March 2020 Adar—Nisan 5780 Volume # 98

MARCH 2020 ADAR—NISAN 5780 VOLUME # 98

SHABBAT SERVICES

PRIMARY CONTACTS

Executive Director Rabbi Ellen Botwin Rabbi Jeff Pivo [email protected] [email protected] Office Administrators Education Director Cheryl Decker Cantor Larry [email protected] Brandspiegel Nicole Cavalli [email protected] [email protected] Co-Presidents Director of the Center Steve Zeidwerg & for Early Learning Robert Salston Lynda Perel [email protected] [email protected]

511 RYDERS LANE, EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ 08816 | TEL: 732-257-7070 | FAX: 732-257-7803 | WWW.EBJC.ORG STAFF & CONTACTS

COMMITTEE CONTACTS WHAT’S INSIDE Sisterhood Co-Presidents Margot Julis 03 Announcements 11 Bar Mitzvah Sara Ullman Men’s Club President 05 Event Spotlight 12 Sisterhood David Julis Youth Commission 06 Rabbinic Reflections 14 Men’s Club Rhonda Gold Membership Committee 07 From Cantor Larry 17 Hazak Ken Gerson Chairperson, Special 08 Executive Director 18 Adult Education Circumstances Marilyn Friedes 09 From our Presidents 26 Donations Community Outreach Eric Rabinowitz 10 Center for Early Learning Director of The Center for Early Learning 11 Kesher and Youth Groups Lynda Perel, Director Calendar Joannie Weinfeld Board of Education Chair MARCH DATES Jamie Wasserman MARCH 7 ALEX BERGER BAR MITZVAH MARCH 8 PURIM CARNIVAL MARCH 14 SHABBAT SCHOOL/SHABBAT B’YACHAD/SHABBAT Y’LADIM MARCH 15 BIBLE CODES: HIDDEN MEANINGS IN THE BIBLICAL TEXT RECORDER STAFF MARCH 19 HAZAK David Kosher MARCH 20 NEW MEMBERS SHABBAT DINNER MARCH 21 YOUTH SHABBAT/SHABBAT Y’LADIM/TEEN PROOFERS LUNCHEON Madeline Frances Margot Julis MARCH 21 BROADWAY REVUE Barbara Pollak MARCH 22 SISTERHOOD TORAH FUND BRUNCH Sara Ullman MARCH 23 CONGREGATIONAL MEETING MARCH 28 SAM SCHMEIDLER BAR MITZVAH MARCH 29 MEN’S CLUB PRE PASSOVER BREAKFAST

If you have problems at EBJC that are not getting adequately resolved, please call Ellen Botwin at (732) 257-7070

02 MARCH 2020 ANNOUNCEMENTS PLEASE NOTE: ONLY checks made out to EBJC go-to Montvale. Sisterhood, Men's Club, Mitzvah Corps, all discretionary funds, 613 event, Pavilion donations all go to 511 Ryders Lane.

FOR THE UPCOMING MONTH: TROUBLE PAYING DUES If you are having trouble paying dues, please reach out to Marilyn Friedes at [email protected]. We are committed to helping our families remain a part of the EBJC community when the need arises. IT'S FLU AND COLD SEASON! In an effort to keep our community healthy, we are discouraging hand shaking during the "spread the germs" season. This is not to be taken as an insult or to discourage members from greeting each other. (A fist bump works.) Hand sanitizer will be placed on the credenza right before entering the Sanctuary.

PURIM BAKSET AUCTION MARCH 2020 Did you receive gifts for the holidays that are lovely but you have no use for and would prefer not to "regift"? How about donating your new, unused item to EBJC for Board of Directors 3/16 our Purim Basket Auction? Do you have a closet full of clothing and items with the tags still on them that you'll never use or wear? How about donating them to EBJC Congregational Meeting 3/23 for our Purim Basket Auction? All new and unused items would be greatly Executive Board 3/2 appreciated! Simply drop them off in the office, and we'll do the rest! If you need some clarification, feel free to call Ellen Botwin at 732-257-7070 x5. Genesis Science 3/2, 16, 23, 30 Hands on Judaism 3/3, 10, 17, 24 THE CONGREGATION EXTENDS Hebrew Class 3/5, 12, 19, 26 CONDOLENCES TO: Israeli Dance 3/2, 16, 23, 30 Ronald Levenberg on the loss of his mother, Dorothy Lunch and Learn 2/5, 12, 19, 26 MAZEL TOV TO: Mah Jongg 3/2, 16, 23, 30 Talmud Class 3/4, 11, 18, 25 Mazel Tov to Nicole Cavalli and family on the Bar Mitzvah of her Youth Commission 3/18 son, Logan Spencer Cavalli Elaine and Gerald Silver on the birth of their grandson, Meir Hillel, to Shlomit and Scott Silver

My family and I wish to thank all who worked to make the Luise Sleppin Memorial weekend so lovely and special!! God Bless Michael Sleppin

EAST BRUNSWICK JEWISH CENTER 03 04 MARCH 2020 EVENT SPOTLIGHT

SAVE THE DATE

(Subject to Change) MAY 17, 2020 APRIL 9, 2020 MAH JONG PASSOVER TOURNAMENT COMMUNITY SEDER JUNE 6, 2020 APRIL 18, 2020 GRANDPARENT VOLUNTEER SHABBAT RECOGNITION SHABBAT

APRIL 28, 2020 YOM HA’ATZMAUT CELEBRATION

EAST BRUNSWICK JEWISH CENTER 05 RABBINIC REFLECTIONS

sequence of holidays that are and the morning of March 10th. heavily focused on God's In addition to celebrating the providence. It also falls during the themes of Jewish survival and last month of the Jewish calendar victory over our foes, our year. These facts might provide celebration this year can also us a small insight into the include an awareness of our own theological importance of Purim efforts in our redemption from itself. danger, then and now. In our Unlike other holiday texts, the revelry, we can proudly affirm the events of the book of Esther are value of acting for ourselves. driven by people, specifically by Then, having concluded another Mordecai and Esther. Nowhere in year as winter turns to spring, we the book of Esther is it suggested look forward to beginning the that God saved the Jews of cycle over, with the Pesakh Persia. On the other holidays, we haggadah which, fittingly, Jews like to think of ourselves as remember how God freed us mentions Moses only once! But the people of the Book. That from slavery, gave us a code to more on that next month. book, of course, is the Tanakh, live by and continues to maintain the Hebrew Bible, and we include the physical world. By the time Chag Purim samea’kh! reading and studying it on every we come out of winter's cold, Rabbi Jeff Pivo Jewish holiday of note. On ready to begin again, we have Shabbat, Mondays and Thursdays gone through an entire cycle of we read from Torah, adding praising and thanking God for all words from the Prophets as God has done. But on Purim, we haftarah readings on Shabbat. celebrate the power of human Major holidays have specially beings to take charge of our own designated Torah and haftarah safety and our own destiny. It is readings. And there are five as if, having gone through all of holidays on which we also read the other emotions that are megillot, in addition to reading attendant upon a holiday cycle Torah and haftarah: Pesakh, devoted to God, Purim provides Shavuot, Tisha B’Av, Sukkot, and us a year-end party to celebrate Purim. Usually the texts we read ourselves and our own hand in are specific to a holiday, and our survival as a people. Like the express God’s involvement in the secular New Year's Eve, we look events related to that holiday. forward to the beginning of But not so on Purim! Megillat another year with singing, Esther doesn't mention God even merriment and drinking. Saying once. Perhaps its story is too goodbye to a year filled with lighthearted for invoking God and thanks to God, we end it by sullying the Divine Name. But we congratulating ourselves on our should also consider Purim’s accomplishments. place on the calendar. Purim We will read Megillat Esther at comes at the end of a long EBJC on the evening of March 9th

06 MARCH 2020 FROM CANTOR LARRY marched at the back of the remember Amalek and Haman Israelite camp. However, Joshua and others, like Hitler, who led his best soldiers against wanted to destroy us, even our Amalek and won. The people children, our old people, and were then told to "blot out the the sick among us. Evil is not a remembrance of Amalek." pleasant thing, but it is Years later when King Saul something we must remember led Israel in battle, Samuel told even at the joyous time of Saul that God wanted him to Purim. destroy Amalek because of their On behalf of my family, attack in the desert. However, all the best for a blessed, Saul disobeyed. He let the peaceful, and happy Purim. During this month of March soldiers take sheep and oxen and the Hebrew month of Adar, and he let Agag, the Amalekite Larry I. Brandspiegel we celebrate the holiday of king, live. According to Cantor/ Director of Education Purim. Although Purim is tradition, Haman was a considered a minor holiday, our descendant of Amalek. In Rabbis of the past teach us that Megillat Esther, he is called during a future messianic time Haman the Agagite, and the all the holidays will be rabbis of old felt that Agagite remembered as they were at refers to Agag, the King whom the time of the Holy Temple, Saul failed to kill. Regardless, except for Purim, which we will the actions of Amalek and continue to commemorate and Haman represent wickedness celebrate the same way as has and evil to us. always been done. Purim Therefore, on the Shabbat reminds us of the hatred and before Purim, we read the story anti-Semitism towards the of Amalek's attack. The Haftarah Jewish people. This hatred is the story in the Book of dates back to the history written Samuel I of Saul's failure to obey in our Torah, and seems to be God. so relevant today. The important part of both On the Shabbat before portions is God's Purim, we are told to remember commandment to us: this dangerous time period. “Remember what Amalek did to When the Children of Israel you ... Erase the memory of journeyed through the Sinai Amalek from under heaven. Desert after they had left Egypt, Do not forget!” they were attacked by a people The Shabbat takes its name and evil ruler called Amalek. According to the verses in from that verse, Shabbat Zakhor or Shabbat of Remembrance. Deuteronomy, Amalek attacked the weak and old people who Perhaps it is painful for some to

EAST BRUNSWICK JEWISH CENTER 07 FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR whatever else is needed to pull this together. Although this is work, it’s Sadness. Jackie was 80 when she also fun. I’m excited about passed and was truly a force to be rehearsing and learning new reckoned with. She was a very active harmonies. To hear the Cantor sing and involved member of Beth El in “Bring Him Home” from Les Mis is East Windsor and was loved by truly an amazing thing. You’ll be many. She was involved in many surprised at the talent we have at organizations outside of Beth El and EBJC. the funeral was standing room only (and they had all three rooms open at Mt. Sinai). She was the only 80- So there you go...busy, sadness, year-old that I knew who loved calm and excited all in one day, and Metallica, Guns n’ Roses and any when I think about Jackie, I know hard rock band! A big hint was that she’d love it. She’d love that I was her email started with performing and singing, and she’d GranmaRocks. She was one of the It’s Sunday February 9th and it is a hate that I was sad at her passing. If first people I met when I joined Beth weird and crazy day. A couple of she had her way, we would have El, and we have been friends ever days ago, my friend Jackie passed been dancing at her funeral and since…that was 30 years ago. She away and her funeral was today. I’m there’d be a 21 motorcycle salute! will be remembered and she will be sitting in my office, getting some That was Jackie. missed. work done, and thinking about this The Rabbi at Beth El spoke of Jackie morning, the funeral, this afternoon from the heart. She had become and tonight. Calm. Then I came back to EBJC, part of his family and his family a because it’s quiet on a Sunday (the part of hers. Very different from a only other person here is the Rabbi rent-a-rabbi who gathers I will speak about Jackie in this who is also here because it’s quiet information from the family before a Article, but let’s start off with this and we can work uninterrupted). It’s funeral, because he or she doesn’t morning. amazing how much work you can know the deceased at all. What a get done when the phone isn’t difference. So, when people Busy. I came to EBJC this morning, ringing and no one is walking into question why should they belong to because I had my Hazak brunch and your office. a Synagogue, what’s in it for them? I’ll tell them about Jackie and about we had a new entertainer for the group. He was recommended to me Rabbi Kornsgold and how he spoke Excited. At 6:00 tonight, we gather by Judy of Jewish Family Services from the heart because he knew in the sanctuary to rehearse for the and I’m always looking for new her, and his sadness touched us all. Broadway Revue which is taking programs and entertainment, so he place on March 21st (hint, hint). was hired. Needless to say, the Bobbi Blumenthal is directing, Dave May you all be well, group loved him, he was energetic, Schlossberg is our musical director had a good voice and got everyone Ellen and Jill Rubin is our stage manager. up and dancing. I don’t know how or The Rabbi, Cantor, Steve Zeidwerg, why, but he kept calling me up to Ron Sucher, Meredith Ascher, Steve sing with him and play the Wohl, Sara Ullman, Barbara Pollak, tambourine. But the truth is, I enjoy and I are all performing. 19 songs all performing, so I got up and sang and together, some solos, some duets, played the tambourine and danced and some ensemble pieces. I’m sort around and had a very enjoyable of the chair of the program so I do time. From there, I went to Jackie’s all of the scheduling, printing and funeral.

08 MARCH 2020 FROM OUR PRESIDENTS Director. He called Bob and after introducing himself, he mentioned that he had called the offices of United Synagogue Of Conservative Judaism to ask who he might be able to get advice from for their search. Their response was, “Call the East Brunswick Jewish Center. They recently hired a Cantor/ Educational Director. They did this right!” This is as much an Occurring in the dead of winter, details for the weekend: Jack acknowledgement of Cantor Larry’s February can be a dreary time of Goldberg, Scott Alter, Debbie efforts as it is recognition that EBJC’s year. But not so at EBJC. February Friedman, Howard Jacobs, Steve reputation is on the rise. has been an exciting month. On Zeidwerg, Men’s Club and Friday and Saturday, February 12th Sisterhood, our office staff and Jose As February leads into March and 13th, we celebrated Shabbat and Leo for set up. Finally we wish and the weather gets warmer, Shira with the Louise Sleppin to acknowledge our host families we look forward to the Purim Memorial Shabbaton featuring Kol who housed our guests: Rabbi and Carnival with the knowledge that Ha Layla, the premier Jewish a Lisa Pivo, Cantor and Laura Pesach and Spring are not too far capella group of Rutgers Brandspiegel, Barbara and Dov away. Let’s celebrate some of University. Following Shabbat Pollak, Maureen Richardson, and the great things this services on Friday night, Rabbi Pivo Bob and Liz Salston. synagogue does. May we go from and Cantor Larry led a Tu B’Shvat strength to strength. seder where we sampled fruit and Although this article is going to press wine in celebration of the New Year on February 12th, by the time you Bob Salston and Steve Zeidwerg for Trees. This was followed by a are reading this, we would have held Co-Presidents, delicious Shabbat dinner catered by our annual Gala honoring East East Brunswick Jewish Center Bistro 70. After dinner, we sang Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen. By [email protected]. zemirot and got a taste of what Kol the time of this writing, we already Ha Layla had to offer us as they sang know that our fundraising for this a beautiful rendition of L’cha event exceeded the budgeted Dodi. Following services on Shabbat amount. Thank you to all who morning, we were again treated to a attended and/or bought ads. A song by Kol Ha Layla at Kiddush. special thank you to our Gala Following Shabbat, our guests gave a committee: Chairs David and concert which included a number Margot Julis, Executive Vice with our Kesher students joining in. President, Joannie Weinfeld, Eilene This weekend could not have Beck, Marna Erlich, Debbie occurred without the help of many Friedman, Marla Genee, Risa people. Kol Ha Kavod to Arthur Krasnove, Cindy Rollman, Liz Salston, Fliegelman for arranging the visit and Dori Saypol. And once again, and coordinating all the details. congratulations to Mayor Cohen. Yasher Koach to our sponsors: Michael Sleppin, Arthur and Janet One final note to give us a smile this Fliegelman, Carol and Judah Landa, winter. Bob was recently contacted Dave and Lois Mandell, Barbara and by the chair of a search committee Dov Pollak, and Men’s Club. Thank from a synagogue in Maryland you to those who worked on the looking for a Cantor/Educational

EAST BRUNSWICK JEWISH CENTER 09 CENTER FOR EARLY LEARNING

The Center for Early Learning @ EBJC LYNDA PEREL EDUCATIONAL DIRECTOR We had a “Fabulous February” at CEL!

We hatched eggs and took care of baby chicks!

We predicted Mr. Groundhog would not see his shadow… and we were right! We planted parsley and a tree in Israel for Tu B’Shevat!

We had a visit from Dr. Wasserman. She taught us how to take care of our teeth! Thank You Dr. Jamie! We celebrated President’s Day

10 MARCH 2020 KESHER AND YOUTH GROUPS

Youth Group Dates USY 9th-12th grades/ Kadima 6th-8th grades/ Dear Kesher Familes, Chaverim 4th-5th grades During this month of March and Adar, we will have some great learning and fun celebrations. Mar 8 Purim Carnival Just to run through the calendar of regular Kesher dates: 9 Megillah Reading Wednesdays, March 4, 11, 18 and 25. Sundays, March 22 and 29. The Tri- TBD USY Regional Purim Bash Synagogue Purim Carnival Extravaganza will be on Sunday, March 8th from 18 Chaverim/Kadima/USY 11am – 2pm. Monday night, March 9th, is Purim with Megillah reading, costumes, noise and excitement. Please feel free to bring in a box of Apr 1 Chaverim/Kadima/USY macaroni to use as a personal “Gragger” or noisemaker, and then at the end 19 USY 3-5 pm of the service, donate to the food pantry. May 1-3 Kadima Regional Spring Shabbat morning, March 14th, is Shabbat School and Shabbat Convention B’yachad. There will be no Kesher classes on March 15th. 6 Chaverim/Kadima Year End Youth Night for USY, Kadima and Chaverim will be on Wednesday, BBQ March 18th. 6 USY We will have Jr. Congregation and Shabbat Y’ladim on Shabbat 15-17 USY Regional Spring morning, March 21st. Convention On Friday night, March 27th, our Gan, Aleph, Bet, Gimel and Dalet 31 USY Chapter Elections and classes will participate at a late service and there will also be a dinner. More Installation 2-6 pm information will be coming soon. Cantor Larry is our Youth Director. For information Passover will be upon us soon enough. There will be Kesher classes about any of these Youth Groups, please call him at on Wednesday, April 1st (No foolin’), and Youth Night that evening as well. 732-257-7070, x.3 or send an email to There will be Shabbat School and Shabbat B’yachad on Shabbat morning, [email protected] April 4th. We will not have classes during Spring Break and Passover from Kadima & USY: For more information, please Sunday, April 5th through Thursday, April 16th. contact Erin Kaplan, Kadima and USY Advisor: Please look out for emails and more information. Keep the learning [email protected] going. If you have any questions, please reach out to me Wednesday Youth Nights: Chaverim meets from at [email protected]. 6:15-7:15; Kadima meets from 6:15-7:30; USY meets from 7:30-9:00, unless otherwise noted BAR MITZVAH

My name is Alex Berger. I am in seventh grade and I attend Hammarskjold Middle School. My Bar Mitzvah is on March 7, 2020. For my Bar Mitzvah project, I decided to volunteer at The Chelsea Senior Living in East Brunswick. The reason that I took on this project, is that I grew up with my parents, sister and extended family volunteering for our town and surrounding communities. I volunteered my time at least once a week, for the past couple of months, as I assisted the Activi- ties Coordinator at The Chelsea. I helped out by moving around furniture after the afternoon entertainment finishes, helping the residents play BINGO, handing out their snacks, and socializing with them. I feel that I am making a difference, by spending time and getting to know them, as they compliment me on how happy they are that I am spending time with them. Volunteering made an impact on me and I plan to continue as a volunteer as I get older.

EAST BRUNSWICK JEWISH CENTER 11 SISTERHOOD

DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE ON THE HORIZON WEEKLY TIDBITS EMAIL BLAST FOR NOTICE OF ALL UPCOMING EVENTS! * Spring will usher in these highly-anticipated programs— ______• Torah Fund Brunch on Sunday, Please check out our Sisterhood Judaica March 22, featuring Dr. Laura Shop for the ultimate selection of all Brandspiegel recounting her your needs—everything from religious undergraduate days as a student articles to books to children’s toys and at Barnard and the Jewish holiday giftware. And if it’s not there, Theological Seminary. We will also we will special order it for you! This is be honoring a special Sisterhood Purim, beginning on the the ideal way of supporting Sisterhood member who has gone “above and evening of March 9, is one of the most with exquisite results. festive and joyous holidays on the beyond.” Jewish calendar. Its triumphant tale of • Sisterhood Book Club—reviewing ______Good reigning over Evil is a distinct How to Stop Anti-Semitism by New Sisterhood is urgently in need of source of pride for our People. Each York Times writer/editor Bari members to step up to leadership roles! year, Sisterhood has the unique honor Weiss. Next meeting Saturday, Become the type of strong, positive role and pleasure of spreading the Holiday April 25, following Kiddush. model you’ve always admired. Make an spirit through our Shalach Manot • Book and author event headlined impact in our beloved congregation and campaign. This wonderful project by our own Ilana Levitt discussing throughout the East Brunswick Jewish affords our congregants the opportunity her book—What’s Mom Still Got to community. The rewards are ever- to fulfill the mitzvah of “gifting” family, Do with It? –Thursday, May 7 lasting. friends, and neighbors. This year, over • Annual Sisterhood Shabbat on 100 orders were placed. We thank all Saturday, May 9—This Egalitarian ______those who supported this effort, which Shabbat morning service is a is Sisterhood’s most significant beautiful opportunity to expand Spring is almost upon us! It’s time to fundraiser. We extend heartfelt your ritual participation in a shed the winter doldrums and plan your gratitude to Cindy Rabinowitz, who meaningful way. There are English next adventures! Sisterhood offers chairs this project, for her tireless and Hebrew parts available— social, educational, ritual, and cultural devotion to Sisterhood. Thank you, too, Prayers, Torah reading, Aliyot. opportunities. With so much to choose to Marla Genee for ordering the Instructional assistance will be from, there is surely a program or event delicious hamantaschen, to Gail Kosher provided. Contact Gloria Jaslow— you can enjoy. We warmly encourage for organizing the routes, and to all [email protected] get involved. you to give Sisterhood a try. You will surely be enriched those who helped to pack and deliver the Purim bags throughout our through the experience. community. • Shavuot educational forum Best regards, profiling Great Jewish Women of the Arts on Saturday, May 30. Margot Julis Following the success of last year’s [email protected] HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE program, we now turn to a special 732-672-8089 PAST MONTH segment of celebrated Jewish Sara Ullman women—those who have made [email protected] * Sisterhood provided the memorable contributions in art, 732-261-0591 bountiful Kiddush on Saturday, music, writing, poetry, drama, and February 7, as our contribution to comedy. Is there a renowned the delightful Shabbat Shirah female Jewish artist who has a Shabbaton. We were thrilled to be special place in your heart? Share included in this heartwarming her story so we can all learn and

weekend, which highlighted Hope kvell together! and Community.

12 MARCH 2020 SISTERHOOD

The annual Torah Fund campaign is underway with the theme of this year’s pin, CHESED (Kindness), one of the three pillars of Jewish life, according to rabbinic tradition. Show your Chesed by purchasing the pin for $180 or donate ANY AMOUNT. All contributions support the future Conservative Jewish education of our cherished community leaders—rabbis, cantors, educators, administrators, and lay leaders—who are all so vital to the knowledge and practice of our faith. Our highly anticipated annual Torah Fund event is a BRUNCH this year—on Sunday, March 22nd. We proudly welcome Dr. Laura Brandspiegel, wife of our esteemed Cantor, to share her experiences as a student of Conservative Judaism.

SISTERHOOD AT YOUR FINGERTIPS SISTERHOOD NEEDS YOU!!

The Sisterhood Judaica Shop, is your source for beautiful EGALITARIAN SHIVA MINYAN—Stand up and be counted— giftware, books, candles, head coverings, children’s items literally! Bereaved families now have the choice to welcome and more. either a Traditional or Egalitarian Shiva minyan into their home to join in the reciting of Kaddish. Being a member of Browse the beautiful collection of gifts, home furnishings the Egalitarian Shiva minyan is a deeply rewarding oppor- and Judaica for all occasions. tunity for women to demonstrate their compassion toward If you don’t see what you are looking for, our Managers fellow congregants. You will leave feeling that you have tru- will get it for you. ly performed a worthy mitzvah and made a difference. Contact Cindy Rollman 908-812-6713 or Caroline Stein- berg 732-735-6641 BIMAH SITTING FOR SHABBAT AND HOLIDAYS—Enjoy the services from a different vantage point! A Sisterhood mem- Gift cards (aka SCRIP) is an easy way to help the Sisterhood ber who started sitting regularly says “I’ve gained an entire- raise funds by purchasing gift cards for ShopRite, ACME, Lox, ly different perspective of the service and I find it even Stock & Deli or Giddy’s. What could be easier? You are go- more spiritual”. Volunteer to sit on the Bimah, to represent ing to spend the money there ANYWAY!!! Sisterhood, during Shabbat or Holiday Services. Contact Glo- ria Jaslow for more information at 732-247-4869 or glo- Contact Judy Klotzkin 732-390-6140 or [email protected] [email protected]

Bimah Baskets – for any Simcha…A beautiful basket with KIDDUSH COMMITTEE IS CALLING YOU!!!—We have an food items will be placed on the Bimah prior to Shabbat. A amazing group of volunteers who make the Shabbat Kiddush card will let your guests know that a donation has been happen each week, but we still need YOUR HELP to keep the made in honor of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah child. You can also Shabbat Kiddush experience going. We need plattering as- order a Bimah Basket for ANY occasion you’d like! sistance Friday mornings at 10:00AM in the dairy kitchen. Contact Lory Pelofsky 732-254-6851 or Sheila Behrman We need shoppers to Costco and ShopRite AND we need 732-238-1476 your financial support of Kiddush. Without your participation, the old-time Kiddush of cake and wine will be making a return appearance! Thank you! JNF Trees – to purchase trees-Contact: Diana Horowitz 732- 390-9058 KIDDUSH COORDINATOR POSITION AVAILABLE! We are Cards, Tributes & Tree of Life - Contact: Bernice Bellows-732- looking for one or two dedicated people to take over the 254-4103; Beth Belzer 732-238-7925 Kiddush Coordinator position that Sylvia Halpern has held Torah Fund – Contact Jody Bramson – 732-390-5166 for many years. Please contact Margot Julis 732-672-8089 [email protected] or [email protected] for more information.

EAST BRUNSWICK JEWISH CENTER 13 MEN’S CLUB Steve Shel Chai program. Please see me or Harkavy reach out to Cantor Larry if you would (who like to learn to leyn Torah. If you read originated 18 times, Men’s Club will present you the Unsung with a personalized Yad to recognize Hero your achievement. So far, we have Award), presented Yads to 6 people with David Julis, another 2 waiting in the wings, with Jerry more to come. Join this group. They Saferstein, will welcome you warmly. and Al We always continue our multiple Davis of Highland Park Conservative “behind the scenes” activities. Your Temple who introduced Jerry. support of Men’s Club is needed, so that Can’t believe that it’s March already. we can do what we do for the Shul. Where does the time go? We probably Also in January, we had our annual don’t notice because we have so much Blood Drive, where we had over 40 Save the date – going on. people donate. What a Mitzvah! Here th March 29 – Pre-Passover Breakfast To revisit January, I wanted to share are some of our happy participants. th some of the pictures from our Unsung April 20 – Yom HaShoah Program Heroes Breakfast. It was great to have We have many more programs and such a tremendous turnout to honor events planned, including a Scholar in two of EBJC’s finest, Jerry Saferstein and Residence Shabbat, a bus trip to visit Rick Rollman, who do so much behind historic Synagogues, and many more the scenes. We had former members, community-oriented activities. current members and outside guests We are also working with the attending. It was so great, that Jerry Membership Committee and New Era to just can’t stop talking about it. We just organize a trip to Yankee Stadium, can’t wait till next year, to honor more which will include not only a game, but Unsung Heroes. Who will they be? also a pre-game tour and possibly even their Hands on History Museum. Stay Rick As usual, our World Wide Wrap held on tuned. Rollman & Super Bowl Sunday, was a tremendous Jerry success. By taking a different approach If you have any ideas for an event or activity or just about anything, please let Saferstein and involving the Kesher students, we me know. We are always open to new with their were able to teach the reasons as to ideas and “thinking outside of the box”. awards why we lay Tefillin. Rabbi, Cantor and And, you are always welcome at a Men’s Club pitched in to help teach how Men’s Club Board Meeting. to lay Tefillin. The kids really enjoyed the breakfast afterwards, where we If you haven’t joined Men’s Club -Why served extra “goodies” just for them. not? Dues are only $36. We’ll call it a “wrap”, until next year. Remember, this is OUR community. And this is YOUR Men’s Club. If you haven’t noticed, there are now Together we can “Do the Right Thing”. video display monitors in the Lobby and the Rug Wing. Instead of paper signs David Julis The proud telling us what’s happening and where [email protected] wives, to go for meetings and/or events, you or (732) 672-7759 Cindy and can look at the monitors. Welcome to Janice with the 21st Century. Again, thank your their Men’s Club for funding this Heroes. improvement to our communication. Our ongoing programs include the Yad

14 MARCH 2020 Dear Fellow-EBJC Member, thing? For those of you who have nev- to work to guarantee a minyan, come .I pray that that to shulקִדִשי ָיָםות, er said If this email offends you in any way, I responsibility will only be yours after apologize; but, I still want you to read You don’t need to read Hebrew. You many, many more years of happy and through it. don’t have to participate in formal healthy familial relationships. Howev- prayer (offer your own). If you don’t For those of you who do not recognize er, for those of us who say have a Talit, we have them. If you we know that it can onlyק ִדִשיָיָםות, my name, Anne and I have been EBJC don’t have a set of Tfillin or you don’t members since the early 1980’s and be said in the presence of a Minyan, a know how to put them on-we have you may recognize me if you attend quorum of Jews (ten men during regu- them and we teach. services. lar, traditional daily services). Empathy often requires greater effort Some of you have heard one or more of Lately (the last few months), we have than sympathy. Please make the extra my Divrei Torah, and may remember had problems maintaining our morning effort to place yourself in the shoes of that I started saying the Mourners’ Kad- AND sometimes evening minyanim. others who are trying to do what they dish for my father when I was seven- Because of illness, business, personal need to do and attend services only as teen. I am now seventy-two. travels and personal responsibilities at often as you are able: mornings and/or home and/or at work, we have had to You may have noticed that the Hebrew evenings-bring family and friends; car- make phone calls about three or four words used as the heading for the pool, stop off at Shul before going for times a week to make a minyan so that ice cream, bagels or coffee; ask your קִדִשי ָיָםות Mourners’” Kaddish are“ people needing/wanting/required to (Kaddish Yatom). If you’ve checked employer to accept a lateness or an say the Kaddish can–and we have -directly early departure one morning or evenםותי ,your Google Translate turned off the lights in the Beit Midrash translates as, “Orphan.” ing each week. Any help you can offer more than a dozen times in the last few those who need your help will be ap- My Great Uncle Charlie, whose 33rd months without the benefit of having a preciated and remembered and maybe Yahrzeit will be in a few months, was minyan and people needing/wanting/ returned in kind. Do you have children the person who taught my brothers required to say the Kaddish not having or grandchildren that you drive to and me how to say the Kaddish. After the opportunity to do so. attending three services a day we found Kesher on Sunday mornings? Don’t ourselves at the end of Shloshim (thirty We all have personal commitments drive and drop! Drive, drop, park, en- days from burial) when he told us that that take time out of our day-and time ter and pray– your-own-way. is the only commodity that cannot be he had taught us how to do what was Thank you for your time, right and the “rest” was on us. We replenished. I get it. But one day, as Matt Kaufman asked what that meant. He told us that sure as the sun rises, every one of us the next one-day-less than ten months will need others in the community to [email protected] were our responsibility. When I ques- take time out of their day to help us, to tioned if we had to continue, he told us make a minyan for us, making it possi- that we only had to continue for as long ble for us to say the Kaddish–every one P.S.: Hey, it’s crazy to think so, but you as we thought our father was worthy of of us. might find you like those minutes in respect. (The commandment [mitzvah] Please, on your way home from work at Shul and the people you find there. to honor our father and mother is ref- 8:00 PM or on your way to spending a P.P.S.: Click https://www.ebjc.org/ erenced eight times in the Torah. The few minutes before bedtime with your services or check the weekly Tidbits for Torah doesn’t repeat unless the repeti- kids, make a short fifteen-minute de- service times. tion emphasizes importance.) We were tour or bring the kids to add another at just about every service (morning, direction in their moral compass, and afternoon and evening) until the end of come to shul. that time and we all have tried to not Please, in the morning, if you pace your miss a Yahrzeit or Yizkor since. living room, unable to get back to sleep So, what does this have to do with any- or can spare a few minutes on your way

EAST BRUNSWICK JEWISH CENTER 15 16 MARCH 2020 HAZAK

CALENDAR FOR 2019-2020 (Dates Subject to Change. Advance Notice Will Be Given)

Our next Hazak program will feature Flavian, a magician, mind-reader and mentalist. Why settle for the ordinary when you can have an "Out of This World" entertainment experience that is new, different, fun and exciting?! Flavian will read your mind and make you laugh as he reveals answers to some very funny questions! have worked very hard to bring thoughtful, insightful and entertaining programs to Hazak and this one should be a hoot! Please sign up below so that we have ample seating and food for all! As always, the program is free and there is a suggested donation of $7.00 per person for the lunch which goes directly to Jewish Family Services.

Future Dates: Thursday, April 23 12:00 pm Lunch Thursday, May 21 6:00 pm Dinner Sunday, June 7 10:00 am Brunch

EAST BRUNSWICK JEWISH CENTER 17 ADULT EDUCATION

EBJC offers a full range of adult courses designed for all interests and at various days and times. If you want to learn something that is not currently offered, let us know!

AVAILABLE CLASSES

SHABBAT MORNING CLASS MONROE LUNCH AND LEARN Saturdays | 9 a.m. Once a month we meet with Rabbi Pivo in the homes of various Join us for Rabbi Pivo's Saturday morning class at 9 am, where congregants. These sessions have been very interesting and we study the weekly parshah prior to Shabbat services. well attended. Please call Howard Jacobs at 732-402-2273 or at Reflecting on the Chumash and ancient and modern [email protected] for details on upcoming dates, to get commentaries, we discuss the roots of our ancient culture and on our Monroe mailing list, with questions and to reserve your the timeless values of the Jewish people. spot.

GENESIS SCIENCE CLASS HEBREW READING CLASS Mondays | 8:30 p.m. in the library Thursdays | 7 p.m. Focus is on parsha and biblical understanding . A small This class combines a rigorous textual analysis of the biblical donation of $10.00 for four sessions is requested. For verses with knowledge from external sources, including history, additional information about the class, please contact Ora science, linguistics and archeology. We meet every Monday Rotblum at [email protected] or 732-390-0314. evening at 8:30 pm for about one hour in the library at EBJC. After more than 12 years, having started from the beginning of Genesis, we are currently in the middle of Deuteronomy. The ISRAELI DANCE plan is to proceed in order through the other books of the Beginners: Hebrew Bible. Mondays | 7:00 p.m.

Intermediate/Advanced: TALMUD CLASS Mondays | 8:00 p.m. Wednesdays | 8:30 p.m. in the library Come and stay for as long as you can! $10.00 per session fee. This class brings to life the voices, discussions and debates of

our sages as they formulated Jewish Law based on the traditions and foundational texts received from ancient times. MAH JONG GAMES We meet every Wednesday evening at 8:30 pm for about one Mondays | 7 p.m. | Room 9 hour in the EBJC library. Currently we are studying tractate Come and join us for friendly Mah Jong games! All levels, Kiddushin which concerns the laws of marriage. including experienced as well as beginners, who will be eagerly taught, are welcome. LUNCH AND LEARN Wednesdays | 12 p.m. | Room 8

18 MARCH 2020 Mickey and Sherryl Kaufman's son, Alex, was one of the visitors to Auschwitz on the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the camp. Below is a very personal observation by Alex. Alex Kaufman The hour drive from Krakow to Auschwitz tained (you can enter the barracks and other is bleak after you leave the outskirts of Kra- awful places), Auschwitz II-Birkenau can 11 hrs · kow, Poland’s second largest city. I stared only be described as an enormously vast out the window at the fields and forests field of death. wondering only one thing - whether my Sunday at Auschwitz The two camps hit you differently. relatives marched naked in the winter The main events commemorating the 75th through this forest or through some other At Auschwitz I, we walked through one anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz- identical forest nearby. Whether my grand- barrack that has been preserved to house Birkenau began last Thursday at Yad pa’s little brother died on that march or on shoes which prisoners removed before be- Vashem, the world’s most compelling and some identical march nearby. Too much to ing led to the “showers” where they were most impressive Holocaust memorial, in process, so I turned back to my iPhone and poisoned and suffocated with Zyklon B Jerusalem. World leaders from 49 coun- pretended to be interested by the news. pesticide. Imagine mountains upon moun- tries, including Vice President Pence and tains of shoes, tens of thousands of shoes. Speaker Pelosi, joined in the largest diplo- I arrived at Auschwitz I - the original camp In the next barracks, mounds of eyeglasses. matic event in Israeli history. I visited Yad - just in time for my 10:30am tour. Around And in the next, human hair piled like Vashem in September - my third time. The 1.3 million people were brought here and stacks of hay. The Nazis turned the hair of United States Holocaust Museum in Wash- over 1.1 million were murdered - most the dead into blankets, sheets and other within hours of arrival. Around 90% of its ington, DC is impressive, but there really textiles. German efficiency. prisoners were Jews. Countless other unde- isn’t any comparison. sirables (priests, Poles, homosexuals, Ro- At Auschwitz I, I was amazed to see so So many of my friends and business part- ma) died here too. many professional videographers walking ners in Israel are also descendants of survi- in small groups in front of survivors. Nearly vors or those killed, so my post-Israel ren- The SS selection process occurred immedi- 200 survivors are here this week and dezvous with history was a natural topic of ately upon arrival. You were either sent to they’re mostly approaching 100 years of conversation and curiosity. All Israeli high work or to the gas chamber immediately. age. I spoke to many of them - “Did you school students spend one week in Krakow, Cattle cars filled with hundreds of people know my family?” To visit Auschwitz is visiting the Jewish quarter of Kazimierz arrived around the clock for years. One impactful. To see so many survivors visit- (more on that later) and Auschwitz, which plaque that I read mentioned that between ing Auschwitz - most for the first time - is May and July 1944, half a million Hungari- is about an hour away by car, so a large surreal. percentage of Israelis have been. Still, I an Jews were deported here. Nearly all died. But we knew that. Auschwitz II-Birkenau leaves you without shared an awkward silence (or sometimes words. Before I left for Tel Aviv, I called an even more awkward chuckle) with I was pleasantly surprised to see how my grandpa’s first cousin, Eva, who is friends last week in Tel Aviv. There’s only “popular” the tours are. Auschwitz hosts 2 somewhat of a great-aunt to me and one of so many times you can hear “Have a good million visitors a year from all over the our family historians. I asked her for the time in Auschwitz...I mean...you know world, and they do a phenomenal job. The names of our Kaufman relatives murdered what I mean” - but we understood the guides are absolutely terrific. The official there so that I could recite their names in strange camaraderie. The bond made possi- tour of Auschwitz I takes two hours, after Kaddish. She said she would put together a ble by shared memory. And by the power of which you can take a shuttle bus to Ausch- list. I called her from Poland for the names. humor to maintain sanity, as Victor Frankel witz II-Birkenau, which is 3km away. She said, “Too many.....But in the dirt you so eloquently described in his landmark Auschwitz II-Birkenau is about 10 times as can still see pieces of bone.” book, Man’s Search for Meaning. big as Auschwitz I, and while Auschwitz I is extraordinarily well preserved and main- That’s enough.

EAST BRUNSWICK JEWISH CENTER 19 Calling all Grandparents and Parents whose Children/Grandchildren will celebrate their Bar or Bat Mitzvah in 2020 and 2021…..

Become a Dream Weaver EBJC Sisterhood has partnered with Neve Shalom Sisterhood “Loom Room”

If you would like to attend a mini workshop on "Making Your Child or Grandchild's Simcha more meaningful through Weaving Together" contact Margot Julis

Our own Madeline Frances wove a tallit for her grandson, Brandon, for his Bar Mitzvah on November 9th

After tying the tzitzit, Madeline and her Madeline’s beautiful family - Brandon, wearing grandson, Brandon proudly showed the his tallit, daughter Erin, son-in-law Matthew completed tallit. and granddaughter Morgan. Have your own “priceless” experience by weaving a tallit, tallit gadol, tallit bag, challah cover, matzoh cover, afikomen bag or even a chuppah!

Make an heirloom for yourself, with or for someone special. Give it a try!! You can do it!!

For more information and to schedule your time on the loom, contact:

Margot Julis (EBJC contact) 732-390-1245;[email protected]

Cory Schneider phone: 717-574-1807; [email protected] or

Jennifer Bullock phone: 732-906-8565; [email protected]

20 MARCH 2020

WANTED: Kiddush Coordinator

Have you been enjoying our sumptuous Kiddushes each week? Then we have the perfect position for you.

Sisterhood is seeking a new Kiddush Coordinator to take the place of our beloved Sylvia Halpern, who has been in this role so expertly for many years.

The ideal candidate should be very organized in overseeing the entire Kiddush process….from emailing our Kiddush team each week, to assigning a shopping list, to ordering the weekly challahs via email, to supervising the weekly Kiddush preparations (1 hour a week on Friday mornings). Bond with a friend by sharing this rewarding position while enjoying time together.

This is your opportunity to enhance the quality of our cherished time together as a community and to give back to the Synagogue in such an important and easy way. Please consider making a difference. Contact Margot Julis – [email protected] or 732-390-1245. (Sisterhood is an EEOE).

EAST BRUNSWICK JEWISH CENTER 21 22 MARCH 2020

EAST BRUNSWICK JEWISH CENTER 23 24 MARCH 2020

DO YOU HAVE A COLLEGE STUDENT IN YOUR FAMILY?

Attention College Students (and Parents/Grandparents):

Even while you or your kids/grandkids are away at school, your EBJC family is thinking about you and them. The Youth Commission would love to send special packages around Hanukkah and Purim to the college students. This is FREE for undergraduate students of EBJC members and just $36 for graduate students and $36 for grandchildren who are in college or graduate school. Just fill out the form found in the lobby and give/mail it to the Synagogue office or email your student’s college mailing information and year of school to [email protected].

EAST BRUNSWICK JEWISH CENTER 25 DONATIONS

ALIYAH Elaine Silver on the Sasson on the Bar William Shapiro Ronald Berger birth of their Mitzvah of their Gary & Rochelle grandson, Meir Hillel grandson Jack Ezra Les & Lillian Deutsch Bennett in memory Robert & Molly Teicher of Harry Gerstman & Mark & Leslie Kalomeer Ronald & Laura Harriet Felsenstein Foladare Fran Katz in honor of Sucher Larry & Laura Howard & Ilana the Religious Arnold & Lori Wallis Brandspiegel in Gases Committee in honor of Jerry memory of Sol Barry & Gloria Jaslow Lois Ledner in Saferstein - Unsung Brandspiegel Hero Award Judah & Carol Landa memory of Hyman Rebecca & Charles Genee Breverman in Deena & Yigal Oren Roy & Linda Levi in KIDDUSH memory of Sophia Dov & Barbara Pollak Izenson Breverman honor of their CONTRIBUTORS Lewis & Janice Stolar grandson, Sam Levi, Myra Lee Cohen in Michael Kessler and Paul & Naomi Weiss becoming a Bar memory of Max Barbara Reed Mitzvah Cohen Thelma Zalewitz David & Claire Rhoda Cohen in

GENERAL Rosenthal in honor memory of Frieda DONATIONS of their YAHRZEIT Rahn & Rabbi Joseph & Sheila granddaughter, Steven & Brenda Herman Cohen Behrman Sierra Rain, on the Albert in memory of Albert & Marilyn Richard & Sharon occasion of her 4th Florence Albert, Friedes in memory of Famely in memory of birthday Rueben Albert & Karl Ethel Shor & Louis Martin Gross Edward Salomon Buchweitz Shor David & Mindy Barbara Reed and Gary & Gail Kenneth & Helene Himelman in Michael Kessler for Appelbaum in Gerson in memory of memory of Stanley their Loving and memory of Abe David Schneider Shapiro Dedicated Mandelkorn Commitment to Donna Guskind in Gary & Gail Robert & Pearl Horn Yiddishkeit memory of Eugene in honor of Pearl Appelbaum in Guskind Horn's birthday Doug & Karen Slater memory of Cary Krell in honor of Norma Donna Guskind in Allen Bachenheimer David & Margot Julis and Fred Teicher & memory of Louis in memory of Josef in honor of Jerry & Adela and Raymond Slatnick Bachenheimer &

26 MARCH 2020 DONATIONS

Donna Guskind in Neadle Ullman in memory of memory of Marion Marc & Meredith Mayer Hirsh Ettner Slatnick Pearl in memory of Annette Verona in Martin Hecht in Samuel Pearl memory of Tillie memory of Blanche Larry & Diane Perkel Freiedman & Minnie Herberg in memory of Eugene Verona Robert & Pearl Horn Rose Sorin & Rochelle in memory of Bessie Lory Pelofsky in Weissman in Horenstein memory of Bertha memory of Sylvia Howard & Cindi Pelofsky Friedman Jacobs in memory of Arnold & Diane Paul & Renee Marilyn Jackson & Riback in memory of Weissman in Max Jacobs Mary Weissman memory of Netty Eder David & Margot Julis Paul & Myra Rose in in memory of Stuart memory of Barbara Paul & Renee Julis Dombeck Weissman in David & Margot Julis memory of Sam Jeremy & Janice Weissman Margot & David Julis Saferstein in memory in memory of of Celia Dansky Alvin & Renee Wittlin Norman Leive in memory of Sylvia Michael & Hannah Wittlin Fran Katz in memory Schneiderman in of Bella Kleinman memory of Philip Neal & Leba Yolin in Judah & Carol Landa Horowitz memory of Samuel Yolin in memory of Barry & Janet Avraham Zvi Landa & Seidman in memory Chaya Landa of Norman Seidman Ronald & Valerie Irwin Steinlight in Levenberg in memory of Irene memory of Solomon Steinlight Scharf Phyllis Stern in David & Lois Mandell memory of Sidney Sally Neadle in Shapiro memory of Dexter Steven & Sara

EAST BRUNSWICK JEWISH CENTER 27

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE

511 Ryders Lane PAID East Brunswick, New Jersey NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ 08816-2769 PERMIT NO. 16020