Rabbi Eliyahu Tal - Rabbi
Ray Morris - President
Visit our website for the latest news and copies of the bulletin.
Important Messages
- Sitdown Qiddush is sponsored by is sponsored by by Steven Clark, The Wiseman Family, and Eliraz Tzaban in Memory of Avraham Hertzel Ben Rinah, Esther Levana, and Luna Bat Sara
- Se’udah Sh’lshit is sponsored by the Congregation
- Rabbi Tal has a new video on our webpage: The Real Reason for Chanukah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twjx6Vsk8dg
- The Daughters of Etz Ahaim is having Sewing with Chana at 8:00pm on January 13th.
- New Families are moving to Highland Park If you hear of any new families moving to Highland Park, please inform the Hospitality Committee.
- The Ḥesed Committee Contact the at Ḥesed Committee at hesed@etzahaim.groups.io if you know of a member or family of a member who is in a local hospital or nursing home. They are also looking for volunteers who can cook of shop for births or other needs.
If you have any announcements you'd like to see in the weekly bulletin, email it to news@etzahaim.org
Shabbat Schedule
Friday, December 19
- Shacharit: 6:30am
- Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat: 4:15pm
- Candle Lighting: 4:15pm
Saturday — Parashat Miketz/Chanukah/Rosh Chodesh/Chag HaBanot
- Youth Groups (ages 3-8): 9:30am - End of Shacharit
- Recite Shema: by 8:48am
- Shacharit: 8:45am Followed by
- Special Sitdown Kiddush sponsored by Steven Clark, The Wiseman Family, and Eliraz Tzaban in Memory of Avraham Hertzel Ben Rinah, Esther Levana, and Luna Bat Sara
- Navi Class: 3:15pm
- Minḥa: 4:00pm Followed by
- Se’udah Sh’lshit sponsored by the congregation
- Arvit: 5:08pm
- Shabbat Ends: 5:08pm
- Shabbat Ends According to Rabbenu Tam: 5:46pm
Sunday: Seventh Day of Chanukah
- Shacharit: 8:00am Followed by
- Special Breakfast for Chanukah and Rosh Chodesh
- Mincha: 4:15pm
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday:
- Shacharit: 6:30am
- Mincha & Arvit: 4:15pm
- Second Arvit (for Winter Time): 7:00pm
Wednesday — Federal Holiday
- Shacharit: 8:00am
- Mincha & Arvit: 4:15pm
- Second Arvit (for Winter Time): 7:00pm
Next Friday:
- Shacharit: 6:30am
- Mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat: 4:20pm
- Candle Lighting: 4:20pm
Classes for the Week
- Monday: Hebrew Class: 6:30pm
- Thursday: Chamin and Chumash: 6:30pm
- Monday - Thursday: 10 Minutes of Parasha: After Shacharit
- Monday - Thursday: Halachah and Mussar: 3:55pm
Nightly Chaverta Learning: 7:00pm - 8:00pm (light refreshment included)
Bikur Ḥolim of Congregation Etz Ahaim
Drivers and coordinators needed. Call (732) 572-7181 for more information.
The congregation extends refua shelema wishes to:
- Asher ben Mazel
- Gershon ben Sara
- Dvorah Shahala bat Sarah Parvin
- Jacob Krief (Yacov Gideon ben Miriam)
- Lita Greenberg (Tzvia Sarah bat Golda)
- Linda Balavram (Emmunah bat Sara)
- Sara Shifra bat Yehudit
- Sharona Bella bat Malka
- Yosef Daniel ben Feige
- Leah Chava bat Shayna
- Baruch ben Rivkah (Baruch Sachs)
- Yehoshua Baruch Ben Chava Sachs
If you like to add someone to this list, or merely want the Rabbi to say a Mi Shaberaḥ on someone after Torah reading on Shabbat, please go to our webpage and fill out the form.
Community News
RPRY Annual Breakfast Please join RPRY's Toby Mayer Scholarship Breakfast on Sunday December 28, 2025 at 9:30am at RPRY, honoring Mrs. Mina Reich,
To support the scholarship campaign and to RSVP please visit: <https: data-preserve-html-node="true"//www.rpry.org/breakfast>.
For questions or more information please contact Sara Fischer at sfischer@rpry.org.
Chug Ivrit for Intermediate to Advanced Hebrew Speakers is reading מגולה לגאולה: מבבל לירושלים by Flora Taasan. It is Flora’s autobiography about her life growing up in Baghdad, and then making Aliyah in 1950. We’d love to have you join us. The next meeting will be held on Sunday, January 11 at 11:00am.
For location, please contact Rachel at rachel@weintraubworld.net or 732-819-9298
Raritan Valley Hadassah is sponsoring a session on antisemitism and what you can do about it. Join Dan Rozett, Director of Community Relations and Israel Engagement at Jewish Federation in the Heart of NJ, for an engaging and informative session on advocacy and combating antisemitism. This program is designed for community members who want to make a meaningful impact.
Sunday, January 25 at 2:00pm
River Ridge Terrace Community Room
30 S. Adelaide Avenue, Highland Park NJ
Highland Park Community Kollel Annual Breakfast will take place on Sunday Morning, January 4th at Cong. Ohr Torah. The Ahavas Torah v’Chesed Award will be presented to Mr. & Mrs. Charles & Mimi Gershbaum. Formal invitations and further details to follow.
Online donations can be made at: <https: data-preserve-html-node="true"//www.hpkollel.com>.
Support the Highland Park First Aid Squad by purchasing its discount cards. The cards provide discounts to many local businesses including Grill House, Bridge, Dunkin Donuts, Dairy Deluxe, China Lee, Orchid and Giddy's Pizzeria. There are 2 cards this year: one for $30 or both for $50. The cards may be purchased at the Ahavas Achim office, or by contacting any Squad member including: Ari and Deborah Lewitter, Yossi Benedek.
Kosher Meals on Wheels need volunteers! Help Jewish Family Services cover vacations and last-minute cancellations during this season. Volunteers will fill in on an as-needed basis on routes in northern Middlesex County.
Deliveries are Monday/Wednesday/Friday, with pick-up of meals at Rutgers Hillel in New Brunswick at 10:00am. Please plan on devoting approximately two hours for deliveries. Email office@jfsmiddleses.org or call 732-777-1940 for more information or to volunteer.
The Women's Center at Jewish Family Services is having their annual School Supply Drive. They are calling you to donate backpacks, notebooks, pens, pencils & more for tools that will be gifted to children in JFS programs.
Donate online: -<https: data-preserve-html-node="true"//tinyurl.com/crwtph98>. For more information on how you can help, please contact JFS at 732-777-1940 or womenscenter@jfsmiddlesex.org
Shatnez Testing by Rabbi Yosef Sayagh will no longer be testing shatnez every week. Please contact Rabbi Yosef Sayagh by texting 732-330-4103 to find out when he'll be in Highland Park.
Israeli Dancing is open to all women of the community in Ohr Torah's social hall on alternating Wednesday nights from 8-9PM. This is a free session for all dance enthusiasts where multiple participants teach and anyone can request dances they know.
Our next class dates are: December 17, January 7, January 28, February 4, February 18, March 4 and March 18.
Please email naomi.caplan@gmail.com for more information.
Caregiver Support Group is sponsored by Bikur Cholim of Raritan Valley. This groups meets twice each month and is facilitated by a licensed social worker. For more information, contact Sharon Glaser at 732-887-3653 or email sharonnglaser@gmail.com.
Bereavement Support Group facilitated by Marnie Kean, LCSW. Advanced registration is required to attend. If you plan to attend a session please contact Esther Fendrick, Director of Adult Enrichment & Engagement, at 732-593-5969 or email efendrick@jccmc.org, by 6:00pm on the Monday before the session.
For more information, please contact Esther Fendrick. This program is co-sponsored by The Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey.
Highland Park's Lunch with Friends program urgently needs volunteers to assist with serving meals and engaging with senior attendees. Your presence on Mondays & Wednesdays can brighten their day and foster a sense of community. Visit: <https: data-preserve-html-node="true"//tinyurl.com/3457wkwz> for more information.
Grow With ACTT Achieving Change Through Torah (ACTT) has resources for 17 different topics on its website, <https: data-preserve-html-node="true"//www.actt613.org>, including Hashgachah Pratis - Divine Providence, which could help with effectively handling and growing from some of the challenges that we face in our lives.
The ROC of New Jersey's Jersey Employment Assistance Initiative can assist you by offering resumé coaching, interview coaching, LinkedIn networking coaching, and finding a mentor in your field. Over 100 of your neighbors have already received assistance with their job search from The ROC of NJ absolutely free.
For more information, please visit: <https: data-preserve-html-node="true"//www.therocnj.org/employment>.
Chaverim of Middlesex County is a volunteer nonprofit organization committed to helping community members in their time of need. Members respond to all non-medical emergencies including automotive help (flat tire, dead battery, locked car) and house emergencies. Their phone number is 732-844-3577.
They are currently looking for volunteers. Go to https://www.chaverimmc.org/volunteer-today to volunteer today!
The JFS Women's Support Group provides a safe and welcoming space for displaced homemakers seeking community and balance during major life changes. Meetings are held on the first Monday of each month from 11:00am to 12:00pm at the Jewish Family Service's North Brunswick office, 2C Blackhorse Lane.
For more information or to join the group, call: 732-777-1940 or email womenscenter@jfsmiddlesex.org.
Bikur Cholim is looking for volunteer drivers to help people get to and from their medical appointments. They also need volunteers to stock the St. Peter's locker on Thursday nights. If you can help with either of these mitzvot, please call Cindy Baruch at 908- 309-8818 for more information.
The NJ Chesed and Parnossa Network (formerly The ROC of NJ) is coordinating a community-wide effort to help provide minyanim at shiva homes. We have seen a few instances where there have not been minyanim at shiva homes for Shaḥarit and Minḥa/Maariv. Therefore, we have created the Shiva Minyannaire Initiative WhatsApp Group. Please email: jp@therocnj.org and they will send you a link to join the WhatsApp group.
Shnainu Shidduch Group of Edison & Highland Park is a volunteer shidduch group that works to assist Orthodox Jewish singles, of all ages and hashkafot. They would like to get to now you. Please reach out to them via email so they can set up an appointment. or more information or to submit your profile, email: shidduchedisonhp@gmail.com.
It Takes a Village of Edison/Highland Park is looking for volunteers to join our dedicated network of over 70 local members! We provide support and assistance to single moms and dads with everyday tasks such as babysitting, financial guidance, errands and more. Join us and offer your skills in support of a single parent in our community! We are particularly interested in adding handymen, plumbers, and other home maintenance professionals to our volunteer roster. Please contact Rikki Samel 732 742 4559 - no commitment needed, volunteer when and how works best for you!