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!
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
June 20, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
*Note: This message is longer than usual
Dear Hevreh,
I do not think Facebook is a great source for news. Not only is it hard to find posts posted not less than a week ago, but more importantly the posts I am able to read is not a representative sample of the news that's available for me to read. On one level this is my fault because though I may try, my circle of friends and colleagues is not broad enough to include all of the viewpoints I might need to hear. (That being said, is it realistic to work at being "Facebook friends" with complete strangers just to broaden my news feed? I know that the term "friend" is used loosely[...]
Category : Israeli News Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Social Media Tag : facebook israel israeli news jewish people kidnapped klal yisrael peoplehood rabbi rabbi's journal social media teens terrorists
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
May 8, 2013 By bethmordecai no comments.
*Note: This message is a little longer than usual
Dear Hevreh,
כל ישראל ערבים זה לזה
Kol Yisrael arevim zeh lazeh
All of Israel is responsible for one another
An important area of my job that I am working on is learning how to balance -- how to balance my personal and professional lives, how to balance speaking up versus staying quiet, and how to balance spearheading a small institution while participating in a larger Jewish community. The health of our community, in our programming, in our relationships, and in our participation, can only be strengthened by being a part of the larger Jewish community. This is why we have spent great effort to participate in communal activities like the Purimcarnivaland the
Category : Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Tag : balance community israel klal yisrael purim yom hashoa יום השועה פורים
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