Flemington Jewish Community Center 5 Sergeantsville Road
Flemington, New Jersey 08822 (908) 782-6410
Fax: (908) 806-7736
[email protected] www.flemingtonjcc.org
January 2017/3 Tevet – 4 Shevat 5777
MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI
E’t ha-zamir higi’a. It is time to sing together.
Last Sunday, our Congregation hosted Choir Kol-Dodi. I believe that
the Center Series Committee could not have found a better way to celebrate
Hanukkah but through music. Music is vital in Congregational activity, in
particular at Services and in Hebrew School.
Can we imagine a world without music and dance? I would say that
is impossible.
I would imagine that music started with Creation; indeed, paraphrasing
the Book of Psalms (19:2), the heavens and firmament sing G-d’s glory.
Per one of the genealogies in the book of Genesis, in the seventh generation
from Adam, Lemech expressed his speeches to his wives through songs,
and his son Juval was “the father of harpists and organists” (Gen. 4:20–
21).
Life is unthinkable without music. During exile, which represented
the antithesis of life, the Jews exiled to Babylon hung their harps and
ceased singing, On the poplars we hung up our harps... how can we sing a
song of the Lord on alien soil? (Ps. 137).
According to the Book of 1 Samuel, the holy ecstasy of the Prophets
was stimulated by dancing and music; it was the sweet music of David’s
harp that dispossessed Saul of his melancholy. Singing is a natural pain
killer.
Along with cooking, eating, and dancing, singing is crucial in worship and a vital activity in bonding and maintaining
groups of people. A chorus that brings together employers and employees at the workplace would be a viable and
practical approach to attaining substantial development among workforces. Singing unites factions, religions, and races.
Singing can heal our society.
This year, the first day of Hanukkah coincides with Christmas. Let us unify our energy to combatting hatred. We
can do it through music, singing together “Shalom, Salam, Peace.”
Our ancient ancestors started to sing, to make musical noises with their voices, probably even before humans could
speak. Let us sing.
FJCC BOARD OF DIRECTORS Spiritual Leader
Interim Rabbi Jacob Malki
Executive Board: President: Mindy Engle-Friedman
1st Vice President Mitch Clarin 2nd Vice President Reena Kamins
3rd Vice President Bruce Moskovitz
Secretary Laurence Shatkin Treasurer Jonathan Weitz
Immediate Past President Jeffrey Doshna
Elected Trustees: Lifetime Trustees: Jerry Atlas Jack Forman
Scott Byne Dan Gross Jim Fox Zel Gerstein
Richard Frank Ed Mehrlust
Judy Gold Howard Nifoussi Marsha Goldstein Phil Stern
Alan Hylton Larry Wissner
Marvin Jacobson Michael Wolf Nathan Lefkow Ruth Wolf
Jonathan Nemeth
Ronald Ort Sisterhood President: Alan Radzin Reena Gold Kamins
Sharon Rednor
Bulletin Editor: Flo Newrock
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CO-PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Dear Congregants,
We hope everyone had a happy Chanukah and a happy
New Year!
With this New Year comes a new beginning for the
FJCC. We have taken all the necessary steps to move forward
with our rabbi search. Soon, the FJCC will be actively
interviewing potential candidates, and you can read more
about the search in a separate article.
To help lead the FJCC, we have a new president and new
members of the executive board as well as newly elected and
re-elected members of the board of trustees. We want to
congratulate them and thank them for stepping up to help the
FJCC with their time and energy. The new candidates voted
in by our congregation include Reena Kamins, Sharon
Rednor, Jonathan Weitz, Mindy Engle-Friedman, Marvin
Jacobson, Ronald Ort, Adah Radzin, and Richard Frank.
We also want to thank those people who have served on
the board. We greatly appreciate their service to the FJCC.
These include Steven Greenstein who is stepping down,
Marta Klepner, and Sandy Siegel who have both moved away.
We want to congratulate Josy Kestenbaum, Alisa
Grossman, and Jeff Marshall for helping the FJCC to host
another group of special families in need of our help through
the amazing Family Promise program. This was a
challenging time of the year for us to host because many
people were away on vacation. But with their leadership, we
helped several families in need of a warm place to stay so they
could enjoy the holidays.
Please look for ways to help in the new year, from
attending and volunteering for a Center Series program to
helping with one of our fundraising projects to sponsoring an
Oneg or Kiddush, or just attending services. Everyone can
help do their part to make the FJCC a better, more welcoming
place for our current and potential members. Now, more than
ever, we need you to take advantage of everything we have to
offer. We need you to make this a thriving center of Jewish
life in our region. We have many great events, wonderful
Nursery and Hebrew Schools, the Center Series program, and
adult education classes. Please come by and take part in all
we have to offer. A great New Year's resolution would be to
become even more invested in the success of the FJCC!
Here's wishing a happy and healthy New Year to
everyone.
Mitch Clarin, Mindy Engle-Friedman, and Neal Wolff
Co-Presidents of the FJCC Board of Trustees
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AROUND THE SYNAGOGUE
MAZEL TOV TO: Lois & Dan Gross on the birth of their grandson, and to
Fallon and Noah on the birth of their son
Malka Goodman on the B’nai Mitzvah of her triplet
grandchildren, Aaron, Zachary, and Ilana Goldstein
REFUAH SHLEMAH TO: Lois Butt
Faith Ostroff
OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO: Barbara & Mitch Clarin on the loss of Mitch’s beloved
mother, Ruth Clarin
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
THANKSGIVING INTERFAITH SERVICE
Thank you, Rabbi Malki, for bringing the broad Flemington
community together on Thursday, November 22, at the
Interfaith Service of Thanksgiving and Unity. Clergy and
members of local churches, mosques, and our shul joined the
service with about 70 in attendance. It was an event filled
with music, readings, and comments by the clergy focused on
thanksgiving and appreciation of all we have. Those in
attendance enjoyed the refreshments and conversation that
followed the service. Rabbi Malki's warm and welcoming
leadership of the evening added greatly to the spirit of the
evening.
RABBINICAL SEARCH COMMITTEE
NEWS
The FJCC has joined the United Synagogue of
Conservative Judaism and, in doing so, we will have
access to the Rabbinical Assembly's (RA) placement
service. The FJCC - RA application for a permanent
rabbi is being finalized by the Rabbinical Search
Committee. We hope to activate that application soon.
Once it is active, we will begin to receive resumes from
interested rabbis and rabbinical candidates. We will
keep you posted.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
HEBREW SCHOOL HAPPENINGS
Last month we had Tot Shabbat and Jr. Congregation.
Both were well attended. I want to recognize Ben Doshna and
Sam Syzch for volunteering to lead the youth service. We
also went to the JRA on December 11th. This year the bus was
full, and after a few hours in the warehouse we delivered over
60 boxes of food to residents in senior housing. Last month
the 4th - 6th graders went to Independence Manor to celebrate
Chanukah with the residents.
This past summer, the Social Studies department from
Hunterdon Central reached out and suggested that our
Hebrew High School students partner with the students who
will be going on the trip to Poland in the spring. On December
14th, our Hebrew High students welcomed about 20 students
from Central. There was an icebreaker that allowed the
students to create small groups and from there a conversation
was born. The hope is that the students will create a dialogue
between now and April, and maybe even after the trip.
Special thanks to Hebrew High 12 teacher, Reena Kamins, for
shopping for the ice cream social part of the program. Mark
your calendars now, the Hunterdon Central High students will
talk about their trip on Friday night, April 21st.
We wrapped up our first Tzedakah Project, which was
collecting money to purchase new winter clothing to donate
to United Way. Our students purchases ten winter coats, six
pairs of boots, ten pairs of pajamas, eight packages of socks,
and 24 hats/scarves/mittens sets. January starts our food
collections for the Flemington Area Food Pantry.
Karen Walsh
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
JEWISH LIFE (Learning Is For Everyone)
Israel’s Edge: The Story of the IDF’s Most Elite Unit –
Talpiot with author, Jason Gewirtz: Thursday, January 12,
7:00 PM, at the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum JCC,
Bridgewater. Israel’s Edge is about the Talpiot, a special unit
of the Israel Defense Forces considered to be the most elite in
the Israeli Army. Fee $5/person.
The Flemington JCC (FJCC) Film Series presents Zero
Motivation on Saturday, January 21, at 7:30 PM at the
Flemington JCC. This film about female Israeli soldiers is
described as “Private Benjamin meets M*A*S*H, speaks
Hebrew, and keeps kosher.” Suggested donation of
$5/person.
Looking ahead to February…
L’Chaim! with author, Eliezer Sobel: Thursday, February 9,
7:00 PM, at the Birnbaum JCC, Bridgewater. L’Chaim! is a
book of photos designed to stimulate memories in patients
suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Fee $5/person.
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CONTRIBUTIONS
Todah rabah to all those who made donations to:
GENERAL FUND Benefit Providers, LLC in memory of Phil Levine,
beloved husband of Lenore Levine
Mary & William Burns in honor of the 50th anniversary
of Flo and Bruce Newrock
Peony & Wai Hoi Chan in honor of the 50th anniversary
of Flo and Bruce Newrock
Kathy & Ken Doukas in honor of the 50th anniversary of
Flo and Bruce Newrock
Mitchell Feuer in memory of Phil Levine, beloved
husband of Lenore Levine
Malka Goodman in honor of the B’nai Mitzvah of her
triplet grandchildren, Aaron, Zachary, and Ilana
Goldstein
Loretta & Martin Goorevich in loving memory of their
cousin, Phil Levine, beloved husband of Lenore Levine
Mickie & Philip Jacoby in honor of the 50th anniversary
of Flo and Bruce Newrock
Lesley Michaelson & Vincent Meissner in memory of
Phil Levine, beloved husband of Lenore Levine
Foon Newrock in honor of the 50th anniversary of Flo and
Bruce Newrock
Sue & Rick Rothstein:
For get well wishes for Lois Butt
In memory of Ruth Clarin, beloved mother of Mitch
Clarin
For the yahrzeit of Rick’s beloved mother, Mildred
Rothstein Cohen
For the yahrzeit of Sue’s beloved mother, Lillian
Volowitz
For the yahrzeit of Sue’s beloved grandfather,
Morris Triber
Susan & Pablo Schachman in memory of Phil Levine,
beloved husband of Lenore Levine
Adele & Frank Simon in honor of the 50th anniversary of
Flo and Bruce Newrock
Nancy & Laurence Shatkin in memory of Ruth Clarin,
beloved mother of Mitch Clarin
Debbie & Ira Sperling in memory of Thomas Doshna,
beloved father of Jeff Doshna
Maddy & Mike Turk for the yahrzeit of Lorraine Sirota
Xanthus Benefits Consulting Group in memory of Phil
Levine, beloved husband of Lenore Levine
BUILDING FUND Marsha & Zel Gerstein:
For a mazel tov to Malka Goodman on the B’nai
Mitzvah of her triplet grandchildren, Aaron,
Zachary, and Ilana Goldstein
For the yahrzeit of Marsha’s beloved father, Rubin
Simon
For a mazel tov to Anneliese and Howard Nifoussi
on the wedding of their daughter, Jenna, to Brian
For a mazel tov to Dena and Greg Scibilia on the
naming of their granddaughter, Lola
RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND Linda & Jerry Atlas:
For the yahrzeit of Jerry’s beloved father, Samuel
Atlas
For a mazel tov to Anneliese and Howard Nifoussi
on the wedding of their daughter, Jenna, to Brian
In memory of Barbara M. Berg, beloved mother of
Pam Nemeth
In memory of Phil Levine, beloved husband of
Lenore Levine
In memory of Ruth Clarin, beloved mother of Mitch
Clarin
For a thank you to Rabbi Malki
Dena & Greg Scibilia:
In honor of Lola Himmelberger’s baby naming
For the yahrzeit of Dena’s beloved father, Alvin
Farber
In memory of Phil Levine, beloved husband of
Lenore Levine
KIDDUSH FUND Evie & Phil Stern:
For best wishes to Linda and Allen Skupp in their
new home
In memory of Thomas Doshna, beloved father of Jeff
Doshna
Nathan Treinish for the yahrzeit of his beloved brother,
Robert Treinish
HEBREW SCHOOL Hebrew School Staff in memory of Ruth Clarin, beloved
mother of Mitch Clarin
Tzedakah is always “in season.” If you have an event coming up such as an anniversary, a birthday, a yahrzeit, etc., it’s a mitzvah
to contribute to your favorite fund. You can send your check to the FJCC office with a note telling us where you would like the
money used. Some of the funds that you can donate to are: Building Fund, General Fund, Kiddush Fund, Prayer Book Fund, Hebrew
School, Shmuel F Frand Memorial Holocaust Education Fund, and Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund. Do a mitzvah – send a donation.
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THE FJCC CENTER SERIES
The Ken Kaissar drama “A Modest Suggestion” was
presented at the FJCC on Sunday, October 30. It
cleverly presented issues of racism, anti-Semitism and
what it means to be Jewish in a highly accessible and
stimulating production. The lively discussion that
followed covered a wide-range of related topics and,
according to the cast members, it was the best post-play
discussion they had experienced. Thank you to the
approximately 30 FJCC and local community members
who joined us.
On Sunday, November 20, the FJCC CENTER SERIES
hosted a talk and discussion by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin
sponsored by Jim and Alissa Fox and the Fox Family
Foundation. David Goldman provided a meaningful
and thoughtful introduction to Rabbi Telushkin's talk.
Rabbi Telushkin engaged us with topics including the
qualities of wisdom, strength, and wealth, and the notion
of forgiveness. Over 100 attended including many from
both our synagogue and the greater
Hunterdon/Somerset/Bucks communities as well as
members of local churches. Rabbi Telushkin's talk was
followed by a luncheon and a book sale and signing.
Thank you to Adah Radzin for organizing this
memorable event.
Kol Dodi, the Jewish Chorale of the Greater MetroWest
Federation, regaled us with Chanukah and Jewish music
across the centuries and traditions on Sunday, December
18, after a breakfast of coffee and bagels. Our own
Rabbi Malki was the soloist for Cuando El Rey Nimrod,
and Harry Rapkin performed a solo for a rendition of
Pitchu Li. Over 100 FJCC adults, children, and
members of the local community attended this lively
and participatory concert. Mazel tov and thank you to
Harry Rapkin for bringing the Kol Dodi chorale to us.
The CENTER SERIES will present the first in its film
series on Saturday, January 21, at 7:30. Admission of
$5.00 per person includes snacks. The film, Zero
Motivation, is a 2014 Israeli comedy drama about
women coping with their positions in the Israeli army.
The first lecture and power-point presentation of the
CENTER SERIES Art History Series will be held on
Sunday, February 5, at 10:00 AM. FJCC resident artist
and art historian, Cara London, will bring Ancient
Jewish Art to life for us. The suggested donation is $5
and will include bagels and coffee.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The FJCC Center Series
3rd Annual Film Series
January 21 at 7:30 Zero Motivation
February 25 at 7:30 The Gatekeepers
April 1 at 8:30 Orchestra of Exiles Snacks will be served. Suggested Donation: $5
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Gift Shop
The Hanukkah season is over and a new year has begun. We are so happy the shop provided you with a great array of gifts. Look for our upcoming half-price sale in the coming weeks. We look forward to hearing from you with any suggestions.
We are open during regular office hours and Hebrew School. Please fill out a receipt and leave your check made out to FJCC Gift Shop, in the office. The shop is looking for volunteers to help set up items and design the shelves. We’d love to hear from you. Thanks to all our volunteers: Kim Muller, Gayle Neibart, Joan Rogow, and Jen Rudolph for all their help in November.
Your Gift Case Committee:
Lois Gross Gayle Neibart
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We need congregational participation for Oneg and Kiddush sponsorship! Do you have a Yahrzeit coming up or a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, anniversary, birthday, or any occasion to sponsor an ONEG/KIDDUSH?
It doesn’t have to be a fancy feast or expensive. Be creative, prepare the food in the FJCC kitchen, pick up kosher food at ShopRite,
or simply send in a check and the shopping will be done for you. Please call Deborah in our office 782-6410 or email
[email protected] and let her know what date you will sponsor.
January 20173 Tevet 5777 - 4 Shevat 5777
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
§5:29PM ¡¡4:30PM §5:34PM
§5:35PM ¡¡4:37PM §5:42PM
¡¡4:45PM §5:50PM
¡¡4:54PM §5:58PM
3 Tevet 4 Tevet 5 Tevet 6 Tevet 7 Tevet 8 Tevet 9 Tevet
10 Tevet 11 Tevet 12 Tevet 13 Tevet 14 Tevet 15 Tevet 16 Tevet
17 Tevet 18 Tevet 19 Tevet 20 Tevet 21 Tevet 22 Tevet 23 Tevet
24 Tevet 25 Tevet 26 Tevet 27 Tevet 28 Tevet 29 Tevet 1 Shevat
2 Shevat 3 Shevat 4 Shevat
HANUKKAH VIII
Services 9:00Services 7:30
Oneg: Kamich Family
for the yahrzeit of
Susan's brother, Michael
Vayigash
Services 9:15
FAST OF TEVET 10
Services 9:00Services 7:30 Vayehi
Services 9:15
NO HEBREW
SCHOOL - MARTIN
LUTHER KING
WEEKEND
Services 9:00
NO HEBREW
SCHOOL - MARTIN
LUTHER KING
WEEKEND
Tot Shabbat 6:30
Services 7:30
Shemot
Services 9:15
Jr. Congregation 10:30
Center Series - Movie:
Zero Motivation
NO HEBREW
SCHOOL
Services 9:00
Services 7:30
Vav Class Service
Oneg: Vav Class
ROSH HODESH
Vaera
Services 9:15
Services 9:00
[¡¡Candle Lighting, §Observance End for Flemington, NJ]
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JANUARY BIRTHDAYS
1 - Jacob Rudolph
2 - Jeffrey Gold
3 - Ariel Hylton
4 - Wanda Lazarus
- Louis Pearlman
7 - Arnold Kushnick
8 - Nathaniel Silberman
9 - Melanie Ezra
10 - Stacey Gould
11 - Ronald Ort
- Victoria Wolf
12 - Barbara Batt
- Scott Byne
- Lois Gross
12 - Audrey Riche
- Dena Scibilia
16 - Jack Daniels
- Evelyn Kay
18 - Atara Jaffe
- Laurie Rapkin
19 - Julianne Gallina
- Asa Liebowitz
21 - Kenneth Brooks
- Suzanne Rothstein
22 - Zel Gerstein
- Yoni Radzin
24 - Sarah Frank
- Larry Hilzer
24 - Abbey Mondshein
- Daniel Siegel
25 - Evie Stern
26 - Michael Kay
- David Lazarus
- Ellen Weinstock
28 - Julie Case
- Deborah Ort
- Lydia Shatkin
- Nathan Treinish
30 - Chloe Stein
31 - Daniel Wasserman
JANUARY ANNIVERSARIES
12 - Pearl & Milton Levine
JANUARY YAHRZEITS 1 - Mildred Rothstein Cohen
- Abraham Levine
2 - Leo Lazarus
3 - Naomi Ezra
- Sam Feldman
- Mollie Langman
- Morris Seligman
4 - Annette Davies
- Allen Goldstein
- Neil Kanner
- Lena Scheer
- Ethel Stevens
- Morris Triber
- Lillian Volowitz
- Eric Weisberg
5 - Ruth Sudzin
6 - Susan Mehrlust
- Kurt Moses
8 - Bertha Levine
- Marie “Ippy” Levine
- Dorothy Ochacher
- Ronnie Shane
10 - Norman Glazer
10 - Bill Thomas
11 - Abraham Birnbaum
- Isadore Goodman
- Samuel Levine
12 - Iris Esterkin
- Arthur Rogow
- Morton Siegel
13 - Hilda Mager
- Joseph Savetsky
- Alma Thomas
14 - David Kohane
- Fred Scheffler
15 - Louis Fink
16 - Celia Dvoor
- Helene Kutscher
17 - Sophie Rothberg
18 - Dola Warsaw
19 - Eleanor Gelblat
20 - Nathan Levine
21 - Milton Friedman
- Joan Goldman
- Ben Goodman
- David Prell
22 - Marilyn Suss Santiago
- Frank Welt
- Jacob Zegman
23 - Morris Wolf
25 - Charles Cohen
- William Kassel
- Robert Levy
- Louis Naar
26 - Lawrence Elmer Faro
- Mark Allen Levine
- Leonard Lipnick
- Anna Mandell
- Elizabeth Steinhorn
27 - Louis Kates
- Lewis Schwalb
- Max Wortman
29 - Hyman “Fritz” Friedman
- Abraham Lapidus
- Celia Levine
30 - Israel Goldings
31 - Philip Benjamin
- Tillie Lipnick
- Martha Markman
Yahrzeit candles are lit the night before the yahrzeit is observed.
PLEASE NOTE: If your birthday, anniversary, or yahrzeit information is missing or incorrect, please bring or mail your information to the FJCC office, or email it
to Flo Newrock so it can be included in future bulletins.
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Flemington Jewish Community Center
5 Sergeantsville Road
Flemington NJ 08822