חדש. What s New at Temple Avodat Shalom. January, 2017 Bulletin/5777 Volume 65/Issue 3. Gift Cards Available for More Than Just Food Shopping

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1 חדש What s New at Temple Avodat Shalom January, 2017 Bulletin/5777 Volume 65/Issue 3 Gift Cards Available for More Than Just Food Shopping Your participation in the TAS Gift Card Program does not only buy your groceries and gifts for friends and associates, you can use it to travel for business and pleasure. Gift cards are available for Delta Airlines, Disney, Hotels.com, Budget Rent-a-Car, Choice Hotels, Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Lines, among others. Check out these and all 700+ vendors available through the program by going to the TAS website, under "Community" and "Fundraising" and clicking the link. Or write us at giftcards@avodatshalom.net. Inside this issue... January calendar, page 21. For up-to-date Temple information: Check the Temple website: Receive weekly announcements by send your updated address to administrator@avodatshalom.net 1

2 Upcoming Events January 1 st New Year s Day No School January 2 nd Office Closed January 4 th Adult Ed, 7 pm: Dr. Robert Ellis, God, Germany, the Jews and the Holocaust January 5 th Torah Noon Prayer with Meaning, 8:00 pm January 6 th Tot Shabbat, 6:00 pm Family Service, 7:30 pm led by Grade 3 No Dinner January 7 th Wresting with the Torah, 9:15 am Bat Mitzvah of SOPHIA GAFFIN January 8 th Java Nagila, 9:30 am January 9 th Board of Directors, 7:30 pm Auditions for Purim Spiel, 7:30 pm Brotherhood Cards, 8:00 pm January 10 th Yoga, 7:00 pm Kadima, 7:00 pm Choir, 7:30 pm January 11 th Adult Ed, 7 pm: Dr. Robert Ellis, God, Germany, the Jews and the Holocaust January 12 th Torah Noon Monthly Encounters: Shared Perspectives Between Judaism & Islam January 14 th Wrestling with the Torah, 9:15 am Bar Mitzvah of KIRAN SELIGMAN January 15 th Sisterhood Board, 9:30 am RAC, 9:30 am Audtions for Purim Spiel, 9:30 11:00 am Young Families, 1:30 pm January 16 th MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY Office Closed January 17 th Yoga, 7:00 pm Choir, 7:30 pm January 18 th Adult Ed, 7 pm: Dr. Robert Ellis, God, Germany, the Jews and the Holocaust Executive Board, 7:30 pm January 19 th Torah Noon Feeding the Hungry Prayer with Meaning, 8:00 pm January 20 th Sabbath Services, 8:00 pm With Adult Choir January 21 st Wretling with the Torah, 9:15 am January 22 nd Grade 2 Family Ed. Grade 6 Kehillah Adult Ed.: Gary Baskind on Jews during the American Revolution, 9:30 am January 24 th Yoga, 7:00 pm January 26 th Torah Noon Prayer with Meaning, 8:00 pm FROM RABBI PAUL I recently finished a novel by Beth Kissileff entitled Questioning Return. Kissileff's novel follows the journey of Wendy Goldberg, a Ph. D. student in her mid-twenties, exploring the reasons behind the decisions of various Jews to move to Jerusalem and embrace a more traditionally and ritually observant lifestyle. Such Jews are usually described as ba'alei t'shuva (masters of 'return' or 'repentance'). As she researches her topic, Wendy unearths far more questions than answers, including questions that she herself must, for the first time in her life, begin to wrestle with. By the end of the novel, so many questions remained unresolved. In an era where we are constantly seeking answers, resolution, and the opportunity to smooth things over or brush them aside, Kissleff's novel reminded me that the space in which we exist is perennially unresolved. What do we do about the lack of resolution we find in our own lives? When I pause to pray from the established liturgy, I come across a prayer on the concept of "returning" and "repentance." It is the second of thirteen petitionary blessings (blessings that we ask God to fulfill on our behalf) in the Amidah (the standing prayer, recited by some Jews three times a day). The prayer reads: Hashiveinu avinu l'toratecha v'karveinu malkeinu laavodatecha v'hachazireinu bitshuva sh'leima l'fanecha. Baruch atah A-do-nai ha-rotzeh bitshuva. Allow us to return, our Father, to your Torah. And draw us near, our Sovereign, to your service. And cause us to return in "perfect repentance" before You. Blessed are You, God, the One who desires return/repentance. Lately, this prayer makes less and less sense to me. The notion of returning to lessons and values presented by Torah and Jewish tradition and drawing near to God's service seem admirable. But "perfect repentance?" What sense does it make to bless God who asks us to turn in complete repentance? How is this possible for a human being? How is such repentance or return to God possible when so much of life and so many of our relationships contain unresolved elements, and when we look at the world around us and see so much lasting change that still needs to happen? What is remarkable about Kissleff's novel is that she as an author (represented, I surmise, through Wendy's journey), is telling us that the first step toward any kind of "return" requires asking questions, deep questions of ourselves, and of our world, and finding that many of those questions don't have readily accessible answers. Rather, the answers that we come to are gained through failure, suffering, pain, torment, evaluation, consideration, and reconsideration, and then even more reconsideration! If life were meant to be easy, if religion were meant to be a panacea, Kissileff would have very easily written a novel where Wendy Goldberg goes to Jerusalem to research ba'alei t'shuva and resolve the novel by having Wendy Goldberg become one of the people that she is researching. But she doesn't - and that's the point. January 27 th Sabbath Services, 6:00 pm Hospitality Shabbat January 28 th Wrestling with the Torah, 9:15 am January 29 th Sisterhood Breakfast January 31 st Yoga, 7:00 pm Rabbi Paul J. Jacobson Rabbi Educator Paula Feldstein President Audrey Rosenblatt Executive Director Stella Teger Administrator Stephanie Mandelbaum Accompanist Kenneth Corneille Sisterhood Barbara Starr and Cheryl Jaffe Brotherhood Marc Herrmann Rabbi Emeritus Neal I. Borovitz Cantor Emerita Ronit Josephson This Bulletin is published monthly by Temple Avodat Shalom 385 Howland Avenue River Edge, NJ Phone: (201) Fax: (201) administrator@avodatshalom.net Website: 2

3 There is no t'shuva sh'leima like the blessing above suggests. Such "perfect repentance" or "complete turning" is not possible for a human being. Such resolution doesn't exist. But turning exists, and beginning to turn exists. Making an effort, trying, wanting to change, wanting to help - all of these are possible. God only asks that we don't stand idly by - neither in our spiritual journeys, nor in our journey of helping the world in which we live and the people with whom we coexist. When a friend is suffering and in need, we turn toward them, we help them, we feed them, we support them. We can't wave a magic wand and make their pain go away, we cannot fully resolve their suffering, but we can turn, in their direction, to give to them, to care for them. When the media and leading political personalities present heinous, gut-wrenching messages and images, we don't shy away, but rather we turn toward like-minded individuals, we unite, we organize, we protest, we advocate, we insure that our voices may be heard. We want nothing more than to be facing a different reality than the one we are encountering, but the world is asking us now, more than ever, to turn toward opportunities for thoughtful dialogue and constructive action, rather than cowering in fear. When we feel lost, when we feel afraid, when we feel alone, God invites us to turn toward God, to pour out our hearts and souls in prayer, to be heard and listened to, and to be reminded of the comfort and shelter than belief can provide. There are no easy answers. There is no complete resolution, no t'shuva sh'leima that we will ever achieve. Once we begin a journey - of self, of community, of spirituality, of improving our world - we must recognize that the journey leads us to infinite destinations and possibilities, without ever resolving them for us. A congregation is a place to search, a place to rally, and most especially, rather than being a place for answers, a congregation is ultimately a place for thoughtful questions. Rabbi Paul FROM THE RELIGIOUS SCHOOL The recent Presidential election has caused much concern, worry and angst. In late November, a group of members of our congregation gathered to talk about how we can respond to the issues the campaign has raised and the many changes that may be ahead. Additionally, a few weeks ago I took a group of our amazing high school students to Washington, DC. We attended the L'Takein Seminar at the Religious Action Center. It was a full weekend of social justice learning and training and on Monday the teens will lobbied Senator Menedez on issues that they particularly care about. They did an incredible job and really understand the advocacy piece of our justice work. I was also lucky to have a briefing from Rabbi Jonah Pesner, the Director of the Religious Action Center, about his perspective on the election and how the Reform movement will move forward to face the challenges ahead. I want to share some of the exciting learning and action that can be ahead for us as a community. There are two approaches to Social Justice: 1. Hands-on service This is what we do when we volunteer for the Feed the Hungry Program. Volunteer work, donations, collections of food and clothing are all part of this work. It is crucial work that must be done to alleviate suffering. Our congregation has been doing a good job with this work especially with serving the poor. 2. Advocacy This work involves trying to bring about change so that the problems will no longer exist. It can involve lobbying to get important legislation passed, making sure that the government funds key programs like job training which will allow people to get on their feet, or attending demonstrations to convince public officials that they need to make a particular problem a priority. This work is slower and does involve getting involved in our political system. If we are going to eradicate the problems that hands-on-service is addressing this work is critical. Advocacy is the area where our congregation needs to expand its efforts, especially after the election. Moving forward we will be taking a two pronged approach. 1. Immediate impact: We will be setting up something called BaseCamp where we can share information about different ways to get involved so that we can act quickly as needed. These are more likely to be opportunities for individual action, such as letter writing and volunteer activities. Please watch for information about signing on to BaseCamp in the next few weeks. 3

4 2. Building a congregation that works together to make a difference: In order to really build an advocacy effort which involves the whole congregation we will have to take our time and go through a process of community organizing and education. It is important that our congregation, as a whole, supports our advocacy positions. Our congregation is participating in the Reform movement s Communities of Practice: Moving Justice to the Center of your Congregation. This program, which involves monthly webinars, will help us build a social justice program which involves many people in the congregation and will help us rally together around one or two issues where we can make a real impact. We will be organizing a bus(es?) to the Women's March on NYC, on Saturday, January 21st. I have done some research into this march and I am satisfied that it is being well organized. Temple Sinai of Bergen County (Tenafly) has invited us to join with them that morning for breakfast and to share bus(es). If you are interested in going, please let me know. For more information about the march itself go to: More information about our march logistics, cost for bus, etc. will be coming soon! It is easy to feel despondent and anxious during times like these. There will be many challenges ahead but if we work together as one community which cares about justice in our world we will be able to make a difference! Rabbi Paula Feldstein FROM THE PRESIDENT I was out of the country for Thanksgiving this year and didn t have a traditional celebration. And, I know that by the time you read this, Chanukah will have just ended. But right now, as I am writing on a snowy morning, my mind is full of all things pertaining to the secular end-of-year. As we get an additional opportunity to think about that new year, I am filled with thoughts of how fortunate we all are to be part of this community. I am grateful for our loving clergy, who care for us 24/7, often taking time away from their other responsibilities (both professional and personal) not only to be joyful with us, but to soothe our aches and tend to our woes when needed. Also to our building staff, who take care of us by tending to our office and our physical structure, making sure that we have a warm sanctuary, both literally and figuratively, from the world. I am grateful for all of our board members and committee members, all tireless volunteers, who demonstrate their dedication to our community with their countless hours of devotion not only hours spent in the building, but also time spent thinking of new ideas to bring to the table. I am moved and motivated by how much time, thought, and love, are put into our community. Beyond the devotion of time and dedication, I am also grateful for all of the generosity of giving I see around me. I am proud to be part of a community that takes social action and Tikkun Olam so much to heart. I marvel at the twists my life has taken to put me into a community that has so many people that give generously of their money as well to donate to our Yom Kippur appeal, to help us hire a new Cantor, to extend a challenge grant to the congregation to match end of year donations, to purchase food and goods to feed the hungry and provide shelter to the homeless. So thanks to all of you for what I consider your Chanukah gift to me. The bottom line is that I am thankful for all of you, whether I have had a chance to personally say it to you or not. Thanks for being part of the community. Thanks for sticking with us, even when things aren t running smoothly. Thanks for telling us when we can do things better. Thanks for offering your strengths to us so that we can grow. Happy New Year, Audrey 4

5 Cantorial Search Update The Cantorial Search Committee consists of Nilene Chase (Chair), Michele Levy Norton, Tom Bivone, Wendy Grinberg, Debbie Lev, Russell Sagerman, Jason Edelstein, Audrey Rosenblatt* and Steve Berman* (*ex officio). For the next fiscal year, starting July 2017, we are looking for a "limited service cantor," which is defined by the ACC, the American Conference of Cantors, which is the Reform movement's cantorial organization, as approximately hours per week. The Committee posted an ad on jewishjobs.com in early November. There was also word of mouth. The Committee received 15 resumes from candidates with varied experience. We conducted video interviews with six candidates, and invited two to meet the Committee and the congregation Cantor Jeff Warshauer, a primarily Conservative Cantor, and Cantor Kathy Barr, a Reform Cantor. After preliminary feedback from the Committee and members who attended the services, we have decided to widen our search and have entered into an exclusive placement arrangement with the ACC. We expect to conduct additional interviews and then invite candidates to spend the day at TAS and lead an adult service open to the membership. Once we believe we have the right person, we will negotiate a contract, which we will then present to the congregation for approval as required by our Constitution. If anyone has questions on the search, please contact Nilene Chase or any other member of the Committee. Thanks and Shabbat Shalom and Happy Chanukah! Nilene Evans Chase BROTHERHOOD NEWS The January 8, 2017 JAVA NAGILA will feature some of the greatest talent ever assembled at TAS. How is that possible? easy! The 'theme' of this Java Nagila is "Schmooze Fest", ie, get rid of your canin fever by coming to the shul to schmooze with your friends while noshing on the free goodies. As always we'll have delicious brunch foods which will of course include yummy baked goods that are generously donated by members of our shul As always, we'd LOVE to have prospective members attend also. So please do us, them and yourselves a favor and invite those families/people who think they might want to join TAS someday. We'd love to have them Please mark your calendars today in order to be sure that you attend the schmooze-fest on January 8 from 9:30am - 11:30am. Please RSVP by Jan. 3 to the office ( ) that you will be attending in order that we know how much food to buy. Thank you, Mario Caveda (mcaveda717@gmail.com) Mobile Number:

6 SISTERHOOD NEWS The Sisterhood has been very busy these past few weeks! We welcomed in the new moon with our Rosh Chodesh program which was very inspirational; a huge thank you to Barbara Markowitz for an amazing job putting this together. We all had a wonderful time tapping into our musical and artistic sides. Latkes, Laughter, Music and More proved to be a huge success! Thank you to everyone who threw their latkes into the frying pan! A tremendous thank you to our sisters, Ellen Berman and Joan Kaplan on a very well planned evening. The Sisterhood also volunteered their time to wrap for Shelter Our Sisters at the Paramus Park Mall, not only did we help make a difference, but it was fun as well. Think about joining us next year! Please mark your calendar for Wednesday, January 18 th! We will be hosting a California Tortilla Restaurant night from 5pm-9pm. Just mention the secret password which is TAS and/or show your flyer 25% of your order will go to the Sisterhood to help us with Camp Scholarships. Our Annual Sisterhood Breakfast is on January 29 th, please join us. We will be making Challah! Come join us and learn the rituals and significance behind this age-old tradition. If you would like to attend you must RSVP to Sisterhood@avodatshalom.net by January 20 th to ensure that we have enough supplies for everyone to bring home their own challah! We are currently looking forward to the Sisterhood Book Club, which will be held on February 13 th at 7:30 pm at the home of Nilene Chase. We will be discussing the book Here I am by Jonathan Safran Foer. Any questions, please feel free to reach out to Nilene Chase. Please RSVP to nileneevans@gmail.com or Mark Your Calendars For Our Upcoming Events: 1/15/17- Sisterhood Board Meeting (9:30 am)-all are welcome! 1/18/17- California Tortilla Restaurant Night from 5-9 pm 1/29/17-Sisterhood Breakfast-Making Challah 2/13/17- Book Club- at Nilene Chase s home Please come and join us! Questions, ideas or suggestions, please contact us at: sisterhood@avodatshalom.net Warmest Regards, Barbara Starr and Cheryl Jaffe Co-Presidents While You re Getting Your Tax Papers in Order It s a new year, and right around mid-january, you start to receive your tax papers from your bank and brokerage firm. These papers show how much interest you earned, any dividends you received, and even your mortgage interest and real estate taxes you paid. You add up your tax deductions, your medical bills, and other tax items to give to your accountant. While you re taking care of all of your 2016 tax information, and focusing on your finances, it might be a good time to also focus on your estate plan. Do you have a Will, or will the government decide who your beneficiaries are? If you wrote your Will years ago, does it still make sense? Is the executor named in your Will still the person you most trust to carry out your affairs? Have you named a guardian for your minor children? Oh, one more thing: What will your legacy be? If you care about Temple Avodat Shalom (and we know your do, or you wouldn t be reading this Bulletin), please include TAS among your closest family and friends. It s easy to do: if you redo your Will, you can include TAS; if you don t want to redo your Will, you can also name TAS a partial beneficiary of life insurance or partial beneficiary of your IRA. You can call the Temple office for more details. Want to Help? The fundraising committee for the Temple is always looking for new ideas and people to help. If you are interested, please contact us at fundraising@avodatshalom.net. 6

7 GENTLE YOGA RETURNS! Sign up now for your passport to relaxation. No experience required. Bring a mat and comfortable clothes. Tuesday nights 1/10 2/28-7:00-8:00 PM Temple Avodat Shalom Please notify Sally Isaacs if you are interested. Yoga@avodatshalom.net FEEDING THE HUNGRY Calling all volunteers and master chefs, we need your help for our next session of Feeding the Hungry program on Thursday, January 19th.. If you have volunteered in the past thank you very much! The Temple Avodat Shalom volunteers will again be providing 120 hot dinners to Bergen County s hungry at the Bergen County Shelter in Hackensack. We are asking for prepared food donations in 5 lb. increments of each of the following foods: Meat meatballs or meatloaf Chicken Pasta Potatoes Vegetables Salad Bread Dessert If you can help with a prepared food donation or wish to volunteer to serve please go to The website contains a full list of items needed for Thursday, January 19, 2017 as well as an up to date list of volunteers. If you would like to help but are unable to provide a 5 lbs food donation there are many other ways to contribute including buying a Shoprite gift card from the Temple and donating it to the program. If you have any questions Evelyn Shats at TASFeedingTheHungry@gmail.com. THANK YOU!!! KIPPAH FUNDRAISER Order Kippot for your special celebration (Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Wedding) through the Temple and help support our Parents' Association who help fund many of our children's activities. Call Debra Tester at for information. To JANE & DR. NEIL GAFFIN, on the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter, SOPHIA; To AARTHI AND BRIAN SELIGMAN, on the Bar Mitzvah of their son, KIRAN. Each month, the children in our congregation who are celebrating birthdays are called to the bema during our First Friday Family Service. January birthdays will be called to the bima on January 6 th. We wish all of them a Happy Birthday Sophia Gaffin Sara Howard Benjamin Lewis Bailey Wacks Jake Rabinowitz, Kiran Seligman and Samuel Spodak 7

8 KNOWLEDGE IS POWER HELP SUPPORT OUR MITZVAH PROJECTS Rebecca and Sarah Tester making a difference. Rebecca s Project My project is to bring awareness to Bergen County s TNR Feral Cat Program. Stray cats are Trapped, Neutered and Returned to cat colonies established by the Bergen County Animal Shelter. In order to maintain this program, cat food (wet or dry) is needed along with funds for supplies and veterinarian costs. We are asking for your help by dropping off cat food in the TNR Box in the Lobby. Any monetary donations or PetSmart gift cards (yes they can be ordered through TAS gift card program) can be given to Barbara Haber in an envelope marked TNR Program. Sarah s Project My project helps all children with rare diseases by supporting the Ingui Family Rare is Beautiful Foundation. Dee Dee Ingui lives in my town and was diagnosed in 2015 with Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome. Unfortunately, rare diseases in this country are not given the funding for research and support that families need. Help the children by giving an envelope marked RARE IS BEAUTIFUL with your donation to Barbara Haber. To learn more about these two charities, please take a flyer from the Temple s lobby. 8

9 7 Fall Spring 2017 New Adult Learning Opportunities at Temple Avodat Shalom On Wednesday evenings at 7 PM January 4, 11, 18, 25 Dr. Robert Ellis, God, Germany, the Jews, and the Holocaust This course explores the causes and consequences of what was arguably the most horrific event in all of history. Topics include both the long-term origins of the Holocaust in European racism and anti-semitism and the more immediate origins in the dynamics of the Nazi state and the war against the Soviet Union. Particular attention will be given to debates and controversies, including the motivations of German and non-german perpetrators, bystanders, and collaborations, the place of the Jews and non-jews in Holocaust historiography, the continuities of racism and genocide and their comparability, and the consequences of the Holocaust for memory and world politics. We will engage with a variety of topics, including nationalism and nation-building, revolution and reaction, industrialization and urbanization, mass politics and culture, Germans' roles and experiences in two world wars, Nazi racism and genocide, and the theological implication of the Holocaust for contemporary Jewish thought. January 22 Gary Baskind, A History of Jews in America and Jews in the American Revolution Mr. Baskind an inveterate American history buff with a profound interest in early American Jewish history will present a fascinating lecture to our congregants. His lecture starts with "The first 23 and Beyond", beginning with the arrival of the first Jews to America in 1654, and traces the growth of the Jewish community up to the eve of the American Revolution. It concludes with Those who took up arms on behalf of the Colonial Cause and the impact that the American Revolution had on the fledgling Jewish community. Mr. Baskind is a long time resident of Glen Rock and an active member of Fair Lawn Jewish Center. Professionally, he serves as Vice President of Special Gifts of the American Friends of Bar Ilan University. February 1, 8, 15 March 1, 8, 15 March 22 March 29 "Jew & A" with our Rabbis Judaism and the Environment, including a special session on this year's "One Book, One Community" selection, Let There Be Water, by Seth Siegel Pesach for Adults Writing an Ethical Will April 26, May 3 & 10 Rabbi Neal Borovitz, Rabbi Emeritus Zionism and American Reform Judaism

10 A History of Jews in America and the American Revolution Sunday - January 22, 2017 At 9:30 AM Our speaker will be Gary Baskind Mr. Baskind an inveterate American history buff with a profound interest in early American Jewish history will present a fascinating lecture to our congregants. His lecture starts with "The first 23 and Beyond", beginning with the arrival of the first Jews to America in 1654, and traces the growth of the Jewish community up to the eve of the American Revolution. It concludes with Those who took up arms on behalf of the Colonial Cause and the impact that the American Revolution had on the fledgling Jewish community. Mr. Baskind is a long time resident of Glen Rock and an active member of Fair Lawn Jewish Center. Professionally, he serves as Vice President of Special Gifts of the American Friends of Bar Ilan University. 10

11 The January 8, 2017 JAVA NAGILA will feature some of the greatest talent ever assembled at TAS. How is that possible? easy! The 'theme' of this Java Nagila is "Schmooze Fest", i.e., get rid of your canin fever by coming to the shul to schmooze with your friends while noshing on the free goodies. As always we'll have delicious brunch foods which will of course include yummy baked goods that are generously donated by members of our shul As always, we'd LOVE to have prospective members attend also. So please do us, them and yourselves a favor and invite those families/people who think they might want to join TAS someday. We'd love to have them Please mark your calendars today in order to be sure that you attend the schmooze-fest on November 6 from 9:30am - 11:30am. Please RSVP by Jan. 3 to the office ( ) that you will be attending in order that we know how much food to buy. 11

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13 Sisterhood Breakfast Making Challah Sunday, January 29, :30am Come join us as we make challah together and learn the ritual and significance behind this age-old Jewish tradition $18 in advance ($25 at door) includes breakfast, all ingredients and supplies. Every participant will leave with a challah to be baked at home. Reservations required to Sisterhood@avodatshalom.net by January 20 so we have enough for everyone 13

14 Order Your Purim Gift Bags Now The Sisterhood of Temple Avodat Shalom is pleased to offer you an opportunity to fulfill the mitzvah of Mishloach Manot (the traditional Purim gift of food and candy). Your participation in this fundraiser will contribute to its success and will be greatly appreciated and enjoyed by the people receiving it. Use the order form on the back to send gift bags to TEMPLE MEMBERS, CHILDREN, AND STAFF Gift bags are $10.00 each Only one bag will be given to a family (regardless of how many orders that family receives). This bag will include a gift card listing all those who contributed to this bag. NO ORDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER FEBRUARY 19, 2017 Questions? Contact: Sisterhood: 14

15 ORDER FORM FOR MISHLOACH MANOT GIFT BAGS Your Name Address Phone PLEASE follow these easy steps for ordering: A. List the FIRST & LAST NAME of Temple members and staff to whom you would like to give Mishloach Manot gift bags. Example: The Sara and David Sutter Family B. If you want to send a bag to a child, as well as listing their name, you must indicate that it is a child otherwise the bag will be to the family name. Gift bags are $10.00 each Please use a separate piece of paper for additional orders. C. Be a PURIM PATRON - For $250, your family s name will be added to every gift bag. D. TOTAL GIFT ORDER Yes, I want to be a Purim Patron. OR I have ordered Purim gift bags at $10.00 each. Total Enclosed E. Don t Forget Anyone! For those who are not Purim Patrons, but are ordering gift bags, we can automatically reciprocate to everyone who sent you a gift bag and then send you a bill for the additional bags. You MUST PURCHASE at least one gift bag in order to reciprocate. Check here if you wish to do this. Yes, please reciprocate and bill me at $10.00 a bag. MAKE ALL CHECKS PAYABLE TO TEMPLE AVODAT SHALOM SISTERHOOD. MAIL CHECK & ORDER FORM TO: Temple Avodat Shalom, 385 Howland Ave., River Edge, NJ Gift bags will be available for pick-up in the Temple Lobby on Sunday, March 12, 2017 at the Religious School Purim Carnival. We will contact all recipients to let them know about pick-up at the Temple. REMEMBER, ORDERS MUST BE RECEIVED BY FEBRUARY 19!. 15

16 JOIN THE SISTERHOOD FOR A GREAT EVENING! Book Club Monday Evening February 13 th at 7:30pm We will be discussing the book Here I am by Jonathan Safran Foer We will be meeting at Nilene Chase s house 59 Hampshire Road Township of Washington RSVP nileneevans@gmail.com Or *Note: For those with allergies please be aware that there are cats in the house. 16

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18 PURIM SHPIEL AUDITIONS ANNOUNCEMENT Due to popular demand, the TAS Players will be presenting a Purim Shpiel for the Third Straight Year!. This year's show is "THE REBBE OF OZ" and opening (and closing) night is Sat., March 11 If you'd like to act in the show, please come to auditions on Monday, Jan. 9 at 7:30pm, or Sunday, Jan. 15 at 9:30am. If you are interested in a singing part, please be prepared to sing a short song of your choice. For more information, contact Andy Lieb at TalentShow@avodatshalom.net Synopsis: Esther is a young, college educated single, trying to make it in the city as a female professional, under intense pressure from social media, parents and peers. Wishing she could return to simpler times, when expectations were more reasonable and everyone knew their role, Esther tells Auntie Vashti that the whirlwind of her life is overwhelming, and that she knows in her heart she needs to make a few changes. One day, Esther gets onto the D train and emerges, not at the 34 th street station, but in Oz!! Her wish has come true, but not nearly in the way she has expected it to!! The Munchy-Kins greet Esther with great fanfare, giving her a dress, a head scarf and a pair of red boots. They recognize that she could be the one who could lead them out of the terrible situation and persecutions they have been experiencing thru the Wicked Warlock Haman s decree to abolish all the Synagogues in Oz. Ever resourceful, Esther realizes that she must lead the charge to the Rebbe of Oz, to stop Wicked Warlock Haman from achieving his goal. They point her in the right direction and tell her to follow the Mandel Bread Road to the Rebbe! Along the way, she meets a scarecrow wearing a crown of gold (Ahasueros), a man made of Tin (Chris Christie?) who lacks a heart, and, of course they meet up with a cowardly Lion (Roar-dechai). The four new friends continue along the Mandel Bread Road until they, well, you have to come see the show to find out the rest. TENTATIVE CAST LIST Esther (Dorothy) Auntie Vashti Scarecrow (AKA Ahasueros) Tin Man Cowardly Lion (AKA Roar-dechai) Munchy-kins The Rebbe of Oz Haman (Wicked Warlock of the West) Good Witch or Warlock 18

19 The cutoff date for all donations to be listed in the Bulletin is the 25 th of each month; otherwise they will be listed in the following month s bulletin. IN MEMORIAM The congregation extends deepest sympathy to the families of: PHIL MANDELBAUM, on the passing of his mother, LEE MANDELBAUM; CLAIRE SELTZER, on the passing of her husband, SOL SELTZER. GENERAL FUND Donations to the General Fund support all activities of the Temple RABBI PAUL JACOBSON Thank you to Sandra & Kenneth Metviner COPELAND & BERTSCHE, JOAN & WALTER HABERMAN In memory of Marian Schnall ROBERTA PALEY & JOE MOSKOWITZ Mazel tov to Ilana Seltzer on her Bat Mitzvah BARBARA & MICHAEL STARR, LIZ & LEN LAWTON, GAIL & ERIC GOLDFARB & FAMILY, PEGGY & STUART SCHNEIDER, EVELYN REISER, MARY & RICHARD LURIE. JOYCE & NEIL MASSOTH In memory of Sid Savitt MARY & RICHARD LURIE, SUSAN & LARRY ALTMAN, CHERYL & MARC JAFFE In memory of Lynne Norton MARY & RICHARD LURIE In honor of Annette & Andy Lieb EVELYN REISER Just because WENDY & ALAN JACOBS Just because BARBARA & MIKE KING In honor of the birth of Herb Diamond s new great granddaughter GILDA & FRED RABINOWITZ In honor of Terri & Michael Goldberg s new grandson, Miles BARBARA KLEIN Thank you to Joan & Gunter Hecht CLAIRE ROSENBAUM Thank you to all my chauffeurs: Fred Levitan, Joe Moskowitz, Russell Sagerman and David Greenfield BARBARA & JIM SPECTOR In memory of Cecelia Maisel; In honor of Stephanie Mandelbaum s retirement ELLEN & STEVE BERMAN Thank you for a wonderful evening to Linda Stern GINEEN & DON WEISS, BARBARA & MIKE KING, NILENE & ARNIE CHASE, SONDRA BERMAN, STELLA TEGER & ROBERT ADLER, FRANCINE EBERSMAN, MARCIA SALKOWITZ, JOAN & GUNTER HECHT In memory of Lena Lee Mandelbaum MARY LINDENBAUM In memory of Roz Lawton BARBARA & TONY LUCIANO, FRANCINE EBERSMAN, MARCIA SALKOWITZ, JEANNE BUESSER In honor of Stephanie Mandelbaum s retirement GLORIA & CUBBY COHEN, RISA & ROBERT LOUDA; CAROL BERDY, BARBARA & TONY LUCIANO, JUDY GURIAN, ELLEN & STEVE BERMAN, MARY & RICH LURIE, AUDREY and PERRY SASS In memory of Sol Seltzer CHILDREN'S LIBRARY FUND STEPHANIE & PHIL MANDELBAUM Thank you to everyone for their kind words and support YARTZEIT FUND ROBERT SALOMON In memory of Leo Salomon BEVERLY & EDWARD CALEM In memory of Gertrude & Sidney Calem MARIAN ROFFMAN & DAVID GREENFIELD In memory of Florence Roffman HERB DIAMOND In memory of Ann Weiss BARBARA SHAPIRO & BOB MANSFIELD In memory of Benas Mansfield ROBERTA PALEY & JOE MOSKOWITZ In memory of Minnie Moskowitz JESSICA & CHARLES HOROWITZ In memory of Marion Kessler SHARON & RICHARD GOLDBERG In memory of Jennie Goldberg MIDGE & LLOYD RAUCH In memory of Gertrude and Herbert Mackoff BARBARA KLEIN In memory of Morton Klein EVA & RALPH PINCUS In memory of Juan Levi HELEN & MARK CANTOR In memory of Joyce Cantor; In memory of Adeline Cantor PHYLLIS BESEN In memory of William Sworkow; In memory of Martin Besen FRANCINE EBERSMAN In memory of William Ebersman JOAN & GUN HECHT In memory of Ruth & Buddy Grinthal MARCIA SALKOWITZ In memory of Vera Schwid ESTELLE FRIEDBERG In memory of Aaron Friedberg LAPIDOS TREE OF LIFE To purchase a Leaf on our Tree of Life MARIAN ROFFMAN & DAVID GREENFIELD In memory of Florence and Martin Roffman AVODA TREE OF LIFE STEPHANIE & PHIL MANDELBAUM In memory of Lee & Mickey Mandelbaum RABBI'S DISCRETIONARY FUND BI-STATE DBT ASSOCIATES Thank you BARBRA & ERROL SELTZER Thank you CLAIRE SELTZER Thank you CAROL AFERIAT CHALLENGE 2016 STEPHANIE & PHIL MANDELBAUM In appreciation for the service & oneg in her honor ANONYMOUS CAROL BERDY ELLEN & STEVE BERMAN MICHELE & DAVID BUCHNER NAOMI JACOBY COHN HERB DIAMOND ROSE KAY BROWNING & BERNARD FAUST JULIE & HOWARD GLAZER LINDA & PHIL GOULD PATTY & MARC HERRMANN CARRIE & JEFF JACOBUS NAOMI KERSTEIN BARBARA & MIKE KING KAREN & MITCHELL LIGHT DALIA & GREGG MALOVANY BARBARA & JERRY MARKOWITZ VICKI & STEVE MONALOY SUSAN & RICHARD PIKE JUDIE & RALPH RICE LAURIE & JONATHAN ROCHLIN AUDREY & JOEL ROSENBLATT LIBBIE & IRVING SASLAW MAYBELLE SCHNEIDER PEGGY & STUART SCHNEIDER BARBARA & JAMES SPECTOR BARBARA & MICHAEL STARR LISA & MICHAEL WACKS DEENA & FRED WEISS GINEEN & DON WEISS NANCY & LES WEISS KATHERINE & DAVID ZATZ YOM KIPPUR PLEDGE/DONATION AMY LEDERMAN & MICHAEL AUFRICHTIG PHYLLIS BESEN BEVERLY & ED CALEM JOFFE FAMILY SANDRA & KEN METVINER ANITA & STUART PLOTKIN LISA & MICHAEL WACKS DONNA & JOSEPH WALDMAN MAXINE & PHILIP ZIMMERMAN SCHNOLL MUSIC FUND CONNIE SCHNOLL In memory of Phyllis Rosenlev SISTERHOOD SUNSHINE FUND Mazel tov to Herb Diamond on the birth of his new great granddaughter; In appreciation of Liz Dunkleman and Carrie Jablonsky for hosting our very popular Book Club; Mazel tov to Nancy & Warren Heaps on their son s marriage; Thank you to Barbara Markowitz for leading us in our Rosh Chodesh celebration; Thank you to Carla Auld and Annette Lieb for sharing their musical talents during Rosh Chodesh; Thank you to Lisa Jacobson for baking a multitude of delicious desserts for our Camp Shabbat Oneg; Mazel tov on your retirement to Stephanie Mandelbaum; Congratulations to Charlotte Garcia on receiving a Sisterhood scholarship for the RAC trip; In memory of Phil Mandelbaum s mother Lena; In memory of Sol Seltzer A REMINDER: Donations to Temple Avodat Shalom's Funds may be made, by phone or mail, in honor of someone, in memory of someone, or "just because." A beautiful card of acknowledgment will be mailed to the honoree or to the family of the deceased upon receipt of the donation, minimum $10. However, certain specific Funds require higher minimums, as follows: Library Fund $18 Torah Restoration 180 Gates of Joy 18 Simcha Tree of Life 180 Siddur Shalom 36 Lapidos Tree of Life 250 Torah Commentary 90 Mitzvah Walk Brick

20 "It's never too early in the year or in a child's life to start thinking about sending him or her to Jewish overnight camp! Jewish overnight camps offer all the programs that traditional camps have - including special interest programs like STEM, sports, art and music, computer, 21st century skill building - but also have a magical element that can only be found at Jewish overnight camp. Diana Diner is your resource at the Jewish Federation of Northern NJ for all things camp related. As Jewish Federation's Jewish Camp Concierge, she will help guide you in choosing the camp that is the best fit for your family's needs, arranging visits to camps, and connect you with other families in your area. In addition, she is the administrator of the One Happy Camper grant, which is a grant given to all eligible campers going to Jewish overnight camp for the first time. She can be reached at and dianad@jfnnj.org" Diana Diner Jewish Camp Coordinator (201) Eisenhower Drive Paramus, New Jersey

21 JANUARY 2017/5777 tevet - shevat Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 3 Tevet 1 NEW YEAR S DAY NO SCHOOL 4 Tevet 2 Office closed 5 Tevet 3 6 Tevet 4 Adult Ed, 7 pm: Dr. Robert Ellis, God, Germany, the Jews and the Holocaust 7 Tevet 5 Torah Noon Prayer with Meaning, 8 pm 8 Tevet (4:26) 6 Tot Shabbat, 6:00 pm Family Service, 7:30 pm led by Grade 3 No Dinner 9 Tevet 7 Parashat Vayigash Wrestling with the Torah, 9:15 am Sabbath Services, 10:30 am Bat Mitzvah of SOPHIA GAFFIN 10 Tevet 8 Java Nagila, 9:30 am 11 Tevet 9 Board of Directors, 7:30 pm Auditions for Purim Spiel,7:30 Brotherhood Cards, 8:00 pm 12 Tevet 10 Yoga, 7:00 pm Kadima, 7:00 pm Choir, 7:30 pm 13 Tevet 11 Adult Ed, 7 pm: Dr. Robert Ellis, God, Germany, the Jews and the Holocaust 14 Tevet 12 Torah Noon Monthly Encounters: Shared Perspectives Between Judaism & Islam 15 Tevet (4:33) 13 Sabbath Services, 8:00 pm 16 Tevet 14 Parashat Vayechi Wrestling with the Torah, 9:15 am Sabbath Services, 10:30 am Bar Mitzvah of KIRAN SELIGMAN 17 Tevet 15 Sisterhood Board, 9:30 am RAC, 9:30 am Auditions for Purim Spiel, 9:30-11:00 am Young Families, 1:30 pm 18 Tevet 16 MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY Office closed 19 Tevet 17 Yoga, 7:00 pm Choir, 7:30 pm 20 Tevet 18 Adult Ed, 7 pm: Dr. Robert Ellis, God, Germany, the Jews and the Holocaust Executive Board, 7:30 pm 21 Tevet 19 Torah Noon Feeding the Hungry Prayer with Meaning, 8 pm 22 Tevet (4:41) 20 Sabbath Services, 8:00 pm with Adult Choir 23 Tevet 21 Parashat Shemot Wrestling with the Torah, 9:15 am Sabbath Services, 10:30 am 24 Tevet 22 Grade 2 Family Ed. Grade 6 Kehillah Adult Ed.: Gary Baskind on Jews during the American Revolution, 9:30 am 26 Tevet Tevet 24 Yoga, 7:00 pm 27 Tevet 25 Adult Ed, 7 pm: Dr. Robert Ellis, God, Germany, the Jews and the Holocaust 28 Tevet 26 Torah Noon Prayer with Meaning, 8 pm 29 Tevet (4:50) 27 Sabbath Services, 6:00 pm Hospitality Shabbat 1 Shevat 28 Parashat Vaera Wrestling with the Torah, 9:15 am Sabbath Services, 10:30 am 2 Shevat 29 Sisterhood Breakfast 3 Shevat 30 4 Shevat 31 Yoga, 7:00 pm FEBRUARY S M T W T F S