Flemington Jewish Community Center
5 Sergeantsville Road
Flemington, New Jersey 08822
(908) 782-6410
Fax: (908) 806-7736
[email protected]
www.flemingtonjcc.org
June 2017/7 Sivan – 6 Tammuz 5777
FJCC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Spiritual Leader
MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI
Interim Rabbi Jacob Malki
[email protected]
A Conundrum for Shavuot
Executive Board:
President:
1st Vice President
2nd Vice President
3rd Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Immediate Past President
Mindy Engle-Friedman
Mitch Clarin
Reena Kamins
Bruce Moskovitz
Laurence Shatkin
Jonathan Weitz
Jeffrey Doshna
On Shavuot, we celebrate the Covenant between the Almighty and Israel, and
we read the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:1-14). The Ten Commandments
summarize the legal and ethical Jewish Law and are part of Western World legacy.
The sixth commandment prohibits murdering (lo tirzah). It is clear that the
implications of this commandment are many and complicated.
A colleague from Canada confided his struggling with the new Canadian law
Elected Trustees:
Lifetime Trustees:
regarding euthanasia. It seems that the law allows doctors and nurses to perform
Jerry Atlas
Jack Forman
euthanasia by administering a drug that will stop the patient's heart. According to
Scott Byne
Dan Gross
this law a medical practitioner who, due to moral objections, won't perform
Jim Fox
Zel Gerstein
euthanasia, is bound by law to refer that patient to another doctor whom he or she
Richard Frank
Ed Mehrlust
Judy Gold
Howard Nifoussi
knows would be willing to perform it.
Marsha Goldstein
Phil Stern
According to rabbinical law, a goses (a terminally ill person) is a living person
Alan Hylton
Larry Wissner
in
all
effects. We may abstain from medical treatment, but whoever, in any form,
Marvin Jacobson
Michael Wolf
hastens his/her death is a rotzeah (TB Sanhedrin 78b; Rambam, Hilkhot Avel,
Nathan Lefkow
Ruth Wolf
Jonathan Nemeth
4:5). Nevertheless, it seems that since this law passed in Canada, the number of
Ronald Ort
Sisterhood President:
people opting for this has become huge, in the Jewish community as well. The
Alan Radzin
Reena Gold Kamins
assumption is that euthanasia is the only moral choice for people who are in pain
Sharon Rednor
or very ill. I wonder if hospice/palliative care/pain relief isn’t an alternative
Neil Wolff
Bulletin Editor:
solution so that the patient may keep living until G-d decides to take their lives.
Flo Newrock
For a few months in my chaplaincy training, I worked in hospice. It was a
challenging experience. I talked to patients who were very conscious and aware
that at any moment their condition could decline, but most of them, until the end,
had a meaningful relationship with their beloved ones.
This Canadian colleague was extremely opposed to this law, due to halakhic and moral reasons. He expressed to me his sadness
and helplessness as most of the people he is in touch with see his stand as an example of stubbornness and backwardness.
For those who do not care about halakha, or consider halakha only as an option, the issue at hand is an existential/philosophical
one: the meaning of life and suffering. If we consider the main aim of our life is to be in good health and happy, then it makes sense
to discontinue suffering through human intervention such as euthanasia. My question is: is this a Jewish perspective? Probably not.
If every second of our lives is valuable and meaningful, if we are allowed to desecrate Shabbat to save a life, if saving a life is
as important as saving the whole world, if we must honor the elders, and so forth, probably we are not called to judge the meaning
of the goses’ life.
Yes, it is a difficult to go against the grain, but it is more meaningful and less painful if we follow our convictions.
We all may agree that life is a mystery. My best wish for Shavuot is that may G-d inspire us to better understand the significance
of His Creation and bless us with a happy a meaningful life.
Hag Sameach.
2
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Dear Congregants,
We have had a lovely beginning of spring and a month of
celebrations. Evan Pollack and the Pollack family celebrated
Evan’s Bar Mitzvah. Mazel tov! We also shared in the
celebration of Ben Melanson’s Bar Mitzvah and wish him and
his family a hearty yasha koach. Jason Gertzman became a
Bar Mitzvah and we were thrilled to hear him lead the
synagogue and achieve this milestone. We wish our Bar/Bat
Mitzvah families mazel tov on their child’s accomplishments
and their contributions to our Jewish community as young
adults. We look forward to their continued involvement in
our Hebrew High School, youth group, and tutoring activities.
They are now ready to pass along to other students what they
have so successfully learned at the FJCC.
Every year the FJCC Sisterhood acknowledges the
contributions of a woman in our congregation who has made
a difference in the life of our shul. Congratulations to Sharon
Rednor on having been selected FJCC Woman of the Year.
Sharon has taken on many initiatives over the years including
polishing the silver Torah dressings and ornamentation before
the High Holydays each year, the organization and
distribution of mishloach manot, and the baking of
hamantaschen. This year with the help of Leah Kleiman and
Barry Mittler, Sharon developed a beautiful and engaging
new website for the FJCC. Mazel tov to Sharon, and thank
you for all you have done to enhance life at our shul.
Rabbi Malki helped us greatly serving as our interim
rabbi as we moved from shock and grief to stability and calm.
We will celebrate Rabbi Malki’s role as our rabbi at Shabbat
services on Friday, June 23. We hope you will join us as we
congratulate Rabbi Malki on his hard work and wish him
much happiness.
Contract negotiations with Rabbi Eric Cohen are moving
along nicely and we hope to have them finalized soon. We
will keep you updated on the next steps as we begin our
transition to an FJCC led by Rabbi Cohen.
The FJCC is starting two new initiatives and we hope
congregants will help make them a reality. First, we would
like to have greeters at the door to welcome all who come to
shul for Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat services, Saturday
morning Shabbat services, and holidays. Those entering the
FJCC will be welcomed by a friendly face, and those who will
serve as greeters will feel the pleasure of making ours a warm
and caring synagogue. We will be sending out a calendar, and
we hope everyone will claim two dates during the year when
they will serve as a greeter.
The second initiative is a new FJCC focus on interfaith
families. Many of us at the FJCC come from various faith
traditions. Each person and each family brings Judaism into
their lives in their own unique way. We will begin to explore
how the FJCC can best support the needs of interfaith
families. Please let me know if and how you might like to
participate in developing this new component of FJCC
resources.
The FJCC grows because of the thoughtfulness, strength,
and dedication of our members. Please feel free to take on or
join initiatives you believe will enhance life at our shul.
With best wishes for a meaningful Shavuot,
Mindy
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CONGRATULATIONS, SHARON REDNOR, FJCC SISTERHOOD WOMAN OF THE YEAR!
On behalf of the Center Series and Sisterhood, thank you
to all who attended the Mother’s Day Brunch. We celebrated
the announcement of the 2017 Woman of the Year with a
colorful and delicious buffet created by Chef Elana Korn. The
food was fabulous! Author Kate Siegel and her hilarious,
well-meaning mom, director Kim Friedman, entertained us
with surprising candor.
Robin Alexander, WOTY ’16, delivered the award to her
successor and recounted Sharon’s many accomplishments.
We all know Sharon as a dependable, hard-working supporter
of the FJCC. She serves on the synagogue board of trustees
and leads the new website committee. A past-vice-president
of Sisterhood, she also chaired the Hamantaschen Bake-Off
for years. Sharon has a Master’s in Public Health from Temple
University, worked as a health educator during the AIDS
crisis, and is a New Jersey hospital assessor. We applaud her
efforts to advance the quality of public health, and thank
Sharon for her dedication to our synagogue and our
community.
Thank you to everyone who volunteered and made the
event possible: Mindy Engle-Friedman, Reena Kamins,
Robin Alexander, Debbie Hylton, Cara London, Kimi Mittler,
Kim Muller, Adah Radzin, Harry Rapkin, Leah Greenstein,
Josy Kestenbaum, everyone on the Adult Education
Committee and Sisterhood Executive Board, and the Clarin
family.
Our sincere thanks to the local businesses that donated
goods and services to the event: ShopRite of Flemington,
Dockside Restaurant, 16 Handles, Shaker Café, Panatieri’s
Pizza, Al Forno, Lenox Factory Outlet, Sherman & Sons
Jewelers, Topline Nails, Marshall’s, Attachments, and Be
Here Now Yoga. Additional thank yous to Elana Korn
Catering and Gilded Lily Floral Studio. Special thank you to
Deborah Kesselhaut, FJCC Synagogue Administrator. And as
always, thank you to Angelica Calix, Leona Darby, and Laura
Hernandez. We could have not done it without every one of
you!
Sincerely ~
Barbara Clarin
3
AROUND THE SYNAGOGUE

MAZEL TOV TO:



Sharon Rednor for being named Sisterhood Woman of the
Year
Brooke Liebowitz on the Bar Mitzvah of her son, Seth
Alissa & Jim Fox on the marriage of their son, Jonathan, to
Michelle Stern of Chicago
Marsha & Zel Gerstein on the birth of their granddaughter,
Ava Pilar Gerstein, daughter of Shane and Nicole Gerstein
REFUAH SHLEMAH TO:



Gene Esterkin
Faith Ostroff
Evie Stern
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
HEBREW SCHOOL HAPPENINGS
Wrapping up another school year. Seems hard to believe
it is the last week of school. I want to thank Adah Radzin,
Barbara Clarin, Deborah Kesselhaut, Kimi Mittler, Laurie
Rapkin, Lois Gross, and Saul Katz for their dedication and
hard work. A special thank you goes to Jen Rudolph for
subbing this past school year. I want to thank Rabbi Malki
for his guidance.
The teacher assistant and tutor contributions to Hebrew
School cannot be underestimated. They assist in the
classroom, lead services and programs, and always offer up
great suggestions. I want to thank them for all their
contributions: Ben Doshna, Ben Bradley Fox, Brandon Wolff,
Hannah Rosenberg, Jenna Clarin, Josh Ellenberg, Julia Sirota,
Melanie Wolff, Noah Doshna, Olivia Kleiman, Rebecca
Pearlman, Jocelyn Pollack, and Sam Szych.
We have collected close to $180 for Family Promise. The
FJCC will be hosting them the week of August 6th. There are
many opportunities to volunteer. Please contact Josy
Kestenbaum at [email protected] or call her at 908334-8221 for more details.
To the Hebrew School parents:
The 2017-2018
Registration-Programming Fee (RP Fee) will appear on your
June statement. Please submit your payment before July 19 th
in order to avoid a late fee. A late fee of $25 per student will
be applied after July 19th. Please make this payment in a
timely fashion to avoid the late fee. If you need to make
special financial arrangements, please contact Jonathan
Weitz, [email protected].
As June approaches I will be switching to my summer
hours, and will work from home often. The best way to reach
me is by email and I will respond as soon as possible. Thank
you for letting us teach your children this past year. Have a
happy, healthy, wonderful summer.
Karen Walsh
HELP NEEDED
GRADUATION 2017
We need bookbinding help! Many of our prayer books
are in disrepair. Can you organize an effort to repair our
siddurim? Do you have bookbinding skills? Would you like
to help fund a repair project? Please let Dan Gross know by
calling him at 806-7444 or email him at
[email protected].
If you have a family member graduating in 2017, please sent
that person’s name and the grade that he or she is graduating
from for inclusion in the July-August bulletin. For high
school, college, and graduate school graduates, please include
their future plans.
Gift Shop
June is busting out all over with gifts for you. Check out gifts for Father’s Day,
graduations, weddings, hostess gifts, and skin care products. New items are
glass cordial sets, Sam Glaser CDs, hand washing cups, and Bar Mitzvah
albums.
Thanks to Kim Muller for putting away all our Passover inventory, and to Josy
Kestenbaum and Judith Rosenstein for their donations. We’d love to hear suggestions from
you about the shop.
The shop is looking for volunteers to help set up items and design the shelves. We’d love to
hear from you.
Your Gift Case Committee:
Lois Gross (908) 806-7444
Email: [email protected]
Gayle Neibart (908) 638-9496
Email:[email protected]
4
CONTRIBUTIONS
Todah rabah to all those who made donations to:
BUILDING FUND

Marsha & Zel Gerstein:
 For a mazel tov to Barbara and Jerry Batt for the joy
of their grandchildren, Ava, Jackson, Violet, and
Arlo
 In memory of Raymond St. Pierre beloved husband
of Stacy, and beloved father of Hunter
 In memory of Sidney Gold, beloved father of Judy
Gold


SHMUEL FRAND HOLOCAUST EDUCATION
FUND

GENERAL FUND






Amy & Seth Rubin in memory of Sidney Gold, beloved
father of Judy Gold
Peony & Wai Chan in memory of Sidney gold, beloved
father of Judy Gold
Nomi & Jack Forman:
 In memory of Sandy Siegel’s brother
 For a mazel tov to Alissa and Jim Fox for the
wedding of their son, Jonathan, to Michelle
 For a mazel tov to Sharon Zimmerman on the Bar
Mitzvah of her son, Jason
Tina Masington in memory of Sidney Gold, beloved
father of Judy Gold
Flo & Bruce Newrock:
 For the yahrzeit of her beloved mother, Shirley
Richman
 For the yahrzeit of her beloved brother, Dan
Richman
 For a speedy and complete recovery to Mickie
Jacobi
Amy & Seth Rubin:
 In memory of Dr. Milton Sirota, beloved father of
Eric Sirota
 In memory of Rose Marshall, beloved mother of Jeff
Marshall
 In memory of Melvin Dvoor, beloved husband of
Marilyn Dvoor, and beloved father of Debbie Hylton
In memory of Betty Mehrlust, beloved mother of Ed
Mehrlust
Judith Rosenstein for the yahrzeits of Josepha Rosenstein
and Joseph Rothstein
Sharon & Kenneth Brooks:
 For the first yahrzeit of Sharon’s beloved father,
Milton Frant
 For the Shavuot yizkor of Milton Frant
 For the Shavuot yizkor of Frieda Frant
 For the Shavuot yizkor of Marion Brooks
 For the Shavuot yizkor of Newton Brooks
KIDDUSH FUND



Sarah & Richard Frank:
 For a mazel tov to Sharon Zimmerman on her son
Jason’s Bar Mitzvah
 For a mazel tov to Marsha and Zel Gerstein on the
birth of their granddaughter, Ava Pilar
Malka Goodman:
 In memory of Sidney Gold, beloved father of Judy
Gold
 For the yahrzeit of Malka’s beloved father, Samuel
Linsenbaum
Melissa & Fred Kleiman:
 In memory of Melvin Dvoor, beloved husband of
Marilyn Dvoor, and beloved father of Debbie Hylton
 In memory of Rose Marshall, beloved mother of Jeff
Marshall
 In memory of Dr. Milton Sirota, beloved father of
Eric Sirota
 In memory of Betty Mehrlust, beloved mother of Ed
Mehrlust
 In memory of Sidney Gold, beloved father of Judy
Gold
 In memory of Raymond St. Pierre, beloved husband
of Stacy, and beloved father of Hunter
Tzedakah is always “in season.” If you have an event coming up such as an anniversary, a birthday, a yahrzeit, etc., it’s a mitzvah to contribute to
your favorite fund. You can send your check to the FJCC office with a note telling us where you would like the money used. Some of the funds
that you can donate to are: Building Fund, General Fund, Kiddush Fund, Prayer Book Fund, Hebrew School, Shmuel F Frand Memorial Holocaust
Education Fund, and Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund. Do a mitzvah – send a donation.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
GIVING GARDEN UPDATE
This spring marks the third season the FJCC Giving Garden
is growing fresh vegetables for our neighbors that might not
otherwise have any. But an exciting first is that this year the
Nursery School played an important role. In early March, all the
Nursery School students planted carrots, beets, lettuce, kale, and
peas from seeds into disposable cups in their classrooms where
the seeds sprouted and grew. Then in early May seedlings were
transported into the Giving Garden. The lessons the students are
learning about being good neighbors will continue in June when
the Nursery School holds its annual non-perishable food drive.
Sincere thank yous to Jane Wasserman and Jodi Weitz for
allowing the Nursery School involvement, and to the FJCC for
continuing to support the Giving Garden’s important mission.
It’s easy to become a Giving Garden volunteer, and the
commitment can be as little as a few minutes of weeding or
watering once a season. To volunteer please call Pam Nemeth –
908-463-4250.
5
We need congregational participation for Oneg and Kiddush sponsorship!
Do you have a Yahrzeit coming up or a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, anniversary, birthday, or any occasion to sponsor an ONEG/KIDDUSH?
It doesn’t have to be a fancy feast or expensive. Be creative, prepare the food in the FJCC kitchen, pick up kosher food at ShopRite,
or simply send in a check and the shopping will be done for you. Please call Deborah in our office 782-6410 or email
[email protected] and let her know what date you will sponsor.
June 2017
7 Sivan 5777 - 6 Tammuz 5777
Friday
Thursday
Wednesday
Tuesday
Monday
Sunday
§9:08PM 2
1
SHAVUOT II (YIZKOR)
8 Sivan
7 Sivan
¡¡8:10PM 10
Services 7:30
9
8
7
6
5
4
Saturday
§9:10PM
¡¡8:06PM 3
Naso
Services 7:30
Services 9:15
Sisterhood Scholarship
Kiddush: Kleiman Family in
Service
honor of the anniversary of
Oneg: Doshna, Wolf, &
Amira's Bat Mitzvah
Kleiman Families
Services 9:00
9 Sivan
§9:14PM
Behaalotekha
Services 9:15
22 Sivan
21 Sivan
23
22
21
20
19
20 Sivan
19 Sivan
18 Sivan
17 Sivan
Services 9:00
30
ROSH HODESH II
¡¡8:16PM 24
Services 7:30
Honoring Rabbi Malki
29 Sivan
28 Sivan
29
28
27
26
27 Sivan
26 Sivan
25 Sivan
24 Sivan
25
¡¡8:16PM
Services 7:30
Services 9:00
1 Tammuz
2 Tammuz
3 Tammuz
4 Tammuz
16 Sivan
§9:17PM
¡¡8:14PM 17
Shelah
Services 7:30
Services 9:15
Bar Mitzvah of Seth
Bar Mitzvah of Seth
Liebowitz
Leibowitz
Oneg: Liebowitz Family
Kiddush: Leibowitz Family
16
Services 9:00
18
15 Sivan
14 Sivan
15
14
13
12
13 Sivan
12 Sivan
11 Sivan
10 Sivan
11
5 Tammuz
[¡¡Candle Lighting, §Observance End for Flemington, NJ]
6 Tammuz
23 Sivan
§9:19PM
ROSH HODESH I
Korah
Services 9:15
Kiddush: Rabbi Malki
30 Sivan
6
KIDDUSH AND ONEG OPTIONS
Saturday Morning Kiddush
“Basic” Kiddush: $125 (up to 60 guests; add $35 for every +25 guests)
(FJCC will arrange shopping)
Includes (subject to availability and buyer’s discretion):
Wine/grape juice
Challah
Bagels/rye bread/rolls
Cream cheese/butter
Tuna fish
Egg salad
Mayo
Green salad (lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes); dressing
Hummus and carrots
Chips/pretzels
Salsa and chips
3-4 cakes
Fruit
Soda/ coffee
Paper goods; plates; plasticware
“Expanded” Kiddush: $175 (up to 60 guests; add $50 for every +25 guests)
(FJCC will arrange shopping)
Includes “basic” menu + hot kugels, blintzes, lox or whitefish salad
NOTE: if there is more than one Kiddush sponsor, each pays the “basic” rate, but an “expanded” Kiddush will be provided
“Self-sponsored”: Host responsible for purchase and/or preparation of all food items (subject to Kashrut policy of the FJCC)
$25 covers the cost of
Soda/drinks
Coffee/tea
Paper goods; plates; plasticware
Milk
Wine and grape juice
“Catered” option: cost born by host
Subject to FJCC kashrut policy
Caterer must provide
Challah
Drinks
Coffee/tea
Paper goods; plates; plasticware
Table cloths (if meat is served)
Bar/Bat Mitzvah follows Parent’s Guide to Bar/Bat Mitzvah
Friday Night Oneg
$75 (up to 60 guests; add $25 for each +25 guests)
Wine, grape juice
Challah
3 dairy desserts
1 parve dessert
Chips
Pretzels
Fruit
If you’d like to sponsor an oneg or Kiddush, please call the office at 782-6410.
7
JUNE BIRTHDAYS
1 - William Rosen
2 - Joshua Butt
- Nathan Lefkow
5 - Lisa Martin
6 - Marjorie Rednor
- Joan Rogow
7 - Jeffrey Alexander
- Sarah Sornstein
10 - Rachel Farber
- Josy Kestenbaum
11 - Emily Clarin
11
12
13
14
15
16 17 -
Scott Gerstein
Scott Liebman
Lenore Levine
Craig Sirota
John N. Fellin
Ilene Weinstein
Mark Weinstein
Antje Doyle
Brian Kamins
Andrea Wissner
Neila Green
18 - Ronit Zilberboim
19 - Dan Gross
22 - Barry Mittler
- Aaron Frank
- Ruth Wolf
24 - Jonathan Griffith
25 - Ira Arden
26 - Marjorie Rednor
29 - Jack Forman
- Charlotte Griffith
- Brandon Hubert
JUNE ANNIVERSARIES
1
4
5
8
11
12
13
15 -
Joan & Milton Rosen
Mona & Dein Shapiro
Joyce & Scott Schindler
Nancy & Laurence Shatkin
Shellie & Marvin Jacobson
Rhonda Krupen & Howard Goldin
Stacey Gould & Richard Goodman
Judy & Michael Horwitz
Suzanne & Steve Kalafer
Donna & Ricky Braff
17 18 19 20 25 26 -
Andrea & Scott Byne
Sharon & Austin Rednor
Sharon & Ken Skowronek
Leah & Steven Greenstein
Sue & Steve Rubin
Nancy & Frank Rumore
Cathie & Art Wetstein
Mindy & Eliot Friedman
Elise & Phillip Franklin
JUNE YAHRZEITS
1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 -
Natale Formica
Irving Kaplan
Dan Richman
Barnet Taylor
Joseph Arden
Sylvia Spiegel
Martin Reich
Joseph Rothstein
Anna Chantz
Nicholas Goldman
Jennie Silver Goldstein
Jacob Resnick
Lillian Weinstein
Moses Auerbach
Millie Orlin
Gus Goodman
Rita Kuchinsky
Austin Kutscher
Rebecca Landau
Stanley Strober
Flora Jacobson
Isadore Kanter
Abe Norinsky
Victoria Wakefield
Harold Levin
Bessie Triber
Harriet Wolfson
Yetta Fersht
Pauline Sage
10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 21 -
Ira Stolpen
Tekla Daniel
Max Lubowsky
Irene Suslow
Lean Rachel Seligman
Bernard Weschler
Ira Brody
Harry Camerman
Norbert Hubert
Arthur Pressman
Mary Levine Sacks
Samuel Stein
Kenneth Ellentuch
David Zucker
Newton Brooks
Edith Hylton
Abraham Lieberman
Edith Shiffman
Mildred Stempler
Edith Weinstein
Rivia Hurwitz
Shirley Richman
Ian Arcus
Milton Asher
Jennie Levine
Abram Kazman
Jean Levine
Abraham Mondshein
Marilyn Blumenthal
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 -
Jordan Gross
Ida Kamich
Harriet Nemeth
Anita Berger
Rose Gilinsky
Kurt Hillman
Ida Lillian Chantz
Carl Henry Knacht
Minnie Lipsitz
Harry Kaiser
William Rovensky
Sol Shapiro
Ezeekiel Ezra
Sara Hammerman
Simone Kestenbaum
Eleanor Feinberg
Bess Goldings
Wesley Goldstein
Hope Blau
Julius Goodman
Carole Jacobson
Emanuel Schwalb
Elizabeth Belle Cohen
Abraham Lonsk
David Scheer
Helen Handler
Kalmen Opperman
Yahrzeit candles are lit the night before the yahrzeit is observed.
PLEASE NOTE: If your birthday, anniversary, or yahrzeit information is missing or incorrect, please bring or mail your information to the FJCC office, or email it
to Flo Newrock so it can be included in future bulletins.