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Shabbat Service Schedule
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Friday, November 7: 7:30 PM Shabbat Services
Friday, November 14: 7:00 PM Shabbat Family Services - 5, 6, & 7th Grade Siddur Program and Kristallnacht.
Friday, November 21: 7:30 PM Shabbat Torah Service
Friday, November 28: 7:30 PM Celebrate Shabbat at home with friends and family. No Services at Or Chadash
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| College Student Outreach | |
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: Hanukkah, Purim and Passover. The Rabbi includes a delightful letter reminding students of the significance of the occasion. 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.
Don't let your child miss out on the second mailing, which will be for Hanukkah!
Click here to complete the registration form.
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In Our Community
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Refuah Sh'leima (Get well) to...
Susan Blaicher
Fred Bernstein
Barbara Sansevere
Dorothy Saks
Virginia Murphy
Donald Kantor
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.
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Upcoming Yahrzeits
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May the memories of the following individuals be for a blessing:
November 7
Jerome Marrus
Father of Alan Marrus
Greta Platt
Mother of Cheryl Platt
T. Tony Spitzberg
Grandfather of Jim Kassanoff
Louis Zalaznick
Father of Bruce Zalaznick
November 14
Mildred Marrus
Mother of Alan Marrus
David Topf
Father of Alice Schwade
Herman Weinstein
Grandfather of Susan Albert
November 21
Charles Gelb
Father of Shirl Levy
Joseph Kass
Grandfather of Leslie Hann
Rose Leon
Grandmother of Betsy Zalaznick
Bernard Wolf
Stepfather of Leslie Hann
November 28 (Will be read on December 5)
Martin H. Albert
Grandfather of Steve Albert
Sheila Fisher-Cohen
Cousin of Gary Brodsky
Gertrude Heller
Grandmother of Jim Lewy
Mother of Elizabeth Lewy
Grandmother of David & Robin Lewy
Bessie Kenyon
Grandmother of Susan Albert
Edward Kurlansik
Father of Jack Kurlansik
Shirley Levine
Mother of Dan Levine
Irving Safier
Father of Cindy Lehrer
Anna Robbin Smith
Mother of Harold Smith
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| Donations | |
Thanks to all who contributed as of October 31, 2014
Educational Enrichment Fund:
Rochelle Bernstein: In Honor of Betsy Zalaznick - Thank You and Happy New Year
General Contributions:
Jeff & Christine Berg
Ronald & Judith Schlossberg
High Holy Day 5775 Donations:
Larry & Beatrice Abrams
Paul & Deborah Augustus
Steve & Susan Albert
Steven & Susan Albrecht
Mark & Nancy Beckman
Adam & Audrey Belkin
Paul & Elyse Belkin
Jeff & Christine Berg
Tim & Miriam Blanke
Jeff & Cyndy Bloch
Conrad & Arleen Cohen
Ray Blumenfeld & Audrey Hackel
Jon & Lori Blutfield
Ira & Estelle Breines
Scott & Maryann Breslow
Craig Erkkila & Ruby Halper-Erkkila
Harvey Gold
John Graybeal & Laura Senator
Alan Hecht & Maria Jose De La Hoz
Evelyn Hersch
Ken Hillman
Mark & Jessica Hodkinson
Susan Ingram
Gerald Jones & Karen Tovi- Jones
Nancy Kanter
Craig & Sudha Kantor
Estelle Katcher
Andy & Michele Korfin
Nelson & Beverly Kornstein
Samantha Krongold
Robert & Shirl Levy
Sherrie Mazzocchi
Vadik & Kate Metelitsa
Bernard & Carol Miller
David & Katherine Moutner
Stuart Oxenhorn & Robin Schutz
Tony & Barbara Persichetti
Chris & Melissa Pickell
Darren & Yulia Pincus
Rick & Jill Rosenthal
Joseph & Carolyn Sansevere John & Toby Sarinick
Don & Sara Schenker
Robert & Alice Schwade
Stephen Sinoway & Beth Golden
Victor Sloan & Sandra Gong
Louis & Caryn Speizer
Andrew & Jane Stein
Marc & Caryn Tomljanovich
David & Kimberly Turner
Edward Tyler & Renee Trambert
Gary & Debbie Weiss
Craig Wolfson & Vicki Tuschak
Bruce & Betsy Zalaznick
Eric & Naomi Zwerling
Oneg Fund:
Scott & Maryann Breslow: In Honor of Michael becoming a Bar Mitzvah
Yizkor 5775:
Steve & Susan Albert
Steven & Susan Albrecht
Paul Beers
Paul & Elyse Belkin
Ray Blumenfeld & Audrey Hackel
Jon & Lori Blutfield
Harvey Gold
John Graybeal & Laura Senator
Phil & Andrea Harvey
Alan Hecht & Maria Jose De La Hoz
Susan Ingram
Nancy Kanter
Craig & Sudha Kantor
Andy & Michele Korfin
John Langer & Annette Ivry
Robert & Shirl Levy
Elizabeth Lewy
Stuart Oxenhorn & Robin Schutz
Tony & Barbara Persichetti
Chris & Melissa Pickell
Darren & Yulia Pincus
Don & Sara Schenker
Robert & Alice Schwade
Stephen Sinoway & Beth Golden
Victor Sloan & Sandra Gong
Andrew & Jane Stein
Ken & Cindy Stoter
Edward Tyler & Renee Trambert
Paul & Meredith Weil
Gary & Debbie Weiss
Richard Willey & Meridith Sigel-Willey
Craig Wolfson & Vicki Tuschak
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| 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. We provide our services to a diverse socio-economic client population that includes individuals, children, young adults, families and the elderly.
Click here for information on additional services.
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| Meals On Wheels | |
Meals on Wheels needs volunteer drivers in our area. Serve your homebound senior neighbors a hot noontime meal. The commitment to drive is only once a month. It will take only an hour or two once a month to get that good feeling of giving. Call our office at (908)284-0735 to offer your time or for more information (and/or check out our website at mowih.org). Help us, help others. Many thanks.
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Rabbi's Message
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T  his month is a quieter month for Or Chadash due to the NJEA Convention which gives our students a school holiday and the Thanksgiving weekend which gives our families a time of celebration and relaxation. In our President's message, the Cantor's message and particularly our Educator's message, the ideas of down-time and getting to be with family and getting to know them better are each addressed. This past week I was able to spend some time with my father, sharing stories, remembering family events from decades ago and reminiscing about our family. It was a visit that I was truly grateful for. It is a gift and a blessing to be able to share time with my dad.
As the season of Thanksgiving approaches, I hope that you can spend a few moments reflecting on the blessings that are part of your life -- whether its your family and friends, the gift of health or the pride you take in the accomplishments of others.
Our community at OC is a true blessing that we all share. I look forward to seeing you in these quieter days. Happy Thanksgiving.
Shalom,
Rabbi Joseph M. Forman
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President's Message
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The tempo of fall has been nonstop, and every year I get through the beginning of school, the Jewish holidays and all the other commitments that make up my life, I wonder what happened to the gorgeous months of September and October. By the time I hit November, I am ready for the coziness of winter to set in.
This morning - as I write this - the time change has me up early. I realize I am actually looking forward to the shorter days. I know I'm in the minority here. A little less daylight gives me a chance to focus internally. We are all at home a bit more, and the early darkness hopefully gives us a chance to spend some more time together (the image of a pioneer family huddled around the fire comes to mind here). I hope that these shorter days bring you some time to connect with your family, yourself, and your community -- time that will refresh and renew you during the winter.
I was out running errands recently, and the stores are already filled with Christmas cheer. I look forward to Hanukkah and the holiday season as much as anyone. But we should all take the time to enjoy what lies in the weeks ahead. There are multiple events at Or Chadash including a Sisterhood Vendor Event on November 16th that will give you the chance to do some Hanukkah shopping with a portion of proceeds going back to Or Chadash. The event is open to the community so bring your friends!
That same morning, we also will be hosting cookbook author Cara Tannenbaum, author of In a Nutshell: Cooking and Baking with Nuts and Seeds. We will be sharing recipes from the cookbook and a enjoying a talk from the author. I hope to see you at both of these great events!
Thank you to all who donated to our High Holy Day Appeal. We had very high levels of participation and have come very close to meeting our financial goal. I truly appreciate your contributions.
I look forward to seeing you all at our many events leading up to Hanukkah!
Shalom,
Caryn
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| Educator's Message | |  As I mentioned in my September, 2014 newsletter article, this year in Religious School we are spending extra time "just" getting to know each other. We are beginning many classes by using games such as Thumball Who Are You?, Pocket Ungames and other campy "ice-breaker type" activities as avenues to share a bit more personal information with each other than in previous school years. Our goal is to create a strong community of friends as well as to create a strong community of learners.
A few weeks ago, Jenny Rosenstrach's "Dinner a Love Story" blog, featured Bruce Feiler's book "The Secrets of Happy Families." Feiler's book is a fun read and interestingly confirmed that Or Chadash's new "getting to know you" school goals can be transferred to your family dinner table with astounding results---the potential to create children with stronger emotional health and resiliency. In Feiler's chapter titled, The Right Way to Have Family Dinner, (subtitled Why What You Talk About is More Important Than What You Eat (or When You Eat It)) the author cites a study by Professors Marshall Duke, Duke's wife Sara and a colleague, Robyn Fivush. This study employs the "Do You Know?" scale, a list of 20 questions (see below) to calculate a score. Using the positive answers to the "Do You Know?" scale the study has proven that the more children know about their family's history, the stronger their sense of control over their lives, the higher their self-esteem, and the more successfully their families functioned.
The study simply asked the children to answer these following twenty questions**:
1. Do you know how your parents met?
2. Do you know where you mother grew up?
3. Do you know where your father grew up?
4. Do you know where some of your grandparents grew up?
5. Do you know where your grandparents met?
6. Do you know where your parents were married?
7. Do you know what when on when you were being born?
8. Do you know the source of your name?
9. Do you know some things about what happened when your brothers or sisters were being born?
10. Do you know which persons in the family you look most like?
11. Do you know which person in the family you act most like?
12. Do you know some of the illnesses and injuries that our parents experienced when they were younger
13. Do you know of an illness or something really terrible that happened in your family?
14. Do you know some things that happened to your mom or dad when they were in school?
15. Do you know the national background of your family (such as English, German, Russia, etc.)
16. Do you know some of the jobs that your parents had when they were young?
17. Do you know some awards that your parents received when they were young?
18. Do you know the names of the schools that your Mom went to?
19. Do you know the names of the schools that your Dad went to?
20. Do you know about a relative whose face "froze" in a grumpy position because he or she did not smile enough?
(**While these are the questions that were part of the study, they may not necessarily be most appropriate for your family. Consider using them as a guide to formulate your family's questions.)
Using the above twenty questions, Marshall and Fivush concluded that the more children knew about their family's history, the stronger their sense of control over their lives, the higher their self esteem and the more successfully they believed their families functioned. The "Do You Know?" scale turned out to the best single predictor of children's emotional health and happiness. Marshall says that children who have the most balance and self-confidence in their lives do so because of what he and Robyn call a strong "inter-generational self." They know that they belong to something bigger than themselves.
The studies authors concluded that the family stories we tell should be filled with moments of struggle and resilience, so sharing them at a dinner table while doing something reassuring, like eating is a logical place to do it (hence the mention in the above blog.). The researchers do emphasize that the important thing is that you share the stories, not where you share the stories. It's all about the child's sense of being part of a larger family. So although the dinner table is one obvious place to have these discussions, any number of occasions are opportunities to share and tell family stories including holidays, vacations and any ritualized activity that brings different generations together. Even a carpool or ride to the mall are moments, he said.
As we at Or Chadash continue to strive to deepen relationships in the classroom, I hope that you will be encouraged to consider discussing the questions that are appropriate for your individual family's circumstances, and that these opportunities strengthen your children's emotional resiliency.
Betsy Zalaznick
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| Cantor's Message | |  Last Saturday, October 25, marked the Bar Mitzvah of Michael Breslow. He chanted beautifully, and we were all uplifted by the beauty of the service. But October 25 also signified another day. On the Hebrew calendar October 25 was also Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan, the first of the month. Those of us who serve as clergy probably have the deepest appreciation for this day. It signifies that the fall holidays are behind us for another year. We've worked hard to prepare for The High Holy Days, Sukkot and Simcha Torah, and now it's time for a well-deserved rest. So what is so special about the month of Cheshvan, you might ask?
It is the one month in the Hebrew calendar that has NO holidays! It not only gives us a break from holiday programming and preparation, and even more importantly, we have a chance to pause and reflect on the holidays recently past and their significance in our own lives. This year I felt blessed beyond measure. Not only did I have a bevy of beautiful vocalists to support me in the musical portions, but there were young adults from the confirmation program who chanted with the skill and ease of an expert. It was an honor for me to stand beside you on the bima, and I look forward to working with you all again. Many thanks for all of your hard work in helping to make these High Holy Days a deeply moving experience for us all. To our Torah chanters Sarah Loew and Sam Weiss, chanters and vocalists Shay Beckman, Robyn Wasserman and Sydney Stoter, as well vocalists Ayla Schwartz and Kristina Witzling, Col Hacavod, the honor is all yours.
Many thanks,
Kathy
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The Cooking Corner - Cara Tannenbaum
Sunday, November 16 at 10:00 AM
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 Cara Tannenbaum is an award-winning chef, caterer, and Instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education.
This event will be held at Or Chadash on Sunday, November 16 at 10:00 AM. Fee: $8/advance or $12/day of event. There is no charge if you bring a dish from the cookbook. Includes Bagel and a "smear." |
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Sisterhood Holiday Sales Event
Sunday, November 16 at 11:30 AM
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We are very excited to be planning our first Holiday Sales Event. It will be held at Or Chadash on Sunday,
November 16th from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM.
Over a dozen local vendors will be selling their products, from jewelry (Lia Sophia Jewelry) and skin care to food and toys, to the public. The holidays are just around the corner, and this is a perfect opportunity to shop for your family and friends in a relaxed environment directly from the sellers.
We are still accepting vendors as well. If you have something to sell, the space is free. We are looking for vendors who would like to have a table to sell their merchandise. We are asking in return that the vendor donate 10% of their sales to Or Chadash.
Please email Debbie Weiss (deb1508@aol.com) if you are interested or have question.
We look forward to seeing everyone there.
Or Chadash Sisterhood
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| Rabbi Forman's High Holy Day Sermons | | |
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Falafel and Films Friday, December 5 at 6:30 PM
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Each year we share the films created by the Film School in Israel. A bite of falafel and the blessings welcoming Shabbat begin our evening. We have intermission between each short film for a refill on dessert and coffee. Please join us for one of our popular and beloved annual events. The cost is $12 per person. RSVP info coming soon.
Irma Horowitz Film Series Featuring Falafel & Films
Sister of Mine
Like all young ultra-orthodox girls, Ruchi, the favorite daughter of a Jerusalem family, dreams of becoming a wife and mother. But the young man who has been chosen for her is not in any sense her equal. Ruchi's younger sister, who has Down's syndrome, asks searching and uncomfortable questions about the match, underlining for Ruchi the extreme limitations on her freedom.
Addes The renovations of a 100-year-old Jerusalem synagogue on the occasion of its upcoming centennial celebrations ignite a conflict over old and new, identity and obliteration of memory, the living and the dead. Persian Lullaby Dafna, the 40-year old single mother of a newborn boy, arrives at her parents' home a few days before her baby's brit (circumcision). Her father, an elderly Persian Jew, repeatedly snubs Dafna, noting coldly that "a baby needs a father." In the week leading up to the brit, past conflicts between Dafna and her father are revisited, and new tensions are heightened. Will Dafna's father agree to be the sandak (godfather) of his first grandson?
Israeli short films presented by Ma'aleh School of Television Film and the Arts in Jerusalem. Enjoy falafel while watching four subtitled films. A short discussion about each film follows.
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One Minute With...
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The Chizever Family
Jodee lives with her two children in Three Bridges. Seraphina is in the 2nd Grade and Gideon is in Kindergarten. Jodee is a Holistic Healer. The children are athletic--both do Karate, while Seraphina also does gymnastics and dance, and Gideon plays lots of sports at Healthquest. This summer they took a family cruise to the Bahamas. They love Passsover the best. They decided to join Or Chadash because the community and the rabbi were nice and friendly.
The Barna Family
Jill and Jeff have two children--Evan, who's in 3rd grade and Casey, who's in 1st. Jill is a lawyer. They went to Disney and Ocean City, Maryland this summer. They joined Or Chadash so that their children will learn about Jewish traditions and to speak Hebrew and because the community and rabbi were friendly.
The Kassanoff Family
James and Stephanie live in Washington with their children Teddy, who's in the 4th Grade, and Shane, who's in the 1st grade. Shane plays soccer, and Teddy plays tennis. Stephanie is a dietician. This summer, they traveled to the beach, the Poconos, Dorney Park, Land of Make Believe, New York, Philadelphia, and Montana! They joined Or Chadash because it is a friendly congregation on the smaller side. Stephanie hopes her sons will learn about Jewish values and Hebrew in Religious School.
Thanks to the Sunday Teaching Assistants who interviewed these families and complied the answers.
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Maude Dahme, Thursday, October 2
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On Thursday, October 2, Maude Dahme, a Holocaust survivor, met with the congregation during the 8, 9, and 10th Grade Religious School class time.
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In Case You Missed It: Consecration of New Members Friday, October 17
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We Welcome Our New Members:
Or Chadash welcomed our new members and their children with a celebration on Friday, October 17.
Jeffrey and Jill Barna join us from Branchburg with their children Evan and Casey.
Douglas Beman and Kimberly Gold join us from Flemington with their daughter Katherine.
Brian Chizever and Jodee Chizever join us from Three Bridges with their children Gideon and Seraphina.
Brian and Faith Costello join us from Whitehouse Station with their children Brooke and Jack.
Dan and Jacquelyn Freedman join us from Milford.
Nancy Kanter joins us from New Hope.
David and Michele Kinderman join us from Milford with their sons Simon and Calvin.
Adam and Jana Levison join us from Whitehouse Station with their sons Ryan and Jack.
Tony and Barbara Persichetti join us from Flemington.
We Welcome Back Our Returning Members:
Glenn and Lydia Sokoloski join us from Flemington with their children Zak and Sarah.
We Welcome Our 'Religious School Only' Families of 2013/14 ... As Members:
Pierce and Stacey Hubbard join us from Flemington with their children Braden and Alicia.
Craig and Sudha Kantor join us from Asbury with their daughter Shayna.
John Langer and Annette Ivry join us from Three Bridges with their son Harrison.
Barry and Alison Levine join us from Flemington with their daughters Emma and Hannah.
Darren and Yulia Pincus join us from Flemington with their children Daniel and Sierra.
Welcoming our new Religious School students! Evan Barna, Gideon and Seraphina Chizever, Brooke Costello, Levi Hodkinson, Simon Kinderman, Amanda Korfin, Hannah Levine, Jack and Ryan Levison, David Loew, Anna Metelitsa, and Eric Tiber join our Religious School for the first time this year.
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In Case You Missed It: Simchat Torah Friday, October 17
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Also on Friday, October 17, we celebrated Simchat Torah.
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Temple Tots
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Temple Tots met on Sunday, October 19.  
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Sisterhood Event
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The OC Sisterhood met on Sunday, October 19. 
The next Sisterhood Event is Sunday, November 16. Please join us!! |
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Sunday Supper - Fall Celebration
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OC gathered on Sunday, November2, at the Schenker family farm. A chilly afternoon was warmed by the fantastic crowd who celebrated the fall season together with with the gracious hospitality of Don, Sara, Jackie and Lizzie -- and the dogs and horses!!  
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Jewish LIFE: Learning Is For Everyone
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Jewish LIFE (Learning Is For Everyone) Upcoming Special Events include:
Janna Gur, author of Jewish Soul Food, Wednesday, November 19, 12 Noon at the Birnbaum JCC, Bridgewater (Fee includes Luncheon: $18/person in advance or $22/person day of event)
Allen Salkin, author of From Scratch: Inside the Food Network, Wednesday, December 3, 12 Noon at the Birnbaum JCC, Bridgewater (Fee includes Luncheon: $18/person in advance or $22/person day of event)
Jewish Federation Women's Philanthropy Imagine Event, Wednesday, November 5, 6:30pm, Fiddler's Elbow Country Club, Bedminster (Fee: $125/person)
Jewish Family Names with Dr. Nathan Reiss, Tuesday, December 9, 12:00 Noon at the Birnbaum JCC, Bridgewater (Fee includes lite Bagel Lunch : $5/person);
The Irma Horowitz Film Series Featuring Falafel and Israeli Short Films, Friday, December 5, 6:30pm at Or Chadash, Flemington and Thursday, December 11, 6:30pm at the Birnbaum JCC, Bridgewater (Fee includes Falafel Dinner: $12/person in advance or $15 day of event).
To register for programs, please contact the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum JCC at 908-725-6994 x201 or register on line at www.ssbjcc.org.
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Scrip News
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Would you be willing to be part of a $12,000 fundraising initiative for Or Chadash that would cost you nothing?
The scrip program is easy to use and reaps huge rewards. Participating together.
How does the scrip program work?
Scrip is the same as gift cards. The Great Lakes Scrip Center sells scrip online. You sign up to make purchases and designate Or Chadash as the beneficiary. Each retailer offers a certain percentage back to Or Chadash. You get what you pay for, and Or Chadash gets a percentage because you purchased scrip. *Bonus: you also get a scrip credit on dues, which means this program actually pays you to participate!
Choose one retailer and commit to buying scrip for that retailer every month. Buy your groceries with scrip (ShopRite, Stop&Shop, A&P). Buy your gas with scrip (Shell, BP, Exxon). Make all your Walmart or Target purchases with scrip. There are hundreds of retailers from which to choose. Find something you purchase every month, and do it with scrip.
How does my single purchase contribute to the $12,000 goal? Your purchase matters. For example, I buy $500 of ShopRite scrip every month. That earns Or Chadash $20 in one month. In one year, my ShopRite scrip purchases earn Or Chadash $240. If you do that, too, Or Chadash gets $480. If 50 families do it, too, then Or Chadash earns $12,000.
Please consider joining me and Jeff, and the 20 families signed up so far, and participating in the scrip program each month. You can make a difference! And together, we can make a very big difference!
Feel free to find me with any questions at all: cberg3@comcast.net. The Scrip FAQs are also on the Or Chadash website and can be accessed here.
Thank you for your consideration!
Christine
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Taste of Hunterdon
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On November 13, Family Promise is holding its annual Taste of Hunterdon. To register for this event, please visit this site.
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