Congregation Agudath Israel
THE VOICE
Please contact our Legacy Circle Chair, Shani Drogin, at sdrogin@agudath.org or our Development Associate, Mary Shearin, at mshearin@agudath.org to answer any questions.
Three Ways to Make Pesah More Meaningful This Year
Rabbi Ari Lucas
1. A Pesah fast from social media
Pesah is a holiday in which we are conscientious about our consumption. Many people who are not so punctilious about keeping kosher the rest of the year go the extra mile to change their diets for Pesah. In addition to abstaining from hametz (leavened products), I’d like to propose we take the opportunity to use the time of Pesah to have a cleanse or fast from social media as well. I first suggested this idea in my sermon on Yom Kippur. At the time, many of you responded to the challenge, saying things like, “Oh that’s nice, maybe I’ll try that some time….” Pesah is an ideal time to try it. It’s a good time to remember the New Year’s resolutions we made and recommit to them. A week seems like a reasonable amount of time to try something new. See how it feels. And let me know.
2. Find some way to connect to Israel
As a pilgrimage festival, Pesah is intimately connected to the land of Israel. One important defining feature of modern Jewish life is how interconnected we are as Jews in the United States with what happens in Israel and vice versa. I often think of the image of the Jewish people as one big corporate body. If you poke a Jew in Tel Aviv, we feel pain in New Jersey. And vice versa. Some ideas include:
Save a seat at your seder for one of the hostages (may they come home before Pesah).
Vote in the WZO elections for MERCAZ (line 17). See the next page for more information from Cantor Caplan.
Listen to Israeli music while you cook for seder. Support Israeli businesses by buying Israeli kosher wines, matzah, or other products.
Buy tickets for our Yom Ha-atzma’ut concert with Six13, on April 30. Or even sign up for our family trip to Israel this summer (I can’t think of a better afikomen present for your family) — so that when you say “Next year in Jerusalem,” you won’t have to wait that long!
3. Connect with nature
Take a walk, smell a flower, plant something new. Pesah is the spring holiday for a reason — it represents a renewal of life after the dreary winter. Connecting to nature reminds us that we are alive and blessed to share the miracle of God’s creation.
Wishing you a zissen (sweet) Pesah
Rabbi Ari Lucas is CAI’s Senior Rabbi.
“Vote for MERCAZ”? Why?
Cantor Joel Caplan
“What’s MERCAZ? And why am I seeing signs about it?”
MERCAZ (it means “Center”) represents the Conservative movement in the World Zionist Organization (WZO).
“Huh?”
Theodor Herzl founded the WZO back in 1897. It was supposed to represent all the world’s Jews. Now, 128 years later, it’s not Israel’s government — but it still represents all Jews who vote in its elections, and it doles out over $1 BILLION each year for various Jewish causes, both inside Israel and outside Israel.
“So why should I vote? And for whom?”
Values: Do you care about Conservative movement values? Egalitarian worship, tolerance for Jewish diversity, not being ousted from the Kotel/Western Wall, making sure that all Jews can make aliyah/move to Israel? The WZO holds elections every five years, including Right Now. Your vote for MERCAZ helps keep these values front and center, especially in Israel. Some other Jewish groups, particularly Haredi/ultra-Orthodox groups, oppose these values.
Money: $25 million is at stake. That’s what the WZO can provide for Conservative (“Masorti”) movement institutions during the next five years IF we provide enough votes for MERCAZ. Synagogues, youth groups, summer camps — they depend on this.
Representation: And some other Jewish groups, particularly Haredi/ultra-Orthodox groups, say that we Conservative Jews aren’t really Jewish. If they get their way, and enough votes, they’ll throw MERCAZ — us — out of the WZO completely. They’re voting, in strong numbers. If we want to stay at the table, we need all of our votes.
“Okay. How do I vote for MERCAZ in this WZO election?”
On your computer, go to votemercazusa.org and follow the voting directions. It takes maybe seven minutes, and it’ll cost you $5; that’s for administrative expenses. Tip: When they ask, “Do you want your PIN sent in an email, or by SMS?” choose SMS (a text message). That works better.
We all need to vote. Take the time and do it before May (voting ends May 4). It’s important.
Thank you!
Gateways of Compassion, Hope, and Pride
Susan Werk
As Pesah approaches, I find myself focusing on “gateways” three times in the seder in which entrances to homes are mentioned to bring to mind three important themes for the holiday.
Near the beginning of the Haggadah, we are instructed to issue an invitation: “Halachma anya… Let all who are hungry, come and eat. Let all who are in need, come and share the Pesah meal.” By opening our gates to all who may lack the resources to make their own seder, even strangers, we remember that we were once strangers in a strange land, slaves in need of the basic necessities and a welcoming society. When we are told to open our doors, we are reminded that it is compassion and generosity that truly combat the forces that would keep people in servitude and want.
This year when we read this passage, perhaps we will open the gates not only to those in need, but to different ideas and perspectives that will further the spreading of good will in the world.
Of course the most dramatic opening of a gateway in the seder is when we open the door for Eliahu Hanavi, Elijah the Prophet. In our tradition, Elijah is the one who will announce the coming of the Messiah. When we open the gateway this time, we are not simply inviting another guest in although Elijah always does drink some wine from his cup, right? — but ushering in hope for a better future, embracing faith that God will answer our prayers for a world of blessings and fulfillment.
During the recitation of the Ten Plagues, we dip our finger into the Kiddush cups, spilling our wine drop by drop to symbolically show that our joy at achieving freedom is diminished by the suffering of others — even our enemies. This brings to mind another “gateway” mentioned in the Haggadah: When the Israelites are told to put blood on the doorposts of their homes, it is to alert the Angel of Death to “pass over” them during that terrible night of the 10th plague, when the firstborn of the Egyptians were killed.
The Israelite slaves had a choice: They could follow the instructions given by Moses; they could put their faith in God or not. In a way, placing the blood on the doorpost is each slave’s declaration of faith (not to mention that it is through those same doorways that the Israelites will go to demonstrate most dramatically their faith in God as they choose freedom and the unknown.)
Many commentators connect the mezuzah we place on our doorposts to the blood the ancient Israelites put on their doorposts, signaling their identity. We are told to read the story of the Exodus and to imagine that we ourselves were released from slavery and chose
to follow Moses into the wilderness. Perhaps we can see this as a tangible expression of Jewish pride; just as the Israelites had to tap into a positive sense of their belonging to their people to mark their gateways to freedom, we view the mezuzah as a declaration of pride in being Jewish. So let us open our gateways to welcome friends, family, and strangers with compassion and kindness, with pride and hope.
Hag Pesah Kasher v’Sameah
Susan Werk is CAI’s Education Director.
In March, CAI’s Sababa Friends social group (ages 65+) held a “fishy brunch.” Organizers Renee Buckler, Joan Bronspiegel Dickman, and Felice and Art Nichols (pictured left) went fishing (our kind of fishing!) during a “Fish Friday,” when Acme opens their wholesale warehouse outlet in Brooklyn to the public.
CAI’s Sababa Friends is subsidized by a grant from the Grotta Fund for Older Adults, administered through the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest NJ.
Three Important Things
Rabbi Paula Mack Drill
I love everything about the Pesah seder. I appreciate the order, the symposium-style questions, the engaging “you were there” qualities of the Haggadah. I understand that not everyone shares my enthusiasm; every year, I serve cold egg soup and gefilte fish early on to quiet those who complain about the interminable wait for what they consider to be the climactic moment: Shulchan Orech (which our family loosely translates as: Let’s eat!).
There is a moment in our Passover seder, however, that seems even to a big fan like me to be a dramatic letdown. We read a talmudic quotation of Rabban Gamliel, who said: “Whoever does not discuss the meaning of the following three symbols of the sederon Passover evening has not fulfilled their obligation. The three are the Pesah lamb, the matzah, and the maror (bitter herb).” What potential in these words!
Here is a talmudic sage establishing a minimum requirement for our Passover eve observance. Now after many (and some in my family would say many, many, many) pages of the Hagaddah, it seems that the truly essential meanings of this gathering will be revealed. Instead, each symbol is pointed out and a quotation from Sh’mot (Exodus) is read. And we move on.
So much seems to be promised in Rabban Gamliel’s proclamation, but so little is offered. Could there be more here than what seems to be?
At a basic level, these three symbols constitute the menu at the original seder, the meal that took place in Egypt before we actually left: The Israelites “will eat [the Pesah lamb] roasted over the fire with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs.” (Sh’mot 12:8) We are supposed to experience the seder as if we ourselves were slaves who went free from Egypt. It makes sense that we should understand what we ate that fateful night when the Israelite firstborn children were saved and Pharaoh was at last convinced to let us leave.
As the leader points to the three food symbols, perhaps we are directed to three progressive historical moments in the Exodus: Maror represents the bitterness of being slaves, the Pesah lamb captures both the fear and the anticipation on the night when the Israelite houses were passed over by the Angel of Death, and the matzah stands for the morning when the slaves rushed out with no time for their dough to rise.
The symbols take on more significance when we adhere to the true directive of the Passover seder: Ask questions! When I point to the shank bone representing the Pesah offering, I ask: What sacrifices would I make for freedom today? What would I be willing to leave behind? About the matzah, I might say: The bread of affliction became the bread of redemption. The very abruptness of the deliverance reminds me that help can come even in the 11th hour, even when we least expect it. Are we ready to meet that redemption when it beckons to us?
And finally, I turn toward the maror and realize it is easy to talk about our historical bondage while sitting at the seder table in the warmth and comfort of our home. How much harder it would be to experience the pain of those who live in bitterness and oppression today. Who are those people? Are we mindful of the many types of enslavement in the human condition today? The maror reminds me of the obligation to work toward the end of slavery of any kind, wherever it exists.
Rabban Gamliel tells us to look at the symbols that lie before us. Could it be that with all of our reading, stories, blessings, and questions through the course of the seder, we still have not seen and spoken about that which is most important to us, those things we need to learn this year as we go forth from Egypt yet again? There is much that lies before us, readily seen if we but open our eyes and take notice.
This year, at Passover, may we fulfill the requirement of telling the story by remembering that all we need to learn is right in front of us.
Hag Pesah Sameah
Rabbi Paula Mack Drill is CAI’s Rabbi-in-Residence.
Inspired by Reggio
Geula Zamist
Our Lerner Early Childhood Center, inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy, is enriched by many unique and meaningful features. We often highlight key aspects of this approach, including the environment as a third teacher, the documentation of children’s learning, and a deep commitment to nature and the world around us.
Beyond these defining elements, we also draw inspiration from the humble beginnings of the Reggio movement itself. In 1945, at the end of World War II, the people of Reggio Emilia came together with a shared vision to create a brighter future for their children. Their collective dedication led to the establishment of a new kind of school, one that recognized and nurtured the incredible potential of every child.
It was this passion and commitment that gave rise to what is now considered one of the most advanced approaches to early childhood education.
A Community Built on Dedication
At our ECC, we are fortunate to have a community of parents who share this same level of dedication. Our volunteers and Parent Committee work tirelessly to shape a warm, inclusive, and thriving environment for our children.
Thanks to their efforts, our school continues to flourish as a place where every family feels welcome. Some of the many contributions from our Parent Committee this year include:
Welcoming teachers with gifts during Staff Orientation
Pairing every new family with a “buddy” to help ease their transition into our school community, including a summer gathering with synagogue leaders
Organizing a Fall Festival in the park an opportunity for children to play and parents to connect
Hosting Parents’ Night Out
Celebrating Hanukkah with a family event
Organizing the annual Purim Carnival
Providing a faculty breakfast following parent-teacher conferences
Engaging in outreach and follow-ups with prospective parents
Coordinating the Holiday Boutique, with all proceeds supporting the Educational Enhancement Fund
Making Hamentashen in the Lerner ECC!
Each of these parent-led initiatives reflects the strong sense of community and commitment that defines our school. Just as the families in Reggio Emilia built something extraordinary based on their values, our families continue to do the same creating a place of growth, connection, and shared purpose.
We are grateful to be part of such a dedicated and ever-evolving school community.
Geula Zamist is CAI’s Lerner Early Childhood Center Director.
My Liberation
Nurse Karen Frank
During the seder, many families have conversations regarding their own personal mitzrayim, or “narrow place.” There are often discussions about a “liberation” they may have experienced, or wish to experience, in the coming season.
My own liberation involves a decision to use this chapter of my life in a different way. My becoming widowed is surely nothing I chose, but it happened. I believe that often life happens to us in an uncontrollable way, but I know that how I respond to those changes is within my control. The big questions of this chapter have to do with how I now choose to spend this time. Working full-time in employment that is challenging and often overwhelming is certainly not my choice as I traverse my new landscape. So, I have already stepped out of that role and have semi-retired.
Instead, I choose to do more of what I love: hiking, gardening, birding, being with friends and family.
I will also continue with gratitude the work I love: being your congregational nurse, teaching Wise Aging, mindfulness, meditation, and speaking and leading support groups in the community. This is the work that feeds me spiritually and provides me with meaningful engagement.
So, what do I see for this chapter at CAI? More of the work I have done for the past 25 years. With my calendar less booked, I can spend more time in home and hospital visits with congre families and more time preparing and teachi
I am available to meet with families who g decisions on caring for a loved one. I meet w are trying to cope with a difficult medical sit help with ideas for community resources for support. I provide donated medical equipme some of the financial burden of impairment.
I love being your congregational nurse and more time and energy to do it truly liberating
Karen Frank is CAI’s Congregational Nurse.
The Ladder of Hope
Andrea Malmud
Welcome, Pesah. Was it smooth sailing to make our way to freedom? I think not. As the kids sing: “King Pharaoh, please let my people go,” and Pharaoh responded, “No no no, I will not let them go.”
So did we stop asking? Did we turn back when we were in the desert? Well, maybe some thought about it, but ultimately we persevered, we kept on going.
As Jews, we specialize in “resilience,” but often, along with it come fear, worry, and self-doubt. This is where our “ladder of hope” comes in. The good news is that our brains now have the ability to offer thoughts, rather than just feelings and impulses.
Jennifer Guest, in her “The CBT Art Activity Book,” suggests that we are able to turn “thoughts and self-beliefs that keep me feeling stuck at the bottom” of the ladder into “thoughts and self-beliefs that help me up the ladder.”
So back to Passover. There were many opportunities to get “stuck at the bottom.” It’s certain that many people felt: “I’m not strong enough to leave here,” “I’m too scared of traveling in the desert,” “I don’t trust the leadership,” and more. We could have been paralyzed by such thoughts. But what did we do? We substituted these unhelpful thoughts for self-beliefs that allowed us to maintain an upward climb and away we went.
I challenge you, my CAI family, to draw your own ladders. On the left side of the ladder, list your negative self-beliefs. On the right side, list the self-beliefs that enable you to climb the rungs that lead you to feeling good about yourself. I’ll start: “I can” vs. “I can’t.” How do I know I can? Simple example: “Can I skip eating hametz?” I can, because I can identify “glimmers,” nice thoughts, that energize me and give me strength. Like imagining the glimmer of pizza that awaits after all that matzah.
Hag Pesah Sameah!
Andrea Malmud, LCSW, CCBT, is a certified grief professional and the JFS/CAI Zeller Family Social Worker.
At Kehillat Adat Shalom-Emanuel in Rehovot
Stephanie Z. Bonder
At the end of February, I was privileged to be in Israel and to visit Congregation Adat ShalomEmanuel, the Masorti (Conservative) synagogue in Rehovot, which received funds raised through CAI’s Israel Walk. Rabbi Doron Rubin showed me the latest renovations to their building and described their efforts to provide Jewish pluralistic programs to the Rehovot community. I learned about activities involving young families and met some of the members who have strengthened and built the kehillah. Adat Shalom-Emanuel has built a following and provides to learn and become Bar or Bat Mitzvah. In addition to meeting some of the members and lay leaders, I also met Rabbi Mikie Goldstein, the community’s gregarious and interesting former rabbi, who told me about his journey to the Masorti movement in Israel. He was learning at the Jewish Theological Seminary when Rabbi Lucas was a student there, and his first experience with Shabbat home hospitality was at Rabbi Lucas’s family’s home on Long Island.
Stephanie Z. Bonder and Rabbi Doron Rubin at Congregation Adat ShalomEmanuel in Rehovot.
In March, we were honored to host Rakefet Ginsberg, the head of the Masorti movement in Israel. At CAI she emphasized the importance of voting for MERCAZ in the World Zionist Congress elections so Conservative Jews can have a voice in the dispersal of over $1.5 billion in funding for the Diaspora Jewish community. We encourage all CAI members to cast a vote by the end of April. If you have any questions, please contact the office and someone will walk you through the process.
On April 30, we will be thrilled to bring the Jewish a cappella group Six13 to CAI to celebrate Yom Ha-atzma’ut. We want as many people as possible to enjoy the spirit of Israeli Independence Day at CAI, but tickets are limited, so register online now. Considering that Israeli hostages are still being held in the terror dungeons of Gaza, we need to stand for the State of Israel and Jews around the world. The Israel Committee stands strong and places Zionism and the wholeness of the Jewish people as a priority of Jewish identity.
On Passover, we remember we were slaves in Egypt, but through belief in God and the strength of our leader, Moshe, we emerged from brutal bondage and eventually came into the Promised Land. We need to continue to advocate for the release of the hostages and to reach out to our congressional leaders and the executive branch to implore them to pressure Hamas to “Let Our People Go!”
Hag Pesah Sameah!
Stephanie Z. Bonder is chair of CAI’s Israel Committee and a member of CAI’s Board of Trustees.
A Lerner Early Childhood Center 2s class planting in the garden.
Pesah services times and links to services online can be found at agudath.org/pesach-5785/2025.
Join us for our upcoming community-wide events! Find classes, events, service times, and registration at agudath.org/calendar.
April 19 & 20 Passover Potent Potables During Kiddush
April 23
Film Screening: “The Absent: Part II,” Commemorating Yom HaShoah
April 27 Legacy Circle Appreciation Brunch and Learn
April 28 Jews, Comics, and WWII with Phil Kruger & Sam Lurie
April 30 Six13 in Concert Celebrating Yom Ha-atzma’ut
May 3 Men’s Club Shabbat
May 7
May 8
May 14
Lone Soldiers on the Frontlines: Life After October 7
Film Screening: “Stranger at the Gate”
Book Talk with Jeffrey Orens, Author of “Selling Baseball”
May 15 Make a Charcuterie Board for Shavuot with Sisterhood
August 19-28 CAI Family Exploration of Israel
“The Voice” is edited by Abby Meth Kanter.