The Reform Congregation of Jersey City

P 201-333-4229 www.betheljc.org June 2013 Sivan/ Tammuz 5773

Between You and Me

Did you know there is a park in Jersey City named for a Jewish war veteran who died at the age of 27? Lieutenant Robert P. Grover Memorial Park, at the corner of Kennedy Blvd and Broadman Parkway, will be rededicated on June 2, 2013 at 1 pm. It will be especially meaningful for members of the Jewish community to be present to honor one of our own who gave his life in WWII. Lt. Robert P. Grover was the first person of the Jewish faith from Jersey City to die in WWII. He was born March 31 1916. Grover was a shoe salesman who lived on Bergen Avenue before he enlisted on December 30, 1941. He was trained as a bombardier and was a member of one of the original crews that was assigned to the 337th Squadron of the 96th Bomb Group in April 1943. He was killed in action along with 9 other crew members on 21st May 1943 when his aircraft was shot down by German fighters on a mission to bomb the submarine yards at Emden, Germany. The aircraft, B17, 4229734 exploded and crashed into the North Sea about 75 miles north of Texel Island. The body of Lt. Grover washed up on Speikeroog Island on the 6th July 1943 and was buried in Wangerooge Island Cemetery, Holland. Later, his body was returned to New Jersey and he was buried at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Fairview, New Jersey along with his parents, Jacob and Pauline. The Jewish War Veterans Post that met at Congregation Bnai Jacob for many years was named the Grover Post in his honor. Recently, community and corporate groups gathered to clean up the neglected small park named for Lt. Grover. All are invited to the rededication on Sunday, June 2 at 1 pm. Though Lt. Grovers life was short, let us pray that the park named for him will touch many lives and add renewed life to a Jersey City neighborhood. Shalom, Rabbi Debby Hachen with thanks to Jeff Kaplowitz and John Hallanan

Can You Read or Chant Torah? Or Willing to Try?

We would love to increase the number of volunteers who read or chant Torah/Haftarah for High Holiday services. The holidays are in early (and we mean VERY early) September: Rosh Hashanah begins Wednesday evening, September 4th. So, why not get started now with a personalized CD and individual coaching over the summer? Contact me at rabbihachen@betheljc.org or call me at the temple office. Thanks, Rabbi Debby Hachen

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Friday, May 31 Shabbat Service, including blessing for mayor-elect 8:00 pm Steve Fulop. Oneg Shabbat sponsored by Rabbi Debby Hachen and Peter Weinrobe on the yarzeit of Rabbi David S. Hachen Saturday, June 1 Torah Study Shabbat Morning Worship 9:30 am 10:30 am

Friday, June 7 First Friday Eat, Pray, Shabbat 6:30 pm All ages Potluck Shabbat Supper RSVP to office office@betheljc.org with what you will bring Board Installation Shabbat Service & June Birthday 7:30 pm Blessings, including honoring outgoing Board Members and blessing new Board. Oneg Shabbat in appreciation of Ben Rauch, temple accompanist. Saturday, June 8 Torah Study Shabbat Morning Service 9:30 am 10:30 am

Temple Beth-El
2419 Kennedy Boulevard at Harrison Avenue Jersey City, NJ 07304 Phone: 201-333-4229 Fax: 201-938-0445 Email: office@betheljc.org Website: www.betheljc.org Office hours: Tues. 9:305:30, Fri. 9:3012:30 Temple Beth-El is affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism Rabbi Debra Hachen rabbihachen@betheljc.org Rabbi Emeritus Kenneth Brickman rabbibrickman@betheljc.org President Kay Magilavy Vice Presidents Stuart Cohen Shirley Roter Robin Schkrutz Nancy Sambul Treasurer Michael Shuchman Financial Secretary Sonia Schulman Recording Secretary Carly Siditsky Religious School Kay Magilavy Newsletter Editor Karen Cuttler

Friday, June 14 Shabbat Service with Torah Reading 8:00 pm & Conversion Ceremony for Kristina Farias Oneg Sponsored by Kristina Farias and Brad Minkovitz in honor of Kristinas conversion Saturday, June 15 Torah Study Shabbat Morning Service Tot Shabbat followed by Bring Your Own Picnic 9:30 am 10:30 am 10:30 am

Friday, June 21 Shabbat Service 8:00 pm Ufruf Wedding Blessing - Jon Donenfeld & Alexandra Koerte Oneg Sponsored by Jon & Alexandra in honor of their Ufruf, and the Haim family in honor of Rubys Bat Mitzvah Saturday, June 22 Torah Study 9:30 am Shabbat Morning Service 10:30 am Ruby Haim, daughter of Wendy Schor-Haim & Rami Haim, will be called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah and assist in leading the service. Kiddush lunch sponsored by Wendy Schor-Haim & Rami Haim in honor of Ruby Friday, June 28 Shabbat Service (lay-led) including Ben Rauchs Rockinthe Rafters Band Saturday, June 29 Torah Study Shabbat Morning Service Friday, July 5 First Friday Eat, Pray, Shabbat All ages Potluck Shabbat Supper 8:00 pm

Oneg listings as of newsletter deadline in mid-May. For updates see Temple website. To sponsor an oneg, see details on page 7

Candle Lighting
June 7 June 14 June 21 June 28 July 5 8:07 pm 8:10 pm 8:13 pm 8:14 pm 8:13 pm

9:30 am 10:30 am 6:30 pm

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MAYOR-ELECT STEVE FULOP

Friday, June 7 at 6:30

Meet your neighbors and our growing community on the first Friday of every month here at Temple Beth-El. Enjoy great conversation, a potluck dinner, beverages for adults and kids and a relaxing Shabbat service at 7:30. RSVP to office@betheljc.org and let us know you are bringing a main dish (chicken or veggie), side dish or salad. See you there!

Friday, May 31 at 8 pm Temple Beth-El will celebrate our member, Steve Fulop, on his election as Mayor of Jersey City. Steve's family will be joining us at the Shabbat Service as we offer prayers on his behalf. Come celebrate the second Jewish mayor in our city's history. Steve assumes his position on July 1st. SAVE THE DATE!

JULY 12 6:30 pm
@ Hamilton Park, Jersey City Raindate: July 19

Sunday, June 9 in the Temple Social Hall

We need your help to make this fundraiser a great success. Heres what you can do: Donate: Good, clean, new or gently used merchandise (no computer equipment please). Please bring all merchandise to the Temple; call first to make sure that someone will be there to accept it. Set-up: Help set up & organize merchandise in the Social Hall on Sunday June 2 at 2:30 pm, Thursday June 6 any time after 4:30 pm & Saturday June 8 after services around 11:30 am. On Sunday, June 9, volunteers are needed beginning at 8:30 am. Sell: Help collect admissions & sell food & merchandise during the day starting at 9 am. Clean up: At 3:30 pm volunteer to clean up & prepare the social hall for next weekends services. Please call the Temple office or e-mail us at office@betheljc.org to let us know when you can assist us. This is a great event for the Temple and the community.

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Our Bnot Mitzvah

Rosa Elizabeth Garcia, daughter or William and Barbara Garcia of North Bergen, became a Bat Mitzvah on May 18, 2013. Her older siblings, William and Noemi, became Bar and Bat Mitzvah at Temple Beth-El as well. A seventh grader at Lincoln School in North Bergen, Rosa is active in cheerleading, softball, basketball, music and drawing. Rosa has achieved 1st or 2nd honors every marking period since 1st grade, had the starring part in the 3rd grade play, a solo in a winter concert, and is 2nd chair flute in her school band. She has made captain on her cheer team and has been in both the environmental club and kindness ambassador club at school. She helps her grandmother whenever she gets a chance and recently took care of her grandmother's dog while she couldn't. Her favorite good deed was giving her coat to some kindergartners to keep warm during a fire drill. Asked about why she is proud to be Jewish, Rosa explained, I am proud to be Jewish because it makes me unique. For example I am now the only Jewish child in my school since my sister graduated. Mazel Tov Rosa!

Ruby Avital Haim, daughter of Rami Haim and Wendy Schor-Haim will be called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, June 22. Ruby is a seventh grader at Learning Community Charter School where she is on honor roll and also serves as vice-president of her student council. Ruby lives in Jersey City with her parents, her brother Shai, and her sister Franny. Her favorite parts of being Jewish are Jewish humor and Jewish food. Ruby also loves drawing and skateboarding but most of all is passionate about the environment. Her favorite mitzvah (good deed) is participating weekly in Green Group the environmental activist group at her school. Green Group learns about the local environment and does projects to clean and help the environment. Mazel Tov Ruby. We are so proud of all you do to make the world better! Temple Beth-Els Religious School finished the school year with 46 wonderful students. Our teaching staff this year included Rabbi Debra Hachen, Rabbi Gordon Gladstone, Cantor Lauren Furman, Kay Magilavy, Yona Adika, Hara Benjamin-Garritano, Mazi Ferreira-daSilva, Janice Greenberg, Galit Maharat and Jennifer Schaeffer. In addition, teachers were assisted by Jenny Lynn Doyle, Noemi Garcia and Ella Thibodeau. Students and teachers form a great team to make the study of our Jewish heritage come alive. We are presently re-registering current students http://www.betheljc.org/officeforms/school_registration/ online at:

Are you a member whose child who will be joining us for the first time next fall? Please contact Rabbi Hachen to discuss class placement and how we can make this a good transition at any grade level from K-7. If you know of unaffiliated families in our community who are considering enrolling children in our school next fall, please have them call Rabbi Hachen now so she can meet with them in May or June to answer their questions, discuss temple membership and assist them in enrollment.

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Phil Rivo Ben Rauch

B O R S C H T
Irwin Rosen

Shirley Roter and Sammy Rivo

in the USA
Photos by Jeff Kaplowitz

Chuck Gayner

Robin Schkrutz

Karen and Gary Cuttler

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Tot Shabbat: Picnic with the Rabbi

Saturday, June 15 10:30-11:30 am Calling all Preschoolers and their Grown-ups! Join Rabbi Debby Hachen for a special morning of Shabbat songs, prayers and story. Bring a picnic blanket and a lunch to enjoy on the temple lawn following our Shabbat time. RSVPs preferred to office@betheljc.org. Drop-ins ALWAYS welcome. Tot Shabbat is a chance for children ages 0-5 to experience Shabbat and for their grownups to mingle and meet. Open to all! To get email reminders for Tot Shabbat, send request to rabbihachen@betheljc.org

Mazel Tov
to

Alexia and Elliott Feldman on the birth of Benjamin and Leah Feldman on May 2 Carly and Seth Siditsky on the birth of Benjamin Elias Siditsky on May 9 Temple member Steve Fulop on his election as Mayor of Jersey City Peter Weinrobe and Rabbi Debra Hachen on the engagement of their daughter Melissa to Alex Lippitt Welcome Home to Eric Schkrutz who is returning for a visit before resuming his studies in Jerusalem
Thank you to Kathy Prussack and fellow choir members Audrey Merwin, Marilyn Freiser, Hope Koturo, Harriet Taub, Yvonne Silver, and Charlie Hollander from United Synagogue of Hoboken for singing two beautiful pieces at our May 10 service in honor of Cantor Lauren Furman. Borscht Night Thank Yous go to: Harvey Roter, Millie Rottenberg and Nancy Sambul for the terrific baked goods and noshes; Shirley Roter, Nancy Sambul and Sandy Frank for working the door; Sammy Rivo for selling the raffle tickets; Sharon Hirschberg for the Jello shots and Borscht Apertifs; Irwin Rosen for being the floor manager; David Schapiro for poster and flyer design; plus the ad sales team (see May newsletter for listing) and all the vendors who supported us with ads. Please patronize our business supporters! Thank you to Stu Portney for exemplary service to the congregation working with developers and the temple on the Temple House project in April and May.

Celebrate a birthday or event, remember a loved one Shabbat is a great way to bring your community into lifes special moments. Contact t h e Te m p l e o f f i c e o r g o t o h t t p : / / www.betheljc.org/calendar/, see if the date you want is open, and use the form at the bottom of the page to reserve it. Bring the refreshments yourself or, for a donation of $60, the Oneg Committee will provide the food and drink for you.

Oneg Shabbat Refreshments

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Rabbi Hachen and some of the parents and children attending a recent Tot Shabbat, showing off the flowers they made

Rockin the Rafters!

with Ben Rauch and his Shabbat Quartet Friday, June 28 at 8pm
A unique and beautiful musical take on the Shabbat service

Thank You to Millie Rottenberg for the pair of silk flowering plants in memory of her husband, Eugene Rottenberg

Winning the Peace

As in recent years, Temple Beth-El was one of a number of houses of worship in Jersey City that hosted a visiting group of cadets from West Point Military Academy in late April. All West Point Cadets are required to take a course entitled Winning the Peace. The goal is to teach the cadets about the various religious traditions that they will encounter once they begin their military careers and are stationed around the world. Because of the religious diversity that exists in Jersey City, the students spend several days here visiting houses of worship of the various traditions about which they have studied. Their visit includes stops at the Islamic Center of Jersey City, the Egyptian Coptic Church, Old Bergen Church, the Sunni Rivzi Mosque, the Hindu Temple, and Temple Beth-El, where our rabbi teaches the cadets about the Jewish faith and answers their questions. We can be very proud of the fact that our congregation participates in this truly unique and innovative program whose aim is to make our world a more peaceful place.

Need a ride to services on a Friday night? Let Rabbi Hachen know early in the week and we'll do our best to arrange it. (Volunteer drivers - please contact Rabbi Hachen too.)

Honors at Shabbat Services

We welcome our members to volunteer to lead us in candlelighting (reading an introductory paragraph in English and lighting the candles) or opening the Ark for Aleynu. Once a month when we read Torah you can carry Torah, undress Torah, or dress and return Torah to Ark. You can have an honor for a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary, or just to celebrate Shabbat! Children are welcome to come up with their parents. To sign up for a service, email your preferred dates to rabbihachen@betheljc.org and well get back to you to confirm.

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Contribute your recipes to the Temple Cookbook!

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Submit your recipes on-line at http:// www.betheljc.org/members/cookbook/ or mail to the temple office. Questions? Contact Kathy Prussack at cookbook@betheljc.org

Temple Beth-El is on Facebook!

You dont have to be on Facebook to see our temples Facebook page. Check it out at www.facebook.com/TempleBethElJC Are you on Facebook? Like us and Subscribe to get all our updates in your news feed!

Our First Friday Shabbat Service includes the calling up of everyone with a birthday that month. Birthday boys and girls adults too will receive a special blessing.

Celebrating a birthday in June?

Highlights May Temple Beth-El Board Meeting

The Board of Trustees met on May 13. At the April meeting and at a subsequent congregational meeting, the temple approved the sale of the Temple House and lot to the Alpert Group, to develop an affordable senior residence on the property. The temple planned to use the proceeds from the sale to replace the synagogue roof and do other much needed repairs. At the May Board meeting, President Kay Magilavy gave a re-cap of the impact of the neighborhood meeting hosted by the congregation on May 9. During the meeting, a number of local residents and two elected officials expressed strong opposition to the proposed development. Consequently, there are no further plans for the developer to pursue the 37-unit development. Board members are now considering other alternatives and hope congregants will offer their suggestions. Past President Irwin Rosen and current President Kay Magilavy led the board members on a ceiling-tobasement tour of the sanctuary building, so they could see conditions for themselves. The congregation is planning to move the office and four classrooms to the sanctuary building to reduce maintenance and utility costs.

Yartzeits
Week ending June 1
Sarah Berkowitz Rose Canter Isaac Cohen Beatrice Meltzer Samuel Pearlman Maxwell Rosenzweig Elaine Sandlaufer Nathan Trachman

Week ending June 15

Bernard Greenberg Hortense Gutman Minnie Levine Harold Rosen

Rhoda Magilavy Dorothy Spiegel Natan Wellen Sarah Wellen

Online Yartzeit Form The Temple has an online form you can use to update your family's yartzeit listings and to order memorial plaques. To use the form, please go to http:// www.betheljc.org/ o f f i c e f o r m s / family_yartzeit_list__me mbers_only/ If you do not use a computer, you can still call in your information or write to the office.

Week ending July 6

Morris Bergen Lena Gutterman Rebecca Lerner Helen Rausch Stanley Silver Mack Tillman

Week ending June 22

Abraham Canter Sol Frank Pauline Haas Helen Kleinhaus Morris K. Schonberg Louis Schwartz Benjamin Wohl

Week ending June 8

Max Goren Charles K. Krieger Nedda Parnes Estelle Siegel Hilda Waitzman Frieda Hirshberg

Week ending June 29

Fannie Berkowitz

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To celebrate a happy occasion To say Im sorry for your loss To congratulate someone on a Bar or Bat Mitzvah To remember your loved ones To thank someone for a kindness A card acknowledging your contribution will be sent to the recipient, and the message will be listed in the newsletter. To send a tribute, use the form on page 10, or write, email or call the Temple office. We gratefully acknowledge donations made to Temple Beth-El this past month:

Tributes

Sustaining Fund (General Fund)

A gift from Liliyen Meshell Chiltern Thank you to Rabbi Hachen for her support after the death of my husband, Bill Wolf Meryl Wolf In memory of my beloved mother, Shirley Haas, on her Yartzeit Lynn Reichgott

Schneid Music Fund

In honor of Cantor Furman on her Ordination & upcoming marriage Karen & Fred Schnur

Bella Pesin Fund

Mazel Tov to Kay Magilavy on her new position at the Hudson School Nancy & Nathan Sambul

To Rabbi Hachen & Peter Weinrobe Thank you to Shirley Roter and her In honor of your daughter s committee for a wonderful Passover engagement Seder Irwin Rosen & Sharon Hirshberg Nancy & Nathan Sambul

Wishing Ruth Lubow a speedy recovery Thank you to Karen Schnur for a Irwin Rosen & Sharon Hirshberg wonderful Shabbat honoring old & new To Karen & Fred Schnur members In memory of your beloved mother, To Karen & Fred Schnur in memory of Nancy & Nathan Sambul Ruth Golin, on her passing your beloved mother, Ruth Golin Karen & Gary Cuttler Irwin Rosen & Sharon Hirshberg Thanks to Lari, Hector and Harvey for Sandy Frank being our Food Pantry Volunteers To Rabbi Hachen & Peter Weinrobe Molly Heitner Nancy & Nathan Sambul Mazel Tov on Melissas engagement Shirley & Harvey Roter Wishing Nicholas and Jessica Weiszhaar Nancy & Nathan Sambul Mildred Rottenberg the best on their move to Minnesota Miriam Nickelsporn To Maya & Steve Gelsi & all members of Nancy & Nathan Sambul the cast, Thanks for a wonderful To Jean Margulies & Family Wishing a speedy get well to Karen Herschel Potter Purim In memory of your beloved husband, Schnurs mother Nancy & Nathan Sambul Seymour Margulies Nancy & Nathan Sambul Sandy Frank To Cantor Lauren Furman & Moshe Wishing a speedy get well to Robin Adesnik, Mazel Tov on your Aufruf To the Shargel Family in memory of Schkrutzs mother Nancy & Nathan Sambul your mother, grandmother & greatNancy & Nathan Sambul grandmother, Shirley Livermore To Cantor Lauren Furman Miriam Nickelsporn Wishing a speedy get well to Judith Mazel Tov on your Ordination Schteingarts father Nancy & Nathan Sambul To the Schimel Family Nancy & Nathan Sambul In memory of your beloved Samuel H. To Micah & Jen Goldfus Schimel on his passing In memory of Nathans grandfather, Mazel Tov on the arrival of your new Miriam Nickelsporn Nathan Trachman baby, Harper Nancy & Nathan Sambul Nancy & Nathan Sambul In memory of my beloved mother, Rose Canter, on her Yartzeit Condolences to Carly & Seth Siditsky on To Ben Rauch Miriam Nickelsporn the loss of Carlys grandmother Thank you for a wonderful concert In memory of my grandfather Samuel Pearlman on his Yartzeit Robert Pearlman In memory of my parents on their Yartzeit Jan Reiss-Weitzman Nancy & Nathan Sambul To Lauren Shub Thank you for a wonderful concert Nancy & Nathan Sambul Nancy & Nathan Sambul Condolences to Crag & Ann Goldstein on the loss of your friend Nancy & Nathan Sambul To Karen & Fred Schnur Condolences on the loss of your mother, Ruth Golin Nancy & Nathan Sambul

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Donate online at http://www.betheljc.org/donate/ or complete this form and mail or fax.

I am pleased to contribute $_____ to the fund circled:

$ 10 minimum donation to: Sustaining Fund (general fund) Bella Pesin Fund (supports the congregation and expresses your interest in activities that promote Jewish literacy) $ 18 minimum donation to: Helen & Max Schneid Music Fund (expresses your interest in musical accompaniment to our services and programming) No minimum donations: Rabbi's Discretionary Fund Simcha Tree & Memorial Plaques: Call Temple Office

Please send a tribute to:

Name ______________________________________ Address ____________________________________ In Loving Memory of __________________________ In Honor of__________________________________

Donated by:
Name_______________________________________ Address_____________________________________

Be a MAZON Partner 3% of the cost of all your simchas will go to feed the hungry across the country and around the world! Go online to https://mazon.org/donate/ or mail your check to: MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger 10495 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 100 Los Angeles, CA 90025 Temple Beth-El is a MAZON Partner Synagogue

A big Beth-El welcome to our newest members

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Members Helping Members

If you experience a serious health issue, or know of any temple member who takes ill or who has been admitted to the hospital, please call Rabbi Hachen immediately so that she can visit or be in touch.

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