Or Chadash Newsletter  July-August 2016 
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In This Issue
Service Schedule
In Our Community
Yahrzeits
President's Message
RS Director's Message
High Holy Days Schedule
What You Might Have Missed
Registration Quick Links
Shabbat  Service Schedule
Shabbat Window 

Friday, September 2nd
Celebrate Shabbat at home with family and friends

Friday, September 9th
7:30-8:30 PM Shabbat Services

Friday, September 16th
7:30-8:30 PM Shabbat Services

Friday, September 23rd
7:00-8:00 PM Shabbat Family Services


In Our Community

Refuah Sh'leima (Get well) to  ... 
 
Susan Blaicher  
Barbara Sansevere
Dorothy Saks  
Barbara Gruber
Kimberly Beman
Estelle Breines
Michael Harvey
Gary Weiss

Condolences to ... 

The Stein family on the death of Jane's mother Marsha Bacal.

The Weiss family on the death of Debbie's stepfather Joseph DeMaria


Mazel Tov to ...

Eric Zwerling for receiving a 2016 Public Education Award from the Sustainable Raritan River Collaborative for outstanding achievement in revitalizing, restoring and protecting our region.  

Rachel Albrecht
for  achieving her Gold Award.  Rachel relocated a swing set to the Or Chadash property after it was donated by a member of the temple Board, and she reassembled and refinished it. The goal of Rachel's project was to find a sustainable solution to an issue within her community.  The swing sets offers safe recreation for the children of the many families at OC. 

Jack Weiner
for achieving his Eagle Scout Award.  Jack's Eagle project was aimed at highlighting and preserving service memories for veterans living at Country Meadows nursing home in Bethlehem, PA.  As the culmination of his project, he organized a ceremony to honor the veterans with engraved plaques to be displayed at each of the five buildings on the facility's campus.  
 

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.
yahrzeit photo
Upcoming Yahrzeits 
May the memories of the following individuals be for a blessing:   

September 2nd
(To be read September 9th)
Yetta Fettner
Bruce Zalaznick's Beloved Grandmother

Lawrence Glass
Meredith Schwartz's Beloved Father

Morris Aaron Smith
Connie Smith's Beloved Father in Law

Martin Ribler
Andrea Weinberg's Beloved Father

Dena Harwin
Phillip Harvey's Beloved Aunt


September 9th:
Grace Riddle
Amara Willey's Beloved Aunt

Iris Rittenberg Willey
Amara Willey's Beloved Mother
 

September 16th: 
Janet S. Loewy
Susan Ingram's Beloved Mother
Andrea Harvey's Beloved Grandmother

Don Pickell
Chris Pickell's Beloved Father

 
September 23rd:
Joan Ferrone
Gerard Tracey's Beloved Mother

Bruce Kanter
Nancy Kanter's Beloved Husband

Gussie Brodsky
Gary Brodsky's Beloved Grandmother

Annette Crystal
Judith Levine's Beloved Mother

Barbara Wasserman
Glenn Wasserman's Beloved Mother


September 30th:
Susan Lerman
Isabel Mahalick's Loved One

Sadie Eisenberg
Gary Brodsky's Beloved Grandmother

Thelma Levey
Mark Beckman's Beloved Mother
Alan Beckman's Beloved Mother

Ilya Vayn
Sergey Wortman-Vayn's Beloved Grandmother

Jennifer Weller
Shelly Weller's Beloved Daughter


 Donations
2015-2016 Scrip Participants
Susan and Steven Albrecht
Kimberly and Douglas Beman
Christine and Jeff Berg
Ray Blumenfeld and Audrey Hackel
Deborah and Carl Christensen
Rabbi Joseph M. Forman
Dan and Jackie Freedman
Harvey Gold
Sandra Gong and Victor Sloan
Leslie and Chris Hann
Jane Engel and George Eckelmann
Craig and Sudha Kantor
Cindy Lehrer
Jana and Adam Levison 
Cheryl and Edward Lifshitz
Deborah and Daniel Mitchell
Alexa and Nisim Parliyan
Rick and Jill Rosenthal
Toby and John Sarinick
Alice and Robert Schwade
Laura Senator and John Graybeal
Wendy Solomon
Cindy and Ken Stoter
Lisa and Mike Tauscher
Caryn and Marc Tomljanovich
Debbie and Gary Weiss
Betsy and Bruce Zalaznick

7th Grade B'Nai Mitzvah Gift
James and Barbara Schlessinger
Meredith Schwartz
Glenn and Eve Wasserman

Yahrzeit
Judith Levine: In memory of Irving Crystal

General Contribution
Judith Levine: In honor of the birth of Emma Rose Crystal
Pierce and Stacey Hubbard

G. Kulp Music Fund
Gary and Susan Parilis

Educational Enrichment Fund
Darren and Elizabeth Loew

Rabbi's Discretionary Fund
Darren and Elizabeth Loew

Legacy Circle 

F or more information or further details, please click on this link.    To view the digital version of our Legacy Circle Book of Life  click here .


Legacy Circle Members
Legacy Circle Members as of August 24, 2016:

Larry & Beatrice Abrams 
Susan & Steve Albert
Kimberly & Doug Beman
Jeff & Christine Berg
Adam & Audrey Belkin
Rabbi Joseph M. Forman
Dan & Jackie Freedman
Cantor Kathy Gohr
Harvey & Kathryn Gold
Steven Grumbach
Alan Hecht & Maria Jose De La Hoz
David & Katherine Moutner
Gary & Susan Parilis
Nisim & Alexa Parliyan
Rabbi Richard F. Steinbrink
Rick & Jill Rosenthal
The Senator/Graybeal Family
The Sloan/Gong Family
Louis & Caryn Speizer
Andy & Jane Stein
Caryn & Marc Tomljanovich
Renee Trambert
Kimberly & David Turner
Glenn & Eve Wasserman
Ross & Susan Weinick
Debbie & Gary Weiss
Mark and Kristina Witzling
Betsy & Bruce Zalaznick


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. 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.  

 

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.  
  President's Message

Our House

The driveway at Or Chadash got paved this summer! I know for many of you this may not seem like a big event. However, it might be a bit more important event than you first realize. First, the driveway is the road to our Or Chadash home. It is the first thing that visitors see and perhaps more importantly it is the first thing we experience when we transition ourselves from our everyday lives to our Or Chadash lives. As I drive up the road to Or Chadash I really do try to check my stress at the foot of the driveway. Whether I am driving up the driveway for a transformative service at Kol Nidre or dropping off one of my boys for religious school, the driveway is my signal to re-engage with my Jewish self. 

The road outside of my actual house was recently re-paved and I have to admit there is something lovely about smoothly driving on a road with no pot holes and no cracks. As I drive on new pavement there is a sense of smoothness, serenity and the belief that obstacles can be overcome. Our Or Chadash driveway no longer has cracks, or weeds growing out of the cracks. We've done away with unevenness and bumps. We have straight bright lines and even instructions from Rebecca on how to drive on our new driveway (don't turn your wheels when you are not moving for the next 3 months!). We have been given a fresh start.

The re-paving of the driveway was not especially cheap (although our treasurer/facilities lead ensured we got a good deal on it). We waited for a couple of years knowing it needed to be done to make sure we had the funds and we were being prudent. In the end this was the year and now the job is complete. Our house has a new pathway to it and it is beautiful!

This year I'd like us all to think a bit about "Our House". Or Chadash is our Jewish home. It's our place to connect with our spiritual side, our heritage and our religious education. I'd like us each to think about what we can do for our house. Can you paint, weed, fix, maintain, polish, shine, tidy, donate? Taking care of Our House is something that needs to be done not just once a year on Mitzvah Day. We need to cherish Our House in little and big ways. Think about what you can do to help us take care of Our House.

I'll admit it: the "In this House" song we sing with Cantor Kathy always gets me.
In this house.
In this house.
We all come together in this house of God.
 
Our new driveway paves the way to Our House. It gives us renewed energy and a reminder of the importance of Our House.  When I drive up that new driveway I know we are ready for another outstanding year. I know that we will continue to make Our House sparkle and shine. I know that we will make Our House a place of joy and caring. I know that we will make Our House something special not just for us, here today, but for future generations, for our children's children when they come to Or Chadash. In the meantime I hope you enjoy the new driveway!

~Kim

  Religious School Director's Message

Betsy NYC.jpg
And then there was our pediatrician, who, at our last checkup in Brooklyn, upon hearing that we were moving (to Boston), warned me, "You should know moving is one of the most traumatic events that humans go through-second only to death."   I just nodded and smiled and then retold the story to friends later and we all laughed. In fact, everyone I told that story to thought it was hilarious.  

These words from Amy Deutsch's article on the Kveller blog are especially poignant to me as my family moved to Hunterdon County twenty years ago (August 1, 1996.)  I remember quite profoundly some of those Hunterdon County firsts-finding a new pediatrician, locating the closest Home Depot (Phillipsburg), discovering our grocery store options (Kings had opened in Spring 1996), and all the other comforts we take for granted until your life gets scrambled up with the logistics of creating your new home--in your new neighborhood--and new state!  In 1996 I vividly remember seeing a wooden sign on the corner of Route 31 and Foothill Road, saying "Future site of Or Chadash, The Reform Temple of Hunterdon County."  

Fast forward to Friday, August 5, 2016-almost twenty years to the day after my family's move-and one hour in downtown Clinton highlighted just how significant being part of the Or Chadash community has meant to me.  

My plan was to meet Rabbi Forman for a mid-sabbatical catch-up lunch at Clean Plate Kitchen in Clinton.  Enjoying the gorgeous scenery and excellent food at the restaurant, just a few tables away were OC members and Sisterhood friends Alexa Parliyan and Lisa Tauscher.  As I left the restaurant I ran into Jessica Hodkinson on Main Street.  Jessica and I now see each other frequently as we both go to the new yoga studio, Pure Nirvana (Route 31 and Payne.)  And a few minutes later I received this text from Leslie Hann, chair of our Caring Committee...



 
One strategy for overcoming the traumatic experience of moving is to find a meaningful connection in your new community.  My Or Chadash community has made my twenty years in New Jersey purposeful and continues to create connections that are often severed or challenged in our transitions.

As we begin to prepare for the new year of 5777 as well as a new academic year at Or Chadash, I hope that OC will play a more powerful role in your life and that together we will continue to deepen our connections to our OC community. 

I look forward to seeing you in September.   Enjoy these last precious days of August.

Betsy Zalaznick

Mazel Tov to All of Our 2016 Graduates
We wish you well on all of your future endeavors.
We like sharing milestones and have tried to include everyone. 
If your name is missing, please let us know.
 
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES
 
Josh Blutfield
Hunterdon Central Regional High School
University of Virginia

Matthew Brodsky
Bridgewater-Raritan High School
Lehigh University

Kim Graybeal
Voorhees High School
University of California, Los Angeles

Jesse Hann
Voorhees High School
Ramapo College

Noah Rosenthal
Hunterdon Central Regional High School
Moravian College

Samantha Tracey
North Hunterdon High School 
Rutgers University School of Nursing

Ben Weil
Solebury School
McDaniel College

 
 
COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY GRADUATES
 
Matthew Sansevere
Dickinson College
 
Garrett (Gary ) Grumbach
Elon University, Elon,  NC


Religious School - Opening Days

Sunday, September 11th - Opening Day for Religious School Grades K-6.  Grades 3-6 at 9AM.   Grades K-2 at 10:15AM.  

Thursday, September 15th - Opening Day for Religious School Grade 7 - 4:30PM-6:30PM.

Thursday, September 22nd - Opening Day for Religious School Grades 8-9-10 - 6:30PM-8PM.


Congregational BBQ
The Sisterhood is sponsoring an end of summer barbecue for the entire congregation. Please join us for some great food, fun and a chance to reconnect with your Or Chadash friends. The event is free, but we are asking everyone to bring a dish to share. There will be games and fun for the kids!

When: Sunday, September 11th 
After the first day of Religious School

Where: Or Chadash

RSVP: by Thursday, September 8th

Click here to RSVP and to let us know what you can bring.  We look forward to seeing you!

Student Outreach
As fall approaches, the 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 some of the Jewish holidays. 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 first mailing! In order for your student to receive our fall High Holyday package, we will need to have their address by September 15th.  
 

Mark Your Calendars


EREV ROSH HASHANAH - Sunday, October 2nd
Services at 8 PM 
 
ROSH HASHANAH
- Monday, October 3rd
Services at 10 AM
Children's Services at 3 PM  
 
KOL NIDRE
- Tuesday, October 11th
Services at 8 PM 
 
YOM KIPPUR
- Wednesday, October 12th
Services at 10 AM
Children's Services at 2 PM
Study Session at 3 PM
Yizkor/Neila at 4 PM
Break the Fast at 5:30 PM 
 
SUKKOT DINNER
- Friday, October 14th
Bring Your Own Dinner at 6:30 PM 
 
SIMCHAT TORAH 
& CONSECRATION - Friday, October 28th
Services at 7 PM 


Click here for our High Holy Days Form and E-Ticket Information

Thank You to Our 2015-2016 Scrip Program Participants
Thank you to those individuals and families who participated in our Scrip fundraising program during the 2015-2016 fiscal year.  Together we raised $4,773 for Or Chadash!  Fall is a great time to get involved with the Scrip program!  Purchase scrip (gift cards) and earn money from retailers for Or Chadash without spending anything extra!  Plus, reduce your dues: for every dollar your scrip purchase earns Or Chadash, you will receive 25% back as a reduction of your dues. Click here for the  Scrip FAQ's .  Click here for the scrip website .  Please reach out to Christine Berg with any questions or for help getting started:  cberg3@comcast.net.

Rutgers Jewish Film Festival


Annual Rutgers Jewish Film Festival
October 30 - November 13, 2016

The Rutgers Jewish Film Festival, sponsored by the  Bildner Center, screens award winning international films over the ten-day festival. A broad approach is taken when choosing the films for the Rutgers Festival, offering a slate of critically acclaimed titles that explore the multi-layered, global Jewish experience. Some films tackle uniquely Jewish issues, while others address universal themes through a Jewish lens. With such a diverse selection, the festival draws a wide audience, reaching the region's Jewish population as well as the Rutgers University community and the general film-going public.

The Bildner Center makes each screening a multidimensional experience by inviting a guest speaker - either the director, a featured actor or a noted expert in the field - to preface each film and then engage in a dialogue with the audience at its conclusion. Year after year, attendees remark that this opportunity to ask the questions raised by these thought-provoking films makes the issues more personally relevant and their film festival participation more meaningful.

Unique, too, is the way the festival not only reaches out to the community, but also gives back to the university by exposing the general student body to these distinctive films. Professors of Jewish Studies and other academic departments at Rutgers are among the speakers invited to introduce the films, and they will often assign related films to their classes. Students also have the opportunity to meet visiting film directors and scholars.
 
Contact: 848-932-4166 or  rujff@rci.rutgers.edu 
 

What You Might Have Missed
Stockton Farm Market