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Chairman's Message
Dear Friends,
It's so gratifying to see connections deepening among people
in our growing Jewish community in Hudson
County! It's also wonderful to receive so many inquiries about
Jewish life in the area, especially from people who moved here recently. One of the most frequent questions is, "How can
I get involved?" The answer, in true
Jewish fashion, is usually another question:
"What are you interested in?"
To people who seek connections with organized religious
life, our area has at least a dozen active synagogues, each with a unique
personality and outlook. We
have:
Over the past few months I've enjoyed
Shabbat with each of these communities; I hope that others will join in exploring our remarkably diverse Jewish microcosm.
But how do we answer people who describe themselves as
having a "Jewish identity" but who express little interest in religious services? The short answer is simple: "plenty -- and more every day." For example, twenty-, thirty- and forty-somethings (singles and couples) will find that JYAH (Jewish Young Adults of Hoboken/Hudson) hosts one or two events every week. JYAH sponsors regular dinners, brunches, group
trips to events in New York City
and other activities, all of which are posted on the HudsonJewish
calendar. Women of all ages are invited
to discover the local chapters of Hadassah and National Council of Jewish Women. The Bayonne JCC
and local synagogues run events for families, especially those with children. And adults of all
ages enjoy cultural programs throughout the
community. (United Synagogue of Hoboken,
in particular, sponsors a fascinating series of Saturday evening films and
Sunday morning brunches/lectures).
Because the regional Jewish population appears to be increasing rapidly,
we will likely see new groups and interests spring up soon. By facilitating connections among people who share
common interests HudsonJewish can play an important role in helping new groups
and organizations become established. (The nascent Jewish day school discussion is a
case in point).
One group that HudsonJewish could help connect to local
Jewish life is the growing population of ex-suburban "empty nesters" now discovering
the riverfront developments of Jersey City, West New York, Weehawken and other
towns. These people, mostly in their 50's
and 60's, represent a demographic segment that has been mostly missing from the
local Jewish community for many years:
the Baby Boomers. Several
organizations -- HudsonJewish included -- report recent inquiries from people in this
group. If you are a Boomer, or if you know any Boomers who are new to the area, HudsonJewish wants to meet you! To help stimulate community-wide connections, HudsonJewish sponsors a rotating Shabbat dinner, to take place at a different synagogue each time. The first community dinner of 2008 will be at United Synagogue of Hoboken on Friday evening, February 1. See below for more information. HudsonJewish
also sponsors a bi-monthly Forum. The next Forum meeting will be Thursday, February 7, 7:30 PM at Congregation B'nai Jacob. (176 West Side Avenue in Jersey City by the Light Rail station, plenty of parking available). The Forum serves as a sort of local Jewish "parliament" and is a great
way to learn what's going on throughout the community. The Forum is an ideal venue for meeting
new people who may share common interests.
Previous meetings have attracted up to 75 people. No RSVP necessary, just come -- and bring a
friend. Please continue to stay in touch! As always, your comments and feedback are welcome. L'hitraot, Adam S. Weiss, Chairman Hudson Jewish Community Forum, A New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation Adam@HudsonJewish.org
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HudsonJewish Community-wide Dinner Friday, February 1
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The best way to meet the local Jewish community is to share a Shabbat dinner together. Our first community-wide rotating Shabbat night dinner will take place THIS FRIDAY, February 1 at United Synagogue of Hoboken, 115 Park Avenue. Services begin at
7PM; dinner is at 8:30PM.
The cost of
the glatt-kosher catered dinner is $25 per adult, $10 per child 2-12, under 2
free. Advance reservations/payment required
by check or by PayPal on the USH website: United Synagogue of Hoboken.
Reservations can also be made by
emailing full contact information to Dinner@HudsonJewish.org
or by telephone to the USH office:
201-659-4000. USH is a short walk from the Hoboken PATH and Light Rail station. If you plan to come by car, note the following nearby parking locations:
- 77 Park Avenue
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50 Bloomfield Street
- Second Street between River Street and Hudson Street
- Hudson Street between Second and Third Streets
If your synagogue
would like to host a dinner during 2008, let us know the date you prefer. Bi-monthly dinners are tentatively scheduled for: 3/28, 5/30, 7/25, 9/26, and 11/28. Contact Asaf Maman for details (Asaf@HudsonJewish.org).
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Welcome New Honorary Trustees!
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HudsonJewish extends a warm welcome to two new Honorary
Trustees: - Jeffrey Bernstein, representing Temple Beth
Abraham of North Bergen
- Matt Meistrich, representing United Synagogue
of Hoboken.
All local Jewish organizations are invited to nominate
Honorary Trustees to advise the Board. For more information contact Board Secretary Michelle E. Levine.
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Hudson Jewish Community Forum Meets February 7
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The Forum will next convene on Thursday, February 7, 2008 at 7:30PM
at Congregation B'nai Jacob, 176 West Side Avenue in Jersey City. The location is close to the West Side Light Rail stop and ample parking is available in the synagogue lot. Here is a tentative agenda:
- "State of the Jewish Community"
- Report on
progress of Jewish day school discussion
- HudsonJewish: Review of
progress to date; where do we go from here?
- Community-wide funding:
- How
should HudsonJewish fund its activities?
- Where do our community's UJA
contributions go today?
- Upcoming events: Friday night dinners, Purim, Passover
- Open microphone
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| Jewish Day School Discussion | All families interested to explore re-establishing
a Jewish day school in Hudson
County are invited to
complete a brief online survey that will be posted to the HudsonJewish website
in the next few weeks. The plan is to
announce preliminary survey results at a meeting on March 25 at United
Synagogue of Hoboken. (Consult the
HudsonJewish calendar for more detail as the date approaches).
Teachers, school administrators, and all others having
educational experience and/or an interest in Jewish education, are invited to
join this ongoing discussion. For more
information contact Shana Lee. (ShanaLee@gmail.com).
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| February Events | |
For access to post your own organization's events to the
HudsonJewish calendar, email us at Info@HudsonJewish.org. (Posting your events is the best way to avoid
scheduling conflicts). Please post by the 25th of the prior month. Check the online calendar for time/date/location updates.
Friday, 2/1/08, 7PM: Community-wide HudsonJewish Friday
Night Dinner hosted by United Synagogue of Hoboken. Services
at 7:00PM; dinner at 8:30PM. Pay by
check or sign up by PayPal on the USH website. For more information call the USH office at: 201-659-4000. Reservations can also be made by emailing
full contact information and number of seats to the HudsonJewish dinner mailbox: Dinner@HudsonJewish.org.
Saturday night, 2/2/08, 7:30PM: USH Film Series
"A Cantor's Tale." This
documentary introduces Cantor Jacob Mendelson and his mission to ensure that
Jewish liturgical music is passed on for generations. Location: Stevens Institute,
Burchard Auditorium, River Street
between 5th and 6th Streets in Hoboken. (Next film in series 3/15).
Monday, 2/4/08, 6:30PM - 8:30PM: JYAH dinner at Café
Michelina in Hoboken.
Thursday, 2/7/08, 7:30PM-9PM sharp: The Hudson Jewish Community
Forum convenes at Congregation B'nai Jacob, 176 West Side Avenue in Jersey City. Agenda to focus on the "State of the
Community" followed by an open microphone.
Close to West Side Light Rail station.
Ample parking available. All are
welcome!
Thursday, 2/7/08, 7:45PM:
Israeli Dancing at United Synagogue of Hoboken. (Last of the series).
Saturday night, 2/9/08, 7PM: JYAH event - comedy night
at National Comedy Theatre on 36th
Street in NYC.
(Contact HobokenJYAH@yahoo.com)
Sunday, 2/10/08, 10:30AM - 12:00PM: Brunch and lecture: "Israel at 60: The Historical
Photos of David Rubinger" at USH.
Renowned photojournalist David Rubinger's recently released
autobiography, "Israel
through My Lens: 60 Years as a Photojournalist," is as much a firsthand
account of Israel's
history as it is a memoir. A former Time
and Life Magazine photographer, Rubinger will discuss his gripping life story
and present a slide show. (Reservations: 201-659-4000). Friday, 2/15/08, 9PM:
JYAH potluck dinner, location TBA.
Thursday, 2/21/08, 8PM:
Bayonne JCC Board of Directors meeting.
Sunday, 2/24/08, 1:30PM:
JYAH Lunch. Location TBA.
Sunday, 2/24/08, 7PM - 8:30PM:
"Shalom Baby." Enhance
preparation for welcoming a new child into your family and the Jewish
community. Learn about values, customs,
and community resources available as the family grows. Location:
USH. Phone 201-659-4000. Co-led by Margo Adelsberg, LCSW, Jewish Family Service of Metrowest
and Rabbi Robert Scheinberg, USH. $50 fee covers all three sessions.
(Also March 2 and March 9). Monday, 2/25/08, 8PM-9PM:
Hadassah Board Meeting at the Bayonne
JCC. |
March Preview
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Sunday, 3/2/08, 7PM-8:30PM:
"Shalom Baby" at USH. Second in a
3-part series. (See above, under
2/24/08).
Friday-Saturday, 3/7/08 - 3/8/08: "Shabbat Across America." Consult local synagogues for more
information. A directory of local synagogues is posted on the HudsonJewish website.
Saturday night, 3/8/08:
"Casino Night!" Second annual
benefit bash for United Synagogue of Hoboken.
Complete with prizes and live entertainment. Location:
Hoboken
Elks Club (Washington Street
between 10th and 11th Streets). A
portion of the proceeds will benefit Hoboken's Jubilee Center.
For more information contact Howard Olah-Reiken: SometimeInMarch@HobokenSynagogue.org.
Sunday, 3/9/08, 7PM - 8:30PM: "Shalom Baby" at USH. Third of a 3-part series. (See above, under 2/24/08).
Tuesday, 3/11/08, 7:30PM - 9:30PM: Synagogue Leadership Initiative Event: "Web 2.0 vs. The Jewish Standard: Communicating the Value of Membership Through
New Versus Traditional Media." The
Membership Affinity Group serves as a forum for membership committees to discuss how best to recruit, retain, and
integrate new members into synagogue life.
Location: UJA Federation of Northern NJ, 111
Kinderkamack Road, River Edge, NJ. Contact Nickie Falk, SLI Consultant,
201-488-6800, ext. 254 or NickieF@ujannj.org.
Saturday night, 3/15/08, 7:30PM: USH Film Series: "The Ritchie Boys." This documentary tells the story of a group
of young men who fled Nazi Germany and returned to Europe
as soldiers in US uniforms. They were
trained at Camp Ritchie, Maryland in intelligence and psychological
warfare. Always courageous, determined,
bright, and inventive, they fought their own kind of war. (2004), 90 mins. Location: Stevens Institute,
Burchard Auditorium, River Street
between 5th and 6th Streets in Hoboken.
Thursday, 3/20/08:
Fast of Esther
Friday, 3/21/08:
Purim! Many synagogues have
special youth/children-oriented activities.
Consult the Hudson County Synagogue Map for a synagogues
near you. |
| Save the Dates! |
| Thursday, 4/3/08, 7:30PM:
Hudson
Jewish Community Forum. Location TBD.
Sunday, 4/13/08, 9AM - 5PM:
CareLink 2008. Jewish Family
& Counseling Services sponsors this annual pre-Passover visit to isolated older adults in Bayonne,
Jersey City and Hoboken.
Homebound elderly/isolated people will receive a friendly visit and kosher-for-Passover food package. CareLink is an excellent way to demonstrate tzedakah, tikkun olam and respect for the aged. All organizations are encouraged to participate in this important community event by informing members of the opportunity to volunteer. For more information, contact Richard
Kuperman at JFS of MetroWest: (RKuperman@JFSMetroWest.org, 973-467-3300,
ext. 275). Friday, 4/28/08: Community-wide Friday Night Dinner, location TBD. |
| Conclusion | Whatever your Jewish background and interests may be, our
growing community has a place for you! For more information
on Jewish life in Hudson
County, visit the
HudsonJewish website at www.HudsonJewish.org.
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The Hudson Jewish Community Forum ("HudsonJewish") is a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation. Our mission is to nurture and support Jewish religious, cultural and institutional life in Hudson County, New Jersey.
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