HAMISH HAPPENINGS Freehold Jewish Center Bulletin MAY - JUNE 2021 SAVE THE DATES May 3rd - Synagogue Bd Mtg (Zoom) May 11th - Berachot Service & Chat (Zoom) May 16th - Shavuot Dairy Dinner*; Shavuot Service*; Study Group and Dairy Dessert *Outside Weather Permitting May 17th - Shavuot Service May 18th - Shavuot Service & Yizkor - Outside Weather Permitting May 26th - Zoom Class with Rabbi Langer May 27th - Last Day of Hebrew School June 7th - Synagogue Bd Mtg (Zoom) June 11th - Synagogue BBQ* *Outside Weather Permitting June 27th - Fast of Tammuz In-Person Minyan Service and Adult Education Class with Rabbi Langer WE ARE ALSO HAVING: MORNING MINYAN ZOOM SERVICES IN-PERSON SHABBAT SERVICES HAVDALAH ZOOM SERVICES CHECK THE CALENDAR FOR DATES AND TIMES.
WE ARE OPEN FOR IN-PERSON SHABBAT SERVICES ON FRIDAY NIGHTS AND SATURDAY MORNINGS.
SHAVUOT SERVICE TIMES
WEEKLY ZOOM SERVICES
Sunday, May 16, 8 PM This service will be outside weather permitting. Monday, May 17, 9 AM Tuesday, May 18, 9 AM 11:15 AM - Yizkor will be recited. Yizkor will be outside weather permitting. Please see the flyer on Page 2 for more details.
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Join us to help make a Minyan so Mourner’s Kaddish can be recited. Monday and Thursday Morning Minyan Zoom Service at 8 AM until May 13th. Starting Thursday, May 20th, Morning Minyan will be held in-person and on Zoom at 7 AM. Saturday Havdalah Zoom Service - Please see calendar for times. Please be aware that the Havdalah Service times will change as candle lighting times change. Watch your email for updated times. If you register with the Synagogue Office and participate in the Havdalah Zoom Service, we will deliver to you a travel sized Havdalah kit for your first virtual service. The kits have been generously donated by a family from our congregation. We use the same link each time. Click below on the link to join the service: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9303697101?pwd=enlkREl2eDVQMVdxSElIRGJRay9DZz09 Or go to www.zoom.us; Click “Join a Meeting”; Enter the Meeting ID: 930 369 7101 and Password: 753491; then Click “Open Zoom Meetings”. If you do not have video or audio on your computer, you can always call in by phone. Please use the phone number below and follow the prompts. (646) 876 9923. If you have any questions or problems, please contact the Synagogue Office.
59 Broad Street Freehold, NJ 07728
VISIT US ONLINE AT
WWW.FREEHOLDJC.ORG
(732) 462-0254 office@freeholdjc.org
CLERGY CORNER RABBI NATHAN LANGER Spring has sprung upon us. Our state is reopening slowly and so is our beloved Shul. We have and continue to be weathering the storm and it’s time to move on just as it was time to move on from Egypt, on Pesach, to the Sinai wilderness and to Mount Sinai. While the holiday of Shavuot is a celebration in itself - the day we (Bnei Yisrael) received the Torah on Sinai – it can be also considered a continuation of Passover. Passover is all about physical redemption. We leave slavery (of the body) and go to freedom. Once physically free, “we” can now work on spiritual freedom and pursue G-d, rising about “our” physical needs. Shavuot comes a full seven weeks after leaving Egypt. It took some time to be purified from the Egyptian idolatry before we could accept the Torah. We, as a united people, agreed to become a nation of G-d, taking on the ultimate redemption when a person can strive for something higher than physical pleasures and be free of their constraint. Our Sages teach us: “Ayn lecha ben chorin, elah mee shĕ’osek ba’Torah.” “There is no really free person other than the one who busies themselves with Torah.” When a person chooses to do the right thing, even as the body desires the wrong thing, this is a person “free” from limitations. Shavuot is the wedding of G-d and Bnei Yisrael (the children of Israel). As such a wedding requires a ketubah (marriage document). The marriage document on Shavuot is the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments serve as a contract between G-d and people, and people with people. Each of the commandments aligns. 1. I am G-d… 6. Do No Murder Teaches that we are all created in G-d’s image. We murder we destroy the image of G-d. 2. No Idol Worship 7. No Adultery G-d considers idol worship to be like an adulterous relationship. 2
3. Do Not Swear Falsely 8. Do Not Kidnap There is a story told about a man, who once came to a Rabbi and told him: “I’m a kidnapper and I will not change myself from being a kidnapper, but tell me another commandment and I will keep it”. The Rabbi said, “Never tell a lie”. Three months later the man returned to the Rabbi a changed man. When he was asked why he said, “if I were captured after a kidnapping I would have to go to court. I would have to confess my crime and I would go to prison because I could not lie.” Because he could not lie he learned not to kidnap.
5. Honor Your Father & Mother… 10. Do Not Covet G-d gives us raw materials for our lives; our bodies, our abilities, even the parents we have. This parallel teaches us that we should not be jealous of what other have. We have exactly what we need for our own unique mission in life including parents (perfect or not).
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I look forward to seeing everyone in shul for our Shavuot Grand “Re-Opening” on Sunday, May 16th.
Keep the Sabbath… 9. Do No Testify Falsely By keeping the Sabbath we testify that we know G-d created the universe.
As we re-open our doors on Shavuot come hear and see the Ten Commandments in person as our ancestors did at Mt. Sinai. They went from freeing their bodies to freeing their souls. Let us try to do the same.
Rabbi Nathan W. Langer
PRESIDENT’S PODIUM LEONARD BROWNSTEIN, CO-PRESIDENT Hello Friends and Fellow Congregants: What a year 2020 has brought us, a year of hardship and change. Who would have thought that our lives would have been impacted so drastically by a virus? However, we have focused on being optimistic at FJC. We have focused on safety protocols like extensive cleaning, mask wearing, and social distancing for reopening the shul for Friday evening (7:15 PM) and Shabbat morning (9:00 AM) services. We plan to keep these protocols in place for future events as we continue to open the shul in phases. For example, the Erev Shavuot on Sunday May 16th at 7 PM. This event will take place outdoors and will include a dairy supper, service, discussion and desserts. It is the official Grand “Re-opening” of our shul and a chance to see many friends so long missed. Please remember to make a reservation. Here at FJC, we have taken advantage of the closing to make some changes for the better. New doors and cameras have been fully installed in the building. Stop by the office and have Tracey show you how every room and outdoor area is now fully covered by cameras…might be better than the CIA Headquarters. As well as new security, we have secured offers for a new roof and two new HVAC units in order to get ready for the High Holy Days. We hope to have many people join us for the holidays to enjoy our new building upgrades. In order to effectively make decisions on future shul affairs, an eight person planning board has been established and has been meeting to discuss short and long term goals. Some of the topics discussed are additional funds to be raised by advertisers in our bi-monthly shul paper and ideas as to what other types of renters can be attracted to use our currently unoccupied locations. Some future goals include finding a shul based caterer to put our grand ballroom to better use, better advertising of FJC events in hopes of adding new members to our FJC family, and offering new religious and secular programs that are both educational and entertaining. In conclusion, FJC has a century plus tradition, the means and enthusiasm to move forward, and a productive and optimistic manner. If you have interest in joining our board in order to help strengthen our Freehold based community, please contact one of the co-presidents and we will be happy to assign you a position.
DIRECTOR’S DESK - CHRISTINE H. MAHLER Change: To make something different; to alter or modify. The Freehold Jewish Center has experienced a lot of changes over the last 18 months. It began with a new Rabbi and a new Executive Director, followed by the departure of our Cantor, our wonderful pandemic (which has not helped to make things better) and our roof and HVAC issues. Our members, as well as our Rabbi, have had to adjust to a different way of praying (Zoom and In-person), to observe the holidays without their families and to just live a new daily life. Our building has been sitting idly because of no Bingo, at times there have been no services or programs or rentals and the staff has had to be socially distant to be safe for themselves and their families. It is my hope that over the next few months things will again change for the better, now that we have the vaccine in place and our state is slowly returning to normal. As you can see in our revamped newsletter “Hamish Happenings,” we are already starting to make changes with our Grand Re-Opening of the Synagogue for Shavuot in May and our first BBQ of 2021 in June. Sisterhood has continued their Tehillim Group (Berachot Zoom Service & Chat) bi-monthly and have included the entire congregation; Rabbi Langer has his adult education class. Hopefully both will be in-person sooner rather than later. As Walt Disney said, “We KEEP MOVING FORWARD, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we’re curious...and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” As a community we need to embrace the future and make the necessary changes, so that we can continue to survive for the future. Embracing the future means coming up with new programs or revamping old events with a twist. We are always open to new ideas for programs. Please send me an email (fjcdirector@freeholdjc.org) with your thoughts. Even if you think no one would be interested, you never know what will peak someone’s curiosity. A lot of people do not like change, but change is inevitable. It is my responsibility at the Synagogue to make sure that any changes we make is to benefit our members. We have taken many precautions to keep our members safe, both from the pandemic as well as from outside harm. We have PPE supplies available, cleaning regularly with approved EPA cleaners, updated security being installed, etc. You will be safer here than at the supermarket if you really think about it. I look forward to the change when our halls are filled again with our members, not wearing masks, shaking hands, hugging each other, enjoying their time while attending, Services, Kiddush or a Shabbat Dinner and feeling safe and secure while in the building. I hope that we can make the necessary changes so that we can “Keep Moving Forward” in a positive way.
HEBREW SCHOOL Classes will continue via Zoom. If you have any questions, please contact Principal Alan Ross at fjchebschool@freeholdjc.org. Thursday, May 27th is currently the Last Day of Hebrew School. Wishing our teachers and students a wonderful summer! 3
Rabbi Nathan W. Langer, Dir. of Pastoral Care Cell: (732) 754-0316 Office: (732) 202-1000 x4018 1151 West Main Street, Freehold, NJ 07728 www.jewishhomefreehold.org info@jewishhomefreehold.org
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ADVERTISE HERE! Have you or someone you know been looking for reasonable advertising space? Want to do a Mitzvah at the same time? Advertise in the Hamish Happenings. Please contact Christine Mahler at FJCdirector@freeholdjc.org or (732) 462-0254 to get pricing. We would love for your company to join us.
Sunshine Daycare & Preschool
We offer a variety of programs for children 2 1/2 - 13 years old Full and Partial Days After School Care Summer Care For pricing, please contact
Mrs. Felicita Colon, Owner/Director Quality Care at Affordable Prices 59 Broad Street - Freehold, NJ 07728 Phone: (732) 462-8003 - Fax: (732) 462-8004 Email: uniquetaty@hotmail.com 5
M AY 2 0 2 1
SUNDAY
I Y A R — S I VA N 5 7 8 1
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY 1 9 AM In-person Shabbat Service 8:45 PM Havdalah Zoom
2
3
4
5
8 AM Minyan - Zoom 4 PM Hebrew School - Zoom 7:30 PM Shul Board Mtg - Zoom
9
MOTHER’S DAY
10 Yom
Yerushalayim
8 AM Minyan - Zoom 4 PM Hebrew School - Zoom
16
Erev Shavuot
7 PM Dairy Dinner* 8 PM Shavuot Service* 9 PM Study Group 9:30 PM Dairy Dessert
*Outside Weather Permitting
23
17
Shavuot
8
7:15 PM In-person Shabbat Service
9 AM In-person Shabbat Service 8:50 PM Havdalah -
4 PM Hebrew School - Zoom
11
12
7:30 PM Berachot and Chat - Zoom
18
Shavuot
Rosh Chodesh Sivan
19
Zoom
13
14
15
8 AM Minyan -
7:15 PM In-person Shabbat Service
9 AM In-person Shabbat Service 9 PM Havdalah -
Zoom
4 PM Hebrew School - Zoom
Zoom
20
21
22
7 AM Minyan -
7:15 PM In-person Shabbat Service
9 AM In-person Shabbat Service 9:05 PM Havdalah -
In-person and Zoom
4 PM Hebrew School - Zoom
Zoom
Weather Permitting
24 In-person and Zoom
4 PM Hebrew School - Zoom
31 MEMORIAL DAY 8 AM Minyan In-person and Zoom
6
7
8 AM Minyan Zoom
9 AM In-Person Sha- 9 AM In-Person vuot Service Shavuot Service NO HEBREW SCHOOL 11:15 AM Yizkor Service - Outside
7 AM Minyan -
30
6
25
26
27
28
29
7:30 PM Zoom Class with Rabbi Langer
7 AM Minyan -
7:15 PM In-person Shabbat Service
9 AM In-person Shabbat Service 9:15 PM Havdalah -
In-person and Zoom
4 PM Last Day of Hebrew School Zoom
Zoom
JUNE 2021
SUNDAY
MONDAY
S I VA N - T A M M U Z 5 7 8 1
WEDNESDAY
TUESDAY 1
2
THURSDAY 3
FRIDAY 4
SATURDAY 5
7 AM Minyan -
7:15 PM In-person In-person and Zoom Shabbat Service
9 AM In-person Shabbat Service 9:15 PM Havdalah Zoom
6
7
8
9
7 AM Minyan In-person and Zoom
7:30 PM Shul Board Mtg - Zoom
10 Rosh Cho-
11 Rosh Chodesh
12
7 AM Minyan -
6:15 PM Shul BBQ
9 AM In-person Shabbat Service 9:20 PM Havdalah -
desh
In-person and Zoom
Tammuz
Outside Weather Permitting
Zoom
7:15 PM In-person Shabbat Service
13
14
FLAG DAY
15
16
7 AM Minyan -
17
18
7 AM Minyan -
7:15 PM In-person In-person and Zoom Shabbat Service
In-person and Zoom
19 9 AM In-person Shabbat Service 9:30 PM Havdalah Zoom
20 FATHER’S DAY
21
22
23
7 AM Minyan -
24 7 AM Minyan -
25
7:15 PM In-person In-person and Zoom Shabbat Service
In-person and Zoom
26 9 AM In-person Shabbat Service 9:30 PM Havdalah Zoom
27
Fast of Tammuz
8 AM In-Person Minyan 9 AM In-Person Adult Education Program (No Food Serviced)
28
29
30
7 AM Minyan In-person and Zoom
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CELEBRATE YOUR MITZVAHS AT THE FREEHOLD JEWISH CENTER The words Tradition and Caring perfectly describe the Freehold Jewish Center and its members. We have a hidden gem of a Synagogue proudly offering you its location for your simchas, meetings, special events, or any type of Kosher affair. We are the perfect choice to impress your guests while allowing you the freedom to create an event customized to your needs.
OUR ENTRY WAY The entrance is a perfect greeting for your guests to begin the special event surrounded by stained glass, marble floors and architectural details.
OUR SILVERMAN FAMILY CHAMBER This is the perfect location for smaller affairs, an impressive cocktail room or a business meeting room. This bright and spacious extension is directly attached to our Sanctuary to accommodate for larger wedding parties.
As you will see we have multiple spaces to offer you a wide variety of options to make your event as special as you want it to be.
We hope that FJC is the place for your next event. Please contact us to learn more about the available spaces we have to offer for your special events. Telephone: (732) 462-0254 Email: office@freeholdjc.org or fjcdirector@freeholdjc.org Www. freeholdjc.org/our-ballroom-catering OUR BALLROOM The 350 person capacity space was designed with high ceilings, a full-sized dance floor and a professional stage among the many features of this elegant room. We have separate Kosher Meat and Dairy Kitchens for easy Catering convenience.
FREEHOLD AREA OPEN DOOR Open Door is a non-profit interfaith agency that provides the following four programs: a Food Pantry Program, an Emergency Funding/Advocacy Program, an After School Program, and a Scholarship Program. There has been a great need for all these services during this year of Covid. If you would like to make a donation to Open Door, please send your check, made payable to Open Door, to the Synagogue Office and we will deliver your check. It is a worthwhile cause that makes a difference to so many in need within our community. 39 Throckmorton St, Freehold - (732) 780-1089
HEALTH & WELFARE We are concerned about our members normally, but even more so during this unprecedented year of Covid. If you would like to have someone check in on you or just call you once in a while, let us know. If you are a member in need of some help, your FJC community is here for you. Please contact the Synagogue Office with your information. Stay safe and healthy. 8
TRADITIONAL JEWISH SANCTUARY We are delighted to make Congregation Agudath Achim’s religious sanctuary available for your simcha.
Let’s spread the good news! The Synagogue Office would like to share your good news with the rest of our membership. If you have a special event that you would like to share with the congregation, please contact Tracey or Chris in the office with the information. We would love to celebrate in your happy life events, not just your sad ones. Please let us know if you have a birth, engagement, marriage, graduation, etc.
We would like to wish everyone listed below a MAZEL TOV on your Birthday and Anniversaries.
mAY 2021 LIST ANNIVERSARIES
BIRTHDAYS 4
Susan Gellman
3
Mark & Beverly Guberman
16
Carol Lubber
20 Jonathan & Amanda Baum
20
Louis Moserowitz
26 Ian & Elizabeth Leber
21
Miriam Kapelushnik
26 Craig & Lisa Wellens
25
Amanda Baum
25
Henry Hirsch
28 David Goldberger & Anat Kendal-Goldberg
28 28
Jeffrey Malkin Jeff Wolf
29
Jonathan Kraidin
30
Eric Gross
30
Arnold Silverman
JUNE 2021 LIST
30 Bruce & Marcy Cortez
BIRTHDAYS 2
Donald Kaplan
3
Mitchell Horowitz
4
Mark Guberman
5
Morris Farash
8
Judy Kaliroff
17
ANNIVERSARIES 6
Marc & Jane Beckenstein
9
Morton & Muriel Meiskin
14
Saul & Elinor Nadler
18
Lawrence & Susan Gellman
Lawrence Metz
22
Fred & Susan Falk
19
Leonard Brownstein
24
Robert & Susan St. Lifer
21
Laura Metz
22
Nancy Zilbergeld
28
Randy & Helene Elo
25
Craig Wellens
28
Arnold & Molly Silverman
26
Anat Kendal-Goldberger
29
Carl & Mary Gross
29
Tal & Jill Sharon
CENTENNIAL WALK BRICK CAMPAIGN The FJC is dedicated to Family, Faith and Tradition and that dedication continues to be our cornerstone. Your investment in a personalized engraved Centennial Brick will insure that we will serve the Central NJ and Greater Monmouth County community in way never before imagined.
Your personalized brick will be installed leading directly to the front entry of the FJC. Your brick(s) can celebrate a simcha, a birth, a marriage or anniversary, or can be in honor of a loved one(s). The possibilities are as endless as your imagination. Once installed you will be notified by email, text or mail with an image of your brick(s) in place.
HELP RAISE THE ROOF We have a serious roof issue and need to install a new roof on the building. The roof is beyond patch repairs. We are asking our members to please contribute to the roof project, so that we can stay dry while we attend services. A drop in the donation bucket, helps keep the water off our Shul floors.
$90,000 $70,001-$80,000 $60,001 - $70,000 $50,001 - $60,000 $40,001 - $50,000 $30,001 - $40,000
Please contact the Synagogue Office if you have any questions or want to make a donation.
$20,001 - $30,000 $10,001 - $20,000 $0 - $10,000
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The pricing for the brick(s) are as follows: 1 Brick - $180 2 Bricks - $325 3 Bricks - $450 Engraving on brick(s) can only be three lines with a total of 20 spaces and characters per line. Your purchase of a Centennial Brick will make you a permanent part of a great legacy and a dynamic, inspiring future. If interested in purchasing a brick, please contact the Synagogue Office for a form to complete.
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SYNAGOGUE DIRECTORY AND SERVICE TIMES SERVICE TIMES: Monday and Thursday Morning Minyan Mondays and Thursdays, 8 AM via Zoom until May 13th. Beginning May 20th, Morning Minyan on Mondays and Thursdays will be at 7 AM in-person inside the Sanctuary and via Zoom. Please use the Zoom link below.
Shabbat Services - In-person Only Friday Evening, 7:15 PM Saturday Mornings, 9 AM
Virtual Havdalah Service Join Rabbi Langer on Saturday Evenings for a virtual Havdalah Service. Please see the enclosed calendar for the list of dates and times. If you register with the Synagogue and participate in the Havdalah Service, we will deliver to you a travel sized Havdalah kit for your first virtual service. The last virtual Havdalah Service will be on June 26th. 59 Broad Street ● Freehold, NJ 07728 (732) 462-0254 - office ● (732) 462-6868 - fax www.freeholdjc.org - website Rabbi Nathan W. Langer Christine H. Mahler, Executive Director Amanda Baum, Co-President Leonard Brownstein, Co-President Jeffrey Wolf, Co-President/Treasurer
Zoom link for all Virtual Services: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9303697101? pwd=enlkREl2eDVQMVdxSElIRGJRay9DZz09
Synagogue Office Emails: Rabbi Nathan Langer - mitzvah18@comcast.net Christine Mahler, Executive Director - fjcdirector@freeholdjc.org Tracey Barbour, Administrative Assistant - office@freeholdjc.org
Or go to www.zoom.us; enter the Meeting ID: 930 369 7101 and Password: 753491. If you do not have video or audio on your computer, you can always call in by phone. Please use one of the phone numbers below and follow the prompts: (301) 715 8592 or (646) 876 9923.
Office Hours Monday - Friday 9 AM - 3 PM Exceptions are Jewish and Legal Holidays.
Executive Committee Amanda Baum, Co-President Leonard Brownstein, Co-President Jeffrey Wolf, Co-President/Treasurer Steven Weisman, Vice President Goldie Greller, Social Administrator Miriam Kapelushnik, Recording Secretary
WATCH THIS SPACE FOR HIGH HOLIDAY INFORMATION. IT WILL BE HERE SOONER THAN YOU THINK!
Building Maintenance Jason Unangst
COMMENTS, CONCERNS AND SUGGESTIONS Have something you want to say? Thoughts on an exciting Zoom program for the congregation? Have a question you need answered? Feel free to tell us what is on your mind. Email us at fjcdirector@freeholdjc.org, mail us or drop-off a note in our outside mailbox with your thoughts. If you wish to remain anonymous, just leave us your unsigned note. We will be happy to forward your note to the Board of Trustees.
59 Broad Street Freehold, NJ 07728
VISIT US ONLINE AT
WWW.FREEHOLDJC.ORG
(732) 462-0254 office@freeholdjc.org