SHABBAT SHALOM, GESHER SHALOM!


 
February 7th, 2020
 
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Shabbat Times: 
Candle Lighting
Evening service at CBIOTP
Morning Service at CBIOTP
M inha at CBIOTP 
5:02  pm
7:00 pm 
9:30 am
4:30 pm
 
  Forecast: 38/sunny

IN THIS ISSUE...
Birthdays and Anniversaries 
Judith Platt
Florence Silverberg
Diana Yacobi
Loren Wasserman
Karen Brady
 


   UPCOMING EVENTS
 
Saturday 2/8

Morning Service at CBIOTP 9:30 am
Minha , S'uda Shlishit (3rd Shabbat Meal), timely topic, Maariv and Havdalah 4:30 pm at CBIOTP
Thursday 
2/13
Rabbi's Class 
10:30 am
Friday 2/14
Bible Study 11:30 am
Evening Service 7:00 pm




In Advance of T"U b'Sh'vat (on Monday, February 10)  
Tree-Planting in Israel  Order Here:  Plant Your Tree in Israel                  
On the Other Hand
Is Planting Trees Really Good for the Environment?
As Israeli environmentalists have been warning for decades, we've been planting the wrong trees, the wrong way, in the wrong places for a long time.
Twice in recent years, my organization, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, has succeeded in court to stop such ecologically harmful practices.
Now, SPNI's new study concludes unequivocally that, from an ecological perspective, the KKL-JNF's traditional pine forests have done more harm than good. It's not that Israel doesn't need trees. We do, the planet does; they store carbon dioxide and provide shade to lower temperatures in a warming world. But we don't need trees in naturally unforested open spaces, we need them in Israel's urban heat islands
.

Tu B'Shvat is a holiday, that for many Jews in the United States, goes without much notice or observance. Maybe someone has planted a tree in Israel, or perhaps gone to a Tu B'Shvat seder - partaking of the seven species mentioned in the Torah or eating different kinds of fruits - in an effort to connect back to the agricultural roots of the holiday.
But this year Tu B'Shvat falls squarely in the middle of the election of delegates to the World Zionist Congress. We urge you to think about celebrating Tu B'Shvat in a new and powerful way by voting MERCAZ Slate #6 in the World Zionist Congress election. Tu B'Shvat materials are available for download now.
For the early Zionists planting trees was an essential part of a Zionist education - literally connecting them to the land. In 1908, the practice was adopted by the teacher's unions and the Keren Kayemet, or Jewish National Fund, an organization founded as part of the Fifth Zionist Congress.
This year, you have the power to literally plant the seeds of change. A strong vote for the MERCAZ slate will send a message to the Israeli government and its leaders about the future of Israel.
Just as the trees helped the land of Israel to flourish - your vote can help the Conservative\/Masorti movement in Israel continue to grow and flourish. A vote for MERCAZ Slate #6 will help ensure that the land of Israel is open to all Jews and the right to practice Judaism as we choose is recognized and funded by the people and government of Israel.
We have prepared a guide that you can download here to learn more about the connection between Tu B'Shvat, MERCAZ, and the World Zionist Congress. All of our campaign materials are available for download here.
Help us celebrate Tu B'Shvat with lasting impact by voting today. Hag Ilanot Sameach - (Happy Tree Holiday) VOTE MERCAZ




And if T"U b'Sh'vat is this Monday, then Purim is one month away:
MISHLO'ACH  MANOT  2020
Sisterhood has mailed our gift giving lists,  the deadline is  February  21st.
Gift bags will be delivered on  Sunday, March 8th. 
If you would like to volunteer to help deliver, please call the office.
201-947-1735

It's Down to the Wire
Time is getting very short to register for AIPAC
Call me to find out how you can participate in the annual Policy Conference


 


















 
A  REMINDER:
Our daily minyanimare all held in our Office Chapel:    
 Sunday - Thursday evenings at 7:45 p.m.   
 Monday - Friday mornings at 7:00 a.m.  
 Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m.
All our Shabbat servicesare held in the CBIOTP building:    
Friday evening at 7:00 p.m.                                                                                                                                            
Shabbat morning at 9:30 a.m.                                                                                                                                               
Shabbat afternoon/evening (mincha, s'uda sh'lishit, ma'ariv, havdalah)                                                                       
currently at 4:30 p.m.(but the time will change/vary with sunset)


Torah Reading 399   Haftarah 424
B'SHALLAH
God leads the Israelites out of Egypt, appearing as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. The Egyptians pursue the Israelites to the shore of the Sea of Reeds and appear to have them cornered. The sea parts for the Israelites, who cross through on dry land, but the waters crash down upon Pharaoh's army. Having been saved by God, the Children of Israel break into a song of praise, acclaiming God's victory and affirming their faith in God. Miriam, Moses' sister, leads the women in song and dance. (This shabbat derives its name, Shabbat Shira, from these songs.)
 
The Israelites wander for three days without fresh water. They come to Marah and encounter bitter water there. God tells Moses to throw a branch into the water and it becomes potable. Subsequently the Israelites complain that they want meat to eat. God sends quail in excessive quantities, and in the morning the Israelites are provided with manna, which will sustain them throughout their years in the wilderness. As the manna does not keep overnight, the people need to gather manna each day, but miraculously, the double portion gathered on Friday remains fresh through Shabbat. At Refidim the Israelites again complain about the lack of fresh water. Moses cries out to God, who tells him to take his rod and strike a rock to produce water.
 
While at Refidim, the Amalekites attack the Children of Israel. Joshua recruits an army to launch a counter-attack. Moses ascends a hilltop and while he keeps his hands aloft, the tide of battle favors the Israelites. As Moses tires, Aaron and Hur support his arms until the Israelites are victorious

Tonight: Evening service at 7:00 p.m.
Tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m.   
Special T'U b'Sh'vat Dessert Table at Kiddush
Minha, Seudah Shlishit, Ma'ariv & Havdalah at 4:30 p.m.
During Seudah Shlishit we will read
After Yet Another No, Isn't It Time for a Palestinian Peace Plan?
Trump's deal may not bring peace, but it is forcing both Israelis and Palestinians to confront long-held beliefs in a much-needed reality check       by Yossi Klein Halevi
 
    
This Week's Yahrzeit Observances
We hope that our weekly listing of yahrzeit observances will serve 2 purposes:
1)     To remind those who have the yahrzeit for a second time, much closer to the date of the actual observance
2)     To alert friends and acquaintances that someone they know is observing a yahrzeit. We hope that you will show them your support by joining them at our minyanim, and helping to assure that Kaddish can be recited with a minyan 
        
Hilda Reisner will be observing yahrzeit for her brother, Solomon Bortz on Friday evening, February 7th
Milton Breit will be observing yahrzeit for his brother, Bernard Breit on Friday evening, February 7th
Terry Plawker will be observing yahrzeit for her mother-in-law, Anna Plawker on Friday evening, February 7th
Trudi Mohl will be observing yahrzeit for her father, Albert Brown on Saturday evening, February 8th
David McGrath will be observing yahrzeit for his mother, Ilene McGrath on Saturday evening, February 8th
Edith Adler will be observing yahrzeit for her father, Julius Kahn on Sunday evening, February 9th
James Rosenberg will be observing yahrzeit for his mother, Phyllis Rosenberg on Sunday evening, February 9th
Gloria Singer will be observing yahrzeit for her father-in-law, Alexander Singer on Sunday evening, February 9th
Iris Coleman will be observing yahrzeit for her husband, Tobias Weissman on Sunday evening, February 9th
Moriah Weissman will be observing yahrzeit for her father, Tobias Weissman on Sunday evening, February 9th
Myrna Block will be observing yahrzeit for her father, Benjamin Rosen on Monday evening, February 10th
Anne & Otto Salmon will be observing yahrzeit for their son, Bruce Salmon on Tuesday evening, February 11th
Carolyn Tauber will be observing yahrzeit for her great grandfather, Moses Schipper on Wednesday evening, February 12th
Naomi Altschul will be observing yahrzeit for her father-in-law, Isidore Altchul on Wednesday evening, February 12th
Solomon Arbeiter will be observing yahrzeit for his father, Philip Arbeiter on Wednesday evening, February 12th
Hilda Froelke will be observing yahrzeit for her husband, Richard Froelke on Wednesday evening, February 12th
Ruth Korn will be observing yahrzeit for her mother, Helen Korn on Wednesday evening, February 12th
David Korn will be observing yahrzeit for his mother, Helen Korn on Wednesday evening, February 12th



The Trump Peace Plan
Op-ed that appeared in the The National-Abu Dhabi, written by Raghida Dergham, founder and executive chairwoman of the Beirut Institute:
U.S. Peace Plan: Palestinians Should Abandon Posturing                                                            
One reason the Palestinians swiftly rejected the flawed U.S. peace plan was that it does nothing to address their claims for water rights.                 
Two-State Solution May Be Now or Never Because of Israeli Strong Birthrate, Rising Anti-Semitism and Influx of more Jews to Israel, US National Security Adviser Says                                                       
The Right has no problem playing up the once-in-a-generation significance of the US peace plan as well as President Donald Trump's friendship with Israel.                                                                

Israel Slams UNRWA Head for Attacking U.S. Peace Plan        
Arab League Rejects U.S. Mideast Peace Plan                                                                      
Egyptian President Sisi Says No Alternative to Direct Talks between Israel, Palestinians                                                   
U.S. Envoy Warns Palestinians Against Opposing U.S. Peace Plan at UN                                                     

Senior EU Official-Speaking Only for Himself-Rejects U.S. Middle East Peace Plan                                      
Israel Responds Sharply to EU Official's Rejection of U.S. Peace Plan                                                  
"Westplaining": When Palestinians Say "No," Westerners Explain It Means "Maybe"  
Even the Israeli Left has quietly acknowledged Trump's peace plan                                  
Arab states might accept Trump's one-sided initiative, but an increasingly vocal new generation of Palestinians won't allow regional leaders to sign away their right to a sovereign homeland                                     
Israel Rejects Moving Israeli Arab Towns to Palestinian State                                                            
                         



Important/Interesting Reads 

Study: 80 Percent of U.S. Jews Say They Are Pro-Israel         White House Weighs Ouster of Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, Who Testified Against Trump                               
"I Lose Sleep Over This Building": A Rush to Make Synagogues Safe 
Increased security measures and how to pay for them have become an urgent issue for Jewish institutions.  
In Moldova, Jewish Teens Go to Schools to Dispel Anti-Semitic Stereotypes                                                 
Hebrew Becomes Hip in American Schools                                                                      
The Sabbath in an Era of Climate Change   
The campaign aims to produce as minimal an environmental impact as possible                                             
A different kind of head covering-not a kippah, not a 'sheitel'-gains popularity among non-Orthodox women     

In Israel, Ukrainian President Zelensky Tells Own Family's Holocaust Story     
Heifetz's Violin                                                                                                                                                                     How the violinist Emily Gresser came to make music with the virtuoso-in our barn                                         
This will also impact Israel-especially in its relations with Cyprus-and perhaps with regard to its Leviathan gas field and pipelines in the Mediterranean:
Greece Accidentally Steered Into a Foreign Policy Crisis   
Turkey is redrawing its borders in the Aegean-and the Greek government is failing to do much about it.                        
'Christian Birthright' Brings Thousands of College Students to Israel                                                       
Kirk Douglas, Iconic Movie Star Who Reconnected with Judaism Later in life, Dies at 103                              
                          



Israel
Ethiopian Israeli Singer to Represent Israel in Eurovision  
(article includes links to 2 of her videos)    
 'The Jerusalem Post' went on an exclusive tour of the recently discovered Pilgrimage Road in the City of David.        
12 About-To-Be IDF Soldiers Wounded in Terror Car-Ramming in Jerusalem                                                 
Open for Business-on Shabbat?  
Restaurants in Israel push for changes to kosher-certification rules                                                              
In Israel's Endless Elections, Female Candidates Have Been the Biggest Losers   
Party mergers and other systemic problems have buried the country's once-vaunted female political leadership.    
U.S. Seeks Normalization of Ties between Israel, Arab States                                               
And this from the country made infamous by the 3 No's: No Peace, No recognition, No negotiations:

Sudan Leader Moves toward Recognizing Israel in Historic Shift                             
Israel, Sudan Set Up Normalization Teams   
Sudan Army Agrees: Netanyahu Meeting Will Boost Security    
Sudan Agrees to Allow Overflights to Israel                                                                                          
Israeli Delegations Have Been Quietly Visiting Saudi Arabia                                                        
Egypt-Israel Gas Line Attacked in Sinai                                                                                
Record Israeli Tourism Continues in January                                                                                
               
  



 BDS / Anti-Semitism / anti-Zionism
Red Hot Chili Peppers Will Headline a New Israeli Music Festival                                                          
I Treat Epidemics, Including Community Violence. Here's My Advice for Containing the Spread of Anti-Semitism             
Before a Vote Meant to Support Students Who Confront Anti-Semintism, Israel and Palestinian Backers Scuffle at UC-Berkley Student Government Meeting. They Never Got to the Vote... 

This Is a Video of the Intimidation the Students were Subjected to (Minus the Scuffling):   
Conference of Presidents: "U.S. Jewry's Sense of Security Has Been Penetrated"                                        
Facebook Takes Down New Jersey Lakewood Area Page Accused of Anti-Semitism                                   
Anti-Semitic Incidents in Britain Hit New High                                                                         
Former U.K House of Commons Speaker, John Bercow, Says He Experienced Anti-Semitism with the Conservative Party                                             
Bag with Star Of David, Soap Left Outside Swedish Holocaust Day Display                                              
15% of Italians Say Holocaust Never Happened                                                                        



Iran / Syria / Hezbollah
Senior Iranian Commander Killed in Syria                                                                            
Number of Syrian Soldiers and Iranian-Backed Militiamen Killed in Airstrikes Rises to 23    
Iranian National Charged with Bank Fraud to the Tune of $115 Million and Lying to Federal Agents 
Washington Doesn't Understand Shiite Clerics in Iran or Iraq                                                                                       U.S. officials who praise Iraqi Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani while denouncing Iran's supreme leader fail to grasp that the two clerical leaders have a shared interest in resisting outside threats.                                                      




The Palestinians     

Fatah Rejects U.S. Peace Plan: Palestinian State Must Include All of Israel                                                  
The Palestinian Authority Is Unable to Mobilize Its People                                                              
Abbas 'Won't Be In Office for Much Longer,' Palestinian Officials Say                                            
The Palestinian leader has deliberately refrained from naming a successor and concerns are growing that chaos will follow his departure from office. Israeli defense officials believe Palestinian intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Majid Faraj will most likely succeed Abbas.
Arab Israelis Protest Against US Proposal to Include Their Towns in Palestine                                                        Dozens demonstrate in northern city of Umm al Fahm, other communities in so-called northern Triangle, which Trump outline suggests could become part of future Palestinian state     
                                     
Arab citizens of Israel, who number nearly two million, are up in arms about US President Donald Trump's plan for Middle East peace, which proposes including some of their communities in a future Palestinian state. Pictured: Residents of the Arab-Israeli town of Baqa al-Gharbiya protest the Trump peace plan, on February 1, 2020. (Photo by Ahmad Gharabli/AFP via Getty Images)
Poll: Egyptian Hostility to Hamas Is Growing                       
Israel Thwarts Weapons Smuggling into Gaza from Sinai by Sea                                                              
Hamas Continues Work on Cross-Border Tunnels                                                                          
Explosive Balloon Lands in West Bank Palestinian Village                                                                    


Hi-Tech
Two Israeli companies are rushing to complete development of facemasks that could be vital prevention tools in epidemics like Wuhan coronavirus.                                                                       
Intel Israel's Exports Up 70 Percent in 2019 to $6.6 Billion                                                       
Israeli Counter-Drone Company to Provide System to FBI and U.S. Military                                                 



Pop Culture
These Were the First Jewish Winners at the Academy Awards                                                              
 
Why Etgar Keret Wanted His Prizewinning Book Translated into Yiddish                                                        
 
Mark Zuckerberg Tells Tech Conference He Has 'Become More Religious'                                                 
 ' Leaning In' to Marriage: Sheryl Sandberg Announces Engagement to Tom Bernthal                                          
 
Was the U.N. Secretary General Quoting Bob Dylan or the Talmud?                                                      
My family Founded Barneys. Now the Great Department Store is Closing.                                                                     Saying goodbye to the store that was always out of my reach.                                                            




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Eli Degibri Quartet
February 11 | 8 PM & 10:30 PM
Blue Note
Known for his charismatic performances, Degibri has recorded and performed extensively since the mid-1990s. He has been called "an exceptionally melodic improviser with a big, bold tenor tone" (Bill Milkowski, JazzTimes) and "a bewitching fellow who shows impressive chops, as both a player and a composer." (Karl Stark, The Philadelphia Inquirer). Photo by Dan Balilty.

Art
You Belong Here
Through April 23
C24 Gallery
At a time when questions of home, homeland and displacement loom large on the global landscape, artists Orit Ben Shitrit & Nirit Takele each channel their personal histories of mixed identity, culminating in a multi-media exhibition that collectively explores notions of self and belonging in a complex and dangerous world.

Film
Wild
February 12 - 18
Film Forum
Uriel Sinai and Danel Elpeleg's documentary visits an Israeli hospital where injured owls, snakes, hyenas, and leopards are given loving medical care so they may be released back into the wild. But the hospital's medical staff must also contend with parallel personal issues that take their toll.

Music
Lola Marsh
February 8 | 9 PM
Rough Trade
After a critically acclaimed debut album, millions of streams, performances in leading festivals (Primavera, Pukkelpop, Sziget), syncs for "Better Call Saul" & Ebay to name a few, Tel Aviv's indie pop sensation, Lola Marsh perform at NYC's Rough Trade.

Film
Incitement
Ongoing
Landmark at 57 West
Angelika Film Center
Kew Gardens Cinemas
After a highly successful festival run including TIFF, New York Jewish Film Festival and a Best Film win at the Israeli Academy Awards, Yaron Zilberman's Incitement will be arriving in New York theaters. First weekend includes special appearances by Rabin family members, and with the filmmakers.

Theater
Color Blind: A Staged Performance
February 10 | 6:30 PM
Center for Architecture
Oren Safdie, a celebrated playwright of contemporary architecture culture, will present a staged performance of his new play entitled Color Blind, which satirizes the racial politics of a fictional jury assembled to select a winning design for the Smithsonian's recently built National Museum of African American Museum of History and Culture in Washington DC.

Music
Oded Tzur
February 12 | 7:30 PM, 9:30 PM
Jazz Standard
Israeli born, New York based saxophonist Oded Tzur performs at the Jazz Standard to celebrate his ECM Records debut, Here Be Dragons.

Art
Growing a Garden for an Unknown Lover by Boaz Aharonovitch
Through February 28
ZAZ10TS
Friends of Bezalel present Israeli artist Boaz Aharonovitch's photo-diary, artfully documenting a gardening project that took place in his studio. The outcome of the process is a meditation on the fleeting nature of the garden as a metaphor for the passage of time and longing. Curated by Aya Goshen.

Dance
The Third Dance
February 6 - 9
Portland Institute for Contemporary Art
Israeli choreographers Niv Sheinfeld and Oren Laor have been creating fascinating dance/theatre pieces that reflect their own personal relationship as a couple in life and on stage. In their new work The Third Dance, performed in the round (audience on all four sides), Niv and Oren reflect upon themes of love, mortality, and the need for acknowledgement. An old-fashioned record player and huge bouquet of flowers play important roles in this highly emotional work.

Art
Adi Nes
Through March 1
Fotografiska New York
Adi Nes explores social and political questions revolving around gender, the center vs. the periphery, Eastern vs. Western cultures, ethnicity, Judaism, local myths, militarism, humanism and social justice through his portraits.


Birthright Israel - Free Trip
10 amazing days of new discoveries, friendships, and adventures!
Free trip to Israel with Israel Outdoors
This trip is a gift from Birthright Israel with additional support from
Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey
May 31 - June 10, 2020

Onward Israel
Jumpstart your career!
Intern in your field of study this summer in Tel Aviv. Rolling admission registration has begun - don't miss your chance to apply!
Spend summer 2020 living and working in the center of Tel Aviv
Build Your Resume | Experience Israel
June 10 - August 4, 2020
Cost: $500
Rolling Admissions: November 18, 2019 - March 15, 2020