JCCBM ANNUAL MEETING Sunday, May 22nd

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1 Editor Karen Bartels fax phone Newsletter of the Jewish Community Center of Belle Mead May 2005 Nissan - Iyar 5765 PRESIDENT S MESSAGE 253 Griggstown Rd. Belle Mead, NJ Phone: Fax: Regular office hours: Mon- Fri 9:00-4:00 Rabbi Michael Tayvah RabbiJCCBM@earthlink.net President Ed Krisiloff Administrator Clara Nelson admin1jccbm@earthlink.net Hebrew School Principal Dori Daus leebah@earthlink.net Board of Trustees 1st Vice President Janet Burns 2nd Vice President Hy Grossman Past President Jim Ohls Treasurer Bob Goldman Financial Secretary Joan Weisblatt It is that time of year once again. Time for the yearly membership meeting to review where we have been in the last 12 months and to plan for what lies ahead in the next. We will be voting for Board positions and discussing the budget for This year we will have a different structure to the meeting. We will plan to start the meeting a little later than usual, after the school s end of the year ceremonies on Sunday, May 22nd. I hope that those parents coming to pick up children will feel inclined to stay for the meeting. (We will arrange for childcare for those parents who stay). The meeting should start about 10:00 and should end about 11:00-11:30. During the meeting bagels and coffee will be available in the lobby. We have come through a transitional year at our Temple. There have been a lot of changes and adjustments. It is now time to move forward. We value your opinions regarding the future of our community. This meeting offers a unique opportunity to be heard. Please plan on attending the yearly meeting and participating in the charting of our future course. JCCBM ANNUAL MEETING Sunday, May 22nd 10:00 AM in the Sanctuary Recording Secretary Sharon Casper Corresponding Secretary Sheryl Rosenberg Trustees Karen Fridkis Debbie Tesser Andy Sokel Audrey Starkman Natalie London Affiliate: Jewish Reconstructionist Federation Published by: JCCBM s MS Walkers on April 17th, 2005.

2 Committee Happenings Our Women s Book Club is Off to a Great Start! On Monday, March 21, eight JCCBM members showed up at Gail Shapiro-Scott s house for the first meeting of the Women s Book Club. By the time the coffee was gone and the biscuits eaten, meetings were set and books were chosen for the next several months. This club is open to any female JCCBM member on a come-as-you-like basis, no long-term commitments necessary. The title of each month s book, and a contact s name, will be printed in each month s newsletter. To attend the meeting, just call the contact s name for information about where the meeting will be held. This is a great way to meet the women from our synagogue, and you get to eat, talk, and perhaps even sit in comfortable chairs while doing it! Come, even if you haven t read the book maybe you ll decide to do so after you hear the discussion! Look for the Book Club Box in each newsletter. ATTENTION FUTURE 7th, 8th, AND 9th GRADERS! If you will be an 8th or 9th grader this fall, you are invited to participate in a weekly class that truly gives you the opportunity to be treated as a young adult member of our synagogue. After 7th graders celebrate their B'nai Mitzvah, they can remain with their class for the year, or now they have the option of transferring into this new innovative class. This Hebrew High class (confirmation class) will be taught like adult education. Students will choose the topics they want to learn about and will lead their own sessions with the help of parent volunteers, Rabbi Tayvah and a teacher. Yes, there will be food to enhance this unique and fun educational experience! One week you may enjoy dinner while you debate ethics, and another you may snack on popcorn while you view a movie. You decide. Register for this exciting new program taking place on Wednesdays from 5-7 PM.! " #!$! %!&!! # ' ()*+,)-.- /0 Women s Book Club May Meeting: Monday, May 9, 7:45 pm Book: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith For the meeting s location, Contact: Joan Weisblatt, or jweisblatt@hoaglandlongo.com 2

3 The JCC gratefully acknowledges the generosity of our members and friends. Darren & Debbie Lazare Larry & Eleanor Tillman Robert & Peggy Fass Louis & Meryl Orlando Robert & Laura Goldman Kenneth & Deborah Robey Jess & Lauri Rosenthal Richard & Elise Kent Harry Mynick Dirk Van Peenen & Mindy Weinberg Herb & Erika Milich Thomas & Barbara Berger Larry & Karen Fridkis Herb & Erika Milich Joel & Joan Weisblatt Harry & Kristina Wise Carol Rubnitz Ann Lebowitz Edwin & Pamela Carman Regular Donations Members Thank you to Rabbi Tayvah for Daniel Lazare s Bar Mitzvah. In memory of Carol Jones mother, Ursala Shaw In memory of Hilda Horn Donation for Klezmer Band/Dinner Condolences to Sharon Casper Happy Birthday Marilyn Nusbaum Non-Members In honor of the Bat Mitzvah of Caryn Brandel. To the Brandel family, Mazel Tov on Caryn s Bat Mitzvah. General Donation. Touched by the Wings of Witness Program Mazel tov to the Borher Family. In honor of Zane s Bar Mitzvah. Correction: The donation made to the Harvey Tesser Fund by the Rieurs was mistakenly tagged in memory of our cousin. They are not related. JCC Donations DONATIONS TO THE TESSER FUND John & Margaret Henderson In Memory of Harvey Tesser Larry & Eleanor In memory of our dear friend Tillman Harvey Tesser The Schulkind Family In memory of Harvey Tesser Jess & Lauri Rosenthal In memory of Harvey Tesser James & Carey Murray Harvey J. Tesser Mem Build Fund Richard & Shari Seroka In memory of Harvey J. Tesser Susan Horowitz Harvey J. Tesser Mem Bldg Fund Sylvia Kramer Harvey J. Tesser Mem Bldg Fund In loving memory of our dear Howard & Linda beloved Tesser cousin, Harvey Tesser Anthony & Theresa Pascazio H. Tesser Memorial Build Fund Mercer Dental Harvey Tesser Memorial Build Society Fund Patrick & Andrea Harvey Tesser Memorial Build Bradley Fund Thomas & Virginia Harvey Tesser Memorial Build Cusack Fund 3

4 Hebrew School Happenings May Schedule Wed Activity Sun Activity 5/4 Tallit making for 7 th grade 5/11 Yom Haatzmaut crafts and cooking 5/18 cooking 5/8 Vera Nussenbaum speaks-7th Graders welcome 5/15 Music and Dance- Siyum Preparation 5/22 Conclusion Ceremony Siyum- 8:30-10 AM No Second Session Shabbat Superstars: Jacob Fridkis, Hebrew High Gabriel Fridkis, 7 th grade Jacqueline Sokel, 1 st Grade Harry Waskow, 4 th grade Dorothy Waskow, Kindergarten Jeffrey Schrier, the artist behind the Wings of Witness Holocaust Memorial project, came to our school and gave a moving workshop explaining why he chose to make this enormous sculpture of soda can tabs. Please come in and read the article that was published in the Courier News on April 7 th. The pictures in this article were taken on April 6th during the construction of the 26 feathers. Twenty-six is the numerical value of the name of G-d, the tetragramaton. Kindergarten through fifth Graders made Matzah in April. Seventh graders made the Charoset for the Model Seder. Our wonderful Israeli dance teacher, Vera Galleid, has taught each of our classes 4 dances. Everyone learned "Yesh Lanu Tayish" and we hope you will try to join in when they dance at the Siyum. Kindergarteners continue to work on learning the Hebrew Alef Bet, discussing holidays, and learning about Israel. Their favorite game is the memory game in which they have to match pictures of things you might find in a Jewish home or Synagogue. First Graders have been forming their Alef Bet letters out of play-doh, cutting and pasting Jerusalem, and singing Eliyahu Hanavi. Second Graders are building Hebrew words using the letters that they know and combining the sounds with the vowels that they know. Third grade parents and students made Shema pillowcases. It was wonderful to see parents and children working and learning together. Mr. Schleifer pointed out that there are rabbis that have said that saying the Shema prayer before going to bed protects your dreams. Fourth graders did an amazing job presenting the ten plagues. They are continuing to build Hebrew vocabulary, learning the blessings over Passover food, and the story of Passover. The students have also been working on learning the four blessings of the Birkat Hamazon, the blessings after meals. Fifth Graders have been learning about the life cycle and were very mature handling the difficult topic of death. They discussed Mourner's Kaddish and why it is said. They are working on travel brochures for different parts of Israel and a skit about Shavuot that you will see at the Siyum. Sixth Graders have been learning various first hand accounts of the Holocaust. They have been learning the Hebrew words nefesh, Tzedek, Malchutecha, shabbat, and Kiddush and practicing the cantelation for the Kedusha and the prayers in the Amidah. They have been learning and practicing the suffixes and prefixes and their effect on the meanings of root words. Seventh Graders continued discussing the Jewish side of news topics. They worked together with their parents to tie the tzitzit on a talit that they made from fabric that their parents purchased and hemmed. Thank you parents for taking this extra time to be involved during this most busy season. Vera Nussenbaum came and spoke to our fifth and sixth graders about her experiences on the Kindertransport. If you have been to the Holocaust museum in Washington, DC and watched the movie about the Kindertransport, Vera is the little girl waving from the back of the ship. The sixth graders would like to thank Sharon Kasper and Janet Burns for bringing the Raid on Entebbe to life. Thank you for giving your time. Your presence made an enormous impact on all of the students. If there are any parents who would like to share their time and expertise by teaching a lesson or a unit, please contact me. The school would like to thank to all of our volunteers who helped out with the Model Seder on April 17 th. There was lots of work that needed to be done and it was wonderful to have so many hands. Thank you for supporting our fundraising efforts. 18 cartridges were collected and sent off to Staples. They will be sending us a check for $18. Please keep us in mind for recycling your ink cartridges. The candy sale raised over $1000. Thank you to Cecilia and Barry Skoultchi, Judith Forster (Weitze), Natalie London, Gabe Fridkis, Michael Jacowsky, and Erica Goldstein who helped to bag and distribute the candy and prizes. Thanks also to Lisa Diamond, Coordinator, for expediting the entire process. The note card fundraiser raised over $100. At the regular April meeting for the Youth Education Committee, we discussed how to better protect our children while they are in our building. Our current policy asks parents send in a note and to sign-out children if they need to leave early. Up until now, the synagogue's front door has been unlocked during Leeba"h school hours. As you know, to protect the safety and security of everyone in their buildings, public schools have taken to locking their doors at the start of school to keep people from entering their buildings unannounced. Late arrivals and other visitors must be signedin before entering the facility. At our committee meeting, ideas were tossed around the table for a new door/security policy and the committee was going to discuss the matter again in coming meetings. I received the on page 6 over the second weekend of April, which is making the rounds among Montgomery Twp. parents. In light of this possible threat, the Education Committee thought that it would be a good idea to institute this new policy sooner rather than in the fall. cont d page 6 4

5 From the Rabbi M is for May and Membership Meeting As we the enter the month of May and with it the annual General Meeting of the Membership it is good to recall what our synagogue community was set up to accomplish. From our By-Laws: Art Purposes. The object of the JCC shall be to establish and maintain a program including religious, educational, social and recreational activities in order to further the cause and objectives of the traditions of Judaism. From our community s earliest days we saw our mission as more than merely religious. This synagogue recognized that Judaism as a civilization. Perhaps it was due to the fact that from its beginning, this community was served by Reconstructionist rabbis, and that Rabbi Mordechai Kaplan, the founder of Reconstructionism, first articulated this idea. Let s hear it in his words: The Principles of Reconstructionist Judaism 1. Judaism, or that which has united the successive generations of Jews into one People, is not only a religion; it is a dynamic religious civilization. 2. Judaism has passed through three distinct stages in its evolution, and is now on the threshold of a fourth stage. It was primarily national in character during the First Commonwealth era [ BCE], and ecclesiastical during the Second Commonwealth era [476 BCE 70 CE], and rabbinical from then until the end of the eighteenth century. It is now developing into a democratic civilization. 3. The emergence of the next stage calls for the reconstruction of the Jewish People and its enhancement, the revitalization of Jewish religion and the replenishment of Jewish culture. 4. The reconstruction of the Jewish People is predicated upon the following: a) the reclamation of the Land of Israel as the home of the historic Jewish civilization; b) the renewal of the covenant binding all Jews throughout the world into one united People, with the Jewish community in Israel at the core; c) The formation of organic Jewish communities in all the countries of the Jewish Diaspora. 5. An organic community is one is which all activities and institutions conducted by Jews for Jews are interactive, and in which the fostering of Jewish peoplehood, religion and culture is given primacy. 6. The revitalization of Jewish religion can best be achieved through the study of it in the spirit of free inquiry and through the separation of its organized institutions from all political authority. 7. The revitalization of the Jewish religion requires that the belief in God be interpreted in terms universally human, and specifically Jewish, experience. 8. By reason of the prevailing diversity in world outlook, there has to be room in Jewish religion for different versions of it. 9. The continuity of a religion through different stages, and its identity amid diversity of belief and practice, are sustained by its sancta: these are the heroes, events, texts, places, and seasons that the religion signalizes as furthering the fulfillment of human destiny. 10. The traditional conception of Torah should be expanded to include: a) ethical culture, the fostering of love and justice in all human relations; b) ritual culture, the fostering of religious sancta with all of their symbolic significance; c) esthetic culture, the fostering of the arts as a means of expressing the emotional values of Jewish life. 11. Every people, Jewish and non-jewish, is nowadays confronted with the problem of living in two civilizations. It has to blend its historic civilization with the modern national civilization of the country in which it lives. 12. Loyalty to Judaism should be measured by active participation in Jewish life, in keeping with the foregoing principles. Mordechai Kaplan, Jews Questions Ask, Reconstructionist Answers (Reconstructionist Press, NY. 1956) pp. xi - xiii We form and maintain synagogues to be centers for the revitalization of Jewish civilization, or in Kaplan s words, Judaism. Our Judaism, as American Jews is, as Kaplan said, the psychological unity of the Jewish People, transposed into the key of religion. It is the we-feeling, the sense which Jews have of mutual belongingness. Wefeeling results from living together and acting in common in the furtherance of shared interests. (Jews Questions Ask, 280) Our congregation is where we gather to do Jewish, to teach Jewish, to explore Jewishing and to create the next Jewish so that we may pass on this wefeeling of the Jewish People. An annual meeting is a check-in. We elect new leaders, and thank those who have been creating and holding together this vessel of Jewishing for the rest of us. It is a time when all of us can practice that newest addition to Jewish culture democracy on a local level. It is a few hours on a Sunday morning we can measure our communal progress (and stagnation) set a new course where needed and reaffirm past judgments when they still work for us. It is a time when we can exercise our loyalty to our People by being involved. I hope to see you with us on May 22 nd! 5

6 Dear Community Members: The Montgomery Township Police Department investigated a "suspicious vehicle" report on Tuesday 4/5/05, at approximately 7pm. An alert, vigilant mother and grandmother walking with their children became suspicious of a vehicle. The vehicle drove by the children, who were walking ahead, slowly. It drove past a couple of times. They made note of vehicle description, license and person, and called the police. We investigated the report, confirmed the identification of the driver, spoke with the suspicious person, and interviewed the residents proximate to the area involved, all within 24 hours. We exchanged information with residents of that neighborhood. No crime was committed. We hope the suspicious person feels unwelcome on our residential streets, unless he has a legitimate purpose to be there. Recognizing the speed with which information travels in a community like Montgomery, we would like to temper this event with some perspective. Megan's Law, which I am sure you are all familiar with, is New Jersey's sex offender registry. Megan's Law restricts what public information may be released by Police, concerning the registrants. The New Jersey State Police web site is a great source of information on Megan's Law and offenders. Please visit the site so that you are an informed citizenry. New Jersey has more sex offenders not convicted or registered, than convicted and registered under Megan's Law. We have investigated over 500 suspicious person/vehicle reports last year. We are sure that many suspicious persons/vehicles go unreported. We encourage the Community to work with us and report all suspicious activities, we will investigate each report. Pedophiles live amongst the general population and traverse the Township s roadways. We would suggest that everyone, always be hyper-vigilant about our children's safety. Educate yourself on the subject matter. We do not think this recent suspicious vehicle report is extraordinary. We want everyone to "always" be cautious about their children and this subject matter, and to always report suspicious circumstances. Descriptions of persons, vehicles and particularly license plates of suspicious vehicles are helpful to our investigations. The safety of your children is a top priority. We continue to work with the schools and community to provide timely information on important topics. Within the last month we were invited by the Pike Run Neighborhood Watch to conduct a Child Abduction and Endangerment program for the adults. We also offer appropriate "Stranger Danger" programs for the kids. We encourage you to use us as a resource and partner, working together to make this community safe. Sincerely, Lt. Greg Harkins Louise Wilson, Mayor Montgomery Township, NJ x.263 cont d from page 6 Starting after the break for Passover on May 5th, the front door will be locked at 5PM and will remain locked until five minutes before the end of the session. We encourage parents to come early and schmooze in the sanctuary and stay for the 15 minute service led by Rabbi Tayvah. If you arrive after the front door is locked, please enter through my office door on the parking lot side of our building (around the right side as you face the front door). Anna or I will greet you and sign your child in. If you need to pick-up your child before the end of the session, please knock on the door to my office on the parking lot side of the building. Anna will bring the child to you in my office, and have you sign her/him out. In accordance with the current Parent Handbook, if you are planning to take your child home early, a note to the principal is requested at the beginning of the day's session. Thank you ebrew School Principal 6

7 OHR TIKVAH JEWISH HEALING CENTER Somerset * Hunterdon * Warren Counties c/o Temple Beth-El, 67 US Highway 206, Hillsborough, NJ 08844, , ext. 28 Volume 2, Issue 9 May This month, Ohr Tikvah offers programs that address the emotional, spiritual and practical needs of caregivers, those who give so much of themselves to help their loved ones meet life s challenges, whether it be an illness, an eating disorder or the natural aging process. May these programs give you the strength and hope to be a source of strength and hope for those who are suffering. For the Caregivers Debbie Perlman, Flames to Heaven (Wilmette, IL: Radpublishers, 1998), p. 32 (Union for Reform Judaism - Reprinted with permission.) Show me how to offer hope. Open Your hand with the colors of faith That I might begin to fill in spaces To strengthen another s life. Show me how to offer comfort. Point out Your nesting place, Feathered against the adversities That wound those I love. Show me the direction When I am lost, Searching to help But finding no paths. Show me tolerance, When I weary of helping, And a long dreary day Stretches toward a restless night. You place before us life and love; Show us endurance. You place before us healing and hope; Show us persistence. Reach deep within me, Eternal Strength, And bring my strength to consciousness. Pull it around us: Let it radiate with Your power, Let it guide our way. The following Ohr Tikvah programs will be held at the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center, 755 Talamini Road, Bridgewater, unless otherwise indicated. Elder Care: Parents: To Honor and Obey, But How? Spiritual and Practical Approaches to Caregiving: * Monday, May 9, 7:00 to 9:00 PM * For Wellness: Stitching Through Time Thursday, May 12 and May 26, 7:30 to 9:00 PM - Instructor: Rena Strool - Fee: $5 Jewish Medical Directives for Healthcare: Jewish-Based Opinions on Spiritual and Practical Approaches to End of Life Issues: * Monday, June 1, 7:00 to 9:00 PM * Fee: $10 per session, $18 for both sessions What should we do when our aging parents health begins to fail and they can no longer live independently? How do we cope with critical social and medical concerns regarding caring issues and end of life challenges? Rabbi David Wise, spiritual leader of Temple Beth El, Somerset, and Ricki Weiser, MSW, LSW and Co-Founder of Services and Resources for Seniors, Inc. in Morristown, will present case studies to highlight valuable and useful strategies, raise awareness of community resources and discuss relevant Jewish reading. Their presentations will be followed by an open For Wellness: Drumming a Path to Your Soul and Community Sunday, May 15, 3:30 to 5:00 PM Instructor: David Malchman - Fee: $5 Support Group for Individuals Caring for Loved Ones with Eating Disorders In May (date to be determined), 7:30 to 9:00 PM Jewish Family Service, 150 High Street, Somerville Ohr Tikvah has launched a support group for parents of anorexic/bulimic children as well as for others taking care of loved ones with eating disorders. Dr. Leslie Becker-Phelps, a clinical psychologist trained in dealing with eating disorders, will facilitate the meetings. Please call Ohr Tikvah at ext. 28 to indicate interest and learn of the date. Bereavement Group to Meet: Rabbi Evan Jaffe, spiritual leader of Flemington Jewish Community Center, and a licensed social worker will co-lead a bereavement group on the following evenings: May 12, 19, 26, June 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30, 7:30 to 9:00 PM, at Jewish Family Service. Please call Ohr Tikvah for more information. Fee: $80.00 for eight sessions 7

8 Jewish Community The final Jewish LIFE program of the year will be held on Sunday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the JCC. Dr. Jonathan Sarna will present 350 Years of American Jewish History. Dr. Sarna is one of America s foremost commentators on American Jewish history, religion and life. He has written, edited and co-edited more than 20 books. His most recent work is the acclaimed American Judaism: A History, praised as being the single best description of American Judaism during its 350 years on American soil. The program fee is $18/Jewish LIFE members and $46/guests. RSVP to Laura Friedman at the JCC. Torah & Chocolate Torah and Cheesecake: An Evening of Adult Jewish Learning Havdalah, Engaging Classes, Delicious Desserts Monday, June 13, 2005 (The Second Night of Shavuot) At The Reconstructionist Rabbinical College Wyncote, PA Doors open at 6:30pm Check back soon for registration information and session descriptions. For More Information Contact: Rabbi Alex Lazarus, Mid-Atlantic Regional Director ext. 25, alazarus@jrf.org! "#$#%$&!' ('&)*') +'),-.+

9 Youth Group News April saw two youth group events for the teens of JCCBM and a pizza party for the pre-teens. The teens participated in a tikkun olam event with members of our congregation and attended a play with the regional Reconstructionist group. JCCBM YOUTH GROUP On April 17th several teen members of our congregation participated in the MS Walk. Natalie London organized a team to walk in this fund-raiser in Somerville. This fun event began with free breakfast, followed by a 6 mile walk with hundreds of other walkers, and finished with lunch. Souvenir T-shirts were awarded for each of our team member for collecting $125 or more. Many thanks to the our generous congregants who sponsored our youth group in this worthy cause. Thanks to Natalie London and our teen walkers, Jonathan Yuresko, Danny Lazare and Aaron Ketofsky. SAVE THE DATE: Sunday morning May 15 - Car Wash and bake sale fundraiser for JCCBM The Youth Group will be holding its annual car wash/bake sale fundraiser in conjunction with our congregation spring Open House. The car wash will be open during Hebrew School hours from 8:30 to 1:00. Be sure to stop by to schmooze and have your car washed while nibbling on the home made sweets baked by our teens. REGIONAL RECONSTRUCTIONIST YOUTH GROUP The teens had a rollicking good time listening to beatboxer Yuri Lane weave his magic spell at the Mill Hill Playhouse. Human Beatbox and Vocal Magician Yuri Lane presented his new beatbox play "From Tel Aviv to Ramallah". It is Lane's part hip-hop performance part street-wise documentary. The show telescopes the lives of Amir, a Tel Aviv DJ and delivery boy, and Khalid, a Palestinian internet café owner. Lane weaves a voxpop tapestry of Palestinian and Israeli voices into a mosaic of the Middle East. Against a backdrop of muezzin calls and Tel Aviv traffic, the lives of Khalid and Amir progress with a hip-hop beat and intersect at a West Bank checkpoint to create a vision of peace. Prior to the performance the youth group met at the home of a youth group member in Trenton for a Havdalah service. After the show, the youth group returned for dessert and a discussion with Yuri Lane. Yuri demonstrated his many techniques for creating unusual sounds. Attempts were made trying to duplicate them, but it was a whole lot harder than it looked! Many, many thanks to Josh Goldsmith for organizing this unique evening and for the Goldstein family for hosting the teens at their home. Thanks also to the parents who carpooled some of our teens to Trenton. Attendees included Lizzie Smulian, Andrew Rabinowitz, Jake Fridkis, Jonathan Yuresko, Eric Dean, Matt Rosenthal, Josh Cige, and Gregg Georgianna. SAVE THE DATE: The May regional event is still in the planning stages. Josh will group members information about the next event. PRE-TEEN EVENTS Another pizza party was enjoyed by the students in grades 5 through 7 on Wednesday, April 13 after Hebrew school. Thanks again for Lori Konkowski for coordinating the event and for Faye Brookman for chaperoning the evening. I hear that there were lots of fun games to play and delicious donuts to eat. SAVE THE DATE: Wednesday, May 11 from 7:00-8:00. This will be the last pizza social for the school year. Even if you have never attended any of the pizza socials, why not stop by and give it a try? Rumor has it that they are a fun way to spend an hour after Hebrew school, have a tasty dinner, and hang out with friends. Try it, you'll like it. Shalom,, youth group chair kfridkis@comcast.net CAR WASH BAKE SALE FUNDRAISER SUNDAY MAY 15 8:30-1:00 Organized by the JCCBM Youth Group Come, schmooze, have your car washed and buy homebaked goodies 9

10 Women s Book Club June meeting: Monday, June 13, 7:45 pm Book: The Namesake, by Jhumpa Lahiri For the meeting s location, Contact: Debbie Grauer, Debbie@ourowndomain.com invites you to Celebrate Your Simcha With a Mitzvah! We will transport a beautiful, Custom-designed Bimah Basket to and from your Bar/Bat Mitzvah Service Your $100 basket donation goes directly to support the work of Jewish Family Service in our community. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL (908) JFS is a nonprofit, non-discriminatory social service agency working to preserve and strengthen the quality of individual, family, and community life based on Jewish values 10

11 What are blessings for if not to be shared? What's going on at the JCC of Belle Mead, NJ? 1 8 May Nisan Iyyar 5765 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 22 Nisan 7 L'Omer No Leeba"h School 29 Nisan 14 L'Omer Leeba"h School 8:30-10:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. 8th grade Hebrew High School 11:10 a.m. - noon 15 6 Iyyar 21 L'Omer Leeba"h School 8:30-10:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. 8th grade Hebrew High School 11:10 a.m. - noon Youth Group Activities Car Wash/Bake Sale 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m Iyyar 28 L'Omer Leeba"h School 8:30 a.m. Annual General Membership 10 AM followed by "Sundae Sunday" 23 Nisan 24 Nisan 25 Nisan L'Omer 9 L'Omer 10 L'Omer 9 30 Nisan 15 L'Omer ROSH HODESH I Num Iyyar 16 L'Omer ROSH HODESH II Num Iyyar 8 Iyyar L'Omer 23 L'Omer Iyyar 29 L'Omer 9:01PM PESACH SHEINI Board of Trustees meeting 7:30 PM 20 Iyyar 21 Iyyar 22 Iyyar L'Omer 36 L'Omer 37 L'Omer Leeba''h School 5-7 PM Youth Education committee 7:30 PM 11 2 Iyyar 17 L'Omer 8:49PM YOM HAZIKARON Leeba"h School 5-7 PM Youth Group Activities Pizza Social 7:00-8:00 p.m Iyyar 24 L'Omer Leeba"h School 5-7 PM 5 26 Nisan 11 L'Omer 8:44PM YOM HASHOAH 8th grade Hebrew High School 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Hebrew High school 5-7 PM 12 3 Iyyar 18 L'Omer 8:50PM YOM HA'ATZMAUT Deut Isaiah th grade Hebrew High School 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Hebrew High school 5-7 PM Iyyar 25 L'Omer 8th grade Hebrew High School 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Hebrew High school 5-7 PM 15 Iyyar 16 Iyyar 17 Iyyar L'Omer 31 L'Omer 32 L'Omer 6 27 Nisan 12 L'Omer 7:42PM Acorn Glen 5 PM Singing & Story-telling Kabbalat Shabbat worship service 7 pm 13 4 Iyyar 19 L'Omer 7:48PM Acorn Glen 5 PM "Food for Thought" Kabbalat Shabbat Worship service 7:45 PM Iyyar 26 L'Omer 7:55PM Acorn Glen 5 PM Musical Kabbalat Shabbat worship Service & honoring the month's birthdays & anniversaries 7:45 pm 18 Iyyar L'Omer 9:04PM/ 8:01PM LAG B'OMER Acorn Glen 5 PM -- "Rekindling the Flame" Shabbat dinner at the JCC of Belle Mead 6:30 pm -- Kabbalat Shabbat worship service 7:45 pm 7 28 Nisan 13 L'Omer 8:46PM Kedoshim: Levit Amos (Sephardi ritual: Ezekiel ). 9:30 AM Shaharit service - Michael Goldman's Bar Mitzvah celebration 14 5 Iyyar 20 L'Omer 8:52PM Emor: Levit Ezekiel Iyyar 27 L'Omer 8:59PM Behar: Levit Jeremiah :30 AM Shaharit service - Jeni Burke celebrates becoming a bat mitzvah Iyyar 34 L'Omer 9:05PM Behukotai: Levit Jeremiah [ Candle Lighting, Observance End. Times are for Belle Mead, NJ] 11

12 Committee Chairs Committee Chair Adult Education Rabbi Michael Tayvah B'nai Mitzvah Meryl Orlando Board of Trustees 3rd Tues. Ed Krisiloff Andy Sokel Building/Grounds/Decor Victor Elgort By-Laws Education 1st Wed. Karen Fridkis Finance Joan Weisblatt Fund Raising VACANT Hospitality Natalie London Sheryl Rosenberg Life Cycle Long Range Planning VACANT Hy Grossman Membership Sharon Casper Debbie Tesser Men s Club Bob Fass Karen Bartels Newsletter karen.bartels@verizon.net Nursery School Debbie Lampf Peggy Fass Publicity Janis Todd Religion 4th Tues. VACANT Sisterhood Judy Edelson Social/Activities VACANT Technology Barry Kirsch Tikkun Olam VACANT Tree of Life Donations Shelley Nord Youth Activities Karen Fridkis by JCCBM. All rights reserved. Permission required for reuse. The JCCBM Newsletter is published monthly, except July. Deadline is the 15 th of each month. Every effort will be made to publish contributed items, but due to space restrictions, placement and format are at the discretion of the editor. Advertising Policy. You can advertise in this newsletter to inform the community of your business or profession. Advertising is accepted based on its interest and applicability to our readership. Location in the newsletter is at the editor s discretion. The JCCBM does not necessarily endorse or vouch for the products and services of our advertisers The newsletter is published 11 times per year (no issue in July). a file with the art to the editor, or provide camera-ready art on clean, white background. Advertiser responsibility to meet deadlines. Rates are low and must be paid in advance. For information and a rate sheet, please contact the editor. The Newsletter of Jewish Community Center of Belle Mead Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Belle Mead, NJ Permit No Griggstown Road, Belle Mead, NJ Listserve jccbm@lists.princeton.edu Fulfilling the religious, educational and social needs of our Jewish community since Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Inside the Newsletter President s Message Committee Happenings Donations Hebrew School Happenings From the Rabbi Letter from Louise Wilson/ Ohr Tikvah News Jewish Community News Youth Group News Book Club for June JCCBM calendar May 2005 Deadline for next newsletter: May 15th 12