Do you have a talent or skills that can help get the word out? The Communications Committee oversees the Shalom, the Web site and publicity. We are in need of people who have experience as web designers, graphic designers, photographers, editors and writers or for those who want to learn. Join us at out next meeting to find out more. Contact Bonnie Smolen.
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ASBURY PARK
PRESS
Reforming the world: Seminar to emphasize social justice
By Sametta M. Thompson • Staff Writer • December 4, 2008
ABERDEEN — Tenth-grader Asher Wasserman of Aberdeen can't wait to get a firsthand experience as to how government works and how he can take part.
Wasserman is one of 11 confirmation students from Temple Shalom of Aberdeen who will join more than 300 other temple youths from across the country at the L'Taken Social Justice Seminar in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5.
L'Taken, an intensive four-day study conference that focuses on Jewish values and social justice, is a program organized by the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, the lobbying arm of the Union for Reform Judaism.
Every year, more than 100 congregations from across the country bring their high school students to participate in an event that enables students to hear from experts both inside and outside the Jewish community. L'Taken emphasizes the responsibility of a Reform Jew and American citizen to make a difference in the world.
"It shows how everyone can participate in government and help influence elected officials' choices," explains Josh Enoch of Middletown, an 11th-grader who attended L'Taken last year.
"I want to learn about religion and the effect it has and what role Judiasm plays in politics," said Ethan Binder, 16, of Marlboro.
Rabbi Laurence Malinger, who will chaperone the trip along with Elisa Juros, education director of Temple Shalom, said that the concept of citizens effecting change in the world is new to most confirmands.
"This trip helps kids grow as Jews and as congregants in general," he said.
On the trip, students will participate in Torah study, prayer and activism. The program begins with services on the night of Dec. 5 at the hotel.
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November 06, 2008
Temple youths study values, social justice
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Temple Shalom confirmation students at the L'Taken Social Justice Seminar in Washington, D.C. |
| ABERDEEN — Eleven confirmation students from Temple Shalom will be joining over 300 temple youth from across the country to attend the L'Taken Social Justice Seminar in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5.
L'Taken, an intensive four days of study that focuses on Jewish values and social justice, is a program organized by the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism (RAC), the lobbying arm of the Union for Reform Judaism.
Every year more than 100 congregations from across the country bring their high school students to participate in this event that enables students to hear from experts both inside and outside the Jewish community.
L'Taken emphasizes the responsibility of a Reform Jew and American citizen to make a difference in the world.
"It shows how everyone can participate in government and help influence elected officials' choices," explains Josh Enoch, of Middletown, an 11th-grader who attended L'Taken last year.
Rabbi Laurence Malinger, who will chaperone the trip along with Education Director Elisa Juros, said that the concept of citizens affecting change in the world is new to most confirmands. "This trip helps kids grow as Jews and as congregants in general," he said.
On the trip, students will participate in Torah (Jewish learning), Avodah (prayer) and Gemilut Chasadim (action). Avodah begins with creative services on Friday night at the hotel. Shabbat observance ends with Havdalah at one of the memorials in the capital. On Sunday, the youths tour Washington. The Gemilut Chasadim portion of the trip involves going to Capitol Hill and lobbying representatives' offices on the issues studied during the trip.
At every L'Taken seminar, RAC representatives discuss at least 10 different issue areas in a variety of interactive formats. These issues, ranging from global HIV/AIDS to women's rights, from Israel to environmental and economic justice, are selected based on the current legislative agenda.
The students learn about the URJ's positions on the issues. Some of these positions may be different than the opinion of the students and that is discussed also.
"I'm very interested in seeing how government works and how we can be a part of that government," said 10th-grader Asher Wasserman, of Aberdeen, who will be attending this year.
Once the discussion is complete, the participants choose four issues to lobby on, one of which is always in support for Israel.
The students split up into groups to prepare speeches on one of the four issues. The presentations must be based on the Reform position but each student writes a speech using the background of Jewish tradition, Jewish values, Jewish texts and Jewish teaching. These speeches are then presented to the legislative staffs of the New Jersey Congressional delegation.
"I am most looking forward to the day that we get to lobby," said Michael Terebush, of Old Bridge, who will also be attending this year. "I've been to Washington, D.C., before but have never been on the 'inside' at Capitol Hill. I think it will be an experience I will never forget."
Celebrating its 45th anniversary, Temple Shalom, a member of the Union for Reform Judaism, is a Reform congregation located at 5 Ayrmont Lane in Aberdeen and serving communities in Monmouth and Middlesex counties, including Aberdeen, Colts Neck, Holmdel, Matawan, Marlboro, Middletown, Old Bridge and Sayreville.
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August 27, 2008
New cantor joins temple
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Marnie Camhi |
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ABERDEEN — Marnie Camhi has been named the new cantor of Temple Shalom of Aberdeen. Camhi started her duties in July, leading services with Rabbi Laurence Malinger and teaching b'nai mitzvah students. Her official installation will take place Sept. 12 at 8:15 p.m. at a service that is open to the public.
"My first impression of Temple Shalom is how warm and welcoming everyone has been. It really is like a close family here," she said. "The thing I'm looking forward to most about being the cantor at Temple Shalom is becoming part of the fabric of what makes Temple Shalom, Temple Shalom. I look forward to singing with the congregation and learning together."
According to a press release from the synagogue, at Temple Shalom the cantor is the keeper of the Jewish musical traditions and is responsible for transmitting this knowledge and history to the congregation through leading worship services with Malinger, participating in life cycle events, teaching in the religious school, and working with the junior and senior choirs.
Camhi will also be responsible for maintaining the bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah program, where students learn to read and chant liturgy, Torah and Haftorah portions.
"Music is the lifeblood of prayer; it is connected to memories, life-cycle events and holidays," she said. "Music we heard as children in the synagogue and in the home stay with us throughout our lives, and when we hear that particular prayer melody, it is as if we have come home.
"Synagogue music today is about combining those familiar melodies with more new and contemporary ones — it is about finding that balance between the traditional and the new," she said.
A native of Wantagh, N.Y., Camhi is a member of the American Conference of Cantors and was invested as a cantor in 2006 and received her Master of Sacred Music degree in 2005 from the School of Sacred Music of Hebrew Union College- Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. She most recently served as the cantor of Temple B'nai Shalom, East Brunswick.
Temple Shalom of Aberdeen is a member of the Union for Reform Judaism. The synagogue serves communities in Monmouth and Middlesex counties, including Aberdeen, Colts Neck, Holmdel, Matawan, Marlboro, Middletown, Old Bridge and Sayreville.
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ACCESSIBLE IN ABERDEEN
Temple Shalom Empowers Its Disabled Members
Asbury Park Press - 06.21.07
By Kathleen Hopkins, Staff Writer
Jewish Law has traditionally placed limitations on the disabled, if for no other reason than to see that they are not taken advantage of, says Rabbi Laurence Malinger.
But Temple Shalom, the congregation Rabbi Malinger leads, is seeking to empower its disabled members and not hold them back.
Temple Shalom in Aberdeen has become the first Jewish congregation in Monmouth County to be certified as an "accessible congregation" by the National Organization of Disability says Rabbi Malinger. The Temple recently received its certification from the Organization on May 31, 2007.
The temple's effort to accommodate its disabled members has been ongoing for several years. Two years ago, a $30,000 project to replace stairs and ramps outside the Temple with flat entrances, was completed, making the Temple accessible to those using wheelchairs. The temple also has large-print prayer books for the visibly impaired. Now, the temple is improving a listening-enhancement system to enable the hearing impaired to don headphones. Plans are also on the way to replace a ramp leading to the bimah--the raised platform in the sanctuary--with a lift. Pews are being cut to allow wheelchair access, A video recording device will be installed this summer to allow homebound congregants to view the services from home.
Temple Shalom became involved in seeking certification as an accessible congregation form the Washington DC based National Organization of Disability after congregant Ellen LaFargue became aware of the organization's Accessible Congregations Campaign. In addition, Rabbi Malinger serves on the Disability Committee of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. He is also hearing impaired. Also, the congregation has close to 1000 members from about 380 households, and he estimates that probably 10% of them have some sort of disability.
"It is a spiritual act to open our windows, to draw Jews with disabilities into the community of Israel, for as long as our synagogues are inaccessible, these Jews remain invisible" says Rabbi Malinger. Another part of the congregation's plan to improve access to the disabled includes putting up signs to let people know what help is available.
Besides helping the physically disabled, Temple Shalom, for years, has offered a Religious Education program for children with learning disabilities, CHALUTZIM. The program, for children in grades 3 thru 7, uses a multi-sensory approach and provides a condensed version of the same curriculum presented in the temple's religious school. The program is geared to students who are enrolled in special-education classes or who attend resource rooms in public schools. These students must be classified as learning disabled or learning impaired to qualify. These classes are open to congregants of any temple in the community.
Temple Shalom is a member of the Union for Reform Judaism. The Reform congregation serves communities in Monmouth and Middlesex Counties, including Aberdeen, Colts Neck, Hazlet, Holmdel, Matawan, Marlboro, Middletown, Old Bridge and Sayreville.
The National Organization on Disability is a group in existence for more than 20 years that seeks to expand the participation and contribution of America's 54 million men, women and children with disabilities.
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