Temple Topics 2009 Sept

Elul 5769/Tishri 5770 September 2009

Our Mission Statement: Temple Sholom is a Reform Jewish congregation that welcomes traditional and non traditional Jewish families and individuals, aspiring to create a warm and caring Jewish atmosphere fostering inclusiveness and community. We engage in life long learning, worship, lifecycle events and social action (Tikun Olam), while cultivating a love and understanding of our Jewish heritage and promoting the perpetuation of Judaism.

The Newsletter of Temple Sholom 1913-2013 – Looking toward our second century

Respecting our traditions…. Focusing on the future

Temple T pics

Welcome back to a New Year at Temple Sholom! HIGH HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

S’lichot - Saturday, September 12—5:00 pm family activity 6:00 pm—Pizza Dinner, 6:30 pm—Havdalah, 6:45 pm—Oneg, 7:00 pm—Service, 7:30 pm—Study session Erev Rosh haShanah – Friday, September 18, 8:00pm (Sanctuary)

Rosh haShanah I – Saturday, September 19 Shacharit (Sanctuary), 10:00 am Children’s Service (ages 3 – 2nd grade, Chapel), 10:00 am Children’s Service (3rd – 6th grade, Chapel), 11:00 am Children’s Torah Service (Sanctuary), 2:00 pm (Open to all) Rosh haShanah II – Sunday, September 20, 10:00 am (Chapel)

Shabbat Shuvah - Friday, September 25. 8:00pm (Chapel) Kol Nidre – Sunday, September 27, 7:30 pm (Sanctuary)

Yom Kippur – Monday, September 28 Shacharit (Sanctuary), 10:00 am Children’s Service (ages 3 – 2nd grade, Chapel), 10:00 am Children’s Service (3rd to 6th grade, Chapel), 11:00 am Discussion (Chapel), 1:00 pm Musical Meditation (Chapel), 2:00 pm Children’s Torah Service (Sanctuary), 2:00 pm Mincha (Afternoon) Service (Sanctuary), 3:30 pm Yizkor (Memorial) Service (Sanctuary), 5:15 pm Ne’ilah (Concluding) Service (Sanctuary), 5:45 pm Break Fast to follow See page 18 for information on Sukkot and Simchat Torah

Fall Worship Schedule:

Beginning Friday, Sep-tember 11th, services will begin at 8:00pm, except for the last Friday of each month which is the Sunset service, starting at 6pm. Saturday morning services resume September 5th.

Sanctuary Setup If you can help set up the Sanctuary at 1pm on Sep. 19th or Sep. 27th, contact Mark Nussenfeld at [email protected]

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Temple Sholom

A Reform Congregation affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ)

Temple Topics is published 10 times each year by Temple Sholom, Martine and LaGrande Avenues in Fanwood. This newsletter is available at no cost to subscribers.

Rabbi Joel N. Abraham Rabbi Emeritus Gerald A. Goldman Student Cantor Vicky Glikin President Steven H. Saltzman, Ph.D. Director of Education Michelle Shapiro Abraham, RJE

Let Us Know… What Is Going On in Your Life!

Please let us know about your good news and simchas. We would love to print it in Temple Topics so that our entire congregation can kvell and shep nachas with you. Just call, fax or e-mail the Temple office and share your glad tidings. Judaism has a moment to share joys and sorrows with the community—an Aliyah. Please call the Temple office by Wednesday morning of any given week if you would like an Aliyah for the following Shabbat. If you become ill or are hospitalized, please let us know. Rabbi Abraham would like to visit you, and we would like to add your name to our Mi-Sheberach list. The hospital is NOT allowed to contact the Temple or the Rabbi unless you explicitly request them to do so. Note: To let us know about your news, please contact the Temple office directly.

September Events 9/4 Last Summer Service

9/11 B’day/Ann Service/ Board Installation 9/12 S’lichot

9/13 1st Day Religious School—Special Program 9/15 1st Day Hebrew School

9/18 Erev Rosh haShanah 9/19 Rosh haShanah

9/25 Sunset Kabbalat Shabbat 9/26 Congregational Minyan

9/27 Kol Nidre/Erev Yom Kippur

9/7 Labor Day -Office Closed 9 20 & 9/27 No Religious School 9/28 Yom Kippur—Office Closed

Thank you to our Benefactor Members:

Anonymous Ellen Berman

Sandra Berman Ron & Ilene Blitzer

Margaret Cohen Natalie Darwin

William & Sandra Dreier Lynda Goldschein The Lyons Family

David & Deborah Richmand The Stevens Family

The Weingarten Family Susan Weiseman

Editors Cathy Salomon/ Linda Nieporent

Advertising Coordinator Linda Nieporent

Events Photographer Ed Bort

Office Administrative Asst. Barbara Cooke

Bookkeeper/ Rel. Sch. Admin Asst. Larry Berman

Temple Phone 908.889.4900

Fax 908.889.9920

E-mail [email protected]

Rel. School cell phone 908.230.2393 (school hrs only)

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From The Rabbi’s Study I’m sorry. I will try to do better. - Rabbi Joel N. Abraham (and others)

Let me start off by saying that other than not apologizing at all, apologizing through a Temple bulletin column is probably about as weak an apology as you can offer. Even in a sermon, there is at least some measure of eye contact – sadly lacking in the printed page which you are now (hopefully) reading. I’m sorry for that, too. However, if I have not yet had a chance to speak to you in person, or over the phone, or I have erred or failed to do what I should as your Rabbi, please take this apology as the beginning of t’shuvah – the Jewish process of repentance. T’shuvah may be one of the most underrated of Jewish innovations. Consider for a moment – other religious systems consider errors (whether classified as “sins” or otherwise) as either permanent or as removable through the intervention of an outside source. Again, once you do something wrong it is either held against you forever; or some other Divine entity can absolve you of that sin, without you even having to speak to the person that you may have offended. Not in Judaism – the Mishnah tells us that the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) atones for sins between the human being and God, but for sins between one human being and another, the Day of Atonement does not atone, until that person has made peace with the other. T’shuvah may not be as easy on the individual. (After all, having to figure out whom you may have

wronged, building up the courage and humility to speak to that person, and having the strength to make that wrong right, can take a great deal of effort.) However, there is no better model for a healthy community with strong interpersonal relationships than a society in which its members can admit their errors and heal hurtful ruptures. Perversely, a much better future can be created by those who have made the effort to fix the errors of

the past than by those who would close the door on previous actions, as if there was no possible redress. A further benefit of t’shuvah is that, although it is available and encouraged all year, there is a special calendrical moment that reminds us to engage in that process. As individuals in a community, we prepare separately and together to put our best foot forward in the new

year, by healing our past. The time is now – as the Hebrew month of Elul leads into Tishri – to review our (mis)deeds, to take responsibility for our actions, and to seek forgiveness from those whom we have wronged. I take this precious gift very seriously, and I implore you – if there is anything that I have done in the past year to offend, or have not done that may have insulted or slighted, please let me know – that I may seek t’shuvah from you and that both of us may go into the sweet new year together.

L’shanah tovah u’mtukah, Rabbi Joel N. Abraham

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Cantor’s Corner “Would you like to say a prayer together?” This is the question that I asked the patients and the patients asked me this summer at Overlook Hospital, where I was completing a program in Clinical Pastoral Education. This eleven-week program comprised of students from various faith backgrounds and included patient visits, reflection on our pastoral development, and instruction on various health-related topics, ranging from bio-ethical issues to addiction. My experiences this summer included times of happiness when hospital patients went home after a successful surgery or got cleared from a dangerous diagnosis. But, there were also many sad times: times when

relatives and friends lost their loved ones, times when patients left the hospital on hospice, times when patients had unexpected and traumatic complications. These were times of tragedy, loss, and deep distress. What all of these times – the good and the bad - had in common was the patients’ and their loved ones’ need to reach outside of themselves to find comfort and consolation, or to express gratitude. This act of looking outside of oneself can take different forms, but very frequently people want to turn to God for strength, courage, and comfort. It helps if in this time one has an established relationship with God, even if it is a troubled or skeptical one. With the High Holidays right around the corner, comes a tremendous opportunity to explore our individual and communal relationship with God, or to initiate one. What do you believe is God’s role in the world? How do you think God relates to God’s people? Where can you see God in your life? How do you relate to God? Our job is not necessarily to find concrete answers. However, it is our task to search and to struggle with our understanding of God, just like our forefather Jacob physically struggled with God. Jacob came out of his struggle with a limp, but he was also a changed man, as signaled by his receiving a new name – Israel, along with the promise of greatness. (Genesis 32:4-33:17) It is for this reason that we are known to the world as the People Israel, not the People Jacob. Like Jacob, we, too, can be transformed through our exploration of and struggle with God. This High Holiday season, may you and your loved ones be healthy and happy. May you find the curiosity and courage to ask difficult questions and the insight and wisdom to struggle with the answers. May you have opportunities for transformation and inspiration and may you be blessed with many simchas. L’Shana Tova Tikateivu – May you and your loved ones be inscribed for a good year!

Vicky Glikin

Have a healthy & Happy new year

Bob & Jeremy Enda

L’Shanah Tovah Warmest Wishes for a Healthy, Happy, and Peaceful New Year

Neil, Ruth and Amy Smith

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President’s Monthly Memo In her most well known book The Death and Life of Great American Cities (1961), Jane Jacobs argues that the lifeblood of cities comes from the interactions of people on the streets and sidewalks, and that urban renewal projects

and high rise buildings and housing projects - such as Lefrak City or Stuyvesant Town - which create large empty spaces between buildings actually destroy urban life and rob cities of their vitality. Made famous by Le Courbousier the French urban planner in the early 20th century, high rises were supposed to be sleek, modern and convenient urban spaces that organized what for him had been the chaos of 19th century European cities. Jacobs’ work had a profound effect on urban planning after its publication and has influenced an entire generation or two already. So, you ask, what has this to do with Temple Sholom or has our president finally gone off the deep end? Well, maybe it’s a little of both.

The design of our new home which has been called “green” because of the maximization of one large room for multiple functions (sanctuary, social hall, classrooms), also maximizes the interactions of all our children as well as our children with their parents and other adults. In our old building we actually had a separate entrance for Religious School

and the children were supposed to enter the building there while adults entered from a different door near the back of the main sanctuary. This was intended to minimize inter-generational interactions. I suggest that our new building will not only be more energy efficient but will also encourage a greater sense of community. And I feel very strongly this is what we need. Many families join the Temple to give their children a religious education in preparation for B’nei Mitzvahs, but if they have not become part of the community by the time their children are thirteen, some simply leave. This is unfortunate for them as well as for the life of the congregation because we are losing people who could contribute more to the Temple as their children’s needs for constant supervision diminish. How many members will stay on who do not feel themselves a part of the Temple community?

With the rapid approach of the High Holy Days, I would like to encourage all of the leaders of the congregation to create activities for members’ participation, and would also like to encourage everyone to get involved. If you don’t see any interesting activities coming from the Temple for you please let me know. Wishing you all a healthy and happy New Year.

B’ Shalom Steven H. Saltzman, Ph.D.

Good Health, Prosperity and Joy to our TEMPLE SHOLOM COMMUNITY

SUSAN, NEIL, REBEKAH, & JORDAN SEDWIN

Best wishes for a healthy, Prosperous New Year

Mark, Tish, Nora & Magda Isack

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Religious School News and Views This year we are starting the school year with an experiment in community building. The Board of Education began this idea with the belief that Jewish education can not take place in a vacuum. To be truly successful, Jewish education needs to take place in the context of a community. Jewish life and learning is not something you do alone on a mountaintop. It is something you do with others. Our tradition teaches that there are certain prayers that you can not say with out at least ten people present. Why? Because prayer is something we do together. The Talmud teaches that there are certain

Jewish texts that you can not study alone. It goes as far as to say that when people study Jewish text together, the presence of God sits among them. The Hebrew word for “study group” is chevruta and comes from the Hebrew root meaning “friend.” “You should not study Judaism alone,” the word reminds us, “you should study Judaism sitting among your friends.” We all know, however, that sitting in a large room with a hundred people is not the way we make friends. We make them over a great food, over meaningful conversations, over shared experiences. We make them watching our children hang out together, and our children make them in unstructured socializing and play. Our tradition teaches us that to live Judaism we need to foster these friendships and build this community. Not in the artificial, over-used modern way we throw about the word “community,” but in an authentic, meaningful way. We need to know one another, celebrate with each other, and be able to support each other when in need. So, this year we are starting the school year with an experiment in community building. On Sunday, September 13th we are gathering in people’s homes for the first day of religious school instead of coming in to the building for regular class. During the one and a half hours that families will spend together we will do some eating, some socializing, and some learning together with one of our religious school teachers and Temple Board members. There will be name tags, class lists, calendars and parent handbooks handed out. But, most importantly, there will be time to eat, spend time together, and really get to know a few other families in our congregation. We are placing families together by age of children and location. Families will receive an e-mail in late August telling them which house they are going to and what they should bring. On the second day of class (October 4th) parents will be invited to come to the classes at 11:40 to meet their child’s teacher and find out information about their specific curriculum.

The first day of religious school, however, is an opportunity to take part in an experiment in community building. It is chance to help build for yourself a “chavurah” – a group of friends to learn and celebrate with. Join us and see what we can build together.

L’shalom, Michelle Shapiro Abraham

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Happy Birthday

SAVE THE DATE!

The fourth annual Temple Sholom Holiday Boutique and Book Fair will be held on Sunday, November 22, 2009 from 9am –1pm. We need vendors! If you or someone you know is interested in being a ven-dor at the boutique, please contact Karen Schack at [email protected] or 908-889-6912.

Happy Anniversary

Mitchell & Dana Brenner 9/1 Ross & Gale Miller 9/1 Edward & Deborah Bort 9/3 20th Randi & Dave Martorano 9/6 Corrine & Jules Lippe 9/12 Andrew & Elyse Breit 9/15

Mark & Jean Rosen 9/17 Jeff Messing & Grace Braverman 9/25 15th Stephanie & Michael Madeira 9/26 10th Philip & Mrs. Estelle Brenner 9/27 David & Sara Hutt 9/28 Emily & German Serna 9/28

German Serna 9/1 Lucille Taub 9/1 Alison Balkan 9/2 Tom Smith 9/2 Merrill Taub 9/2 Stacey Meyers 9/4 Charles Johnston 9/5 Sari Dorn 9/6 Nancy Koye 9/6 Maria Lichtenstein 9/6 Robert Harrington, Jr. 9/7 Michael Teschner 9/8 Emma Beckerman 9/9 Mitchell Brenner 9/9 Frank Dresdale 9/9 Alex Kaufman 9/9 Noah Harold Lieberman 9/10

Suzanne Lyte 9/10 Jody Saltzman 9/10 Ira Stoloff 9/10 David Richmand 9/11 Eugene Schulman 9/11 Eric Sokolsky 9/11 Lenore Gordon 9/14 Ilene Schulman 9/14 Eileen Feinberg 9/16 Susan Saunders 9/16 Jacob Scovronek 9/16 Jason Steinfeld 9/17 Sharon Bort 9/18 William Dreier 9/18 Brandon Meyers 9/18 Miriam Zhibek Korngruen 9/19 Adam Monzella 9/19

Walter Schroder 9/19 Jed Feibush 9/20 Robert Raymar 9/20 Clifford Sobel 9/20 Jason Breit 9/21 Matthew Kempner 9/22 Ruth Rutenberg 9/22 Rory Szeto 9/22 Samantha Levenstein 9/23 Jessica Madeira 9/23 Justin Koizumi 9/24 Elisha Monzella 9/24 Jocelyn Michnowski 9/25 Deborah Bort 9/27 Sandra Nussenfeld 9/27 Jeff Nagourney 9/29 Nathanial Roquet 9/30

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The Saltzman family wishes everyone a happy and healthy

New Year L’shanah Tovah

Ann and Steven Blanche

Dori Saltzman and Marius Cocus Jody Saltzman and Adam Wangerin

May you and your loved ones be

healthy and happy, and may peace and

good fortune fill your days

The Darwin Family

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Cycle of Life

Remembering: September 4—Harry Adelman, Rose Korngut, Gloria St. Lifer, Victoria Carter, Rose Feibush, Rachel

Levy, Ray Levy, Harvey Silver, Marian Weigl, Arlene Winokur, Sylvia Kaplan, Harry Lyons, Tillie Zuts, Jack Garkofsky, Harvey Leffler, Harvey Rothberg, Florence Schwartz, Herman Klein, Harry Steinig, Theodore Irsay, Charles Katz

September 11-Rose Marks, Estelle Miron, Adolph Tepper, Mayer Warren, Jack Kaplan, Lillian Levy, Norman Yood, Helen Rothberg, Michael Lifson, Laura Keller Lowe, David Marshall, Louise Nussenfeld, Victor Serota, Rose Fromm, Sarah Gilestein, Jacob Lowe, Ruth Scher, Molly Goldstein, Mirel Meyerson, Alex Schoenberger, Jacob Weyuker, Andres Contreras, Fannie Epstein

September 18-Sam Bort, Elissa Hammer, Elvira Kestenbaum, Ira I. Miller, Stanley Dorn, Louis Sheff, Nathan Silverman, Myra Snitsarenco, Bella Zatkowsky, Lillian Katz, Lou Reich, Mercedes Sass, Louis Gelfond, Harry Lewis Glass, Mina Abraham, Charles Blume, Sylvia Kadushin, William Richard, Edward Sachar, Isadore Braveman, Arlene Levy, Jerry Weiiner

September 25-Benjamin Goldschein, Glenn Dee Gordon, Anne Jaffe, Anne Kaplan, Sara Zanyatin, Benjamin Fisher, Jane Freedman, Miriam Lipton, Clara Armm, Saul Unger, Elly Berger, Harry Hackman, Kate Rayner, Rose Slavin, Morris Usdanksy, Louis Jasin, Philip Klein, David Krugman, George Groschefsky, Esther Breiman, Rachel Tannenbaum.

October 2-Robert Bail, Barbara Fermaglich, Dora Lowenthal, Miriam Lipton, Harry Mergler, Yetta Ross, Floyd Gusack, May Nagourney, Richard Zinn, Fredy Levy, Martin Rosoff, Mary Rothseid, Irving Block, Louis Lubin, Norma Messing, Enid Nieporent, Morris Vogel, Julius J. Sand, Maurice Taylor, Fred Walters, Bernard Lipman

Congratulations to: Chuck and Molly May on the birth of their son Jesse Aaron on July 5.

Condolences to: Ellen Diamond on the death of her brother Joshua Diamond on July 11. Suzanne Lyte on the death of her father, Dr. Mark Friedman. Kim Lietner on the death of her grandmother. Marjorie Cohen on the death of her sister, Paula Berger, on July 21. Larry Berman on the passing of his mother-in-law, Elsie Freedman on August 19.

OCTOBER HOLIDAY PREVIEW October 2—Erev Sukkot October 3—Sukkot in the Woods & Open House at Rabbi & Michelle

Abraham’s Home October 4—BYO Picnic in Sukkah October 9—Erev Simchat Torah and Consecration Service October 10—Simchat Torah

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Renaissance

Mark your calendars for Renaissance paid-up membership luncheon on September 23rd. New members encouraged to attend. Flyer with more information to fol-low… Renaissance Goes Camping! In July members of Temple Sholom Ren-aissance joined members of other NJ synagogues for a weekend of fun and friendship at Camp Kislak. We en-joyed services, music, crafts, boating and the opportunity to make new friends. We are looking forward to more joint activities. At left, Claire Greenberg shoving off.

MEMBER NEWS

Cheryl Polios, CHMM (Certified Hazardous Materials Manager) , daughter of Mike and Marion Portnoy, will receive the Hazardous Material Manager of the Year Award from the Alli-ance of Hazardous Materials Professionals in September. This award is given to an outstanding, peer-nominated member of the AHMP who, during the previous year, has made outstanding ac-complishments in the fields of Hazardous Materials Management or related aspects while promot-ing the vision & mission of the AHMP and the integrity of the CHMM credential. This award also recognizes that individual who has actually demonstrated skills in operations, planning, training & education. This award, which is not given every year, is given to only one AHMP member in the years when it is awarded.

Temple member William M. Robins has written a book titled Stanley Elkin: A Comprehensive Bibliography that is being published by The Scarecrow Press of Lanham, MD. Among the finest Jewish-American writers in recent history, Stanley Elkin's works include the novels The Magic Kingdom, The MacGuffin, and the award-winning George Mills and Mrs. Ted Bliss. In addition to a chronology of Elkin's life and a discussion of his critical reception, this extensive work addresses all of Elkin's novels, short stories, drama, non-print media adaptations, quotes, and editorial ven-tures. This volume also includes important items written about Elkin, such as interviews, criticism, awards, obituaries, manuscripts, and Internet references. Currently, Dr. Robins is the administra-tor and municipal clerk in the Borough of Dunellen, New Jersey. He is a member and past-president of the Dunellen-Green Brook Rotary Club and he is active in several local and state-wide disabilities advocacy groups. He is married to Elizabeth and has two daughters, Gwendolyn and Madolyn.

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Report From Israel Claire Bisgay, Marjorie Cohen, Judy Felmeister

We recently traveled to Israel as volunteers to teach English to elementary school students through an organization called “Living Bridge, Partnership 2000 Arad/Tamar – New Jersey/Delaware.”We spent two weeks in Arad, which is located on the east coast of Israel in the Negev Desert, near the Dead Sea and Masada, and it is very safe to be there.

Our Rabbi, Joel Abraham, Temple Sholom, Fanwood, and Amy Cooper, a vice –president of Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey, encouraged and assisted us in planning our trip. In Arad, Shimon Shamilla, the Partnership Director, and Ofra Bezalel, the Living Bridge Coordinator, made our visit in every way an enjoyable and memorable one.

For the two weeks, we stayed at a lovely inn called “Boutique Yehelim.” Dalia Yehel, our hostess, served delicious and nutritious breakfasts and dinners. Moreover, we got to know Dalia, her husband, Dror, and their five beautiful chil-dren.We met many of their friends at dinnertime when we had wonderful conversations. They even took us to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, where we had a lovely time.

During mornings, we taught at the Democratic School where we worked with lovely children and dedicated teachers. We learned as much from them as they learned from us. After school, we visited wonderful museums in Arad, such as the Glass Factory and the Puppet Museum. Ofra and our driver, Avi Ben Ezra, took us on a day trip to Jerusalem and because it was a Thursday, many b’nei mitzvah were being held. We felt excitement and exhilaration as we stood at the Western Wall surrounded by thousands of people from all over the world. After, as a lovely contrast, we had a delicious, quiet picnic in a nearby forest.

One Shabbat morning, we visited the Ethiopian Synagogue of Arad and sat in the women’s section. The women were chanting the prayers in Hebrew with high spirit but when they saw us, they were very friendly and immediately handed each of us a siddur. Throughout the service, if you closed your eyes, you might imagine yourself back to your childhood, sitting in an orthodox shul while the Rabbi and congregation were davening. The women wore beautiful long, white dresses, and we learned that the congregation was celebrating a young couple’s marriage.After services, several congre-gants invited us to attend the party in honor of the couple. We declined, however, because we were meeting Ofra and her lovely family for lunch.

Our visit to the Ethiopian Synagogue was both pleasurable and meaningful. During this trip, we were fortunate to learn about a group that protects and shelters children—Children’s Village. Children’s Village Kfar Neradim SOS of Arad is an organization that helps children who are orphaned and those who live in unbearable situations at home. Its aim is to take a child from hopelessness today to a brighter future tomorrow. The village consists of individual homes in which eight children live with a “mother.” The “mother” is not related to the children. However, she lives with them, buys the food, prepares their meals, and purchases their clothing. She takes the youngsters to and from school, and they also at-tend Hebrew School. “Mother” disciplines the children when necessary and shows them much affection. An “aunt” takes over the “mother’s” duties when it is necessary to do so.

The women who take these positions change children’s lives in the most profound way. They help develop produc-tive, positive human beings; they make the children feel that things can and will get better. The women try to instill val-ues that will help them make appropriate choices throughout their lives. It all takes much love and patience. On a lovely Shabbat evening, we had dinner with Ziva Choen, a “mother”, and her eight children. “Aunt” Sandra Mariasin was also there. The table was set beautifully. The children were well behaved and recited the Hebrew prayers over the wine and challah. Ziva served a delicious meal while we became acquainted with the youngsters. After dinner, without being asked to do so, the children cleared the table. Throughout the evening, it was obvious that the children loved Ziva and Sandra; lots of hugs all around. We noticed, however, that if a youngster got out of line, Ziva stopped it immediately.

Later on, many of the children went out to play while Ziva and Sandra introduced us to “mothers” in other houses in the village. We also met many of the youngsters. It is safe for the children to be outdoors because all the houses are in close proximity, and they are surrounded by a large fence. Children’s Village relies on contributions from individuals for its support. In addition to the obvious necessities, the organization provides a therapy and treatment center, a daycare center, and programs to prevent children from dropping out of school.

The following Friday evening, we had Shabbat dinner with Ofra and her family. One of her guests was a handsome, articulate young many who had come with her to Marlboro, NJ to tell American teenagers about Israel. In passing, Ofra mentioned that at one time this young man had been a resident at Children’s Village but that now he lived with his par-ents. We have since learned that he has returned to Children’s Village because he no longer wants to stay in his parents’ home. Despite his difficulties, this young man will “make it”’ he will lead a successful life because of the love and

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Report From Israel (continued from previous page) support he continues to receive from the wonderful people at Children’s Village Kfar Neradim SOS.

Israelis are warm, hospitable and generous, and we felt at home from the moment we arrived in Israel. One eve-ning, we met with two wonderful women, Monique Hersh and Ruth Goldberg, who catalog books in the library in Arad. In passing, they mentioned that the library was in need of books, and we immediately knew what our next project would be. To that end, our fellow congregants at Temple Sholom generously contributed over one thousand gently used books, and we deeply appreciate their making the project a success. Jewish Federation of Central NJ as well as other Federations in New Jersey and throughout the United States work diligently to build a living bridge

between American Jews and Israelis. In order to be part of the living bridge, Federation provides the opportunity to volunteer through Partnership 2000. Some ways to contribute your talents are: working with adolescents, childcare/preschool, clerical work, health care services, teaching, bulding/construction, sports/coaching, computers, elder services, art, music, and much more. Throughout this article, we have tried to convey our love of Israel and its people. Please join us on our next trip to Arad as we continue to build that living bridge, a strong bond, with our Israeli brothers and sisters. You will find great meaning in your visit to Israel.

Claire Bisgay, Marjorie Cohen, Judy Felmeister

Good Health and

Happiness to all our Temple

Family! Bob Raymar &

Ronnie Liebowitz

Best Wishes for a Happy and

Healthy New Year to all at

Temple Sholom

Michael and Marion Portnoy

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THIS MONTH’S B’NAI MITZVAH Rachel Schack will become a Bat Mitzvah on September 5 and is entering the 8th grade at Park Middle School. She lives in Scotch Plains with her parents, Karen and David, her younger brother Aaron and her dog Hailley. In her free time she enjoys being with her friends, listening to music and dancing. During the school year she participates in several classes at Dance 2000. For her mitzvah project she has volunteered with Lifeline Animal Rescue to help with pet adoptions. She has also been collecting pet supplies that

will be donated to animals in shelters. In addition she has helped out at St. John’s Soup Kitchen, babysat during the High Holiday Services and baked cookies for the Religious School’s Consecration Service.

Garrett Szeto will become a Bar Mitzvah on September 12. Garrett will be attending 7th grade at Park Middle school. Garrett lives with his family in Fanwood. He has two brothers; Geoffrey, 23 and Rory, 16, and a new puppy named Cody. Garrett enjoys playing lacrosse and tennis and hanging with his friends. He loves to cook, is a big Red Sox fan and constantly makes his family laugh. Garrett teamed up with his neighbor Pierce Johnston to collect and create welcome baskets for Homefirst, an organization that finds temporary and permanent housing for the homeless. Let’s join together to wish Garrett a mazel tov!

L’Shanah Tovah David, Linda & Elana

Nieporent

Best Wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year

MallAry, Tom, Clara & Ellie

THANK YOU I would like to thank all the members of Temple Sholom who so generously contributed to the Jewish World Watch Darfur Solor Cooker Project. Your response was greatly appreciated and the women in Darfur will benefit from your generosity.

Thanks again,

Marge Cohen

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With Best Wishes for a Happy, Healthy New

Year!

Jodie, Chet, Rachel and David Van Wert

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Happy and Healthy New Year to the

Temple Sholom Family

Health and Happiness to All of Us

Jed, Susan, Samantha and

Kenneth Feibush

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Notes from Abroad (from our sister congregation in Budapest, Sim Shalom)

 There is some good news and some bad news this month. The good news is small changes for the better in the recognition of Sim Shalom Congregation as a legitimate part of the greater Jewish community. One sign of change was that our Rabbi, Kati Kelemen, was invited to participate in a Holocaust Victim Memorial Service at a restored Synagogue in a small provincial town called Janoshalma, in southern Hungary. Rabbi Kelemen gave the main address, in which she spoke about the need for all parts of the Hungarian community, both Jewish and Gentile, and Gypsy, to speak together, and work toward a diverse and integrated society that accepts all people of good will. This is a particularly timely message after the recent surprising election of several Hungarian Radical Rightists to the European Parliament. It was rather different from other sermons given in such circumstances which usually dwelt on the persecutions which Jews had suffered, and how one could try to understand how it could have happened. Very few Jews live in the Janoshalma anymore, and the audience contained many of the local governmental officials and town leaders, mostly Gentile. The Special significance of this invitation is that the synagogue is nominally under the control of the Neolog branch of Judaism which in the past has refused to give any recognition to the legitimacy of Reform Judaism in Hungary. However, the leader of the renovation has become a good friend of Sim Shalom and our Rabbi.

The other sign was that for the first time in ten years, Sim Shalom was invited to send representatives to an annual conference sponsored by the Neolog Movement. The theme of the conference was how to rebuild Judiasm in small communities which had lost most of their Jewish population to the death camps in WWII. There were attendees not only from Hungary, but people of Hungarian ethnicity from the surrounding countries of Slovakia and Romania where only tiny communities remain. Our past President, Bernadette Gardos, attended the conference. It was very appropriate to be included in this conference, since the goals of Sim Shalom are very much in line with this rebuilding effort. And as you can see, the ashes of the Holocaust continue to play a big part in the life of the Jewish communities of Central and Eastern Europe.

The bad news has to do with the dashing of our hopes that we had finally found premises that were suitable for our religious and educational programs, and that we could afford. Two months ago I reported that we thought we'd found such a place, but that the financial feasibility of renting it depended on conversion of its heating system from very expensive electricity to cheaper gas heat. We've just learned that it is not reasonable to install gas heating because of the great expense of connecting to a very old gas supply system in the building. Also, the City is not willing to allow us to count the renovation costs against the rent, as they had earlier indicated. This is very sad news, and means we have to go back to searching again for a suitable place to live in.

Jesse Weil, Sim Shalom

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L’Shanah Tovah From:

The Lynch Family Dan, Judi, Daniel, Jennifer & Jack

Robin, Roberto, Amanda & Andres Chang

Barbara Rosen and Family

Mark & Sandra Nussenfeld

Eric Josh & Elyse

Roy and Penny Margolies

Neal & Kim Leitner and Family

Doris & Frank Dresdale All our warmest best wishes

Shelly Freedman

Harold & Emily Grodberg

Danny and Sam

Adrienne & Roger Graubard & Family

David & Kathy Korngruen Mia & Miriam

Mr. & Mrs. M. Szuch

Angela, Forrest, Mike, Stephanie

The Koerner Family

Happy New Year The Johnston Family

Sandra and Ellen Berman

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The Officers and Board of Trustees wish all members of Temple Sholom

a Happy and Healthy New Year! Temple Officers

Steven Saltzman Mallary Saltzman Susan Sedwin Kim Leitner Pam Dorn David Richmand Bob Enda Mark Isack

Board of Trustees Dana Brenner

Allen Darwin Richard Jacobs

David Korngruen Sharon Levy

Jackie Lieberman Ronnie Liebowitz

Robin Lyons Suzanne Lyte

Gale Miller David Nieporent Mark Nussenfeld

Sandra Nussenfeld Michael Portnoy Seth Weingarten

Honorary Trustees William Dreier

Sandra Dreier Catherine Gilbert

William Gindin Luna Kaufman

Penny Margolies Brett Neuhauser

Stephen Ritz Morton Rutenberg

Neil Smith Martin Schwartz

Lucille Taub Susan Weiseman

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The 3 girls pictured left, from our sister congregation Sim Sha-lom, visited us this summer and were hosted by Ellen and Dan Wolf . From left to right, Zsofi Kozma,Julia Fedoszov and Zoe Hegedus

At right, the choir at its end-of-year gathering (with a couple of young prospective mem-bers).

Left, Jeff Brenner and Noah Sokolsky enjoy a treat during the Temple Sholom Men’s Club to a Somerset Patriots’ game.

SUMMER PHOTOS

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Left, in June, the Temple Sholom Men’s Club and the Fanwood-Scotch Plains Men’s Club (Men on a Mission, or MOM) had a joint meeting at the Stage House Restaurant in Scotch Plains.

Happy participants at the Temple Sholom Men’s Club Barbeque.

Recycle your used inkjet cartridges and old cell phones and help the Confirmation Class at the same time! Bring your old cartridges and phones to the Temple office or to Religious School

on Sundays and deposit them in the marked boxes. The Confirmation Class will recycle them with the proceeds going toward the annual Confirmation Trip to Central Europe.

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GET YOUR 15 MINUTES OF FAME!

Got an event to announce, such as a wedding, birth or bar mitzvah? Know someone at Temple Sholom who as received an honor or has done something newsworthy, such as raised money for charity? Tell the PR committee about it! You'll help us get the word out about Temple Sholom and have fun seeing yourselves and your loved ones in the local news. Just e-mail Jackie Lieberman at [email protected] or call her at 908-322-7886.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

Ronnie & Sean Manette & their daughters Elisabeth & Rachel

Julie & Gil Isaacs & their daughters

Eva and Shoshana

Thank You for 10 Years of sharing & looking forward

to many more.

From Rabbi Joel, Michelle,

Avital Devorah, and Ezri Barak Abraham

L’SHANAH TOVAH UMETUKAH

PUT YOUR AD HERE—FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL:

908-889-4900

THANK YOU

The Cantor and I would like to thank Dan Wolff for donating a functioning keyboard for the Cantor's computer!

Thanks, Dan! Marion Portnoy

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Physical Therapy

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TEMPLE SHOLOM FUNDS (Please Indicate One)

The following are funds that members of Temple Sholom have created to encourage activities by and for members of the congregation and the surrounding community. Named tributes (minimum of $10) as

well as regular donations are welcome.

I would like to donate $18 $36 $54 Other $ ____ to the fund marked below in Honor / Memory of ______________________ By ___________________

My check is enclosed Please bill my Temple account (Temple members only)

EDUCATION FUNDS Irving Bussel Fund for the benefit of the Religious School Used for teacher education workshops Norman & Iris Pianko Innovative Education Fund For teachers and/or students of the Religious School Rabbi Nathanson Adult Education Fund For special & other adult education programs Religious School Equipment Fund To purchase equipment for the Religious School Dreier Family Fund for the Religious School To enhance the Religious School through art, theater, or music programming

SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS Goldschein/J. Schwartz Confirmation Trip Scholarship Fund Sarah Fund For Religious School Scholarships Litner/Podolier Membership Assistance Fund

————————————————————————————— New Building Donation Unrestricted Temple Donation

GENERAL FUNDS Harold Schwartz Presidents Fund To provide a steady stream of unrestricted income, from the income Building Beautification Fund - For new building A. A. Null/ Lang Kodesh Fund for Youth Activities To send Temple youth members to leadership training & other worthwhile activities Cantor’s Music Fund - To purchase music for the Temple Congregants’ Emergency Fund To provide short term financial aid to members in dire straits Hospitality Fund Marie Fuss Senior Citizen Fund To provide an annual special program for this membership group Frances & William Goldstein Library Fund To purchase & repair publications, books & equipment Prayerbook Fund President’s Discretionary Fund To be used by the President for/to the benefit of the Temple Tzedakah Fund for Social Action & Caring Committee Activities Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund

Please deliver first week of September