Please check the Calendars Page for school and ritual information and events.
Photos and Videos of Past Events
Tallit-Making Workshop, Sunday, February 5, 9:30 a.m. - noon
Come join us and make your own Tallit. You will need:
Fabric (cotton works best) – 36” wide by 60-72” long
4 pkgs of embroidery yarn/floss (any colors you want)
1 spool of matching thread
If you have any questions, please contact Marsha Gross.
Purim Spiel, Megillah Reading and Purim Carnival - Sunday, March 4
The annual retelling of the story of Purim - the JCNWJ Purim Spiel is unlike any other and not to be missed! Purim Carnival followed. Adults interested in participating in this year’s Purim Shpiel (The Wizard of Peroz), please let Debbie Fesinstine know as soon as possible.
Women's Self Defense Class - Tuesday, March 6 at 7:00 p.m.
Learn self defense tips and moves that may save your life! Open to all women of the JCNWJ ages 12 & older. Temple member Erik Heller, 3rd degree black belt and police officer, will conduct this class at the Tenchi Isshinryu Karate Dojo, Route 22 East, Lebanon, NJ. RSVP by February 3 to Suzi Marr. Dress comfortably!
Shabbat Across America, Friday, March 9, 6 p.m.
EAT—PRAY—EAT! This is a time to get together as a community, share dinner and worship, and then, this year, celebrate with Gerri Klein as she hosts the Oneg (following the Kabbalat Shabbat service) in honor of the bat mitzvah of her daughter, Sabrina Hutt. This Shabbat across America is also a time to bring your favorite dishes for the potluck meal and to invite friends who may be searching for a temple to call home. Please contact our Shabbat across America coordinator, Lois Goldberg by Monday, March 5, if you plan to attend, and let her know what you would like to bring. This is a dairy Shabbat meal.
PAST EVENTS:
The Mind-Body-Spirit Connection - November 30, 2011 - Understanding the basic nutrition needed for your body and mind to function at its optimal best can be confusing with all the information available today. Holistic health practitioner, natural foods chef and yoga instructor, Delia Quigley delivered this vital information in simple layman’s terms geared for anyone interested in understanding their relationship to food, to their body and ultimately to themselves.
Program flyer (pdf, 355kb)
Kristallnacht Commemoration - November 4, 2011 - Guest speaker Dr. Robert Werner recounted the life of his father, Harold Werner, a Jewish partisan who risked his life fighting an underground war against the Nazi occupiers in Poland and whose memoir Fighting Back: A Memoir of Jewish Resistance in World War II was published in 1992, shortly after he passed away. Dr. Werner also shared his own personal experience growing up as the son of a partisan in Vineland, New Jersey.
Family Mitzvah Day - Sunday, October 2, 2011 - Participants met at the temple to caravan to Longmeadow Farm, part of America's Grow-a-Row to pick food for the needy.
Blood Drive - September 25, 2011 - Donating one unit of blood can save up to three lives - tripling your mitzvah!
Shabbat Service Followed By Pot Luck Dinner, July 29, 2011 - Our first service of the 2011-2012 year was a Kabbalat Shabbat service followed by a pot-luck supper.
Yom HaShoah Observance, May 1, 2011
The JCNWJ proudly welcomed Peretz School students Joel Dancyger, Lilka Elbaum and Henry Lewkowicz to view "Peretzniks", a documentary that shares the story of more than 100 former Jewish students of the Peretz School in Lodz, Poland - most of whom were orphaned during the Holocaust.
Talent Show - April 2, 2011
Another memorable night of song, dance and surprises transformed the sanctuary. The annual Talent Show is not to be missed. and Members are encouraged to share their talent.
Purim Spiel, Megillah Reading and Purim Carnival - March 20, 2011
The annual retelling of the story of Purim - the JCNWJ Purim Spiel is unlike any other and not to be missed! Purim Carnival followed.
Watch the Purim Spiel!
Menorah Lighting in Long Valley - December 4, 2010
Members of the Jewish Center of Northwest Jersey led the candle lighting on the porch of Splash Restaurant on the corner of East Mill Road and Route 517. This was followed by festive singing led by Cantor Elana Rosen-Brownand and dinner at Splash.
Memories of Kristallnacht - October 29, 2010
Featured Erwin Ganz, who was born in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1929. He lived there until he was three years old, when he was forced to relocate to Berkastel Koos, Germany. He emigrated to the United States in April, 1939, at age nine, and his family settled in Newark.
Why and How to Advocate for Israel - October 17, 2010
This program was presented by StandWithUs, an international organization dedicated to bringing peace to the Middle East by educating about Israel and the misinformation that often surrounds the Middle East conflict. On its Web site, www.standwithus.com, the group describes itself this way: “We strive to ensure that Israel’s side of the story is told on university campuses and in communities, the media, libraries, and churches around the world...to help bring us closer to peace.” The program provided the information and some of the skills and tools necessary to advocate for Israel, and demonstrate how Israel is part of our lives.
Family Mitzvah Day - September 26, 2010
HELP TO FEED THE HUNGRY IN OUR AREA!
Participants met at the temple to caravan to Longmeadow Farm, part of America's Grow-a-Row.
Congregational Picnic - June 27, 2010 - Swimming, boating, fishing, wiffle ball, ping pong, conversation and of course, good food, always make this annual event a rousing success.
Shabbat Service With Temple 'Rock Band', Friday, April 16, 2010
Back by popular demand after its debut performance last month, the temple 'Rock Band' returned with Cantor Coyot leading temple members accompanying the service with instruments and voice.
Menorah Lighting in Long Valley - December 18, 2009
Temple members led the celebration at the public menorah lighting on the last night of Hanukkah at the “Splash” restaurant, One West Mill Road, Long Valley. The lighting of the final candle of the holiday was followed by dinner at Splash with festive singing and celebration. The temple's Chanukah service began at 7:30 back at the temple.
Healing Service for Chanukah - December 13, 2009
Our Healing Service is for anyone and everyone, for the sick and the ones who care for the sick, for the recovering and the healthy, for those who want to feel the support of the community and for those who want to do the supporting. At such a service one may gain spiritual strength through listening, reflection, meditation and prayersm or just by knowing that you are not the only one on such a journey. The service was be held with our neighboring congregations, Or Chadash and the Flemington JCC, and in conjunction with the Ohr Tikvah Healing Center of the Jewish Federation of Somerset, Warren and Hunterdon Counties.
Kristallnacht Service - November 6, 2009
This year, special guest Anne Bloch joined us as her son and temple member, Lenny, shared her story - as a twelve year old, Anne Plaut was separated from her parents and sent to a children's camp in Holland. Her parents said they'd see her in a month. One year later they picked Anne up on their escape from tyranny. The young Anne survived and still thrives today at 83.
Summer Shabbat Service Followed by Potluck Supper - July 24, 2009
Send-off for Cantor Marcy, May 30, 2009
Student Cantor Marcy Kadin's three years with us were drawing to a close and we wanted to say a proper goodbye as a congregation. So a special Havdallah service was held at which Marcy performed several pieces from her recital, followed by a schmooze party in her honor in the simcha room.
Guest Speaker Rabbi Robin Nafshi, "On Jewish Healing" - May 1, 2009
In addition to her duties serving as a congregational rabbi at Temple Beth-El in Hillsborough, Rabbi Nafshi is committed to working in the area of Jewish healing. She currently serves as the Community Rabbi-Community Chaplain for Ohr Tikvah Jewish Healing Center of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren Counties. In the late 1990s, after being involved as a lay leader in her local community, Robin Nafshi realized her calling in her commitment to the Jewish people and Jewish life. Her past work as a hospice chaplain and present work with Ohr Tikvah ensure that her thoughts on Jewish healing are important and relevant to all of us in our daily lives.
Yom HaShoah Observance, Guest Speaker Tova Friedman "The Holocaust through the Eyes of a Child" - April 19, 2009
Our guest, Tova Friedman, presented a short film after her riveting and moving talk on "The Holocaust through the Eyes of a Child" for our annual Yom HaShoah observance. Mrs. Friedman, a mere six-and-a-half when the concentration camp was liberated by the Russians, was one of the youngest survivors of Auschwitz. Mrs. Friedman, a noted and sought-after speaker, has shared her experiences in Auschwitz with many schools and organizations.
Scout Shabbat, February 6, 2009 - A.J. Seidorf received a special commendation, presented by Helen Mattson on behalf of the congregation, for his Eagle Scout project, which benefited the JCNWJ. Connor Onweller received his Aleph award, presented in absentia by his teacher Mike Weiner and read by Sharon Herson. (Some who were present remembered when A.J. received his Aleph.)
Charlotte Fels 90th Birthday Lunch, December 7, 2008
A potluck lunch to honor one of our oldest and dearest members.
Non-Jews by Birth, Jews By Choice, November 16, 2008
Sometimes our non-Jewish members mention that they want to learn more about Judaism. Rabbi Lewis would like to know how she can help, but she can't do that without the person's help. The only agenda was for those interestd to talk and for the rabbi to listen.
Kristallnacht Commemoration, November 7, 2008
Dr. Susan Lederman, Professor of Public Administration at Kean University, spoke on the topic "Broken Glass and a Broken World: Reflections of a Hidden Child on the Holocaust"
Born in Bratislava, Slovakia, Dr. Lederman survived the Holocaust as a hidden child and immigrated with her parents to the United States in 1948. She has served as Director of Kean's Master of Public Administration Program and as the founding Executive Director of the Gateway Institute for Regional Development. She has been on the faculty at the University since 1977. Dr. Lederman is also a past president of the League of Women Voters of the United States (1990-92) and served as the president of the New Jersey League of Women Voters. She holds leadership positions in various civic organizations and is serving or has served on several state commissions. She is a past president of Temple Sinai (1993-94). Susan Lederman holds an A.B. degree in Political Science from the University of Michigan and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science from Rutgers University.
Our annual commemoration of Kristallnacht is part of the Shabbat evening service.
Kabalat Shabbat Service / Potluck Dinner - July 25, 2008
This early and short Kabbalat Shabbat service on July 25 began at 6:00 p.m. It was followed by a dairy/vegetarian potluck supper.
Yom HaShoa Observance - April 27, 2008
Dr. Mathilde Benveniste was the guest speaker at our Yom HaShoah observance. Dr. Benveniste spoke about the experiences of her family, one of five that remained in Thessaloniki (Salonika), Greece, and survived the Nazi occupation. (More than 50,000 Jews from Thessaloniki were deported and murdered in the Holocaust.) She placed her personal story in the context of the history of her native city, once known as "Mother of Israel" and "Jerusalem of the Balkans."
Community Seder, April 20, 2008
The second annual Community Seder had lots of wonderful home-cooked food. The dinner is coordinated in advance, with all participants bringing specified items.
Making Time Sacred: And the Rest Is Commentary - January 6, 2008
In this talk, it is argued that transforming the not-yet holy into the holy, and in the process making time sacred is the single commandment that underlies all other commandments. Rabbi Dennis Shulman, Ph.D., examined selected biblical and talmudic passages, as well as some of the writing of Abraham Joshua Heschel to argue that to be Jewish and/or spiritual, one must sanctify time.
Awarding of the Ner Tamid (Eternal Light) Emblem to A.J. Seidorf - December 21, 2007
During Shabbat services A.J. Seidorf was awarded the Ner Tamid Emblem, a pendant representing the Eternal Light. The emblem symbolizes the completion of all the requirements of the Ner Tamid program, an official Boy Scouts of America program that helps participants to grow spiritually. Developed by the National Jewish Committee on Scouting, the program is intended for boys in grades 6-9. Similar programs have been developed by the Protestant and Catholic committees on Scouting.
60th Anniversary Celebration Picnic - June 10, 2007 - Celebration at the home of Mike Weiner and Diane Margolin. This family event had food, music, game, swimming, fishing and fun.
"My Gift to You: Personal Recollections of a Hungarian Jewish Child from the Holocaust Years" - April 15, 2007
Esther Bakonyi, speaker on Yom HaShoah
Prepared text of Esther's talk (pdf, 20kb)
A Day to Remember - An account of Charlotte Fels reading from her book, This is My Story, February 25, 2007.
"A Taste of Judaism: Are You Curious?" - A unique program designed to engage "beginners" – Jewish or not – in learning more about Judaism. September 2005
Service for Healing, December 11, 2005
Here are some pictures from events at the JCNWJ:
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