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Lag B’omer Celebration at Temple Israel on May 20
Fun lovers – especially kids – mark your calendars! Temple Israel in Ridgewood will stage its annual Lag B’Omer celebration in a grand carnival atmosphere on Sunday, May 20, rain or shine. Beginning at 11:30 a.m., just as the synagogue’s Religious School completes this year’s studies, the parking lot comes alive with fun activities for all ages. The Brandeis Men’s Club will serve hamburgers, hot dogs, drinks, chips, potato salad, and cole slaw as part of their annual barbecue. Best of all for the kids, the center of attraction will be a huge Bounce House sprawled over the parking lot. Kids are invited to bounce, bounce, and bounce some more. Admission is free and non-members are welcome.
Lag B’Omer celebrates the end of a period of partial mourning, during which weddings, parties, and dinners with dancing are not conducted, in memory of a plague during the lifetime of Rabbi Akiba. The 33rd day of the Omer (the eighteenth of Iyar) is a minor holiday commemorating a break in the plague. The mourning practices of the Omer period are lifted on the date of Lag B’Omer. The word “Lag” is not really a word; it is the number 33 in Hebrew.
Temple Israel and JCC is located at 475 Grove Street in Ridgewood. It is an egalitarian Conservative synagogue with members from over a dozen Bergen County communities. Weekly Shabbat services are held on Fridays at 8:30 p.m. (replaced by a 7:00 p.m. Family Service on the second Friday of each month) and Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. During the week minyan takes place on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. and Tuesday nights at 7:45 p.m. For more information, call 201-444-9320 or E-mail to office@synagogue.org.
Blood Donations at Temple Israel on May 20
Temple Israel and St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church of Ridgewood are sponsoring a blood drive on Sunday, May 20, from 8:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Temple Israel, 475 Grove St. in Ridgewood. All blood donations will support Community Blood Services in Paramus.
Walk-ins are welcome. Donors must be in generally good health, weigh over 110 pounds, and bring identification with their signature. All donors will receive a free cholesterol screening with their donation. An area separated by screens is available for those who wish to make their donation in greater privacy.
Temple Israel and JCC is located at 475 Grove Street in Ridgewood. It is an egalitarian Conservative synagogue with members from over a dozen Bergen County communities. Weekly Shabbat services are held on Fridays at 8:30 p.m. (replaced by a 7:00 p.m. Family Service on the second Friday of each month) and Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. During the week minyan takes place on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. and Tuesday nights at 7:45 p.m. For more information, call 201-444-9320 or E-mail to office@synagogue.org.
Shavuot Celebration and Study at Temple Israel Saturday May 26 at 8 p.m.
The entire community is invited to Temple Israel of Ridgewood’s Shavuot services. This festival commemorates the anniversary of the day when the Ten Commandants were accepted by Israelites at Mt. Sinai. Shavuot is a time when we focus on the miraculous gift of Torah, including a late-night study marathon called a Tikkun, traditionally accompanied by cheese cakes as we taste the sweet “milk” of Torah.
Shavuot services are scheduled for Saturday, May 26, at 8:00 p.m. followed by Tikkun Leyl Shavuot (late-night study). Services continue on Sunday, May 27, at 9:00 a.m. Services for the second day of Shavuot, Monday, May 28, begin at 9:00 a.m with Yizkor at approximately 10:30 a.m.
The study period following 8:00 p.m. services on May 26 will led by Rabbi David J. Fine, PhD, and Cantor Caitlin Bromberg. Cantor Bromberg will teach a session on the Book of Ruth, traditionally read on Shavuot, entitled, “Ruth and Naomi’s Story: Women Speak. Explore Commentary by Women Scholars and Re-Examine and Ancient Text.” Rabbi Fine will lead a discussion entitled, “The Conservative Jewish Approach to Ritual and Ethics: Introducing the new volume, The Observant Life: The Wisdom of Conservative Judaism for Contemporary Jews edited by Rabbi Martin S. Cohen.” Rabbi Fine will conclude the evening with Talmud study from Tractate Sanhedrin on the subject of idol worship, for a “taste” of the Rabbi’s weekly Talmud class. This event is open to the community, free of charge.
Temple Israel and JCC is located at 475 Grove Street in Ridgewood. It is an egalitarian Conservative synagogue with members from over a dozen Bergen County communities. Weekly Shabbat services are held on Fridays at 8:30 p.m. (replaced by a 7:00 p.m. Family Service on the second Friday of each month) and Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. During the week minyan takes place on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. and Tuesday nights at 7:45 p.m. For more information, call 201-444-9320 or E-mail to office@synagogue.org.
Rabbi Yosef Jacobson Presents: Why Be Kind?
The Comedy, The Psychology, and the Kaballah of Love on May 29 at Temple Israel
Temple Israel and JCC of Ridgewood will host a Chesed (“Repairing the World”) Forum on Tuesday, May 29, at 7:30 p.m. The entire community is invited to a presentation by Rabbi Yosef Jacobson. Rabbi Jacobson, a scholar in the area of mysticism and Judaism, is a mesmerizing international orator, culling his ideas from the entire spectrum of Jewish thought and making them relevant to contemporary audiences.
Rabbi Jacobson is spiritual leader of congregation Beit Samuel, Brooklyn, NY; a columnist for the largest Yiddish-English weekly, The Algemeiner Journal; and dean of TheYeshiva.net. Rabbi Jacobson was the first rabbi to have given the keynote address to the U.S. military chaplains and to the 34,000 employees of the National Security Agency.
This forum is sponsored by the Barry H. Glick Chesed Endowment Fund, whose mission is to present motivational speakers to inspire others to perform acts of lovingkindness. Admission is free.
Temple Israel and JCC is located at 475 Grove Street in Ridgewood. It is an egalitarian Conservative synagogue with members from over a dozen Bergen County communities. Weekly Shabbat services are held on Fridays at 8:30 p.m. (replaced by a 7:00 p.m. Family Service on the second Friday of each month) and Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. During the week minyan takes place on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. and Tuesday nights at 7:45 p.m. For more information, call 201-444-9320 or E-mail to office@synagogue.org.
Temple Israel Hosts Film:
One Man, One Cow, One Planet.
Temple Israel and JCC of Ridgewood will present the film One Man, One Cow, One Planet on Sunday, June 3, at 7:30 p.m. One Man, One Cow, One Planet Food is an award-winning 2007 documentary film that asks the question: What does an environmentally friendly biodynamic food system capable of feeding everyone actually look like? This film is a blueprint for a post-industrial future. It takes viewers into the heart of the world’s most important renaissance.
The outcome of the battle for agricultural control in India may just dictate the future of the earth. Modern industrial agriculture is destroying the earth: Desertification, water scarcity, toxic cocktails of agricultural chemicals pervading our food chains, ocean ecosystem collapse, soil erosion and massive loss of soil fertility. The mantra of free trade has failed the world’s poor. There is a better way. Biodynamic agriculture may be the only answer we have left. A simple recipe to save the world? One old man and a bucket of cow-dung.
A discussion will follow the film screening. The film showing and discussion are open to the public and all, including non-members, are invited. Admission is free and light refreshments will be served. This is the fourth of a four-film series on food and sustainability issues. The series is co-sponsored by Temple Israel’s Membership Committee, Tikun Olam (“Repairing the World”) Committee, Sisterhood, and Brandeis Men’s Club.
Temple Israel and JCC is located at 475 Grove Street in Ridgewood. It is an egalitarian Conservative synagogue with members from over a dozen Bergen County communities. Weekly Shabbat services are held on Fridays at 8:30 p.m. (replaced by a 7:00 p.m. Family Service on the second Friday of each month) and Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. During the week minyan takes place on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. and Tuesday nights at 7:45 p.m. For more information, call 201-444-9320 or E-mail to office@synagogue.org.
Muslims, Jews and Friendship:
Seeing Through the Eyes of ‘The Other’
American Rabbi and German Imam Share their Journey of Sisterhood, Self-Discovery and Spiritual Faith
Temple Israel, Ridgewood Saturday, June 16th, 1:30 pm
Co-Sponsored by St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church, Ridgewood and the Muslim Society of Ridgewood
Ridgewood, NJ, May 15, 2012—They embrace different religious traditions, grew up in different cultures and live on opposite sides of the ocean. Who would have expected they would become friends? But Rabbi Gloria S. Rubin and Imam/Shaykha Halima Krausen were determined to overcome the obstacles—some easy to identify, others far more subtle. How we all can expand the personal and cultural lens through which we see the world to evolve a shared view of humanity will be the theme of their remarkable conversation on Saturday, June 16th at 1:30 pm at Temple Israel & JCC in the village.
The event, which will follow regular Shabbat morning worship at the synagogue, is co-sponsored by St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church on Fairmount Road and the Muslim Society of Ridgewood. The Rev. Canon John G. Hartnett of St. Elizabeth’s and Mahmoud Hamza of the Muslim Society were both quick to offer their communities’ support after Temple Israel’s spiritual leader, Rabbi David J. Fine, PhD, reached out to them. The three serve together on Ridgewood’s Interfaith Clergy Council.
Rabbi Rubin, a retired pulpit rabbi and Temple Israel congregant, and Imam Krausen, spiritual leader of the German-speaking Muslim community in Hamburg, Germany, met in 1995 at an interfaith gathering, the Standing Conference of Jews, Christians and Muslims in Europe, held in Bendorf, Germany. A senior rabbinical student at the Academy for Jewish Religion in New York City at the time, Rabbi Rubin came to the conference eager to explore a topic outside the standard rabbinical school curriculum. She chose to focus her study that week on Qur’anic Arabic. Imam Krausen was the instructor.
Conference participants observe the days of rest of all three faith traditions. On Shabbat (Jewish Sabbath) afternoon, the rabbinical student and imam took a long walk together on a road through the woods. The conversation about their respective families, beliefs and communities led to the discovery they are kindred spirits. The two haven’t stopped talking since, and now, 17 years later, have co-authored a book, Unlikely Friends, a book about their discovery of a kindred spirit in one another, currently making the rounds of literary agents and publishing houses.
Born into a Catholic/Protestant German family, Imam Krausen converted to Islam in her teens. Now widely considered Europe’s foremost female Muslim scholar, she was the German media’s go-to contact following the 9-11 terrorist attacks and remains a frequent commentator on interfaith issues and conflicts on the continent. She is a published author, lecturer and teacher and participates in numerous international interfaith initiatives, including recent sessions held in: Germany, the UK, Jerusalem, Sudan, Morocco, Austria and Sweden. She was on the committee that translated the Qu'ran into German, with commentary, wrote an introduction to the Plaut Humash from a Muslim perspective and has appeared on a panel with the Dalai Lama.
Rabbi Rubin has been a keynote speaker, lecturer and teacher at interfaith dialogue events held in the US and Europe. She is the author of numerous articles on parenting and family issues for national magazines and was the editor of the Arts and Entertainment section of The Jewish Standard, an independent weekly covering the Bergen County Jewish community. She is co-author of Living With Your New Baby (Franklin Watts, 1978).
Muslims, Jews and Friendship: Seeing Through the Eyes of ‘The Other’ is open to the public, free of charge.
Editors/Reporters: For interview opportunities, please call the Temple Israel office at (201) 444-9320 or email rabbi@synagogue.org.
Located at 475 Grove Street, Temple Israel & JCC is a traditional, egalitarian Conservative congregation serving Ridgewood and vicinity.
Temple Israel’s Rabbi Fine Teaches History of the Land of Israel in Sunday Morning Lecture Series
Ridgewood, NJ, Jan. 24, 2012 —Adult Education at Temple Israel and Jewish Community Center in the Village continues on Sunday mornings with Rabbi Fine’s lecture series “History of the Land of Israel.” Rabbi David J. Fine, PhD, spiritual leader of Temple Israel, was ordained by the Rabbinical School at the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1999 and earned his doctorate in modern European history at The Graduate Center of City University of New York (CUNY) in 2010.
All Temple Israel adult education programs are free and open to the entire community.
HISTORY OF THE HOLY LAND: Sundays, 10:30 a.m.-Noon
The lecture series, held on most Sunday mornings through June 10, 2012, will culminate in a 10-day tour of Israel, June 23-July 4, 2012. But, please note: commitment to the trip is NOT a requirement for attending the class.
Also continuing with Rabbi Fine: TUESDAY EVENING TALMUD at 8:00 p.m., following minyan.
Discover the fascinating world of the rabbinic sages as we study the tractate Sanhedrin in English translation. No previous experience or Hebrew comprehension required. New students and non-members are always welcome.
Temple Israel and JCC is located at 475 Grove Street in Ridgewood. It is an egalitarian Conservative synagogue with members from over a dozen Bergen County communities. Weekly Shabbat services are held on Fridays at 8:30 p.m. (replaced by a 7:00 p.m. Family Service on the second Friday of each month) and Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. During the week minyan takes place on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. and Tuesday nights at 7:45 p.m. For more information, call 201-444-9320 or E-mail to office@synagogue.org.