The Voice Summer 2023

This publication would not have been possible without the help of Abby Meth Kanter, who edited the articles, and Caryn Snerson, who consulted on the design and layout. We also thank everyone who created content, chaired the programs featured on these pages, advertised, and subscribed to the Voice. This is truly a community-led project.

We hope you are having a fun and restful summer!

2023/5784 High Holy Day forms are live and available at agudath.org/hhdforms.

The deadline for all forms is Tuesday, August 22. This is a final deadline. Please email hhd@agudath.org with questions. Thank you!

CONTENTS

Click to move to the pages you would like to read.

Page 3 | July Events Calendar

Page 4 | Rabbi Ari Lucas

Sharing our journeys, hearing each other's stories

Page 5 | A Note from Ben Gersten

Page 5 | Rabbi Sara Blumenthal

A Tikkun Leil Shavuot to remember

Page 6 | Lina Shuster, Executive Director

Marveling at the magic of the CAI community

Page 8 | Cantor Joel Caplan

Bronze plaque detective work

Page 9 | Susan Werk, Education Director

Revelations at graduations

Page 10 | Geula Zamist, ECC Director

A return of some special moments in the ECC

Page 12 | Andrea Malmud, Zeller Family/JFS

Social Work Consultant

Financial information from JFS during these difficult times

Page 14 | Karen Frank, Congregation Nurse

Bringing comfort to the mourner

Page 15 | Tzedek Initiative

Promoting social justice and racial equality

Page 16 | Welcome New and Returning Members!

Page 17 | Combating Antisemitism Initiative

Partnerships to fight antisemitism

Page 17 | Environmental Committee

Page 18 | Sisterhood

Sisterhood has exciting programs year round

Page 20 | Men's Club

Join us for Bagels and Baseball in August

Page 21 | Cemetery Association

"What happens when we die?"

Page 22 | Interfaith Committee

Page 26 | Caring Committee

Page 26 | Daily Service Times

Page 29 | Subscribe/Advertise

Back Cover | Video: CAI 5783

RABBI ARI LUCAS

Sharing our journeys, hearing each other's stories

One of our guiding themes for this year has been "sharing our journeys." Typically, we think about that phrase in the context of showing up for each other at significant moments in life. From birth to death and everything in between, a synagogue community can be a supportive environment to share the joys and struggles of our lives. But "sharing our journeys" has another meaning: In a community, we have the opportunity to tell and hear each other's stories. When we share our Jewish journey with others, we appreciate the diverse experiences and individuals that make up our congregational family.

June was LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, which commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City. It is a time when we celebrate the progress our country, society, and Jewish community have made in affirming the core biblical principle that everyone is created b'tzelem Elohim — in the image of God. It is also a time to strive for greater inclusion and dignity (k'vod ha'briyot) for all people. At CAI, we're thinking about how our commitment to these Jewish values informs our culture and the shape of our programming. One of the ways we can affirm these values is by sharing our journeys with each other and lifting up the voices and experiences of our fellow congregants.

That is why I am excited and grateful to announce that CAI will host Ben Gersten as guest speaker/teacher on Shabbat, September 30 — the first day of Sukkot. In reality, Ben is not a guest at all. Ben grew up at CAI and has agreed to share his journey with all of us so that we might come to know him better. You can read a message from Ben (pictured above) on the next page. I hope that Pride Month

and his visit will offer an opportunity for each of us to consider what a religious community can be when we affirm the values of belonging and human dignity, even as those notions are being threatened in our society.

In my conversations with Ben, I've been moved by his Jewish journey and his commitment to Jewish education as well as his involvement in the gay community of Washington, DC, where he now lives. I was also moved to hear about the acts of hesed (kindness) — both small and large — that he has received from different members of this community along the way. I hope you'll mark your calendars for this important event and come to learn from a fellow congregant as we all continue to share our journeys with one another.

Rabbi Ari Lucas, Senior Rabbi

Ben Gersten

FromBenGersten:

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RABBI SARA BLUMENTHAL A Tikkun Leil Shavuot to remember

The first Tikkun Leil Shavuot I remember attending was in my preteen years. It was not at my synagogue but at my brother's friend's parents' house. The people at the tikkun came from different corners of the community; some of them I knew from Schechter, Northwestern Hillel, and my synagogue, but gathering

together, learning and discussing Jewish issues late into the night, over cheesecake, was like entering a new world. A world I felt privileged to be welcomed into as a young person learning Torah alongside some of the brightest adults I've known.

More than any specific Torah lesson from that night, what I remember most was the magical quality of the tikkun Shifting the place of gathering from a synagogue to a home, being included in high-level conversations about topics that interested me, and getting to spend time with my friend, who attended a different Shabbat minyan, all contributed to that warm feeling I still associate with Shavuot.

Since that memorable tikkun, I have spent Shavuot in the Old City in Jerusalem and walked to the Kotel at dawn to take part in the pilgrimage as our ancestors once did I have taught at One Jewish Evanston, the community-wide tikkun held at my childhood synagogue that drew participants from all across the Evanston Jewish community. Then there was the time during the pandemic, in 2021, when members of the Cambridge-Somerville community I was a part of stayed up all night learning in a neighborhood park then davened a rousing Shacharit when the sun rose So rich was the learning and so surreal the experience that I never went home to sleep even though I lived only a three-minute walk away.

Each one of my Tikkun Leil Shavuot experiences has been special and has had that magical quality in its own way. This year's my first at CAI was no exception Although we did not stay up all night (there's always next year!), it was magical to witness so many lay leaders facilitating engaging, thoughtful sessions that gave their own spin on the theme "Torat Emet: How can Torah guide us toward the path of truth?" I was filled with naches as I bounced from session to session to snatch tidbits of the rich conversations taking place.

I hope those conversations did not stop that night but rather are continuing to fill our hallways and homes as we contemplate some of the most important issues of our time through

lens

Thank you to our insightful teachers who helped us all engage in the sacred act of Torah study on the night before receiving the Torah once again.

Before we study Torah, it is customary to recite the blessing that ends with "la'asok b'divrei Torah." I love that the Hebrew word for "to engage with" also sounds like "to soak in" the words of Torah Summer is a time for soaking up the rays and in the waves, two of my favorite things As we ease into the slow, lazy days of summer, may we also take some time to soak in and engage with our wise, always renewing Jewish tradition and its many paths toward truth.

year-olds ) Some kids, along with their parents and Grandfriends, are gathered around the beautiful quilt that they created together, remembering how much fun it was to work on the project

Others are seated at tables, deeply engaged in conversation, and some are admiring the colorful artwork displayed throughout the room. Time and time again, my heart overflows with joy as I watch the kids delightedly visiting with their Grandfriends, and I realize that one of the guiding principles of this year strengthening our connections is coming to life right in front of my eyes. The smiles of the children toward their Grandfriends are a powerful expression of trust, respect, and admiration. They reflect the natural tendency of the young to recognize the wisdom, experience, and kindness that come with age, and to respond with warmth and affection The intergenerational connection we foster through this program is magical

As I complete my first year at CAI, I realize that our community is a very special place, where I have witnessed many moments of connection and growth. Listening to a particularly meaningful sermon, observing children growing and learning in our ECC and religious school, participating in lively conversation during kiddush, being inspired by a eulogy at a funeral, or hearing the jokes and laughter of our committee members cooking together for various events all these moments make up the magic of CAI.

LINA SHUSTER

Marveling at the magic of the CAI community

It's a Friday morning in May, and our social hall is abuzz with the excited voices of children proudly introducing their Grandfriends and their parents. (This program recruited senior congregants to come to the school twice a month to create bonds of friendship with the ECC's four-

Coming to work every day with the purpose of supporting and sustaining our vibrant community gives me the sense of belonging The coming year will be filled with incredible programs and opportunities to continue building meaningful relationships The administrative team's focus will be to continue to support our community and committees working together on programs that span all ages and stages to meet the diverse needs of our CAI family.

I invite you to sit back, watch the "Highlights of the Year" montage on the back cover, celebrate our successes, and marvel at the magic of CAI.

Wishing you a wonderful summer!

Lina Shuster, Executive Director

Installation of Rabbi Sara Blumenthal on April 16, 2023: Cantor Joel Caplan, Rabbi Andrea London, Rabbi Rona Shapiro, Rabbi Sara Blumenthal, Rabbi Ari Lucas, Susan Werk

Rabbi Sara Blumenthal, Assistant Rabbi

CANTOR JOEL CAPLAN

Bronze plaque detective work

"Hello! This is Cantor Caplan calling, from the synagogue. Is this Mr. Goldfarb?"

"Oh! Hi, Cantor. Yeah, you know, I was just about to come to services last Saturday, but…." "Not to worry. This isn't a Guilt Call. I have a few questions about that bronze memorial plaque you ordered, in memory of your mother."

"Sure. A few questions? There are only three lines on the plaque. Name, Jewish name, and date of death. How many questions could there be?"

"Well, let's start and we'll see. First, on the form you filled out, you listed her name as Miriam Kliblisch. Not Goldfarb, right?"

"Well, after my father died, she remarried."

"That's fine. I'm just asking because some people like to list both surnames. For instance, after my grandmother died, my grandfather remarried a woman named Rose. When she died, we put 'Rose Silverman Caplan' on her plaque. Before we set this plaque in bronze, do you want the name to be Miriam Goldfarb Kliblisch?"

"Hmm. I'll need to ask my sister, and probably some of the Kliblisch side. They tend to have strong opinions about certain things. Families are funny, Cantor, ya know?"

"Yep, I know. Another question is about the dates you gave for her death. You wrote that she died on February 19, 2008, with a Jewish date of 12 Adar II 5768."

"So?"

"Well, I'm looking at the calendar, and those dates don't match up. February 19, 2008, is 13 Adar I, not 12 Adar II. If you're sure it was February 19, then let's change the Jewish date. If you're sure the Jewish date is right, could she have died on March 19? That's 12 Adar II in

that year. Or could it be a different year?"

"Oh boy. I thought I wrote down what's on her tombstone. I'll try to get a photograph of that and send it to you."

"That'd be great, thanks. Just two more questions."

"Two?!"

"Well, we want the details to be correct, don't we? These are about your mother's Jewish name. You wrote it in English letters as Miriam Feyga bat Chayim Shnozzle v'Sarah."

"That sounds right. I'm pretty sure that's what's on the tombstone."

"Um, maybe…. I'm wondering first about 'Feyga.' Most Hebrew names, especially biblical names, have only one spelling in Hebrew. There's only one way to spell Miriam, and Chayim, and Sarah. But many Yiddish names can be spelled in more than one way, and Feyga is one of those."

"How can it be more than one way?"

"It's like the English name 'Alison'; that could be Allison, or Alyson, or Allyson. Karen could be Caren or Caryn. All of these are right — it's a question of preference."

"Well, I can't write it in Hebrew letters. If I get you the photograph of the tombstone, can you use that spelling?"

"Yes, that's exactly what I'd like to do — assuming that the Jewish name is there, in Hebrew letters. If it is, we want this bronze plaque to have the same spelling, if possible. If not, we might be able to check her ketubah, or even yours. Or I can recommend a standard Yiddish spelling."

"Oof. I'm gettin' a headache. Would that photograph help with your other question?"

"Maybe. You wrote that the name of your mother's father — that is, your grandfather — was 'Chayim Shnozzle.' Are you sure about that?"

"Pretty sure. Why?"

"Well, let me be honest here. I know a lot of Jewish names, both in Hebrew and in Yiddish, and I've never, ever heard Shnozzle used as a

formal name. A nickname, maybe…. But 'shnozz' is colloquial Yiddish for nose, so Shnozzle might be translated as Nosey. Do you want that on the bronze plaque?"

"Okay, okay. I'll see if I can get a photo of his tombstone also."

"Thanks. I know it's extra work. And if you tell me, 'Cantor Caplan, I am certain that his name was Shnozzle,' then that's what we'll put down. Sometimes names are one of a kind, like 'Aragorn,' and Cathi Robinson's daughter is Narielle, and she's the only Narielle I've ever known. If you're sure about Shnozzle, then so be it."

"Fine. I'll get back to you. Who knew that three little lines could be so hard to pin down?"

SUSAN WERK Revelations

at graduations

I have been fortunate to attend numerous graduation ceremonies this spring. They spanned a wide range, from our youngest graduates at the ECC, to day schools and public schools and colleges. In addition to the pride and joy felt and expressed on these occasions, I noted something they all had in common — reflections on the challenges that faced the students — academically and socially — from the pandemic. At each ceremony, the speakers recalled the daunting challenges of the age of Covid: remote education via Zoom, living in isolation, the fear of a new and dangerous disease. In these speeches, the students heard praise for their resilience and adaptability and of the power of their hope and optimism. They heard of the lessons

learned and the struggles taken on in transitioning to the "new normal," masks and all

In reflecting on all I heard, I recognized: Each of us has our own story to tell about the pandemic, what we may have suffered, how we lived through the lockdown, how we managed, and what we discovered about ourselves and our loved ones how we and they coped with and overcame the obstacles and fears of our upended lives.

What became clear to me is that strength in managing our own lives can emerge through the ways we assist others during a crisis. That the smallest act of kindness a phone call, a ride-by, a wave through a window can make a difference. And that maintaining an attitude of gratitude, despite losses, really does help preserve our mental health and positive worldview

I've also come to appreciate more than ever the synagogue and how it differs from a school. Indeed, a synagogue is a Beit Midrash, a place of study, but it's also a Beit Tefillah, a place of prayer, and a Beit Knesset, a gathering place. In it we learn, come together as a community, celebrate life-cycle events, and worship and express our faith Unlike other graduations, those held in the synagogue do not represent a sad farewell The batim the houses of the synagogue are your home for every age and stage, to mark your milestones, celebrate your accomplishments, and to find strength in times of difficulty and loss.

We in your synagogue family rejoice with all of you who are celebrating children, grandchildren, and oved ones who achieved their academic goals this year.

Cantor Joel Caplan

Given the difficulties of the past few years, we regard the graduates of 2023 with abundant pride and gratitude, and recite the traditional Shehecheyanu blessing: "Praised are you, Lord, God of the universe, for granting us life, for sustaining us, and for helping us to reach this day."

I hope that your summer is filled with fun times and new adventures with friends and family.

When mothers joined their children for our Mother's Day Brunch, they were surprised to receive a special soothing hand massage The children had made hand lotion and learned effective massage techniques. The moms were so impressed to see how capable their children are.

Susan Werk, Education Director

GEULA ZAMIST

the ECC

Special Visitors' Day, Mother's Day Brunch, Shabbat Families in the Classroom, and Fours' Shabbat Dinner were all back this spring for the first time in three years.

As we welcomed families back into our hallways, we had a renewed appreciation for all of these experiences Joy and celebration filled our rooms as we returned in full force to the vitality of our mission.

Our families are partners in our work, and this partnership is a critical component of our ECC identity.

When family members come into the classroom to celebrate Shabbat with the children, they are truly our partners in connecting this beautiful experience to the home The students are proud to share their classroom and what they know and what they have learned. The teachers delight in seeing the nachas on the parents' faces. And the parents deepen their appreciation of the magic that is our school. When grandparents sat with their grandchildren in the classroom and looked through the youngsters' Journey Binders, they saw photos of the events they missed in the last few years They saw the evidence of how much the children have grown and matured Together with the young ones, they revisited special moments.

Songs and prayers filled the sanctuary when the fours' family members joined us for a final Shabbat dinner None of the families of the students in the grade missed this beautiful evening The perfect attendance was testimony to how much the families crave and cherish this time together.

All of these moments and more ignited our senses and elevated our school year:

* Hearing parents and children recite the Kiddush together

* Seeing grandparents look through the Journey Binders

* Feeling the warmth of the relaxing hand massages

* Smelling the yummy Shabbat food cooking as we sat down with friends

* Tasting the fr challah on Frid the classrooms

We are so gr be back to main our full commit to families as p in our work and forward to buil on this partnership more and more in the years to come.

The incredible ECC board organizes events coordinates activities, supports our teachers, and builds community among our parents. Our families are partners in our work.

Geula Zamist, Early Childhood Center Director

A return of some special moments in

Click for more information

A gift of education, community, and belonging for your whole family; Federation is excited to announce that GMW Right Start has expanded! The program is now providing a gift voucher toward the cost of tuition for families enrolling a child for the first time at any age level (preK and below) in a Jewish early childhood program.

Greater MetroWest Jewish early childhood centers aren't just about the students. Through each child's experience, the whole family is engaged and immersed in the richness and diversity of Jewish life. Families feel welcomed and supported, and the friendships created can grow for years to come! If you are interested in learning more about CAI's Early Childhood Center, please call 973-226-3600, ext. 120.

ANDREA MALMUD

Financial information from JFS during these difficult times

Shalom! I've received many questions about financial support lately, so I'm providing information about financial services provided by Jewish Family Service of MetroWest NJ (JFS).

Medicare Counseling (SHIP)

Medicare beneficiaries frequently have questions about benefits, claims, and supplemental policies like Medigap and Medicare Advantage. The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) — a statewide program administered in Essex County by JFS MetroWest NJ and RSVP — provides free help to Medicare beneficiaries in the county who have problems with or questions about their health insurance.

Volunteer counselors trained in insurance coverage and benefits that affect Medicare beneficiaries can provide assistance in dealing with claims and evaluating options. Counselors also help low-income Medicare beneficiaries apply for Extra Help, prescription assistance, and Low-Income Subsidy programs.

Volunteer counselors do not provide legal advice or sell, recommend, or endorse any specific insurance product, agent, company, or plan. They provide information and assistance so that Medicare beneficiaries can make their own decisions.

The free counseling is provided via phone or Zoom or at easy-to-access locations, such as libraries and community centers.

To speak with a Medicare counselor, contact 973-637-1717 or medicarehelp@jfsmetrowest.org

Safety Net Services

We at JFS will work with you to understand your financial distress. Through assessment, budgeting, and referrals to community resources, JFS staff will help you work toward greater financial sustainability; financial assistance may be offered.

The JFS Healthcare Emergency Relief Fund and the JFS Safety Net Fund provide eligible clients with access to emergency assistance. The fund is supported by JFS donors and through the Greater Newark Holiday Fund, administered by "The Star-Ledger." Call 973-765-9050.

Hebrew Free Loan

Hebrew Free Loan of NJ provides interestfree loans to Jewish community members, including those who reside in the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ catchment area (including Essex, Morris, and Union counties).

Loans are provided for many purposes (but not student loans); among them: medical expenses, debt consolidation, home improvement or repair, infertility issues, starting or expanding a business.

Borrowers must have the potential to repay the loan through automatic bank withdrawal. Certain loans require one or two endorsers, who must live in New Jersey. The endorser becomes responsible for the loan repayment in the event the borrower cannot meet his or her obligation.

Hebrew Free Loan holds to the highest standard of confidentiality; call 973-637-1739 or go to Hebrewfreeloanofnj.org.

For assistance reaching any of these resources, contact me at amalmud@agudath.org.

Have a good summer!

Andrea Malmud, LCSW, is the Zeller Family/JFS Social Work Consultant.

KAREN FRANK Bringing comfort to the mourner

I have been speaking and learning about grief for decades in my role as pastoral care nurse. It wasn't until eight months ago, with the death of David my husband of 51 years, my closest friend, and my beloved since I was a teenager that I learned it in my bones

No two griefs are alike

Your loss of a mother is nothing like his loss of a mother. You are not him, your mother was not his mother, and your relationship was nothing like his relationship. Do not presume to know what his grief is like. Instead of making statements about his grief, or offering reassurances, wait, listen, learn Then you may learn what his grief is like in this minute.

Grief is experienced in waves

This minute it is one thing, in 10 minutes, it may be experienced differently. Allow for the differences and don't judge. There is no "better grief "; the grief that is happening is right for this minute

Do not judge

Because no two grievers or losses are the same, we can't possibly pass judgement on someone else's behavior or experience. Rather, it is our job to stay open and receptive and quiet in order to learn from the griever what they may need from us Platitudes "She's in a better place," reassurances "This too shall pass," pep talks "You can handle this" are generally not useful unless they come from the griever herself. That is why the consoler should be quiet to allow the griever to feel her feelings.

Grief is not a contest

How often do we hear "His grief is worse than hers was"? Why make grief competitive? There is no need to quantify trauma And there is no

need to share your own experiences with loss

His grief is the only grief that matters in this minute. As the consoler, be with it.

WAIT

Why am I talking? When not knowing what to say makes us nervous, we likely say too much. Watch for that tendency in yourself We all do it Ask yourself instead, Why am I talking? Wouldn't just being quiet with the griever be more appropriate? Our tradition teaches that during shiva, we WAIT for the mourner to speak. We learn it is our presence, not our words, that brings comfort.

Because we all grieve differently and because even our own grief is changeable, there are no "right words" we can offer Our attention, our presence, our empathy for what the griever is experiencing is how to bring comfort and healing to the mourner.

Karen Frank, RN, is CAI's congregation nurse.

TZEDEK INITIATIVE Promoting social justice and racial equality

Since its founding in 2020, CAI's Tzedek Initiative has pursued as its mission the promotion of social justice and racial equality through listening and learning, community building, and advocacy and activism.

Here are reflections on our efforts this year in some key areas — racial equality, educational parity, voting rights, and reproductive justice.

Our year began with the distribution to the congregation of a High Holiday reflection on social justice (curated by Marilyn Labendz and Sue Goldberg), with a second reflection shared prior to Pesach. In October, through the efforts of Sharon Zucker and Judy Zaks, the Tzedek Initiative hosted a group from the Rose of Sharon Community Church in Plainfield for dinner in the sukkah followed by a viewing of "Shared Legacies," a documentary focusing on the coalition and friendship between the Jewish and African-American communities during the Civil Rights Movement.

Tzedek Initiative work groups have also made significant progress. The voting rights group, led by Marilyn Labendz and Karen Eisenberg, conducted a nonpartisan "Why Voting Matters" session for two classes at James Caldwell High School on June 1. More sessions are planned prior to the November elections.

Members of the educational inequality work group are mentoring junior high and high school students as part of the Succeed Together program in Montclair. Jilana Dellal reports that others are needed to join their efforts.

Recently congregants watched and discussed

the documentary "The Janes," about a group of women who facilitated access to abortions prior to Roe v. Wade. CAI member Rabbi Michael Monson discussed his experiences with the Clergy Consultation Services during this same period, and Susan Werk and Natalie Peck led a discussion.

This year's final event was the third annual Juneteenth Shabbat. Led by Leah StermanKabrt and Sharon Zucker, we collaborated with folks from the First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell to host the Friends of the Howe House, a group committed to the preservation of the Montclair home of James Howe, the first African-American homeowner in West Essex. More than 100 congregants, church members, and others heard our guests talk about the Howe House and the history of AfricanAmerican enslavement and emancipation in the area. The event, which included a Juneteenth-inspired Shabbat dinner, was partially funded by a grant from the Jewish Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ.

The Tzedek Initiative leaders thank the volunteers and CAI leaders who support its efforts. If you have an interest in any of the focus areas or others, please reach out to Debby Miller, Ruth Jaffe, Debbie Rosen, or Morris Lewis.

Thank you for helping to spread the word about our special community and all that we have to offer. Keep telling your friends, family, and neighbors about your positive experiences here...YOU are our most successful advertising.

Contact Membership/Community Relations Director, Debbie Lurie at 973-226-3600 x118 or dlurie@agudath.org.

Welcometoournewestandreturningmembers ofourcommunityasofJune1,2023

Ben&StephanieAkselradwithAnnabelle

Cory&AlyssaBottiwithMia

ShariBraunsteinwithJordanRosen

ErikBronstein&RandiWindtwithAxel

Maoz&MaayanBrownwithOrenandIlan

Evan&JolieCarpenterwithMayaandEmily

MichaelCohen&LaurenSmithCohenwith Zachary,Whitney,LindsayandSydney

AlexDreiblatt&HilaMehrwithAvivandZev

Jeffrey&IleneEttingerwithLoganandRyan

DanielFeinstein&LaurenFreestone

NoahFreeman

Ryan&MollyGardnerwithHudson

DanielHewitt&BrittanyRosenbergwith MalkaandHayim

JasonHines&RachelWartski-Hineswith Evan,Olivia,LiamandAdele

DavidKnopf

William&JenniferKrakowerwithBrianna

HenryMargenau&AmyRothkopfwith LeviandJonah

Michael&ShiriPerlwithMyer

MartinSchatz&JudithPhillipswith JakeandBrooke

Edwin&BeverlyStern

Eli&DaianaTukachinskywithShai

Gennady&RikkiVoldzwithShayandJett

Doron&AmyWeslywithBoazandNoa

Cooking Class: A Rosh Hashanah Meal Roman Style

with Leah Koenig

, best-selling cookbook author whose titles include "The Jewish Cookbook." Chef Leah will lead a hands-on cooking class featuring several recipes from her brand new cookbook, "Portico: Cooking & Feasting in Rome's Jewish Kitchen," that will liven up your holiday lunch or dinner.

Everyone in the class will cook along with Chef Leah, sit down to a meal to sample the delicious items we've just prepared, then take the recipes to make at home. Details and registration will be available soon.

Monday, September 11, 11 am - 1 pm

The Kitchen Table in Maplewood

Cost: $85 | Limited to 20 people

Leah's new cookbook will be available to purchase at the event.

Attitude of Gratitude

Many thanks to the Congregation Agudath Israel community for the kindness and support you offered to our family during the shiva for our mom, Adele Kleiman The meals to keep us wellfed, the visits and the contributions in her memory have been a source of comfort to our family during this difficult time. We are very grateful.

Sincerely,

Randi and Oron Brokman

Leslie and David Gleaner

Mitch and Nancy Kleiman

COMBATING ANTISEMITISM INITIATIVE Partnerships to fight antisemitism

The CAI Combating Antisemitism Initiative has sponsored more than a dozen programs over the past few years for both adults and teens, providing guidance to confront the increasing scourge of hatred directed against Jews, our institutions, and Israel

CAI has partnered primarily with the ADL (AntiDefamation League) but has also collaborated with other organizations, including the American Jewish Committee, CAMERA (Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis), and the Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ.

The White House has developed an unprecedented national strategy to address antisemitism across the major sectors of government, a historically significant move that represents a major advance in our collective efforts. We are sharing here 10 points highlighted by AJC CEO Ted Deutsch in "moving the needle" to combat antisemitism

We will keep you informed about the progress made under this ambitious and necessary set of strategies

Max Kleinman and Grace Sumka are cochairs of CAI's Combating Antisemitism Initiative.

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE

The CAI Environmental Committee invites congregants to join us in 2023-24 for educational programs, activities, and actions. Congregation Agudath Israel is a member of the national Jewish Climate Leadership Coalition and is affiliated with Adamah, the organization whose aim is to "cultivate vibrant Jewish life in deep connection with the Earth." The committee has 30 members, and we welcome you to join us!

The committee's mission is to educate the CAI community in ways to care for the environment that are grounded in Jewish teachings and history We take actions to help the synagogue and congregants of all ages and stages to lessen our negative impact on the environment and collaborate with local and state partners on activities and advocacy to protect and sustain the environment. We support environmental justice and engage with Jewish environmental movements outside of the CAI and local community.

We currently offer, are in the process of planning, and/or are hoping to offer the following:

* Environmental Shabbat

* Recycling program at CAI

* Sustainable Kiddushes

* Tu B'Shevat Seder

* Earth Day program

* Plant/Seed Swap

*"Nourishing Our Souls" (the vegetarian interfaith cookbook created with CAI's Interfaith Committee)

* Jewish Youth Climate Movement

* Field trips

We invite you to contact us if you have an interest in what already is on our agenda or if you have additional ideas that you'd like to work on with us.

We wish you a good summer!

Harriet Sepinwall and Mark Lipsy are cochairs of CAI's Environmental Committee.

SISTERHOOD Sisterhood has exciting programs year round

CAI Sisterhood is on a roll! We've had a most successful year, which included a yummy sufganiyot (doughnut) workshop for Chanukah, a Cholent Cookoff with 10 delicious Shabbat stew recipes, and a fun-filled Mah-Jongg game day

More than 35 women participated in a very inspiring Sisterhood Shabbat. Rabbi Ben Varon, who was recently ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, spoke about his work as a hospital chaplain.

Eighty women and men at the synagogue helped us reach our goal of $10,000 for the annual Torah Fund campaign, which raises money to support the education of future professional and lay leaders of the Conservative/Masorti movement at JTS, the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, the Schechter Institute, Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano in Argentina, and

Zacharias Frankel School in Germany

We have a number of summer programs lined up Another Mah-Jongg game day will be held at Judy Levenstein's home on Sunday, July 16 Rabbi Sara Blumenthal will share her experiences and perspectives gained from helping to "create a shared society" by volunteering with several peacebuilding organizations in Israel, on Monday,

July 24, at the home of Joan Bronspiegel

Looking ahead, Sisterhood Shabbat will take place November 11; all women are invited to participate

Information will be available soon on additional programs being planned, including a pickling event, a full day with comedian Joel Chasnoff, a financial planning workshop for women, another cookoff, and more game days.

Sisterhood continues to donate flowers for the bimah for the High Holidays and food baskets for Sukkot as well as gifts for new babies and B'nei Mitzvah. Please consider a donation to the Torah Fund campaign, which supports the schools mentioned above. If you wish to purchase something from the gift shop, contact Allegra Simon

Those with suggestions for programs or who wish to get involved with Sisterhood are encouraged to reach out to the CAI office or the Sisterhood officers, Sharon Hammerman, Rebecca Glass, Anita Finkel, Donna Franklin, or Jackie Walzer.

For information about national and regional Sisterhood programs, check out the website for Women's League for Conservative Judaism at wlcj.org and the Garden State region, at wlcjregion.org/gardenstate/.

—MEMBER OF CONGREGATION AGUDATH ISRAEL—

Sharon Hammerman is president of the CAI Sisterhood.

MEN'S CLUB

Join us for Bagels and Baseball in August

Men's Club Shabbat on May 13 was fantastic; thank you to Aaron Solomon for organizing this annual event. We were really pleased to have as guest speaker David Schenker, the brother of former CAI Men's Club president Marty Schenker. David is the Taube Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy and director of its Program on Arab Politics. Confirmed by the Senate in June 2019, he served as assistant secretary of state for Near

Eastern affairs through January 2021. In that capacity, he was the principal Middle East adviser to the secretary of state and the senior official overseeing the conduct of U.S. policy and diplomacy in the region. His talk was very informative.

The next Men's Club event will be Bagels and Baseball — a trip to the Mets game in New York on Sunday, August 13. We will have a brunch at the synagogue before a bus takes the group to Citi Field in Queens. For tickets and information, please contact Adam Shandler at adshandler@gmail.com or 908-400-9355.

Jonathan Mehl is president of the CAI Men's Club.

CEMETERY ASSOCIATION

"What happens when we die?"

One of the great mysteries of life is: "What happens to us when we die?"

Do we continue to live in some hard-to-define way? Do we commune with those who have died before us? Is there an "afterlife" for the deceased?

Our Hebrew Bible, the Talmud, medieval Jewish thinkers, and contemporary Jewish teachers have often disagreed regarding these queries. It's not difficult to explain why there are so many different answers to these eternal questions: No one knows the "right" answer. As the saying goes, "No one has actually returned from death (despite 'near death' experiences) to tell us."

What we do know is that Judaism, in all of its traditional manifestations, affirms that the crucial deed for the living is to assure an appropriate burial for the dead. The mitzvah of proper burial is known as "chesed shel emet" unqualified

kindness for the deceased

For nine decades, the CAI Cemetery Association has helped our members and their families provide affordable and dignified burial for their dear ones We currently have burial locations available at King Solomon Memorial Park and the Menorah Section of the East Ridgelawn Cemetery in Clifton.

Members of the CAI Cemetery Association are available to explain all procedures, accompany you to visit available burial locations, and discuss prices and procedures. Burial sites are available for our members at much reduced prices compared to purchasing directly from cemeteries. We accept credit card payments and will repurchase plots for the full price paid if you decide you no longer need them.

Trustees of the Cemetery Association include Arthur Franklin, president; Steve Eisen, vicepresident; Mel Berkowitz, treasurer; Anita Finkel, secretary; Keith Marlowe and Rabbi Richard Hammerman, trustees

Steve Eisen and Mel Berkowitz are primary contacts for inquiries regarding the purchase of plots. To reach us, contact info@agudathcemetery.org.

INTERFAITH COMMITTEE

The CAI Interfaith Committee strives to actualize our belief that by learning about the traditions, cultures, and beliefs of our neighbors, we can educationally, socially, and spiritually focus our programs on our mutual desire to make our world a kinder and safer place

This spring we had a wonderful Shabbat program with the Rev Ursula Rudnick, who received a Ph.D. from JTS and serves as head of Begegnung, a group based at the Evangelical Church in Hanover, Germany, that actively promotes Jewish-Christian relations. In honor of Rev. Rudnick's relationship with CAI, Begegnung made a donation to the congregation and sent us a handmade challah cover

At the Shabbat dinner, Rabbi Lucas led a discussion of the Mishnah from Jewish and Christian perspectives. The event culminated with an agreement to arrange two-three programs per year. The next will be on the concept of "grace," with Dr. Rudnick and Rabbi Richard Hammerman leading discussions. Thanks to Deborah Miller for her major role in developing these programs and Diane Reidenberg for making them happen

We completed a second printing of "Nourishing Our Souls," our interfaith vegetarian cookbook created in partnership with the Environmental Committee. We are reaching local bookstores and communities beyond our own neighborhood including a program this summer at Temple Anshe Amunim in Pittsfield, Mass , cosponsored by the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires

Please help spread the word about "Nourishing Our Souls" and purchase your own copy; it is available in the CAI office and gift shop. Proceeds go to local food banks, and we expect to donate another $1,000 soon. Thanks to Bob Markman for his marketing contributions.

Our annual Iftar Dinner, held with the Peace Islands Institute at CAI on March 29, was a warm

family, educational, and musical affair Thanks to Jilana Dellal, Susan Werk, Nesrin Tatli, and Janet Markman for their contributions.

"Amen-Amen-Amen" is an excellent documentary about the first Jewish community formed in a Muslim country in centuries (in Dubai) and the gift of a Torah scroll in memory of Sheikh Zayed, the founding father of United Arab Emirates.

Jilana Dellal will lead a discussion of the film please watch at home; it's available on the PBS streaming platform in August, date TBA

Other programs are in the works, including an Ecumenical Tea hosted at the Lumen Center in Caldwell by the Sisters of Saint Dominic.

To get involved with the Interfaith Committee, contact chair Gail Kleinman.

DEBORAH

Diplomate, American Board of Dermatology

1129 Bloomfield Aveunue Suite 205

West Caldwell, NJ 07006

Tel. (973) 575-6880

Fax. (973) 575-1616

—MEMBER OF CONGREGATION AGUDATH ISRAEL—

RABNER, M.D., F.A.A.D.

Gail Kleinman is chair of CAI's Interfaith Committee

CARING COMMITTEE

Do you need help getting to the doctor or running errands? Would you like to attend Shabbat services or events at the synagogue but don't have a way to get there? Are you temporarily unable to cook meals due to an injury or illness? Are you unable to leave your home and would enjoy visitors during the day?

Our Caring Committee Volunteers may be able to help you. If you have a need that we may be able to help with, please email the Caring Committee at caringcommittee@agudath.org or leave a message on our confidential voicemail at 973-226-3600, ext. 142, and our coordinator, Cheryl Bernstein, will be back in touch with you.

If you are interested in volunteering on the Caring Committee, please email your name and phone number to receive more information. Thank you so much for considering this role.

PEER TO PEER CONNECTION PROGRAM

Do you live alone and would you like to make a connection with a peer from the community who also lives alone? Through this pairing, both of you can arrange to say hello via text and/or phone calls each day. This would be a simple friendly hello for both which can help with loneliness and provide some company. If you live alone and would be interested in participating, send your name to the Caring Committee at cbernstein@agudath.org. We will help you to connect with someone on the list.

DAILY SERVICE TIMES

Sunday through Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm {Beit Midrash/Zoom}

Monday and Thursday mornings at 6:45 am {Beit Midrash/Zoom}

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings at 7:00 am {Beit Midrash/Zoom}

Friday evenings (please check the "weekly schedule" for exact times; see below.) {Chapel/Zoom}

Saturday/Shabbat mornings at 9:00 am {Sanctuary/Livestream}

Saturday evenings (please check the "weekly schedule" for exact times; see below.) {Beit Midrash/Zoom}

Sunday mornings at 9:00 am {Beit Midrash/Zoom}

Weekday morning service times may change for Rosh Chodesh or federal holidays. Service times and links can be found on the weekly schedule.

Please