MJCBYOCTOBER 2016 ELUL 5776 - TISHREI 5777 NEWSVOLUME 112 NUMBER 2 Tashlich “Who is like You, G-d, who removes iniquity and overlooks transgression of the remainder of His inheritance. He doesn’t remain angry forever because he desires kindness. He will return and He will be merciful to us, and He will conquer our iniquities, and He will cast them into the depths of the seas.” Inside High Holy Day News 6 SY News 13 Schedule of Services 2 Men’s Club 8 Quick Look Guide 14 From the Rabbi 3 LIFT Dedication 9 Sisterhood News 16 Meet the Presidents 4 Life Long Learning 10 Yahrzeits 18 Executive Director 5 Religious School 12 Contributions 19 Schedule of Services Friday, September 30 Saturday, October 8 Tuesday. October 18 6:22pm Candle lighting 9:30am Services Second Day of Sukkot 8:15pm Services Sedra: Vayelech 9:30am Services Saturday, October 1 Tuesday, October 11 Friday, October 21 9:30am Services Erev Yom Kippur 5:49pm Candle lighting Sedra: Nitzavim 5:50pm Kol Nidre Services 6:00pm Dinner in the Sukkah (Main Sanctuary and Ballroom) 8:15pm Services Sunday, October 2 6:04pm Candle lighting 6:18pm Candle lighting Saturday, October 22 6:30pm Erev Rosh Hashanah Services Wednesday, October 12 9:30am Services Yom Kippur Sedra: Hol Hamo’ed Sukkot Monday, October 3 (See Detail Schedule of Services First Day of Rosh Hashanah on Page 6) Monday, October 24 (See Detail Schedule of Services Eighth Day of Sukkot on Page 6) Friday, October 14 9:30am Services with Yizkor 5:15pm Tashlich at Speedwell Lake 5:59pm Candle lighting 6:53pm Candle lighting (rain date Oct. 4) 8:15pm Services 6:00pm Mincha/Maariv at Speedwell Lake Tuesday, October 25 (6:30pm at MJCBY if rain) Saturday, October 15 Simchat Torah 7:25pm Candle lighting 9:30am Services 9:30am Services with Hakafot Sedra: Ha’azinu Tuesday, October 4 Friday, October 28 Second Day of Rosh Hashanah Monday, October 17 5:39pm Candle lighting (See Detail Schedule of Services First Day of Sukkot 8:15pm Services on Page 6) 9:30am Services 7:03pm Candle lighting Saturday, October 29 Friday, October 7 9:30am Services with Minyonaires 6:10pm Candle lighting 10:30am Junior Congregation 8:15pm Services Sedra: Bereshit MJCBY Clergy and Staff CLERGY Todd Schleifstein, Treasurer SISTERHOOD Rabbi David J. Nesson Lewis Stone, Board Secretary Hilary Spain-Reilly & Rachel Richman Cantor Shana Onigman Robert Gelber & Ira Hammer Co-Presidents, Sisterhood Immediate Past Co-Presidents STAFF JUDAICA GIFT SHOP Mark Bender, Advisor Gerry Gross, Executive Director Sharon Barkauskas (973) 285-1877 Fern Spitzer, Advisor Michelle Nulman & Gail Sulkin, Donna Gross (973) 895-5553 Co-Directors, Religious School ARMS OF THE SYNAGOGUE & Vivian Laska (973) 984-8178 Flo Sager, Religious School COMMITTEE CHAIRS Dorothy Cohen (973) 361-4338 Administrator Heidi Fleischman, Board of Education KIDDUSH COMMITTEE Mia Mutascio, Office Manager Mark Bender, Facilities, Security & Michelle Usiskin (973) 543-5795 Tamara Goldberg, Bookkeeper Technology Kathy Neibart (973) 292-1933 Damon Brown, Custodian Meryl Balaban, Gemilut Hasadim Lewis Stone, History Committee SISTERHOOD TORAH FUND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Keith Usiskin, Kol Nidre Appeal Jill Frankel (973) 598-8849 Jeremy Diringer & Steven Gardberg Kathy Neibart, Membership Co-Presidents NEWSLETTER Howard Baum & Paul Green, Ritual Barbara Kavadias, First Vice President David Sagor, Editor Louis Bodian, Social Action Harvey Kellman, Second Vice President Donna Gross, Designer Michelle Nulman & Amy Weinstock, Kathleen Neibart, Third Vice President Debbie Brody, Marsha Lewin, Nancy Youth Co-Chairs Robert Berns, Financial Secretary Berns, Fran Loewensteiner, Copy Editors Becca Wanatick, LLL Chair 2 • OCTOBER 2016 ELUL 5776 - TISHREI 5777 FROM THE DESK OF THE RABBI Look Back, Look Ahead, Look at the Present MORRISTOWN JEWISH CENTER BEIT YISRAEL he motto of the City College of New IS YOUR COMMUNITY. York are the Latin words: Respice, T Adspice, Prospice. The words mean, ur clergy is here for you. m Look back to the past, Look at the present moment, and Look to O the future. Please let us know when you need us—if someone is ill or in As a motto for a university, it makes perfect sense. We need to the hospital—or when you want to share your good news: a study the past, our history, in order to understand how we got to new baby, a marriage, or other simcha. We want to know, but the present moment, in order to map out a plan for the future. you have to tell us. Please call the office at (973) 538-9292 or email [email protected]. With the Yamim Noraim upon us, I would rewrite the order of Look with​​​ this phrase. I would change it to Respice, Prospice, Adspice. Special note: Let us know if you or a family member would Seen through the lens of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the order like a visit from the Rabbi due to illness. HIPPA privacy laws should be readjusted to - Look to the Past, Look to the Future, Look prevent us from this information. to the Present moment. Look to the Past: If anything, the first task of Rosh Hashanah is Our Gemilut Hasadim committee is able to provide support for a Cheshbon HaNefesh, an accounting of our spiritual condition. those that need it. We look at the past year and ask ourselves: What are missteps I Please contact Meryl Balaban at [email protected] have taken, the ones that have hurt me, my family, my friends and colleagues? And, to be fair to our souls, we also ask: What are the When you have experienced the death of a loved one, please achievements and blessings that have come my way? contact Rabbi Nesson at (973) 538-9292 or (973) 285-9772 before you make any plans. In this way, he will be most helpful Look to the future: But then these holidays take a leap. We skip over the present (at least for the moment) and go directly to the in making these preparations in a proper Jewish manner. future. Did you ever notice that the words of Kol Nidrei read: “from this Yom Kippur until the next? ” We focus on our expectations for the coming year, on our promise to be better, to do better, in the year to come. MAZEL TOV! Only then, do we return to the present moment. Notice that almost every service in the Machzor, the high holiday prayer book, ends Congratulations to Rabbi Nesson on being named a with a prayer whose title is HaYom, which means ‘today . ’ Senior Rabbinic Fellow of the Shalom Hartman Institute in In the beginning, the middle and the end, it all comes down to Jerusalem during his studies there this past summer. today, to this very moment. Yes , we can make amends for the past, and, yes , we can vow to act better in the future, but it is this This year, Rabbi will serve on the Advisory Board of the moment, today, that is the key to unlock ing who we really are. Greater MetroWest Federation and on the Religious Pluralism Committee. So , let this Rosh Hashanah and this Yom Kippur be your today. With all good wishes for a good, healthy and sweet New Year, which Among his other activities in the community, Rabbi Nesson begins today. has also been appointed as Chair of the NJ Rabbinical Assembly Northern Section. Rabbi Nesson OCTOBER 2016 ELUL 5776 - TISHREI 5777 • 3 Meet our new Presidents JEREMY DIRINGER AND STEVEN GARDBERG: MJCBY’S CO-PRESIDENTS e are honored to serve MJCBY as Co- WPresidents this coming year. Our fo- cus is on membership retention and growth, and ensuring financial stability for the or- ganization. Our predecessors have created opportunities for MJCBY, which we look to build upon ABOUT JEREMY ABOUT STEVE for our growth. Two recent examples that exemplify MJCBY’s commitment to remove Born and raised in Mt. Vernon, NY, Steve and his wife, Amy, have been barriers to our members include the Lift for Jeremy and his wife Judy moved to MJCBY members since moving from the Eastern Entrance and Free Membership Morristown in 2004, at which time they Chicago to New Jersey in 2001. They live to Shalom Yeladim Nursery School families. joined MJCBY. Their three children – in Morristown with their two children, With physical and financial barriers lowered Zachary (12), Elias (9) and Gabriel (4) – Jonah (10) and Leah (8), who both through these initiatives, our goal is now have been or currently are pre-schoolers attended Shalom Yeladim and currently to engage our members, giving them a at Shalom Yeladim and students in the attend the synagogue’s Religious reason to enter our doors. This requires synagogue’s Religious School. Jeremy’s School. Steve’s involvement at MJCBY leadership, coordination and support of involvement in MJCBY includes the reflects his experiences in Jewish and our clergy, professional staff and our corps Religious School’s Board of Education secular life: growing up in a Reform of volunteers, to ensure MJCBY’s offerings as well as co-chair of that committee synagogue in Skokie, attending JCC meet the needs of our Community. Some key and most recently as Financial summer camp in Wisconsin, enhancing areas are revitalizing Men’s Club, growing Secretary for the Board of Directors. his Jewish observance and studies in youth activities, inaugurating Musical In addition, Jeremy and his family Chicago, and working in the private Kabballat Shabbat and engaging all via Life regularly attend Shabbat morning and and public sectors in IL, NY and NJ. At Long Learning. holiday services. His involvement in MJCBY, Steve rebuilt and managed the MJCBY stems from Jeremy’s and Judy’s newsletter and website.