled in, we’re into decorating the Sukkah and are
anxious to eat our snack and lunch in there this month
as well as wave our flags and dance with our Torahs on
Simchat Torah.
Our new class arrangements are serving us well. The
students love visiting different rooms throughout the
day which creates interesting space for exploration in
support of our new curriculum.
Our Fall Enrichments classes begin this month with four
options for our students. Book
Club, Science, Travelin’
Tumblers and Dance are
offered after school three afternoons a week, while Daber Ivrit
meets
every
Monday,
Wednesday and Friday.
Wednesday Pizza lunch begins
this month and is always a
favorite with the children.
The Parent Association is gearing up for our 26th annual Gift
Boutique/Silent Auction/Cafe.
Yes, it’s time to mark your calendar with the November 6
date; plan on attending the
2012 Gift Boutique and place
your Mushroom and Barley
Soup order! We are always
looking for your support and
would greatly appreciate donations for our Silent Auction,
your advertisements in our
booklet and/or Corporate
Sponsors. Check out our Gift
Boutique flyer and soup order
form adjacent to this article. If
you have any questions, please
don’t hesitate to contact me. I
look forward to seeing on
Boutique Day.
The Joan Levin School of Early
Childhood Education is back in
full swing and soaring to new
heights.
B’Shalom,
Gayle
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Religious School News - Reflections on Year One
In few days we will celebrate Simchat
Torah ― the holiday when we finish
reading the Torah and promptly start
again at the beginning.
This cyclical reading of the Torah
reminds me of when I was a little girl
and would make my parents read me the same stories
over and over. For children, this repetition is a source of
comfort as they bond with their parents through shared
experiences. For Jews, the familiar cycle of rereading
the entire Torah each year is also comforting. Because
these are stories that we know and love, reading them
each week is like visiting old friends. The sense of security we feel in this familiarity allows us to relax and
reconnect with God and with ourselves.
On the other hand, each time we read these Torah stories, they are different and fresh, and we find something new in the text.
We received the Torah to study, learn from, turn over
and over, and make of it what we can. In Deuteronomy
30:11–14, God assures us that the Torah is not beyond
our reach. We learn that Torah “is not in the heavens”;
rather, the truths of Torah are given to the people in a
way that is accessible and all-inclusive. Since Torah is
within everyone’s reach, then everyone who carefully
reads the text can derive an authentic interpretation
that is both personal and relevant. All that is necessary
is that we carve out the time to read, study, discuss,
debate, and think about the text, and that is exactly
what our students do in their classrooms.
Here are the subsections of the curriculum pillar, “The
Text of the Jewish People”:
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“The Origin of Humanity”: The creation of the world
and humanity
“The Founding Families”: The lives of our patriarchs
and matriarchs.
“Exodus”: From slavery to freedom
The pshat, the actual text, has, of course, not changed
for thousands of years. But what we hear each year ―
which nuances strike us, which characters we identify
with, and what lessons we discover ― is different every
time we read the stories.
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In Pirkei Avot, Ben Bag-Bag tells us to “turn it and turn it
again, for everything is in it.” There is something for
everyone to discover in the Torah, no matter what
you’re looking for. Often, we encounter truths and guidance we didn’t even know we needed. This is the magic
of Torah ― an ancient text that understands and speaks
to us in this high-tech, digital world ― a magic we are
trying to share with our students in a variety of Torah
classes under the curriculum pillar, “The Text of the
Jewish People.”
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Prophets
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Writings
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Women in the Bible
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Biblical heroes
The best part about Torah is that you don’t have to be a
learned rabbi or a die-hard Bible thumper to reap its
benefits. Anyone, including our children, can read these
stories and find meaning in them. Anyone, especially
our students, can study these tales and develop valid
explanations that can illuminate the text for themselves
and others.
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“The Ten Commandments”: The relevance for today
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“Numbers and Deuteronomy”: Becoming a Jewish
people
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“Biblical Israel Then and Now”: Learning where the
places mentioned in the Bible are on today’s map
To help guide our students on this journey, we have
books, teachers, projects, and other resources.
We are very proud of our “The Text of the Jewish
People” program and invite parents to join us in our
classrooms to see how much your children love to
learn.
Gila Levin
Director of Religious School
glevin@thejewsihcenter.org
MAZAL TOV
The Fabian award for excellence in teaching for
the year 5772 was awarded to three outstanding
teachers:
ELLEN PRISTACH ― for serving as a liaison
to represent the school in the Holocaust Torah
reunification project on Yom Hashoah and for creating and teaching a special curriculum for the
event that involved the school in every step of the
unique program.
WILMA SOLOMON & CYNDI KLEINBART
for creating the new 7th-grade experiential, handson curriculum that involves students, parents,
families, and Jewish Center congregants in innovative and creative ways.
Mazal tov to Ellen, Wilma, and Cyndi.
Thank you for a job very well done.
SUMMER 2012 D'VREI
TORAH
Once again this summer, our bimah was graced by the
presence of our congregants who diligently prepared
and presented a D'var Torah on seven Shabbatot.
We're fortunate to be in a congregation with so many
talented members who are capable of and willing to
give up some of their summer relaxation time to
enlighten us. We thank Joe Schwartz and Bernard
Abramson who coordinated this program and recruited the presenters. Please click the below link for a full
compilation of this summer's D'vrei. You can also
call the office at (609) 921-0100 x 201 for a hard
copy.
Hesed Projects
Adam Britton volunteered as a “buddy” at the
Princeton Special Sports program, that gives children
with physical and mental disabilities the opportunity
to play and enjoy sports. Said Adam, “My experience with Princeton Special Sports taught me... to
appreciate my mental and physical health, and not to
take for granted my ability to easily be around other
people and play sports. Another thing I learned is
how to be flexible and patient with other people,
because what might not be a problem for me might
be a problem for others. It also taught me how to be
responsible... Being responsible is a key factor in
becoming a Jewish man.” Adam will speak at
Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday, October 12.
Daniel Hubert did his hesed project at the Princeton
Nursery School, which serves children from low
income families. Explained Daniel, “This project was
so rewarding to me because giving my time and
undivided attention to the preschoolers brought them
so much joy...I learned from volunteering at the
preschool that what seems like a small act can make
a big difference to another person. As I become a
Bar Mitzvah, I hope to find more opportunities to
perform acts of loving kindness to bring happiness to
other people in my life.” Daniel will speak at
Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday, October 19.
Samantha Kushner is taking care of animals in
need of homes at Princeton’s SAVE shelter.
Samantha chose SAVE because “I love working with
animals and I would do anything to help them. I am
working with the cats and trying to socialize them so
that they can be adopted into a good home. I am also
walking the dogs and cleaning cages so that I can
make their lives at the shelter more enjoyable.”
Samantha will speak at Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday,
October 26.
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Adult Education
October Highlights
NEW Course: Converts, Conversion & Conflict
with Rabbi David Wolf Silverman
Conversion was a novum that caused a revolution in religious history. When Judaism introduced this to the world,
it immediately aroused problems of process. Differences
of opinion, dating from the Middle Ages and peaking in
the Modern Era, have divided Jews across the centuries.
We will discuss these differences and indicate possible
solutions. Bring your questions and concerns. Five
Tuesday evenings, Oct. 16, 23, 30, Nov. 6, 13; 7:30 to
9:00 p.m.
NEW Mini-Course from Context: American
Jewish Short Stories with Rabbi James S.
Rabbi Silverman, ordained at The Jewish Theological
Diamond
We are still trying to understand the American Jewish
experience. History is an obvious means to do this, but literature can also furnish important insights, nuances, and
implications. This course will explore the American Jewish
experience as reflected in the short story. We will read
closely and discuss a selection of stories by American
Jewish writers spanning the past century, from the Lower
East Side days to the unfolding postmodern reality of 21st
century America. In addition to the great triumvirate of
Saul Bellow, Bernard Malamud and Philip Roth, we will
read stories by such writers as Isaac Rosenfeld, Cynthia
Ozick and Allegra Goodman.
Four Thursday evenings, October 25, Nov. 1, 8, and 15;
7:30 to 9:00 p.m.
Cost: $36 for TJC members, $60 for non-members.
Register online by Monday, October 15 at:
www.jtsa.edu/context/registration
(Click on the Mini-Course Program and select this class by
name.)
Rabbi James S. Diamond, Ph.D., has taught in the Judaic
Studies and Freshman Seminar Programs at Princeton
University, where he was also the Director of the Center
for Jewish Life/Princeton Hillel from 1995 - 2004. He holds
a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Indiana University
and rabbinic ordination from The Jewish Theological
Seminary. His research focuses on Hebrew literature from
the Biblical to the modern periods and on Jewish intellectual history in the modern period. The author of three
books and several articles on these subjects, he is currently at work with JTS Prof. Alan Mintz on a book about S.Y.
Agnon’s last major work, unpublished in his lifetime.
Rabbi Diamond, a longtime faculty member of the Me’ah
and Context programs, was recently named a Thomson
Fellow; these Fellowships facilitate periods in Israel devoted to study, learning, thinking, and writing.
NOTE: Come back in the Spring for our companion offering, “Is
the American Jewish Community Exceptional?” A history
course, it will feature primary sources and address issues from
12 colonial times to today.
Seminary, also holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University.
After beginning his career as a U.S. Army Chaplain, he
served as rabbi of the Conservative Synagogue of
Riverdale before returning to JTS. There he spent eighteen
years, first as Principal of Prozdor (Hebrew High School
program), then as Professor of Philosophy, and eventually
as Chair of the Department of Philosophies of Religion.
He later served as President and Professor of Jewish
Thought at Spertus Institute of Judaica in Chicago. Author
and editor of three books and many articles, he taught at
several other colleges and universities and served as the
rabbi of two other congregations before he and Ziona
came to Princeton in 1995. He has been teaching Adult
Education at The Jewish Center for over twelve years.
Mini-Series: Authors Amongst Us
What is the Responsibility of Jews to Save our
Planet? Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins, Simple Actions
for Jews to Help Green the Planet: Jews,
Judaism and the Environment (Growth Associates
Publishers, 2011)
Our own Rabbi Emeritus will draw upon the wisdom of
biblical, Talmudic, midrashic and other texts, as well as
scientific research, to discuss scores of specific actions
and behaviors that Jews and non-Jews can perform to
slow and, hopefully, reverse the deterioration of our environmental well-being. Sunday, October 14; 4:00 to 5:30
p.m.
Rabbi Dr. Elkins is a recipient of the National Jewish Book
Award and the author of over thirty-five books, including
a two-volume collection of inspirational readings for the
High Holidays. His Chicken Soup for the Jewish Soul (coedited with Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen) was on
the New York Times best-seller list, and his most recent
book is Jewish Stories from Heaven and Earth: Inspiring
Tales to Nourish the Heart and Soul. A nationally-known
lecturer, educator, workshop leader, and book critic, he
has spoken on radio and television programs and has
been interviewed in cities around the world for national
and international media. Ordained at The Jewish
Theological Seminary and holder of a doctorate in counseling and humanistic education from Colgate Rochester
Divinity School, he served as spiritual leader of several U.S.
congregations before becoming Rabbi of The Jewish
Center in 1992.
Talmud Study on Shabbat Afternoons with
Rabbi David W. Silverman
Come join Rabbi Silverman in exploring the minor tractates of the Babylonian Talmud to discover their 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. Every Second Shabbat beginning October 13; 3:30
to 5:00 p.m.
Yiddish Reading Group
Do you remember a warm Yiddish-speaking home? Do
you remember hearing or reading Yiddish? All that comes
alive again at The Jewish Center when we meet every
Monday to read literature and stories in the original
Yiddish. For further information, call Ziona Silverman at
732-329-1069. Monday afternoons beginning October
15; 1:30 to 3 p.m.
Bible BaBoker (Bible in the Morning) with Rabbi
Annie Tucker
Come join our weekly Shabbat morning discussion of
Parashat HaShavuah (the weekly Torah portion) filled
with lively exploration and debate of the Torah’s many
wonderful (and often challenging) stories and themes.
Come every week, or whenever you can make it! Every
Shabbat morning from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m.
Hebrew Language on Sundays with Edna BrynNoiman
All classes are still open to new students. Contact
Edna in advance for additional help in choosing the
level that is best for you: 609-716-1164 or
edna.bryn@gmail.com.
Tuition is $180 per semester. Register by calling the
TJC office: 609-921-0100.
Sunday mornings:
9:00 – 9:50 a.m.
10:00 – 10:50 a.m.
11:00 – 11:50 a.m.
Mat’hilim 2 (Beginners 2)
Mamshikhim 1 (Intermediate 1)
Mat’hilim 1 (Beginners 1)
Travels Through the Talmud with Rabbi James S. Sherry Rosen and Miki Mendelson
Co-Chairs, Adult Education
Diamond
Close reading and analysis of selected passages and sugiyot in the Babylonian Talmud and related texts. Prior experience with Talmud a plus. Wednesdays, 12 noon to 1:15
p.m.
adulteducation@thejewishcenter.org
TJC Celebrates
with a Garden
Party on
September 23.
13
The Jess Epstein
Introduction
to Judaism
Lunch and Learn
with Princeton Scholars Lecture Series
17 Week Course Begins October 16, 2012
WEDNESDAY, October 17 AT NOON
presents
“Designing the Spiritual:
Synagogue Design Historically
and into the Future”
Michael Landau and Joshua Zinder
Why do synagogues look the way they do? How do
design differences come about in houses of worship?
From Isaiah’s “house of prayer” to Frank Lloyd
Wright’s vision, from the great wooden synagogues
of Poland to The Princeton Jewish Center, what
exactly makes a synagogue? Wednesday, Oct. 17;
Noon to 1:20 p.m.
The Princeton architectural team of Landau/Zinder
has extensive experience in all aspects in the creation of synagogues and Judaic facilities. Congregant
Michael Landau has worked on more than 50 new
synagogues and has won numerous awards, including the AIA Interfaith Forum for Religious Art and
Architecture Award. His work has been published in
many professional books and journals. Congregant
Joshua Zinder has won myriad design awards, including the New Jersey Chapter of AIA’s Merit Award for
Interior Design. He has initiated and participated in
the design and construction of a number of synagogues and Jewish institutions.
The popular Jewish Center series continues as wellknown artists, writers, scientists, educators and
other scholars share their insights and learning.
Preceded by lunch at noon in the Social Hall, the
programs include a question-and-answer period and
are open to the public. Plan to bring a friend along
with a parve or dairy lunch. Coffee, tea and cookies
will be provided.
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Tuesday Nights as
Congregation Beth Chaim
PRINCETON JUNCTION
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Contact Rabbi Eric Wisnia
at 609-799-9401 OR
RABBI@BETHCHAIM.ORG
This class will be taught by Rabbis and Cantors of
our community’s synagogues and other community
professionals
Todah Rabbah
A very big thank you to all our service leaders for the
month of September. We could never have done it without
you! Don’t see your name on this list? Contact Cantor Tahl
Ben-Yehuda (who is coordinating our Leyner/Davener
scheduling) at tahl@thejewishcenter.org, and we’ll get you
into the game!
Torah Chanters (Ba’alei K’riah)
Margie Atwater, Ilana Atwater, Roger Behar, Rabbi
Bob Goldenberg, Leslie Gerwin, David Grabiner, Bruce
Hecht, Danielle Hecht, Rachel Hecht, Sabrina Hecht,
Rachel Humphrey, Jonathan Itzler, Ariel Kaye, Jason
Korn, Sandy Kutin, Mindy Langer, Alexa Podolsky,
Jacob Polly, and Ann Sarnak
Haftarah Chanters (Maftirim)
Michele Alperin, Aaron Atterman, Rachel Hecht,
Jonathan Itzler, and Jacob Polly
Gabbaim
Bernard Abramson, Dan Brent, Phil Carchman, Leslie
Gerwin, Linda Milstein,and Jerry Neumann
Shamashim
Richard Fishbane, Jane LeGrange, and Nancy Lewis
Daveners
Cantor Tahl Ben-Yehuda, Rabbi Adam Feldman,
Rachel Hecht, Jonathan Itzler, Sandy Kutin, Jose
Matiella, Jacob Polly, and Rabbi Annie Tucker
HIGH HOLIDAYS
Torah Chanters (Ba’alei K’riah)
Barbara Abramson, Amelia Behar, Gabriela Bloom,
Liana Bloom, Etana Cheskis, Connor Dedrick, Franckie
Echeverria, Gary Eichenbaum, Talia Feldman, Jacob
Feldstein, Peri Feldstein, Glenn Gabai, Adam Gershen,
Alec Gershen, David Goldberg, David Grabiner,
Michael Grenis, Jonathan Gross, Gabrielle Hartman,
Katie Kanter, Emily Kleinbart, Mindy Langer, Jonathan
Lebeau, Jacob Polly, Rebecca Sage, Ann Sarnak, Jeni
Schapire, Adam Scheer, Joe Schwartz, and Bob Weber
Haftarah Chanters (Maftirim)
Jonathan Gross, Sandy Kutin, Jerry Neumann, David
Politziner, Sherry Rosen, and Ed Soffen
Daveners
Cantor Tahl Ben-Yehuda, Ruth Goldston, Jonathan
Gross, Rachel Humphrey, Jason Kay, Phyllis Kurshan,
Sandy Kutin, Bob Lebeau, Sher Leiman, Rabbi David
Wolf Silverman, and Ziona Silverman
Kol Nidre Chanters (Riverside)
Barbara Gantwerk, Stuart Lehman, and Gail Rose
Gabbaim
Bruce Afran, Dan Brent, Leslie Gerwin, David
Goldberg, Michael Grenis, Jerry Kurshan, Mindy
Langer, Nancy Lewis, Linda Milstein, Jerry Neumann,
and Ruth Schulman
Shamashim
Dan Brent, Richard Fishbane, Leslie Gerwin, David
Greenberg, Jane LeGrange, Nancy Lewis, Mark
Merkovitz, Linda Milstein, and Jerry Neumann
Shofar
Ben Atwater, David Gabai, Steve Hudis and Avi Zinder
Welcome New Congregants
Peter and Susan Constantin
Andrew Michael Leifer and Franziska Graf
Robert Goldenberg and Nina Wacholder
Loree Levine and her son, Andre
Adam Dubow and Bonnie Guth and their children
Lisette, Caleb and Piper
Michael and Diane Dubow, parents of Adam Dubow
Aaron Attermann
Floyd and Vonetta Lapidow, parents of Seth Lapidow
Robert and Alison Wall
Joel Finkelstein and Abigail Lifton-Zoline and their
children Annika and Nathaniel
Meg Jacobs, who recently wed Julian Zelizer and her
daughters Abigail and Claire Goldberg.
Grigory and Yana Goldberg and their son, Jacob
Stanley and Avital Etra and their sons, Daniel and
David
Welcome Back
Daniel and Laurie Herscovici and their children Aaron
and Olivia
Rob and Kimberly Kaye Fried and their children Zoe
and Riley
Jonathan Morduch & Amy Borovoy and their children
Leon, Joseph and Samuel
Joel and Elizabeth Reichbart and their children
Samuel, Madeline and Benjamin.
15
TJC Book Club
We will meet on Tuesday, October 16, at
7:30 p.m. in the Beit Midrash to
discuss To the End of the Land by the
Israeli novelist David Grossman. The
novel tells of Ora, an Israeli mother whose
son has volunteered for a major offensive in the West
Bank, who flees from her fear of the “notifiers” (the government officials who deliver grave news) by escaping,
without contact access, to the Galilee with her old friend
and lover. The New York Times reviewer called the book
“a panorama of breathtaking emotional force, a masterpiece of pacing, of dedicated storytelling, with characters
whose lives are etched with extraordinary, vivid detail.”
All of our books can be ordered on-line through the TJC
website at www.thejewishcenter.org, where you can click
on the Amazon link to earn a commission for the
Synagogue. Copies of our selections are usually available
at the Princeton Public Library on the “Book Club” table
by the entrance or can be ordered through the interlibrary loan program. For a list of previous books or to
arrange a ride, please contact Louise Sandburg
at louise@sandsmith.com or (609) 683-8395.
In Memoriam
We extend our deepest sympathy in
remembering
Edna Wolov
Grandmother of Beth Frieder
Arlene Goodstein
Mother of Larry Berger
Charlotte Schwartz
Mother of Mitchell Schwartz
Anne Steinberg
Mother of Judi Fleitman
Stephen Paul
Longtime Congregant of The Jewish Center
Doris Hammel
Sister of Hedy Shavel
Eli Litt
Brother of Irv Litt
16
Library
The Library shelves are
quite full and we have not
been adding books on a
regular basis. However,
here are a few new ones to
pique your interest.
Recent acquisitions:
Sephardic Jews in America
by Aviva Ben-Ur. New
insights into the Sephardic
migration from Ottoman lands to America in the
early twentieth century.
Bible Code II: The Countdown by Michael
Droshin. The author finds that world events
today were encoded in the Bible and that the
Bible code also predicts what is yet to come.
Torah Guidelines for Living Like A Mensch by
Sidney Greenberg. A collection of profound
insights about life which lead to a richer, more
meaningful and ethical life based on the
Scriptures and modern psychology.
Outwitting History by Aaron Lansky. Twenty-five
years after a twenty-three-year-old graduate student, the author, set out to save the world’s
abandoned Yiddish books. Gift of Ziona
Silverman.
The Zohar, Pritzker Edition, translation and commentary by Daniel C. Matt. The first of a projected ten volume translation of the Book of
Radiance which emerged in medieval Spain
toward the end of the thirteenth century, written
in Aramaic.
When Parents Die by Edward Myers.
Psychological reassurance and practical information to make coping with bereavement less
stressful and overwhelming.
Uncommon Lives by Ruth Marcus Patt. Eighteen
extraordinary Jews from New Jersey. Gift of
Andrea Gaynor.
A Woman in Jerusalem by A. B. Yehoshua. A
novel centered on a woman killed in a suicide
bombing in Jerusalem that not only entertains,
but also gets into the soul of Israel today.
Looking to make a difference?
As part of the ongoing Mitzvah
Program the Social Action
Committee will periodically post volunteer opportunities in our community.
Spice Mavens 101!!!
Cooking with Middle Eastern Spices
A Jewish Center Women Event
A program that is in need of volunteers is the CASA
Program. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
is seeking volunteer advocates. CASA for Children of
Mercer and Burlington Counties is a non-profit organization committed to speaking up in court for the
best interests of children who have been removed
from their homes due to abuse and neglect. CASA is
looking to train community volunteers to ensure help
children transition into safe and permanent homes.
Jon Hauge, Spice Merchant and Proprietor of
The Savory Spice Shop in Princeton, opens his
shop for a private cooking demonstration on
Fall Training Sessions Begin October 9
the utilization of Mediterranean spices.
No special education or degree is required; just
have an interest in children, their rights and special
needs, be over 21, possess good communication skills
and be able to commit to at least one year of service. All potential advocates must come in for a personal interview and pass background checks prior to
attending training.
m
m
m
Food Tasting
Wine
Door Prizes
When: Monday, October 15 • 7:30 PM
Where: The Savory Spice Shop
CASA of Mercer and Burlington needs your help in
15 Spring Street, Downtown Princeton
many other ways as well! If you can offer some time Cost:
$10.00
to help with volunteer recruitment, office work or
joining an event committee, please let us know! For
more information about CASA, and the many ways
you can help, attend an upcoming information session! To find times and locations and to RSVP, visit
the CASA website at www.casamercer.org. Or call
609-434-0050 or email lklionsky@casamercer.org.
Princeton Mayoral Candidates
Forum
Thursday, October 11 at 7:30 p.m.
The Jewish Center will host a forum for the candidates for mayor of the newly consolidated Princeton.
The forum is sponsored by the LWV-Princeton Area
and Princeton Community TV.
Questions will be taken from the audience.
Kindly RSVP by October 10.
Complete the attached form and send to: The Jewish Center, 435
Nassau Street, Princeton 08540 or e-mail JCW@thejewish-
center.org (e-mail registration is “charge to account” only)
Questions? Contact JCW@thejewishcenter.org or phone
Judi at 609-454-0110 or Nancy at 609-275-0057
Name: ________________________________________
Phone: _______________________________________
E-mail: _______________________________________
____Please charge $10 to my TJC account
OR
____ $10 enclosed, payable to JCW
17
Jewish Center Women
L’shanah Tovah!
Connecting: to join or fasten together. This is at the
heart of membership in JCW — providing opportunities through events, study and service to strengthen
TJC’s community of women. As we begin a New Year,
we hope you will participate in our diverse programming and strengthen your social and spiritual connection with our synagogue.
Our JCW year has already begun! On September 10,
thanks to the culinary talents and graciousness of
Cyndi Kleinbart , 29 of us had a great time learning new
Rosh HaShanah recipes, cooking together and sampling
the delicious results in Cyndi’s beautiful home.
We wish to thank all congregants who participated in
JCW’s second annual Rosh HaShanah greeting card
fundraiser and made it a great success. We extend a
special kol ha-kavod to Beatrice Bloom, Fran Amir and
Gail Alba for all their work in organizing the fundraiser
and printing the beautiful cards; and a “thank you” to
Paula Heller who helped us with the mailing.
Additionally, we wish to thank all our Rosh HaShanah
elves, Marilyn Besner, Charlene Borsack, Suzanne
Esterman, Fran Amir, Cathy Bailey, Debbie Brett,
Audrey Egger, Sue Gertner-Weiss, Judy Leopold,
Summer Pramer and Michal Scheer, for answering our
call to deliver Rosh HaShanah welcome bags to The
Jewish Center’s new members.
We are delighted to offer the following upcoming
events and hope you will join us:
Sukkot is referred to as zeman simhatenu — the time
of our joy. As part of our monthly, ongoing Rosh
Chodesh gatherings, this Sukkot, we are joyous to have
been invited by Rabbi Tucker to join her in her sukkah
on Thursday, October 4 from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. (see
announcement for details). Those who participated in
Rabbi Tucker’s Rosh Chodesh events in the past can
attest to the wonderful experience, getting to know
each other (and ourselves!) a little bit better.
We will be holding a special event the evening of
October 15, Spice Mavens 101. Jon Hauge, proprietor
of The Savory Spice Shop in downtown Princeton, will
open his shop to us for a private cooking demonstration utilizing Middle Eastern spices. (watch your weekly emails for details).
Beginning in November, we are bringing back Yoga
with Brigitte Aflalo-Calderon. To ensure a cohesive
program this year, we are offering three 6-week sessions. Our fall session begins Tuesday, November 13
and runs through December 18 (See announcement
for details).
We hope to see you soon. May your dwelling be a
sukkat shalom—a tabernacle of peace.
Nancy Lewis and Judi Fleitman
Co-chairs, Jewish Center Women
jcw@thejewishcenter.org
Join JCW for a very
special Sukkot event!
ROSH CHODESH with Rabbi
Annie Tucker
Thursday, October 4
7:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Rabbi Tucker’s Sukkah
22 Hamilton Avenue, Princeton
Please rsvp to JCW@thejewishcenter.org
or phone Judi Fleitman at 609-454-0110 or Nancy
Lewis at 609-275-0057
Dairy dessert will be served.
18
Some women brought their mothers…
By Suzanne Esterman
...others chose Golda Meir, Barbra Streisand and
Michelle Obama. Still others picked the mom of freed
Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Me? I invoked my Aunt
Moo to come join us in Rabbi Tucker’s sukkah last year.
~ By Popular Demand ~
Jewish Center Women is
pleased to announce
Why bring so many into the sukkah, you ask?
Well, even as a temporary outdoor structure, a hut, built
for the week-long festival of Sukkot with three sides
and barely covered so you can see the sky...it becomes
the Gathering Place – the hearth so to speak – for
friends and family. It’s a place of connection and true
community, even if you’re alone. And though the
sukkah symbolizes frailty and the temporary nature of
life, what happens in a sukkah can be very powerful
indeed. Especially when you have 40 or so women
gathering to celebrate the new month, or Rosh Chodesh.
(Rosh means head, so since it’s at the top it also means
start, and chodesh is month...Jewish women’s groups
often adopt Rosh Chodesh as a time to gather because
of a woman’s connection with the moon – ours is a
lunar calendar after all – and we both have 28-day
cycles. Oh! And because the women remained levelheaded and faithful wandering in the desert for 40 years
while the men ran off half-cocked, yelling “FIRE!” and
smelting a silly little cow o’gold. So we were rewarded
with a holiday...but I digress...)
So as if there weren’t enough gals spilling out of the
sukkah onto the patio and lining the adjacent rock wall,
our fearless leader called for reinforcements! It’s a tradition that for each night of Sukkot, you ceremonially
‘welcome’ a biblical figure into the sukkah with you,
and that became our celebration... getting to know each
other a little better by whose spirit she invoked.
with instructor Brigitte Aflalo-Calderon
7:00 pm on Tuesdays in the Adult Library
Cost is $25.00 for 6 sessions
Classes will be held November 13, 20, 27 and
December 4, 11 & 18
No prior experience necessary. Pace will be gentle.
• Improve flexibility, muscle strength and balance •
Relax your body • Soothe your mind •
Classes begin November 13th
~ Register Now for Fall Series!*
Kindly register by November 1. Complete the attached form and send to:
The Jewish Center, 435 Nassau Street, Princeton NJ 08540
So we introduced ourselves and said what woman – bib- or e-mail JCW@thejewishcenter.org (e-mail registration is
“charge to account” only)
lical, historical or current, Jewish or not – we would
invite. As I said, I ‘brought’ Moo. I really don’t know - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - why. She wasn’t particularly observant; I don’t even Name: _________________________________________
know if she belonged to the women’s club at her own
synagogue. But she was the first woman to pop in my e-mail: _________________________________
head and there she stayed...giggling with me, talking to
my friends and inspecting the baked goods.
____Please charge $25 to my TJC account OR
I think she fit in well with the crowd...each woman a
____ $25 enclosed, payable to JCW
testament to strength over vulnerability...Maybe that’s
why she came to me: The sukkah may be flimsy, but Bring a towel. Wear comfortable clothes. Shoes
what’s inside is enduring.
optional for the class. Mats will be provided (if you
have one, please bring it).
Suzanne blogs regularly at A Recipe for Disaster,
www.2nitesdinner.blogspot.com.
Walk-ins admitted for $8 per session, if space allows. If you
have any questions regarding class content, please email
Brigitte, at yogabrigitte@gmail.com .
19
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 Fund
In honor of
The marriage of Jennifer Yarin,
daughter of Maryann and Jack
Yarin, to Neil Gordon, the marriage of Julia Behar, daughter of
Ann and Roger Behar, to Joshua
Rolf, the marriage of Gidon
Margolin, son of Judith and Moshe
Margolin, to Andrea Meier and
Peter Smith’s craftsmanship
from Ellen and Gil Gordon
Rabbi Annie Tucker
from Bruce Leslie and Leslie
Gerwin
The marriage of Jennifer Yarin to
Neil Gordon
from Sally Steinberg-Brent and
Dan Brent
Professors and teachers
from Sanjay Thakur
In memory of
Arnold Gelzer
from Bernice Gelzer
Albert Barnett
from the Kaufman and Barnett
families
Philip Schwartz
from Harriett and Howard
Schwartz
Michael Esterman
from Judi and Bernie Fleitman
Simon Lackowitz
from V ictoria and Jeffrey
Solomon
Thomas Friedman
from Adrienne and Richard
Friedman
Nettie Herbst
from Marilyn and Albert Medwin
Jeannette Leiberman
from Marci and David Leiberman
Elaine Kass
from Joan and David Rosenfeld
Robert Kravitz
from Barbara and Irwin Litt
20
Roberta Mangel Roth
from Adrienne and Richard
Friedman
Renee Punia
from Leonard Punia
Reuben Klaben
from Norma Papier and Mark
Klaben
Frieda Stamler
from Rickey and Jim Penzias
Pedro M. Concepcion
from Linda and Moses Sommer
Robert S. Kravitz
from Barbara and Irv Litt
Herbert Joseph
from Dail Stolow and Norbert
Freuhauf
Myron Jaffe and Herbert Joseph
from Ruth Mendelson
Adult Library Fund
In memory of
Harry Jacob Leiman
from Sher and Jeanne Leiman
Children’s Library Fund
In memory of
Rose K. Slote
from Rabbi Joel and Marjorie
Chernikoff
Cy and Jackie Meisel Nursery
Scholarship Fund
In honor of
Cy Meisel’s birthday
from Damond Delston, RoseMarie Faotto, Mitzi Marks,
Connie and Neil Meisel, Lorraine
and David Atkin, Elizabeth Hosny
Robin and Jeff Persky, Diana
Crane
In memory of
Edna Wolov
from Robin and Jeff Persky
Feldstein Israel Travel Scholarship
Fund
In memory of
Ruth and Nat Feldstein
from the Gittleman family
Hattie Griffin Fund
In memory of
Edna Wolov
from Ricky and Andrew Shechtel
Irving N. Rabinowitz
Conversational Hebrew Fund
In honor of
The 60th wedding anniversary of
Juliet and Selig Danzig
from Sandie Rabinowitz
In memory of
Dave Slade
from Sandie Rabinowitz
Israeli Affairs Fund
In honor of
Jacob Feldstein becoming a Bar
Mitzvah and the ordination of
Rabbi Annie Lewis
from Helaine and Hanan Isaacs
Joan Levin School Fund
In honor of
Bret Jacknow on the anniversary
of his Bar Mitzvah
from the Sarett family
Neimark Senior Mitzvah Fund
In honor of
The birth of Bev and Mark Surrey’s
grandson, Ethan Chase
from Rena and Al Klein
Prayerbook Fund
In memory of
Past President Murray H. Reich
and loving brother, Murray Pollack
from Naomi Reich
Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund
In honor of
The anniversary of Bret Jacknow’s
Bar Mitzvah
from Brad and Andi Ackerman
The birth of Beverly and Marc
Surrey’s grandson, Ethan Chase
from Cindy and Irv Urken
In memory of
Rabbi Raymond Leiman
from Sher and Jeanne Leiman
Religious School Fund
In honor of
The compassion and skills of Rabbi
Annie Tucker
from Betsy and Dan Sauder
Shabbat Meal for Mourners Fund
In honor of
The ordination of Rabbi Annie
Lewis, Wilma Solomon being
named Congregant of the Year and
the 50th wedding anniversary of
Marsha and Eliot Freeman
from Ruth Schulman
Shabbat Luncheon Fund
In memory of
Joseph Smukler and Elaine Kass
from Robin and Jeff Persky
In memory of
Joe Smukler
from Linda and Michael Grenis
Saul Goldwasser
Myron Jaffe
from Betsy and Dan Sauder
Mazal Tov
To Sally Steinberg-Brent, Daniel Brent,
Phyllis Marchand and David Newton for
being honored by the Chabad Lubavitch
of Greater Mercer County.
To Steve and Iris Schulman on the birth
of their grandson Jesse Newman Gellert.
from Ruth Schulman
Social Action Fund
In memory of
Saul Goldwasser
from Sally Steinberg-Brent and
Dan Brent
Sylvia Gordon
from Ellen and Gil Gordon
Need Kippot?
Kippot for your weddings or Bar/Bat
Mitzvah celebrations are available in a
variety of colors and fabrics through The
Jewish Center Gift Shop. Prayer benchers are also available in a variety of styles. Orders take four weeks to
process, so plan ahead and order early! Call Gail Alba at
(609)275-0469 to order.
NEW & FREE with your order: One Personalized kippa
in English and/or Hebrew for the Newborn, Bat/Bar
Mitzvah or Bride & Groom. See samples on display in
the main lobby by the gift shop.
21
22
ANYWHERE ELSE THIS WOULD JUST BE A WALL.
This is the Kotel. The Western Wall. One of the holiest sites in
the holiest city in the world. Jerusalem.
Milano Cleaners
4095 U.S. Highway Route 1 South
South Brunswick Square Mall (next to Home Depot)
Monmouth Junction, N.J. 08852.
(732) 329-1100
Ask about our FREE Pick up & Delivery
Tutoring/Enrichment
All Elementary Subjects
High School English, History, Math
SAT Verbal & Math, ACT, SSAT, ISEE
Study Skills ESL
Suzanne Bressler
Experienced, Certified, Caring Teacher
(609) 924-2610
suzannekbressler@gmail.com
Celebrate the 65th anniversary of the State of Israel on JNF’s
ISRAEL @ 65: INDEPENDENCE DAY MISSION
April 11-18, 2013
For more information, contact Lynn Norton-Robin at
215.832.0690 ext. 860 or lnortonrobins@njf.org or visit
jnf.org/travel.
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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
We capture the spontaneity and spirit of your special occasion,
recording your treasured moments in an unobtrusive manner.
Bar/Bat Mitzvahs
l
Weddings
l
Family Portraits
To hear about our affordable package offers
and see samples of our work contact us today at 732l565l0554.
References available upon request.
www.saskiamarina.com
Post
Scripts
Wedding Invitations l Birth Announcements
l Bar & Bat Mitzvah Invitations
l Personalized Social & Business Stationery
Hours By Appointment l Discount Prices
Barbara Litt 609-921-3854
l
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BLOOM WHERE YOU’RE PLANTED AND GROW!
With Beatrice Bloom, Princeton Residential Specialist
During 2012 I will donate $180 in honor of each of my
Jewish Center clients who buy or sell a home. The donation will be made to The Jewish Center fund of their
choice.
To schedule a free confidential consultation, contact me
at cell. 609-577-2989 or email: info@BeatriceBloom.com or
visit www.BeatriceBloom.com
350 Nassau Street
Princeton, NJ 08540
609-921-1900 x 125
Progression
Physical Therapy
of Princeton
Ruth Kaplan, PT, DPT
Promoting improved function and healing
through hands-on, individualized treatment
Convenient day, evening, and Saturday hours
Close to town with ample parking
11 State Road (Rt. 206) Suite 400
Princeton, NJ 08540
609-454-3536
www.ProgressionPT.com
25
TJC HAPPENINGS
for October 2012
Visit our website at:
www.thejewishcenter.org/calendar/index.asp for room locations
Monday, October 1
Sukkot Day 1 - Offices Closed
9:00 a.m.
9:45 a.m.
ECE Closed — Sukkot
Sukkot Service
Tuesday, October 2
Sukkot Day 2 - Offices Closed
9:00 a.m.
9:45 a.m.
4:00 p.m.
ECE Closed — Sukkot
Sukkot Service
No Religious School Sukkot
Wednesday, October 3
Sukkot Day 3 (Chol Ha’Moed)
7:00 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
4:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
Minyan
Parents’ School
Religious School
Zayin and Tichon
Thursday, October 4
Sukkot Day 4 (Chol Ha’Moed)
9:30 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
12:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
ECE Stroll and Schmooze
55 Plus Lecture
Travels Through Talmud
Bereavement Group
JCW: Rosh Chodesh
Lashir Rehearsal
Friday, October 5
Candle lighting 6:16 p.m.
Sukkot Day 5 (Chol Ha’Moed)
6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
Kabbalat Shabbat Service
Congregational Dinner in
the Sukkah
Saturday, October 6
Candle lighting 6:00 p.m.
Hoshannah Rabbah
Sukkot Day 6 (Chol Ha’Moed)
8:45 a.m.
9:45 a.m.
9:45 a.m.
9:45 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
Bible BaBoker
Shabbat Morning Service
Religious School
Vav Zayin Seminar
Jr. Congregation
Shabbat LaMishpacha
Sunday, October 7
Candle lighting 6:00 p.m.
Hoshannah Rabbah
8:00 a.m. Minyan
9:00 a.m. Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class
9:00 a.m. Adult Hebrew
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9:00 a.m. Religious School
12:00 p.m. Men’s Club NFL Game
12:00 p.m. Haverim: Magic in the
Sukkah
3:00 p.m. Art Show Reception
4:00 p.m. Silver Circle: Theatrical
Parody
Monday, October 8
Columbus Day
Shemini Atzeret
9:00 a.m.
9:45 a.m.
6:30 p.m.
ECE Closed eret
Shemini Atzeret Service
and Yizkor
Simchat Torah Service and
Torah Parades
Tuesday, October 9
Simchat Torah - Offices Closed
9:00 a.m.
9:45 a.m.
4:00 p.m.
ECE Closed — Simchat
Torah
Simchat Torah Service and
Torah Parades
No Religious School —
Simchat Torah
Wednesday, October 10
7:00 a.m. Minyan
9:30 a.m. Adult Ed: Parents’ School
4:00 p.m. Religious School
6:00 p.m. Zayin and Tichon
Thursday, October 11
9:30 a.m. ECE Stroll and Schmooze
12:00 p.m. Travels Through Talmud
7:30 p.m. Lashir Rehearsal
7:30 p.m. School Committee
Friday, October 12
Candle lighting 6:05 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
Kabbalat Shabbat Service
Saturday, October 13
Parashat Bereshit
8:45 a.m.
9:45 a.m.
Bible BaBoker
Shabbat Morning
Service/Bar Mitzvah of
Adam Britton
9:45 a.m.
9:45 a.m.
10:15 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
6:30 p.m.
Religious School
Vav Zayin Seminar
Library Minyan
Jr. Congregation
Kadima: BBQ & Bonfire
Sunday, October 14
8:30 a.m. Minyan
8:30 a.m. Sukkot Break Down
9:00 a.m. Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class
9:00 a.m. Adult Hebrew
9:00 a.m. Religious School
4:00 p.m. Authors Amongst Us: Rabbi
Dov Peretz Elkins
Monday, October 15
1:30 p.m. Yiddish Reading Group
7:00 p.m. JCW: Spice Mavens 101
Tuesday, October 16
Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan
4:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
Religious School
Book Club
Adult Ed: Converts,
Conversion & Conflict
Wednesday, October 17
Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan
6:45 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
12:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
8:00 p.m.
Minyan
Adult Ed: Parents’ School
Jess Epstein Lunch & Learn
Religious School
RS Tallit Project
Zayin and Tichon
Executive Committee
Meeting
Thursday, October 18
9:30 a.m. ECE Stroll and Schmooze
10:00 a.m. 55 Plus Lecture
12:00 p.m. Travels Through Talmud
7:30 p.m. Lashir Rehearsal
7:30 p.m. Social Action: Forum
Friday, October 19
Candle lighting 5:55 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
Kabbalat Shabbat Service
Saturday, October 20
Parashat Noach
8:45 a.m.
9:45 a.m.
Bible BaBoker
Shabbat Morning
Service/Bar Mitzvah of
Daniel Hubert
9:45 a.m. Religious School
9:45 a.m. Vav Zayin Seminar
10:30 a.m. Jr. Congregation
11:00 a.m. Shabbat LaMishpacha
Sunday, October 21
8:30 a.m. Minyan
9:00 a.m. Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class
9:00 a.m. Adult Hebrew
9:00 a.m. Religious School
9:00 a.m. RS: Vav BM with Rabbis
12:00 p.m. Men’s Club Touch Football
7:00 p.m. Religious School Back-toSchool Night
Monday, October 22
1:30 p.m. Yiddish Reading Group
Tuesday, October 23
4:00 p.m. Religious School
7:30 p.m. Adult Ed: Converts,
Conversion & Conflict
Wednesday, October 24
7:00 a.m. Minyan
9:30 a.m. Adult Ed: Parents’ School
4:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
Religious School
RS Tallit Project
Zayin and Tichon
Thursday, October 25
9:30 a.m. ECE Stroll and Schmooze
12:00 p.m. Travels Through Talmud
7:30 p.m. Adult Ed: American Jewish
Short Stories
7:30 p.m. Lashir Rehearsal
Friday, October 26
Candle lighting 5:45 p.m.
10:00 a.m. ECE School-wide Shabbat
6:30 p.m. Kabbalat Shabbat Service
Saturday, October 27
Parashat Lech-Lecha
8:45 a.m.
9:45 a.m.
Bible BaBoker
Shabbat Morning
Service/Bat Mitzvah of
Samantha Kushner
9:45 a.m. Religious School
9:45 a.m. Vav Zayin Seminar
10:15 a.m. Library Minyan
10:30 a.m. Jr. Congregation
4:30 p.m. Mincha Service/Bar
Mitzvah of Isaiah Makow
9:00 a.m.
9:00 a.m.
7:00 p.m.
Religious School
RS: Vav BM with Rabbis
Board Meeting
Monday, October 29
1:30 p.m. Yiddish Reading Group
Tuesday, October 30
8:00 a.m. TASK Casserole Drop-off
9:00 a.m. ECE School Pictures
4:00 p.m. Religious School
7:30 p.m. Adult Ed: Converts,
Conversion & Conflict
Wednesday, October 31
7:00 a.m. Minyan
9:00 a.m. ECE School Pictures
9:30 a.m.
4:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
Adult Ed: Parents’ School
Religious School
RS Tallit Project
Zayin and Tichon
All times and events are current at time of
publication, but are subject to change.
Please refer to our website for most recent
information: www.thejewishcenter.org/calendar/index.asp
Sunday, October 28
8:30 a.m. Minyan
9:00 a.m. Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class
9:00 a.m. Adult Hebrew
On September 23, The Men’s Club built three sukkot, two at TJC and one at Rabbi Tucker's home. Special
thanks to all the men handy with a drill or with the grill.
27
Office:(609) 921-0100 Fax: (609) 921-7531 School: (609) 921-7207
E-Mail info@thejewishcenter.org Web: www.thejewishcenter.org
Adam Feldman . . . . . . . . .Rabbi
Anne E. Tucker . . . . . . . . .Rabbi
Dov Peretz Elkins . . . . . . .Rabbi Emeritus
Murray E. Simon . . . . . . . .Cantor Emeritus
Amy Rubin . . . . . . . . . . . .Director of Administration
Gila Levin . . . . . . . . . . . . .Director of Religious School
Gayle Z. Wagner . . . . . . . .Director of Early Childhood Education
Neil Wise . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Director of Programming
Fran Amir . . . . . . . . . . . . .Principal Emerita
David Greenberg . . . . . . .President
Randy Brett . . . . . . . . . . . .Vice President-Administration
Susan Kanter . . . . . . . . . . .Vice President-Education
Naomi Perlman . . . . . . . .Vice President-Finance and Development
Polly Strauss . . . . . . . . . . .Vice President-Programming
Gil Gordon . . . . . . . . . . . .Vice President-Religious Affairs
Bruce Hecht . . . . . . . . . . .Recording Secretary
Jesse Treu . . . . . . . . . . . . .Past President
Deadline for NOVEMBER Newsletter - October 1.
Contributions
Or Current Resident
The Jewish Center is 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 ____________________________________________________________________________________________
p In honor of:
Occasion: p In memory of:
Name(s) as you would like it to appear in newsletter: ______________________________________________________________
Send donation acknowledgement to:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Please remember, acknowledgments 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 The Jewish Center office, 609-921-0100 ext. 200.
Funds
p General
p Adult Education
p Adult Library
p Arts & Cultural Affairs
p Building Development Fund
p Cantor’s Music Fund
p Children’s Library
p College Connection
p Confirmation Class Israel Trip Fund
p Cy and Jackie Meisel Nursery
Scholarship Fund
p Early Childhood Enrichment Fund
p ECE - Hebrew Immersion Fund
p ECE - Playground Fund
p Feldstein Israel Travel Scholarship Fund
p Fran Amir Community Service Trip Fund
p Gould Nursery Scholarship Fund
p Hattie Griffin Fund
28
p Irving N. Rabinowitz Conversational
Hebrew Fund
p Israeli Affairs Fund
p Jess Epstein Lunch-and-Learn Fund
p Jewish Center Women
p The Joan Levin School
p LASHIR
p Men’s Club
p Neimark Senior Mitzvah Fundior
p New Siddur ($36) New Chumash ($75)
New Machzor($36)
p Rabbis’ Discretionary Fund
p Religious Affairs Fund
p Religious School Fund
p Sapoff Art Purchase and Restoration Fund
p Shabbat Luncheon Fund
p Shabbat Meal for Mourners Fund
p Silver Circle Scholarship Fund
p Social Action
p Social Action - Housing Fund
p Steven Levine Special Education Fund
p Torah Repair Fund
p Youth and Family Programs
p Wallack Family Fund
Plaques and Remembrances
p Memorial Plaque $350
p Tree of Life Leaf $216
(to commemorate a simcha)
Giving Opportunities
p Adult Ed Lecture or Series $300-$600
p Sponsor a Shabbat Congregational
Luncheon $2,500 or Shabbat Kiddush
$600
*Now you can donate through our website. Go to www.thejewishcenter.org and
follow the instructions!