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Flemington Jewish Community Center 5 Sergeantsville Road
Flemington, New Jersey 08822 (908) 782-6410
Fax: (908) 806-7736
[email protected] www.flemingtonjcc.org
December 2016/1 Kislev – 2 Tevet 5777
MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI
Hebrew School and its Blessing It is Shabbat lunch and learn; I ask my congregants “What is the most
beautiful lyrics you’ve ever heard?” Most answered referring to music of famous
composers. Only one lady answered, “It was hearing my child’s first cry or seeing
his eyes blink open.”
I am sure that many adults, in particular parents, share the following
experience: “I get home and my child is smiling or s/he comes running to me. It
has just made me grow as an individual and grow as a person.”
In these statements, I find a holy truth. What can be more precious than
listening to children singing and watching children smiling? To me this is true,
not only as a father but also as rabbi/teacher.
When I hear Hebrew School children of any age singing, smiling, and running
around the synagogue building, I see the beauty of Creation unfolded in front of
my eyes. With little effort, we can boost our bliss by strengthening our school,
and by encouraging and funding our children and youths to attend weekend
shabbatonim and Jewish summer camps. These programs will reap enormous
benefits for our Congregation.
Franz Kafka wrote “Youth is happy because it has the capacity to see beauty.
Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.”
Last Erev Shabbat, our Young Judea offered us a tangible example. The
students took turns singing Friday evening services and presented a very
entertaining Parsha Players, a little skit based on the Torah Portion of the week.
That was much sweeter than the ice cream sundae they offered. What is common
among these young men and women is that all attended Hebrew School and Jewish summer camps. There, they joined their peers’
from different parts of the country to experience the beauty of Judaism. Charged with enthusiasm, back home they transmitted their
passion to the whole community. Their pursuits recall Hanukkah candles flaming in a dark winter night.
I saw their beauty and felt young.
FJCC BOARD OF DIRECTORS Spiritual Leader
Interim Rabbi Jacob Malki
Executive Board: Acting Co-Presidents:
1st Vice President Neal Wolff 2nd Vice President Mitch Clarin
3rd Vice President Mindy Engle-Friedman
Secretary Laurence Shatkin
Treasurer Jonathan Weitz Immediate Past President Jeffrey Doshna
Elected Trustees: Lifetime Trustees: Jerry Atlas Jack Forman Scott Byne Dan Gross
Jim Fox Zel Gerstein
Richard Frank Ed Mehrlust Judy Gold Howard Nifoussi
Marsha Goldstein Phil Stern
Steven Greenstein Larry Wissner Alan Hylton Michael Wolf
Marvin Jacobson Ruth Wolf
Nathan Lefkow
Bruce Moskovitz Sisterhood President:
Jonathan Nemeth Reena Gold Kamins
Sharon Rednor
Bulletin Editor: Flo Newrock
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CO-PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Dear Congregation,
As we wind down and reflect on 2016, it is clear this has
been a transitional year at the FJCC and we have a lot to be
thankful for. We have added new members to our
congregation but also said goodbye to long time
members. We hired Rabbi Jacob Malki to help provide us
with spiritual leadership while we finalize the search for our
next permanent rabbi. And our longstanding president, Jeff
Doshna, stepped down so that others can carry the torch of
leadership of our great synagogue.
With all this happening, we have had a lot of good to
acknowledge:
Our Nursery and Hebrew schools are full of students
We have an amazing Center Series filled with plays,
guest lecturers, authors, and cooking classes
Our adult education classes, led by Rabbi Malki have
been continuing
Because of your generosity, we were able to deliver
the amount needed to be generously matched at our Yizkor
appeal
We have renamed the sanctuary in honor of the
Kalafer and Jaffe families
We have helped with our mission of Tikkun Olam
by hosting local families in need with our support of Family
Promise
We celebrated all the holidays with joy and simchas
as a congregation and carried on the traditions of the FJCC
In early 2017, our hard working Rabbinical Search
Committee will begin interviewing candidates for our
permanent rabbi. In the spring, when we get down to the final
choices, we will let you know when they will be at the FJCC
leading services and meeting the congregation. I strongly
encourage you to attend so you can help us decide who is the
best choice to lead us into the future. Don’t delegate this
important choice to others. You must be part of this critical
step for the future of the FJCC. You have a say in our future
and I hope you take advantage of this important opportunity.
Finally, some important acknowledgements. We wanted
to thank everyone who helped with taking down the sukkah
this year including: Dan Gross, Jerry Atlas, Jonathan Weitz,
Scott Schipper, David Goldman, Marvin Jacobson, Harry
Rapkin, and Nathan Lefkow.
We also had a lot of support to make the play, “A Modest
Suggestion,” go smoothly. Those who helped with the setup
and breakdown of the production included: Mike Wolf, Scott
Byne, Mona Shapiro, Nathan Lefkow, Mindy Engle-
Friedman, Harry Rapkin, Jonathan Weitz, Rose Mehrlust, and
Michael Kawas.
We will be coming up with some fun events in 2017 and
I hope you can help us to organize and plan these, and also to
attend. Stay tuned for more information and please let me
know if you have any questions or concerns. Feel free to
reach us at [email protected].
Best regards,
Co-presidents: Mitch Clarin, Mindy Engle-Friedman, and
Neal Wolff
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
AROUND THE SYNAGOGUE MAZEL TOV TO: Anneliese & Howard Nifoussi on the marriage of their
daughter, Jenna, to Brian
Flo & Bruce Newrock on their 50th wedding anniversary
REFUAH SHLEMAH TO: Melvin Dvoor
Michael Horwitz
Judy Nussbaum
Faith Ostroff
Milt Rosen
OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO: Lenore Levine on her loss of her beloved husband, Phil
To Marlene & Neal Wolff on the loss of Marlene’s beloved
uncle, Stanley Karr
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NURSERY SCHOOL FIRST ANNUAL CRAFT FAIR The Nursery School’s first annual Craft Fair, which was held
in November, was a great success. Twenty-seven vendors,
most selling hand-made items including art, decorations,
clothing, accessories, pet novelties, books, personal care
products, and cookies helped over 200 attendees get an early
start to their holiday shopping. Special thank yous to the very
talented Cara London and Phyllis Lerner for being venders, to
Pam Nemeth, Jane Wasserman, and Jonathan Weitz for
helping with organizing and execution, to event planner
extraordinaire, Jodi Weitz, for making an idea into a
successful and profitable synagogue event, and to our
congregants who came out to shop.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
HEBREW SCHOOL HAPPENINGS November seems to be a short month. We have off for
New Jersey Teachers Convention and Thanksgiving. But that
doesn’t seem to slow us down. I hear the students reciting the
Chanukah Brachot and singing Chanukah songs. This month
we will have our first Tot Shabbat and Jr. Congregation, go to
the JRA, and visit Independence Manor. An ice cream social
is planned for our Hebrew High students and the Hunterdon
Central students who will be going to Poland in the spring.
On Sunday, December 18th, there will be an 11:00
dismissal which will allow families who are attending the Kol
Dodi concert to grab a nosh before the program.
Karen Walsh
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2016 FJCC YELLOW SCHOOL BUS TRIP
To the Jewish Relief Agency
December 11th
$9/person
Leave the FJCC—8:00 AM
Return to the FJCC—2:00 PM
We will make one stop to drop off food items on our way home
□HH8-12 students are eligible to attend without parents (although this can be
a really great family volunteer opportunity)
□Students in Gan- third Grade need to come with his/her parent(s)
□4th - 7th grade need to have a parent or a designated parent supervisor (one
parent can volunteer to bring 3 or 4 students with them)
Seats are available on a first come first served basis. Please send RSVP with
check to reserve your spot.
RSVP BY
December 3rd
Seats are first come first served
Name: ________________________ email: _____________________
____________# adults’ names: _____________________________________
____________# students’ names: ___________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_______________Amount enclosed.
My child/ren ___________________________________ will be attending under
the supervision of _____________________________________________
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CONTRIBUTIONS Todah rabah to all those who made donations to:
TORAH CROWN FUND Dena Scibilia in memory of Thomas Doshna, beloved
father of Jeff Doshna
BUILDING FUND Marsha & Zel Gerstein:
In memory of Phil Levine, beloved husband of
Lenore Levine
For a refuah shlemah to Melvin Dvoor
For a mazel tov to Kimi & Barry Mittler on the Bat
Mitzvah of their daughter, Kylei
In memory of Barbara Berg, beloved mother of Pam
Nemeth
In memory of Thomas Doshna, beloved father of Jeff
Doshna
GENERAL FUND Anonymous in memory of Thomas Doshna, beloved
father of Jeff Doshna
Barbara & Mitch Clarin in memory of Alvin Farber,
beloved father of Dena Scibilia
Antje Doyle in memory of her beloved husband, Bill
Alissa & Jim Fox:
In memory of Barbara M. Berg, beloved mother of
Pam Nemeth
In memory of Bruce Kay, beloved husband of
Evelyn Kay
In memory of Phil Levine, beloved husband of
Lenore Levine
For a mazel tov to Anneliese and Howard Nifoussi
on the marriage of their daughter, Jenna, to Brian
Malka Goodman:
In memory of Barbara M. Berg, beloved mother of
Pam Nemeth
In memory of Thomas Doshna, beloved father of Jeff
Doshna
Carol Joyce & Robert Mahon in honor of Flo and Bruce
Newrock’s 50th wedding anniversary
Esther & Steve Kamenetsky in memory of Phil Levine,
beloved husband of Lenore Levine
Mindy Kaminsky & Family and Larry Thomas in
memory of Phil Levine, beloved husband of Lenore
Levine
Kestenbaum Family:
For a mazel tov to Kimi and Barry Mittler on the Bat
Mitzvah of their daughter, Kylei
In memory of Thomas Doshna, beloved father of Jeff
Doshna
For a todah rabah to Linda and Jerry Atlas for the
donation of an air purifier to Rabbi Malki’s office
Henry Kuhl in memory of Phil Levine, beloved
husband of Lenore Levine
Flo & Bruce Newrock:
For the yahrzeit of Flo’s beloved father, Milton
Richman
For the yahrzeit of Bruce’s beloved mother, Sylvia
Newrock
Sue & Rick Rothstein:
For get well wishes to Judy Nussbaum
In memory of Thomas Doshna, beloved father of Jeff
Doshna
Amy Rubin:
In memory of Barbara M. Berg, beloved mother of
Pam Nemeth
In memory of Thomas Doshna, beloved father of Jeff
Doshna
In memory of Alvin Farber, beloved father of Dena
Scibilia
Laurence Shatkin in memory of Alvin Farber, beloved
father of Dena Scibilia
Jane Wasserman & the FJCC Nursery School Board in
memory of Barbara M. Berg, beloved mother of Pam
Nemeth
Ilene & Stan Weinstein:
In honor of Alissa Fox for being so kind to his
family. She is loved.
In honor of Jack Forman for taking and keeping the
pain away
In memory of Thomas Doshna, beloved father of Jeff
Doshna
Cathie & Art Wetstein:
In memory of Thomas Doshna, beloved father of Jeff
Doshna
In memory of Alvin Farber, beloved father of Dena
Scibilia
For get well wishes to Milt Rosen
CENTER SERIES FUND Mindy & Eliot Friedman:
In honor of Eliot davening Shacharit for the High
Holydays
In honor of Noah Friedman serving as cantor for the
High Holydays
In memory of Thomas Doshna, beloved father of Jeff
Doshna
In memory of Irene Suslow, beloved mother of
Carolyn Goldman
In honor of Samuel Doshna’s Bar Mitzvah
KIDDUSH FUND Barbara & Mitch Clarin:
In memory of Barbara M. Berg, beloved mother of
Pam Nemeth
In honor of Kylei Mittler’s Bat Mitzvah
Vivian & Fred Daniel:
In memory of Phil Levine, beloved husband of
Lenore Levine
In memory of Thomas Doshna, beloved father of Jeff
Doshna
For a mazel tov to Malka Goodman on the B’nai
Mitzvah of triplets Aaron, Zachary, and Ilana
Malka Goodman in honor of the of B’nai Mitzvah of her
triplet grandchildren Aaron, Zachary, and Ilana
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Evie & Phil Stern:
In memory of Thomas Doshna, beloved father of Jeff
Doshna
In memory of Phil Levine, beloved husband of
Lenore Levine
In memory of Barbara M. Berg, beloved mother of
Pam Nemeth
For get well wishes to Michael Horwitz
Nathan Treinish in memory of Thomas Doshna, beloved
father of Jeff Doshna
HEBREW SCHOOL Marlene & Neal Wolff:
In memory of Barbara M. Berg, beloved mother of
Pam Nemeth
In memory of Thomas Doshna, beloved father of Jeff
Doshna
In memory of Marlene’s Uncle Stan Karr
Tzedakah is always “in season.” If you have an event coming up such as an anniversary, a birthday, a yahrzeit, etc., it’s a mitzvah
to contribute to your favorite fund. You can send your check to the FJCC office with a note telling us where you would like the
money used. Some of the funds that you can donate to are: Building Fund, General Fund, Kiddush Fund, Prayer Book Fund, Hebrew
School, Shmuel F Frand Memorial Holocaust Education Fund, and Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund. Do a mitzvah – send a donation.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
THE FJCC CENTER SERIES ENTERS ITS THIRD YEAR!!
The FJCC CENTER SERIES invites you to participate in its
third year of exceptional programs which will include
discussions by authors, lectures, films, plays, music, and cultural
events. We have already hosted this year’s first offering.
Comedian and chef, Robert Rosenthal, author of Short Order
Dad: One Guy’s Guide to Making Food Fun and Hassle-Free,
shared recipes, anecdotes and cooking tips.
Please mark your calendars for our other programs this fall.
On Sunday, December 18, celebrate Chanukah with the
veteran choral group, Kol Dodi, who will entertain with songs in
English, Hebrew, Yiddish, and Ladino. Our very own Harry
Rapkin is part of this troupe.
In addition to these four major events, the FJCC has two
ongoing adult education classes with Rabbi Malki. Both classes
meet on Thursday, in the morning at 11:00 AM and in the
evening at 7:30 PM. Adults are welcome to come anytime.
As we move into 2017 we will offer a film series, and Art
History lectures by Cara London. In March, the West Side
Woodwind Quintet, which includes Eliot Friedman on the oboe,
will present an afternoon of chamber music. In May at our
annual Women’s Day Brunch we are happy to bring Kate Siegel
and Kim Friedman, mother-daughter authors/comedians of
Mother Can You Not. Also in May, Noa Baum, author of Land
Twice Promised, will discuss her book about her friendship with
a Palestinian woman and their memories about the ongoing
conflict.
Our programs are open to the public. We encourage you to
invite your friends and family. Please RSVP in advance to 908-
782-6410, ext.10. RSVPs help us to plan. Our events will be
posted on our Facebook page.
Please donate to the CENTER SERIES. All contributors will be
recognized, by contribution level, throughout the year. The
annual sponsorship opportunities are:
Benefactor ($5000 or more)
Pillar ($1000 to $4,999)
Patron ($500 to $999)
Sponsor ($250 to $499)
Contributor ($100 to $249)
Friend ($25 to $99)
Committee Member or Event Volunteer
Please send your donation to the FJCC CENTER SERIES, 5
Sergeantsville Road, Flemington, NJ 08822.
Thank you!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE CENTER SERIES REVIEWS
The Ken Kaissar drama “A Modest Suggestion” was
presented at the FJCC on Sunday, October 30. It cleverly
presented issues of racism, anti-Semitism and what it means
to be Jewish in a highly accessible and stimulating
production. The lively discussion that followed covered a
wide-range of related topics and according to the cast
members, it was the best post-play discussion they had
experienced. Thank you to the approximately 30 FJCC and
local community members who joined us.
On Sunday November 20, the FJCC CENTER SERIES
hosted a talk and discussion by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin
sponsored by Jim and Alissa Fox and Fox Family Foundation.
David Goldman provided a meaningful and thoughtful
introduction to Rabbi Telushkin's talk. Rabbi Telushkin
engaged us with topics including the qualities of wisdom,
strength, and wealth, and the notion of forgiveness. Over 100
attended including many from both our synagogue and the
greater Hunterdon/Somerset/Bucks communities as well as
members of local churches. Rabbi Telushkin's talk was
followed by a luncheon and a book sale and signing.
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Gift Shop
It’s December and winter is here, but we also have the warmth and lights of Hanukkah. We have many new and exciting items that will thrill you. All your favorite chocolates, including lollipops, gelt, and chocolate Maccabees are here for you to save. Hanukkah socks, brand new jewelry, games and toys for kids, decorations, towel sets, candles, dreidels, cards, gift wrap, bags,
mugs, and Hanukkiahs, and don’t forget you get a free mini calendar with any purchase. We are open during regular office hours and Hebrew School. Please fill out a receipt and leave your check made out to FJCC Gift Shop, in the office. The shop is looking for volunteers to help set up items and design the shelves. We’d love to hear from you. Thanks to Kim Muller, Gayle Neibart, and Joan Rogow for their help in November.
Your Gift Case Committee:
Lois Gross Gayle Neibart
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We need congregational participation for Oneg and Kiddush sponsorship! Do you have a Yahrzeit coming up or a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, anniversary, birthday, or any occasion to sponsor an ONEG/KIDDUSH?
It doesn’t have to be a fancy feast or expensive. Be creative, prepare the food in the FJCC kitchen, pick up kosher food at ShopRite,
or simply send in a check and the shopping will be done for you. Please call Deborah in our office 782-6410 or email
[email protected] and let her know what date you will sponsor.
December 20161 Kislev 5777 - 2 Tevet 5777
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
¡¡4:15PM §5:18PM
¡¡4:15PM §5:18PM
¡¡4:16PM §5:19PM
¡¡4:19PM §5:23PM
§5:23PM §5:24PM §5:25PM §5:26PM §5:26PM §5:27PM/¡¡4:24PM §5:28PM
1 Kislev 2 Kislev 3 Kislev
4 Kislev 5 Kislev 6 Kislev 7 Kislev 8 Kislev 9 Kislev 10 Kislev
11 Kislev 12 Kislev 13 Kislev 14 Kislev 15 Kislev 16 Kislev 17 Kislev
18 Kislev 19 Kislev 20 Kislev 21 Kislev 22 Kislev 23 Kislev 24 Kislev
25 Kislev 26 Kislev 27 Kislev 28 Kislev 29 Kislev 1 Tevet 2 Tevet
ROSH HODESH Tot Shabbat
Services 7:30
Toledot
Services 9:15
Jr. Congregation
Services 9:00 Services 7:30
Israel Scholarship Speaker
Oneg: Kleiman Family
Vayetze
Services 9:15
Services 9:00
JRA Bus Trip
Services 7:30 Vayishlah
Services 9:15
Services 9:00
Center Series: Chanukah
Music - Kol Dodi
Blood Drive 12:30 Services 7:30 EREV HANUKKAH
Vayeshev
Services 9:15
HANUKKAH I
Services 9:00
HANUKKAH II HANUKKAH III HANUKKAH IV HANUKKAH V ROSH HODESH - HANUKKAH VI
Services 7:30
HANUKKAH VII
Miketz
Services 9:15
[¡¡Candle Lighting, §Observance End for Flemington, NJ]
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DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS 3 - Alexandra Kesselhaut
- Beverly Landstrom
- Hannah Weinstock
4 - Leah Green
- Zachary Liebman
- June Strober
5 - Monica Jakubowski
- Amy Rubin
7 - Natalie Atlas
- Joshua Weinstein
8 - Mark Gertzman
9 - Leah Rudolph
- Zachary Rudolph
10 - Dylan Stein
11 - Valerie Goldman
- Benjamin Jampel
12 - Joshua Ellenberg
- David Zackowitz
13 - Darlene Arden
- Cliff Michaels
- Jacqueline Sornstein
14 - Jane Griffith
16 - Seth Cohen
- Hannah Ellenberg
18 - Kim Muller
- Scott Schindler
19 - Mildred Goodman
20 - Robin Alexander
20 - Stephen Riche
- Delilah Rogow
- Eric Rogow
21 - Joshua Ellenberg
- Arthur Wetstein
23 - Douglas Reid-Green
27 - Alan Radzin
28 - Abbe Daniel
- Bruce Kestenbaum
- Gayle Neibart
- Jonathan Wissner
29 - Lori Daniel
- Jeffrey Levine
DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES 19 - Marian & Jack Daniels
23 - Vivian & Fred Daniel
24 - Flo & Bruce Newrock
27 - Louis & Ellen Pearlman
- Shelly & Marty Sobel
28 - Ilene & Stanley Weinstein
DECEMBER YAHRZEITS 1 - Irving Braff
- Joseph Forman
- Mathilda Ruth Norinsky
3 - Julius Bernhard
- Judy Daniel
4 - Sylvia Rogow
- Henry Rosenberg
5 - Feiga Mozeico
- Charles Watson
6 - Nathan Seligman
7 - Ruth Isaacson
8 - Milton Guttman
- Leonard Pressman
- Herman Simon
- Donald Watts
9 - Kalman Burstyn
- Alice Epstein
- Eleanor Pavlovsky
- Mae Suess
10 - Donna Gropper
11 - Fritz Einstein
- Abraham Mesherof
12 - Lawrence E. Fuerst
- Josef Ganz
- Alexander Taub
- Charles Schechter
- Marvin Skowronek
- Irene Waxman
13 - Pearl Greenberg
- Fannie Lapidus
14 - Ida Blaher
- Reuben Plotkin
15 - Lillian Simcoe
17 - Eric Kulp
18 - Blanch Boydman
- Frances Horowitz
- Ann Simon
- Rubin Simon
- Charles Strasfeld
19 - Rose Doshna
- Gloria Roemer
- Ben Shenker
19 - Charles Slavin
21 - Gustav Eisinger
- Milton Gilbert
- Ben Silberberg
- Rose Seligman Williams
22 - Edward Gross
- Julius Lowenstein
24 - Edith Grill
- Bessie Plotkin
- Imre Reves
- Donald Schipper
25 - Paul Goldings
26 - Anna Levin
27 - Sylvia Newrock
- Robert Seligman
- Sol Silberman
28 - Priscilla Coppersmith
- Hyman Rosenthal
29 - Joseph Nifoussi
30 - Alexander Lehrer
31 - Louis Glickman
Yahrzeit candles are lit the night before the yahrzeit is observed. PLEASE NOTE: If your birthday, anniversary, or yahrzeit information is missing or incorrect, please bring or mail your information to the FJCC office, or email it
to Flo Newrock so it can be included in future bulletins.