An inclusive congregation affiliated with the Conservative Movement.
Your Jewish Home for the Soul!
March 6, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Thank you to Harriet for leading services this morning! Before researching for this morning’s Dvar, I read both the Torah portions and the Haftorah. Parashas P'Keudei is not the most exciting of material P'Keudei begins with Moses's expense account, "These are the records of the Tabernacle … While only the most obsessive CPAs are likely to want to audit Moses at this late date, it does provide a model for what we now call transparency. There should never be an issue that those who have the ability to tax us (or demand "donations") are personally profiting thereby. Indeed, Midrash tells us how far the priests would go to ensure there would be no such questions. The families of those responsible for the Temple's incense[...]
Category : Torah Teachings Uncategorized Tag : d'var torah marc fertik moses redemption torah teachings trust
January 31, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Homecoming Weekend, March 14-16! Experience the joy of memory as generations of Beth Mordecai members return to their Jewish home in Perth Amboy to reminisce about favorite stories and reconnect with old friends and a wonderful Beth Mordecai community. HOMECOMING WEEKEND March 14-16, 2014 SCHMOOZE CRUISE [...]
Category : Homecoming Weekend Uncategorized Tag : homecoming weekend
December 18, 2013 By bethmordecai no comments.
About Us From our humble beginnings in 1897 to our energetic spirit today, Congregation Beth Mordecai has served a diverse Jewish population drawing from Perth Amboy, suburban Middlesex County, and as far away as New York City. Located on beautiful High Street near the marina in historic Perth Amboy, Congregation Beth Mordecai opened the doors of our current building in 1926. Its fine features have been preserved, from exquisite stained glass windows to original woods. Yet, while the sanctuary is breathtaking, it is the soulfulness and spirit of the people that truly makes our community special. A sense of warmth pervades our services, our special events, and all of our activities as we welcome individuals and[...]
Category : home Uncategorized
By bethmordecai no comments.
Less than a week till our Jewish celebration of Christmas! Don't miss out on this fun evening of Chinese food, movie, and community! To be hosted by Rabbi Ari Saks at his home, so space is limited. To reserve your booking, please visit us on the event page on our website: http://bethmordecai.org/events/3495/ You can also let us know you are coming via our Facebook event page and share your suggestions on what movie you'd like to watch. We will put it to a vote beginning on Sunday. https://www.facebook.com/events/297705663702768/ Or you can email us your booking at: officebethmordecai@gmail.com
Category : Uncategorized Tag : christmas dinner movie
December 5, 2013 By bethmordecai no comments.
Join us 6:30 pm on Friday night for "Family Shabbat -- Playing With Water" Water is a highly valued commodity in Jewish tradition. In honor of our The Perth Amboy Holiday Parade and 1st Annual Rubber Duck Race, we will explore some Jewish teachings, songs, and approaches towards water that you can use at home...and particularly during your (grand)kids' bath time! Let us know you're coming by clicking on our Facebook event page! Monthly Family Shabbat services will be held the first Shabbat every month, rotating between Friday nights and Saturday mornings.
Category : Uncategorized Tag : family shabbat
November 14, 2013 By bethmordecai no comments.
Dear Hevreh, As some of you may have already seen on Facebook, the synagogue has renewed my contract which means that I will continue to be your rabbi for at least the next 2-3 years (and hopefully longer!). Rachel and I are both very excited about staying here at Beth Mordecai and in Perth Amboy, primarily because the community has embraced us with open arms. From the services to the parties and all of the special events that bring us together, our kehillah, our community, makes us feel right at home. The word kehillah is so important. It comes from the root k-h-l meaning "gather" or "congregate." In other words, the heart of what makes a community a community is[...]
Category : Rabbi's Journal Shabbat Uncategorized Tag : kehillah kiddush rabbi's journal shabbat
November 12, 2013 By bethmordecai no comments.
Enjoy these fun pictures from our Sukkot celebrations in 5774! // Post by Congregation Beth Mordecai. // Post by Congregation Beth Mordecai. // Post by Congregation Beth Mordecai.
Category : Pictures Sukkot Uncategorized
November 6, 2013 By bethmordecai no comments.
Dear Hevreh, Last night, many of you received an email from our esteemed Executive Director Elliot Rubin about selling ducks for our Rubber Duck Race fundraiser on December 8th. (In case you did not receive the email, you can read it here). The focus of that email was on the importance of selling ducks as a mitzvah, as a command, in which we recognize our obligation to raise valuable tz'dakkah for our community and the greater Perth Amboy community. While that sense of mitzvah is extremely important, I want to focus in this journal entry on another way to look at this campaign we're undertaking over the next 33 days. This process should be keif, or FUN!, because c'mon...we're selling rubber ducks! I don't know about you but[...]
Category : Rabbi's Journal Rubber Duck Race Uncategorized Tag : facebook fun keif mitzvah rubber duck race
September 24, 2013 By bethmordecai no comments.
Posted on State of Formation on January 9th, 2013 Homepages: Rabbi Categories: Publications
Category : Publications Uncategorized Tag : Publications
September 14, 2013 By bethmordecai no comments.
Rabbi Ari Saks Congregation Beth Mordecai Yom Kippur Sermon 5774 (September 14, 2013)* Standing behind the doors of the closed ballroom in one of the finer hotels in Spokane, Washington, I nervously prepared myself for one of the scariest, most vulnerable moments in my 17 years of life…running for Religious Education Vice President of Pinwheel USY, the local region of United Synagogue Youth. My hands sweaty, my heart in my stomach, I opened the doors and did this…cue Mordecai Ben David music…That’s right, I danced into a room full of teenagers rocking out to Mordecai Ben David’s classical religious single, “Moshiach, Moshiach, Moshiach! (or Messiah, Messiah, Messiah!)” Though I don’t remember exactly what I said – I probably blacked out after that[...]
Category : Holidays Sermons Uncategorized Yom Kippur Tag : holidays sermons Yom Kippur