David Bassous - Rabbi
Ray Morris - President
Visit our Website at http://etzahaim.org for the latest news
NOTE: The Congregation would like to thank Dr. Richard Shakarchi for speaking Shabbat morning, Rabbi Jacob Krief for giving a pre-Mincha class, and Dr. Haim Baruh for speaking during Seuda Shlishit.
Rabbi Bassous is expected to be back next week and he looks forward to seeing everyone at the synagogue.
Friday
- Shacharit: 6:30am
- Mincha: 7:00pm - Please make an effort to attend!
- Candle lighting: 8:06pm
Saturday - Parashat Balak
Due to the dangerous heat wave, Shabbat Groups are canceled this week. We recommend all children stay at home this Shabbat in the air conditioning and well hydrated.
- Rabbi Hakakian's Parasha Class: 8:00am
- Shacharit: 8:45am
- Latest Shema: 8:28am
- Kiddush is sponsored by Ari Blinder in memory of Ben Tzion ben
Avraham z'l (Benny Mayo)
- To sponsor a kiddush, go to our Kiddush webpage.
- No Zera Shimshon Class today
- Women's Tehillim Group: 5:00pm
- Class with Rabbi Jacob Krief: 6:30pm
- Mincha: 7:30pm
- Seuda Shelishit
- Sponsored by Liba and Dr. Richard Shakarchi and Family in honor of their wedding anniversary
- And Sponsored by Carol and Alex Kotlyar and family in memory of his mother
- Guest Speaker is Dr. Haim Baruh
- Seuda Shelishit
- Arvit: 9:10pm
- Shabbat Ends: 9:10pm
Sunday -- Fast of the 17th of Tammuz
- Fast begins: 4:33am
- Shacharit: 8:30am
- No Women's Class This Week
- Mincha and Arvit: 8:00pm
- Fast ends at 9:03pm
Monday - Thursday
- Shacharit: 6:30am
- Mishna-a-Day: 7:20am
- Mincha and Arvit: 7:30pm
- No Tuesday Talmud Class This Week
Next Friday
- Shacharit: 6:30am
- Mincha: 7:00pm
- Candle lighting: 8:00pm
News and Events From our Webpage
The following events and news items can be found on our webpage at http://etzahaim.org
- Help Us Welcome New Members to Our Community - We are looking for people to host new community members.
- Shatnez Testing in Our Community -- An important mitzvah that we make easy to do
- Receive Birchat HaKohanim Twice Each Shabbat -- Only at Congregation Etz Ahaim!
- Help Us Replace Our Women's Seating in Our Sanctuary
Bikur Cholim of Congregation Etz Ahaim
- Contact Rose Reiss at (732) 828-7415 in order to volunteer.
- Seeking volunteers to visit: Shirley Cohena and others at the Regency Nursing home on DeMott Lane in Somerset. For more info, contact Rahel Baruh.
- Drivers and coordinators needed. Call (732) 572-7181 for more information.
The congregation extends refua shelema wishes to:
- Aharon ben Chana (See below under Community News)
- Avishai ben Esther
- Avraham ben Sarah
- Linda Balavram (Emuna bat Sarah)
- Clara bat Rachel
- Cochavit bat Victoria
- David ben Farha
- Esther bat Liba
- Galina bat Riva
- Gittel bat Leah
- Bradley Greenberg (Yehuda Dovid ben Tzvia Sarah)
- Lita Greenberg (Tzvia Sarah bat Golda)
- Keren bat Orly
- Liba Shaindel bat Chava
- Lidia bat Paulina
- Millie Hakim (Miriam bat Sarah)
- Miriam Devorah bat Bracha
- Mary Naar (Miriam bat Yitzchak)
- Penina Rachel bat Bracha
- Perla bat Leah
- Rosa bat Rachel
- Shaul ben Regina
- Velvel ben Chana
- Yehuda Reich (Yehuda ben Hermina)
- Lilas Saltiel (Leah Saltiel)
- Sheva bat Merel
- Yaakov Chaim ben Sarah
- Zimbul bat Vida
Community News
Bikur Cholim of Raritan Valley - Special Mitzvah opportunity for men and post high school boys:
A year and 3 months ago, Rabbi Aaron (Ahrele) Oster, a respected teacher and ben Torah from Monsey, suffered a Septic shock. With Hashem's miracles and Klal Yisrael's Tefilos, his life was saved and is on the road to recovery.
Unfortunately, his limbs couldn't be saved and he needed to undergo a quadruple amputation several months ago. For the continuation of his recovery and rehab, Arele was recently transferred from Boston to the AristaCare Rehab Facility in South Plainfield, to be closer to family and friends. The family has set up shifts for visitation whereby there is an almost constant presence by immediate and extended family & friends at his bedside.
Please help Rabbi Oster and his family by taking an empty time slot and going over for a short visit in times of need. A WhatsApp chat is being formed - please join even if you have limited availability. Slots would be posted on the chat.
Please reply privately if you can visit and/or to be added to the chat: Rabbi Shmuel Gancz 845-746-1927 or Mrs. Oster 845-596-4868. Please continue to daven for Aharon ben Chana for a complete Refuah. In the zechus of this mitzvah, may you be blessed with health, nachas and prosperity. On behalf of the family, thank you so, so much!
Volunteers Needed at Wilentz Senior Residence on the Wilf Campus for Senior Living
Wilentz Senior Residence is looking to expand our volunteer base by utilizing volunteers to help serve residents at our congregate meal program. Wilentz Senior Residence is a Kosher facility and maintains quality service to our residents. Hours needed are M-F 4-6pm. Training will be provided. If you are interested, please call Marnie Kean at 732-873-3888 x404 to reserve the day you want!
Highland Park/Edison Connects: Wondering what to do on a long summer Shabbos afternoon? Join us weekly for a chance to hang out and make new friends! Shabbos afternoons 3-5 PM at 1131 Raritan Avenue (YST Preschool playground). Come with or without kids, it’s guaranteed fun for everyone! For more info, please text or WhatsApp: Ariella Gluck 908-510-3654
Rebbitzen Eichenstein’s classes for women: No classes this week
For more info, please contact Aviva at 732-572-4408 or siegelmom@gmail.com
Women's Learning Initiative:
- Offers customized Torah learning partners and chavrusas! For a personalized study program of your choice, email your contact information to womenslearninginitiative@gmail.com
- Parsha class by Mrs. Miri Cohen will resume after this summer
Lefkovits Family Park Mikvah
- Please support the mikvah while purchasing on Amazon. Use the Amazon Smiles link.
- July Hours:
- Sunday - Thursday: 9:00pm - 11:00pm
- 17th of Tammuz – July 21: 9:40 PM – 11:30pm
- Motzai Shabbos: July 6, 13, 20, and 27: 10:15pm – 11:30pm
All Friday night appointments should be made online. Alternatively they can be made by texting/calling (732) 221-8155. Note: From 4/28/19-5/10/19, text/call (732) 470-1041.
Tiferes: DVD for women Motzai Shabbos, July 20 at 10:00pm at the Siegel house. Weekly teleconferences with topics such as shalom bayis and parenting are available to Tiferes members.
Current teleconference: Shalom Bayis from the Inside Out with Mrs. Chaya Juravel
For more info or to become a member, please contact Aviva at siegelmom@gmail.com
The Highland Park/Edison group of Tiferes is zecher l'nishmas Malka bas Shalom
The Women's AMEN Group meets monthly on the Sundays following the Shabbos in which one bensches Rosh Chodesh, at 9:30am 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.
Appeal from an OE Member Family: Update - Thank you to all who have contributed to raise funds for a community member to attend a rehab program. This person has completed the first and most expensive part of the program, and is, thank G-d, doing well. Even with the generous donations shared by community members, the family was forced to borrow thousands of dollars each month to pay $6,000.00 monthly for the program. They are struggling with significant accumulated debt, and our help is still needed. Please help this local family recover from extreme financial burden. They have generously supported our community in the past and never though they would need to ask for themselves.
Please visit The Chesed Fund or if you wish to make out a check instead of contributing online, please make it out to Congregation Ohav Emeth and in the memo write Rabbi’s Charity Fund. On a separate note (NOT IN MEMO), write that it is for the rehab campaign.
The Highland Park Eruv has a webpage which includes a map and the most recent status of the eruv. You can even use the webpage to find out if someone’s house is inside the eruv. You can get automated notifications of the eruv’s status each Friday via Twitter, text, Facebook, or email. Go to http://hperuv.org/status for more information.
Gemachs Abound in Highland Park: A Gemach is sometimes thought of a free loan organization, but these organizations can lend way more than just money. For example, if you have a large simcha at your house and need tables, center pieces, and tablecloths, a gemach can help you out. Etz Ahaim has a complete listing of all local area gemachs.
ACTT (Achieving Change Through Torah) program helps individuals succeed in making meaningful and lasting changes in their lives. Module: Ahavas Chessed – Loving Kindness 5; Source book: The Glittering World of Chessed by Rabbi Paysach Krohn. For more info, call Phil Rosen (732) 572-8762 or email ACTT
Collecting Sheitels: Keren Kol Kallah - established to provide orphan and destitute kallahs in Israel with essential needs. Donated custom sheitels, some brand-new, some gently worn, are sold to women in Israel who would not otherwise have the funds to buy a quality wig. All the money raised at the sale goes towards a hachnasas kallah fund which helps needy brides in Eretz Yisrael. Sheitels can be dropped off by Aviva, 16 Edgemount Road, Edison. For more info, please see contact Aviva Siegel (732) 572-4408 siegelmom@gmail.com