I recently finished reading the book, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking, by Susan Cain. One chapter of the book speaks to the rise of evangelical Christian mega churches correlated with the extroverted culture that is sometimes prevalent in the United States. In the chapter on the church, the author observes that extrovertism seems to be a key requirement for thriving in the church culture. Congregants are expected to be at once openly outgoing and committed, with opportunities for  multiple social events built into their weekly schedule.

This concept got me thinking about my own experiences at not only Or Chadash, but other synagogues which I've attended.  One of the things I've always valued about Judaism, and Or Chadash in particular, is the opportunity to participate at your own comfort level. Sure, growing up I was expected to attend Friday night and Saturday morning services, but I could partake quietly or more openly.  Friday nights at Or Chadash are ideal for both the extroverts and introverts among us.   (Or those who fall somewhere in between.)

I can sit quietly lost in my own thoughts and take in the service or I can boisterously rattle my egg shaker. There are moments for quiet prayer and reflection, as well as joyful singing. By the time we get to services on Friday nights I am usually pretty tapped out by the week's events. Personally, I appreciate the opportunity to indulge my introverted tendencies during services and leave feeling a bit more recharged then when I came in.  For me it's not a passive experience, but one that lets me reflect on the week and take a quiet, internal moment.   By the end, I'm ready to schmooze a bit during Oneg and catch up with all of you. 

There's much more to the whole science of introverts/extroverts than I'm able to condense here. No matter your personal tendencies, Or Chadash welcomes you with open arms and the opportunity to express and participate in services and events in a variety of ways. I hope to see many of you in the weeks ahead.     

Shalom,

Caryn

From the RJ.orj Blog, Guest Blogger Betsy Zalaznick's Featured Article:

Purim at Or Chadash, includes many of the usual traditions: putting on a Purim spiel (play), using boxes of pasta as groggers, baking hamantaschen with our students, reading the Megillah, and hosting a spectacular carnival that features Esther's Salon, Mordecai's March Madness, a photo booth, and plenty of prizes and food.

But the highlight of Purim at Or Chadash is our mishloach manot (Purim gift bags) program. Launched 12 years ago, the initiative has since evolved into one that touches each and every member of our synagogue community, including our college students, who receive a text message reminding them to check their mailboxes for Purim goodies. The project also encompasses many facets of congregational life - social action, college outreach, community outreach, and fundraising.

Here's how it works: Congregants order mishloach manot gift bags to be sent to other congregants, and every household in our community receives a gift bag and card, hand-delivered before Purim by synagogue members. The cost to send a mishloach manot gift bag to each household in the Or Chadash community is $180. There are other gift options, as well. For example, for $18, members can select three households to which they wish to send a gift bag. Each bag's contents fit within the theme selected for that year, and the accompanying card is signed by everyone who had a hand in putting the bag together. This year, that's more than 85% of our members!

This year's Purim theme is "Green Eggs and Hamantaschen," which we selected to coincide with Read Across America, an annual event to celebrate reading and the birthday of children's author Dr. Seuss. In addition to green eggs and hamantaschen, this year's red and white striped bags will be filled with goodies related to Dr. Seuss' books, including a bookmark, red fish candy, Goldfish crackers, animal crackers (for all the animals in If I Ran the Zoo), lollipop Truffala trees (from The Lorax), a pencil to "briefly write briefs", and a chocolate globe to navigate The Places You'll Go.

In addition to selecting a theme every year, we also choose an organization or two related to the theme to receive a portion of the proceeds from our fundraising initiative. After Hurricane Sandy, for example, our theme was "The Jersey Shore," and the gift bag included playing cards from Atlantic City, cotton candy, and salt water taffy. We donated the proceeds to an organization that was doing hurricane relief work. Another year, the theme was baseball, with a tie-in to a baseball exhibit at the National Museum of American Jewish History called "Chasing Dreams: Baseball and Becoming American." That year, Cracker Jack, Baby Ruth candy bars, and bubblegum were among the bags' goodies, and we sent the residents and staff of our neighborhood boys' home to spend a day at the local Atlantic League ballpark.

Because this year's theme is centered around reading, a portion of the proceeds from the fundraiser will go to an Or Chadash favorite: PJ Library®, a Jewish family engagement program whose website and books are our number one resource for holiday activities for kids of all ages (and their parents). We also will donate to  First Book-Hunterdon County  which provides new books to children in need in Head Start, Early Head Start, and our local public schools. We also have delivered 20 Purim gift bags to Family Promise-Union County to support its new reading initiative, The Need 2 Read®.

On Purim, we read in the Book of Esther (9:22), "The Jews were to observe these days for feasting and merrymaking, and as an occasion for sending gifts to one another and presents to the poor." Or Chadash's mishloach manot program provides members with opportunities to perform these two mitzvot-sending gifts that delight family and friends, as well as offering presents and tzedakah to the needy. This initiative strengthens our sense of community, both within the congregation and in and around Hunterdon County.

Chag Purim Sameach!

Betsy Zalaznick

The Union for Reform Judaism has partnered with WRJ and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation to provide opportunities for 58 select small congregations to offer PJ Library® subscriptions in communities where it does not yet exist. For more information, visit the partnership website or contact Stephanie Fink - sfink@urj.org.

Purim seems to have come around just in time this year.  I have been feeling mired down by the cold weather, feeling depressed by all of the violence perpetrated by ISIS in the name of Allah, and a general sense of hopelessness has come over me.  I am then reminded by the message of Purim; how even in the midst of danger and threat of destruction there is still hope. The fate of the Jews of Persia rested on the courage of a young woman who had been divinely placed in a position that enabled her to be instrumental in the preservation of her people. Had she not fulfilled her purpose by placing herself at risk, the Jews of Shushan would not have survived.  While I'm not suggesting that we place ourselves in a position of peril, we can open our eyes to the injustices around us with the awareness that we have been placed here "for such a time as this." We must always remember that our actions are never insignificant, they have the potential to change the world. Every time we encounter someone we will both leave the encounter better or worse for having had it, but never the same. Let's try to make each encounter be for the better, because one never knows how far our intentions will travel. Now if I could just do something about the weather!  Actually I heard a Cardinal singing a love song in my back yard at 6:15 this morning, a sure sign that Spring is on the way!

Many Bles-sings,

Kathy Gohr

If Purim is traditionally a time of mischief and merriment, then Mother Nature was celebrating with us on Sunday, March 1, as the snow held off long enough to let us enjoy our annual Purim Carnival, then tucked us back in our homes once we left Or Chadash.  A large crowd filled our synagogue, and we all enjoyed several hours worth of entertainment: there was Purim Jeopardy; the Megillah reading; and the Purim Spiel--"The Grinch Who Stole Purim" (starring none other than Mr. Stein in, you guessed it, the leading role!).  But that's not all.  Once we made more room in front of the Bimah, the TCNJ Circus Club entertained us with juggling, diabolo, and hula-hooping.  Following their performance, carnival-goers played games like Purim Plinko and Mordecai's March Madness, and they luxuriated in Esther's Salon.  New this year, the TCNJ Circus Club offered stations on juggling, hula-hooping, and spinning plates; and in the craft room, attendees could make their own juggling balls to take home.  And if that wasn't enough entertainment, one needed to look no further than at our very own blue-haired Rabbi Joe, Cantor Kathy, and Betsy dressed to charm us all as Thing Alef, Thing Bet, and Thing Gimel! 

Thank you to our local merchants for various donations and discounts: