Congregation B nai Jacob

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1 Congregation B nai Jacob Jersey City s Egalitarian Conservative Congregation Congregational Newsletter October, 2007 Special Multi-Instrument Musical Service! Friday, October 19th! Friday Evening Services begin at 8:00 PM followed by Oneg Shabbat Saturday Morning Services begin at 9:00 AM, followed by a Kiddush Lunch B nai Jacob: Ha Makom Yehudit Shelanu - Our Place for Jewish Belonging The 5768 High Holy Days are behind us from Selichot and Rosh Hashana through Kol Nidre,Yom Kippur, Neilah and Tashlich. The final Hallelujah took place Sunday, September 22 downtown Jersey City right on the water at the corner of the Morris Canal and the Hudson River. With over 40 B nai Jacobites gathered for honey and apples, music, singing and dancing, we made our mark in Jersey City as the place for Jewish belonging. The musical sounds drew passersby including Jersey City Councilman, Steve Fullop and some local downtown Jewish residents, some unaffiliated, some from other congregations, including a twentysomething Sabra, Nita, residing in Jersey City after living in France for many years. Some members brought their children and grandkids, too. (If you missed it, photos of our Tashlich can be seen on B nai Jacobís lobby bulletin board and shortly on our website!) I spent a lot of time after the event thinking about what made it In this issue... Dubrow s Message Sid s News & Views High Holy Day Calendar Tributes & Tzedaka Photo Gallery Dubrow so successful. First, of course, was the spectacularly beautiful weather, 70 s and sunny, with boats going by in both directions all afternoon. The weather itself was healing. Second, and more important, however, was the phenomenal participation in the event by B nai Jacob members. For some, Tashlich brought back many happy memories of times together years ago performing Tashlich in other settings with the B nai Jacob family. For others, it meant time celebrating the Jewish principle of L Dor va Dor, from Generation to Generation, the principle of Jewish continuity and sharing a Jewish tradition to promote the passing on of that tradition to future generations. And for many of us new to B nai Jacob in the past five years or so, it meant creating new traditions going forward and enjoying being together as a community that cares for one another. All of this suggested to me what B nai Jacob is really all about: B nai Jacob is our Place for Jewish Belonging. Whether you attend services regularly or whether you participate occasionally, whether you enjoy a bus trip outing to Brooklyn College for an afternoon of Yiddish music, or attending a downtown event and joining in the music and dancing, or enjoying a luncheon Shabbat Kiddush in the beautiful B nai Jacob Sukkah, whether you represent B nai Jacob s interests in the larger Hudson Jewish Community Forum by serving on the Working Group or attending gatherings, or whether you simply stay connected to B nai Jacob by receiving the B nai Jacob newsletter or catching up on the B nai Jacob website, all of you are making B nai Jacob into our Place for Jewish Belonging. And just by the generosity you show with your contributions, you are signaling that you belong at B nai Jacob. Over the summer, when I assumed my new role at B nai Jacob providing spiritual leadership, I gave a lot of thought to continues next page... The B nai Jacob Newsletter is supported by a donation in memory of Betty Cole Page 1

2 Dubrow, continued... what guiding objectives over the year I could offer the congregation to instill a spirit of belonging. I came up with four goals: more participation, more explanation, more teaching, and more learning. We all need community. It enriches us, helps us and heals us. And it is within the context of the B nai Jacob community that these four goals can be expressed. Our spirits soar when we have a good Shabbat or a good Chag. Regarding participation, we have several important Tishrei dates coming up in October: October 4 and 5 and October 19. Thursday, October 4 is Shemini Atzeret, the final day of the Festival of Sukkot. On this day we recite the prayer for rain, Geshem, so important to our ancestors in the dry land of Israel, and still so very important to our Jewish brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisrael. We also recite Yizkor on that day. The following day, Friday, October 5, is Simchat Torah, the festival of rejoicing in the Torah. On this holiday we complete the reading of the entire cycle of the Five Books of Moses and being the cycle again. Later in the month, on Friday evening, October 19, we will have our Friday Night Live! Musical Shabbat service. At our last musical Friday Night Live! Service in August we had a lively service followed by an ice cream social for our Oneg Shabbat. Come on October 19th to B nai Jacob and enjoy a special Parashat Lech Lecha Shabbat service with a warm and friendly Oneg following services. It is my hope in the New Year that you will all bring your friends and family and make Bínai Jacob your Place for Jewish Belonging, Ha Makom Yehudit Shelanu. Marsha A. Dubrow, Ph.D. (201) cantor@bnaijacobjc.org Page 2 Festivals Schedule of Services Service Hoshanah Rabbah Shemini Atzeret Yizkor Simchat Torah Day Date Wednesday Thursday Thursday Friday October 3 October 4 October 4 October 5 Time 9:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:30 AM 9:00 AM Some Tashlich Photos Honey, apples, and bread for tossin were available to all thanks to the generosity of Raylie and Dave Dunkel. Reaching into the bread basket and getting ready for the big toss. Look out below! Some Succot Photos In the Sukkah. Pauline Danton, Min Natovitz, Ann Pettit, and Lil Chapnick. All Hands On Deck! The ancient ritual of shaking the Lulav and Etrog in six directions. A full set of photos will be posted in the bulletin board in the B nai Jacob Lobby. Selected photos can be found on the website. Video which was shot at Tashlich by David Rosenberg is being edited and a DVD will be created.

3 Let s start with thanks: to Yael Israel for a donation of cookies for our morning minyan; to Anita Olivierre for scheduling participation in Shabbat services; to Anna Roque for decorating the Sukkah and for helping me obtain willows for Hoshanah Rabbah; to Helen Zelkind for sponsoring the Hoshanah Rabbah Kiddush as she does each year in memory of her husband Saul; to Hal Zwain for the photo of the Board circa 1962 and the frame. The picture is hanging in the Rubin Lobby. See how many people you can identify without looking at the label. Thanks also to Carol Strulowitz and Jane Canter for donating the beautiful flowers on the Bima for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur; to David Rosenberg and Dubrow for donating beautiful flowers for our Sukkah; to Min Natovitz and Lenore Berkowitz for refreshments on Selihot, Yom Kippur Breakfast and all the holidays; to Marc Hoffman for his Torah reading; to Dean Brody for getting an article published in the Jewish Standard and to Jamie Janoff, publisher of the Standard. We received donations as a result of the article and these, along with all the Kol Nidre contributions will be listed in the next issue. We also thank Anne Pettit for her participation in services on a regular basis and to all who take part in services on holidays and Shabbat, whether for an Aliyah, opening the ark, reciting a Haftorah, dressing the Torahs or any other part of the service - without you it can t be done. Sid s News and Views And especially to Dubrow for leading us in the most beautiful, warm and meaningful services on all the holidays a Yasher Koach. May all of you enjoy being part of a newly growing and exciting synagogue, under the s guidance. Mazal Tov to Nat Saltzman on the Bar Mitzvah of his grandson Binyomin and to George Tilton on his recent appointment by Governor Corzine as a member of the Council of Armed Forces and Veteran s Affairs. On Saturday evening, September 8th, we had our annual Selihot services. We began with Maariv followed by Havdalah. We viewed a wonderful video starring Yitzach Perlman traveling with Klezmer musicians and returning to Poland with his father. It was great! Then we had delicious refreshments and on to Selihot services. Over 40 attended and it was a huge success, the best Selihot ever. High Holiday services went very well. David Rosenberg blew shofar with his own beautiful, very long twisted ram s horn. Hearing David s Tekiyah etc added immeasurably to our holidays. During the afternoon break on Yom Kippur Dubrow led a discussion on Jonah where we read and discussed the English translation. Then Henry Botuck beautifully chanted the Jonah Haftorah. At the conclusion we went into the sanctuary for N eilah services and since it was Saturday night we ended with Havdalah and a final shofar blowing by David, followed by a break-fast and good wishes to all for a healthy year. Our web site brought in about 10 responses for high holiday seats, many of whom attended services and told us they look forward to coming back to future events, programs and services. We are growing! On September 23rd we held Tashlich services at the foot of Washington Street along the Morris Canal. Dubrow, with help from Raylie and David Dunkel, arranged the most fun time! The brought her portable keyboard, tambourines, and drums (which Joe Hirshbein played) and David Rosenberg played the saxophone. Raylie and David brought cookies, apples and honey and juice in addition to baskets of cubed bread, representing our sins, for us to toss into the water. Even the weather man cooperated by presenting us with a glorious day. About 45 people danced and sang and attracted some interested onlookers including downtown Councilman Steve Fulop. Anita Ollivierre brought a beautiful, large banner, designed by David Rosenberg,with our name, featuring color photos of the stained glass panels in our sanctuary doors. David also took photos (a couple of them are on page 2) and movies and in the future we may have a special showing. If you missed this, you missed a lot of B nai Jacob fun. Sukkot services were very well attended and most enjoyable. If you don t come to the new, exciting Bnai Jacob these days you are truly missing everything!!! Again, thank you Marsha Dubrow. Sid Canter Page 3

4 October, November 2007/ Tishrei-Heshvan, 5768 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wedesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 19 Tishrei 2 20 Tishrei 3 21 Tishrei 4 22 Tishrei 5 23 Tishrei 6 24 Tishrei Hol Hamoed Sukkot Hol Hamoed Sukot Hoshanah Rabbah Shemeni Atzeret Candles - 5:12 Simchat Torah Birkat HaHodesh Bereshit 7 25 Tishrei 8 26 Tishrei 9 27 Tishrei Tishrei Tishrei Tishrei Candles - 5:01 Rosh Hodesh Heshevan 13 1 Heshvan Rosh Hodesh Heshevan Noah 14 2 Heshvan 15 3 Heshvan 16 4 Heshvan 17 5 Heshvan 18 6 Heshvan Yiddish Concert Trip to Brookyn College 19 7 Heshvan Candles - 4:50 Friday Night Live! 21 9 Heshvan Heshvan Heshvan Heshvan Heshvan Heshvan Candles - 4: Heshvan Lekh Lecha Heshvan Vayera Heshvan Heshvan Heshvan Heshvan Friday Night Live! October 19 th Shabat evening service with musical instruments followed by festive oneg. Bring your family and friends! Yiddish Concert Trip Thurdsay, October 18th Chiri Biri Bim Bam $15 per person Money must be in by October 15th Contact: Min Natovitz Pauline Danton Etta Hershfield Lenore Berkowitz Tashlich was a huge hit! Over 45 congregants sang, danced, and tossed breadcrumbs! Some photos are on page 2. Page 4

5 HOME FURNISHING CENTER FURNITURE FOR EVERY BUDGET For generations, we ve made family, community, and tradition our promise to you. GUTTERMAN AND MUSICANT JEWISH FUNERAL DIRECTORS Alan L. Musicant, Mgr. N.J. Lic No Arthur R. Musicant, N.J. Lic. No WEIN & WEIN INC. MEMORIAL CHAPELS Alan L. Musicant, Mgr. N.J. Lic No Ronald Bloom, N.J. Lic. No Irving Kleinberg, N.J. Lic. No Fax: Park Street, Hackensack, NJ Serving all of Florida www. guttermanmusicantwein.com Page 5

6 Donations and Tributes Torah Fund Min Natovitz in memory of Miriam Messing s sister Bea Rubin in memory of Aaron Kaplan Chai for Life Fund Miriam Messing in honor of donors who sent in memory of Betty Cole Miriam Messing to wish all good health and happy New Year Bea Rubin in appreciation of Dubrow s leadership in bringing Tashlich services back to the congregational family and friends. Congregation B nai Jacob NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID JERSEY CITY NJ PERMIT #70 October, 2007 Newsletter Dated Material Please Expedite Delivery Mark your calendars now for our next festive Friday Night Live! Musical Shabbat - October 19th 176 West Side Avenue Jersey City NJ Page 6 Presidium: Lenore Berkowitz, Jane Canter, and Minnie Natovits (admin@bnaijacobjc.org) Vice-presidents: 1st - Mattee Polin; 2nd - Sam Chapnic; Recording Secretary - Evelyn Liebowitz Newsletter Editor - David Rosenberg (editor@bnaijacobjc.org); News Editor - Sid Canter (sid@bnaijacobjc.org) Congregation B nai Jacob Leadership Spiritual Leader: Marsha Dubrow, Ph.D. (cantor@bnaijacobjc.org) Administration and Contact Information