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Message from the Chairman
Dear Friends,
We're still in the midst of holiday season, with Sukkot, Simchat Torah and Simchat Torah coming up. For those of you not familiar with these holidays, Sukkot celebrates the fall harvest and Simchat Torah celebrates (with dancing and singing) the completion of the annual reading of the Torah.
The need to explain the meaning of holidays suggests how much many Jews have to learn about our age-old traditions. America has been good to the Jewish people, and like other times and places where Jews have found acceptance and success, it is difficult to maintain a sense of Jewish national identity.
To maintain that sense of identity, one thing that we can do as a people is increase our level of Jewish education and engagement with Jewish issues. In Hudson County, there are at least two series of events that serve this purpose: the "Introduction to Judaism" course offered on consecutive Wednesdays starting on September 21 at 7PM at United Synagogue of Hoboken; and the downtown Jersey City "Jewish Salons" which focus on a different topic each month. (The October topic is "Jewish Social Consciousness" and takes place on Thurday, October 15 at 7:30PM). The organizers of these popular series look forward to meeting you, and you can get their contact information on the HudsonJewish website and online calendar.
Whatever you level of Jewish knowledge may be, HudsonJewish invites you to take advantage of the Jewish resources in our area. We all have so much to learn and are surrounded by opportunities to do so.
Adam
Adam S. Weiss, Chairman, HudsonJewish
Adam@HudsonJewish.org
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Breaking the Yom Kippur Fast Together
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About 25 neighbors of all ages from near (Jersey City) and far (Secaucus) gathered for a Break the Fast dinner after Yom Kippur. A great big
THANK YOU to Tara Levy and Dan North for hosting and to HudsonJewish Trustee Raylie Dunkel for organizing and publicizing the event. And many, many thanks to all
who brought something wonderful to eat. It was a lovely way to end such a
somber holiday: lots to eat, many old friends to catch up with and new friends
to meet. We are all are looking forward to another community Break Fast next year.
All are invited to participate. Watch for the announcement next year on the Hudson Jewish Web site.
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Fourth Jewish Social/Intellectual Salon a Great Success. Fifth Planned for October 15th
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The HudsonJewish Salons are turning out to be a great success, and a means of connecting with other people in an environment that is both social and intellectual. The September Salon featured a heartwarming topic: "Do you have to be Jewish to Love Levy's Rye Bread? or, Jewish Food and Memory." Covering such topics as holiday meals to Jews' affinity for Chinese cuisine, the conversation was lively and inclusive -- all of the approximately 20 attendees had something to contribute, and some distributed recipes! The next Salon, on October 15, will focus
on a more controversial topic: "Social Justice and Judaism." From the prophets of ancient Israel to the Freedom Riders of the 1960s, Jews have been at the forefront of social justice issues. Come discuss why (or whether) this might be. The Salon takes place Thursday, October 15, 7:30 PM at the CASE
Museum, 80 Grand Street corner of Washington in downtown Jersey City.
For more information contact HudsonJewish Trustee Raylie Dunkel: Raylie@HudsonJewish.org. A small donation of refreshments is always
appreciated but not required. PS. Volunteers to serve on the HudsonJewish Program Committee should also contact Raylie. |
Volunteers Sought; Donations Appreciated
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HudsonJewish is a 100% volunteer effort and relies on the
community for support. While donations
are always appreciated (see, Our Donors), the most important thing
we need is people to help with specific tasks.
In particular, if you have skills in publicity or website development,
contact us at info@HudsonJewish.org. You will be joining a dedicated and capable
group of volunteers to serve a growing community that depends on HudsonJewish
for information and connection to other Jews in the vicinity. High Holidays time is also a time of giving. If you agree that HudsonJewish is doing good work for the community, you are also invited to make a donation either by PayPal on our website, or by check to: HudsonJewish, PO Box 225, Jersey City, NJ 07303. HudsonJewish is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.
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October Events
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To post your own organization's events to the HudsonJewish community calendar, email Trustee Jessica Lemmon (Jessica@HudsonJewish.org) for a username and password. Posting events is the best way to avoid scheduling conflicts and broadcast your events (and existence) to the community. Dates/times/locations may change, so check the online calendar for updates. More information is often available on the HudosnJewish website.
Saturday, October 3, 9AM: The venerable Congregation Shaare Zedek of West New York will hold Shabbat/Sukkot services followed by kiddush in the sukkah. Come visit this once-thriving congregation in the heart of what used to be a heavily Jewish neighborhood, and where Jews are beginning to resettle. Address: 5308 Palisade Avenue, corner of 54th Street. For more information contact Dan Kaminsky: 201-873-7886.
Tuesday, October 6, 7:30PM: Join The National Council of Jewish Women at
Maroon in Hoboken
for a meet and greet. Cost is $10 per person and includes dessert,
coffee and tea. For more information and to RSVP please contact events@njcwhoboken.org
Thursday, October 8,
7:30PM: Celebrate Sukkot with
JYAH (Jewish Young Adults of Hoboken).
Meet new friends while drinking Kosher wine and
noshing on cheese, fruits and veggies in the Sukkah at the United
Synagogue of Hoboken (115 Park Ave). Please see the evite at:
JYAH Sukkot Invitation for more information.
Sunday, October 11, 11AM: Jane Goldberg invites the community to share in a Sukkot Brunch at the CASE Museum, 80 Grand Street in Downtown Jersey City. Bring something dairy to enjoy with everyone in the traditional sukkah. For more information contact Raylie@HudsonJewish.org.
Thursday, October 15, 7:30 PM: HudsonJewish Salon will be held at the CASE Museum, 80 Grand Street in Jersey City. This month's topic: "Judaism and Social Justice." All are welcome and refreshments are always welcome too! See above for more information.
Wednesday,
October 21 @ 7pm: USH hosts the Introduction To Judaism Course coordinated
by the Rabbinical Assembly Institute for Conversion and Outreach Education. The
course, designed for prospective converts and anyone seeking to learn more about Jewish history and tradition, is taught by Rabbi Scheinberg and continues for 24
weeks. Registration information and materials can be found at Registration Packet.
Contact Rabbi@hobokensynagogue.org for more information.
Upcoming Holidays: Sukkot begins at
sunset on Friday, October 2
Shemini Atzeret
begins at sunset on Friday, October 9
Simchat Torah
begins at sunset on Saturday, October 10 The full schedule is available on the HudsonJewish calendar at: www.HudsonJewish.org.
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Future Events
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Check back for more information on B'nai Jacob's new
Kabbalat Shabbat Monthly Friday Night Speakers Program, beginning November 6. Member David Rak, a
French Jew of North African descent, will speak on "Being Jewish in
France Today." His talk will cover aspects of his experience of Jewish life in France, the perceived differences with American Jewish life, and his involvements within the French Union of
Jewish Students, including the organization of the first French
American Jewish Students Conference in 2004 in New York. For more information visit the B'nai Jacob website at: www.bnaijacobjc.org. .
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Free Talaism
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A generous donor has provided HudsonJewish with a number of brand new talaisim, available to anyone who wants one. To obtain a talis, contact HudsonJewish Trustee Matt Meistrich: Matt@HudsonJewish.org.
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"HudsonJewish" and the HudsonJewish logo are trademarks of the Hudson Jewish Community Forum, A New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation having 501(c)(3) status. Our mission is to nurture and support Jewish life in Hudson County, New Jersey.
HudsonJewish: Connecting Our Community
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