A YEAR of CELEBRATION 2017-2018 Who is wise? He who learns from everyone. Honoring Rabbi Steven Kushner
SEPTEMBER GUEST RABBIS Rabbi Rex Perlmeter & Rabbi Rachel Hertzman Friday, September 8, 2017 8 pm Rabbi Rex Perlmeter is founding director of the Jewish Wellness Center of North Jersey, a holistic program designed to help synagogues and individuals strive for wholeness in body, heart, mind and soul. He served as a congregational rabbi for over 20 years followed by a staff position at the Union for Reform Judaism. Rabbi Rachel Hertzman is pastoral counselor and wellness writer at the Jewish Wellness Center of North Jersey. Throughout her rabbinate she has served as spiritual leader, teacher and program coordinator in various congregations and organizations. Since 2008, Temple Ner Tamid has been fortunate to have Rabbis Rachel Hertzman and Rex Perlmeter among our congregants. They are also longtime colleagues and friends of Rabbi Kushner. SCHOLAR-IN RESIDENCE Rabbi David Ellenson Friday, October 13 through Sunday, October 15, 2017 Rabbi David Ellenson is the former President and Chancellor Emeritus at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Currently, Dr. Ellenson is director of the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies and visiting professor at Brandeis University. Rabbi Ellenson and Rabbi Kushner spent their first year of rabbinical school together at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem. Every year, TNT s Scholar-in-Residence Program is underwritten through the generosity of Tamar Weiss and the Weiss Family Endowment. 2
Kushner Film Festival KUSHNER FILM FESTIVAL Thursday, October 26 through Saturday, October 28, 2017 3 days of films and guest speakers honoring Rabbi Kushner s passion and knowledge of movies. Refer to Kushner Film Festival brochure for more details. NOVEMBER GUEST RABBI Rabbi Leana Moritt Friday, November 10, 2017 8 pm Rabbi Leana Moritt is the rabbi of the Roosevelt Island Jewish Congregation and a chaplain for the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest. She is also the Director of Thresholds: for the Jewishly Curious, specializing in serving those seeking to spiritually infuse or enter Jewish life or navigate interfaith family life. As Steve s life partner, Leana has been a welcome part of the Ner Tamid community for several years. DECEMBER GUEST RABBI Rabbi Norman Patz Friday, December 1, 2017 8 pm Rabbi Norman Patz is Rabbi Emeritus at Temple Sholom of West Essex, Cedar Grove, where he was the spiritual leader for 37 years. Rabbi Patz s rabbinate has always stressed Jewish peoplehood and strong engagement with Israel and diaspora communities. He and his wife Naomi have led many congregational trips to Israel, Cuba and Jewish sites throughout Europe. Rabbi Patz is a long time colleague, mentor and friend to Rabbi Kushner. 3
JANUARY GUEST RABBI Rabbi Rick Jacobs Friday, January 12, 2018 6:30 pm Rabbi Rick Jacobs is President of the Union for Reform Judaism, the largest and most diverse Jewish movement in North America with almost 900 congregations reaching 1.5 million people. A longtime and devoted creative change agent, Rabbi Jacobs spent 20 years as a dynamic, visionary spiritual leader at Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale, New York. Rabbi Jacobs and Rabbi Kushner are colleagues and friends. FEBRUARY GUEST RABBI Student Rabbi Jake Adler Friday, February 9, 2018 6:30 pm Jake Adler is Student Rabbi at Congregation Am Haskalah in Allentown, PA. Jake is a student at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. He has had rabbinic internships at the Abramson Center for Jewish Life - Philadelphia Senior Care, the Tikkun Olam Commission of the Reconstructionist Movement, Bristol Jewish Center in Bristol, PA, and Congregation Beth El of Bennington, VT. Jake grew up at TNT and is a student, colleague and friend of Rabbi Kushner. MARCH GUEST RABBI Rabbi Stephen Goodman Friday, March 9, 2018 8:00 pm Rabbi Goodman is the spiritual leader at the Garden City Jewish Center in Garden City, New York. In addition to the rabbinate, Rabbi Goodman is an attorney and has worked for the NYC Housing Authority specializing in civil rights issues. Rabbi Goodman is a cherished friend, colleague and classmate since their year together in Israel in 1972. 4
APRIL GUEST RABBI Rabbi Charles Kroloff Friday, April 13, 2018 8:00 pm Rabbi Charles (Chuck) Kroloff is Rabbi Emeritus at Temple Emanu-El, Westfield, NJ. Rabbi Kroloff was the spiritual leader in Westfield for 37 years. He is currently Vice President for Special Projects of HUC-JIR in New York City. Chuck has been a colleague, mentor and friend to Steven Kushner for many years. SHABBAT CELEBRATION WEEKEND Rabbi Lawrence Kushner and Rabbi Norman Cohen Friday, April 27 Saturday, April 28, 2018 Rabbi Lawrence Kushner, brother of our own Rabbi Kushner, is Scholar-in-Residence at Congregation Emanu-El, San Francisco, CA, and Rabbi Emeritus at Congregation Beth El in Sudbury, MA. Rabbi Kushner is the author of numerous books on Jewish mysticism and spirituality. Rabbi Norman Cohen is founding Rabbi and Rabbi Emeritus at Bet Shalom Congregation in Minnetonka, MN. During his tenure, the congregation grew from 32 to 700 families. Rabbi Cohen and Rabbi Kushner have been close friends since they were classmates at rabbinical school. TNT GALA HONORING RABBI STEVEN KUSHNER Saturday, April 28, 2018 A special evening event touching on Rabbi Kushner s contributions to TNT, as well as his hobbies and passions. More details to come. 5
MAY GUEST CLERGY Reverend Charles Ortman Friday, May 11, 2018 8:00 pm Reverend Charles Ortman served as the Senior Minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Montclair from 1995 to 2016. Coming to Montclair from the First Parish Church in Fitchburg, MA, Reverend Ortman has an extensive background in social work and a Masters in Divinity from Meadville-Mombard Theological School in Chicago. Retirement Launch Cruise Saturday, June 2, 2018 7-10 pm Boarding begins at 6:30 pm from Hoboken Wish Rabbi Kushner well as we partake in a 3- hour cruise around Manhattan on the chartered yacht Destiny including hors d oeuvres, buffet dinner, open bar and musical entertainment. Limited to 90 people, available on a first-come first-served basis. More details to come. 6
JUNE GUEST RABBI Rabbi Steven Fox Friday, June 8, 2018 8:00 pm Rabbi Steven Fox is Chief Executive at the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR). The CCAR is the rabbinic leadership organization of Reform Judaism in North America and worldwide. Rabbi Fox is a sought out thought-leader in the Jewish community and in the Jewish press. He has been part of the TNT community since relocating to Montclair in 2006. FINAL SHABBAT Friday, June 29-Saturday, June 30, 2018 A special Shabbat in recognition of Rabbi Kushner s last Shabbat as our spiritual leader. More details to come. Detailed profiles of all guest rabbis, guest speakers and discussion leaders can be found at www.nertamid.org/?p=a-year-in-celebration For more information, please contact Laurie Schifano at lschifano@nertamid.org or at 973-338-1500. 7