Susan Solow
Dual Inclinations?
I recently had the privilege of conducting summer Shabbat services and was struck by a commentary by the Baal Shem Tov who imagined battles referenced in the portion not as a military battle, but as an inner struggle every individual faces in life.
We are each born with both yetzer hatov and yetzer hara - - the inclination for good and the inclination for evil. This passage in Ki Teitzei, comes at a perfect time of year, during the month of Elul, just before the High Holy Days, when we must reflect on our deeds, our promises and lives during the preceding year. This is called chesbon hanefesh, taking stock of our lives.
Now is the time to face down our dual inclinations - - yetzer hatov and yetzer hara. We all think about making changes in our lives - - overcoming failings of the past and making our lives and the lives of those we know and those we love better.
During this month of Elul, in preparation for the Holy Days, we are encouraged to bring forth our inner yearnings, possibilities - - our highest selves - - at the same time bringing forth our inner pain, grief and loss. We are urged to emerge - - come forth from hiding from ourselves. As the Talmud states: “We begin our journey toward renewed connection with the One ‘whose seal is truth’, when we dare to come forth.”
This is a time of assessment of the year about to end and a hope for the future year. The arrival of Elul stirs in many feelings of anticipation along with a touch of anxiety. The past year was one of mixed emotions, positive and negative accomplishments and experiences. The New Year will present its own challenges, many of which are as yet unknown to us. Elul is the perfect time to assess the events of the past year and look ahead so as to face whatever challenges we might have to meet with strength, determination and faith.
T’shuvah - - repentance - - does not come easily. The Baal Shem Tov also believed that in order to accomplish t’shuvah one must engage in the battle to reach our better sense of self. It is always important, but especially so during this month of inner reflection, that we continue to strive to find our yetzer hatov (the good) while battling to control our yetzer hara (the evil) in order to avoid allowing it to control us. If we make room for God in our battles with internal enemies, God will surely join us in these efforts.
As we share the Holy Days together, please make it a point to reach out to me and let me know your interests and desires for enriching our Temple. Everyone is a necessary piece of the puzzle that makes our synagogue the wonderful place it is. Without your input and participation, we are limited to be all we can be.
My family joins me in wishing all of you a year of blessings, health and peace.
L’shana tovah,
Susan
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Rabbi’s Annual Report - 2009
This annual report marks the completion of my tenth year serving as Rabbi of Temple Shalom of Aberdeen. Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to be present at this joyous time. While I am honored to have had the privilege to lead this wonderful community, not all has been joyful of recent days. This past year has been interesting, to say the least. It started with the historical election of our first African American president and has been marred by the great financial meltdown and recession, the likes we have not seen since the 1930’s. Unfortunately, we here at Temple Shalom have not been immune to these challenges. Some of our members lost money, others lost their jobs, and some even face the fear of losing their homes. First and foremost, let me assure you that the leadership of Temple Shalom as well as every member of your professional staff is working hard to maintain services and support to you as well as help our members in need. Second, we are all in this together, working side by side to maintain Temple Shalom’s strong presence in this community and assisting one another – no one has been turned away. Finally, as the writer of Ecclesiastes has taught us, “To every thing there is a season.” These times will pass and the world will be a little different. Temple Shalom, as a true Reform congregation, will adapt to these changes, but we will remain true to our core mission – to provide a strong, vibrant Reform Jewish presence for many generations to come.
We all take great pride knowing that Temple Shalom is a truly welcoming community. Many of our newer members as well as our long-term members have commented how much they appreciate the warmth and care that everyone receives when they walk into our doors. No where is this more evident when someone among us has lost a loved one this past year and we all gathered together to comfort the mourners in their time of need, sending them a meal of condolence and helping make the minyan for the worship service. We also gathered together for numerous wedding blessings, baby namings and shared with one another our blessings. I thank each and every member of Temple Shalom for helping us maintain our warmth and welcome.
All of us here at Temple Shalom value the importance of quality education. As your rabbi, I had the privilege teaching the Seventh Grade, electives for our Eighth and Ninth Graders in our MORESHhA program, Confirmation and Siyyum (our 11th/12th Grade program). In addition, I spent eight weeks with the Sixth Grade studying the aspects of becoming a B’nai Mitzvah, talk at our weekly Bible Study sponsored by our Sisterhood and the Shabbat Morning Torah study class. This past year, we celebrated with 20 students and their families as they marked their becoming B’nai Mitzvah. We rejoiced with 11 students and their families as they marked their Confirmation on Shavuot. We beamed with great pride as we commended 14 students and their families as we recognized their graduation from our Hebrew High School program. We are truly blessed in the direction and guidance that Elisa Juros, our Director of Education, provides with the cooperation of the Board of Education under the chair of Dorothy Lake who has assisted above and beyond in so many ways. All of this is our formal educational programs, but there are so much more.
As your rabbi, I am faithful to the meaning of my title, that of “teacher.” I also do some teaching in my visits to the residents of The Willows of Holmdel, Pleasant Valley Adult Day Care, and Madison House of Matawan. Our Sisterhood leads a great Temple Tots program for our pre-school students and their families, and I have the privilege to interact with them. And, of course, there is more.
One of our precious gems is our Temple Shalom Nursery School. We are blessed Cindy Terebush leads our Nursery School as Director. It is loads of fun to interact with these students each and every week. I publicly extend my gratitude to each member of our Nursery School staff who truly care for each of our students as well as to the members of the Nursery School committee under the leadership of Judy Shapanka.
Adult Jewish Growth, our adult education programs, is diligently led by Bruce Rubinstein with the support of many others. I thank Norman and Anna Katz who support our Scholar-in-Residence program. We all had a wonderful learning experience with Cantor Michael Mandel. Many thanks to Sisterhood, Brotherhood, Caring Committee, Outreach Committee, Adult Jewish Growth for sponsoring and leading educational programs and all of the members who either led study sessions and/or participated. We also have six women making final preparations for their Adult B’not Mitzvah which will take place on October 31, 2009. We are a congregation that is always striving to learn more.
We are also a community committed to tikkun olam – the mitzvah of repairing the world. Our Social Action Committee, led by Lenore Robinson with the support of many, have revitalize our commitment to social justice. Our Confirmands spend time at the Religious Action Center in Washington, D.C., learning about issues and lobbying. Our membership created a program and led an interactive Green Day to remind all of us to take care of our planet. Our members gathered and collected coats and clothing to help the needy. All of us donate food and time to help feed the hungry. Temple Shalom understands that all of us have a responsibility to take care of our community and we really do it nicely.
We are a congregation committed to the state of Israel. In February, 15 congregants joined with me for an exciting journey to Israel. We explored the land of our religious roots and interacted with the country of today. It was rewarding to see all of our efforts to support one another realized. Our congregation supports Israel in many ways, from Shalom Shuk to building Masada out of legos to participating in educational programs. We all support a strong Israel.
We do all of this to strengthen our future and this is evident in our youth programs. ToSTY, our senior youth group and Young Evrim, our junior youth group are led with care and guidance by Amanda Rein and Ally Kanofsky, respectively. The two of them have guided well and we thank them. It has been my privilege to serve as rabbinic advisor to our regional youth group, NFTY-GER as well as a faculty member at our regional URJ camp, Camp Harlam. Our youth represent the hope and potential for a strong future. It is important for all of us to continue to support and work with them to enable their growth.
This is the tenth annual report I have given. During this spring the congregation began the second long-range planning study in my time here and are looking at our current operational systems and determining how best we can remain faithful to our core mission. These times are challenging for many reasons; however, I love my work and I love serving this congregation. For these past ten years, you have let me into your lives to celebrate with you, to comfort you, to teach and to learn together. I feel that it has been — and continues to be — a privilege for me to have led and guided this congregation, with its singular vibrancy and dedication. I treasure the many relationships I have developed over the years with you and with the leaders of the congregation, building a sacred partnership that strengthens each and all of us and the Jewish people.
I have been most fortunate to work with wonderful colleagues in Cantor Camhi, Elisa Juros and Cindy Terebush and dedicated staff members, Stephanie Pinck, Sheila Phillips and Lisa Prepon-Bernstein along with the support of Carlos, Keri and Jesse. We have worked together to create a Jewish community here at Temple Shalom that has enriched hundreds of adults and children over the years. I have been privileged to watch the congregation meet the challenges of the world in which we live and find meaning in our Jewish lives.
I look forward to working with our newly elected leaders, our Board and committees during this next year and know that it will be exciting and fulfilling for all of us. Most importantly, I know that the congregation’s many strengths will carry us well into the next phase of its history.
Samantha — my partner throughout my career and my source of strength — I publicly thank you for all of your support and encouragement. My children, Aly, Joey and David - thank you for allowing me to pursue my desire and need to serve the Jewish people and this holy congregation. Temple Shalom is our home and this is where our friends are. This is a place filled with great warmth and care.
May Temple Shalom continue to go from strength to strength and continue to flourish as a center of Jewish life and learning, an exceptional place for all of us.
Respectfully submitted,
Rabbi Laurence P. Malinger
June 2009 – Sivan 5769
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President's Annual Report - 2009
Kol Yisrael Arevim Ze Lazeh
All Of Israel Are Responsible For One Another
At this time of year, we are reading the fourth book of the Torah, the Book of Numbers, B’midbar in Hebrew. The Israelites are experiencing their years of wandering in the wilderness, where they encounter many struggles and challenges. While we may feel at times that we are wandering in an wilderness of uncertainty, we have a sacred covenant that travels with us. Our sanctuary, Temple Shalom, provides us with the connections with which we will journey through this together.
For the past year, it has been nearly impossible to escape the economic news that fills newspapers, radio, television, and the Internet. As with all non-profit institutions, and, particularly, houses of worship, Temple Shalom has experienced the effects of the financial difficulties facing many in our community. However, we have managed to hold true to our mission and address the fine balancing act of serving our congregants while working cooperatively to manage our budget.
ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF OUR MEMBERSHIP:
As a way of building community during a time of economic difficulty we scheduled events that were either free or low-cost to provide enjoyable activities for adults and children. We are fortunate to have a dynamic and dedicated Membership Committee that has worked tirelessly on recruiting and integrating our new members while providing events and programming to retain membership. In addition to offering many activities for our current members, the committee has set up information booths at local community days and placed professionally designed ads in the local secular and Jewish press. We are also in the beginning to develop an outreach program – “Temple Shalom Compassionate Healing Hearts” -to advise and support those in our community who have been affected by the current adverse economic climate.
BUDGET & FINANCE:
Early on in the year, we determined that our initial dues projection for the year needed to be adjusted downward, due to the higher than anticipated number of resignations and the increased applications for financial assistance, both of which were tied directly to the current economic conditions. Our Budget & Finance Committee began to take a close look at our revenue and expense situation by the fall of2008 and began to ask departments and committees to curtail discretionary spending and make all possible reductions in budgeted expense categories to tyro meet revenue shortfalls. These same committees and departments have responded proactively to our call for further reductions in expenses in the budget for2009-2010.
In order to reduce expenses while maintaining our level of programming, we will be seeing some changes in the coming year. We will be streamlining some of our operations while conserving energy, custodial and administrative expenses. For example, our building will be closed on Mondays during July and August, and during the school year (September to June); we will close for half-day on Thursdays. Afternoon Religious School classes for grades 4-7 will shift to Monday and Wednesday.
DUES & FEES:
We are committed to keeping synagogue affiliation as affordable as possible while maintaining those operations that fulfill our mission, and the budget you will be asked to approve tonight has NO dues increase. While keeping next year’s dues level with 2008-2009 rates will contribute to a budgeted deficit, we feel it is important to be sensitive to the financial situations many of our congregants face. However, there are many congregants who have not been adversely affected by the economy, and we will ask that those members consider a voluntary additional dues contribution in their monthly payment. While there will be a modest increase in Religious School tuition next year, the budget also incorporates a more generous discount policy for those members who have more than one child enrolled in Religious School. The post-confirmation program (called Siyyum) will have no increase in tuition.
OUR FACILITY:
Through the generosity of our auxiliaries and some of our very dedicated members, we were able to complete the major renovation of our Social Hall last summer. The project came in well under budget, and more than half of the cost came from donations. On behalf of the Temple, I would like to thank Gregg Sonnenfeld for his expertise and Mike Silverman for his diligent oversight of the project. The movable partitions have afforded us much more flexibility in programming in the Social Hall space, and the built-in screen has been a wonderful addition for viewing films and slideshows. On November 1, 2008, many of our congregants gathered for a gala reception in our new space to celebrate the completion of the project.
Another generous donation helped complete the renewal of our garden area with the installation of the pergola at the entrance. Other areas of our facility that were addressed this past year were the installation of a new sound system in the sanctuary and the planned replacement of old thermostats to programmable units that will save energy.
COMMUNICATING WHO WE ARE:
We continue to be featured prominently in local print media, both secular and Jewish, with many feature articles during the year about Temple Shalom. Articles were written about our new Cantor, the renovation of our Social Hall, and the Confirmation Class’s trip to the Union for Reform Judaism’s Religious Action Center in Washington, to name but a few.
Our bi-monthly bulletin, The Shalom, is continually refined and improved, and recently we have been able to post the entire newsletter online as soon as it is ready for printing. We are also working on enhancing our website, and we are working on Search Engine Optimization so that our home page will come up closer to the top of search results for someone looking for a Reform synagogue in our area. It is clear from speaking to new members that they use the Internet to search for a synagogue, so making our website as user-friendly and as accessible as possible will bring more potential members to us.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE:
In order to remain a vital and vibrant Temple in the future, the Board of Trustees approved in February the formation of an ad hoc Medium to Long Range Planning Committee to anticipate Temple Shalom’s needs in light of changing demographics and financial uncertainties, and to help Temple Shalom plan a course that will strengthen its position. The committee is made up of six members of this year’s Board of Trustees, and they will have a preliminary report this summer.
Developing new leaders is always a requirement for sustaining an institution. We once again implemented our excellent leadership development program – L’Dor Vador – this year, and Temple Shalom will benefit from ten graduates who will begin their individual paths to Temple leadership.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
It has been a distinct honor to serve as President for these past two years. I have been very fortunate by being surrounded by great people, the professionals and staff at Temple Shalom and our lay leaders. Our clergy are the spiritual core of our synagogue, and their work this year both inside the sanctuary and in the community-at-large have highlighted Temple Shalom as a center of liberal Judaism. I have had the privilege of working in partnership with Rabbi Malinger, and I will treasure the experiences we have shared. I was pleased to get to know Cantor Camhi this year and have enjoyed her musical contributions to our worship.
Our educational professionals, Elisa Juros and Cindy Terebush, deserve my deep appreciation and respect for the work they have done in teaching, inspiring and guiding our young people.
It has been a pleasure to work with our office staff, Stephanie Pinck and Sheila Phillips; they have made my job easier with their assistance, advice and helpfulness.
My thanks also go out to our custodians, Carlos, Jesse and Kerry, for their work in making our communal Jewish home clean and comfortable.
My deepest appreciation goes to the dedicated volunteers at Temple Shalom, without whom our synagogue could not thrive. I feel particularly blessed to have been able to work with our Officers and members of the Board of Trustees. To those members of the Board who are stepping down from their positions, please know that your contributions to Temple Shalom have been worthwhile, and to those who will be joining the Board this year, I commend you on stepping up to a position of leadership. To the nominated slate of officers and trustees, I wish you all the best, and may we all continue to work to strengthen our synagogue community l’dor vador, from generation to generation.
L’shalom,
Karen Winograd, President
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Brotherhood's Annual Report - 2009
Dear Temple and Brotherhood Members, friends and supporters,
For Brotherhood, 2008-2009 was again a very full year, indicative of our unflagging commitment to Temple. Our calendar was unrelenting, as we executed 18 events during the year, excluding 4 cancelled events and events where we provide assistance. Our programs reached many areas and provided opportunity to engage, educate, entertain, involve, and assist all of you. Our breakfast programs featured exceptional guests, all leading authorities in their respective fields. And by design, in an effort to stay fresh, each year we review and revamp some of our events, while still reprising many favorites as is. As always from year to year some things work and some don’t.
Our fundraising was down a bit this year but that did not stop us from continuing our support to those areas of the Temple that have come to rely upon us for assistance, such as the Kickoff Breakfast; Nursery School Program; RAC Youth Trip to name a few. Our practice is to get accumulated funds back working in Temple as soon as possible. Brotherhood’s ad hoc committee on funds dispersal has reported to our Board and we hope to share some good news with you very shortly. Thank you to all who supported our fundraising efforts, and the volunteers who assisted us with our programs throughout the year. Without your support Brotherhood could not do what we do.
I am proud to represent the great guys who have accomplished all of what we did this past year. I personally would like to thank the following:
The 2008-09 Brotherhood Board
Our Elected Officers: Howard Scenes EVP, Sam Shapanka VP, Bruce Rubinstein Treasurer, and Meyer Slobotsky Secretary.
Immediate Past President: Elliot Olschwang.
Our Past Presidents: Hy Rosenberg, Ron Shapiro, Jack Saran, Jay Weiss and Harry Waits.
Our Trustees: Steve Altman, Phil Devinsky, Mitch Friedman, Bill May, Eric Menace, Al Precuts, Evan Ross, Ted Roum, Howard Spitzer, Steve Surowitz, Steve Wattenberg, and Charles Wolfson.
On a personal note, as I conclude my second and final year as President I want to thank everyone who enabled me to successfully continue Brotherhood’s long history of distinguished service to Temple Shalom. It has been my pleasure and privilege to serve in this capacity. I hope you are able to join me in providing that same level of support for my successor Howard Scenes, and our incoming Brotherhood Officers for the 2009-2010 year.
Gary Enoch
Brotherhood Provides Assistance To:
Facilities: High Holiday Sanctuary Turn Around
Temple & Ritual: Kickoff Breakfast; High Holiday Ushering; Holiday Food Drive Truck; Courtyard Sukkoth
Family Concert: Ticket and Souvenir Sales
Youth Group: Purim Carnival Tickets Sales and Gift Redemption
2008-2009 Brotherhood Programs
Brotherhood Paid Members Breakfast – “The Liars Club”
Breakfast Program - Healthy Kids, Healthy Parents
Men’s Game Night Out (5 Scheduled)
Breakfast Program - Eye Care & Lasik for the Entire Family
Breakfast Program – Dealing With Stress & Relationships in the Economic Crisis
Jazz & Dinner Wine Fundraiser w. Sisterhood
Trenton Devils Hockey Family Outing
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Sisterhood's Annual Report - 2009
This past year has been a busy one for Sisterhood. We thank everyone that supported our programs and activities, both financially and through devotion of their precious time. Thank you especially to our Sisterhood members and our board members. Your membership and involvement with Sisterhood indicates your understanding of the contribution that Sisterhood makes in our Temple community. Thank you also to Rabbi Malinger for his devotion to Sisterhood activities and the guidance he provides to us every year.
We are very proud of the many events we sponsored, mitzvahs we performed and donations made to the Temple this past year. Last fall we fulfilled our pledge to the Temple by donating $15,000 toward renovation of the Temple Social Hall. In addition we donated substantial amounts to the Religious School and Nursery School as well as $1,000 for Israeli Scholarships and $750 to three students attending Camp Harlam this summer.
Our two largest social events this year were the Wine, Dine and Jazz evening which we co-sponsored with Brotherhood, and our Spring Gala Fashion Show and Auction. Both of these projects were open to the community and generated much needed income. In addition to our financial successes, these events involved three generations of Temple and Sisterhood members. Sisterhood’s involvement with Temple life is not limited to social events; it also includes study, worship, acts of kindness and support of our children’s education.
Part of Sisterhood’s mission is to support the education of our children through Jewish values, traditions, and their connection with the Reform Jewish Community. In addition to direct monetary contributions to the Religious School, we do this by sponsoring gifts of ritual significance to our Religious School students and Nursery School students on Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Chanukah, Purim, Consecration, B’nai Mitzvah, Confirmation... We bake hamentaschen for our temple community and with Nursery School and Religious School students, offer the Schalach Manot gift basket program, sponsor the Temple Tots program for pre-schoolers and their parents and the Tot Shabbat Services. We sponsored the Tuesday morning Bible class and the Nursery School’s Shabbat program and paint a Kiddush cup program. We paid for a third of the Kick-Off Breakfast, provided break the fast cake and wine after Yom Kippur. We also provided partial scholarship for the Confirmation Class’ Religious Action Center trip to Washington, DC and partial scholarship for seventh and eight graders trip to Camp Kutz. We made a $250 donation to the Religious School for the sixth graders tallit workshop, a $500 donation to Board of Education cultural enrichment program and a $400 donation to the Family Concert. We made donations of items for ToSTY’s coffee house auction. We made ritual items available to our congregation by operating the Judaica Shop including our Hanukkah Kids Only Shop for the Religious and Nursery School and provide special order services for simchas.
Last October we held several events to mark Cancer Awareness month and to educate the community about the greater prevalence of breast cancer in the Jewish community. We held a Breast Cancer education program at the Temple and raised over $1,500 for the American Cancer Society by participating in a walk-a-thon at Point Pleasant.
We also participated in acts of Tikkun Olam by organizing a Thanksgiving food drive to benefit the Matawan Food Pantry. We brought plants to Jewish patients at Bayshore Hospital, sponsored the School Supply Drive, sent Hanukkah cards along with telephone calling cards to a congregant solider stationed in Iraq, donated hammentashen and shalach manot gift baskets to senior citizens in local nursing homes and to some of our recovering congregants. We also donated 3% of our net revenues from our fundraisers to Mazon and made donations to the World Union for Progressive Judaism, the Jewish Braille Fund, the Miriam Goldberg Fund, and the YES Fund.
Sisterhood is a proud member of our national organization, Women of Reform Judaism. Last October two of our board members attended the WRJ Regional Biennial in Morristown, NJ where we shared in worship and study with Sisterhood members from our WRJ Mid-Atlantic District. Several fundraisers were held specifically for the YES fund this year and as a result our Sisterhood will be placed on the WRJ YES honor roll for these contributions. We also made a $100 contribution toward the renovation of Camp Harlam’s Chapel on the Hill, a fundraising project by the WRJ Mid-Atlantic Region. We also sponsored a well-attended Shabbaton in February where Cantor Camhi led us in worship.
I encourage all women in the Temple to join Sisterhood, join a committee, attend a function, give an hour or two of your time or make a donation. You will not be disappointed. You will meet enrich your Jewish life by meeting great women and feeling more involved with Temple life. Remember without you we are one woman short.
Suzanne Silverman
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Administration's Annual Report - 2009
The Administration Committee is charged with overseeing the operations of the Temple that do not fit into other Committee’s jurisdiction. It insures that the Temple’s insurance policies are appropriate, and that we have secured the best value available.
This year, we were able to implement an offering of AFLAC insurance to employees of the Temple. This is a benefit that comes at no cost to the Temple, and allows employees to secure secondary insurance coverage in a number of different areas. The only on going involvement is processing a payroll deduction and as transmittal of that deduction to AFLAC.
Temple Shalom’s telephone system is many years old, and the Committee started to evaluate replacement of the system. However, did to current fiscal restraints, that project has been placed on hold.
The members of the Committee for this year are: Phil Divinsky, Reha Kaston, Susan Miller, Temple Secretary, Susan Solow and Jack Szafran. On a personal note, I would like to thank Susan Miller for acting as Chair of the Committee during my illness.
The Temple’s Computers are under the care of our Computer sub-committee. They have been working to insure that our computers will not crash and leave us without access to vital information. That project is almost competed. The Committee has also been looking into securing a means of letting the Nursery School Director know who is seeking admission to the building. That project is also an ongoing effort.
The members of the Sub-Committee are: Phil Divinsky, Andy Fryefield, Chair, Paul Kahn, Stu Kaplow, and Jay Olarsch. Our Temple is very fortunate to have these dedicated men working so very hard on our behalf.
A special thanks to Stephanie Pinick for her on going support and advice. Her presence and her knowledge are greatly appreciated.
Our Committee meets on the 4th Wednesday of the month, and any member of the Temple who would like to join is, will be most welcome.
Cordially, Burt Jakowitz
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Adult Jewish Growth's Annual Report – 2009
I would like to extend my appreciation to all who assisted me in our Jewish pedagogical journey. Barbara Kluger (my partner in life) was a valuable asset, Sharon Steinhorn , was instrumental in putting together the Scholar in Residence program, Margo Wolfson, Julia Barugel and Ruth Birnbaum were a great help.
We started the year with Cantor Camhi, teaching us new tunes for the High Holidays.
We viewed a film on the relationship between the Jewish and African American communities followed by an interesting discussion with our neighbors under Rabbi Mailinger’s guidance.
The December dilemma, a successful way to negotiate the holidays was explored with interfaith couples.
Ed Miller, lifelong Yankee fan, Bronx native and baseball savant, taught us about Jews in Sports.
We had a lively panel discussion on the similarities and differences in Jewish thought and theology with our cousins at the conservative synagogue Beth Am.
The Beth Schafer concert was awesome, thanks to Margo, an indefatigable worker, and Charles Wolfson, who started and nurtures the Family Concert Fund.
Our scholar in resident, Cantor Michael Mandel shared his experience of growing up Jewish in Cuba and taught us songs in Ladino.
In conjunction with Sisterhood we showed the film, Arranged, that dealt with the friendship that develops between two devout teachers, one Jewish and one Muslim, that learn about their similar values as their families prepare to marry them off.
Bruce Rubinstein
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Board of Education's Annual Report - Last Year- Betsy Kimmish
For the first time, the Religious School and PTO restructured the way we organize volunteers. Each family was asked to volunteer for at least one of the many activities requiring extra assistance. Board of Education members lead the many task forces that oversee the various committees. In this way, more parents became involved in our programs which include everything from class activities, social action programs, holidays, fundraising, and library. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped to make our programs successful.
In November, the Religious School students participated in an Israeli “Mitzvah Mall,” raising over $1,000 for the following charities:
Myriam’s Dream, the Jewish National Fund, Pizza IDF, and Hadassah. Students researched each of these charities and explained what they learned to the “shoppers” who made contributions to the organizations of their choice. Many of these donations were Chanukah gifts.
The Library Program has been a smashing success for both Sunday school students and weekday students. We appreciate the efforts of Carla Zimmerman and her volunteers. Students used the library, are read a book, and take out books.
Thanks to the efforts of our wonderful faculty, students in each grade led Shabbat services with great skill and creativity. Aside from the fifth grade service, which was on a Friday during Kabbalat Shabbat, the other grades were treated to bagel breakfasts, sponsored by the PTO.
In April, weekday students enjoyed a special creative Passover Workshop led by Brooklyn-based artist Avi Zuckerman. Students made beautiful etched glass Seder plates. The event was such a success that students did not want to leave early for soccer or baseball games! They convinced their parents to let them stay and finish what they started! Thank you to Sisterhood for supporting this program.
Fundraising efforts, thanks to Beverly Shabat, Board of Education member, include Box Tops (approximately $300 collected this year), Flower Bulbs (about $400) and Snack Sales ($900 raised this year). Information for this fall’s bulb sale will be coming your way this summer. Our printer recycling program generates approximately $75 to $100 so keep those ink cartridges and old cell phones coming. Continue to support our fundraisers.
The PTO helped to support the Rick Recht concert that was held in March. Students in our choir and Morehhsha participated.
In late April, second and third graders went on an imaginary trip to Israel. A lot of work goes into this event and we could not do this without our wonderful volunteers.
The students ended with a grand celebration honoring Israel’s 60th birthday. Students learned Israeli dancing, Modern Hebrew, Israeli music and had a historic overview of Israel. They were then treated to an Israeli feast of falafel, pita and birthday cake.
Morehhsha news: The annual Camp Kutz and RAC trips were great successes. This year’s graduation class had 7 students and there are 12 students in the confirmation class. Eighth and ninth grade courses this year included Jewish cooking, You go Girl! Highlight Great Jewish women, Jews and Rock ‘n Roll, Jews who have changed the world. The students who went to Camp Kutz had a great time! Mazal Tov to our 12 confirmation students. They had an incredible experience at the RAC. Our Siyyum class, comprised of 11th and 12th students, had an enrollment of over 40 students this year. Thank you to the Rabbis for adding Sunday evenings to their already busy schedules. Mazal Tov to our 7 graduates.
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Caring Committee's Annual Report - Last Year - Steven and Jo Ann Kairys
This has been a very positive and productive year for the Caring Committee. This year’s theme was “Family Relationships.” Monthly meetings were well attended and the work of the group was important to members and the congregation. We would like to thank the members of the Committee who made the year such a success: Sam Shapanka, Joan Marotta, Shelia Rubin, Phil Rubin, Bobbie Jacowitz, Barbara Raffel, Gail Schesser, Helene Langman, Ann Hiller and Julia Barugel. We would also like to thank our Temple Board Committee liaisons, Diane Allen and Barbara Kluger.
1. Caring Weekend 2007
· The speaker for the November 16th Shabbat Caring Service was David Tulin, a Philadelphian and past President of the Philadelphia Jewish Board of Education. David gave a rousing and energetic sermon about why Tzedakah is not charity, and addressed the reasons why empathy and caring are part of being Jewish.
· On Sunday morning, November 18th, Committee members Barbara Raffel and Steve Kairys presented a free breakfast program for parents, “Living with Your Teenager.” About 30 people attended.
· Our November Mitzvah of the Month involved collecting books and DVDs for children at the Ronald MacDonald House and the Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. The project was well advertised and hundreds of books and DVD’s were donated and distributed.
2. Social Action The Caring Committee supported a winter program by the Social Action Committee and shared in the costs and preparation for a discussion by Temple member Dr. Elliott Katz on teenage suicide.
3. Spring Event 2008 On April 13th, the Caring Committee offered a dinner and movie program. In keeping with our theme of family relationships, the movie, ‘Rashevski’s Tango,’ told with humor and pathos the story of a French family of three generations and their struggle for their Jewish identity. The film was followed by a discussion about what it means to be Jewish and the conflicts that war and the Diaspora. Over 40 congregants and friends attended.
4. The Bereavement Group, facilitated by Rabbi Shira Stern, continued to provide support and comfort to congregants dealing with loss. Attendance for the year was about 8 to 10 persons each session. Donors have agreed to fund bereavement group for another year, perhaps beyond. However, there may be a fiscal gap later this year. Rabbi asked the committee to approve a recommended budget item of $600. It was agreed to add the budget line and use the Caring Fund to supplement bereavement fund, if necessary, but unlikely.
5. June 2008 The Caring Committee again sponsored and supported the monthly Service of Peace, Comfort and Healing. The Tuesday night services alternated every other month with the Havdalah Saturday services. Margo Wolfson again recorded and played the music and songs for the service. Rabbi was a regular attendee for the services. The service was re-organized and printed by the Rubins.
6. The Caring Committee again offered a $500 scholarship to a member who is studying in the health care or education field. The 2007 scholarship was awarded to Marissa Semler, a junior at Seton Hall University, who plans a career in education. The award was presented at the Caring Service on November 16th.
Thank you again to Stephanie Safdieh for contacting people on the MeShebarach list and mailing out ‘thinking of you’ cards.
The committee has begun to discuss new programs and themes for next year, including a support group for parents of teenagers and interactions with other Temples in the area. We look forward to another productive and supportive year.
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Facility Committees’ Annual Report - 2009
Keeping the Temple Shalom building and grounds clean, safe and in the best condition possible is an ongoing task which is rewarding yet challenging. The Facilities Committee, working with the Temple Board of Trustees, plans, implements, and oversees improvements and maintenance which can be small and quick, or larger, and more long term. The logistics can often be daunting as we strive to deliver a quality product, keep costs to a minimum, and integrate these changes with the least amount of disruption in a very busy building.
One constant highlight of each year is Facilities leadership of the configuration and restoration of the Sanctuary and Social Hall for the High Holy Days. It is our responsibility to get this done, and we do so with the help of our many Temple friends. Thank you again to all the volunteers that came down and helped out. Working together with you as a team, gets us done quickly and sets the spiritual mood for a time of renewal and uplifting that carries us through the year.
This year’s short term accomplishments included: volunteer cleanup of the grounds (most recently on June 7th – “thank you” to the Karten family, Malinger family, Acasia & Elliot Olschwang, Bob Lear, Karen Winograd, Jared & Mitch Friedman, JJ & Margo Wolfson, Gary Enoch, David Wasserman, Paul Robinson, Ethan Smallee, Will & Ruth Queen), pew repairs and never ending maintenance of a very old building.
This year, as in years past, we put together our section of the Temple budget, dealt with security issues, worked with the custodians, roof and Sanctuary lighting maintenance, and reviewed and negotiated maintenance service contracts as they came up renewal, including trash hauling, lawn mowing, exterminator, sprinkler, and HVAC to name a few.
Long term plans which are in various stages of investigation, planning or implementation, include: improving the building’s accessibility, maximizing recycling efforts, energy audit, installing programmable thermostats, and assessing potential improvement of the parking lot.
We are fortunate to have a committee of caring volunteers many of whom are skilled professionals that have the experience and knowledge needed to help us make the appropriate decisions. I'd like to take the opportunity here to thank them all for their support, and personal effort in planning and research, and in getting their hands dirty this past year. The current members are: Evan Ross, David Wasserman, Myrna Kluger, Charles Wolfson, Rudy Bergenfeld and Elliot Olschwang.
I'd also like to thank outgoing Temple President Karen Winograd and the Board of Trustees for your confidence in me, and for affording me the opportunity to serve Temple Shalom in this position of responsibility. I’m looking forward to working with Susan Solow on the challenges that lay ahead.
Mitch Friedman, Facilities Chair (DrFriedman@comcast.net)
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Library's Annual Report - 2009
Committee members: Carla Zimmerman, Chair, Kendal Karten, Chaya Schneider, and Julia Barugel. With special thanks to Kayla and Erica Schneider-Smith, and Sal Kluger.
This year 62 books, dvds, and music cds were added to the Temple Library collection. The focus has been on increasing the dvd format available to children and adults. Many documentaries, comedies, and dramas, old and new, American and foreign, have been added to the collection for adults. Children’s dvds have concentrated on Bible stories.
During the school year, the Kindergarten through 3rd grades visited the library bi-monthly. The children were read stories and borrowed books and videos and music cds to enjoy at home. The Hebrew School 4th and 5th graders had bookcart visits to their classrooms. Over 130 items were circulated to our Temple youth.
Adult usage of the library has increased this year, but more effort will be needed to get the word out about the great offerings of the Temple Library. This year we have presented several book reviews in the Shalom newsletter and the Mitt’n’Drinnen. Library movies have been used for Temple events and adult education.
Over 800 books, movies, and music cds are now recorded in our online catalog, which can be accessed via the Temple’s website at www.templeshalomnj.org/education/library. The catalog is now enhanced with thumbnail images of the book covers, for those of us who don’t judge books by their covers, but do recognize them that way.
We greatly appreciate the support of Elisa Juros, Lisa Prepon Bernstein, and Corrine Wolfson in the Education Department; Dorothy Lake and Board of Education, and the Sunday and Hebrew School teachers, as well as the assistance of Stephanie Pinck and Sheila Phillips in the Temple office and the custodial staff.
Any questions or suggestions of books/cds/dvds are welcomed. Contact Carla at librarytempleshalom@yahoo.com.
Carla Zimmerman
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Membership Committee's Annual Report - 2009
The mission of the Membership Committee is to provide prospective members with information about joining our temple community, and provide new and current members with opportunities to create connections so that they feel part of the temple and want to retain their temple membership. In order to achieve these objectives, we have built on the strength of the programming established by previous membership committees while continuing to add some new things.
The Membership Committee promotes membership to Temple Shalom to prospective members through participation in multiple community days throughout the area including Aberdeen and Holmdel. The temple membership materials given out to prospective members have been updated to include an all inclusive education brochure that covers the temples activities from nursery school through to adult education as well as a brochure that covers how non-Jewish family members can participate in temple activities. In addition, members of the membership committee were at the Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Tashlich services that are open to the community to speak with any prospective members that were interested in getting more information. The Membership committee follows up on all inquiries for more information on the temple generated from all of these different activities.
The Membership Committee created an advertising campaign for the temple that ran in local newspapers as a supplement to the holiday ads that we have been running in recent years. The temple website is a primary source of information on our temple for prospective members as well as existing members..
New members to the temple become part of year long cycle of Membership Commitee welcoming activities including a new member orientation where they have the opportunity to meet each other as well as temple leadership and learn the basics of how the temple operates, a new Member Shabbat where these families are formally welcomed into our Temple family, and a dinner at Rabbi and Samantha Malinger’s home where they have another opportunity to get to know each other.
This past year we again hosted activities to help facilitate the building of connections between temple families. We held a picnic at a local park for the parents as well as the children of families that joined the temple within the last 3 years to give them an opportunity to know each other in a more casual setting. The Membership Committee also spearheaded the building of Masada out of Legos event that was designed to be both educational and fun as well as to building connections amongst families with children in the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th grade. We have again promoted our special membership plan for families whose children are all younger than third grade.
Lastly, once again we honored our 36 year members alongside our 18 year and 25 year members at the annual milestone Shabbat service. This was a great way to recognize the many temple members that have supported the temple over the years.
The Membership Committee is always looking for new committee members as well as new ideas to help enhance temple membership. Contact Lauren Fryefield or Annette McGillicuddy if you are interested.
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Nursery School's Annual Report - 2009
Temple Shalom Nursery School had a wonderful year. Cindy Terebush continued to demonstrate exceptional leadership for our Nursery School. Before classes began, the Nursery School instituted a “Meet the Teacher Time” which allowed the students to meet the teachers ahead of time and reduce “separation anxiety”.
Brotherhood and Sisterhood contributed funds for the children to create Kiddush Cups at a “Painting Party”.
This year, parents have become increasingly involved with the Nursery School program. For Chanukah, the children participated in a parent-run Chanukah Celebration. Crafts and food booths were enjoyed by all the children. The Parent Organization, along with the professional assistance of parent Vanessa Nied, designed a new logo for the school. Not only does the logo appear on stationery, but Judy Rabkin led the creation of a t-shirt displaying the logo and raised over $400 with the sale of t-shirts. Other fund raisers included selling Passover candy. In addition, the Scholastic Book Fair raised $550. All fundraising money is used to pay for programs that enhance our curriculum such as Mad Science Workshops, interactive storytellers, nature science projects and Pre-K field trips.
This year, the Nursery School underwent the licensing renewal process. An Environmental Assessment of our facility is necessary in order for the Nursery School to maintain its license. The process was handled beautifully by the director, Cindy Terebush. The license renewal process also includes an inspection by state licensing representatives. Though it is quite difficult to receive initial approval without any negative citations, I am proud to announce that we were one of the few facilities to receive approval by the State in just one visit. Kudos to Cindy for taking care of ALL the little details and always being one step ahead of the game!
Children continued to enjoy the curriculum this year. Using a theme based curriculum, the children learned about Jewish holidays throughout the year. They also took a Journey Around the World and learned about Australia, Africa, Mexico, the Antarctic, the Rainforest and of course, the United States and Israel. When the children were not on their travels, they learned about the seasons, music, the circus, fairy tales, dental health, recycling and much more. Themes are taught through play. Each day includes theme related literature, art, science, music, cognitive, social & motor skills.
The children also learn to give to others through tzedakah donations and mitzvah projects. MDA Hopathon occurred again this year, during which Nursery School children raised money for children with Muscular Dystrophy.
In January, Cindy attended workshops at the Regional Biennial. She walked away with good ideas about connecting “Early Childhood Ed” centers with Religious School and the Temple Community at large. She has already implemented some of these suggestions- all of which will enhance our Synagogue as well as the Nursery School experiences.
This year, staff members continued to attend workshops to keep abreast of current educational information. They learned the latest information about how to help children with conflict resolution, autism and playing a part in building a child’s self confidence.
The Nursery School Committee sponsored the March Mitzvah of the Month. Art supplies were collected and the children painted shoe boxes to be used as storage for craft materials. In addition to the craft supplies, Tzedakah money was collected and gift certificates valued at $55 were donated to Amanda’s Easel, a non profit organization for children who have been abused.
The week of May 5, teachers and teaching assistants were all honored by the Nursery School Parent Organization with special treats. The committee would like to thank the teachers, Gayle Kaplan, Esta Sternberg, Lisa Reingold, Melissa Glick, Lisa Crovo and Amy Kerner, as well as the Teacher Assistants, Denise Libraty, Liz Torres, Gale Conti and Regina Conti for all their hard work and devotion to our children. They continue to be the backbone of our program and should be commended for their dedication to our children.
The Nursery School Committee would like to thank the parents of the Nursery School for their participation in class activities and their donation of time and energy during various occasions during the year.
Thank you also needs to be extended to the Brotherhood, Sisterhood and the Board of Trustees for all their support. Administration staff, Sheila and Stephanie, and custodial staff are also to be thanked. An additional thank you goes to Rabbi Malinger and Cantor Camhi.
As Chairperson, I would like to thank the committee members, Sharon Steinhorn, Debbie Worthington, Donna Weiss, Elliot Olschwang, Judi Bernstein, Cookie Stamm, and Ruth Queen for coming together on Wednesday evenings and making my job as Chairperson such an easy one!
I would like to personally congratulate Cindy Terebush for having another wonderfully successful year at Temple Shalom Nursery School. Her creativity, commitment to our children, great organizational skills, tactfulness in handling of all situations, and her high moral values has all contributed to the success of this program. Thanks, Cindy, for all you do!!
Judy Shapanka, Chairperson
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Religious School's Annual Report - 2009
At Temple Shalom Religious School, our curriculum and faculty, guided by the principles of Torah, Worship and Loving Deeds, steered us toward another successful year.
Torah
Our students studied Jewish history, Jewish lifecycle, Torah, mitzvot, ethics and values, holidays and rituals, Israel, and, of course, Hebrew. Many Jewish lifecycle events were celebrated. We welcomed 23 new students at consecration, called 18 students to the Torah in honor of their B’nai Mitzvah, celebrated Confirmation with 11 students, and rejoiced with 14 students at Graduation. We ended the year with a joyous model Jewish Wedding.
We celebrated many Jewish holidays together with prayer, rituals, and food but our Passover celebrations were especially interesting and fun this year. Rahel Musleah, a Jewish woman with Indian origins, gave a presentation to the 4th – 7th grade students about Jews in India and Jewish Indian Passover traditions. The program ended with the students preparing the foods for a model seder which incorporated some of these traditions. For the first time, our Sunday school families celebrated Passover with our Temple Tots and Nursery School families. While the students learned about Passover in their classrooms, parents were invited to learn about creating an innovative seder with Rabbi Malinger and Cantor Camhi. Later, all of the parents and children came together for a fun filled activity as they explored the Passover seder through music, crafts and food.
Worship
Our grade level Shabbat services were a great way to exemplify the knowledge and confidence that our students gained throughout the year in their Hebrew studies. All of the students participated and lead the congregation with poise and pride. Before the services, the families were invited to a Shabbat morning bagel breakfast, sponsored by our PTO.
We also implemented a Congregational Learning Day for the first time this year called “Praying With Your Heart, Soul and Might”. Our entire Temple Shalom adult community was invited to study about prayer with Rabbi Malinger, Cantor Camhi and Elisa Juros while the students studied about prayer with their teachers. Later, parents joined together with their children and made beautiful mezuzot to remind everyone of what they had learned that day. The day ended with the community joining together for prayer and song.
Loving Deeds
Throughout the year, our students made tzedakah donations for the building of a playground in Sderot, Israel. This spectacular playground will provide a respite for the children in Sderot who live in constant fear of rocket attacks. In November, our 4th – 7th grade students, created and facilitated “Shuk Shalom” – An Israeli Market. Through their sales of Israeli products and tzedakah collections, we were able to send over $1500 to the JNF towards the creation of the playground.
In addition, some of our students sent “get well” cards to congregants in need of healing while others collected food for the local food pantry. Some students made Shalach Manot baskets for residents at a nursing home while others sent packages to soldiers in Iraq.
MOREHHSHa
Our Hebrew High School program, Morehhsha, encompassed all of these ideals as well. The students studied various aspects about Israel, grappled with moral and ethical questions, explored theology, and baked Challah and other Jewish delicacies. Our 8th and 9th grade students learned about the Jewish value of community at Camp Harlam. Our 10th grade students discovered how Torah and Jewish values can be integrated into mainstream politics. They used their new found skills to lobby on Capitol Hill. Upon their return, many students claimed that this was a life altering experience.
We are so grateful to everyone who has supported the religious school, both physically and financially this year. Thank you to all of our teachers, including Rabbi Malinger and Cantor Camhi, who teach with knowledge, compassion, and dedication. Thank you to all of the members of the Board of Education for your insight, guidance, and doing all of the “dirty” work to make our programs so successful. Thank you to the many volunteers that work all year long in our library, as class parents, selling snacks, helping with holiday celebrations, guarding the doors, etc. Thank you to the Board of Trustees for your support. Thank you to everyone who works in our religious school office and our main office for making sure that everything runs so smoothly. Thank you to our Sisterhood and our Brotherhood for doing so many wonderful things to enhance the education of our students and for supporting our programming.
We certainly have some changes and challenges ahead but we look forward to maintaining the same standard of excellence in Jewish education for the upcoming year.
B’shalom,
Elisa P. Juros, RJE, MAJE...Director of Education
Dorothy Lake..................Board of Education Chairperson
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Renaissance's Annual Report – 2009
The Renaissance Group of Temple Shalom is a Group of Members of Temple Shalom, 49 years and older, who wish to participate in a whole range of actives, events and general good times. A signature of our Group is, we always have food. We traditionally start each season with a dinner meeting, at which time we have entertainment along with our meal. It is an opportunity to meet after a summer break.
For the last two years, we have had a program in August, joining other groups in exploring the wonders of Raritan Bay. All those who participated had a wonderful time.
This year, we also had the following events:
Jewish Heritage Museum/Portuguese Restaurant, Golda’s Balcony followed by dinner at Pithari’s Greek Resturant, Sayreville Main Street production of ”Love, Sex and the IRS,”followed by dinner, Turkish Restaurant with Belly Dancer, Sculpture Gardens, and our final event, was a bus trip to Lancaster, PA and its environs, which was a wonderful way to end our year.
Our year ends with a meeting in June where we plan for the coming year. A light meal is served, and for the past two years, we have joined the general membership in a pre Annual Meeting Social, followed by the Temple’s Annual Meeting.
We thank our membership for making this year so successful. Many members of our Group have assisted in making 2008-2009 a successful year. We especially wish to mention the following Members:
Sharon and Dan Steinhorn, Shiela and Phil Rubin, Judi and Howie Bernstein, Renee and Andy Sackerman, Shelli and Steve Altman, Joan Marotta, (of Blessed Memory) Susan Solow and Larry Berkowitz Lenore and Paul Robinson, Zelda Diner and Dottie Weiss, Stu and Renee Kaplow, Peggy and Lou Schoen, Merna and Alan Lechner.
Membership in Renaissance is $10.00 per year, and all 49 plus are welcome to join us.
Respecrfully,
Burt and Bobbet Jackowitz
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Social Action's Annual Report - 2009
This year has been another busy and exciting year for Social Action.
The High Holiday Food Drive benefited both the Matawan and Old Bridge Food Banks. Your response helped feed many people in desperate need of food. The food drive is still on going. Congratulations to the 2nd and 5th grade classes of Ilana Feitlowitz who made a special effort to collect food, which was donated to Jewish Family and Children Service in Asbury Park.
Many children from the religious school donated the price of one of their Chanukah gifts to the Ramal Child Care Center in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya. Thanks to Sisterhood for their donation of school supplies The children were very excited to get the supplies and money to buy books or food from our Temple in America. Paul and I visited the school on our trip last August to Kenya, so they are well aware of the connection.
Our nursery school collected Tzedakah to help others and in December they contributed to our United We Read program. Many of you have generously contributed to our ongoing Tzedakah programs that helped the Sudanese people, the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, the Hurricane Disaster Relief Fund and many more worthwhile projects.
Our candidates night was well attended. Special thanks to Sharon and Dan Steinhorn and the League of Voters who helped moderate the program.
Our most ambitious and successful program this year was Greenfest. We had guest speakers from Greenfaith and other organizations helping to the preserve our environment. Do you know your personal ecological footprint? You would be amazed to find out. Thanks to Patricia Brakman and Ruth Queen who worked tirelessly to enlighten our congregants and community.
Other Temple Committees did a great job with their Mitzvah of the Month projects and hopefully they will continue in the future.
We hope to make next year as successful. We will be asking the Congregation, nursery school, religious school and the youth groups to come together to plant a vegetable garden on the lot that is next to the temple. We need you to volunteer and make a commitment to plant and maintain the garden. No experience or green thumbs are necessary. We want to donate the food to any congregant in need, Manna house and Lunch Break, a soup kitchen in Red Bank.
If you would like to help us in this or any other Social Action project, contact me at Lenore Robinson. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO JOIN OUR COMMITTEE TO PARTICIPATE. NO EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY.
Last but not least, my personal thanks to the all the members of the Social Action Committee for their dedicated service.
LENORE ROBINSON, CHAIRPERSON
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Worship’s Annual Report – 2009
As I complete my fourth and final year as chairperson of the Worship Committee of Temple Shalom and inform the congregation about what has been accomplished by us this year, I would like to tell you about the person who influenced the Jewish hopes and ideals I have carried with me my entire life.
Throughout my childhood and well into my adult years, I watched my mother light the Shabbat candles, change the kitchen and make the charoset and horseradish sandwiches at Passover. I munched on her doughy hamentashen at Purim and her sweet sponge cake at Yankee games during Pesach. I walked with her to Tashlich on Rosh Hashanah and watched her put on her hat as she set out for her Hadassah meetings. Everything she did was done without theatrics: These acts were just things that brought joy to her heart.
The essence of the Jewish people is preserved through the passing on of traditions from generation to generation. I thank my mother for giving me memories to treasure and the impetus and desire to share my heritage with my Temple family in the role of Worship Chairperson.
This year has been a productive and serene one, with our meetings centering on many familiar topics, traditions and ideas. Items that have been discussed include:
- Kabbalat Shabbat
- Budgetary Concerns
- Improving the Worship Environment
- Special Services
- High Holidays
- Ushering
- The Cantor’s Role
- New Members for Committee
- Shiva Minyans
- Head Usher Corps
At the end of last year, a list of worship priorities was developed that included items that should be addressed and continually studied: continuation of Kabbalat Shabbat, Role of the Cantor, Shiva Minyans, Reducing Oneg Costs and Expansion of the Head Usher Corps.
Our number one accomplishment continues to be our Kabbalat Shabbat service and dinner. As we all know by now, Kabbalat Shabbat, the Receiving of the Sabbath, is a mystical ritual designed to welcome the Sabbath in a delightful and special way. Attendance of this event has been excellent and continues to be a wonderful, social and spiritual event for congregants of all ages here at the temple.
Our second undertaking this year has been an effort to expand our Shiva Minyan Corps. Training and strategies for leading a shiva minyan was provided in the early fall. However, we are still looking for additional congregants to join this most worthwhile synagogue activity. This is an excellent way of assisting clergy, giving support to Temple families during a most difficult time in their lives, and is doing a wonderful mitzvah.
Our third issue was to investigate ways of reducing overall Oneg Shabbat costs throughout the year while still maintaining the “sweetness” of the evening. After working for several months, we have been able to cut expenses in an acceptable manner.
Our fourth priority was to expand our Head Usher Corps for Saturday morning B’nai Mitzvot. Unfortunately, we did not have sufficient time to pursue this topic at length. We would like to see this activity expanded to include participation by additional individuals in leadership (e.g., committee chairpersons and committee members).
The addition of Cantor Marni Camhi to the Temple Shalom family has been a positive one. Along with her beautiful singing voice, she brought with her a new repertoire of melodies that enhance our worship services. In addition, she was instrumental in selecting and directing a wonderful and well-attended Purim Schpiel, a spoof of the Wizard of Oz, in which both students and adults had the pleasure of participating. Her training of B’nai Mitzvah students has also shown her to be an asset to the congregation.
At this time I would like to thank the congregation for affording me the opportunity to serve as your Worship Chairperson. It has been a most rewarding, gratifying, and challenging experience. Although at times the committee and I differed on worship issues, through discussion and debate we often reached a satisfactory consensus.
In addition, my gratitude to Rabbi Malinger whose support, guidance, help and friendship will always be appreciated and remembered. A todah rabbah to the entire Worship Committee for their sincere dedication and concern in making the worship experience here at Temple Shalom meaningful, warm, caring, and refreshing. These members include: Pat Brakman, Linda Cannon, Jay Glick, Warren Hare, Susan Miller, Elliot Olschwang, Paul Robinson, Phil and Sheila Rubin, Howard Scheines, Chaya Schneider, Susan Solow, Jeff Weissburg, Karen Winograd, Margo Wolfson (Secretary), Carla Zimmerman and Rabbi Malinger.
B’Shalom,
Ed Miller, Worship Chairperson
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Youth’s Annual Report - 2009
This year we welcomed Amanda Rein as the new advisor for ToSTY, our Senior Youth Group. The year starts in August with the NFTY (North American Federation of Temple Youth) Summer Kallah and the ToSTY (Senior Youth Group) Board Retreat. The board retreat includes a ‘fun” event, which was a visit to New York City, and then an overnight stay and day long meeting at Amanda’s house. The meeting includes team building, training and brainstorming the calendar of events for the upcoming year.
In September the ToSTY board attended Leadership Training sponsored by NFTY and the lead off event, the opening Barbeque, which has become the traditional first event of the year. The ToSTY board led the teen service during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur with over 70 young adults attending. Special thanks to Elissa Silverman, ToSTY Board President and Corinne Wolfson, ToSTY Religious and Cultural Vice President for planning and leading services.
Our Junior Youth Group, Young Evrem, lead by advisor Ally Schechner-Kanofsky held their first event “Are You Smarter than a Rabbi”. This interactive event with Rabbi Malinger was a great way to start the year for Young Evrem.
During October ToSTY members did the Bema Sukkoth set up and decorations. The ToSTY event this month was “The Movie and Game Night”. NFTY New Member Kallah was held this month.
In November our members attended the NFTY Homecoming dance. We also had the first of our 3 main ToSTY events this month the “Creative Service and Shul In”. For this event we invite other Temple Youth Groups to our temple and had over 40 attendees. Congratulations to Corinne, Elissa and the rest of the ToSTY board for creating and leading a very beautiful and thoughtful Friday night Sabbath service. Most of the kids stayed overnight and had a terrific time.
Young Evrem’s second event “Create Your Own You Tube Video” was a big hit with the videos posted on You Tube for all to see.
December’s events included the Improv/Comedy Night and the NFTY Winter Kallah.
In January ToSTY’s second major event, The Benefit Rock Concert, was held. This was very successful fundraiser with more than 200 in attendance and over $3,000 raised for charity and was, once again, a great example of how our young temple members are making a difference in the lives of others in need.
Young Evrem’s event, Sushi Making at Chef’s Academy in Marlboro was educational and fun at the same time with 9 members attending.
In February the NFTY Convention in Washington D.C. was attended by two of our members, Jared Friedman and Autumn Rauchwerk. They both had a wonderful time and came away with many fine memories.
In March, the ToSTY board set up the games for the Purim carnival. During the carnival ToSTY and Young Evrem members operated the games. A fun time was had by all and the carnival was a big success by any measure. A special thanks to committee member Gregg Asch for renting the inflatable and games which as usual were a huge hit with the kids, I would also like to thank Brotherhood for distributing the prizes and Sisterhood for taking care of the food and donating additional prizes. The NFTY Hagigah was held and attended by two of our ToSTY members
The Young Evrem “Let’s Make Ice Cream” event was very delicious (a bit messy) and great fun for all who attended. Definitely one to do again!
April was a Quiet month for ToSTY with the NFTY Spring Kallah and some of the members volunteering to help at the TS Family Concert.
Young Evrem held the final event of the year, ‘A Scavenger Hunt at Jenkinson’s Aquarium’. This event was well attended and a lots of fun for all.
In May ToSTY held their 3rd major event, The Coffee House, which has a number of acoustic musical acts and a silent basket auction with coffee and desert served. Well over 100 persons attended which resulted in ToSTY raising a substantial amount of money for ToSTY programming. This month ToSTY also decided to help the Young Evrem group with a $500 donation for their budget.
Young Evrem 8th graders also attended the ToSTY 8th Grade event. With this event ToSTY introduces our last year Young Evrem members to a taste of the ToSTY Youth Group.
June saw the new ToSTY board elected and the final event which will be a trip to Point Pleasant Beach (hope the weather holds up) and the Board Installation.
ToSTY started with 23 members and ended with 48 members. We have about $2,000 in the treasury which does not include any monies raised by the Coffee House. ToSTY will finish the year in a strong financial position and with many more members then when the year began. They had many worthwhile and enjoyable events and at the same time made sure that they took part in “Tikkun Alom” or "repairing the world” with the social action and charitable events.
Young Evrem’s membership continues to grow and the events held this year were very well run and enjoyed by all who attended.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without the great jobs done by our advisors, Amanda Rein and Ally Schechner-Kanofsky. I would also like to thank Elissa Silverman, ToSTY Board President for her intelligence, leadership, hard work and patience in keeping the ToSTY Board on track and making sure that all the events came off as planned. The committee also wishes Elissa, Autumn Rauchwerk, Max Blodgett, Corinne Wolfson and Jessica McGillicuddy our graduating board members, the best in all of their future endeavors. I also wish to thanks the rest of the ToSTY Board for the terrific work they have done this year. Last but not least I wish to thank personally my fellow committee members for all of their help; Bonnie Kanofsky, Adrienne and Mitch Friedman, Gloria and Jeff Zimmerman, Gregg Asch and our Temple Board and PAC liaison, Michael Silverman.
Finally, while I will be stepping down as chairman of the committee, I am very pleased to tell you that Adrienne Friedman has graciously and generously offered to take over as committee chair. With Adrienne’s selfless commitment to our Temple as a volunteer and her dedication to our young members, I look forward to joining her as member of the committee.
Evan A. Ross
Youth Committee Chair
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