August 18 - Parashat Re'eh

David Bassous - Rabbi
Ray Morris - President

Visit our Website at http://etzahaim.org for the latest news

Friday

  • Shacharit: 6:30am
  • Shir Hashirim: 6:45pm
  • Mincha: 7:00pm
  • Candle lighting 7:33pm

Shabbat - Parashat Re'eh

Full Range of Children's Groups: 9:45am - 11:30am

  • Boys 6 and up in the Library.
  • Girls 6 and up upstairs left classroom.
  • Children 3 - 5 upstairs right classroom.
  • Parasha with Rabbi Ben Hakakian: 8:00am
  • Shacharit: 8:45am
  • Latest Shema: 8:52am
  • Kiddush in the memory of Eliezer ben Avraham A'H.
  • A Tehillim group for women only starting at 5:15pm coordinator Sherri Degani. Come complete Sefer Tehillim with us each week.
  • Class with Rabbi Bassous on The Exile of Jews to Europe - Origins of Sephardim and Ashkenazim: 6:00 pm
  • Mincha: 7:15pm
  • Seuda Shelishit after Mincha sponsored by Rabbi David & Clara Bassous & Family and Sari & Doron Shalmon & Family imo Rabbi Yehuda Fetaya.
  • Come and learn some classic Shabbat songs for your Shabbat Table.
  • Arvit and Shabbat Ends: 8:33pm

Sunday

  • Parasha and Halacha with Rabbi Ben Hakakian: 8:00am
  • Shacharit: 8:30am
  • Women's Class: 10:00am -- New topic Rambam Hilchot De'ot.
  • Mincha and Arvit: 7:30 pm
  • Rav Kook's Orot Teshuvah 9.00 pm

Monday - Thursday

  • Shacharit: 6:30am
  • Mishna a Day: 7:30am
  • Halacha a Day: 7:00pm
  • Mincha & Arvit: 7:30pm

Next Week – Friday

  • Shacharit: 6:30am
  • Shir Hashirim: 6:45pm
  • Mincha: 7:00pm
  • Candle lighting 7:22pm

Classes

  • Parasha and Halacha with Rabbi Ben Hakakian: Sunday 8:00am
  • Nach: Shabbat: 6:00pm
  • Woman's Class: Hilchot De'ot of Rambam: Sunday 10:00am
  • Mishna-a-Day: Monday to Friday 7:30am
  • Halacha-a-Day: Monday - Thursday 7:00pm
  • Eye to the Infinite: Monday 8:00pm
  • Talmud Berachot - Chapter 3: Tuesday 8:00pm
  • Rav Kook's Orot Teshuvah: Sunday 9:00pm

Weekly Bulletin

Get Eruv Status Updates

If you're depending upon the eruv for carrying on Shabbat, you are responsible to check the status of the eruv before Shabbat starts. We now have four official different ways you can check the eruv's status:

  • Twitter: This is what the Eruv Committee uses to notify everyone of the eruv's status. You can get a free Twitter account and follow the user @hp_eruv. When the Eruv Committee finishes checking the New Brunswick or Highland Park eruvs, they immediately send out an update via the @hp_eruv account. You can also setup Twitter to get notifications on your smartphone. Complete directions are available on the Highland Park Eruv website.
  • Facebook: Follow the @hperuv Facebook group. This Facebook group echoes the Twitter account. When we update the @hp_eruv Twitter account, this Facebook group is automatically updated.
  • Webpage: The Highland Park Eruv webpage displays the Twitter updates on the Home page, the Status page, and on the News page. The webpage gets updated about 20 to 45 minutes after the Twitter account is updated.
  • Phone Hotline: The Phone hotline at 732-246-ERUV is updated before Shabbat.

Along with these four official ways, we also have one unofficial way to get Eruv updates:

  • The Rutgers Eruv Mailing List: Whenever a Twitter update goes out, we try to send out an email from the Rutgers Eruv mailing list. Join this list by sending an empty email message to rutgerseruv-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. You don't even need a subject line. You'll get a confirmation email. Reply to that, and you should get an email message on Fridays with the status of the eruv. Since this is a manual process, we cannot gaurantee the message will be sent out on time.

Text Message: If you don't have a smartphone, you can setup your basic cellphone to get text messages whenever we update the Eruv's status with Twitter. You will still need a Twitter account:

  1. On your computer, sign up for a Twitter account if you don't already have one. Twitter accounts are free.
  2. Associate your phone number with the Twitter account, you can do this under the settings.
  3. When you associate your phone number with the Twitter account, your phone will get a text message from 40404. This is Twitter sending you a verification code. Get this six digit number and type it into the Verification field in Twitter on your computer.
  4. On your phone, send the text message follow hp_eruv to 40404. You can simply reply to the verification message you got in Step #3. Now, you'll get text alerts when the Eruv's Twitter account is updated.

Quilting Club at Etz Ahaim

Etz Ahaim will be hosting a Quilting Club for quilters at all levels from on Tuesdays from 7:00-9:00 p.m. from August 8 through Labor Day. Continuance will depend on level of interest. For more information and RSVP, please contact Chana Bishburg.

Terrorism Awareness Seminar

Congregation Etz Ahaim: Sunday, September 10, 2017 at 1:00pm - 5:00pm Minimum age: 15

This seminar is designed to provide you with exposure to key elements of situational awareness, disaster preparedness, terrorist/criminal surveillance detection, available resources and improvised explosive device (IED) recognition. Training will enhance and reinforce your knowledge, skills, and abilities related to preventing, protecting against, responding to, and recovering from terrorist threats and incidents.

The seminar will address specific counterterrorism awareness and prevention techniques that can help reduce vulnerability and mitigate the risk of domestic terrorist attacks, as well as, criminal activity.

It is very important that all Etz Ahaim congregants attend. Admission is FREE.

Save a Child's Heart Fundraiser

Sarah Edery is raising $21,000 in honor of her 21st birthday for Save a Child's Heart Foundation, an Israeli-based non profit, which provides urgently needed lifesaving cardiac surgeries free of charge to children who would not otherwise get it. She created the Birthday Project so others could also take part in this initiative, and she is now almost halfway there!

Please join her in celebrating another year of life by giving the gift of life to others! Please donate.

Traveling in India and the United Arab Emirates

Congregation Etz Ahaim presents: Traveling in India and the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, September 10 from 8:00 to 10:0 pm. In this profusely illustrated talk, Dr. Nathan Reiss will discuss a three week trip through southern India and the United Arab Emirates. He is particularly interested in the cultures of the two countries, and for evidence of their Jewish connections, past and present.

  • If you have an outstanding balance with Etz Ahaim, please send in your payment to help the Synagogue. Your help is appreciated

  • If you are the last person to leave the building (except on Shabbat and Chaggim) make sure all the lights are out

  • If you are celebrating a simcha or want to remember a loved one, sponsoring a kiddush is one of the best ways to mark the occasion. To sponsor a Shabbat Kiddush, please go to our Kiddush Sponsorship Page on our website and fill out the on line form. We'll get in contact with you as soon as possible. To sponsor a seuda or a Sunday morning breakfast, call the shul at 732-247-3839.

Bikur Cholim of Congregation Etz Ahaim

  • Our Congregation has its own Bikur Cholim Committee. If you know of a congregant who is in the hospital or a nursing home and would like a visit, please let us know. If there is a Home-bound congregant who is in need of a visit or assistance, we can help. We may also be able to make contact with a Jewish Agency which may be able to provide additional services. Please call Rose Reiss at 732-828-7415.
  • Nursing Home Visitation: Seeking volunteers to visit Mollie Reuben, Esther Tucker, Shirley Cohen, and others at the Regency nursing home on DeMott Lane in Somerset. For more info or an updated list of residents requesting visitors, please call or email Rahel Baruh at 732-672-4673
  • Transportation Committee: Drivers and coordinators needed. Coordinate rides to and from medical appointments - match requests with an available driver. Each coordinator serves for two weeks at a time. To volunteer to coordinate or to drive, please call Bikur Cholim hotline at 732-572-7181 or fill out the volunteer form.

The congregation extends get-well wishes to:

  • Viktorya Koen
  • Avishai ben Esther
  • Galina bat Riva
  • Joey Cenci (Yoseph Michael ben Yael Rut)
  • Linda Balavram (Emuna bat Sarah)
  • Stuart Balavram (Shammai ben Yitzchak)
  • Esther Tucker
  • Nancy Reich
  • Yehudah Reich
  • Benny Mayo
  • Mary Belsky
  • Esther Arouh
  • Lilas Saltiel
  • Donna Bardy
  • Mary Naar
  • Lita Greenberg
  • Bradley Greenberg
  • Marcelo Schor
  • Perla bat Leah
  • Leora bat Matana

Community News

Sofer at Judaica Galary this Sunday

The Sofer will be available to check your mezzuzot and tefillin at Judaica Gallery this Sunday, August 20 starting at 10:00 a.m. For questions or to make an appointment, call 732-828-7722.

Park Mikvah

Park Mikvah is now providing towels and robes.

Hours

  • Sunday - Thursday 9:00pm to 11:00pm
  • Friday Nights: By appointment only. Leave a message at 732-249-2411 or via the website.
  • Motzai Shabbos
    • August 19 and 26: 9:30pm to 11:30pm

We appreciate your patience and financial support. Please continue to check our website and hotline at 732-249-2411 for updates

Have you participated in this incredible mitzvah campaign yet? Please go to www.parkmikvah.org/donate to help raise the remaining funds!

Employment Network of Raritan Valley

Looking for work? [ENRV] can help. They post over 100 jobs each month, and help people with their resume and search strategies. Please help: If you know of any professional, part-time, or temporary job openings, contact Bob Lansey. http://www.ENRV.org

Wilf Campus Family Volunteer Corp

Be a part of the fun and share your talents with Stein residents. Are you a musician, singer or a poet? Do you enjoy gardening or have another hobby? Do you like to play Mah Jongg, canasta, scrabble or other games? Perhaps you would like to lead a current events discussion or a trivia game? The Wilf Campus can always use an extra pair of hands on a trip, or someone to assist the Rabbi on Shabbat or a Holiday. Don’t see your talent on this list but want to get involved? Give them a call!

You can volunteer a few times a year, once a month, every other week, or weekly, whatever fits your schedule. They would love to have you. For more information on how you can enrich the lives of residents, please call 732-568-1155 or email Toby Ehrlich or Jackie Kott.

Rosh Hashanah Greeting Cards

Rosh Hashanah will be here before you know it. Raritan Valley Hadassah is once again selling Rosh Hashanah greeting cards. Each package holds 25 cards and the cost is $25 per package. Please call or email Marsha Hines at 732-271-2932 and let her know how many packages of cards you would like. If you live in Highland Park, arrangements can be made to hand-deliver the cards to you.

Tiferes DVD for Women

The next Tiferes DVD for women will be shown Motzei Shabbat, Motzei Shabbat, September 9 at 9:30pm prompt at the Siegel house.

Weekly teleconferences with topics such as shalom bayit and parenting are available to Tiferes members. Current teleconferences: Raise-the-Bar Parenting with Simi Yellen; Of Home and Heart with Dr. Jerry Lob; Summer Parenting with Ruth Lynn; Shalom Bayis—The Changing Picture with Debbi Selengut. For more information, please contact Aviva Siegel

RPRY Pre-Rosh Hashanah Pop-Up Shop

RPRY PLUS invites the community to a PRE-Rosh Hashanah Pop-Up Shop. It will be held at RPRY on Tuesday, September 5 from 6:30 to 9:30pm. Take advantage of this one-stop shopping for all your Yom Tov needs including: tableware, tablecloths, children’s clothing/accessories, women’s apparel, jewelry, hats, The Man with the Truck, children’s gift items, sheitels and more!

Please contact Elana Kurtz or Melissa Feder for more information.

Raritan Valley and L’Dor V’Dor Hadassah Rosh Hashanah Honey Sale

Raritan Valley and L’Dor V’Dor Hadassah are here to help you plan a most sweet New Year! Purchase a jar of Rosh Hashanah Honey and share a sweet New Year with friends and family.

Visit https://rhhoney.com, scroll all way down past the big jar of honey, and click “Add to cart,” then click “View cart.” Enter the number of honey gift packages you want to order. Each gift package can be shipped to a different address. Enter the Coupon Code “Raritan Valley” and click “Apply coupon” to obtain the special price of $9.50 per jar. Scroll down to see your actual cost. Click “Proceed to Checkout” where you’ll submit your shipping addresses and billing information. Online orders must be submitted by Wednesday, September 16.

To order honey the old fashioned way, write... Your name, address, phone, and email address and the name and address of each recipient and the number of honey jars going each recipient’s way. Please enclose a check a check made out to Hadassah for $9.50 for each jar of honey and mail to Sara L. Goodman, 311 Montgomery Street, Highland Park, NJ 08904. Mail orders must be received by Monday, August 28.

Keren Kol Kallah

Aviva Siegel is collecting used or new custom sheitels for Keren Kol Kallah. The sheitels are sold at very discounted prices at a gala sheitel sale to women who would otherwise not have the funds to buy a quality wig. All the money raised at the sale goes towards a hachnasat kallah fund which helps needy brides in Eretz Yisrael.

Last year's sale profited over $60,000! If you have a sheitel that you've recently (or not so recently) retired, or if you are a sheitel macher and have some unsold stock, please donate the sheitels to Keren Kol Kallah. Sheitels can be dropped off by Aviva, 16 Edgemount Road, Edison.

For more information, please contact email or call Aviva at 732-572-4408 or visit the Keren Kol Kallah webpage.

Raritan Valley Hadassah to see the Dale Chihuly Exhibit at the New York Botanical Garden

Join Raritan Valley Hadassah on Wednesday, September 6 at the New York Botanical Gardens. Enjoy a guided tour of the Chihuly exhibit showcasing his signature organic shapes in brilliant colors including a monumental reimagination of his storied 1975 Artpark installation, with three new works enlivening the water features of the Native Plant Garden and the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory Courtyard's Tropical Pool, reflecting the interplay and movement of color and light.

Men, women, Hadassah Members and Non-Members are most welcome. Bus leaves Highland Park at 9:15 a.m. sharp; returns approximately 5:00 p.m. Cost: $95—includes transportation, admission and guided tour. Please bring your own lunch. Space is limited; please register now! For questions and registration, please contact Elaine Rand Fromkin at 732- 257-1525 or memajules1@gmail.com.

Raritan Valley Hadassah Welcome Back Brunch

Join Raritan Valley Hadassah on Sunday, September 10 from 11:00am through 1:00pm at the Lena & David T. Wilentz Senior Residence Building on the Wilf Campus, 360 Demott Lane, Somerset, for a delicious kosher brunch and a special program to welcome back Hadassah Members, Associates and guests.

Start the fall season meeting new and old friends, and learning about upcoming Hadassah events and programs. For questions, please contact Debbie Gerber at debbieadg@gmail.com or 732-688-4146. For rides, please contact Marcia Shiffman at 732-964-0079 or mshiffman@yahoo.com.

Please RSVP no later than next Friday, August 25. Send check of $20 per attendee, made out to Hadassah, to: Sara Goodman Hand, 311 Montgomery Street, Highland Park, NJ 08904. Include your name, email address and phone number.

Chicks with Sticks Knitting Group

The Raritan Valley Hadassah Chicks with Sticks Knitting Group will hold their fall meeting on Wednesday, October 18 from 1:00-3:00pm at the home of Phyllis Pollak, 209 N. 4th Avenue, Highland Park. In the interim, please stop by her home to pick up yarn or to drop off the caps/blankets that you have made. Please contact Phyllis at 732- 246-7366 or phypollak@yahoo.com if you have any questions or need to make drop-off/pick-up arrangements.

Raritan Valley Hadassah Mitzvah of Love Luncheon

Raritan Valley Hadassah cordially invites you to join them at their 2017 Centennial Celebration Mitzvah of Love Luncheon on Sunday, October 22 at 11:00am at Ohav Emeth. Raritan Valley is roaring along in their 100th year. Come along with them as they honor all their Past Presidents.

Your donation will help support Hadassah Hospital and all Hadassah’s good works. Couvert $50 per person plus an additional minimum $36 donation per couple/family. Include name of each person attending along with a phone and an email address. Please make checks payable to Hadassah and mail to: Honey Wisotsky, 54 N. 7 Ave, Highland Park, NJ

  1. For more information, please contact Honey at 732-572-3793 or honeywisotsky@outlook.com.

Engaging Israel: Jewish Values and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Raritan Valley Hadassah is proud to present Engaging Israel: Jewish Values and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Through video lectures, text study, and lively group discussion, they are pleased to bring the world-renowned curriculum of the Shalom Hartman Institute into the community this Fall. This series explores one of the most divisive issues affecting the Jewish people today: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Through the study of Jewish narratives about Israel and the unpacking of the complex meanings of peace in Jewish tradition, participants are invited to explore the ideas and values that animate different attitudes toward the conflict and how these values shape their own political understandings.

Though a shared political platform may not be attainable, this course strives to achieve a shared respect for our differences. Together you will engage in a new values-based discourse about Israel, including topics such as: Living with Difference, the Israel We Imagine, Jewish Narratives of Peace, Attitudes Towards the Land, Justice, Self-Preservation, Compromise, and the Idea of Jewish Exceptionalism.

Each session includes text study and discussion led by Barbara Spack including video lectures and interviews with leading Hartman scholars as homework. The sessions will run from 3:00-5:00pm on September 19, October 17, November 21, December 19, January 16, February 20, March 20 and April 17 at the JCC of Greater Middlesex County, 1775 Oak Tree Road, Edison. Cost including materials: $18. RSVP to Roselyn Bell at roselynbe@aol.com.

HP/Edison Connects Annual Women's Kick-Off The (School) Year Potluck Melave Malka

Highland Park/Edison Connects invites all women to their Annual "Kick-Off the (school) Year" Potluck Melave Malka, taking place on Motzei Shabbat, September 16 at 8:45 p.m. (Location TBD.) Whether you have recently moved in and are looking to meet people, or whether you have been here a while and want to reconnect with old friends and make new ones while welcoming everyone who has recently moved into our town, they encourage you to come and bring a dish! For questions or to RSVP please email Rachelle_Stern@Yahoo.com. More information to follow in the coming weeks!

Highland Park/Edison Connects was formed with the goal of connecting the community and increasing the sense of achdut as well as the flow of communication and information between the various Orthodox shuls, schools, institutions, and organizations.

One way that HP/Edison Connects achieves this goal is via the HP/Edison Connects Yahoo Listserve, where members can share information about community-wide events, classes and happenings. Additionally, they have liaisons from each of the Orthodox shuls who are responsible for posting their respective weekly shul announcements and there is a “School Happenings” representative who is responsible for posting relevant weekly information from each of the three Orthodox schools in our community: Netivot Montessori, Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva (RPRY) and Yeshiva Sharei Tzion (YST).

Another important role that HP/Edison Connects plays is that of welcoming new families to the community on behalf of all the Orthodox shuls in town. A welcome basket and information packet, with representation and information about each of the Orthodox shuls in town, is given out to all newcomers to our community. Likewise, the members of the hospitality committee, with one representative from each shul, are jointly responsible for helping to ensure that all new families have plenty of opportunities to meet new people via Shabbat and Yom Tov meals!

Lastly, HP/Edison Connects works to bring together volunteers from all the different facets of the community and help them in any way possible to effectively organize, advertise, and run community-wide events so that the whole community feels represented and welcomed. If you have additional ideas for events, programming, or committees that you feel should fall under the auspices of HP/ Edison Connects or would like to come on board as a much needed volunteer please don't hesitate to contact: highlandparkedisonconnects-owner@yahoogroups.com.

Lunch and Learn

The next Retirees Lunch and Learn will be held on Tuesday, September 12 at 12:00pm at Ohr Torah. "My grandparents became mega-stars," Michael Tilson Thomas remembers, "and found themselves smack in the public eye. Legions of crazed fans were obsessed with every detail of their work and their lives. It was a far cry from the simple Jewish family life in the Ukrainian villages of their origin." In The Thomashefskys, Tilson Thomas explores the lives of his grandparents, Boris and Bessie Thomashefsky, through a musical performance that features five performers and the New World Symphony orchestra.

D’var Torah by Henry Schanzer; introduction by Harriet Gersten. Cost: $10. RSVP by Sunday, September 10 to: Bella at blerner18@optonline.net or 732-317-1786, Mildred at 732-572-1712 or Marcia at ppheffer@verizon.net or 732-572-5998.

A Family's Plea for Help

We realize there are many requests for Tzedaka, all heart wrenching. However, the rules of Tzedaka are to first help your family, then help your community, then outside the community. Here is a campaign started by longtime members of our community, who are presently struggling with the serious issue of having a family member trying to recover in rehab.

They need to raise about $6,000 a month and rehab can take about a year. Please go to the Chesed Fund and open up open up your hearts and help this local family keep their son in rehab. They have been generous in the past in supporting our community and never thought they would need to ask for themselves.

If you wish to make out a check instead of contributing online, please make it out to Congregation Ohav Emeth, in the memo write Rabbi's Charity Fund. On a separate note (NOT in memo) write that it is for the Rehab campaign"

Please note: Rabbi Kaufman and Rabbi Kaminetzky have reviewed this issue and the great need of the family and encourage all to help in this extremely worthy and lifesaving effort.

Hatzolah Carnival

Join Hatzolah of Middlesex County for their 2nd annual carnival on Sunday, September 10 from 1:00-5:00pm. at 71 West Ethel Road, Piscataway. Bring your family for a fun filled afternoon while supporting Hatzolah. Enjoy raffles, petting zoo, prizes, face painting, delicious BBQ and more! Unlimited ride passes are available. All payment methods accepted. For more information, call 732-993-8654 or email Carnival@hatzolahmc.org.

Rabbi Yisroel Weiss Parsha Class for Men and Women: Wednesday night at 8:30pm at the home of Marsha Eiserman, 154 N. 10th Avenue, Highland Park. For more info, please call Marsha at 347-203-7906.

The Women's AMEN Group meets monthly on the Sundays following the Shabbos in which one blesses Rosh Chodesh, at 9:30 AM in a downstairs classroom at Congregation Ohr Torah. The group meets in the zechus of a refuah shelaimah for Menachem Mordechai ben Ophira and the other Cholim in the community.

Bikur Cholim OWLS (Overnight Women Labor Support): A complimentary service for maternity situations whereby volunteers will come to stay with your kids during the night. For more info on receiving this service or becoming a volunteer, please contact Rikki at 732-249-5116.

Donations of diapers, pull-ups, and wipes are currently being accepted for the new HP/Edison Diaper Gemach. Please email diapergemach@gmail.com for more information.