CAI Annual Report 2022/5783

SHARING OUR JOURNEYS LIFTING OUR VOICES STRENGTHENING OUR CONNECTIONSR A B B I A R I L U C A S

On the High Holy Days we ask questions: Who we are? How did we get here? What do we hope to achieve in the year to come? I would like to add a few: How has Congregation Agudath Israel added meaning and purpose to your life? How has your connection to this community enhanced your connection to God, Torah, Israel, and the Jewish people? What part do you play or wish to play in fortifying the strength of this congregation?

At CAI, we’re asking the same questions on an organizational and communal level

Just a few weeks ago, I had the honor of being installed as this congregation’s third senior rabbi in its rich and vibrant 100 year history The theme for the event was “sharing our journeys, lifting our voices, strengthening our connections ” My hope is that your involvement with CAI has already increased the sanctity of your journey because you get to share that journey with your community I hope your voice is more powerful because we’ve invited you to lift it in song and prayer, engage in learning, and seek justice I hope that every experience you have with CAI leaves you feeling more connected to Torah, Judaism, your fellow Jews, Israel, and the world

As we greet the New Year, we stand ready to turn a new page in the story of this congregation While the COVID 19 pandemic has brought its share of loss for all of us, at CAI it’s also provided an opportunity to reflect on our purpose and reimagine a new plan for the future. We have asked ourselves: What is the core of our mission? How must we position ourselves to ensure success as we move forward? How will we define success?

Due to the loyalty of our members, the vision and hard work of our staff and lay leaders, the commitment of our volunteers, and the generosity of our donors, we are beginning 5783 with renewed energy and optimism about this congregation and its capacity to be a force for good in the lives of our members and the larger community

The first step in that process was investing in excellent professionals to complement our already stellar staff team This year, we welcomed Rabbi Sara Blumenthal as our assistant rabbi She is the first female rabbi to serve this synagogue and has already enriched the culture of our congregation We also welcomed Lina Shuster as our new executive director Lina’s professionalism and personal passion for Jewish life have inspired our office and improved the operations of our organization They join me, Cantor Caplan, Susan Werk, Deb Lurie, Geula Zamist and the many teachers, administrators, and hard working professionals in serving this community and helping us fulfill our mission

Rather than tell you all about how these changes will make this community better, we thought we could show you through the meaning of our high holy day services, the depth of our adult education and school programs, the joy of our communal celebrations and gatherings In the pages that follow, you’ll also read reflections from our staff on how they connect to these central themes of synagogue life What you’ll see in their comments here is a deep commitment to bringing the wisdom and spiritual insight of Judaism to make life more meaningful through connection to community.

With wishes for a shanah tovah a year of growth, spiritual awakening, and transformation.

As we reflect on this past year, and prepare for the next one, it feels like our congregation is on the brink of something special If we were only at the beginning of a transitional time in our rabbinic leadership, that would be thrilling (dayenu) If only we were emerging from a pandemic and free again to assemble around a community table that would be enthralling (dayenu) If we were only experiencing a shift in demographics that would be an exciting opportunity (dayenu) At precisely this time in our century old history, Agudath Israel is poised to build on our strengths and make some impactful changes that will better serve the diverse needs of our community.

In partnership with our staff and clergy, our lay leadership is intensely focused on ensuring that the experience of each family in the CAI community is one of deep and meaningful connection Several new professionals joined our congregation this summer, and bring a renewed sense of energy, enthusiasm and insight to our synagogue We hope you take the opportunity to meet each of them in the coming weeks and months, including both Rabbi Sara Blumenthal and Lina Shuster, who I would like to welcome to our senior staff team

Rabbi Blumenthal joined our community in July and has already participated in numerous life cycle events We have thoroughly enjoyed hearing her beautiful voice lead us in prayer and she has shared ideas for invigorating our spiritual offerings. We are looking forward to learning from her and having her continue to get to know our community. Lina Shuster began work at CAI as our Executive Director at the end of July. She quickly immersed herself into our daily operations and has already identified some of the projects targeted for the upcoming months

I would also like to express our collective gratitude to Debbie Lurie and Melissa Steb, who have expanded their roles in the main office, handling many tasks previously out of their purview Their herculean efforts over the past three years cannot be overstated Adina Galatz and Jill Bristow joined Debbie & Melissa on our administrative team this spring and are both great additions to our exceptional staff Thank you as well to our nurse, Karen Frank and social worker, Andrea Malmud who have continued to care for our families throughout the pandemic

Each member of our clergy and staff, similarly adapted their roles to meet the needs of our families during the pandemic. Cantor Caplan, became a sound and video engineer in the implementation of Zoom and live streaming Susan Werk, Geula Zamist, and the entire Education Department, with the input from the ECC Board, have adapted their educational process to engage with children and their families whether virtually or in person Rabbi Lucas also took on additional roles while we searched for an executive director Now that Lina is on board, he will have more time to focus on engaging with congregants and building relationships within the community, which is one of his true passions

But now is the time for all of us to evaluate the opportunities that lay ahead of us to best meet the spiritual, educational and social needs of our CAI families. Our team is up for the challenge and while we are looking forward to a return to “normal” we will have a keen eye to what we can do that is fresh and engaging.

Thank you for your loyal membership to Congregation Agudath Israel during these past years We look forward to continuing our relationships with each of you, while strengthening our connections and building new ones in the year ahead Wishing your family a L’shanah tovah Shani Drogin, President CAI Board of Trustees

O U R V I S I O N

Sharing Our Journeys

Each of us is on a journey through life From the moment we are born, we begin to learn about our place in a family and a story that has its roots deep in history, yet stretches out before us into a future of possibility Some of us were born Jewish, others chose Judaism But along the way, something brought you to the CAI community Perhaps you were looking for a place to pray or learn, maybe you wanted your child to have a solid foundation as a Jew and a human being in our excellent ECC Perhaps you wanted to celebrate with friends and community as they grew into young adulthood and became b’nei mitzvah Along the journey you likely have experienced loss the death of a loved one, a divorce, an illness When you did, you wanted the comfort of sharing that part of your journey with others, or simply having them walk alongside you as you grieved and struggled to find your way Each of these moments is made more meaningful because we get to share them with friends and community Life’s joys are heightened and losses softened because we don’t go through them alone Our synagogue can be a rich community in which to share all of life’s moments

Blanche Lerner

T H A N K Y O U T O O U R 2 0 2 1 - 2 2 A N N U A L F U N D D O N O R S

Jackie and Steven Walzer

The Wertheim Family

Lori and Hal Wolfson

Benjamin and Barbara Zimmer and Family

Donna and Arthur Franklin

Helaine and Richard French

Michele and Jason Frieder

Alison and Lee Frost

Stacie and Eric Gebroe

Diane Gelman and Michael Lichtenstein

Joyce and Lee Gladstein

Karen and Jeremy Glaser

Elizabeth and Jeffrey Bier

Rachel and Robert Fink

Mindy and Alex Opper

Robin and Michael Ware

The Wieseneck Family

PILLARS

($5,000 - $9,999)

Claire Akselrad

Shari and Mitchell Broder

Eric Edelstein and Jenique LeBlond

Judy and Steven Elbaum

Daryl and Andrew Epstein

Marisa, Dan, Ari, and Adam Fishman

Lisa Hochman and Marc Rudoltz

Paula and David Saginaw

Randi and Murray Spiegel Susan and Elliot Stupak Helene and Gary Wingens

Anonymous (x2)

Edna and Steven Alberts

Jean and Ben Alter Liza and Liad Amir

Kerry and Matthew Atlas

Carol and Marc Berman

Carrie and Bradley Bobroff

Stephanie and Alan Bonder

Susan and Gary Botwinick

Cantor Joel and Nancy Caplan

Greta and Ira Cohen

Eta Gershen and Steven Cohen

Renee Kaufman and Arthur Cytryn

Jennifer, Nathan, Avery, and Jonah Dany

The Dodyk Family

Linda and Jeffrey Drogin

Alisa and Ian Eagle

Esta Edelman

Diane Edelson

Dorie and Seth Eisenstein

Linda and Leslie Elfenbein

Lori and Michael Etkin

Joyce and Steven Fichtenbaum

Greg, Erica, Matthew, and Sammy Filosa

Mindy and Evan Blum

Shani and Louis Drogin and Family

Karen and Ted Eisenberg

Dana and Douglas Friedman

Burt Henry

Susan and Matthew Horn David Korn

Judy Levenstein and Phil Kruger

Elizabeth and Jonathan Liss

Sheila and Leslie Lustbader

Wendy and Scott Newman

The Perlmutter Family

Debbie and Stuart Rabner

Alison and Stuart Rosenthal

Rachel and Paul Scherzer

Janice and Barry Schindler

Gail and Bruce Shapiro and Family

Anita and Ed Finkel

Alexis Gruber, Matthew, Sophie, and Marley Fischer

Melanie and Steven Glass

Christine and Jeffrey Goldberg Robin and Mark Goldman

Maddy and Hank Heller

The Krichman Family

Rabbi Ari Lucas and Talya Oberfield

Kelly and Gerald Lustig

Jean and Mark Mandell

Michele and Jonathan Mehl Mary and Andrew Messer

Marsha and Michael Messer

Carol R. Morman

Helaine and Michael Mund

Karen Nerlfi and Neil Schreffler

Harriet and Joel Notkin

Deborah and Jeffrey Orens

Laura and David Ostheimer

Geraldine and Thomas Panitch

Sheryl and Sam Pearlstein

Hilary and Howard Rabner

Marjorie and Keith Remland

Kendra and Bret Resnick

Larry and Marlene Ritter

Sherri and Allen Rosen

Debbie and Scott Rosen

Ed and Davey Rosenbaum

Marian Rothenberg

Jane and Ned Gladstein

T H A N K Y O U T O O U R 2 0 2 1 - 2 2 A N N U A L F U N D D O N O R S

PATRONS (cont'd)

($1,000 - $2,499)

Beth and Stuart Sackman

Jeanne and Joseph Samet Margie an Debbi and Cynthia a Dara Horn and Fa Rachel an Harriet Se Jeffrey Michelle, Peri Sh Ronna an Marianne Jordan an Eric and M Amy and Andrew a Margaret Richard Susan and Nina and Moshe W Herb Wol

SP ($5

Anonymo Naomi Ad Ruth and Elaine and Irma and Anne and Beth, How Rachel an Anne and Mark Effron Anne and Marvin Elmowitz Karen and Harry Engel Barbara and Michael Erlichman Rebecca Glass and Derek Fields Seth, Samantha, Abby and Alix Fliegler Deanna and Allan Gitlow Sharon and Aaron Glauberg

tski ein and r

brams aumgardt erkowitz stein rino Family man ch os Castro e ytron off son than Drill lle and ertel

Pamela Fertel Weinstein and Marc Weinstein Sandy Weintraub Judy and Harvey Zeller

Cheryl and Barry Grummer Sharon and Rabbi Richard Hammerman

Steve and Debbie Holinstat and Family

Nicole and Joshua Slavitt

Caryn and Brian Snerson Samantha Strulowitz Steinberg and Ofer Steinberg Grace and David Sumka

T H A N K Y O U T O O U R 2 0 2 1

2 2 A N N U A L F U N D D O N O R S

FRIENDS (cont'd)

($250 $499)

Donald and Sally Garson Alan and Di G b Marc, Alis Marcia an Jackie an Beverly H Ellen and The Kelm Gail and M Ronnie an The Bosh The Kurla Ann and Susan an The Levin Leslie and Lisa and A Linda and Glenn an Rabbi Clif Orna Rap Sherry an Nancy Mo Roberta a Shari and Maida an Lauren an Marilyn R Susan an Michael a Lila Rubin Nancy an June and

The

The

Rosalind

Susan

Judith

Arlene

Lisa

Susan

Amy and Steven Greenberg Arlene Grodsky

Laura and Glenn Sacks

Judith Fabricant and Rabbi David Saltzman Renee Savitz Debra and James Schenkel

The Bellman Family

Ben Nathan Family

Ben Avi Family

Benedon

The Bertaccini Family ald der a Burke n s ly erg instein

Glenn, Jordan and Emma Godfrey

Goldberg

Barbara Goldstein

Mehl and Kenneth Gorvy

Swern and David Grayson

and Brad Greenbaum

and Steven Greenbaum and Family

A N N U A L F U N D D O N O R S

SUPPORTERS (cont'd) (UP TO $249)

Sue Grossbard

Alix Rubin

Bob Gurm

Andrea an Josh Henr Harvey He Lisa and R Jessica an Ruth Jaffe Deborah J Steve, Jes Maren Natalie Ja Rosa and Rikki and Mayda an Esther and Eileen Do Harold Eileen and Risa and C Helane Kip Jennifer a Gila and B Lauren an Mark Kush The Lamp Frances a Janice Law Marianne Risa and M Nancy and Matt, Ilana Bernard L Cory and B Jill and Richard Lichtig Erica, Glenn, Zack and Zoe Lieberman

efelbein an rtz wartzman a Scott piro and erling d ak ow rg rger er nd d

Elaine and Arnie Litt Jay, Debbie and Josh Lubetkin Regina and Isaac Manevitz Robin and Matthew Mangino Lauren and Stuart Markon

Carolyn and Warren Ruderman Renee Sachs

Tara and Ramin Saeedian Gloria Saltz Hani and Kenny Sandler Marion and Leslie Savoy Elisa and Martin Schenker

Rosalie and Richard Zodikoff Lucille Zonis

The Zucker Family

When I pictured the community in which I would begin my rabbinate, I envisioned caring, passionate individuals who look out for one another and engage with the outer world, encouraging colleagues who are invested in my growth, and an inviting physical space in which to do this holy work In essence, I was picturing Congregation Agudath Israel

In the short time I’ve been here, I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing first hand, this special, compassionate, and varied community Whether at daily minyan,

Shabbat in Pajamas, a staff retreat, Harry Potter Shabbat, poignant baby namings, and sadly, some shiva minyans and funerals, I’ve seen this community come together at every age and stage. Each day, I’m inspired by the vibrancy of Jewish life here and the dedication to making this community one of spiritual growth, committed practice, and deep connection.

The new year always makes me think about potential, making Rosh Hashanah one of my favorite times of year I can almost feel the potential of the new year bursting at the seams: What new discoveries about Judaism will you make? Who will you meet who will touch your life? Who will you grow into as an individual and community member? What new experiences will you have at CAI this year? The many possibilities excite me

On the bookshelf in my office sits a woodcut made by a dear friend It says, “Welcome the unknown” next to a picture of a flower As we turn over a new leaf at CAI and prepare to welcome a new year together, I look forward to welcoming the unknown with all of you May we delight in exploring our newfound potential together as we continue our century old work of building sacred community

During my tenure as Senior Rabbi, I took pride in building and sustaining connections among CAI members, for example through Havurot, New Mother's Groups, Shabbat children's programming, Adult Education courses, etc We also built connections with Masorti Jews in Israel and around the world, the institutions of Conservative Judaism and our MetroWest Jewish Federation

As CAI's Rabbi Emeritus, I am privileged to continue being a "match maker" via my three weekly classes, sustaining a CAI presence on Friday afternoons at Crane's Mill, and continuing to be a link for CAI to Masorti Rabbis in Israel and globally, plus

offering guidance to our congregation whenever called upon In the words of revered Rabbi Harold Schulweis z"l "Jews need other Jewish in order to be Jewishly engaged "

May we be blessed to continue the sacred journey of Jewish engagement into the future

A

S I S T A N T R A B B I S A R A B L U M E N T H A L

R A B B I E M E R I T U S A L A N S I L V E R S T E I N

SHARING OUR JOURNEYS LIFTING OUR VOICES STRENGTHENING OUR CONNECTIONS

abbi Lucas’ installation, he encouraged all of us to share our journeys, lift our es and strengthen our connections as we begin this New Year and a new chapter he history of CAI. For me, this message evoked a beautiful memory of hiking in Negev with a group of my peers many years ago. we entered a vast cavern, one of my friends began to sing a lovely operatic aria stirring rendition, the soaring tune and the natural acoustics of that stark, desert ng which enhanced the sound, left us all in awe That voice, on that journey, in location connected us, lifting us to a place of wonder, a place beyond ourselves

p k to Rabbi Lucas’ “mission statement” made me realize that these transformational moments are frequently recreated for me at CAI, especially during the High Holiday season Here in this sacred space, we strengthen our connections, collectively raising our voices in prayer to seek communion with God, as we navigate our spiritual and communal journeys

It has been a privilege to be a CAI connector with so many of you My own journey is enhanced as I share your milestones of births, educational goals, b’nei mitzvah celebrations, graduations and marriages It is also gratifying for me to provide support for you during the setbacks and trials that all of us experience What a gift to have played a key role in so many chapters of the history of Congregation Agudath Israel! And what a thrill to anticipate being part of the creation of the next exciting chapter, “Sharing our journeys, lifting our voices, strengthening our connections ”

We are all so relieved and excited that the world is at a place where we can start rebuilding and engaging in meaningful in person opportunities Now is the time to find renewed ways to strengthen our connections Although the pandemic has provided unique virtual possibilities, there is nothing like being face to face, exchanging warm hugs and experiencing the power of being part of a connected Jewish community. There is no adequate replacement for sitting and chatting amongst friends and community members while praying, listening, singing, laughing, learning, dancing, growing and connecting together. There is no substitution for the powerful emotions experienced during life cycle events, both joyous and sad, when surrounded by a community and clergy that know you and support you

Come, in person, to take advantage of all that CAI has to offer you and your family There is truly something for everyone, for every age and stage I am always available to point you in the right direction and to help you connect and engage And remember to help spread the word about our special community Keep telling your friends, family and neighbors about your positive experiences at CAI

Wishing you and your families a healthy, happy, joyous new year where you find meaning in strengthening our connections together at CAI

I prefer to wear an analog watch with numerals, since a digital watch only tells us the moment we are in I like to look at my watch and think about the past and what’s happening next It is wonderful at this time of year to think about holding on to past traditions, while moving forward with innovations

This September, we are introducing a new program at CAI’s ECC, the IDEAL18 fellowship (Intentional Deep Experiences Across Lifecycles) We are extremely proud to have been selected for this program, which will enable children in our ECC to engage in activities with elders in the community and strengthen their connections

Another important aspect of CAI’s ECC program is our Journey Binders in which our teachers record their students’ developmental milestones and special events Recently, these binders contain Zoom screen shots and outdoor events, but they still reflect our strong connection to our students. Music is an essential teaching tool in the ECC. Lifting our voices in song supports children’s emotional development and introduces new cognitive skills. This year we reintroduced our Little Melodies class for babies and their parents, giving them a chance to connect with each other and begin their Agudath Israel journey.

As we anticipate a year of growth and renewal for our ECC, it is a joy to welcome so many new families, so many new opportunities for learning, exciting new programs and all that is so special about the Agudath Israel ECC Family

G E U L A Z A M I S T , E C C D I R E C T O R

D E B B I E L U R I E , M E M B E R S H I P D I R E C T O R

SHARING OUR JOURNEYS LIFTING OUR VOICES STRENGTHENING OUR CONNECTIONS

C A N T O R J O E L C A P L A N

During my 40 year tenure at CAI, we have collectively “Lifted Our Voices” through prayer and song. We have creatively blended our traditional melodies on Shabbat and holidays with the harmonious tones of one of our four choirs, whose members range from age 8 to 80. The pandemic posed some significant challenges for CAI members to lift our voices together, but through Zoom services and Bar Mitzvah lessons, as well as socially distant choir practices, we managed to continue to create beautiful music as a community. I invite you to join us in a song in 5783, as we gather in person Come and listen to Rabbi Lucas’ guitar, Rabbi Blumenthal’s beautiful voice or one of our many choirs I am certain that you will experience the profound impact that lifting our voices has on our souls

I feel so fortunate to have joined Congregation Agudath Israel as its new executive director When I first learned about CAI, I was excited about working in a synagogue that supports its congregants through all stages of their life’s journey I grew up in the former Soviet Union without any Judaism, and I’m truly inspired by the vibrant multi generational community at CAI I’m the first individual in three generations to receive a proper Jewish education and the ability to incorporate my passion for observing and celebrating holidays, promoting lifelong learning, connecting to Israel, addressing the spread of antisemitism, and performing acts of Tikkun Olam is a dream come true in my professional life

The opportunity to be a part of Rabbi Lucas’ installation was a truly uplifting experience. Being present in the sanctuary while the voices of our kehillah joined together in song, seeing the many smiling faces, and hearing the words of Rabbi Alan Lucas, Rabbi Adam Kligfeld and our own Rabbi Lucas was inspirational. Being a witness to this important moment in the synagogue’s history is an experience I will treasure for years. As we look forward to 5783 and beyond, I am excited for the next chapter of CAI. L'Dor v'Dor into the next century. Shanah Tovah!

L I N A S H U S T E R , E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R

Main Office Team

Melissa Steb, Lina Shuster, Jill Bristow, Adina Galatz and Debbie Lurie

ECC Team Geula Zamist, Ashley Frish, Lori Weinberg and Jessica Pablo

J O I N U S F O R C A I E V E N T S !

October 10, 2022 Sukkah Hop through Caldwell

November 6, 2022 Holiday Boutique Shopping Event

December 10, 2022 CAI Comedy Night, in memory of Abe Akselrad z"l December 18, 2022 YStuds, a Taubenfeld Family concert

July 2 10, 2023 CAI Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest Trip to Israel with Rabbi Lucas

Congregation Agudath Israel 20 Academy Road Caldwell, NJ 07006 973 226 3600 www.agudath.org