 |
       |
      |
   |
    |
  |
   |
  |
|
Activities
The Shomrei calendar is filled with a variety of activities that are sure to peak everyone's interest.
We celebrate our Jewish holidays as a family. For Sukkot we offer "The Great Sukkahs of Shomrei" or a Sukkah hop. We also have a community meal and service on either the Shabbat or the first days of Sukkot. At Simchat Torah, we hold a family activity that allows families to celebrate together. Purim is the highlight of the year for some of us as an original Purim Shpiel is performed - come and catch the rising stars.
Hanukkah allows us to bring in a family entertainer. This year Ben Bendor presented a Chanukah show for families. He is a wizard at audience improvisation and encouraged the use of imagination and thinking skills while providing a good time for adults and children of all ages.
Quiz Night is the evening where all those trivia maniacs can come and shine and those of us who are not in the know just have a really good time.
Each year a purely social event is held for the individual honored
by our Ad Journal and Directory. This year we are proud to honor Shelley Levine and Larry
Schwartz, who have served in multiple roles for the synagogue. We are very fortunate to
have members like them with such a vision and a love of the Shomrei community.
There are endless opportunities to meet people and become involved in synagogue activities through the Men's Club, Sisterhood, Kadima, Mensch Squad, Religious School Board, Board of Trustees and the Social Action, Membership, Building, Programming and Ritual Committees. Some of these groups and committees are described below.
There's a funny thing about the Mensch Squad. No one who's ever joined has quit. There are probably two reasons. First the job is satisfying. You get to help someone who really needs help. Second, the job hasn't been hard. (in the two years the Mensch Squad has been in existence, only a few congregants have needed us.
This is how our committee works a coordinator gets in touch either with a congregant who is hospitalized or a family member. We ask if the Mensch Squad can do something to ease things when the congregant comes home. If our help is accepted, then our drivers, shoppers, and cooks pitch in with whatever is needed. Recently, we held our biannual meeting (indeed, our first). We decided that if we get enough new volunteers, we will consider expanding our services to include congregants who may need help on an ongoing basis.
The Sisterhood of Congregation Shomrei Emunah is dedicated to serving the needs of our synagogue, religious school and community. We are comprised of the women of the congregation, who by paying dues ($36.00 per year) support our programs. What do we do? Among other things:
Sisterhood runs the gift shop, Women's -League Shabbat and the Rosh Chodesh Study Group.
Sisterhood sponsors programs of interest to the women of, the congregation, provides Shiva meals for those who have lost a loved one and distributes Hanukkah gifts to the children of our Religious School.
Sisterhood financially supports the synagogue, the Jewish Theological Seminary by supporting the Torah Fund Campaign, the Jewish Braille Institute, and our sister Kibbutz In Israel.
SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE
The Social Action Committee coordinates the weeks when we host the homeless as part of the Essex County lnterfaith Hospitality Network. We also help bag food at the Community Food Bank, visit nursing home residents, participate in the CROP walk, a walk to raise money to fight hunger, as well as other activities throughout the year.