Congregation Ahavat Chesed Newsletter Spring-Summer Edition 2012–5772

The Voice of Congregation Ahavat Chesed

You are cordially invited to our Save The Date Anniversary Gala Honoring our Volunteers

Thursday, March 8 Tuesday, June 5, 2012 Come One, Come All! Cocktails 6pm in Chapel Service & Seudah. Noon in the Chapel followed by

Monday, April 2 Synagogue Dedication & Dinner Join us for Our Seder. Honorees Noon in the Chapel Eva Adler • Helga Bodeen • Lotte Buff • Elaine Goldmintz

Thursday, April 26 Rose Harris • Muriel Isbitts • Cantor Ilan Mamber Let’s Celebrate Eliana Mechlowitz • Miriam Moskowitz Yom Ha’Atzmaut. Inge Silberthau • Blanche Weinberg • Miriam Zelin Noon in the Chapel

Thursday, May 10 Take Part in our Lag B’Omer Festivities. Noon in the Chapel

Thursday, May 24 Celebrate with a Special Service. 2pm in the Chapel

Tuesday, June 5 Your participation will help support the dynamic programming offered to our Don’t Miss Our Gala residents. The congregation is the center of religious and spiritual life at BRMC Dinner & Dedication. and helps residents maintain ties with the greater Jewish community. 6pm in the Chapel Please consider attending the dinner and supporting us. Couvert: Sixty Dollars • For tickets please email [email protected] Congregation Ahavat Chesed Newsletter Passover 2012–5772

President’s Address by S. Orlando brmc president n July, The Foundation at our long term care residents. IBergen Regional will be- As president of BRMC, I am proud gin the Auditorium renovation project of the vibrant and active congregation to benefit the residents, and pastoral care sup- patients, families, staff ‘I am proud of the vibrant port network we have and community served by and active congregation at the Medical Center. BRMC. and pastoral care support I look forward to seeing This exciting renovation network we have.’ you at the Congregation will take approximately Ahavat Chesed Tenth eight weeks and be a tre- Anniversary Gala. mendous benefit to our ongoing pledge May each of you have a Chag Sameach of quality of life and quality of care for and Happy Passover!

Get me to the azal Tov to volunteer Miri- Mam Zelin and resident Lisa chapel on time Paul on their 90th birthdays, cel- ur Mincha Minyan is ebrated at Congregation Ahavat Chesed (pictured). Omoving to Daylight Sav- ings Time. On March 12th, Mazal Tov to volunteer Elaine Goldmintz on her Mincha will start at 1:30pm, Monday through birthday. Thursday, in the Chapel. Everyone is welcome.

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In Memory of Risselle Winograd

adly, our longtime member Risselle Winograd passed away. Risselle was dedicated to Aha- Svat Chesed and served as synagogue president and board member. With a deep commitment to her faith and a great love of Judaism, Risselle strived to be at every program. We will miss her. ‘I hope and pray I live up to the honor. Thank you to those of you who had confidence in me.’ – Risselle on being installed as president.

From the Desk Of s we welcome the warmer weath- see first hand the difference Donnalee Corrieri, BRMC er, celebrate the holidays and pre- our volunteers make every A Vice President & Pastoral Care Liaison pare for the Foundation’s Auditorium day by donating the most Renovation Project, I want to once precious commodity we again recognize all of BRMC’s dedicated volunteers and have, our time. This is a selflessness that very few people our volunteer department leadership, Susan Burkhardt and incorporate into their lives. The compassion and commit- Geeta Patel. Volunteer Appreciation Week is in April and ment demonstrated daily by our volunteers is truly a bless- we take that very seriously at BRMC. We will host a Volun- ing to our patients, long term care residents and all of us at teer Appreciation Dinner on Wednesday, April 18th in the BRMC. Auditorium from 5pm-7pm to thank these dedicated men With all of these blessings, we at BRMC have much to be and women. thankful for this holiday season. I am honored to work with the Volunteer Department. I Chag Sameach – Happy Passover!

3 Tenth Anniversary Edition-5772 Congregation Ahavat Chesed Newsletter Passover 2012–5772 Rabbi’s Message By Rabbi Barry Schneider brmc chaplain

“Kol Echad V’Echad Chayav Lo- We are commanded that every- mar: Beshvili Nivrah Ha’olam.” one had to be counted before he/ Every single person must say the she could participate. In addition, world was created for me. we had to know the individual Bavli, Sanhedrin 37B capacities, how much each one ccording to Rabbi Bunim, could eat, what were the individ- Aeveryone should have two ual needs and degree of participa- new sanctuary. Yom Ha’Atzmaut pockets, each containing a slip of tion; only then could you know is universally celebrated on paper. On one should be written: how to prepare for the Seder. In Thursday, April 26 and we will I am but dust and ashes, and on the food is nourishment for have a wonderful Independence the other: the world was created the body and the soul. “All who Day party in honor of Israel’s 64th for me. From time to time, we are hungry, let them enter and eat. birthday. Lag B’Omer also falls on must reach into one pocket or the All who are in need, let them come a Thursday and we are planning other. The secret of living comes and celebrate…” something special for this happy from knowing when to reach into In the we recall the day. which pocket. four guests, our children, who are On June 5th we will bring our Congregation Ahavat Chesed present at the Seder. Each child Tenth Anniversary year to a cli- has a group of volunteers who comes with different needs and max with a special dinner and know that our motto of Chesed abilities and each one is spoken sanctuary dedication. At this is personified by the story above. to according to his/her abilities time we will have the opportu- They see each one of our residents and understanding. Every pro- nity to honor our volunteers for as individuals who are entitled to gram and service we conduct is their dedicated service with “The all the benefits and privileges as a arranged according to the needs Ahavat Chesed@BRMC Chesed right given to them by the Torah. and the abilities of all our partici- Award” for outstanding service In a long-term care facility the pants; they are our family and we to our residents, clients and mem- needs of the individual are sacro- treat them accordingly, with love, bers. Invitations will be mailed sanct. Perhaps that is the beauty of understanding and compassion. out shortly and we hope that the our success; we measure it not by This our volunteers do every money we raise will allow us to numbers but by individual partic- day. They are always suggesting complete our Jewish Chapel and ipation, by what he or she person- new and better ways to help our sanctuary. ally gets out of it. residents. They never rest on their Your participation is vital; with- This is the story of Passover. A laurels nor do they shy away from out your support we would have whole nation of millions of Israel- new challenges. Their motto is, very few programs and services ites left Egypt searching for free- “Kol Echad V’Echad Chayav Lomar: available to our Long Term Care dom and the Promised Land, but Beshvili Nivrah Ha’olam” ( Residents as well as our clients before they could embark on their in Sanhedrin). Every person is ob- in Behavioral Health. Please re- journey they were commanded to ligated to consider him/herself as serve the evening of Tuesday, observe the Seder, an observance the Raison d’Être of the universe. June 5 to join us in celebration of that continues to this day. It was, In the next few months we our past accomplishments and and is, an observance of the indi- will celebrate many holidays our future dreams and goals. vidual. It did not take place in the and special occasions. This year synagogue or rechov ha’ir (the Purim falls on a Thursday and we Wishing everyone a town square) but at home within will have our first ever Purim Seu- Chag Kosher V’Sameach & the confines of the family. dah and Megillah Reading in our Happy Passover.

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rthur Brown, a popular resident and Amember of Ahavat Chesed, is passionate about music. A public school music teacher for 20 years, his father was a Chazan and his daughter is a Cantor at a local synagogue. Trained by his father, Arthur plays classi- cal piano and regularly entertains residents at congregation functions. At the recent Tu B’ Seder, Arthur’s beautiful rendi- tions of popular Israeli folk songs enhanced the service. When he’s not tickling the ivories, Arthur is also a proud grandfather. With Holocaust Remembrance Day ap- proaching, Arthur writes about the devasta- tion of the Shoah.

Yom HaShoah By Arthur Brown he systematic annihilation of six mil- a beautiful diary before her destruction. Tlion during the Second World Mordechai Anielewicz was a hero of the War is the single most horrifying event Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. of the 20th century. How could one na- We should never forget. tion carry out a program of the mass murder of anoth- er people? And yet it hap- pened. Under the control of Adolf Hitler, the “Final Solution” was carried out. There were many non- Jews, some who are recog- nized as Righteous Gen- tiles, who helped Jews hide and escape. Many beautiful poems were written by children in the concentration camps. Anne Frank, a young vic- tim of the Holocaust, wrote

5 Tenth Anniversary Edition-5772 Congregation Ahavat Chesed Newsletter Passover 2012–5772

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

Services1 in 2 8th of , 5772, Parashat3 Chapel 5:31 PM Tetzaveh, Candle lighting Zachor 2-330pm

4 5 6 713th of Adar, 8 9 16th10 of Adar, 10th of Adar, 5772 11th of Adar, 5772 12th of Adar, Purim Shushan Purim, 5772 Seudah/Service, 15th of Adar, 5772, 5772, Erev Purim Chapel noon-2pm Parashat Ki Tisa,

11 12 13 14 15 16 Parashat17 Daylight Mincha at 19th of Adar, 5772 20th of Adar, 5772 Services in 22nd of Adar, Savings Time Chapel 5772, Vayakhel-Pekudei, 130pm Shabbat Parah Begins 2-330pm Candle lighting 6:46 PM DST

18 24th of Adar, 1925th of Adar, 5772 26th20 of Adar, 5772 2127th of Adar, 5772 22Services in 2329th of Adar, Rosh24 Chodesh 5772 Chapel 5772, , Parashat Candle lighting 2-330pm Vayikra, Shabbat 6:54 PM DST HaChodesh

252nd of Nisan, 5772 26 4th27 of Nisan, 5772 28 5th of Nisan, 5772 29Services in 307th of Nisan, Parashat31 Tzav, Chapel 5772, Shabbat Candle lighting 2-330pm 7:01 PM HaGadol

February April SMTWTFS SMTWTFS

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9th of Nisan, , 11th of Nisan, 12th of Nisan, 13th of Nisan, Erev Pesach, Pesach I, 5772, Chapel 5772 5772 Fast of the Candle Lighting Candle Lighting April Fool's Day noon-130pm First Born 7:09 PM after 8:13 PM First Seder Second Seder

81st day of 92nd day of the 103rd day of the 114th day of the 12Pesach VI (CH''M), 13Pesach VII, 14Pesach VIII the Omer, Omer, Pesach III Omer, Pesach IV Omer, Pesach V 20th of Nisan, Candle lighting Yizkor Pesach II, Chol HaMoed (CH''M) (CH''M) Candle lighting 7:16 PM 7:15 PM

15 23rd of Nisan, 1624th of Nisan, 1725th of Nisan, 18 26th of Nisan, 19Yom HaShoah, 2013th day of the Parashat21 Shmini 8th day of the 9th day of the 10th day of the 11th day of the Special Service, Omer, Omer Omer Omer Omer Chapel, Candle lighting 2-330pm 7:24 PM

2215th day of the 23 24 25 26Yom HaAtzma'ut, 275th of Iyyar, 5772, Parashat28 17th day of the Yom HaZikaron, Omer, Rosh Service in Chapel, Candle lighting Tazria-Metzora, Iyyar, 16th day of Omer, 3rd of Iyyar, 5772, Chodesh Iyyar, noon-130pm 7:31 P 21st day of the the Omer, 2nd of Iyyar, 5772 18th day of the M Earth Day Omer, 1st of Iyyar, 5772 Omer

2922nd day of the 30Torah Study Class Omer, 2-330pm, 7th of Iyyar, 5772 Chapel

March May SMTWTFS SMTWTFS Torah Study Group in Chapel: Mondays, 2 - 3:30pm 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 April 30 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

24th1 day of the 210th of Iyyar, Service3 in Chapel, 4 12th of Iyyar, Parashat5 Omer, 25th day of the 2-330pm Candle lighting Achrei Mot- 9th of Iyyar, 5772 Omer 7:38 PM Kedoshim,

614th of Iyyar, 7Torah Study 31st8 day of the 932nd day of the Lag10 B'Omer, 1119th of Iyyar, 20th12 of Iyyar, 29th day of the Group, Chapel, Omer, 16th of Omer Special Service, Candle lighting (Parashat Emor Omer, 2-330pm Iyyar, 5772 Chapel 7:45 PM Pesach Sheni noon-130pm

13Mother's Day 14Torah Study 38th15 day of the 1639th day of the Yom17 Yerushalayim 1826th of Iyyar, 27th19 of Iyyar, Group, Chapel Omer, Omer, Service, Chapel Candle lighting Parashat 2-330pm 23rd of Iyyar, 5772 4th of Iyyar, 2-330pm 7:52 PM Behar-Bechukotai,

20 21 22 23 24Special Service, 254th of , 48th 26 Yom 44th day of the Rosh Chodesh 2nd of Sivan, Erev Shavuot, 46th day of the Shavuot, day of the Omer, Yerushalayim, Omer, Sivan, Parashat Bamidbar, 29th of Iyyar, 5772 Omer Chapel 2-330pm Candle lighting Candle Lighting 28th of Iyyar 1st of Sivan 7:59 PM after 9:05pm

27Shavuot I, 28 Shavuot II, 8th29 of Sivan, 30 9th of Sivan, 5772 31Service in Chapel, 6th of Sivan, Yizkor John F. Kennedy's 2-330pm Candle Lighting Memorial Day, Birthday after 9PM

April June SMTWTFS SMTWTFS Torah Study Group in Chapel. Mondays: 2 - 3:30pm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2

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111th of Sivan, 12th2 of Sivan, Candle lighting Parashat Nasso 8:04 PM

313th of Sivan, 5772 4 14th of Sivan, Chapel5 Dedication 6(12:00 AM - 12:00 Service7 in Chapel 818th of Sivan, Parashat9 5772 and Dinner for AM) 16th of Sivan, 2-330pm Candle lighting Beha'alotcha Ahavat Chesed 5772 8:09 PM

1020th of Sivan, 5772 11Torah Study Class 1222nd of Sivan, 1323rd of Sivan, 5772 Service14 in Chapel 1525th of Sivan, 1626th of Sivan, 2-330pm 5772 2-330pm Candle lighting Parashat Sh'lach Flag Day 8:12 PM

1727th of Sivan, 188th of Sivan, 5772 1929th of Sivan, 20Rosh Chodesh 21Rosh Chodesh 222nd of Tamuz, Parashat23 Korach 5772, 5772 Tamuz Tamuz, Candle lighting Father's Day Service in Chapel 8:14 PM 2-330pm

24 4th of Tamuz, 25Torah Study Class 6th26 of Tamuz, 277th of Tamuz, Service28 in Chapel 299th of Tamuz, Parashat30 Chukat 5772 2-330pm 5772 5772 2-330pm Candle lighting 8:14 PM

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7 Tenth Anniversary Edition-5772 Congregation Ahavat Chesed Newsletter Passover 2012–5772

8 Vol. V Issue II Bergen Regional Medical Center

9 Tenth Anniversary Edition-5772 Congregation Ahavat Chesed Newsletter Passover 2012–5772

The Doctor is In By Scott David Lippe, BRMC wealthy person is one who is hap- cisely one measure called an omer Apy with their portion, according to (about two quarts). Regardless of the Ethics of our Fathers [Perkier Avot]. how much food one usually ate, This teaches that wealth derives from if an individual gathered less, he happiness and not the other way around. Therefore if would discover upon his arrival one cannot be happy with what one presently has, fur- home that the manna always mea- ther material possessions will also not increase one’s sured one full omer. Those who collected more would level of happiness. By stating “their” portion it shows find that the extra amount had rotted. Only on Friday that one’s present portion is indeed his could one collect a double portion, since intended portion. Does this apply to The Meaning the manna did not fall on Shabbos. poor and rich alike? A Talmudic pas- It is significant that the manna fell sage explains this: of Manna equally for everyone. It indicates that Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai’s students though physically the manna acted as asked him: ‘Why did the manna (the that fell from food, spiritually it served to convey a crucial message Heaven while the Jews travelled in the desert after from G-d: How much you think you need does not leaving Egypt (Shemos 16:13) not fall once a year, as necessarily determine what you should have or should opposed to once a day?’ He replied, It can be compared strive for. What you have is what I planned for you, to a king who had a son for whom he provided food and is precisely what you need at any given moment once a year; [as a result] he saw his son once a year. So in your life. You may appear to be lacking, but you will instead he provided food daily, so that he called on him be able to fulfill yourself with that which you already every day. The same [is the case] with Israel. One who have. Alternatively, you might acquire more than you had children would worry and say, “Perhaps no man- need, but ultimately the surplus will serve no purpose na will come down tomorrow, and all will die of hun- in terms of personal self-fulfillment. ger.” Thus they turned their faces to heaven [in prayer] To be fully aware of the message of the manna is also (Yoma 76a). to appreciate the futility of worrying about tomorrow’s The manna did not fall the same way for everyone. manna, for no one knows or controls what possessions For the righteous, it fell by their door, already prepared, are truly theirs, truly good for their spiritual growth, tasting like the food of their desire. For those less wor- other than G-d Himself. thy, it fell out in the field, requiring collection and prep- aration (Yoma 76a). Also, no matter how much manna was collected, each person always ended up with pre- Adapted from Neveh.org

Presidential Musings By Rose Harris, Volunteer & President, Ahavat Chesed

s winter gave way to est idea of this holiday, when G-d created all the Aspring, Ahavat Chesed varieties of trees and directed Adam to tend the celebrated the joyous holi- garden. Tending the garden in its broader sense is day known as Tu B’Shevat. To many, this is the for humans to take care of our environment and Jewish Arbor Day. It is the harbinger of spring to love in harmony with all of G-d’s creations. – the time when buds and blossoms begin to ap- Doesn’t this sound a lot like Earth Day, which is pear on fruit trees in the Holy Land. In this coun- celebrated in modern times? So we will celebrate try, it is a welcome reminder that winter will be the yearly renewal of the trees in gratefulness for winding down before very long and days will be G-d’s creations. longer –with hopefully more sunshine. Wishing everyone a happy and healthy Pass- The third day of Creation is cited as the earli- over. Chag Sameach.

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Volunteer View

Talented volunteer Elaine Goldmintz on the meaning of love and kindness

edicated volunteer Elaine Goldmintz Dstrives to bring joy to residents and patients. Each holiday, the talented art- ist spends many hours creating works of edible art for our members, includ- ing her now famous Tu B’Shevat Tree (pictured), decadent chocolate roses and unique goody bags. She also likes to bring flowers and candies. one to a doctor, reading Here, in her own words, to children or volunteer- Elaine explains why ing in a hospital – would she loves to give back: not only enrich the lives of others but also add a was brought up measure of tikkun olam, in a home where I and an expression of chesed was not only thankfulness, for all the preached but prac- blessings we have been ticed. One of the in- privileged to receive. delible images I can recall is Mamma put- Chag Sameach, ting money in the tze- Elaine Goldmintz dakah boxes before lighting the Shabbos candles; this was a given even if money was tight. Our Fri- day night meal was not just for our im- mediate family. Papa would usually come home from shul with an ‘orimer mensch’ who had no place to go for Shabbos. There was always food for one or two more. Today, many of us, myself included, don’t take time out to realize what’s important in life. It’s not things; it should be, ‘what can I do to help someone in need?’ or, ‘how can I make this a kinder and more gentle world?’ Giving back – whether it be driving some- 11 Tenth Anniversary Edition-5772 Congregation Ahavat Chesed Newsletter Spring-Summer Edition 2012–5772

Making a Difference Tenth Anniversary Gala he Passover season is Please join us for Ta good time to desig- our Chapel Dedication Dinner nate funds for Tzedakah on Tuesday, June 5, 2012. (charity). Cocktails at 6pm in the Chapel. We still need many For more information or to pur- special ritual items to chase tickets call 201 967 4177. complete our new syna- gogue, including a Shul- chan Cover, Bima Cover, Many thanks to our publisher Parochet, Shtenda, To- – the Foundation at BRMC – rah Mantel, Torah Gartel for its generous support. and Ner Tamid. If you would like to make a contribution, please contact Dr. Scott Lippe at 201-225-4700. Additionally, you can help support our programs by Laugh of the Day purchasing our special occasion notes in honor of a A Jewish grandmother is giving direc- birthday, simcha or lifecycle event. Simply give us a call tions to her grown grandson who is (201-967-4177) and we will happily personalize the note coming to visit with his wife: and mail it to your loved one. We ask for a donation of “you come to the front door of the $18 and you will receive a tax-exempt receipt for your building. Press button 14T with your contribution. elbow. I will buzz you in. Get on the To make a general donation to our congregation, please make checks payable to the Foundation at Bergen Re- elevator and with your elbow press Floor gional Medical Center and on the memo line write Con- 14. When you get out, I am on the gregation Ahavat Chesed-BRMC. You will receive a tax- left. use your elbow to hit my doorbell.” exempt receipt from us before the end of the tax year. “Grandma, that sounds easy, but why All contributions go into a special account to be used am I hitting all these buttons with my exclusively by the congregation. elbow?” “What? You’re coming empty-handed?” adapted from the bikur cholim joke book

Access Kol Chesed online @ www.bergenregional.com

KOL Chesed Newsletter

Editor: Eliana R. Mechlowitz dedicate a religious item Chaplain: Rabbi Barry Schneider Kol Chesed Newsletter is published by Congregation Ahavat We still need a Shulchan Cover, Bima Chesed and the Foundation at BRMC Cover, Shtenda, Parochet, Torah Man- 230 East Ridgewood Avenue, Paramus, New Jersey, 07652 tel, Torah Gartel and Ner Tamid. If you Contact us at 201-967-4177 would like to dedicate any of these items, Submissions for the Fall edition are due August 1, 2012 contact Dr. Scott Lippe at 201-225-4700.