Congregation Beth Mordecai
Congregation Beth Mordecai
An inclusive congregation affiliated with the Conservative Movement.
Your Jewish Home for the Soul!
An inclusive congregation affiliated with the Conservative Movement.
Your Jewish Home for the Soul!
December 18, 2018 By Beth Mordecai no comments.
With about 60 people in attendance on Tuesday night, Nov. 27, Temple Beth Mordecai was the location of a memorial program to honor the people who were shot to death at a Jewish synagogue, Tree of Life – Or L'Simcha Congregation, in Pittsburgh, on October 27, 2018. The commemoration was to mark the 30-day period following death. Rabbis and cantors from congregations in and around Middlesex County joined Rabbi Metz to present a program called the “Pittsburgh Sheloshim Commemoration.” A “sheloshim” is the 30-day mourning period following burial.
Perth Amboy Mayor Wilda Diaz attended. One of the speakers discussed the effects of violence: “We stand in grief with the devastated families in our nation. We weep over the incomprehensible loss of life.[...]
Category : Middlesex Jewish News Pictures
By Beth Mordecai no comments.
At Congregation Sons of Israel
Sunday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m.
33 Gordons Corner Rd.
Manalapan, N.J. 07726
• Join Rabbi Sara Metz with Muslim and Christian religious leaders from Monmouth and Middlesex Counties to celebrate the first anniversary of their shared Israel trip. We will discuss our similarities, our differences and how we learn from each other. (more…)
Category : home Interfaith Experiences Middlesex Jewish News Rabbi
May 12, 2016 By bethmordecai no comments.
"I was a shepherd in Africa...now I shepherd Jewish people to Israel"
- paraphrase of Dr. Avraham Neguise, Likud Member of Knesset and Chairman of Committee on Immigration, Absorption, and Diaspora Affairs
Dear Hevreh,
Israel has always held a special place in my heart. Between college and rabbinical school I took five trips to Israel and after each one my appreciation and love for the miracle of the Jewish State only increased. I even contemplated making aliyah at one point until I felt commanded to serve the Jewish people and religious life in America. This story is not new - many non-Israeli Jews feel a call to join the Jewish project in Israel, yet for one reason or another find[...]
Category : home Israeli News Middlesex Jewish News Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Tag : america appreciation bible connection diaspora israel miracle MK Dr. Avraham Neguise Rabbinical Association in the Heart of New Jersey rahnj relations shepherding Yom Haatzmaut
May 4, 2016 By bethmordecai no comments.
Reflection on the beginning of Yom Hashoa, Holocaust Remembrance Day, beginning tonight with a program at the JCC at 7:30 pm...
Dear Hevreh,
Some of you may have already seen the email shared with our community, or the article I wrote in the New Jersey Jewish News on the subject, but right now there is a great need in our larger Jewish community to support our Holocaust survivors. Yes, we need to help our survivors because their stories are invaluable, their presence is precious, and their sacrifice is too great to articulate. But even more so, we need to help them because they have done so much to help us.
Earlier this November, during one of our parlour meetups,[...]
Category : home Middlesex Jewish News Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Tag : holocaust Jewish Federation middlesex jewish news Never Forget rabbi rabbi's journal stories Survivors
By bethmordecai no comments.
Letter from Jewish Federation of the Heart of New Jersey on the urgent need to support Holocaust survivors:
This year, the timing of Yom HaShaoh, Holocaust Remembrance Day, coincides with recent, troubling news that restitution funds are falling short to meet the humanitarian needs of Holocaust survivors in Monmouth and Greater Middlesex counties. Twenty-five survivors have already had services cut and 100 more face cuts in coming months. These are cuts to services helping them with basic daily activities, from meal preparation to bathing, to simply tidying up at home.
The Jewish Federation, Jewish Family Services in Middlesex and Jewish Family & Children's Service in Monmouth, together, are launching an urgent fundraising initiative on Yom HaShoah, May 5, to restore services and prevent further[...]
Category : home Middlesex Jewish News Tag : Federation fundraising holocaust middlesex jewish news
April 22, 2015 By bethmordecai no comments.
We are so excited to announce the rededication of Beth Mordecai’s Safran Hall on June 7!
The afternoon will be filled with opportunities to celebrate our updated social hall. From raffle prizes and silent auctions to unlimited wine and desserts to high-shelf scotch tastings, the Rededication and Silent Auction is an opportunity to begin building brand-new memories in this newly-renovated space.
The rededication and silent auction commemorates and celebrates a wonderful update to our nearly 90-year-old building: the remodeling of our social hall, named after longtime member Rachel Wolff Safran. With new carpets, paint, curtains, and more, Safran Hall is a beautiful space to host small and large events alike.
Read below for the Rededication and Silent Auction details, and most importantly, share[...]
Category : Events Middlesex Jewish News Perth Amboy News Safran Hall Rededication and Silent Auction Social Media Tag : #perthamboy2015 beth mordecai
September 4, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
This is the second of a three part journal series previewing this Sunday's Israeli-Palestinian speaker event "One Land, Two Worlds, One Painful Hope"
Dear Hevreh,
A year in a half ago, in the spring of 2013, we participated in a wonderful event celebrating the birthday of the State of Israel. There were lots of activities for families, some excellent food, a concert, and some learning. We strongly advertised for and we had a good turnout -- It was a terrific event for our community.
And by the way...it was held at Neve Shalom in Metuchen.
Someone once told me rather facetiously that if they had it their way, we should "lock the doors" when people come into the synagogue, as a way of[...]
Category : Middlesex Jewish News Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Tag : JCC JCC of Middlesex Jewish Federation klal yisrael litmus test middlesex jewish news Neve Shalom partnership rabbi rabbi's journal Temple Emanu-El
December 17, 2013 By bethmordecai no comments.
Today we celebrate our unity.
Today we honor our diversity.
Today we glorify the beauty of Klal Yisrael (people of Israel)
- Day 295: Klal Yisrael
Dear Hevreh,
I shared the words written above last Spring when four Jewish institutions in northern Middlesex County -- Beth Mordecai, Neve Shalom, Temple Emanu-El, and the JCC -- came together to work on a program to celebrate our love for the Jewish homeland of Israel. I return to these words because this Sunday from 9 am -- 12 pm we have another opportunity to experience the glory of Klal Yisrael with an amazing Bible Family Fun Day program which we are co-sponsoring with the other three northern Jewish Middlesex institutions and Middlesex Federation and the Conservative[...]
Category : Middlesex Jewish News Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Tag : cantor showcase israel event klal yisrael middlesex jewish news one jewish people programs rabbi rabbi's journal unity white out friday night
December 3, 2013 By bethmordecai no comments.
Dear Hevreh,
Last night, I had one of the most memorable Hanukkah experiences of my life as I celebrated the Festival of Lights with my family, my neighbors, and my Jewish community. It wasn't that one particular moment stood out (though I really enjoyed sharing the story of Hanukkah with 3rd and 4th grade Perth Amboy students), but rather that the overall experience of lighting the candles with so many groups of people truly exemplified the meaning of the mitzvah of pirsumei nisah, of publicizing the miracle of Hanukkah.
The rabbis teach us that the purpose of lighting candles is to share the miracle with everyone around us, which is why we are supposed to light the candles as early as[...]
Category : Hanukkah Middlesex Jewish News Perth Amboy News Rabbi's Journal Rubber Duck Race Tag : choir family hanukkah jewish community miracle neighbors perth amboy pirsumei nisa פרסומי ניסא
January 11, 2013 By bethmordecai no comments.
*Note: This messsage is a little longer than usual* Dear Hevreh, A brief glimpse into any moment Jewish history reveals that we have been pulled by two, often opposing, poles -- towards our connection with our people and towards being a part of the greater society. As such one of the tenets of Conservative Judaism that makes me a Conservative Jew, is that we can be both -- we can be good Jews and good members of society. Two upcoming events for our community clearly demonstrate our commitment to this belief. 1) Super Sunday Phone-a-thon for Jewish Federation of Middlesex County, this Sunday 1/13 8:30 am -- 2:00 pm; 5:30 pm -- 9:00 pm We have always been a people of small numbers, yet we[...]
Category : Middlesex Jewish News Perth Amboy News Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Tag : Day of Service Federation hurricane sandy Jewish klal yisrael Middlesex County society St. Peter's Episcopal Church world