Rabbi Eliyahu Tal - Rabbi
Ray Morris - President
Visit our website for the latest news and copies of the bulletin.
Important Messages
- Qiddush is sponsored by our dear president, Ray Morris, and his family, in honor of his dear wife's birthday, We want to bless her with a happy, healthy, and long life Amen
- Se’udah Sh’lshit sponsored by our dear friend Dr. Haim Baruch.
- New Hebrew Classes Monday at 6:30pm. Sign up at <https: data-preserve-html-node="true"//www.etzahaim.org/news/learn-hebrew>.
- Special Membership Meeting on *Sunday, November 23 at 6:30pm. We will be voting on important constitutional amendments for Etz Ahaim.
- 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 November 21: Rosh Chodesh Kislev
Shaḥarit at 6:30am
Minḥa and Kabbalat Shabbat: 4:15pm
Candle Lighting: 4:15pm
November 22 Shabbat Kodesh — Parashat Toldot
- Youth Groups for ages 3 to 8 in the Upper Classrooms: 9:30am to End of Shaḥarit.
- Recite Shema: by 8:35am
- Shaḥarit: 8:45am followed by
- Qiddush this week is sponsored by our dear president, Ray Morris, and his family, in honor of his dear wife's birthday, We want to bless her with a happy, healthy, and long life Amen
- Navi class: 3:15pm
- Minḥa: 4:00pm — Followed by:
- Se’udah Sh’lshit sponsored by our dear friend Dr. Haim Baruch.
- Arvit and End of Shabbat: 5:08pm
- Shabbat Ends according to Rabbenu Tam: 5:48pm
Schedule for the rest of the week
Sunday
- Sha2ḥharit: 8:00am
- Minḥa: 4:15pm
Monday through Thursday
- Shaḥarit: 6:30am
- Minḥa & Arvit: 4:15pm
- Second Arvit (for winter time): 7:00pm
Next Friday
- Shaḥarit: 6:30
- Minḥa and Kabbalat Shabbbat: 4:15pm
- Candle Lighting: 4:15pm
Classes for the Week
- Sunday: Tea and Torah Breakfast: After Shaḥarit
- Monday: Hebrew classes: 6:30pm. Register at https://www.etzahaim.org/news/learn-hebrew
- Tuesday: Cake Club Torah Learning: 3:45pm
- Sunday through Friday: 10 Minutes Parasha: After Shaḥarit
- Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday: Halaḥah and Mussar: 3:55pmm
- Nightly Chavruta Learning: 7:00pm to 8:00pm (Light Refreshment Served)
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
Special In Person Membership Meeting As determined by the Board of Trustees, there will be a special in-person membership meeting of Etz Aḥaim this Sunday, November 23, 2025, 6:30pm, to vote on amendments to the CEA constitution. The current constitution was last revised in 1996, almost 30 years ago. A lot has changed since then, such as electronic means of communication and payment, size of our congregation, and operating procedures.
The proposed amendments will bring our constitution to the 21st century and revise the procedures and finances of CEA to reflect present-day realities. These amendments were approved by the Board of Trustees.
The Bildner Center for the Study of Jewish Life will be offering the following virtual courses:
- Points on the Map: The Rhetoric and Representation of the Jewish Presence in the Land and State of Israel: Wednesdays, Dec. 3, 10, & 17, 7:00pm
Dr. Daniel Stein Kokin, the Bildner Center’s Norman and Syril Reitman Visiting Professor, introduces his digital mapping project, “All the Points,” which examines the creation of Zionist and Israeli communities in the Land and State of Israel from the 19th century to the present.
Register at https://rutgers.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0vM4QIK-TxCYj2jSXfcPng#/registration
- From Clay Tablet to Digital Tablet: The History of Jewish Books Monday, Dec. 8, 7:00 pm ET
Dr. Joseph A. Skloot (Hebrew Union College) examines the vast history of Jewish texts and tackles key questions, such as what makes a work holy or canonical. He will offer a behind-the-scenes look at a Hebrew print shop in sixteenth-century Italy and also discuss recent initiatives such as Sefaria.org, an online library that houses 3,000 years of Jewish texts. This virtual talk is free and open to the public.
Register at https://rutgers.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1NJ4Tds9T4WAzwZhmOUL2A#/registration
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.
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 Mincha/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!
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