Flemington Jewish Community Center 5 Sergeantsville Road

Flemington, New Jersey 08822 (908) 782-6410

Fax: (908) 806-7736

office@flemingtonjcc.org www.flemingtonjcc.org

January 2017/3 Tevet – 4 Shevat 5777

MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI

E’t ha-zamir higi’a. It is time to sing together.

Last Sunday, our Congregation hosted Choir Kol-Dodi. I believe that

the Center Series Committee could not have found a better way to celebrate

Hanukkah but through music. Music is vital in Congregational activity, in

particular at Services and in Hebrew School.

Can we imagine a world without music and dance? I would say that

is impossible.

I would imagine that music started with Creation; indeed, paraphrasing

the Book of Psalms (19:2), the heavens and firmament sing G-d’s glory.

Per one of the genealogies in the book of Genesis, in the seventh generation

from Adam, Lemech expressed his speeches to his wives through songs,

and his son Juval was “the father of harpists and organists” (Gen. 4:20–

21).

Life is unthinkable without music. During exile, which represented

the antithesis of life, the Jews exiled to Babylon hung their harps and

ceased singing, On the poplars we hung up our harps... how can we sing a

song of the Lord on alien soil? (Ps. 137).

According to the Book of 1 Samuel, the holy ecstasy of the Prophets

was stimulated by dancing and music; it was the sweet music of David’s

harp that dispossessed Saul of his melancholy. Singing is a natural pain

killer.

Along with cooking, eating, and dancing, singing is crucial in worship and a vital activity in bonding and maintaining

groups of people. A chorus that brings together employers and employees at the workplace would be a viable and

practical approach to attaining substantial development among workforces. Singing unites factions, religions, and races.

Singing can heal our society.

This year, the first day of Hanukkah coincides with Christmas. Let us unify our energy to combatting hatred. We

can do it through music, singing together “Shalom, Salam, Peace.”

Our ancient ancestors started to sing, to make musical noises with their voices, probably even before humans could

speak. Let us sing.

FJCC BOARD OF DIRECTORS Spiritual Leader

Interim Rabbi Jacob Malki

rabbi@flemingtonjcc.org

Executive Board: President: Mindy Engle-Friedman

1st Vice President Mitch Clarin 2nd Vice President Reena Kamins

3rd Vice President Bruce Moskovitz

Secretary Laurence Shatkin Treasurer Jonathan Weitz

Immediate Past President Jeffrey Doshna

Elected Trustees: Lifetime Trustees: Jerry Atlas Jack Forman

Scott Byne Dan Gross Jim Fox Zel Gerstein

Richard Frank Ed Mehrlust

Judy Gold Howard Nifoussi Marsha Goldstein Phil Stern

Alan Hylton Larry Wissner

Marvin Jacobson Michael Wolf Nathan Lefkow Ruth Wolf

Jonathan Nemeth

Ronald Ort Sisterhood President: Alan Radzin Reena Gold Kamins

Sharon Rednor

Bulletin Editor: Flo Newrock

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CO-PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Dear Congregants,

We hope everyone had a happy Chanukah and a happy

New Year!

With this New Year comes a new beginning for the

FJCC. We have taken all the necessary steps to move forward

with our rabbi search. Soon, the FJCC will be actively

interviewing potential candidates, and you can read more

about the search in a separate article.

To help lead the FJCC, we have a new president and new

members of the executive board as well as newly elected and

re-elected members of the board of trustees. We want to

congratulate them and thank them for stepping up to help the

FJCC with their time and energy. The new candidates voted

in by our congregation include Reena Kamins, Sharon

Rednor, Jonathan Weitz, Mindy Engle-Friedman, Marvin

Jacobson, Ronald Ort, Adah Radzin, and Richard Frank.

We also want to thank those people who have served on

the board. We greatly appreciate their service to the FJCC.

These include Steven Greenstein who is stepping down,

Marta Klepner, and Sandy Siegel who have both moved away.

We want to congratulate Josy Kestenbaum, Alisa

Grossman, and Jeff Marshall for helping the FJCC to host

another group of special families in need of our help through

the amazing Family Promise program. This was a

challenging time of the year for us to host because many

people were away on vacation. But with their leadership, we

helped several families in need of a warm place to stay so they

could enjoy the holidays.

Please look for ways to help in the new year, from

attending and volunteering for a Center Series program to

helping with one of our fundraising projects to sponsoring an

Oneg or Kiddush, or just attending services. Everyone can

help do their part to make the FJCC a better, more welcoming

place for our current and potential members. Now, more than

ever, we need you to take advantage of everything we have to

offer. We need you to make this a thriving center of Jewish

life in our region. We have many great events, wonderful

Nursery and Hebrew Schools, the Center Series program, and

adult education classes. Please come by and take part in all

we have to offer. A great New Year's resolution would be to

become even more invested in the success of the FJCC!

Here's wishing a happy and healthy New Year to

everyone.

Mitch Clarin, Mindy Engle-Friedman, and Neal Wolff

Co-Presidents of the FJCC Board of Trustees

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AROUND THE SYNAGOGUE

MAZEL TOV TO: Lois & Dan Gross on the birth of their grandson, and to

Fallon and Noah on the birth of their son

Malka Goodman on the B’nai Mitzvah of her triplet

grandchildren, Aaron, Zachary, and Ilana Goldstein

REFUAH SHLEMAH TO: Lois Butt

Faith Ostroff

OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO: Barbara & Mitch Clarin on the loss of Mitch’s beloved

mother, Ruth Clarin

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

THANKSGIVING INTERFAITH SERVICE

Thank you, Rabbi Malki, for bringing the broad Flemington

community together on Thursday, November 22, at the

Interfaith Service of Thanksgiving and Unity. Clergy and

members of local churches, mosques, and our shul joined the

service with about 70 in attendance. It was an event filled

with music, readings, and comments by the clergy focused on

thanksgiving and appreciation of all we have. Those in

attendance enjoyed the refreshments and conversation that

followed the service. Rabbi Malki's warm and welcoming

leadership of the evening added greatly to the spirit of the

evening.

RABBINICAL SEARCH COMMITTEE

NEWS

The FJCC has joined the United Synagogue of

Conservative Judaism and, in doing so, we will have

access to the Rabbinical Assembly's (RA) placement

service. The FJCC - RA application for a permanent

rabbi is being finalized by the Rabbinical Search

Committee. We hope to activate that application soon.

Once it is active, we will begin to receive resumes from

interested rabbis and rabbinical candidates. We will

keep you posted.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

HEBREW SCHOOL HAPPENINGS

Last month we had Tot Shabbat and Jr. Congregation.

Both were well attended. I want to recognize Ben Doshna and

Sam Syzch for volunteering to lead the youth service. We

also went to the JRA on December 11th. This year the bus was

full, and after a few hours in the warehouse we delivered over

60 boxes of food to residents in senior housing. Last month

the 4th - 6th graders went to Independence Manor to celebrate

Chanukah with the residents.

This past summer, the Social Studies department from

Hunterdon Central reached out and suggested that our

Hebrew High School students partner with the students who

will be going on the trip to Poland in the spring. On December

14th, our Hebrew High students welcomed about 20 students

from Central. There was an icebreaker that allowed the

students to create small groups and from there a conversation

was born. The hope is that the students will create a dialogue

between now and April, and maybe even after the trip.

Special thanks to Hebrew High 12 teacher, Reena Kamins, for

shopping for the ice cream social part of the program. Mark

your calendars now, the Hunterdon Central High students will

talk about their trip on Friday night, April 21st.

We wrapped up our first Tzedakah Project, which was

collecting money to purchase new winter clothing to donate

to United Way. Our students purchases ten winter coats, six

pairs of boots, ten pairs of pajamas, eight packages of socks,

and 24 hats/scarves/mittens sets. January starts our food

collections for the Flemington Area Food Pantry.

Karen Walsh

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

JEWISH LIFE (Learning Is For Everyone)

Israel’s Edge: The Story of the IDF’s Most Elite Unit –

Talpiot with author, Jason Gewirtz: Thursday, January 12,

7:00 PM, at the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum JCC,

Bridgewater. Israel’s Edge is about the Talpiot, a special unit

of the Israel Defense Forces considered to be the most elite in

the Israeli Army. Fee $5/person.

The Flemington JCC (FJCC) Film Series presents Zero

Motivation on Saturday, January 21, at 7:30 PM at the

Flemington JCC. This film about female Israeli soldiers is

described as “Private Benjamin meets M*A*S*H, speaks

Hebrew, and keeps kosher.” Suggested donation of

$5/person.

Looking ahead to February…

L’Chaim! with author, Eliezer Sobel: Thursday, February 9,

7:00 PM, at the Birnbaum JCC, Bridgewater. L’Chaim! is a

book of photos designed to stimulate memories in patients

suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Fee $5/person.

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CONTRIBUTIONS

Todah rabah to all those who made donations to:

GENERAL FUND Benefit Providers, LLC in memory of Phil Levine,

beloved husband of Lenore Levine

Mary & William Burns in honor of the 50th anniversary

of Flo and Bruce Newrock

Peony & Wai Hoi Chan in honor of the 50th anniversary

of Flo and Bruce Newrock

Kathy & Ken Doukas in honor of the 50th anniversary of

Flo and Bruce Newrock

Mitchell Feuer in memory of Phil Levine, beloved

husband of Lenore Levine

Malka Goodman in honor of the B’nai Mitzvah of her

triplet grandchildren, Aaron, Zachary, and Ilana

Goldstein

Loretta & Martin Goorevich in loving memory of their

cousin, Phil Levine, beloved husband of Lenore Levine

Mickie & Philip Jacoby in honor of the 50th anniversary

of Flo and Bruce Newrock

Lesley Michaelson & Vincent Meissner in memory of

Phil Levine, beloved husband of Lenore Levine

Foon Newrock in honor of the 50th anniversary of Flo and

Bruce Newrock

Sue & Rick Rothstein:

For get well wishes for Lois Butt

In memory of Ruth Clarin, beloved mother of Mitch

Clarin

For the yahrzeit of Rick’s beloved mother, Mildred

Rothstein Cohen

For the yahrzeit of Sue’s beloved mother, Lillian

Volowitz

For the yahrzeit of Sue’s beloved grandfather,

Morris Triber

Susan & Pablo Schachman in memory of Phil Levine,

beloved husband of Lenore Levine

Adele & Frank Simon in honor of the 50th anniversary of

Flo and Bruce Newrock

Nancy & Laurence Shatkin in memory of Ruth Clarin,

beloved mother of Mitch Clarin

Debbie & Ira Sperling in memory of Thomas Doshna,

beloved father of Jeff Doshna

Maddy & Mike Turk for the yahrzeit of Lorraine Sirota

Xanthus Benefits Consulting Group in memory of Phil

Levine, beloved husband of Lenore Levine

BUILDING FUND Marsha & Zel Gerstein:

For a mazel tov to Malka Goodman on the B’nai

Mitzvah of her triplet grandchildren, Aaron,

Zachary, and Ilana Goldstein

For the yahrzeit of Marsha’s beloved father, Rubin

Simon

For a mazel tov to Anneliese and Howard Nifoussi

on the wedding of their daughter, Jenna, to Brian

For a mazel tov to Dena and Greg Scibilia on the

naming of their granddaughter, Lola

RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND Linda & Jerry Atlas:

For the yahrzeit of Jerry’s beloved father, Samuel

Atlas

For a mazel tov to Anneliese and Howard Nifoussi

on the wedding of their daughter, Jenna, to Brian

In memory of Barbara M. Berg, beloved mother of

Pam Nemeth

In memory of Phil Levine, beloved husband of

Lenore Levine

In memory of Ruth Clarin, beloved mother of Mitch

Clarin

For a thank you to Rabbi Malki

Dena & Greg Scibilia:

In honor of Lola Himmelberger’s baby naming

For the yahrzeit of Dena’s beloved father, Alvin

Farber

In memory of Phil Levine, beloved husband of

Lenore Levine

KIDDUSH FUND Evie & Phil Stern:

For best wishes to Linda and Allen Skupp in their

new home

In memory of Thomas Doshna, beloved father of Jeff

Doshna

Nathan Treinish for the yahrzeit of his beloved brother,

Robert Treinish

HEBREW SCHOOL Hebrew School Staff in memory of Ruth Clarin, beloved

mother of Mitch Clarin

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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THE FJCC CENTER SERIES

The Ken Kaissar drama “A Modest Suggestion” was

presented at the FJCC on Sunday, October 30. It

cleverly presented issues of racism, anti-Semitism and

what it means to be Jewish in a highly accessible and

stimulating production. The lively discussion that

followed covered a wide-range of related topics and,

according to the cast members, it was the best post-play

discussion they had experienced. Thank you to the

approximately 30 FJCC and local community members

who joined us.

On Sunday, November 20, the FJCC CENTER SERIES

hosted a talk and discussion by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin

sponsored by Jim and Alissa Fox and the Fox Family

Foundation. David Goldman provided a meaningful

and thoughtful introduction to Rabbi Telushkin's talk.

Rabbi Telushkin engaged us with topics including the

qualities of wisdom, strength, and wealth, and the notion

of forgiveness. Over 100 attended including many from

both our synagogue and the greater

Hunterdon/Somerset/Bucks communities as well as

members of local churches. Rabbi Telushkin's talk was

followed by a luncheon and a book sale and signing.

Thank you to Adah Radzin for organizing this

memorable event.

Kol Dodi, the Jewish Chorale of the Greater MetroWest

Federation, regaled us with Chanukah and Jewish music

across the centuries and traditions on Sunday, December

18, after a breakfast of coffee and bagels. Our own

Rabbi Malki was the soloist for Cuando El Rey Nimrod,

and Harry Rapkin performed a solo for a rendition of

Pitchu Li. Over 100 FJCC adults, children, and

members of the local community attended this lively

and participatory concert. Mazel tov and thank you to

Harry Rapkin for bringing the Kol Dodi chorale to us.

The CENTER SERIES will present the first in its film

series on Saturday, January 21, at 7:30. Admission of

$5.00 per person includes snacks. The film, Zero

Motivation, is a 2014 Israeli comedy drama about

women coping with their positions in the Israeli army.

The first lecture and power-point presentation of the

CENTER SERIES Art History Series will be held on

Sunday, February 5, at 10:00 AM. FJCC resident artist

and art historian, Cara London, will bring Ancient

Jewish Art to life for us. The suggested donation is $5

and will include bagels and coffee.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The FJCC Center Series

3rd Annual Film Series

January 21 at 7:30 Zero Motivation

February 25 at 7:30 The Gatekeepers

April 1 at 8:30 Orchestra of Exiles Snacks will be served. Suggested Donation: $5

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Gift Shop

The Hanukkah season is over and a new year has begun. We are so happy the shop provided you with a great array of gifts. Look for our upcoming half-price sale in the coming weeks. We look forward to hearing from you with any suggestions.

We are open during regular office hours and Hebrew School. Please fill out a receipt and leave your check made out to FJCC Gift Shop, in the office. The shop is looking for volunteers to help set up items and design the shelves. We’d love to hear from you. Thanks to all our volunteers: Kim Muller, Gayle Neibart, Joan Rogow, and Jen Rudolph for all their help in November.

Your Gift Case Committee:

Lois Gross Gayle Neibart

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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

office@flemingtonjcc.org and let her know what date you will sponsor.

January 20173 Tevet 5777 - 4 Shevat 5777

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31

§5:29PM ¡¡4:30PM §5:34PM

§5:35PM ¡¡4:37PM §5:42PM

¡¡4:45PM §5:50PM

¡¡4:54PM §5:58PM

3 Tevet 4 Tevet 5 Tevet 6 Tevet 7 Tevet 8 Tevet 9 Tevet

10 Tevet 11 Tevet 12 Tevet 13 Tevet 14 Tevet 15 Tevet 16 Tevet

17 Tevet 18 Tevet 19 Tevet 20 Tevet 21 Tevet 22 Tevet 23 Tevet

24 Tevet 25 Tevet 26 Tevet 27 Tevet 28 Tevet 29 Tevet 1 Shevat

2 Shevat 3 Shevat 4 Shevat

HANUKKAH VIII

Services 9:00Services 7:30

Oneg: Kamich Family

for the yahrzeit of

Susan's brother, Michael

Vayigash

Services 9:15

FAST OF TEVET 10

Services 9:00Services 7:30 Vayehi

Services 9:15

NO HEBREW

SCHOOL - MARTIN

LUTHER KING

WEEKEND

Services 9:00

NO HEBREW

SCHOOL - MARTIN

LUTHER KING

WEEKEND

Tot Shabbat 6:30

Services 7:30

Shemot

Services 9:15

Jr. Congregation 10:30

Center Series - Movie:

Zero Motivation

NO HEBREW

SCHOOL

Services 9:00

Services 7:30

Vav Class Service

Oneg: Vav Class

ROSH HODESH

Vaera

Services 9:15

Services 9:00

[¡¡Candle Lighting, §Observance End for Flemington, NJ]

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JANUARY BIRTHDAYS

1 - Jacob Rudolph

2 - Jeffrey Gold

3 - Ariel Hylton

4 - Wanda Lazarus

- Louis Pearlman

7 - Arnold Kushnick

8 - Nathaniel Silberman

9 - Melanie Ezra

10 - Stacey Gould

11 - Ronald Ort

- Victoria Wolf

12 - Barbara Batt

- Scott Byne

- Lois Gross

12 - Audrey Riche

- Dena Scibilia

16 - Jack Daniels

- Evelyn Kay

18 - Atara Jaffe

- Laurie Rapkin

19 - Julianne Gallina

- Asa Liebowitz

21 - Kenneth Brooks

- Suzanne Rothstein

22 - Zel Gerstein

- Yoni Radzin

24 - Sarah Frank

- Larry Hilzer

24 - Abbey Mondshein

- Daniel Siegel

25 - Evie Stern

26 - Michael Kay

- David Lazarus

- Ellen Weinstock

28 - Julie Case

- Deborah Ort

- Lydia Shatkin

- Nathan Treinish

30 - Chloe Stein

31 - Daniel Wasserman

JANUARY ANNIVERSARIES

12 - Pearl & Milton Levine

JANUARY YAHRZEITS 1 - Mildred Rothstein Cohen

- Abraham Levine

2 - Leo Lazarus

3 - Naomi Ezra

- Sam Feldman

- Mollie Langman

- Morris Seligman

4 - Annette Davies

- Allen Goldstein

- Neil Kanner

- Lena Scheer

- Ethel Stevens

- Morris Triber

- Lillian Volowitz

- Eric Weisberg

5 - Ruth Sudzin

6 - Susan Mehrlust

- Kurt Moses

8 - Bertha Levine

- Marie “Ippy” Levine

- Dorothy Ochacher

- Ronnie Shane

10 - Norman Glazer

10 - Bill Thomas

11 - Abraham Birnbaum

- Isadore Goodman

- Samuel Levine

12 - Iris Esterkin

- Arthur Rogow

- Morton Siegel

13 - Hilda Mager

- Joseph Savetsky

- Alma Thomas

14 - David Kohane

- Fred Scheffler

15 - Louis Fink

16 - Celia Dvoor

- Helene Kutscher

17 - Sophie Rothberg

18 - Dola Warsaw

19 - Eleanor Gelblat

20 - Nathan Levine

21 - Milton Friedman

- Joan Goldman

- Ben Goodman

- David Prell

22 - Marilyn Suss Santiago

- Frank Welt

- Jacob Zegman

23 - Morris Wolf

25 - Charles Cohen

- William Kassel

- Robert Levy

- Louis Naar

26 - Lawrence Elmer Faro

- Mark Allen Levine

- Leonard Lipnick

- Anna Mandell

- Elizabeth Steinhorn

27 - Louis Kates

- Lewis Schwalb

- Max Wortman

29 - Hyman “Fritz” Friedman

- Abraham Lapidus

- Celia Levine

30 - Israel Goldings

31 - Philip Benjamin

- Tillie Lipnick

- Martha Markman

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.

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Flemington Jewish Community Center

5 Sergeantsville Road

Flemington NJ 08822