Chai-LitesChai-Lites

April 2017 Issue 9

Our sages said that when the Hebrew month of Adar arrives, our joy increases for it is in the month of Adar that , the quintessential holiday of joy, is celebrated. This emphasis on joy fits in perfectly with our Religious school philosophy where we strive to create a year round atmosphere of enthusiasm and elation.

There was much to celebrate this past month as we celebrated Purim in a large way.

Throughout the month Chazzan Kalver taught the children (hand gestures and all) many of the lively songs associated with Purim. In the week leading up to the holiday all of the kids baked their own hamantashen under the direction of our fifth and sixth grade teacher and chef extraordinaire Andrew Dorsch. Afterwards we fulfilled two of the mitzvot associated with Purim - Mishloach Manot and Matanot L'evyonim - making Purim baskets filled with candies and hamantashen for our friends and for the poor and homeless.

The celebration continued the following week (on Purim day) as many of the children came to school dressed in costume, winning prizes from Rabbi Schechter in the process. The students also participated in and listened to a humorous rap version of the Purim story created by our Chazzan.

Finally, immediately after Religious school students attended the annual CBI Purim carnival. It was lots of fun as the social hall was filled with carnival games, a hamantashen baking station, food, prizes and other activities. As an extra treat a Video Games on Wheels truck was parked outside the for the children's usage.

The rabbis said that when we reach the time of the messianic era all holidays will be abolished except for Purim. After watching our children celebrating Purim – at the synagogue carnival, listening to and participating in the reading of the , sharing Mishloach Manot food packages with one another, and giving to the poor, I can see why. For while it is sometimes true that “it is hard to be a Jew,” it is equally true that it is a blessing to be Jewish and Purim reminds us of the elation we can feel and the joy we can experience when we involve ourselves in our heritage. Tuesday, April 11, 6pm 2nd Seder at CBI Thursday, April 13, 7:15-8:15pm Torah Study with Hazzan Brian

April 2nd, from 9:15 - 10:30 a.m. NJ Director of the Anti-Defamation League, Joshua Cohen (http://newjersey.adl.org/news/) will be speaking here the last Sunday morning of Religious School, on the status of Jews in America/ assessments of the threats/role of Israel/role of BDS/ ties to other communities.

Like Rabbi John Schechter on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RabbiSchechter

Sunday Book Club April 2 at 9:30

The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit by Lucette CancelledLugnado :(

Questions??? * Debby Rosin * [email protected] A Note from Hazzan Brian Kalver about His Current Adult Ed Programs...

So, I consider myself to be something of a Jacob-of-all-trades when it comes to Judaism. I spent five years at the Academy for Jewish Religion learning to be a cantor. On top of music and chanting, there were many additional Jewish topics taught.

Let me back up a few months. When I signed on to be your cantor last September, I was looking forward to running adult education programs. Not only was I excited to teach programs that involved singing, instrumental music or learning about the rich and varied world of Jewish music, but I was excited to share all the additional knowledge I gained. (And let this be an advertisement to anyone in the congregation who would be interested a music program with several participants, or one on one: Call me and we can make beautiful music together.) So far, a few people took me up on my offer for one-on-one learning; I’ve been helping several congregants with torah readings, and have worked on duets for prayer services. Over the winter I started running two evening programs for adults: the Adult Hebrew Reading Class on Wednesday nights, and the Torah Study Group every other Thursday night. Torah Study Group: A saying in Pirkei Avot (5:22) goes: “Turn it (the Torah) and turn it, for everything is in it. Reflect on it and grow old and gray with it.” That’s a pretty good saying. Makes you want to study Torah, no?

The CBI Torah Study Group, as I have been told, has a history that dates back a few cantors. Yet, I feel like I’ve been given the chance to put my own stamp on it. We have only met three times so far, so any one who wants to join it is not too late!

It works like this. Each session starts with me giving a pithy synopsis of the chapters we are planning to cover, and me sharing some features that are particularly interesting. We take turns reading, a few psukim at a time, followed by a discussion of what we have read, during which we share our individual impressions of the text and how it relates to our ideas about Judaism, religion and God.

The folks who have been coming to the Torah Study Group all have a strong interest in learning about the Torah, and each seems to look at the topic from a different perspective. In the discussions, everyone has the chance to say what they find interesting, or just to listen to the discussions, as they wish.

In the next session (as of this writing) we will be reading the story of Noah (or part of it – it’s a long story) as we work our way from the beginning of Sefer B’reishit (the Book of Genesis) towards the end of Sefer D’varim (the Book of Deuteronomy.) There’s more than enough room at the table, and I am extending a standing offer to meet separately with anyone who wants to go off in a different direction with their Torah study.

Adult Hebrew Reading. A few months ago, I took this over the Adult Hebrew Reading class from the Rabbi. The class is divided about 60/40 between focused drilling of reading Hebrew words from a lesson book and selections from the Siddur, and schmoozing (I won’t say which is the 60 and which is the 40). I always try to add some song-versions of the selections from the siddur.

If anyone would like to improve their Hebrew reading or Hebrew understanding, I would be very happy to work with you one-on-one or in groups of any size.

I’ll close with this Talmudic sounding saying that I just made up: Barukh she’amar. Blessed is the One who spoke (and so created the world). Ma hu “amar” dikhtiv “Vayomer HaShem, ‘y’hi or, vay’hi or’ ” Af atah emor b’ivrit. This is a lame play on words from the Talmud (Sota 14a). Come to a Torah Study Group Session or a Hebrew lesson and I’ll tell you what it is supposed to mean. Upcoming Special Service Our Shabbat morning service on May 13, 2107 will be a special service celebrating Jewish Women at CBI. All women are invited to take a special part in the service, either by doing one or several of the things on the following list, or in some other way that moves you.

Reading from the torah – let us know how many p’sukim you think you can handle. The longest aliyah is 9 p’sukim.

Reading the haftarah – let us know if there is a limit on the number of p’sukim you can handle.

Offering a short d’var torah, teaching or inspirational statement.

Sharing a kavana* or an original (English or Hebrew) prayer, or an original (English or Hebrew) ver- sion of a traditional prayer, that you find or compose yourself that speaks to the role of women or of a particular woman in Judaism.

Leading in Hebrew all or part of the prayer service in the siddur – let us know if there is a particular prayer you can lead (e.g., the Sh’ma or the Amida) or if you can lead a broader part of the service (e.g., Shacharit or the Torah Service).

Serving as a gabbai

Leading one of the English songs or prayer settings by Debbie Friedman that we are planning on including in the service (And You Shall Love, Miriam’s Song, Oseh Shalom).

Lead an English prayer, such as Prayer for Our Country, Prayer for Peach or Prayer for the Women of the Wall (seehttp://www.womenofthewall.org.il/prayer-for-women-of-the-wall/).

Taking an Aliya

Carrying, lifting or wrapping the Torah

Helping us prepare a written program and handouts

Helping us tie the service to donations to a food bank, women’s shelter or other good cause

Helping with promotion or organization

This Women’s Service started as a project of Marjorie Davison and Hazzan Kalver. If you have sug- gestions on how to make it a meaningful service, please contact Hazzan Kalver.

*In the context of prayer, the Hebrew word “kavana” (pl. “kavanot”) is typically translated as “inten- tion,” and the Heblish phrase “a kavana” means a meditation or idea that is set in one’s mind just before starting a line of prayer or a part of a service so that the prayer is performed with a particular, focused intention. In many modern prayer services, suggestions for kavanot are offered just before the prayer is recited, and can take the form of the description of an image or a phrase, story or a poem to be held in the mind during the prayer. Refugee Action Committee Next meeting Sunday, June 11 @ 10:45am

If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Jane Simon [email protected] or Mike Berg [email protected]

You are warmly invited to a significant, large, whole community concert of Israeli and Arab music at 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon, April 2nd, at Cantor Riki Lippitz's congregation, Oheb Shalom, in South Orange. Featuring both Israeli and Palestinian musicians, it will also feature the Kol Dodi choir of the MetroWest JCC.

The program will be narrated by Professor Joshua Jacobson, the former chair and senior professor of music at Northeastern University, who is also one of the world's experts on Jewish chorale music and the cantillation of Jewish texts.

The concert is sponsored by Marcia and Barnet Eskin who are dual members of our CBI congregation and Oheb Shalom of South Orange.

There is no fee for attending the concert, but seating is limited to 500 - so arrive early. Children are welcome! Calling all CBI kids age 4 to 11

On Sunday, April 30, 2017 from 4 pm to 8 pm there will be a big, four-county Festival at the JCC in Bridgewater celebrating Israel Independence Day (Yom Ha’atzma’ut). Hazzan Brian needs kids to represent CBI Basking Ridge and join kids from other in the area in singing a song for Israel at the Festival. This is a great chance for our kids to learn about Israel, experience pride in the Jewish Homeland, and show our love and support for Israel. And to have lots of fun with other Jewish kids.

Contact Hazzan Brian. FOUND!

Purim Carnival Volunteer Thank Yous...

Although we did email as many people as we could, we wanted to thank everyone again that helped to make this year’s Purim Carnival a big success. It was even featured on the cover of the Bernardsville News! We hope you enjoyed the games and food and look forward to seeing you at our next event :)

Regards, Your Purim Carnival Team

PLANNING AN EVENT?

Keep CBI’s Catering Facility in Mind!

If you are planning a special occasion, consider using our spacious and elegant hall for your next simcha.

When celebrated in the sanctity of the Temple, weddings, B’nai , Brit, Baby Namings and other life cycle events take on a more spiritual significance.

We have a marvelous panel of caterers from which to choose.

Contact the CBI Office: 908 204-1412, x104 or [email protected] Shalach Manot Notes

CBI’s 20th Year with Purim Shalach ManotCBI’s 20th Year!

This year marks the 20th time shalach manot baskets were created for CBI members and staff. We are thankful to the 30 families participating in this social tradition-slash-fundraiser, allowing us to continue this important mitzvah. We are also grateful to the continued support from Chuck, Diane and Jackie Newman from World of Coffee who donated the coffee to drink with our hamentashen and other goodies!

And this year, we made some changes!

First, in addition to our members Jini Hahn, Susan Rider and Dorit Kransdorf, we had help packing the bags from some of the students from OHI, the organization leasing our idle space. These gentlemen quickly filled the bags with all the prepackaged goodies and their staff was grateful to be able to help us and help forge more of a connection. We welcomed their help and now have a better idea of how to allow them to help more in the future!

Second, we upped the game on presentation! Thanks so much to Sara Farber for assembling the lovely table with decorations that made people sit up and take notice!

Thanks to everyone involved for their support and help in netting a profit of over $3800!

CBI Touching the Lives of Others...

Please Help Spread The Word! David Salomon, from Temple Beth-El Mekor Chayim in Cranford, has End Stage Kidney Disease and desperately needs a life saving donor kidney, blood type O. David is a caring and generous person with a loving family who has given so much to the community. He now needs the community's help!

The family/synagogue are working with Renewal, a remarkable non-profit organization, to help find aliving donor. For more information about kidney donation, please call (718) 431-9831 or email [email protected] Renewal’s website is www.renewal.org Update as of April 1, 2017: I just wanted to let the CBI community know that David Salomon, from Temple Beth-El Mekor Chayim in Cranford did in- deed receive a donor kidney a few weeks ago! He is recuperating from the transplant and is doing very well. I do not know if the kidney donation was a direct result of this story being shared in the CBI newsletter-but your sharing & caring regarding this plea for a kidney donation is very much appreciated... Connie Moore Glenn Wechsler Religious School Director

Dear Parents,

Many wonderful things have been happening at CBI Religious school this year. Below, please find brief summaries from your child's teacher. In some cases, the teacher provided an overview of the school year and in others they were more specific to the past month or so. In addition to the learning described below the children met regularly with Chazzan Brian learning to sing prayers and songs related to the upcoming holidays. Additionally, our shlicha from Israel, Roni, met with the kids on a monthly basis to share her love for Israel with the children. Our morning all school sessions included a short morning service and story telling. We finished our day by participating in experiential activities ranging from cooking and games to a Tu B'Shvat seder and making food care packages for the homeless. We have had a great year of learning and fun. As Judah HaNasi said: "Only learning that is enjoyed is learned well."

1st and 2nd Grade

The first and second graders have been very busy in Religious School! We have nearly completed our workbooks, learning all the letters and vowels. The second graders are blending sounds and words at this point. We continue to explore areas of Israel and learn about (Purim and Passover). Aligning with Passover, we've read and discussed bible stories, depicting our time in Egypt. It's been a pleasure working together and getting to know one another this year.

Jan Wasserman

3rd and 4th Grade

Mi-sheniknas adar marbim be-simhah.

With the beginning of the month of Adar we greatly increase joy and celebration.

March has been a busy month for the 3rd and 4th Grades. We have concentrated on the next two holidays, Purim and Passover. For Purim, students read the story, acted it out and filled in packets containing puzzles and worksheets designed to reinforce the facts of the story. For Passover, the class is working on mastering The Four Questions, learning the story of the Exodus and the meaning of the various symbols of the Seder. Of course, students are always working on improving their Hebrew reading skills. I don’t want to conclude until I tell you how cooperative, smart, and mench-like I have found these students to be and what a joy it is to work with them.

Rabbi Suzanne Kassel

1st and 2nd Grade

The first and second graders have been very busy in Religious School! We have nearly completed our workbooks, learning all the letters and vowels. The second graders are blending sounds and words at this point. We continue to explore areas of Israel and learn about Jewish holidays (Purim and Passover). Aligning with Passover, we've read and discussed bible stories, depicting our time in Egypt. It's been a pleasure working together and getting to know one another this year.

Jan Wasserman

3rd and 4th Grade

Mi-sheniknas adar marbim be-simhah.

With the beginning of the month of Adar we greatly increase joy and celebration.

March has been a busy month for the 3rd and 4th Grades. We have concentrated on the next two holidays, Purim and Passover. For Purim, students read the story, acted it out and filled in packets containing puzzles and worksheets designed to reinforce the facts of the story. For Passover, the class is working on mastering The Four Questions, learning the story of the Exodus and the meaning of the various symbols of the Seder. Of course, students are always working on improving their Hebrew reading skills. I don’t want to conclude until I tell you how cooperative, smart, and mench-like I have found these students to be and what a joy it is to work with them.

Rabbi Suzanne Kassel 5th Grade

Our 5th grade class had a busy month of March. Besides spending 25 minutes each session working individually on their Hebrew reading skills, the students explored the meaning of two of our central prayers - Oseh Shalom and the Aleynu. We also explored the meanings of the individual words in the prayers.

In celebration of Purim we reviewed the Purim story and acted the story out in an "improv" way. We began to discuss the story of Passover, reviewed the four questions, and discussed the process of baking matzot.

Mr. Dorsch spoke with the kids about Jewish heroes including: Hannah Senesh, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Albert Einstein and Sandy Koufax. He also explored aspects of the Purim story with the children.

Haim Deutsch

6th Grade

In 6th Grade Tropes Class we learned the basic tropes for chanting Torah – how they sound and how they work. Students also learned about the traditional Jewish prayer services and we worked on leading the Torah Service and various prayers that will come in handy when they stand in front of the congregation, as they will when they celebrate their bar/bat next year, bsd (b’syata dishmaya – with the help of Heaven).

Chazzan Brian

This year we studied people who inspire us to do what is righteous. These positive role models will, I hope, help guide the children in their lives. Amongst those we studied include:

· The Sharanky's fighting the USSR for the right to be Jews.

· A young girl named Anne Frank who changes the world with a pen and paper.

· A guy from Brooklyn named Koufax reminding the rest of us that our faith matters.

But it's not all classroom and book learning; this year the Rabbi asked me to teach the kids how to cook. Amongst the projects we made, the ones that stand out are , and potato , hamantaschen, and .

I have really enjoyed teaching your wonderful children, and I hope they have enjoyed the class.

Andrew Dorsch Religious School Calendar

Sunday, April 2 School: Grades 1-7 – LAST DAY Pre K/Kindergarten Passover Program

Friday, May 5 All Religious school Shabbat dinner - honoring our 3rd & 12th graders and Andrea Dubovy

Happy Spring

Enjoy your Summer

See you in the Fall!

Shabbat Services Friday evenings - 7:30pm

Saturday mornings - 9:30am

April 1 sponsored by the Papandreuo Family in honor of Alexa’s Bat Mitzvah

April 29 Kiddush sponsored by the Kelly Family in honor or Janie’s Bat Mitzvah

Would you like to sponsor an Oneg or Kiddush, and support CBI? It can be in honor of a special occasion, such as a birthday, an anniversary, a graduation, a milestone, or just because.

Please contact the office [email protected]

Need a BABYSITTER or a Mother’s Helper? Get out and have fun with the help from one of our own members!! Torah Study Please consider this list of available CBI teenagers whose contact information is listed in the directory with

Rachel Breslau Basking Ridge Hazzan Brian Erica Isaacs Bedminster Cameron Lipton Warren Thursday, Meghan Miller Bernardsville Alex Simon Gladstone April 13th Lily Simon Gladstone Sam Foster Chester/Mendham 7:15-8:15 Eli Foster Chester/Mendham Maya Zucker Basking Ridge at CBI Lauren Wasserman Green Brook

If you have a teen you’d like to be included in this directory, please contact [email protected] April 3 – Chapter Meeting 7 – 8:30 pm at CBI April 5 -- Save the date for our annual Chocolate Seder open to teens and their families in grades 7 – 12!

For more information, email me at [email protected] or Maya Zucker at [email protected]. Parents can contact our advisor, Janice Zucker at [email protected] or 908-963-5357. Follow us on Instagram @Chaverim_BBYO!

Like Rabbi John Schechter on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RabbiSchechter

May Cooking Club event: Summer salads Favorite salads and recipes (date and venue tbd)

Our next Make-A-Meal : Dates to come...

Debbie and Marcy

Boomers Does Broadway!! Tickets to the next hit of the Broadway Season, “Dear Evan Hansen”, Sunday April 2nd, 3:00 pm. All his life, Evan Hansen has felt invisible. But when a tragic event shocks the community and thrusts him into the center of a rapidly evolving controversy, Evan is given the opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to be somebody else. A new American musical, Dear Evan Hansen is a deeply personal and profoundly contemporary story about a little lie that changes everything. Orchestra seats are $160 each. RSVP required.

RSVP to [email protected] To... congratulate someone on a B’nai Mitzvah honor a Graduate Tributes say “I’m sorry for your loss” or remember a loved one tell someone you’re thinking of them thank someone for their kindness Tributes $18 wish Mazel Tov on a wonderful occasion or achievement Tree Certificates $18 per tree Siddur or Mahzor $54 A card will be sent to the recipient and listed here. Dedicate a volume of the Schotten- To order, contact Sara in the office at stein edition of the Talmud $100 204-1412 x104 or cbibr.org or 40 Whitenack Road, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920

Donations have been made to the synagogue for the following occasions: April 2017

Michelle Schachter Trees In memory of your beloved father, Stuart Herman A tree has been planted in Israel From, Pam & Steve Ball Leslie and Madeline From, Joanne Blenner In memory of Rhoda Pollack From, Harriet & Jerome Sheitelman Kathy Whitman In memory of your beloved mother, Jill and Doug Sherman Alice Auslander In memory of Gerald Jaffe From, Maureen & Steven Joachim From, Ellen & Bill Marks

Amy & Mark Lebovitz In honor of Jeremy Lebovitz’s Bar Mitzvah Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund From, Marilyn & Richie Tannenbaum Michelle Schachter In memory of your father, Stuart Herman From, The Geller Family

Yurtzeit Donation In memory of Ida Sandler Solkoff - Mother of Sanctuary Fund Marcia Solkoff Eskin Kathy Whitman In memory of your beloved mother Alice Auslander From, Ellen, Stuart & Max Goldstein Yahrzeits April 2, 2017 – April 29, 2017 Yahrzeits

Zichronam Livrakhah — TheirZichronam LivrakhahMemories — Their Memories are area aBlessing Blessing July 2015 July 2015 We Pass The Mourning of... Donald Alderman father of Janice Zucker Daniel Landsman father of Barbara Dobkin Irving Rosenthal father of Glen Rosenthal Milton Schachter father of Robert Schachter Rachel Wolnowitz grandmother of Caryn Komensky Sylvia Pfeffer Rabinowitz mother of Murray Robbins Max Kesselhaut father of Martin Kesselhaut William Rosenberg father of David Rosenberg Helen Meyer mother of Adele Brodkin David Wolnowitz uncle of Caryn Komensky Steven Sommer father of Michael Sommer Erwin Apfeldorf father of Amy Pressler Leslie Gerson father of Nicole Calicchio Bernice Wachs mother of Dahlia Harmon Claire Hahn mother of David Hahn Melvin Zucker father of Joshua Zucker Gerda Alderman stepmother of Janice Zucker Leon Isserow father of Jonathan Isserow Judith Harmon mother of Keith Harmon COMMITTEE DIRECTORY *New committees still forming! Chai-Lites This newsletter is published by Boomers and Beyond CONGREGATION B’NAI ISRAEL Pam Ball 40 Whitenack Road, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 Diane Newman phone (908)204-1412 Fax (908)204-1887 Email [email protected] Budget and Finance Office Hours Steve Joachim Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm Wednesday 9am-6pm (during Religious School) Building Friday 9am-2pm Gale Braunstein Submit your articles and advertising requests to the attention of Sara Faber or Heather Silver @ [email protected] Caring DEADLINE is the 15th of the month Pam Ball

Kippot and Tallit Sales Rabbi Office Administrator John S. Schechter Sara Faber Michelle Ganes (908) 204-1412 x105 (908) 204-1412 x104 [email protected] [email protected] Membership Nancy Cook Cantor Bookkeeper Ellen Marks Brian Kalver Caron Katz (908) 204-1412 x106 (908) 204-1412 x103 Memorial Wall [email protected] Dorit Kransdorf President Religious School Anne Nemetz Administrative Assistant Religious School [email protected] Andrea Dubovy Nancy Braunstein (908) 204-1412 x124 Nancy Novack Religious School Director [email protected] Glenn Wechsler Sisterhood (908) 204-1294 Building Management Lydia Muller Gale Braunstein Marla Sommer (908) 377-0162 [email protected] Men’s Club Michael Berg Executive Committee Trustees-at-Large President Michael Berg Social Action Anne Nemetz Gayle Braunstein Shari Lapa First Vice President Steve Joachim Robert F. Simon Craig Lipset Refugee Action Committee Hilary Kelly Jane Simon Vice Presidents Dorit Kransdorf Michael Berg Ellen Marks Shari Lapa Nancy Cook Lydia Muller Holiday Committee Heather Silver Treasurer Dorit Kransdorf David Braunstein Hilary Kelly Secretary Immediate Past President Technology & Operations Howard Stolzer Fred Okun Craig Lipset Assistant Secretary Howard Stolzer Gale Braunstein Support our fellow congregants and local businesses who advertise with us!

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