Rabbi’s Article By Rabbi Nat Benjamin
The Spirit of Chavurah Beth Shalom
A chaver or haver is a companion or friend.
The early rabbis used the term to refer to one's study partner. In the 1960's young Jewish adults began to look for alternatives to the large urban and suburban synagogues.
In time, Chavurot were organized within synagogues. There are numerous varieties, but they are people who can learn and celebrate together, and be with one another in times of joy and sorrow.
New forms continue to develop, but in a time when extended families are often distant and synagogues are so large that people don't know each other, the need and benefits are clear.
Although Chavurah Beth Shalom is a congregation of 250 families, we are always striving to maintain the character and spirit of our beginnings fifteen years ago.
This is clearly evident on Shabbat morning at The Alpine Community House, where we meet for our 9:30
a.m. Minyan and 10:30 a.m. Judaic
Studies Class.
The Wednesday afternoon religious school community can be seen as a chavurah in that families build relationships built on the friendship of their respective children.
Also our monthly Havdallah
happenings held in diferent homes combines, prayer, study and socialization which has inspired many deep friendships.
However, we need to bring many more of our congregants into the spirit of Chavurah Beth Shalom.
Please let us know if you would like to work with us to encourage more of your friends in your particular community to participate in our activities and to become a part of our congregation.
Rabbi Nat Benjamin
201-294-8028
201-567-7806
e-mail:
Want to come to services?
Friday evening services along with Shabbat morning minyan services and the Ephraim Woolman Judaic study class are normally held at the Alpine Community House, Old Dock Road (off Closter Dock Road) in Alpine, New Jersey.
Can’t drive?
We will only be too happy to accommodate you!
If driving doesn’t agree with you, we will arrange to get you to the synagogue for services. Just call on Thursday and we will arrange for a ride for you on Friday or Saturday so that you can attend services.
If you are in a position to give someone else a ride to the Alpine Community House or you need a ride, please call Janine Schwarz at (201) 567-9783 or Rabbi Benjamin at (201) 567-7806.
Week of January 6
Miriam Fish, mother of Dr. Irving Fish
Sylvia Hartstein, mother of David Hartstein
Bernard Kasmir, husband of Ellie Kasmir
Lillian F. Landow, mother of Paul Landow
Irwin Montag, father of Dawn, Rodney and Sandy Montag
Edith Ornstrat, mother of Arlene Friedman
Raymond Plaxsun, brother of Neil Plaxsun
Tessi Rivlin, grandmother of Dawn, Rodney and Sandy Montag
Caroline Ruben, mother of Liza Moses
Jean Taplinger, father of Sandy Sobel
Eve Urish, mother of Martha Glaser, grandmother of Tom Glaser
Irving Yarin, father of David Yarin
Arthur Holman, father of Alexander Holman
Muriel Glassman, mother of Brian Glassman
Charles Ingber, father of Rita Hantman
Judi Montag, motehr of Dawn, Rodney, and Sandy Montag
Meyer Brodie, father of Edward Brodie
Week of January 13
Gloria Barzman, sister of Lyn Tetelman
Molly Besen, grandmother of Nadine Posnansky
Dr. Theo Leibman, husband of Felicia Leibman,
father of Michael, Peter & Mark
Fannie Lourie, mother of Marianne Goldstick
Hyman Rovner, mother of Natalie Konner
William Siegal, father of Lonnie Morris
Morris Sirota, father of Dr. David Sirota
Marjorie Taplinger, mother of Sandy Sobel
Nathaniel Millman, father of Adele Holman
Gregg Thomas Somer, brother of Van Somer
Week of January 20 Week of January 29
Alexander Baumstein, father of Dr. Donald Baumstein Margaret Andor, mother of Judith
Joseph Bergman, father of Dr. Donald Bergman Abraham
Edith Wrubel Cohen, mother of Charles Wrubel Richard LaZarnick, brother of Dana Susan Duhl, mother of Iris Barad Osterman
David Friedman, cousin of Rabbi Nat Benjamin David Saul, father of Barbara Devack
Meyer Heller, father of Laurel Glazier Ruth Shaye, mother of Zeena Kushner
Janet Kaufman, mother of Lois Vaisman Charles Small, father of Dr. Frederick Jean Moses, mother of Dr. Michael Moses Small
Bella Squillante, aunt of Elaine Beiger Morton Viders, father of Richard Viders
Charles Small, father of Dr. Frederick Small Shirley Zeitlin, sister of Lil Breiger
Sy Rosenthal, father of Jesse Rosenthal
Ray Green, mother of Lil Breiger
Margaret Dray, sister of Lil Breiger
Religious School News By Debra Kronberg
As we continue the story of Joseph in the Torah, dreams play a central role. As Joseph matures he moves from dream interpretation to turning those dreams into action. It is Joseph’s visionary leadership in setting up food storehouses and a distribution network that saves Egypt and ultimately brings the household of Jacob together again.
Turning dreams into reality played a very important role in the creation of our Chavurah. The visions of Rabbis Benjamin and Bemporad have come to fruition. Our religious school, which started with a handful of students now has an enrollment of over sixty students.
Two of our teachers have been with the Chavurah and the Religious School since its dream state. Each week Ruth Dollinger and Helen Goody arrive with all their creative energy and experience to guide our youngsters through the rigors of learning to read Hebrew. They are both active members of our Chavurah. We pray that God gives them the strength and good health to continue with us for many more years to come.
It is also our dream that some of our students will go on to explore Judaism on a more mature level. Our second session students will have the opportunity in the next few months to learn about the Bergen County High School of Jewish Studies and the Bergen Academy of Jewish Education. Information will be forthcoming and we hope to have our parents join us for these informative and important presentations.
Thanks to our faculty for making Chanukah very meaningful as well as fun.
Esther Berkowitz brought dreidels for all to decorate and Rabbi Benjamin, Cantor Stan and Janine Schwarz led us in Chanukah singing.
Shiri Gall and her husband Robbie worked very hard preparing the latkes for our Family Celebration. The glow of all the chanukiot ( menorahs) reminds us that the Jewish people still light the way to bring peace and freedom for all people.
Esther Goodhart and her class of third graders had a creative, educational and fun party. Mazal tov to this very generous group of youngsters who brought in almost $100.00 to be sent to a synagogue in Biloxi, Mississippi which suffered tremendous damage during Hurricane Katrina.
Please remember to send your child to school each week with money for our Tzedakah boxes. Our Blanket Drive Tzedakah project will continue through the month of January, so if you have not already done so, please bring in a new or gently used child’s blanket.
The faculty joins me in wishing you a very Happy New Year!
May all your dreams come true!
Haggadahs Anyone?
Elegant Haggadahs which your family and friends will want to use year after year are available now. They include magnificent illustrations by artist Tobi Kahn as well as thoughtful and inspirational text by Rabbi Jack Bemporad. With nearly two thousand copies sold to date, the Chavurah Beth Shalom Haggadah has been called a “thinking persons Haggadah.” It is attractive, artistic, informative and interesting and easy to use at the Seder table. As members of Chavurah Beth Shalom, we can all be proud of our Haggadah and grateful to those who made it possible though their hard work and generosity.
To order you Haggadahs, call (201) 567-7806 or fill out the order form below.
Chavurah Beth Shalom Tribute Cards
A beautiful and tasteful card is available to send to friends and family in times of joy or sorrow. The original design is suitable for Yahrzeit, Mazel Tov’s, Sympathy and Honors.
Please support the congregation while showing that you care!
You have two options to purchase/send tribute cards:
Option 1 – You may purchase a box of cards and have them sent to your home to be mailed at your convenience.
Option 2 – You can purchase an individual card and have us mail it for you.
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Option 1 – Please send cards to me at:
Name______
Address______
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Enclosed is my check for $100 for a box of 10 cards
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Option 2 – Please send a tribute card to the following:
Name______
Address______
______
Enclosed is my check for: $18 Tribute, $36 Silver, $100 Gold
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MAIL TO:
Gayle Gerstein, P.O. Box 915, Alpine, NJ 07620-0915