Check out what's happening at...

Weekly Announcements for May 19 - June 1
Want to know what's happening and how to get involved with your
Jewish Home for the Soul? See below for a listing of all of our upcoming events and programs. Also, visit our website or check out our facebook page for  more details on all of our great offerings.
 
It's time for our...


See more info below!
  URGENT Need to support local Holocaust survivors

Restitution funds are falling short to meet the humanitarian needs of Holocaust survivors in Monmouth and Greater Middlesex counties.  25 survivors have already had services cut and 100 more face cuts in coming months. These are cuts to services helping them with basic daily activities, from meal preparation to bathing, to simply tidying up at home.
 
The Jewish Federation, Jewish Family Services in Middlesex and Jewish Family & Children's Service in Monmouth, together, are launching an 
urgent fundraising initiative beginning 
on Yom HaShoah, May 5, to restore services and prevent further cuts. 

Beth Mordecai and Rabbi Saks in the News

Check out the write up about Beth Mordecai's Scholar in Residence Weekend in the latest edition of the New Jersey Jewish News! Feel free to share with friends and family who might be interested in joining us.

The Israeli flag was raised at Perth Amboy City Hall Circle as residents of the city and members of Beth Mordecai look on
Join us for meaningful services, intriguing conversations, and great camaraderie. 

HIGHLIGHTED EVENT
 
 
Our special Sch olar in Residence Weekend is upon us! We welcome Rabbi Jonathan Porath, a scholar from Israel, into our community. He will share memorable teachings on the theme of  Deepening Our Personal Jewish Identities including...
  • Nurturing Our Jewish Hearts and Jewish Souls (Friday)
  • How to Be Even More Jewish in Perth Amboy (Saturday)
  • 175 Visits to Russia, with PICTURES (Sunday)
  • and a SPECIAL 
    Dessert reception & talk on Israel for patrons and benefactors 
    (Saturday night)
Events are FREE |  Patrons (including name on program and Sat night invitation): $50 per person

Email officebethmordecai@gmail.com TODAY to RSVP and/or become a patron/benefactor

Friday, May 20
7 pm - Musical Service featuring Cantor Rav Bronwen Mullin
~ singing             
~ dancing
~ inspirational teachings
~ great music

8 pm - Delicious Dairy Potluck Shabbat Dinner with presentation by Scholar in Residence (SIR) Rabbi Jonathan Porath:
Nurturing Our Jewish Hearts and Jewish Souls: Opening presentation of evocative personal stories with follow up discussion from the community of our own meaningful Jewish experiences.

Saturday, May 21
10 am - Our FIRST ever "I DID IT!" Participatory Service featuring: 
~ Cheryl August answering the challenge to read her WHOLE Bat Mitzvah Haftarah portion
~ Members of the congregation reading Torah and leading prayers
~ Celebrating Elliot Rubin's discovery that he is a Kohen
~ Singing by Cantor Rav Bronwen Mullin
~ Organ Music organist Jon Tyllian
~ Blowout Kiddush luncheon with PRESENTATION by SIR Rabbi Jonathan Porath:
How To Be Even More Jewish in Perth Amboy: A discussion of the contemporary application of Jewish practices, values and Mitzvot in today's America with practical suggestions on how to be more Jewish. Lots of audience give and take.

11 am -   Israel Tot Shabbat! (in the chapel)
This month at Tot Shabbat, we will be celebrating Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel's Independence Day! We will sing and dance, read fun stories about Israel, play our 3 of these things game, create our very own Israel-themed memory match game, and decorate Israel shaped cookies as a fun snack!

8 pm -   Patron Dessert Reception for patrons and benefactors of the SIR weekend at home of Rabbi Ari & Rachel Saks with SPECIAL PRESENTATION by SIR Rabbi Jonathan Porath: 
Leaving Home and Coming Home: A Quarter of a Century on Aliyah to Israel - a family's story of leaving the US for Israel and what it is like to live in Jerusalem today.

Sunday, May 22
10 am -  Brunch and SPECIAL Open to the Public PRESENTATION by SIR Rabbi Jonathan Porath: 
175 Trips to the Jews of Russia: personal experiences, stories and insights from visits to the Soviet Union and Russia since 1965 until the present [WITH special presentation of pictures from trips].

Tuesday, May 24

Wednesday, May 25
12 pm -  Ask the Rabbi

Thursday, May 26

SERVICES FOR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND (MAY 27-28) ARE CANCELLED! Enjoy your holiday :)

Wednesday, June 1
9:30 am - Book Group: AJ Heschel's "The Sabbath" (at Panera Bread in Woodbridge)

12 pm - Ask the Rabbi (at Menlo Park Mall's Food Court)
Save the Date Spotlight:
Our First Shabbat by the Sea of the season!
Saturday, June 24, 6:30 pm

Get ready for another summer of beautiful and inspiring Shabbat by the Sea services. Join us for our first service,  Shabbat by the Sea: Caring for One Another. We will explore how our tradition teaches us to care for one another and hear from one of our members, Fred Bernhardt, who will share stories of his experience as a caregiver. 

Catered Dinner included! Please RSVP by June 15th to officebethmordecai@gmail.com.

If you are interested in being a Shabbat by the Sea Season Supporter to offset the cost of our Shabbat by the Sea events for the summer, please email Rabbi Saks at ari.saks@gmail.com
Save the Date Spotlight: 
Trip to NYC - Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway!
Sunday, June 26th

A group of members is interested in organizing a trip to NYC to see Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway. If you're interested, please contact
Sherry Weber for more details at
908-451-9708 or sweber7854@aol.com.
Congregation Beth Mordecai |  224 High Street, Perth Amboy NJ 08861 | 732-442-1373 | officebethmordecai@gmail.com |  b ethmordecai.org
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