jewish life 2013-14

EveryoneLearning Is For

Program Guide2013-14/5774

Jewish LIFE Mission Statement:Jewish LIFE, a collaborative Jewish education program created by the JCC, Rabbis, lay leadership and Jewish agencies, strives to expand and enhance the Jewish educational opportunities offered to both affiliated and non-affiliated Jews in Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties.

Jewish LIFE, a Community Adult Education Program, is Supported By:Chabad of Greater Somerset County; Chabad Jewish Center of Southern Somerset County; Chabad of Hunterdon County; Flemington Jewish Community Center; Congregation Kehilat Shalom, Congregation Knesseth Israel; Temple Har Shalom, Warren; Jewish Family Service of Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties; Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties; Or Chadash, the Reform Temple of Hunterdon County; Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center, Bridgewater; Jewish Center of Northwest Jersey; Temple Beth- El, Hillsborough; Temple Beth El, Somerset; and Temple Sholom, Bridgewater.

Jewish LIFE

Please complete and return the registration form with payment to:

Jewish LIFE 775 Talamini RoadBridgewater, NJ 08807

Make checks payable to: Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center

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Event Date Event Price Qty TotalPatron*/ Benefactor** Excludes: Melton School, Imagine,

Celebrate Israel, Teen Trip to Israel.$180/Person - $360/Couple

Melton School of Adult Jewish LearningRegister by calling 973.530.3519

October 2013 - June 2014 $650 by Sept. 10 $700 after Sept. 10

iEngageEngaging Israel: Foundations for a New Relationship Starts Sun.,October 6 $50 per student

Katherine Rosman: If You Knew Suzy Sunday, September 29 Free to Community

Rabbi Deborah Prinz: On the Chocolate Trail Wednesday, October 9 Free to Community

Yossi Klein Halevi: Like Dreamers Thursday, October 10 $8/advance- $10/door

Imagine Event : Jewish Federation Tuesday, October 15 $72 per person

Fraidy Reiss: UN-Arrange a Marriage...RE- Arrange a Life Sunday, October 20 Free to Community

Martin Fletcher: Jacob’s Oath Thursday, October 24 $8/advance- $10/door

Rabbi Ron Isaacs: Do Animals Have Souls? Wednesday, October 30 Free to Community

Dr. Joel M. Hoffman: And God Said Thursday, November 14 $8/advance- $10/door

Martin Russ Federman: Russ and Daughters Sunday, November 17 $8/advance- $10/door

Letty Cottin Pogrebin: How to be a Friend to a Friend Who’s Sick Wednesday, December 4 $18/advance- $22/door

The Irma Horowitz Film Series: Falafel and Films Thursday, December 12 $10/advance- $15/door

Dr. Robert Harris: “Jews and Christian Read Scripture” Thursday, January 30 $8/advance- $10/door

Ryan Murray: Anti-Semitism in the 21st Century Thursday, February 27 $8/advance- $10/door

A Taste of Jewish Spain Saturday, March 29 $18 per person

A Night to Celebrate Israel Thursday, April 3 Price TBD

The Irma Horowitz Film Series: Falafel and Films Thursday, April 10 $10/advance- $15/door

Yom Hashoah Observance Sunday, April 27 Free to Community

That Our Hearts May Grow Wise:Cultivating Wisdom as We Age Wednesday, April 30 $8/advance- $10/door

Registration Form

*Patron: $180 includes 1 Ticket with Reserved Seating for each Event.

**Benefactor: $360 includes 2 Tickets w/Reserved Seating for each Event.

Patron/Benefactor excludes: Melton School, Imagine, Celebrate Israel, Teen Trip to Israel.

Please call JCC Executive Director Laura Friedman for details: (908) 725-6994 x213

• [email protected]

Jewish LIFE Events and Films 3

course registration informationIf you are interested in registering for any class listed under Course Offerings, please contact the host locations directly, using the following guide.

Code

BES

CKS

CKI

CJC-BR

CJC-H

CJC-HC

FJCC

HS

Code

OCH

JCNWJ

JFS

JFED

SSBJCC

TBE

TS

Organization

Temple Beth El Somerset1489 Hamilton Street, Somerset 08873(732) 873-2325 Fax: ( 732) 873-3892Denomination: ConservativeRabbi Eli Garfinkel

Congregation Kehilat Shalom253 Griggstown Road, Belle Mead 08503(908) 359-0420 Fax: (908) 359-8848Denomination: ReconstructionistRabbi Susan Falk

Congregation Knesseth Israel229 Mountain Avenue, Bound Brook, NJ(732) 469-0934 Fax: (732) 356-1325Rabbi Jack Kramer

Chabad Jewish Center of Greater Somerset County3048 Valley Road, Basking Ridge 07920(908) 604-8844 Fax: (908) 604-0771Denomination: IndependentRabbi Mendy Herson

Chabad Jewish Center of Southern Somerset County26 New Amwell Road, Hillsborough 08844(908) 874-0444 Fax: (908) 450-3333Denomination: IndependentRabbi Shmaya Krinsky

Chabad of Hunterdon County90 Beaver Avenue, Clinton 08809(908) 238-9002 Fax: ( 908) 238-9006Denomination: IndependentRabbi Eli Kornfeld

Flemington Jewish Community Center5 Sergeantsville Road, Flemington 08822(908) 782-6410 Fax: (908) 806-7736Denomination: ConservativeRabbi Evan Jaffe

Organization

Jewish Center of Northwest Jersey115 Youmans Avenue, Washington 07882(908) 689-0762Denomination: ReformRabbi Mary Zamore

Jewish Family Service of Somerset, Hunterdon & Warren Counties150-A West High Street, Somerville 08876(908) 725-7799 Fax: (908) 725-0284Executive Director: Jerry Starr

Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon & Warren Counties775 Talamini Road, Bridgewater 08807(908) 725-6994 Fax: (908) 725-9753Executive Director: Diane Naar

Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center775 Talamini Road, Bridgewater 08807(908) 725-6994 Fax: (908) 725-9753Exec. Director: Laura Friedman

Temple Beth-El, Hillsborough67 U.S. Hwy. 206, Hillsborough 08844(908) 722-0674 Fax: (908) 429-1418Denomination: ReformRabbi Arnie Gluck

Temple SholomP.O. Box 6007, North Bridge StreetBridgewater 08807(908) 722-1339 Fax: (908) 253-0878Denomination: ConservativeRabbi Ron Isaacs

Or Chadash149 Foothill Road Flemington, NJ 08822(908) 806-2122 Fax: (908) 806-2162Denomination: ReformRabbi Joseph M. Forman

Temple Har Shalom104 Mount Horeb Road, Warren 07059(732) 356-8777 Fax: (732) 356-0580 Denomination: ReformRabbi Randi Musnitsky

Jewish LIFE Events and Films4

Jewish LIFE

Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning A Journey of Jewish Self DiscoveryTuesdays: 9:30 am – 11:30 am October 2013 - June 2014 (30 weeks)Hosted by the JCCRegistration by September 10: $650Registration after September 10: $700

New Adult EducationProgram

Melton School curriculum was developed by a team of scholars at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Classes integrate Jewish history, law beliefs, practices, ideas and terminology through the study of texts from ancient to contemporary. In year one you will cover RHYTHMS & PURPOSE. In Rhythms you will focus on the ideas, beliefs and sources that shape Jewish Life and practice, including the daily, weekly, monthly, annual life –cycle observances and customs. We will address the questions of why do Jews believe what they do and what are the theological concepts that unfold in the Bible, Talmud and other sacred text, both ancient and contemporary.

Year OneTHE PURPOSES OF JEWISH LIVING (30 Lessons)Why do Jews believe as they do? What are the big questions of life and how do Jewish thinkers answer these questions? This course explores both ancient and modern responses to many of the major issues of Jewish thought and theology.THE RHYTHMS OF JEWISH LIVING (30 Lessons)What’s the point of living Jewishly? What ideas, beliefs, and practices are involved? This course examines a wide variety of Jewish sources to discover the deeper meanings underlying Jewish holidays, lifecycle, observances and Jewish practice.

What We StudyThe Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning fosters and enriches Jewish cultural literacy

through our Core Curriculum, Foundations of Jewish Family Living, and Scholars Curriculum for graduates.

The Melton School Core Curriculum is a comprehensive, sequential series of text-based lessons, comprisedof four courses. Each course focuses on at least one major area of Jewish learning, and forms a thread in a

carefully woven fabric which integrates Jewish history, religion, ritual, language, ethics, philosophy, literature, theology and contemporary Jewish life.

Link for registration forms: http://www.jccmetrowest.org/meltonschool or call Rhonda Lillianthal: 973.530.3519Give us two hours a week.... We’ll give you 5774 years!Jewish LIFE thanks JCC MetroWest for bringing The Melton School of Adult Learning to our community. A $300 program subsidy may be available through the Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties. Contact Diane Naar at 908-725-6994 x202.


Engaging Israel Foundations for a New RelationshipInstructor: Rabbi Arnie GluckSundays: 4:00-6:00 pmDates: October 6, 27; November 17; January 5; February 2; March 2; April 6; May 4; June 8Location: Temple Beth-El, HillsboroughFee: $50 per student

Instructor: Rabbi Joseph FormanSundays: 9:00-10:15 amDates: October 6; November 3; December 15; January 26; February 23; March 23; April 6; May 4Location: Or Chadash, FlemingtonFee: $50 per student

The Engaging Israel project attempts to construct a new narrative and language…the new narrative must reshape both ENGAGING ISRAEL: FOUNDATIONS FOR A NEW RELATIONSHIP

A Hartman Institute Lecture & Study Series, Led by Rabbi Arnie Gluck from Temple Beth-El, Hillsborough and Rabbi Joseph Forman from Or Chadash in Flemington.

Through video lectures, text study, and lively group discussion, we are pleased to bring the world-renowned faculty of the Shalom Hartman Institute into the community this fall.

Going deeper than the political issues of the day, Engaging Israel re-frames the discussion about the endur-ing significance of the State of Israel for contemporary Jews worldwide. Advocacy programs alone – based on dire facts and figures about the precariousness of Jewish survival – often fail to engender a substantive connection for an increasing number of Jews, who see Israel’s impressive military and economic vitality and are unconvinced that it is a weak country that desperately needs help from world Jewry. At the same time, the political, economic, and cultural success of North American Jewry has diminished the compelling nature of the post-Holocaust survival narrative.

The Engaging Israel course elevates the North American conversation about Israel by rooting it in Jewish values and ideas rather than in a response to crisis. We will explore questions such as: What are the benefits of Jewish sovereignty? How should a Jewish state exercise military power ethically? How do we create and maintain a Jewish democracy? Why should American Jews care about Israel? What values should a Jewish state embody? What can Israel offer the world? In this way, Engaging Israel will equip participants with a quintessentially Jewish values-based vocabulary to define and articulate why Israel and Zionism can and should be fundamental to our Jewish identity.

Each session includes text study and discussion led by Rabbis Gluck and Forman, a video lecture by Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman, and a video dialogue between Rabbi Hartman and other top scholars and experts. Join us for this wonderful opportunity to learn from great scholars, from our local Rabbis, and from one another as we engage in thinking about the meaning that Israel can have in our lives and what our role might be in envisioning and building the future of the Jewish State.

New Adult Education Program


Jewish LIFE

September

Tuesday, September 17Hosted by JFED SHAWLocation: Poolside at the JCCFee: $35 in advance • $40 at the doorRain or Shine

BNG Poolside BBQ!

special eventsKatherine RosmanIf You Knew SuzyA Mother, A Daughter,A Reporter’s NotebookSunday, September 29 at 10:30 amHosted by Or ChadashFree to the Community (Books are available for purchase at Or Chadash)

Faced with the loss of her mother, Suzy, to cancer at sixty, Wall Street Journal reporter Katherine Rosman longs to find answers to the questions that we all wrestle with after losing someone we love. So she does what she does best: she opens her notebook and starts investigating. Along the way, Rosman discovered another side to her mother—a woman whose life was intricately connected to a host of characters her daughter hardly knew.

As she browsed through her mother’s address book, she embarks on a cross-country odyssey that would take her into the heart of some quirky, colorful communities. It was her guide as she tracked down total strangers hoping to learn more about her mother. She explores and develops a new insight & understanding of a woman she thought she couldn’t know better. Rosman learned to understand her mother as she never imagined she could. She blends humor, honesty and old-fashioned reporting as she struggles with the bittersweet reality that sometimes we can’t truly know someone until after she is gone. At once comforting, candid and very funny, If You Knew Suzy is a heartfelt memoir against which readers can consider themselves and the lives of all those they love.

Torah & CoffeeInstructor: Miriam KrinskyTuesdays: 10:00-11:00 amDates: September 3Location: CJC-HFee: Free, Donations are appreciated

The class is designed to enrich your week and will dive into the ancient words of the Torah to discover insightful and contemporary lessons on how to direct the struggles of challenges in our lives into reservoirs of strength and inspiration.

Please join us for a NEW thought provoking class in the company of a warm and welcoming group of Jewish woman. Coffee will be served.

The Torah Portion: Lunch & LearnInstructor: Rabbi Eli GarfinkelMondays: 12:00 pmDates: Begins September 16Location: BES

The weekly Torah portion is a locked vault with treasures inside. Unfortunately, too many Jews have forgotten the combination. Rabbi Eli Garfinkel will teach you how to open the vault of the weekly portion and how to enjoy the wealth of learning contained therein. Although the focus of the class will be on translated primary sources, no Hebrew language ability is required for this class.

The Book of ProverbsInstructor: Rabbi Eli GarfinkelTuesdays: 8:00 - 9:00 pmBegins: September 24Location: BES

The Book of Proverbs, also known as Sefer Mishlei, is a part of the Bible that remains unexplored even for many knowledgeable Jews. Come learn about the history and wisdom of this remarkable source of Jewish heritage.


special eventsOctober films

Jewish Film Series at Temple Beth-El, Hillsborough

“ROOM 514”Saturday, October 12 5:00 pmRunning Time: 90 minutes

With special guest Amy Kronish, followed by se’udah sh’lishit (the traditional third meal of Shabbat), havdalah, and the award-winning

“ROOM 514” (Israel, 2012)

Winner: Special jury award at New York ‘s Tribeca Film Festival

Shot in a minimalist style, the film asks questions about startling contemporary issues facing young people serving in the Israeli army. Are there varying codes of morality? Is there a conflict between security needs and basic human values? How should we behave as an occupying power?

According to filmmaker Sharon Bar-Ziv, “The viewer is introduced to the conflict between Israel’s acute security needs and the human moral values of a society which carries collective historical and emotional ties to its land. This relates to the intense drama within the Israeli army culture, in which young soldiers are forced to deal with situations in which personal and national responsibilities contradict.”

Amy Kronish works as a consultant in the field of Jewish and Israeli film and curates film programs. Previously, she directed coexistence programs at the Jerusalem International YMCA and served for 15 years as the Curator of Jewish and Israeli Film at the Jerusalem Cinematheque. She lectures and writes widely on film and is the author of two books on Israeli film: World Cinema: Israel (1996) and Israeli Film — A Reference Guide (2003).

Rabbi Deborah PrinzOn the Chocolate TrailA Delicious Adventure Connecting Jews, Religions, History, Travel, Rituals, & Recipes to the Magi of CacaoWednesday, October 9 at 7:00 pmHosted by Temple Har ShalomFree to the CommunityCome on a delightful journey through the religious history of chocolate. You may think twice next time you pick up that piece of chocolate, and consider that you are not only enjoying a sweet treat, but partaking in a part of Jew-ish history. Explore the surprising Jewish connections to chocolate in this historical and gastronomic adventure through cultures, countries, centuries and religions. Rabbi Deborah Prinz draws from her world travels on the trail of chocolate to enchant chocolate lovers of all backgrounds as she explores tales of Jews in the early chocolate trade, and shows how Jewish values infuse chocolate today. With mouth-watering recipes, a glossary of chocolaty terms, tips for buying luscious, ethically produced chocolate, a list of sweet chocolate museums around the world and more, this book unwraps many tasty facts. It will be an evening of fun & chocolate followed by a book signing.

Rabbi Prinz was awarded the Starkoff Fellowship and a Director’s Fellowship from the American Jewish Archives as well as a Gilder Lehrman Fellowship from the Rockefeller Library to pursue this research. In 1991, she was named “Woman of the Year” by Brandeis University National Women’s Committee.

Making Prayer Real: Why Prayer Is Difficult & What to Do About ItInstructor: Sarah GluckSundays: 8:45-9:45 amDates: October 6, 20, 27; November 3, 17, 24; December 8; January 12, 26; February 2, 9, 23; March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; April 27; May 4

Location: TBE

Drawing inspiration from more than fifty Jewish spiritual leaders from all denominations in a candid conversation about the why and how of prayer in Rabbi Mike Comins’s book Making Prayer Real, we will explore the challenges of prayer, what it means to pray, and how to develop a personal prayer voice. Rather than theology or the history of Jewish liturgy, the Making Prayer Real Course focuses on the skills and techniques that can make prayer profound, powerful, and transformative. Sessions will include learning and discussion, video interviews with leading Jewish spiritual voices on the art of prayer, and an exploration of traditional and innovative prayer practices. Prerequisite: Curiosity and a desire to explore the riches of Jewish tradition and rewards of Jewish living. All are welcome to join the conversation!

Mondays with Rabbi JaffeInstructor: Rabbi Evan JaffeMondays: 8:00 amDates: Begins Monday, October 7Location: FJCC

Spend your Mondays in meaningful conversation with peers. Discussions will be focused on topics of interests to participants.

Patron: $180 includes 1 Ticket with Reserved Seating for each Event.

Benefactor: $360 includes 2 Tickets with Reserved Seating for each Event.

Please call JCC Executive Director Laura Friedman for details.(908) 725-6994 x213 • e-mail: [email protected]

Jewish LIFE Is Possible Only With

Your Support


Jewish LIFE October

Torah StudiesInstructor: Rabbi Shmaya KrinskyThursdays: 8:00 PMBegins: Thursday, October 3Location: The Renaissance Community in SomersetFee: $25

Torah Studies program brings you the tradition of classical Jewish learning in a series of clear and engaging weekly classes. Probing the ideas and issues presented in each week’s Torah portion, the Torah Studies classes offer timely, meaningful lessons for living – from the most timeless of all texts.

Kup* O’ Joe Caffeinated Conversations...with Rabbi Forman *Kup is Yiddush for Head/MindInstructor: Rabbi FormanSundays: 9:00 amDates: Oct. 6, Nov. 3, Dec. 8, Jan. 5, Feb. 9, March 9, April 13, May 4 Location: OCH

Join Rabbi Forman on selected Sunday mornings at 9am for a lively conversation on a wide variety of topics: US and Israel politics, theology, Jewish practice, sacred texts and more. Feel free to suggest a topic for a future gathering. Coffee and refreshments always served. No RSVP necessary.

special eventsYossi Klein HaleviLike DreamersThe Story of the Israeli Paratroopers Who Reunited Jerusalem & Divided a NationThursday, October 10 at 7:00 pmHosted by Temple Beth-El, HillsboroughLike Dreamers is the story of seven paratroopers from the 55th Brigade, who in 1967 restored Jewish sovereignty to Jerusalem. Halevi follows them over the years as their ideologies and beliefs play a pivotal role in shaping a country. Like Dreamers is a nuanced, in-depth look at these diverse men and the conflicting beliefs that have helped to define modern Israel and the Middle East.

Yossi Klein Halevi is a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and a contributing editor of the New Republic. He is the Author of At the Entrance to the Garden of Eden: A Jew’s Search for God with Christian and Muslims in the Holy Land.

special events

Fee: $72Be sure to join Women’s Philanthropy for their biggest event of the year, “Imagine 2013!” Featuring Duo Dmitri, winners of numerous international piano and flute competitions. They will tell their poignant and touching story of how they emigrated to Israel with the assistance of the Jewish Federation system, interwoven with their beautiful music. Please contact [email protected] or 908.725.6994 ext. 253.

This year we will be assisting two agencies helping severely disabled children: Aleh Negev & Assocation for Retarded Citizens.

Adv. Intermediate Biblical HebrewInstructor: Sarah GluckSundays: 10:00 - 11:00 amDate: Oct. 6, 20, 27; Nov. 3, 17, 24; Dec. 8; Jan. 12, 26; Feb. 2, 9, 23;March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; April 27; May 4

Location: TBE

If you have worked in The First Hebrew Primer or completed a comparable course of study, this class will continue to guide you in reading, understanding, and translating passages from the Hebrew Bible through building vocabulary, roots, and grammar. Textbooks: The First Hebrew Primer and The First Hebrew Reader.


Octoberspecial events

Patron: $180 includes 1 Ticket with Reserved Seating for each Event. Benefactor: $360 includes 2 Tickets with Reserved Seating for each Event. Please call JCC Executive Director Laura Friedman for details.(908) 725-6994 x213 • e-mail: [email protected]


Your Support

Fraidy ReissFounder & Executive Directorof Unchained at LastUN-Arrange a Marriage.....RE-Arrange a LifeSunday, October 2010:30 amHosted by Or Chadash

Fraidy Reiss is the founder and Executive Director of Un-chained At Last, the only organization in the US that is dedicated to helping women leave arranged and forced marriages and to preventing women from becoming trapped in such marriages. The organization she founded envisions a world where every woman is free to choose whether, when and whom to marry — and whether to leave a marriage.

We encourage you to watch this powerful documentary preview, featuring Fraidy Reiss, The Hen That Crows. http://vimeo.com/m/58994463

Fraidy will share some personal and powerful experienc-es with us. There will be time for discussion and ques-tions from our community. Fraidy currently resides in New Jersey.

For more information on Fraidy Reiss and Unchained At Last go to: http://www.unchainedatlast.org/about/man-agement-team/

Life in the Balance: Jewish Perspectives on Everyday Medical DilemmasInstructor: Rabbi Shmaya KrinskyTuesdays: 7:30 pmDates: October 29 - December 3Location: CJC-HFee: $99Modern medicine has brought us near miracles. It’s also brought us some of the most difficult decisions we’ll ever have to face. Are we obliged to prolong life even at the cost of terrible suffering? Should we legalize the sale of organs, such as kidneys, to save the lives of transplant patients? May a woman with a multiple-fetus pregnancy opt for fetal reduction, thus forfeiting the lives of some to possibly save others? When it seems that every available option is morally questionable, how do we decide? Fortunately for us all, Torah and the Talmud are not silent about such matters. And this course will show you what they have to say.

When it comes to the ethics of medicine, we’re going to get real — in the most dramatic possible way. We’ll discuss actual case studies, examining many possible viewpoints as we come to grips with the issue that matters most: What kind of action or inaction should we take? When should we take it? And when do we edge too close to playing G-d?

More intriguing than any fictional TV show, this course will prepare you for choices that you or a loved one may be called upon to make. It is also a fascinating exposure to little-discussed aspects of Judaism.

Instructor: Rabbi Mendy HersonMondays: 7:30 pmDates: October 28 - December 2Location: CJC-BRFee: $99

Introduction to JudaismInstructors: Rabbi Arnie Gluck & Sarah GluckSundays: 11:00 am - 1:00 pmDates: Oct. 6, 20, 27; Nov. 3, 17, 24; Jan. 5, 26; Feb. 2, 23; March 2, 9, 23; April 27; May 4Location: TBEFee: TBD (based upon the cost of the textbooks) Registration & book fee required.

URJ Introduction to Judaism is a course offered in partnership with Reform congregations for anyone interested in exploring Judaism — singles, interfaith couples, those considering conver-sion, and Jews looking for adult-level basics. This class will in-troduce the fundamentals of Jewish thought and practice in 15 sessions. Topics include Jewish holidays and life cycle events, theology and prayer, Israel, history and Hebrew. There are many reasons why people choose to register for Introduction to Juda-ism. Whatever you are seeking, “Intro” offers you a time and place to broaden your Jewish awareness. It can launch you on a path to deeper personal Jewish connection, help you acquire a basic Jew-ish vocabulary, and offer you intellectual and experiential knowl-edge of Judaism as well as the skills necessary to “do Jewish.” Intro is designed to be a meaningful, educational experience for any person interested in knowing & understanding Judaism and Jewish life.

Special note: The Hebrew component will focus on beginning Hebrew reading (textbook TBD) in the first semester, and an introduction to liturgical Hebrew in the second (textbook: Aleph Isn’t Enough). Please contact Sarah Gluck (908-722-0674 x113 or [email protected]) to discuss how the second hour of the Intro to Judaism class (12:00-1:00 PM) can help meet your Hebrew needs.


Jewish LIFE Patron: $180 includes 1 Ticket with Reserved Seating for each Event,

Benefactor: $360 includes 2 Tickets with Reserved Seating for each Event,



Your Support

OctoberMishneh Torah: The Masterwork of MaimonidesInstructor: Rabbi Arnie Gluck

Tuesdays: Hebrew text study, 7:00-7:30 pm English text study & discussion, 7:30-8:30 pm

Dates: October 8, 15, 22, 29; November 12, 19; December 3, 17Location: TBENo presentation of Jewish tradition is clearer or more interesting than Maimonides’ code of Jewish law, the Mishneh Torah. Embedded within its lucid presentation is his bold and creative philosophy of Judaism, which has much to offer us in our quest for a compelling modern Judaism.

Rediscovering Judaism: Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah ClassInstructor: Rabbi Ron IsaacsSundays: 10:00-11:00 amDates: Begins Sunday, October 20 (This is a two year long course.)Location: TSTopics in the first year will include: Synagogue Geography, the Jewish calendar, the 613 Mitzvot, how Jewish law develops and is interpreted, and Jewish theology and G-d talk. For students continuing in year two of this course, Hebrew reading is a requirement.

Pirke Avot: Judaism’s first self-help bookInstructor: Rabbi Ron IsaacsTuesdays: 10:50-11:50 amDate: Begins Tuesday, October 8(5 sessions)Location: TSThe Talmudic tractate known as Pirke Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) is a book of wisdom and ethical advice. According to the ancient rabbis, one who desires to be virtuous must fulfill the precepts of the book. Come study and learn to be virtuous. (This is a continuation of last’s year, beginning with chapter 3.)

Temple Beth El, Somerset Film ClassInstructor: Rabbi Eli GarfinkelTuesdays: 8:00 - 9:00 pmDate: Last Tuesday of the Month (Starting October 29)Location: BESThe Temple Beth El Film Class is back by overwhelming popular demand! We’ll watch and discuss movies and documentaries that speak to the state of Jewish life in our day. Many of them are award-winning masterpieces. If you are not a member of Temple Beth El and would like to receive the movie schedule when it is available, please send an email to [email protected].

Elementary Hebrew ReadingInstructor(s): Robert Grant & Jessica JentisFridays: 9:30-10:30 am Sundays: 9:00-10:00 amBegins: October 11Location: TSThis course will teach students how to read Hebrew. (Please email Rabbi Isaacs at [email protected] and indicate which day you are interested in.)

Martin FletcherJacob’s OathThursday, October 24 at 7:00 pmHosted by the JCC

Jacob’s Oath is set in 1945 Germany. It is a story of love and revenge. World War II has just ended; and the Holocaust survivors begin their long walk home. Among them are Jacob and Sarah. They meet in Heidelberg, their home town and fall in love. But Jacob has sworn to take revenge on the concentra-tion camp guard who beat his brother to death. He made this promise as his younger brother died in his arm. The guard nicknamed “The Rat” is also from Heidelberg. As Jacob waits for him to return home after the war he is torn. He must choose. Does he seek revenge for the past or live for the future? Does he choose love or hate?

Martin Fletcher was NBC News’ Middle East correspondent and Tel Aviv Bu-reau chief for 32 years. He currently works for NBC as a Special Correspon-dent. He reports as needed from Israel. He is one of the world’s most respect-ed television news correspondents. He has received 5 Emmys, a Columbia University DuPont Award, six Overseas Press Club awards, several Edward R. Murrow awards, a Hugo gold medal for a documentary on Israel which he shared with other NBC staffers, and a Nation Jewish Book Award. He has written four books to date.

special events

Return Engagement!


November

Jewish LIFE

special eventsDr. Joel M. HoffmanAnd God SaidHow Translations Conceal the Bible’s Original MeaningThursday, November 14 at 7:00 pmHosted by the JCC

For centuries, translations of the Bible have obscured our understanding and appreciation of the original text. Now And God Said provides readers with an authoritative account of significant mistranslations and shows how new translation methods can give readers their first glimpse into what the Bible really means.

And God Said uncovers the often inaccurate or misleading English translations of the He-brew Bible and the New Testament that quotes from it. Acclaimed translator Dr. Joel M. Hoffman sheds light on the original intention of the text and the newly developed means that readers can use to get closer to it. In And God Said his fresh approach has united the topics of religion, language, and linguistics to offer the first modern understanding since the Bible was written.

Acclaimed translator Dr. Joel M. Hoffman sheds light on the original intention of the text and the newly developed means that readers can use to get closer to it. In And God Said his fresh approach has united the topics of religion, language, and linguistics to offer the first modern understanding since the Bible was written.

Dr. Joel M. Hoffman, an expert in translation, Hebrew, and the Bible, is known for his “fresh insights and interpretations about religious life in the 21st century.” A popular speaker, Dr. Hoffman presents to churches, synagogues, community groups, and university audiences across the world. He holds a Ph.D. in linguistics and has served on the faculties of Brandeis University and Hebrew Union College.

Dr. Hoffman is the chief translator for the popular 10-volume series, My People’s Prayer Book (winner of the National Jewish Book Award) He is the author of the critically ac-claimed In the Beginning: A Short History of the Hebrew Language (NYU Press), and, most recently, And God Said: How Translations Conceal the Bible’s Original Meaning (Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Press), which explores how translation mistakes mask the origi-nal meaning of the Bible.

Judaism, Magic and SuperstitionInstructor: Rabbi Ron IsaacsMondays: 7:30-8:45pmBegins: Monday Nov. 4 (3 sessions)Location: TS

Is there such a thing as Jewish magic? Are Jewish exorcisms for real? What is the evil eye? Do Jews believe in evil spirits and demons? Come and learn why Tuesday is the most auspicious day for a Jewish wedding, why many people still say “pooh pooh pooh, why Jews don’t count people and much more

October

Learn to Chant TorahInstructor: Cantor Natan FetmanSundays: 10:00 amBegins: Sunday, November 3Location: TSThe chanting of Torah is a highlight of any prayer service. Come learn trope (musical notation) from Cantor Fetman. He will take you on a musical journey that will lead you to the skill of Torah reader.

special events

Do Animals Have Souls?Instructor: Rabbi Ron IsaacsWednesday, October 30 • 1:00 pmHosted by the JCC

Rabbi Isaacs presentation will present Jewish views of animals, pet ownership, and interesting animal and pet questions that he has received and will answer, including: Can I say the Mourner’s Kaddish for my pet who has died; What’s a Bark Mitzvah; Is there a blessing for pets; Is there an afterlife for my dog; and is there such a thing as Kosher Pet Food? His newest book is Do Animals Have Souls? A Pet Lover’s Guide to Spirituality.

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Are dogs mentioned in the bible? Is it permissible to hunt animals for sport? Can I bless my cat? Do animals have souls? Is there an a�erlife for my pet? How do I grieve for my dog and what prayer can I say? From the mundane to the perplexing, Rabbi Ron Isaacs answers all your ques-tions about animals and pets in a warm, wise, and witty manner. He brings his many years of personal experience as both a pet owner and a rabbi to create a family-friendly resource whose advice you will cherish and use repeatedly in your day-to-day lives. If you’ve ever wanted a guide to turn when you have an animal or pet question, Do Animals Have Souls will �ll the bill beautifully.

�e Author Rabbi Ron Isaacs, Ed.D, is the rabbi of Temple Sholom in Bridgewater, New Jersey and co-director of its Hebrew High School. A former adjunct lecturer in the Graduate Rabbinical School of the Jewish �eological School, he is the author of more than one hundred books. Rabbi Ron Isaacs can be reached directly through his website at www.rabbiron.com.

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Jewish LIFE

November

special eventsMartin Russ FedermanRuss & DaughtersReflections and Recipes from the House that Herring BuiltSunday, November 17 at 10:30 amHosted by Or Chadash

The former owner/proprietor of the beloved appetizing store on Manhat-tan’s Lower East Side tells the delightful, mouth-watering story of an immigrant family’s journey from a pushcart in 1907 to “New York’s most hallowed shrine to the miracle of caviar, smoked salmon, ethereal herring, and silken chopped liver” (The New York Times Magazine). Mark Russ Federman, grandson of founder Joel Russ, took over the running of Russ & Daughters from his parents in 1978 and turned it over to the fourth generation, his daughter Niki and nephew Josh, in 2009. He has appeared individually and on panels at The Smithsonian Institute, The Museum of the City of New York, The New York Public Library, and The Conference of the Food Writers and Food Journalists Association, among many other venues. He makes frequent guest appearances on radio and television. Mark and Russ & Daughters were most recently featured on the PBS documentary The Jews of New York, on Lidia Bastianich’s PBS series, Lidia Celebrates America, and on Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations.

Russ & Daughters is filled with charming tales about how an ambitious hard-working family turned their passion for selling delectable fish into an institu-tion with a devoted national clientele for almost 100 years.

Ask the RabbiInstructor: Rabbi Ron IsaacsSundays: 11:00-12:00 pmDates: Nov. 3; Nov. 17; Dec. 1Location: TS

Years ago the Prophetess and Judge Deb-orah sat under her palm tree and fielded the questions of her people. She offered her advice and wisdom. Using this biblical model, come to the Library with your per-sonal questions and ask the rabbi. (Email-ing your questions in advance would be helpful: [email protected].)

Jewish Views of MiraclesInstructor: Rabbi Ron IsaacsTuesdays: 10:50-11:50 amBegins: Nov 12 (5 sessions)Location: TS

This class will explore the nature of the Jewish miracle and the miracle stories in the Jewish Bible and rabbinic literature.

Divine JusticeInstructor: Rabbi Eli GarfinkelTuesdays: 8:00 - 9:00 pmBegins: November 12Location: BES

So why do bad things happen to good peo-ple? Why do good things happen to bad people? There are many answers to the question, and more than one can be true de-pending on the situation. In this class, we’ll tour the spectrum of possible approaches to this eternal question.


special eventsLetty Cottin PogrebinHow to Be a Friend to a Friend Who’s SickWednesday, December 4 at 12:00 NoonProgram and Luncheon • Hosted by the JCCCo-sponsored by: Brandeis National Committee, Somerset Chapter; Jewish Family Service;Jewish Federation Women’s Philanthropy; Hadassah; Temple Beth-El, Hillsborough Sister-hood; Temple Beth El, Somerset Sisterhood; Temple Sholom Sisterhood. Everyone knows someone who’s sick or suffering. Yet when a friend or relative is under duress many of us feel uncertain about how to cope.

Throughout her recent bout with breast cancer, Letty Cottin Pogrebin became fasci-nated by her friends’ and family’s diverse reactions to her and her illness: how awk-wardly some of them behaved; how some misspoke or misinterpreted her needs; and how wonderful it was when people read her right. She began talking to her fellow pa-tients and dozens of other veterans of serious illness, seeking to discover what sick people wished their friends knew about how best to comfort, help, and even simply talk to them.

Now Pogrebin has distilled their collective stories and opinions into this wide-ranging compendium of pragmatic guidance and usable wisdom. Her advice is always infused with sensitivity, warmth, and humor. It is embedded in candid stories from her own and others’ journeys, and their sometimes imperfect interactions with well-meaning friends. How to Be a Friend to a Friend Who’s Sick is an invaluable guidebook for any-one hoping to rise to the challenges of this most important and demanding passage of friendship.

Letty Cottin Pogrebin is an award-winning journalist, widely published opinion writer, acclaimed public speaker, admired political activist, and author of several nonfic-tion bestsellers including Growing Up Free, Getting Over Getting Older, and Deborah, Golda and Me. Her last book was a novel, Three Daughters. She resides in New York.

Jewish FederationSuper SundaySunday, December 89:30 am - 1:30 pm

Food, Fun, PrizesVOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

The Strength of a People,The Power of a Community

Go to www.jfedshaw.org for more details.

December films Jewish Film Series at Temple Beth-El, Hillsborough

“Sholem Aleichem:Laughing in the Darkness “

Saturday, December 14, 7:00 pmLocation: TBERunning Time: 93 minutesWinner: The Lia Award, Jerusalem Film Festival, 2011

This is not only a story of Sholem Aleichem, it’s a story of a people, a place, a changing world, and a language. It is an invigorating and fascinating bio-graphical documentary that should be required viewing for anyone with a love for the written word.The movie tells the tale of this genius who created with brilliant humor an en-tirely new literature. Sholem Aleichem was not just a witness to the creation of a new modern Jewish identity, but one of the very men who shaped it. Yiddish literature best describes this Jewish transformation, and nowhere was this more acutely true than in the stories of Sholem AleichemUsing rarely seen photographs and archival footage, and interviews with leading experts and the author’s own granddaughter, author Bel Kauffmann, the film brings to life Sholem Aleichem’s worldly and timeless stories.

The Irma Horowitz Film SeriesFeaturing Falafel & FilmsIsraeli Short FilmsPresented by Ma’aleh School of Television Film and the Arts in Jerusalem

Thursday, December 12 at 6:30 PMHosted by the JCC“The Breakfast Parliament” Every morning, veteran members of Kibbutz Ein Tzurim get together in the empty dining room. Here their “parliament” reverently discusses the inner politics, gossip, and agricultural developments of the kibbutz, as well as the upcoming 60th anniversary celebrations. When the kibbutz votes to stop serving breakfast, the parliament members embark upon a struggle that will bring the kibbutz’s entire existence into question.

“The Ranch”David is the owner of a ranch in a remote settlement that will soon be evacuated by the army. He has already experienced eviction from the Sinai in 1982, and this time he has decided to give in quietly. This causes a serious confrontation with his idealistic 17 year old son, Oriah, who is prepared to fight the eviction body and soul.Awards Include: First Prize, Festival of South California 2006, and First Prize for “Beginnings” festival, International Student Competition, St. Petersburg 2006

“The Rabbi’s Daughter”It is the story of three daughters of rabbis, directed by the daughter of a rabbi. The four women have chosen a different path to that of their parents, and now they face inner dilemma, communal censure and the sacrifices that have to be made.Awards include: Student’s Prize, Israeli Documentary FIlmmakers Forum, 2012 - Aliza Shagrir Prize, 2011. Special Pitching Award, “Kolnoa Darom” Sderot Israel 2011 & - The Israeli Documentary Filmakers Forum Prize 2012

This program is supported in part by the Irma Horowitz Endowment Fund.

The Ma’aleh School


Jewish LIFE

films Jewish Film Series

“ABOUT FACE”Moderator(s): Melanie Shapiro, Marianne GoldsmithDate: TBA Location: Bridgewater JCCRunning Time: 97 minutesFREE to the CommunityWhat would you do if your family was driven from the only home you had ever known after being beaten, thrown in the streets and arrested without ever having committed a crime? What would you do if you had the chance to come back and face your enemy? Would you seek revenge, or, would you forgive? About Face tells a remarkable, yet previously untold story of thousands of young Jewish immigrants who fled Germany and Austria in the early days of Hitler’s regime, only to perform on “about face” returning to confront their oppressors on the field of battle as American GIs and British Tommies in WW2. These stories are ones of heartbreak, courage and ultimately, the triumph of the human spirit.

Featured in the film is Karl Goldsmith, husband of Marianne Goldsmith of Bedminster & father of Melanie Shapiro of Bound Brook

Trope WorkshopInstructor: Cantor Emily PincusTuesdays: 7:00-8:30 pmDates: January 7, 14, 21 and 28Location: TBE

This is a multi-level class for those who have studied trope before, as well as for those who are absolute beginners. Students will work chevruta-style according to ability, and different weekly assign-ments will be geared to different levels. Enthusiasm is important, vocal ability is not! Prerequisite: The ability to read Hebrew with vowels.Textbook: The Art of Torah Cantillation: A Step-by-Step Guide to Chanting Torah.

Alef-Bet:From the BeginningInstructor: Rabbi Eli GarfinkelTuesdays: 8:00 - 9:00 pmBegins: January 7Location: BES

Have you been telling yourself that you are going to learn to read Hebrew? Do you need a refresher course? Come learn the build-ing blocks of Jewish identity, the letters and vowels of the Hebrew alphabet. This class is intended for adult students.the Jewish Bible and rabbinic literature.

Januaryspecial eventsDr. Robert Harris“Jews and Christian Read Scripture”Thursday, January 307:00 PMHosted by the JCCJews and Christians generally lived in close proximity to one another in the 12th century: there were no ghettos yet established, and they dressed alike and spoke the same languages in day to day life. But of course stark differences marked their interrelationships, as well! This session examines the commonalities as well as the differences between Jews and Christians in medieval biblical study; the relationships and mutual influences that rabbis and churchmen had on one another (particularly in northern France) and, in particular, the polemics through which they typically inter-acted.

Dr. Robert Harris is associate professor of Bible at The Jewish Theological Seminary, teaching courses in biblical literature and commentary, particularly medieval Jewish biblical exegesis. He lectures on biblical narrative and Jewish liturgy in congrega-tions & adult education institutes around the country. One of his most popular series is “Unfolding the Text: An Introduction to Jewish Medieval Bible Commentaries”. An expert in the history of medieval biblical exegesis, Dr. Harris’s dissertation was titled The Literary Hermeneutic of Rabbi Eliezer of Beaugency. In 2004, Dr. Harris published a book in the Brown Judaic Studies series, Discerning Parallelism: A Study in Northern French Medieval Jewish Biblical Exegesis. In addition, he has published many articles and reviews in both American and Israeli journals. He is has a BA in Ancient Studies from Columbia, and a BHL in Talmud from Jewish Theological Semi-nary. He also received an MA in Judaica, MPhil in Bible, rabbinical ordination, and a PhD from Jewish Theological Seminary.


February

Thursday, February 6, 2014 7:30 pmLocation: Somerset Adult Day CenterBridgewater, NJVisit www.jfedshaw.org for more details.

Winter BNG!

special events

Ryan MurrayAnti-Semitism in the 21st Century: An Ongoing ThreatThursday, February 277:00 pmHosted by the JCC

Ryan Murray of Watchung Hills Regional High School will highlight some of the key issues and events concerning the ongoing problem of anti-Semitism, both locally and internationally. Many of these stories receive limited media attention and yet it is only through recognition and education that we can effectively counter the threat of anti-Semitism in the 21st century. Ryan Murray teaches an elective course titled Holocaust & Genocide at Watchung Hills Regional High School in Warren NJ. Since Mr. Murray took over the course in 2010 it has expanded from fourteen students to nearly two hundred students. There is also an honors course which provides students with the opportunity to receive college credit in conjunction with Kean Universities ID 1800 course, “Holocaust, Genocide, and Modern Humanities.” Mr. Murray has worked on numerous school wide programs to help foster genocide awareness, such as bringing honors students to the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. In November of 2011, Mr. Murray sponsored a month long program at the high school aimed at genocide awareness and social action. The program included a traveling museum display honoring up standers during the Holocaust and concluded with a school wide assemble presented by Rwandan Genocide survivor and activist Jacqueline Murekatete, raising over three thousand dollars for Jacqueline’s community center in Rwanda. In April 2012, Mr. Murray was awarded the Jack Zaifman Humanitarian Award for his work in Holocaust education. This past year Mr. Murray’s students partook in the One Million Bones initiative to help end genocide and Mr. Murray was a key speaker at Kean University’s panel discussion regarding the New Jersey mandate on Holocaust education alongside former Governor Kean and Executive Director of the NJ Commission on Holocaust Education, Dr. Paul Winkler.

The Prayerbook in the Bible: The Book of PsalmsInstructor: Rabbi Arnie GluckTuesdays: Hebrew text study, 7:00-7:30 pm English text study and discussion 7:30-8:30 pmDates: February 4, 25; March 4, 11, 18, 25; April 8, 29Location: TBE

Unique among the books of the Bible, Psalms is a text not for study, but for spiritual and ritual expression. Psalms enables people to pour out their hearts in prayers and conversation with God. We will explore the essence of this book, its core ideas, and why it has acquired its unique status in Jewish life.

PJ LIBRARY IS A NATIONAL BOOK PROGRAM implemented on a local level. It is a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, and it is made possible through partnerships with philanthropists and local Jewish organizations throughout North America.

PJ Library mails free, high-quality Jewish children’s books and mu-sic to families across the continent on a monthly basis. Today, more than 70,000 families in more than 135 communities in the United States and Canada are able to explore the timeless core values of Judaism through the art and literature of these free children’s books.

All families raising Jewish children from age six months through five, six, seven or eight years, depending on the community, are welcome to enroll.

Contact Stacey Herman for more information at [email protected].

To Be a Jew in the Free World: The Struggle for Identity in Modern TimesInstructor: Rabbi Shmaya KrinskyTuesdays: 7:30 pmDates: Feb. 4th - March 11Location: CJC-HFee: $99

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. One side of the coin promised security, acceptance, and affluence with the escape from anti-Semitism and discrimination; while the other threatened assimilation, confusion of loyalties, and the possibility of disappearing as a nation.

In To Be a Jew in the Free World, we examine the personal and religious struggles that individuals and communities confronted as they faced the challenges of changing times: stories that provoke debate and shed insight into what it means to live as a Jew today.

Instructor: Rabbi Mendy HersonThursdays: 7:30 pmDates: Feb. 6th - March 13th Location: CJC-BRFee: $99


Jewish LIFE

special events

March

Jewish StoriesInstructor: Rabbi Eli GarfinkelTuesdays: 8:00 - 9:00 pmBegins: March 18Location: BES

Stories and the Jews go together like peanut butter and jelly. Rabbi Garfinkel will teach this class about Jewish stories written by authors such as Sholom Aleichem, S.Y. Agnon, Saul Bellow, and others. We’ll use the book Great Jewish Short Stories, edited by Saul Bellow.

films Jewish Film Series Temple Beth-El, Hillsborough

“Turn Left at the End of the World Saturday”

March 8 at 7:00 pmLocation: TBERunning Time: 110 Minutes

Doors will be open at 6:30 pm for hors d’oeuvres and schmoozing.

Two wins and six nominations by the Israeli film academy, 2004

In Avi Nesher’s warm and humorous film, very British Indian Jews who immigrated to Israel seeking a better life are resettled in a town near the desert, and must learn to cope with their Moroccan Jewish neighbors, with their differences in language, customs, and attitudes. The film explores the hardships and surprises that come with the integration of multiple families with different ethnic backgrounds and their struggle with immigration and prejudice. The film is about the clash of the mild-mannered Indians with the outgoing and overzealous Moroccan immigrants, and how it affects the lives of two teenage girls who form a deep bond with each other.

A Taste of Jewish Spain Master guitarist, singer, and storyteller Gerard Edery will be our special guest.

Saturday, March 29 at 6:00 pmHosted by Temple Beth-El, HillsboroughFee: $18

Join us for this “Taste” of Jewish life event, when we will enjoy the rich cultural and culinary traditions of Jewish Spain.

Patron: $180 includes 1 Ticket with Reserved Seating for each Event,

Benefactor: $360 includes 2 Tickets with Reserved Seating for each Event,


Jewish LIFE Is Possible

Only With Your Support


April

special eventsCommunity-Wide Yom HaShoah ProgramSunday, April 27 • 7:00 pmTemple Sholom

Free to the CommunityProgram details to come.

The Jewish LIFE Festival of Books & Culture is made possible in part by a grant from the Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon & Warren Counties.

The JCC thanks the Jewish Book Council for making this program possible.Jewish LIFE

The Irma HorowitzFilm SeriesFeaturing Falafel & FilmsIsraeli Short FilmsPresented by Ma’aleh School of Television Film and the Arts in Jerusalem

Thursday, April 106:30 pmHosted by the JCC

“First Night”20 year old Emunah, an orthodox bride, accompanies her new husband to their new home on the night of the wedding. Emunah awaits the wedding night with hesitations and expectations. To her disappointment, the first night unfolds completely differently to how she has imagined. Lack of experience, embarrassment and the gap between imagination and reality, all cast their shadow on the wedding night and on the following days. Can this young marriage survive its first week?

Awards: First Prize, Festival of Religion, Trento, Italy 2006

“New Year’s Resolution”On the eve of the Rosh HaShana festival, a 38-year-old single woman announces to her orthodox family that she plans to have a child by artificial insemination. The family members react with shock and disbelief and the woman finds herself wavering in her resolve to carry out her New Year’s resolution.

“I’m Ready”The special relationship between an elderly father and his Down syndrome son breaks down when the father’s memory begins to fail due to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. The collapse of their stable and happy routine forces upon the two a painful resolution of their problems.Awards: First Prize, Jewish Film Festival, Athens Georgia USA 2011

“Alone”A rare glimpse into the lives of three divorced Ultra-Orthodox women, who tell about their daily hardships, fears, and diminished status in the eyes of the community. Above all, their dearest wish is to marry again.Award: Best Documentary, Jewish Film Festival Jerusalem Cinemateque 2012

This program is supported in part by the Irma Horowitz Endowment Fund.

A Night to Celebrate IsraelOur Community’s Support of Israel and Bond Event

Thursday, April 3, 2014Raritan Valley Country Club

Bridgewater, New Jersey

More details to come!

The Ma’aleh School


Jewish LIFE

films Jewish Film Series Temple Beth-El, Hillsborough

“Nora’s Will “

Wednesday, April 23 7:00 pmLocation: TBERunning Time: 92 MinutesWinner: 7 Mexican Ariel Awards, including Best Picture, 2010

special events

April

A Joyful Introduction to TalmudInstructor: Rabbi Eli GarfinkelTuesdays: 8:00 - 9:00 pmBegins: April 29Location: BES

Among those who have never experienced Talmud study, the very word Talmud conjures images of old men in black coats swaying as they talk about seemingly irrelevant details of Jewish law. Come to this class and discover for yourself that learning Talmud can not only be enriching but enjoyable as well! No prior experience with Talmud or Hebrew is required.

Rabbi Dayle A. FriedmanThat Our Hearts May Grow Wise:Cultivating Wisdom as We AgeSunday, April 30 at 12 NoonLocation: Wilf Campus, Wilentz Senior ResidenceSponsored by Wilf Campus and JFS

We suggest aging is the “final exam” of our spiritual life. We investigate the possibilities within Jewish life’s spiritual curriculum for acquiring the character traits (middot), spiritual tools and perspective to ready ourselves for the challenges we will inevitably face. Lecture and discussion.

Rabbi Dayle A. Friedman, MSW, MAJCS, BCC, is a spiritual guide, social innovator, chaplain, and scholar. She has pioneered the development of a Jewish spiritual vision for aging, healing and spiritual care. She wrote Jewish Visions for Aging: A Professional Guide to Fostering Wholeness (Jewish Lights, 2008) and edited Jewish Pastoral Care: A Practical Handbook from Traditional and Contemporary Sources (Jewish Lights, 2nd edition, 2011). She founded and directed Hiddur: The Center for Aging and Judaism of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. Rabbi Friedman offers training, consulting and spiritual guidance through Growing Older, her Philadelphia-based practice, www.growingolder.co. She is currently working on her next book, Provisions for the Journey: Jewish Wisdom for Growing Older.For additional information, call Toby Ehrlich at 732-568-1155

It’s always a pleasant surprise to discover a film you know nothing about and find that it transports you in ways you never expected. So it is with “Nora’s Will,” a film that never telegraphs its surprises, and offers both low-key and broader comedy, even as it finds its way to the heart. This tale, set in Mexico, of a man’s fight against his dead ex-wife’s final wishes, is wryly comic. Set in a world which takes deft pokes at the occasional rigidity of organized religion, Jose discovers that his ex-wife has left behind meticulously laid plans for a Passover seder and, inadvertently, a mysterious photo that may unlock a longtime secret.


May

JunefilmsJewish Film SeriesTemple Beth-El, Hillsborough

“THE SECRETS”Saturday. May 3 7:00 pmLocation: TBERunning Time: 127 Minutes

Two brilliant young women discover their own voices in a repressive Orthodox culture where females are forbidden to sing, let alone speak out. Naomi convinces her father to postpone her marriage for a year so that she might study at a seminary for women in the ancient Kabbalistic seat of Tzfat. Naomi’s quest for individuality takes a defiant turn when she befriends Michelle, a free-spirited and equally headstrong fellow student.

This is a film about religious and sexual intolerance, about reconciling opposing beliefs, about matching the fervor of feminism against religious patriarchy, and, in some ways, is even a social comedy. It contains an object lesson for the whole genre involving romance and the battle of the generations. The performances by the three leading actresses are particularly compelling.

Realizing Your Potential: Transformational Life Teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe

Instructor: Rabbi Shmaya KrinskyTuesdays: 7:30pmDate: May 13th - June 24th Location: CJC-HFee: $99

Who am I? Why am I here? How do I achieve my purpose in life?

This brand-new course offers unique perspective on life’s biggest questions—an outlook responsible for reviving Jewish life from the ashes of the holocaust, and a vision that has empowered so many to realize their inherent goodness and to discover the same within others.

Realizing Your Potential is about reaching for the purpose of existence, by actualizing the powerful latent opportunity that exists within each individual and by utilizing singular deeds to incrementally achieves the impossible. Join us on a fascinating journey as we encounter the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s unique philosophy and outlook on life that touched so many lives and shaped Chabad into what it is today.

Instructor: Rabbi Mendy HersonMondays: 7:30pmDate: May 12th - June 16th Location: CJC-BRFee: $99

The Jewish LIFE Festival of Books & Culture is made possible in part by a grant from the Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon & Warren Counties.

The JCC thanks the Jewish Book Council for making this program possible.Jewish LIFE

Jewish LIFE Is Possible Only With Your Support: Patron: $180 includes 1 Ticket with Reserved Seating for each Event

Benefactor: $360 includes 2 Tickets with Reserved Seating for each Event


Celebrate Israel ParadeSunday, June 1Fifth Ave • New York City

Jewish LIFE775 Talamini RoadBridgewater, NJ 08807

Summer 2014Teen Trip to Israel

Experience Israel with friends from your community. This unique life changing experience includes a comprehensive tour through-out Israel with leadership seminars, social action (Tikken Olam) activities and more. The 2014 Israel summer adventure in-cludes visiting and exploring Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, climbing Masada, floating in the Dead Sea, hiking, camel trekking and a tra-ditional Bedouin meal, hanging with Israeli teens, getting to know about everyday life in the Jewish State, and much, much more!

More information to come!

www.jccmaccabiisrael.org

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