Rabbi Eliyahu Tal - Rabbi
Ray Morris — President Emeritus
Shelomo Beck - President
Visit our website for the latest news and copies of the bulletin.
Important Messages
- Shabbat Qiddush is sponsored by the Weisman Family as a Thank you for Hashem and the bar mitzvah anniversary
- Se’udah Sh’lshit is sponsored by the Congregation
- Etz Ahaim's Hanukah Extravaganza is on December 6th. Go to https://etzahaim.org/hanuka for tickets.
- New Families are moving to Highland Park. If you hear of any new families moving to Highland Park, please inform Shelomo Beck, Shira Leah Reichman, or Leora Wenger.
- 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
- Shaḥarit: 6:30am
- Minḥa and Kabbalat Shabbat: 5:50pm
- Candle Lighting: 5:48pm
Saturday — Parashat Lech-Lecha
- Youth Groups (ages 3-8): 9:30am - End of Shaḥarit
- Recite Shema: by 9:19am
- Shaḥarit: 8:45am Followed by
- Qiddush — Sponsored by the Weisman Family as a Thank you for Hashem and the bar mitzvah anniversary
- Navi Class: 4:15pm
- Minḥa: 5:25pm Followed by
- Se’udah Sh’lshit — Sponsored by the Congregation
- Arvit: 6:30pm
- Shabbat Ends: 6:33pm
- Shabbat Ends According to Rabbenu Tam: 7:17pm
Schedule for the Rest of the Week
Sunday
- Shaḥarit: 8:00am
- Minḥa: 5:40pm
Monday through Thursday
- Shaḥarit: 6:30am
- Minḥa & Arvit: 5:40pm
Next Friday:
- Shaḥarit: 6:30am
- Minḥa and Kabbalat Shabbat: 5:40pm
- Candle Lighting: 5:39pm
Classes for the Week
- Thursday: Ḥamin and Ḥumash: 6:30pm
- Monday - Thursday: 10 Minutes of Parasha: After Shaḥarit
- Monday - Thursday: Daily Amud: 5:20pm
Nightly Ḥaverta Learning: 7:00pm - 8:00pm (light refreshment included)
Bikur Ḥolim of Congregation Etz Ahaim
The congregation extends refua shelema wishes to:
- Asher ben Mazel
- Avraham Zev ben Yocheved Chaya
- Baruch ben Rivkah (Baruch Sachs)
- Shaul ben Regina (Shaul Baruch)
- Cochavit bat Victoria (Cochavit Baruch)
- Dvorah Shahala bat Sarah Parvin
- Gershon ben Sara
- Haim Baruh (Haim ben Esther)
- Jacob Krief (Yacov Gideon ben Miriam)
- Kay Silverman (Gila bat Golda)
- Leah Chava bat Shayna
- Lita Greenberg (Tzvia Sarah bat Golda)
- Linda Balavram (Emmunah bat Sara)
- Joshua Ternyak (Rafael Yehoshua Noach Ben Alta)
- Sharona Bella bat Malka
- Sara Shifra bat Yehudit
- Yehoshua Baruch Ben Chava Sachs
- Yosef Daniel ben Feige
- (Zita bat Golda) Zita Weinstein
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
Rabbi Menachem Nissel will be offering a shiur to women on October 29 at 7:30pm at Ahavas Achim.
Rabbi Nissel will speak on The Yishmael-Eisav Fusion (And How it Brings Mashiach).
The shiur is co-sponsored by Ahavas Achim, Ateres, Shlomo, The Edison Chabura, Etz Ahaim, Legendary Realty, and Anonymous.
Why the Jews? The Eye-Opening Explanation of the World’s Longest hatred Join The Jewish Community Forum of Raritan Valley on Motzei Shabbat, October 31 at 8:00, at Ahavas Achim when Rabbi Ken Spiro explores the deeper meaning and message behind humanity’s longest, strangest and most intense hatred – Antisemitism.
For more information about the Jewish Community Forum of Raritan Valley, visit: <https: data-preserve-html-node="true"//orthodoxjewishforum.dreamhosters.com/hpedison/>.
Glow & Empower is holding a complimentary special Breast Cancer Awareness Month event on October 28 from 5:00–7:00pm at The Park MedSpa in Highland Park.
This warm and supportive evening is dedicated to breast cancer survivors, awareness, community, and self-care. Guests will enjoy gentle hand and arm treatments featuring Hydrinity skincare, learn about support resources from Sharsheret, hear how Hadassah is advancing breast cancer research, and have the option to participate in a sharing circle.
Space is limited and RSVP is required please email theparkmedspa@gmail.com or text 908-227-7544. For more information please call Rivka Sonts at 347-598-9448.
Chicks with Sticks and More will be meeting on Wednesday, November 4 at 8:30pm. Join local women in Join local women in knitting, crocheting, needlepointing, punch stitching, cross stitching and more. All levels are welcome from never learned to expert. We’re happy to teach you.
Email RaritanValleyHadassah@gmail.com or text 908-227-4869 for address, along with information, and what basic supplies to bring with you (limited supplies available to borrow with advance notice). Please reach out if you can’t attend but still want to donate hats or knitting/crocheting supplies.
Highland Park and Edison Friends of Mesivta Tifereth Jerusalem Will have a Melava Malka on November 7th at 8:00 pm honoring the memory of Rabbi Shimon Mykoff, former Rabbi of Congregation Poli Zedik in New Brunswick. The Melava Malka will be at Congregation Ohav Emeth.
RSVP Rabbi Shimon Jakubovic 732-246-1037 or jl284j@aol.com
Bildner Center for the Study of Jewish Life
- Jewish Film Festival: Thursday, November 5, through Sunday, November 15 27th Annual Rutgers Jewish Film Festival The festival features diverse, award-winning international films and discussions with filmmakers, scholars, and special guests. Click Here for Details.
- Panel Discussion: Tuesday, December 1, 12:00 Noon Rethinking Liberalism, Libertas (Freedom) and Self-Cultivation Three distinguished scholars—Susan Neiman (Einstein Forum), Helena Rosenblatt (CUNY Graduate Center) and David Sorkin (Yale University)—Join Nancy Sinkoff (Rutgers University) to reassess the values of the European Enlightenment and the Haskalah (The Jewish Enlightenment) and their relevance for our present moment. Click Here for Details.
Raritan Valley Hadassah Invites You to a trip to Rutgers University Zimmerli Art Museum, 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick on Sunday, November 8, 2026
Docent-led tour starts promptly at 1:00pm. Please plan to arrive by 12:45 p.m. and allow sufficient time to find a parking spot and hang up coats, etc. Tour will last approximately 45 minutes and afterward please feel free to wander about the museum on your own.
After we are through at the museum, we will take a five-minute walk as a group to the Crunch Cafe located inside the Rutgers Hillel building to get snacks and or lunch. Under the supervision of the Vaad of Raritan Valley.
Please RSVP to Ruth Fineberg if you plan to come Text or call 908-930-8019 or email ruth.fineberg@gmail.com
The Raritan Valley Hadassah’s Chug Ivrit for intermediate to Advanced Hebrew Speakers will meet on Sunday, November 22 at 11:00am. They will chat in Hebrew and read a short Hebrew story.
For location, please contact Rachel at rachel@weintraubworld.net or 732-819-9298
The Hadassah Book club will next meet on Sunday, November 22 at 1:00pm. We are reading Daniel Gordis's We Stand Divided: The Rift between American Jews and Israel.
This book club requires no homework, as we read the book aloud together. For information on how to get the book and the location of the meeting, contact roselynbe@aol.com.
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.
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.
The next class dates are: November 11, November 18, December 9 and December 23
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.
RPRY Lunch Volunteers Needed RPRY is seeking parents, grandparents and friends to volunteer to assist with their hot lunch program. Each time you volunteer you will earn credits towards hot lunches for the RPRY family of your choice. Volunteer Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10:45 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
If you are interested or would like more information, please call 732-233-2339 or email lunches.rpry@gmail.com.
Discover the Joy of Being a Hospice Volunteer The simplest gifts are often the most profound. If you've got time, empathy, and compassion, you have the ability to support those nearing end of life, you are invited to explore the role of hospice volunteer with VNA Health Group.
Companionship visits in patient's homes or facilities in Middlesex, Union or Somerset Counties, administrative projects, or comforting phone calls, are just some of the ways in which volunteers support patients and their families. A Specialized 16-hour Training will be provided by members of the VNA Hospice Team, over the course of 3 weeks.
For more information please contact: Pauline De Palma, BSW Director Volunteer Services Pauline.DePalma@vnahg.org or 732-224-6933.
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.
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 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 of Raritan Valley 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.
Bikur Cholim of Raritan Valley is looking for volunteers to visit local seniors who are homebound. If you can help out with this mitzvah, please contact Cindy Baruch at cindy.baruch@verizon.net or 908- 309-8818.
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!
Jewish Family Services is excited to announce their newest initiative, The Pet Food Pantry! JFS believes pets are members of the family, too. They strive to promote the joy and dignity of the families who visit them for help, so this is one more service that improves the quality of life for neighbors in need-and their fur babies! To make a donation, please email office@jfsmiddlesex.org to schedule a drop off. Thank you!