Flemington Jewish Community Center

5 Sergeantsville Road

Flemington, New Jersey 08822

(908) 782-6410

Fax: (908) 806-7736

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June 2017/7 Sivan – 6 Tammuz 5777

MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI

A Conundrum for Shavuot

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 regarding euthanasia. It seems that the law allows doctors and nurses to perform euthanasia by administering a drug that will stop the patient's heart. According to this law a medical practitioner who, due to moral objections, won't perform euthanasia, is bound by law to refer that patient to another doctor whom he or she knows would be willing to perform it.

According to rabbinical law, a goses (a terminally ill person) is a living person in all effects. We may abstain from medical treatment, but whoever, in any form, hastens his/her death is a rotzeah (TB Sanhedrin 78b; Rambam, Hilkhot Avel, 4:5). Nevertheless, it seems that since this law passed in Canada, the number of people opting for this has become huge, in the Jewish community as well. The assumption is that euthanasia is the only moral choice for people who are in pain or very ill. I wonder if hospice/palliative care/pain relief isn’t an alternative solution so that the patient may keep living until G-d decides to take their lives. 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.

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

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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

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

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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 or call her at 908-334-8221 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 19th 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, .

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

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 .

GRADUATION 2017

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 toJosy 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:

Gayle Neibart (908) 638-9496

Email:

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

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

SHMUEL FRAND HOLOCAUST EDUCATION FUND

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.

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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.

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 and let her know what date you will sponsor.

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