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Message from the Chairman
Dear Friends,
One of the most inspiring things about the HudsonJewish project is how it "brings people out of the woodwork" and demonstrates that Jewish life can ideed thrive in Hudson County with just a little bit of nudging. This fact was brought home to me just last Tuesday, January 26, when our presentation of a new documentary film on the Jewish community of Cuba attracted 65 (!) people on a cold and blustery night to Temple Beth Abraham of North Bergen. While the topic was interesting on numerous levels, I was most fascinated by the mere attendance figure: apart from High Holidays services and some of the events run in Hoboken where there is a newly-thriving community, Jewish events in the rest of Hudson County have not typically gotten so many attendees -- particularly those not otherwise affiliated with a Jewish institution. HudsonJewish Trustee and Programming Chair Raylie Dunkel was kvelling, as were all of the volunteers who helped make the evening a success.
HudsonJewish intends to follow up with other events that respond to what our diverse community is looking for. For example, on Thursday, March 4, HudsonJewish will be co-sponsoring Jewish speed-dating with HurryDate, an affiliate of JDate, in downtown Jersey City. And we are already in the early stages of organizing an architectural tour of Hudson County's synagogues, to take place in the later part of 2010. Truly, there is something for everyone in the calendar of local Jewish events.
Whether you are a new resident or a long-timer in Hudson County, we think you'll find it worthwhile to discover the region's Jewish life. In addition to discovering our synagogues on any Shabbat, February brings a special occasion to find out more: Purim falls on Saturday-Sunday, February 27-8.
This newsletter is a community resource, so if you or your organization have items of interest to the community, please contact HudsonJewish at info@HudsonJewish.org.
L'hitraot,
Adam S. Weiss, Chairman, HudsonJewish
Adam@HudsonJewish.org |
Election Results
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The HudsonJewish Board of Trustees held its annual officer elections on Monday, January 4 at Temple Emanu-el of Bayonne. The following people were elected to 1-year terms:
Chairman - Adam Weiss
Vice-Chairperson - Michelle Levine
Treasurer - Matt Meistrich
Secretary - Annette Hassell
Programming Chairperson - Raylie Dunkel
Working committees are now being formed, with special attention to communications and events planning. If you are interested to join the HudsonJewish team, please contact Secretary Annette Hassell: Annette@HudsonJewish.org.
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Jewish Speed-Dating in Jersey City!!!!!!!!!!!!
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HudsonJewish has partnered with HurryDate (an affiliate of JDate), for their first-ever Jewish speed dating party in Jersey City! Participants will go on approximately a dozen fast, fun mini-dates in one night out. The event takes place on Thursday, March 4 at 7:30 PM at LITM Restaurant Lounge & Gallery, 140 Newark Avenue in downtown Jersey City. The age range for this, the first of what we hope will become a series of speed-dating events, is approximately 25-35. According to event organizers, the age limits are "not set in stone." The event will feature 10-15 five-minute mini-dates per person. Check-in begins at 7PM, with HurryDating starting at 7:30 sharp. Price for HurryDate members is $26.25; $35 for non-members. Click Here for more information or contact HudsonJewish Vice Chairperson Michelle Levine at: Michelle@HudsonJewish.org. |
Kathleen DiChiara, Executive Director of Community Food Bank of New Jersey, to Speak at Cong. B'nai Jacob Friday, Feb. 5.
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Kathleen DiChiara, Executive Director of the Community Food
Bank of New Jersey, will be the featured speaker at Congregation B'nai Jacob at
its Kabbalat Shabbat Speaker Series on Friday evening, February 5th
at 8 PM. Ms. Chiara leads the Community Food Bank of NJ, the most significant
organization for collecting and distributing food to the needy of New Jersey.
She presides over a staff with oversight and coordination for 18 of 21 New
Jersey counties' food pantries and food collection and distribution centers.
Members of all faiths in the Jersey City community and wider Hudson County are
invited to attend.
Dr. Marsha Dubrow, Spiritual Leader and Cantor of
Congregation B'nai Jacob, feels strongly that especially during the winter
months it is important to be mindful about those in our midst who are less
fortunate. "During the months of January and February - in the Hebrew calendar,
Shevat and Adar - two important Jewish holidays are observed that have, as a
component of their celebration, awareness of the hungry in our community: Tu B'Shevat
and Purim." "With Tu B'Shevat in January, the Jewish festival that celebrates
first fruits in Israel," Cantor Dubrow explains, "there is an opportunity for
Tikkun Olam - healing the world, a fundamental Jewish value - to provide food
to the hungry right here in our Jersey City community. On Purim, the
celebration of the post-biblical Book of Esther, which occurs this year at the
very end of February, we are also commanded to give gifts which include food to
the needy. This is known as Shalach Manot in Hebrew or Sholoch Manos in
Yiddish, literally sending gifts."
The evening will begin with an abbreviated Friday Night
Live! musical service led by Cantor Dubrow and will include some of her
award-winning liturgical compositions. A festive Oneg Shabbat will follow Ms.
DiChiara's talk and Q&A. Free parking is available. The synagogue is
located at 176 West Side Avenue in Jersey City, three blocks from New Jersey
City University. For further information and directions, contact the synagogue
at (201) 435-5725 or www.bnaijacobjc.org.
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Jewish Social/Intellectual Salon: Wednesday, February 10, 7:30 PM at the C.A.S.E. Museum downtown Jersey City
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Our January 13 Salon included a very lively discussion of the topic, "Is Israel Always Right?" -- with sometimes heated debate on all sides of the issue.
The next Salon takes place Wednesday, February 10, and will be devoted to the topic of Jewish humor: "What's so funny about the Jewish 'funny bone' and why do so many non-Jews find it amusing too?" The HudsonJewish Salon takes place on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:30 PM at the C.A.S.E. 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.
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"Los Judios de Cuba/The Jews of Cuba": Great Turnout for a Fascinating Topic
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On Tuesday, January 26, more than 60 people from all corners of Hudson County (and from as far away as Queens!) braved the cold and wind to view the New Jersey premier of a new documentary on the Jewish community of Cuba.
Entitled "Los Judios de Cuba/The Jews of Cuba," the 90-minute film is the work of documentary film maker Milos Silber, a recent graduate of New York University, who spent 3 months in Cuba interviewing Jewish community members about their experiences and family histories. The audience last week included a number of Cuban Jews from Hudson County, who first arrived in the area with the wave of Cubans fleeing the Castro Revolution in the early 1960s. By contrast, the film's subjects -- Cuba's roughly 1,500 remaining Jewish residents -- expressed no qualms, at least on film, about their nation's politics; indeed, a high point of the documentary was the story of how Fidel Castro attended the Hanukkah celebration at Havana's Gran Sinagoga -- and how the holiday had been explained to him as a celebration of the Jews' own revolution. Based on the interest level, HudsonJewish may run this program again later this year. Contact HudsonJewish Programming Chairperson Raylie Dunkel for more information. (Raylie@HudsonJewish.org).
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Haiti Relief Efforts
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Many who receive this monthly newsletter may be surprised to learn that our own local Jewish community includes members who have roots in Haiti. In light of the recent earthquake and continuing humanitarian disaster there, we encourage all who are able to contribute to the ongoing relief efforts of the American Jewish World Service (AJWS). Contributions can be made online at www.ajws.org/haiti or by check (indicating "Haiti Relief") to: American Jewish World Service 45 West 36th Street New York, NY 10018 |
| United Synagogue of Hoboken's Casino Night March 13 |
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| United Synagogue of Hoboken will be holding its fourth annual Casino Night on Saturday, March 13, 2010. This is one of the synagogueʼs best-attended events; last year over 250 people came for fun, food and fabulous prizes.
Proceeds are used to support the synagogueʼs programming throughout the year, including adult education and community service events. In addition, each year a portion of the money is donated to local charities. This yearʼs recipients will be the Jubilee Center, which provides after-school programs and hot meals to children from public housing, and the Hoboken homeless shelter.
Attendees love the opportunity to enjoy traditional casino games such as poker, blackjack, roulette and craps in a fun, relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Rather than cash, winnings are allotted as raffle tickets which are used to win incredible prizes. Last yearʼs prizes included a diamond necklace, an Eli Manning autographed football, several vacation packages and many more!
Once again, the fabulous Swingadelic will keep the party rocking with their eclectic mix of jazz, swing and other favorites. A delicious kosher buffet and open bar are also included.
The party will take place at the Elkʼs Club in Hoboken. Doors open at 7:30pm and gaming begins at 8:00. Tickets can be purchased through the United Synagogue of Hoboken office or website and are $70 each. Order early to take advantage of these special offers for free chips: by February 1 to receive $75 worth or by March 1 to receive $50 worth. For more information, to become a sponsor or to donate prizes, please contact Cindy Altberger (caltberger@gmail.com) or Marni Kriegel (mrkriegel@gmail.com). |
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February 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 at www.HudsonJewish.org.
Tuesday, Feb. 2, 7:30-9:30PM: JYAH Planning Meeting at Maxwell's, 1039 Washington Street in Hoboken.
Friday, Feb. 5, 8-10PM: Congregation B'nai Jacob Friday Night Speaker Series features Kathleen DiChiara, Executive Director of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey (www.njfoodbank.org), the central address for fighting hunger and poverty in the State of New Jersey. Ms. Di Chiara will speak on the topic "Feeding the Hungry in Our Community." The event will follow an abbreviated "Friday Night Live!" Kabbalat Shabbat Service. Festive oneg Shabbat and Q&A included. Congregation B'nai Jacob is located at 176 West Side Avenue in Jersey City.
Saturday Night, Feb. 6, 7:30-10PM: USH Film Series: "Abjab (aka The First Letter)." Outside Tehran fourteen-year-old Emkan is torn
between his deep, instinctual passion for artistic expression and his
parents' conviction that his creativity is an offence against their
Muslim faith. When a new (Jewish) girl named Maassoum moves into the
neighborhood, they strike up a tender friendship which develops into
love. This relationship feeds Emkan's burgeoning desires to explore his
talents and experiment with arts he has not encountered before--
photography and motion pictures. However, his father's ongoing
disapproval, and the changing political climate of the time, present
Emkan with the increasingly difficult task of negotiating the family's
traditions, his own faith, his irrepressible nature and his feelings
for Maassoum. Free admission. United Synagogue of Hoboken, 115 Park Avenue, Hoboken.
Tuesday, Feb. 9, 9:15-10AM: Community-supported agriculture (CSA) through United Synagogue of Hoboken. Organizational meeting to discuss individuals' purchase of shares in a local small organic farm. RSVP to jsteinberg@optonline.net.
Wednesday, Feb. 10, 7:30-9PM: HudsonJewish Salon. Topic: "What's so funny about the Jewish 'funny bone' and why do even non-Jews find it so amusing too?" C.A.S.E. Museum, 80 Grand Street (between Washington & Green Streets) Jersey City. (Note: The HudsonJewish Salon meets on the second Wednesday of each month).
Thursday, Feb. 11, 7-10PM: JYAH Salsa Coctail Party! Join Jewish Young Adults of Hoboken for something exciting, new, sexy and fun. Open bar and light bites 7-8PM, beginner dance lesson 8-9PM, and dessert from 9-10PM. Class limited to 25 so buy tickets as soon as possible. Tickets $20 through 2/5; $25 thereafter. ($30 at the door if any are left). Purchase online at: http://jyahsalsacocktailparty.eventbrite.com . Location: Our Lady of Grace, 411 Clinton Street in Hoboken (brick building).
Sunday, February 14, 9:30AM-12PM:Temple Emanu-el of Bayonne "Sweetheart Breakfast" in celebration of all the people in our lives that we love. Breakfast follows morning services. Cost $5.00; reservations required: 201-436-4499 or email templeemanuelnj@aol.com.
Sunday, February 14, 10:30AM-12PM: USH Sunday Brunch with David Kushner, author of "Levittown: Two Families, One Tycoon, and the Fight for Civil Rights in America's Legendary Suburb." The book tells the story of how one entrepreneurial Jewish family built the nation's legendary post-war suburb outside of Philadelphia, and how another Jewish family fought to integrate it. Tickets $18 for USH members; $25 for non-members.
Saturday Night, Feb. 20, 8-10PM: Con Vivo Chamber Music Concert at USH. "Celebrations Through the Centuries." Concert features Con Vivo Ensemble (led by USH member Amelia Hollander Ames) performing Bach's 5th Brandenburg Concerto, the Cantigas Women's Choir and the USH Choir performing Jewish celebratory music through the ages. Suggested donation $15.00. Tickets available through: http://hobokensynagogue.org/cultureseries_2010.php
Sunday, Feb. 21, 1-3PM: NCJW Mitzvah Project and Avon Fundraiser. Make-up, perfume, clothes, tupperware, bags, etc. Come to the joint NCJW in sampling products, raising money, and making sandwiches for the local shelter in Hoboken. $8.00 charge for snacks and sandwiches. For more information contact Debbie Freedman at: events@ncjwhoboken.org. RSVP by February 14th.
Saturday night, Feb. 27: Erev Purim. Consult the HudsonJewish calendar and synagogue directory for information about Purim celebrations at synagogues near you.
Sunday, Feb. 28: Purim. Consult the HudsonJewish calendar and synagogue directory for information about Purim celebrations at synagogues near you.
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| Upcoming Events -- March and April | |
Thursday, March 4, 7:30PM: HurryDating speed-dating at LITM in downtown Jersey City.
Wednesday, March 10, 7:30-9PM: HudsonJewish Salon. Topic: "Jewish Prayer -- How Relevant Is It To Us Today?"
Saturday, March 13, 8PM: United Synagogue of Hoboken's annual Casino Night www.USHCasinoNight.info.
Monday, April 12, time TBD: Yom HaShoah/Holocaust Remembrance Project with Jersey City Public School students.
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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.
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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"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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