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ANNOUNCEMENTS
We are trying something new this summer!
Starting July 8th, we are holding all Friday night services at congregant’s homes.
These services will be held at various times. If the service is a Taste of Shabbat, a pot
luck dairy meal is always served. If it is a regular 6:30 pm service, there will not be
food served. If there is an 8:00 pm service, dessert will be provided afterwards by the
host.
Note: Friday night, June 24, Kabbalat Shabbat Service will be at 6:30 pm.
Here is the Schedule for Friday Night Services in July:
| July 1 - 6:30 pm | Last service held in the synagogue for the summer |
| July 8 - 6:30 pm | At the home of Sam Selesnick and Alex Kent (no food) |
| July 15 - 7:00 pm | Taste of Shabbat at the home of Laura Kaufman and Carney Mimms (pot luck dairy meal) |
| July 22 - 8:00 pm | At the home of the Matt Purdy and Dale Russakoff (dessert) |
| July 29 - 8:00 pm | At the home of the Shirley and David Grill (dessert) |
| August 5 - 7:00 pm | Taste of Shabbat at the home of Linda and Todd Wieseneck (pot luck dairy meal) |
Help Your Jewish Teen Prepare for College
When Jewish students go off to college, they bring the right clothes, books and technology. But few are prepared for what it means to be a Jew amid the intellectual and political ferment that surrounds discussion of Israel on campuses.
Montclair students and families have a rare opportunity on June 19 to learn about the particular challenges that faced students at Duke University last year. John Burness, Duke’s senior vice president for public affairs and government relations, will speak at Shomrei at 7:30 p.m. on the subject of “Turning Controversy into Education: the 2004 Palestine Solidarity Movement Conference at Duke at its Aftermath.”
The conference, held at Duke in October, 2004, became a flashpoint for the Jewish community’s concerns about achieving a balanced discussion of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Palestine Solidarity Movement, which refuses to denounce suicide bombings, is an umbrella organization leading a national campaign to pressure American universities to divest holdings in companies that do business with Israel. Commentary Magazine characterized the conference as “The Intifada Comes to Duke.” Duke called it an opportunity for the Duke community to learn about and discuss the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, a process that the university says will continue for a long time to come.
The purpose of this event is to build awareness among families with college-bound teenagers of both the challenges of Jewish life on campuses and the challenges facing universities as they seek to foster open dialogue and understanding. The event will take place on the night of Father’s Day, providing an opportunity to cap this special day with a meaningful family activity. Parents, bring your teens. Teens, bring your parents.
The event is free, but all who attend are invited to make a contribution to Seeds of Peace. The international organization runs summer camps in Maine and in Jerusalem to train youth from throughout the Middle East to become leaders of reconciliation and coexistence.
Get On the Ball for Shomrei!
Shomrei Emunah is putting together a men's softball team to compete (and play to win) against local synagogues. If you are interested in playing, please contact Bill Wallach at wwallach@mccarter.com. Time is of the essence in responding, and could be a benefit on the bases as well.
The Gift of Israel
Everyone who attends b’nai mitzvot ceremonies at Shomrei has seen our synagogue president, Sylvia Cohn, present gifts from the congregation to our new Jewish adults. One gift that rises above the others is a certificate entitling the bar or bat mitzvah to participate in the MetroWest Federation's Passport to Israel Program.
Underwritten by the Israel Experience Initiative under the aegis of the Legow Family
Israel Program Center, this certificate offers an opportunity of a lifetime for our teens
to continue on the path to reinforce their Jewish identity and connect with their heritage
in an engaging and positive way.
The Passport to Israel program allows parents to begin a savings program for their teens, so that when they are in high school and ready for their summer trip to Israel, there is money already set aside, which will be matched by MetroWest and our synagogue.
Congregation Shomrei Emunah has made a commitment to assist our youth in their journey towards exploring Israel in any program on the vast list of approved programs documented through the Israel Program Center. In the past, Shomrei teens have gone to Israel with Young Judea, USY, Habonim Dror, and MetroWest Goes to Israel. All have come back energized about their connection to Israel and to their Jewish identity.
Another MetroWest Goes to Israel trip is planned for June 26-June 24 for tenth through twelfth graders from our area. For information, contact Michal Zur at 973-929-3058 or mgi@ujcnj.org.
Research has long shown that a trip to Israel is a key element in enhancing a person's connection to his or her Jewish community. (The Bildners would add that Jewish camping is another component, also documented by research.)
For more information, contact Alan Gerberg at agerberg@ujcnj.org or 973-929-3038, or go
to http://metrowest.ujcfedweb.org/content_display.html?ArticleID=146302.
--Linda Ariel
A TASTE OF SHABBAT Come join us for these lovely and casual services and dinner in Congregants’ homes on selected Friday nights throughout the year. Open to the entire community. 6:30 kabbalat Shabbat service 7:30 (ish) pot luck dairy dinner UPCOMING DATES:
July 15th –
home of Laura Kaufman and Carney MimmsAugust 5th – home of Linda and Todd Wieseneck
Please contact the office or Angie at angieolami@comcast.net if you are interested in hosting either this summer or next fall.
PLEASE NOTE!!!!!
See new summer schedule for Friday night services for summer 2005.
KIT care packages to college students:
A reminder to parents who have children in college. The KIT (Keeping in Touch) holiday care packages will be mailed out soon. Please contact Judy Yudkoff to have a KIT package sent to your child. Donations are requested to cover the cost of the postage.
USY and KADIMA:
Please remember to send in your forms to Jeff Kirshenbaum.
Membership information update
A letter will be sent out with a Membership List Update Form, asking members to review the information in the current Ad Journal and to mail the form to Sheila at the synagogue office. You can also email any changes or additions to sheila@shomrei.org. Please check the following.
- Adult member names
- Names of children living at home
- Address
- Home phone number
- e-mail address(es)- Please confirm to which e-mail address the cyber-newsletter should be sent.
- Work phone number(s)- Please indicate if you do NOT want work number(s) listed in the directory.
- Cell phone number(s)- Please indicate if you do NOT want cell number(s) listed in the directory
Thank you for taking the time to do this. The membership list will be printed in the upcoming Ad Journal.
Calling All Men
Anyone interested in being part of the Men's Club mailing list should contact Bill Wallach at wwallach@mccarter.com.
Support the Jewish Learning Center - Buy scrip!
Scrip is available for sale for every Sunday morning from 12:15 to 12:45 or by calling Miriam Haimes (973-783-6624) or Alex Kent (973-746-3199).
Reading Haftorahs Is Not Just for 13-Year-Olds
The search is on to expand our pool of Haftorah readers. Plenty of Haftorahs available. Call Jerry Czin h- 973-744-5706 or w-973-276-5616.
Cemetery Plots Available
The synagogue owns approximately130 cemetery plots at the Cedar Park Cemetery in Paramus that are available to any members of Shomrei Emunah. The plots currently cost $650. For more information call Arie Hochberg at 973-746-0481.
New Books at Lampert Library
The Lampert Library was recently presented with two books concerning women and the practice of Judaism. The books are "The Women's Passover Companion: Women's Reflections on the Festival of Freedom" and "The Women's
Seder Sourcebook: Rituals and Readings for Use at the Passover Seder." The books, published by Jewish Lights Publishing, were edited by Rabbi Sharon Cohen Anisfeld, Tara Mohr, and Catherine Spector. The seder sourcebook contains contributions from well-known Jewish women including Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Ruth W. Messinger, Senator Barbara Boxer, Rabbi Joy Levitt, Hadassah Lieberman, Dr. Esther Broner, and Zoe Baird. It also includes two poems by Shomrei member Ronnie M. Horn. Her poem "God Works, Naturally," reprinted below, was written in response to the question of God's role in the plagues that devastated Egypt:
New Office Mailbox
In an effort to keep better track of checks and forms delivered to the synagogue office, a mailbox has been installed just inside the office door. Please use this mailbox instead of leaving items on the desks in the office.
Support The Troops
A member of the Jewish War Veterans of New Jersey serving overseas would appreciate any correspondence: Fishman, Andrew Col./ 358th Civil Affairs Brigade/ APO AE 09313
Sisterhood Seeking Shul Skills
The Sisterhood wants to identify women to recommend to Women's League as Kolot Bik'dushah, an international corps of women skilled as Torah Readers (Baalot Kriah) and/or leaders of services (Baalot T'fillah). In creating this group, Women's League is demonstrating its commitment to strive for a standard of excellence in its members, a goal the Shomrei Sisterhood shares. Contact Deanna London, 973-509-0228, or Linda Ariel, 973-509-0925.
Ritual Committee Issues Policy On Head-Coverings
The Ritual Committee has decided that all men and boys should wear yarmulkes or other head-coverings while attending synagogue functions anywhere in the building. Women and girls are encouraged to do so as well.
This decision extends the policy regarding head-coverings in the sanctuary to synagogue functions in the entire building.
The committee members felt strongly that as a synagogue, the entire building is sanctified space and worthy of an extra amount of respect. Just as one is required to remove one's hat in the White House or to remove one's shoes in certain shrines, so too should one's head be covered while anywhere in the synagogue.
Head coverings for men and women are available inside the main entrance of the synagogue and outside the sanctuary.