Or Chadash Newsletter
 September 2012 
Quick Links
Join our list
Join Our Mailing List
In This Issue
Service Schedule
Grounds Clean Up
Join the Shofar Choir
Ushers and Parking Attendants Needed
College Student Addresses Needed
High Holy Day Food Drive
Tzeddakah Letter
Donations
Yahrzeits
JFS C.A.R.S. Program
Rabbi's Message
Educator's Message
President's Message
25,000 Mitzvot
Student Cantor's Message
Important Upcoming Dates
In Our Community
8/9/10 Grade Thanks
Bar Mitzvah
Healthy Holistic Healing
College Financial Planning Workshop
SSBJCC Basketball Tournament
Step Up for Israel Film Series
Jewish Family Services
Registration Quick Link

Shabbat and Holiday 

Service Schedule


Shabbat Window  

September 7: 7:30 PM Shabbat Selichot Service

September 14: 7:30 PM Shabbat Experience

September 16: 8:00 PM Rosh Hashana Evening Service

September 17: 10:00 AM Rosh Hashana Morning Service

3:00 PM: Rosh Hashana Family Service

September 21: No Service at Or Chadash

September 25: 8:00 PM Kol Nidrei Evening Service

September 26: 10:00 AM Yom Kippur Morning Service

2:00 PM: Yom Kippur Family Service

3:00 PM: Yom Kippur Family Service

4:00 PM: Yizkor/Neila

5:30 PM: Break The Fast

September 28: 7:30 PM Shabbat Evening Service

October 5: 7:00 PM Brown Bag Dinner  

7:30 PM Shabbat Evening Service

October 12: 7:00 PM Consecration/Simchat Torah 

Grounds Clean Up 


We are gearing up to celebrate the High Holy Days this month and need your help!

 

Grounds Clean Up

Sunday, September 9th

9:00 AM

 

It's time to weed, prune, plant, chat and eat donuts and coffee. Bring your gloves, brooms, tools and shmooze with us while we spruce up afor the High Holy Days. If you have done this in the past, then you know many hands make this work much easier.

Please click here to email me and let us know that are able to come and help us out.

Thank you!

Jeff Berg, President 

Join the Shofar Choir


Are you full of hot air? Do you love being in front of a crowd? Have you ever tooted your own horn (literally!)? Would you like to give thousands a chance to perform a mitzvah?

 

We are looking
for willing and eager people to blow the shofar on the
Days of Awe.

 
Even if you don't have all these qualifications, you still could be a candidate to do this. You will get one-on-one lessons from Rabbi Forman - and gain a skill that you will have for life.
 
If you are interested in being a shofar blower on Rosh Hashanah, join us for a rehearsal
Sunday, September 9
at 11:30 AM.

Please RSVP by sending an email to Rabbi Forman to let him know you will attend.

Volunteers Needed for the High Holy Days: Parking and Ushering 


We are still in need of volunteers to help as a parking attendent or usher for the High Holy Day services.  Parking attendants need to arrive 30 minutes prior to services and help direct cars to proper parking areas.  Ushers also need to arrive about 30 minutes early and will help direct visitors to their seats, assist them in opening their prayer books to the appropriate page, man the doors during services, etc. 

If you are interested in helping as a parking attendant,
click here to email Jim Lewy to volunteer. 

If you are interested in helping to usher, please click here to email Liz Tracey to volunteer. 

A special bonus for volunteering for either position is that you can enter it as a mitzvah and get us closer to our goal of completing 25,000 Mitzvot this year in celebration of our 25th Anniversary!

College Student Outreach 


As fall approaches, the College Student Outreach Program of Or Chadash is about to swing into full gear. The purpose of this program is to maintain a Jewish connection for our students away from home at preparatory, college or graduate schools. Students will be mailed a treat symbolic for each of the following holidays: Rosh Hashanah, Chanukkah, Purim and Passover. The Rabbi includes a delightful letter reminding students of the significance of the occasion as only he can do. Students tell us each year how much they look forward to these packages and how comforting it is to know that they are still important to our Or Chadash Family. 


We create a new "Student Address List" each year, so all interested parents should send in their child's address for the coming year as soon as possible. You must submit this each year, even if there has not been a change. You will notice that there is space for an email address. The Rabbi promises to try this way of communicating with students.

Don't let your child miss out on the first mailing, which will be later this month!

 

Click here to complete the registration form.

High Holy Day Food Drive  


Please bring your filled bags on Yom Kippur! Food PantryBags
Or Chadash is proud that we are the Flemington Food Pantry's single largest contributor. Most of those contributions are brought to them from our High Holy Day food drive. Please help us continue this amazing distinction and remember that when you come to OC to bring a bag or two filled with non-perishable food. Bags will be distributed on Rosh Hashanah and collected on Yom Kippur. Please help us help our community.  
Tzeddakah Letter

Click here to see the thank you letter from the Books For Africa Foundation, where last year's K-1 Grade Jewish studies class donated their Tzeddakah money.

Donations

Click here to make a donation to Or Chadash to commemorate your simcha or memorialize the Yahrzeit of your loved one.  

 

General Contribution

Steven Garfield

 

Building Fund

Susan Ingram, in memory of her parents

 

Chesed Communittee Fund

Alan Marrus

 

Educational Enrichment Fund

Bruce & Betsy Zalaznick, in honor of the 60th wedding anniversary of Pearl & Harvey Sorkow

 

Oneg Fund

Paul & Maureen Weiner, in honor of the Bar Mitzvah of Jack Weiner 

 

Yahrzeit

Evelyn Hersch, in memory of her grandaughter, Jessie Mazzocchi 

yahrzeit photo

Upcoming Yahrzeits


May the memories of the following individuals be for a blessing:
 

September 7
Benjamin Friedman
father of Hilda Suchow
Dena Harwin
aunt of Phillip Harvey
Grace Riddle
aunt of Amara Willey
Barbara Wasserman
mother of Glenn Wasserman

September 14
Janet S. Loewy
mother of Susan Ingram
grandmother of Andrea Harvey
Don Pickell
father of Chris Pickell
Iris Rittenberg Willey
mother of Amara Willey

September 21
(will be read on Sept 28)

Joan Ferrone
mother of Gerard Tracey
Harvey Werstein
father of Leslie Hann

September 28
Emanuel Blumenfeld
father of Ray Blumenfeld
Gussie Brodsky
grandmother of Gary Brodsky
Harold Knapp
father of Jeff Knapp
Susan Lerman
loved one of the Mahalick Family
Nathan Wagner
grandfather of Susan Albrecht

October 5
Marion Ederr
grandmother of Darren Loew
Sadie Eisenberg
grandmother of Gary Brodsky
Thelma Levy
mother of Mark Beckman
Israel Rabiner
great grandfather of Betsy Zalaznick
Norma Schwartz
aunt of Betsy Zalaznick
Jennifer Weller
daughter of Shelly Weller


October 12
Charles Eisler
father of Connie Smith 
Norman Fetner
loved one of the Zalaznick Family 
Regina Leon
great grandmother of Betsy Zalaznick 
Angela Mazzocchi
sister in law of Sherrie Mazzocchi 
Joan Woerner
sister of Alice Schwade 
JFS C.A.R.S. Program

Jewish Family Services

Donate Your Unwanted Car to JFS through the CARS program

 

To donate your car, truck or other vehicle

 

Please call CARS at (877)537-4227

 

Representatives are available to assist you.

Rabbi's Message

JMFTurning to a New Year

"Now is the time for turning. The leaves are beginning to turn from green to red and orange. The birds are beginning to turn and are heading once more toward the South. The animals are beginning to turn to storing their food for the winter. For leaves, birds, and animals, turning comes instinctively. But for us turning does not come so easily. It takes and act of will to make us turn. . . ." (Gates of Repentance, p. 372)

As we enter the season of the High Holydays - this our 25th year for Or Chadash, I look forward to seeing all of you in the coming days and weeks as we celebrate our New Year and begin our collective efforts as a Jewish community to renew ourselves for goodness in the days and years ahead. I want to wish all of you a very happy and healthy New Year and express my deepest thanks for all your support and the tremendous support of our wonderful staff and lay leadership over the past year.

As we begin another Jewish year together, I hope that it will be one filled with blessing, purpose and fulfillment for you and your family. In the traditional spirit of repentance and asking for forgiveness during these days: if my words or deeds have been hurtful to any of you, please accept my sorrow and regret. May this New Year bring to all of us the hopes and aspirations we desire for ourselves.

Shana Tova U'mituka - Wishing all of you a good and sweet New Year.

Shalom,
Rabbi Joseph M. Forman
Educator's Message


Betsy NYC.jpg Dear members of Or Chadash:

 

Thanks to the dedication and commitment of some caring members with green thumbs, Or Chadash's organic garden, spearheaded by Estelle Breines, has provided fresh vegetables to the clients of the Flemington Food Pantry all summer long. Sukkot, a Hebrew word meaning "booths" or "huts," refers to the Jewish festival of giving thanks for the fall harvest and commemorates the forty years of Jewish wandering in the desert after Sinai. Sukkot is celebrated five days after Yom Kippur on the 15th of Tishrei. This year the holiday begins sundown on September 30 and is marked by several distinct traditions. One tradition, which takes the commandment to "dwell in booths" literally, is to build a sukkah, a booth or hut. A sukkah is often erected by Jews during this festival, and it is common practice for some to eat and even live in these temporary dwellings during Sukkot. This year, Or Chadash will be providing many opportunities to celebrate our vegetable bounty and our harvest. So, whether you are young or young at heart and enjoy working with power tools, eating pizza, making sundaes, or having a Shabbat dinner with others, please join us in building our Sukkah and then celebrating in it.
 
My Sukkot memories are very distinct sensory ones--sitting on a low bench at a too high table at Temple Beth Mordecai in Perth Amboy, being squished between lots of Religious School friends, sipping apple juice in tiny paper cups, eating freshly cut apple slices, decorating and creating paper chain links, smelling the almost fall crisp air as the leaves dusted the paper tablecloths and forever confusing the names of the lulav (three-sectioned holder with a palm, willow, and myrtle branch) and the etrog (lemon-like fruit).
 
We hope you will join us as Or Chadash welcomes this holiday to make some new memories and perhaps add to your own holiday memories of the tastes and smells of Sukkot.
 
You and your family and friends are invite to join us during our multi-faceted Sukkot celebration.

Click here to see a video of Religious School students having fun in the sukkah last year.


PVO Sept 2010
 
 
~ Thursday, September 13: Our 8th, 9th and 10th graders will participate in Grow-A-Row at Peaceful Valley Orchards, as we harvest their vegetables and donate our "gleanings" to the Flemington Food Pantry. All are invited to join us. (6:00 PM)
 
~ Sunday, September 30: Bring your power tools, some elbow grease, and an appetite for bagels and coffee as we build our Sukkah (9 AM)
 
~ Thursday October 4: Pizza In The Hut at the conclusion of class (6:15 - 6:30 PM) [please let us know if you have special dietary needs]
 
~ Friday, October 5: Brown Bag Shabbat Dinner [bring your own dinner and wine]/Services in the Sukkah- weather permitting (7 PM Dinner, 7:30 PM Services)
 
~ Sunday, October 7: Sundaes in the Sukkah and Celebration at the conclusion of class (11:30 AM)
 
Wishing you and your family a sweet and healthy new year filled with many blessings,

Betsy Zalaznick
President's Message
Jeff Berg
Dear members of Or Chadash,

 

With September we begin our preparations for the High Holydays. This year is a special one for Or Chadash as we celebrate 25 years in the community. It is wonderful to reach this milestone having moved from members' homes to community center, from Churches to our own home. We are thankful for those who laid our groundwork and happy that all of you have chosen to be part of our present and future. (Forgive the digression but speaking of groundwork, Sept 9th at 9AM we are sprucing up the grounds before High Holydays. Please consider coming out. Bring gloves and yard tools. The more the merrier!)

 

Despite each year's newness, the High Holydays always seem to full of remembrances of previous years. Every year, traditions are refreshed but typically the best part is that something new is added to the mix. This year, our sanctuary is blessed by a new Ner Tamid - an eternal light - graciously donated by Susan Ingram. Its beauty should only enhance the wonder of the High Holydays.

 

September also brings about the return of weekly Friday night services and Sunday and Thursday religious school. Our Or Chadash calendar is filling up with lots of wonderful activities - some new, some old - that we hope you can join us for all year long. Be on the lookout for a calendar summary in the mail soon. In addition, please continue to monitor our new weekly email on the goings on at Or Chadash that week. I find it a very short and succinct notice on happenings and hope everyone finds it as valuable as I do.

 

L'Shana Tova. Let this new year be a sweet one for you, your family and our entire congregation.


Shalom,
Jeff Berg
25,000 Mitzvot for Or Chadash's 25 Years

As part of our 25th Anniversary Celebration, we would like to engage together in 25,000 acts of Tikkun Olam & G'milut Chasadim: acts of repairing our world and loving kindness. Each and every one of us can contribute. No act is too small (or too big for that matter)! Please help us realize the goal of reaching 25,000 mitzvot performed this year by helping us tally your mitzvot.

Click here for a list of examples of a mitzvah.

Click here to make your pledge of how many mitzvot you and your family will make in the next year.

Over the course of this year, you can log onto our tally form which will be on the front page of the Or Chadash website and enter the number of mitzvot you would like to add to our total.  There is also a section on the form to tell us more about the mitzvah you perform.  We will use that information to send emails throughout the year to highlight all of the good we are doing throughout our community. 

Click here to enter your mitzvot as you complete them!

Thank you for your help in meeting our goal of 25,000 Mitzvot in celebration of 25 Years at Or Chadash! 
Student Cantor's Message
Kathy Gohr

Last month I had the opportunity to join the Islamic community of Hunterdon county for Iftar. Iftar refers to the evening meal when Muslims break their fast right after sunset during the Islamic month of Ramadan. It is a festive meal often eaten as a community, much like our break-the-fast meal at the end of Yom Kippur.

 

As I arrived, there were children playing outside as families and friends greeted each other in an air of anticipation of the gathering which was to follow. I entered the building to find the rest of the community, many dressed in traditional clothing. At first I felt invisible, not sure of the reception I would receive. I felt uncomfortable, an invited intruder to this sacred occasion in the Muslim community. After a few very long minutes I was greeted by a woman dressed in flowing pink garments who introduced herself as "Sister Pam." When I explained that I was from Or Chadash she exclaimed: "It's so nice of you to come!" She then proceeded to lead me to a table of other women my age and introduced me as if she had know me for years. When it was time for evening prayers she invited me to the back to pray with the women. I asked her if it was okay and without a word she led me into the group of women packed together like sardines for evening prayer. I didn't understand one word, but I knew that I was in the presence of God.

 

What followed was a meal that was beyond belief. I had my first taste of Pakistani food, with spinach pie to die for, lamb that was seasoned to perfection and a dessert called "carrot halvah" which sent me frantically searching on the internet for a recipe. Don't be surprised if it shows up at an oneg someday.

 

As I drove home filled from the festivities I realized that I had been the recipient of hospitality in its highest form. I now knew what it felt like to be alone in a community of strangers celebrating a holiday that was totally foreign to me, participating in prayers that I didn't understand. It occurred to me that this might be what visitors feel like when they come to our temple to share in holiday or life cycle events. As we enter this new year, may we all gain a little "Sister Pam" in us, and may all who enter our doors feel like family.


Bles-sings,

Kathy Gohr 

Important Dates to Remember
Sunday, September 9: Opening Day of Religious School for K-4 Grade

Sunday, September 9: 9:00 AM Grounds Clean Up

 

Thursday, September 13: Opening Day of Religious School for 8/9/10 Grade

 

Sunday, September 16: 8:00 PM Rosh Hashana

Monday, September 17: 10:00 AM Rosh Hashana, 3:00 PM Rosh Hashana Family Service

Thursday, September 20: Opening Day of Religious School for 5/6/7 Grade

 

Tuesday, September 25: 8:00 PM Yom Kippur Kol Nidrei

 

Wednesday, September 26: 10:00 AM Yom Kippur Morning Service, 2:00 PM Family Service, 3:00 PM Study Session, 4:00 PM Yizkor-Neila, 5:30 PM Break-the-Fast

Thursday, October 4: 7:00 PM College Planning Workshop

Friday, October 5: 7:00 PM Brown Bag Shabbat Dinner

Friday, October 12: 7:00 PM Consecration/Simchat Torah Service
  

In Our Community


Refuah Sh'leima (Get well) to...

Fred Bernstein, father of Melissa Pickell  

Seth Parkoff, brother in law of Leslie Hann
Eileen Berkelhammer
Pat Wolf, mother of Leslie Hann
Evelyne Hersch
Don Corey, father of Faith Fuhrman

  

Mazel Tov...

Paul Beers on the marriage of his daughter,

Catherine A. Beers to Matthew Karmel on August 2nd, 2012. It was a simple service held outside at
the place that they met - Rutgers University in New Brunswick New Jersey. They wrote their own unique vows and pledged to love each other forever. The simple ceremony was highlighted by the bride's red Converse sneakers that she had on underneath her wedding dress.

Mazel Tov to Or Chadash's Iron Man, Nisim Parliyan, who completed the Inaugural U.S. Championship Ironman (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and 26.2 mile run) on

Saturday, August 11. We also congratulate his wife, Alexa, and daughters, Jazzy and Tali, for encouraging him along his training path! Click here to send Nisim a congratulatory email.

 
Todah Rabbah...
Morgan Tocci, Robyn Wasserman, David Tovi-Jones and their families for ushering at the Friday, September 7 service.

Joshua Witzling, David Tovi-Jones and their families for ushering at the Saturday, September 8.

David Tovi-Jones and family for ushering the Friday, September 14 service.

Betsy Zalaznick for her help in organizing the dinner and book reading, discussion and signing by New York Times bestselling author Mary Lou Quinlan and her book The God Box.  
 

Caryn Tomljanovich for organizing the 1980s Themed BBQ.

  

B'ruchim HaBa'im...We welcome our newest members and RSO families

 

Tim & Miriam Blanke: Tim and Miriam join us from Flemington, NJ with their two daughters Lauren (Kindergarden) and Naomi (2 Years Old).

  

Phillip & Carrie Freed: Phillip and Carrie join us from Readington Township with their two sons Maxwell (3rd Grade) and Sam (2nd Grade). 

 

David Moscowitz & Courtney Boyd-Moscowitz: David and Courtney join us from Flemington, NJ with their two daughters Jordyn (3rd Grade) and Hayden (4 Years Old).  

 

Click on their names above to send them a welcome email. 

 

In order to help us be a more caring community, please share your lifecycle events with Rabbi Forman


  

Feel free to click on a hyperlink to send a note and let someone know you are thinking about them.

 

In appreciation of our 8th/9th/10th grade families

We would like to honor and recognize the families and students (listed below) as they are affirming the importance of Jewish education by enrolling their children in our 8th, 9th and 10th grade program at Or Chadash. Although our students are very mature, they are not the "driving" force in the family. We say todah rabbah, thank you, to the parents of our students, too. During these most holy days of the year, as we take time to look inward, we want to also take a moment to recognize and acknowledge this most treasured partnership. Or Chadash and the greater Jewish community are all the beneficiaries of your on-going commitment to the Jewish education of your children. Yasher Koach - May you go from strength to strength.

Jake Albert, son of Myles and Caryn Albert
Rachel Albrecht, daughter of Steven and Susan Albrecht
Jacob Berg, son of Jeff and Christine Berg
Thuy Blumenfeld, daughter of Ray Blumenfeld and Audrey Hackel
Mackenzie Carter, daughter of Matthew Carter and Cheryl Platt
Katherine Eckelmann, daughter of George Eckelmann and Jane Engel
Austin Goldstein, son of Robert and Julie Goldstein
Kim Graybeal, daughter of John Graybeal and Laura Senator
Aaron Lewy, son of Jim and Mary Clare Lewy
Brianna Lifshitz, daughter of Edward and Cheryl Lifshitz
Jenna Lifshitz, daughter of Edward and Cheryl Lifshitz
Elizabeth Rosen, daughter of Jeffrey and Ellen Rosen
Jordan Sinoway, son of Stephen Sinoway and Beth Golden
Mei-lin Sloan, daughter of Victor Sloan and Sandra Gong
Sydney Stoter, daughter of Ken and Cindy Stoter
Samantha Tracey, daughter of Gerard and Liz Tracey
Ethan Tyler, son of Edward Tyler and Renee Trambert
Benjamin Weil, son of Paul and Meredith Weil
Joshua Weinberg, son of Paul and Andrea Weinberg
Jack Weiner, son of Paul and Maureen Weiner
Abigail Weinick, daughter of Ross and Susan Weinick

There is still time to register - click here to register your 8th/9th/10th grader today!  Class begins Thursday, September 13 at 6:00 PM at Peaceful Valley Orchards.

Betsy Zalaznick
Educator

Bar Mitzvah - Jack Weiner

Jack Ryan Weiner will become a Bar Mitzvah on September 8th, 2012. He is the son of Paul and Maureen Weiner, his siblings are, Erin, Emily, Casey, Steven and Abby. Jack attends Moravian Academy in Bethlehem, PA. His favorite subjects are science and social studies. He enjoys skiing, lacrosse, golf, swimming and fishing. Jack is also a Boy Scout, first class with Troop 63 in Stewartsville, NJ.  He combined his mitzvah project with his promise to the Boy Scout Slogan, "Do a good turn daily". This makes it a life time commitment of making the world a better place one good turn at a time.Jack's Torah portion is Ki Tavo which acknowledges that God gave his people a land flowing with milk and honey along with a commandment to give back the first fruits to God and to the poor. Jack is ready to celebrate this milestone event, surrounded by family and close friends!

Healthy Holistic Healing - Clinton, NJ

 
College Financial Planning Workshop
Thursday, October 4 - 7:00 PM


SSBJCC Basketball Tournament
Sunday, September 23


Step Up 4 Israel Film Series - Film 1
Tuesday, October 16 at 7:30 PM at Or Chadash



Sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren Counties
as part of the Jewish LIFE program.
Jewish Federation Logo
Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Women's Philanthropy Fundraising Event

Click here to register.

 
JFS Prime Time Expo for Retirees
Sunday, November 18

Jewish Family Services

Jewish Family Service of Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren is presenting a "Prime Time Expo" geared to those who are newly retired, looking ahead to retirement, or seeking ways to improve their retirement years.   The event is FREE and open to the community. It will be held on Sunday afternoon, November 18th at the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum JCC.  There will be seminars and interactive booths with topics related to  health and wellness, travel and leisure,  financial planning, life long learning opportunities and volunteerism.  Watch the JFS newsletter and website for details.

Jewish Family Services

Jewish Family Services

JFS is a non-profit, non-sectarian social service agency whose mission is to preserve and strengthen the quality of individual, family and community life based on Jewish values.

 

Betty and Arthur Roswell

Mental Health Counseling Center

Holocaust Survivors Assistance
Refugee Assistance

Special Needs Programs
Family Mentoring

Senior Support Services
Family Life Education

Information and Referral Emergency Assistance

AmeriCorps
Ohr Tikvah
Career Services

 

For more information contact:

Jewish Family Service of Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties

150-A West High Street, Somerville, NJ 08876

908-725-7799     [email protected]     www.JewishFamilySvc.Org