Lag B’Omer – A good excuse for being happy.  Do you need an excuse to be happy? Judaism has a tremendously rich cycleof holidays and personal observances which move us through the growth andemotions of life well lived. If you need the excuse, one is always around the corner.  In the fall, we rejoice in Creation on Rosh Hashanah, only to be profound and repentant on Yom Kippur 10 days later. We note the temporary and fragile nature of our lives on Sukkot, while celebrating the fruitful harvest and the eternal cycle of Torah at Simchat Torah.  A month without holidays in the fall, Cheshvan, is …

Is the Seder Optimistic?Do you look forward to a better future? The Passover Seder is built around a narrative: “things were bad, and then they were good. One day they will be even better.” In the language of the Mishnah, “One begins with the embarrassing tale (slavery and idolatry) and ends with the praiseworthy story (redemption and Sinai). After the telling of the story and the feasting, we open the door for Elijah and seek the ever better future. It would seem that the Seder teaches us to be optimistic. Yet it is also based in the pessimistic view that the world is now unredeemed and that…

By the Merit of WomenIn this week’s Parshah (Yitro) we read of the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. And much of the plot is driven by men. Moses’ father-in-law Yitro meets with and advises Moses prior to his arrival at the mountain. Moses’ sons are introduced. Moses and Aaron partake of a sacrificial meal. Moses ascends and descends the mountain. And Moses adjures the men to “not come near a woman” for three days prior to the ophany. Yet at this very time of the year we are reminded that it is the women who made it all possible. According to the Babylonian Talmud, "Biz’chut Nashim …

In addition to our active calendar of programs and events, we are proud to announce to exciting developments this month at B'nai Shalom. Hagit Yaso Benefit Concert: B'nai Shalom is thrilled to welcome the stunning Israeli singer Hagit Yaso to a one-night only concert on Saturday Jan. 12, at 7:30 p.m. to support, in part, our Jewish National Fund water reclamation program in Kiryat Yovel, Jerusalem.  Yaso is absolutely amazing to hear.  Born of Ethiopian Jews in Sederot, she was raised amidst the fear and joy of that border town near Gaza.  Happy, beautiful and talented, Yaso sings in four …

Supporting Israel  Here at B’nai Shalom, we have a strong record for support of Israel. As we watch the recent events unfolding in Israel and the Gaza Strip, we remain steadfast in our love and support of Israel. But we are disgusted by certain media coverage whose selective amnesia ignores the simple fact that these missiles have been being shot at Israel for months and months now. We are grateful that the United States in recent years authorized and installed the Iron Dome air defense system to protect against this very situation. And we wait for news of the conflicts’ escalation or …

Israel Initiatives at B’nai Shalom: Israel has been, and remains the heartland of Jewish existence. And as a modern American ally with shared values, Israel is a natural partner for social, economic and political relationships. Israel and America have much to experience together. That is why B’nai Shalom is focusing on Israel initiatives this year. We were fortunate to welcome Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren to our congregation on Rosh Hashanah.  And our Israel Bonds appeal nearly doubled this year in response to his message. We are launching an Israel Fair on Saturday night Oct. 27 with a …

Only the synagogue can be the center of Judaism. For a long time it was wrongly taught that “synagogues replaced the ancient temple.” In fact, this is not true. From well before the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans in 70 C.E, our people had gathered in our towns and communities to hear the Torah read and to say public prayers.  One of my favorite artifacts is the Theodotus Stone, which can be found in Jerusalem’s Rockefeller Museum. This stone, carved in Greek and found in excavations in the City of David, declares Theodotus to have been a head of a synagogue whose purpose was …

Back to “Shul” Synagogues that prioritize learning at all ages are often called “shul” from the Yiddish for “school.” Here at B’nai Shalom, it’s “back to shul time” after a long and active summer. Now that we’ve completed our summer learning series on Creation, Revelation and Providence in the Jewish Tradition, we are moving full speed ahead with more programs. On Thursday, Aug. 2, we took a bus trip to “Colonial New York.” Beginning with a trip to the Holocaust Museum, in Battery Park, we focused on the earliest Jews to land on these shores. We then enjoyed the Emma Lazarus exhibit on the …

You CAN take it with you. All around the country, people are going on vacation and leaving their synagogues behind with empty seats and high air conditioning bills. Not here at The Conservative Synagogue! Here we are looking forward to a vibrant summer of services and learning.  I find the summertime to be a particularly uplifting season spiritually and Jewish-ly. The days are long, and invite quiet moments of contemplation along with frolicking times of family fun. In these warm days we often feel the blessings of God all around us. What an opportunity. One of my favorite activities in the …

Going deeper in our study and our beliefs Throughout the month of May, B'nai Shalom hosted three outstanding lectures which outlined different "approaches" to Jewish beliefs:  Rational Judaism, Zionist and Mystical Judaism. These evening venues gathered serious crowds to learn in a traditional lecture format. This July, we will take the topics Creation, Revelation, and Providence and study them in a less formal "Shabbat Kiddush Lunch-n-Learn" on Saturday afternoons following morning services. Creation is the first topic. Traditionally minded Jews don't ask, "Did God Create the Universe?" …

B’nai Shalom Encourages “Approaches” to Judaism.  The Austrian-British Cambridge philosophy professor Ludwig Josef Johann Wittgenstein is credited with the concept of “lenses” in matters of philosophy and religion. That is to say, we all view the world through lenses, which color our perception of everything.  How a Christian views the world may be profoundly different from how a Jew views the world.  And within our religions this is true as well. Whether it is Islam, Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant Christianities, Hinduism, Buddhism, or Judaism, we have many different “lenses” which create…

  In just two weeks, Jews the world over will sit down at their tables and celebrate the Pesach Seder. This holiday is known as “the time of our freedom” because at this time our ancestors were liberated by G-d from the power of Pharaoh in ancient Egypt. Yet “freedom” is only a part of the story. The real theology of the holiday is Redemption. Redemption is more difficult to understand than freedom. What does it mean to be redeemed?  And why do we need redemption? You see, for a rabbinic Jew, what happened to our ancestors happens to us. What G-d promised to them is promised to us. What G-d …

On Thursday, Feb. 16, I led a day trip from the B’nai Shalom parking lot to the Discovery Museum in Times Square to see the Dead Sea Scrolls: Life and Faith in Biblical Times exhibit.  The exhibit features many items never before displayed. Some of them date back nearly 3,000 years ago to the time of King Solomon; the youngest item in the exhibit dates from the Byzantine period, around 400 CE. Anyone who has ever visited the Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem can attest to the incredible sight of the ancient parchment scrolls on display. They raise as many questions as …

A D’var Torah by Rabbi Robert L. Tobin, Rabbi of B’nai Shalom “Who is Jewish in this week’s parshah?” Moses’ father-in-law appears for the first time in this week’s parshah, Parshat Shemot.  We read in the third aliyah, “Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters.  They came to draw water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock; but shepherds came and drove them off.  Moses rose to their defense, and he watered their flock.  When they returned to their father Reuel, he said, ‘How is it that you have come back so soon today?’  They answered, ‘An Egyptian rescued us from the …

Supporting Israel as a Conservative Jew  On Hanukkah, we celebrate the freedom of our people in the Land of Israel from both political and religious oppression. It is the land of miracles for our people bayamim hahem bazman hazeh  “in those days at this time.” Knowing that we are free and that God is the source of the miracle of Israel is paramount, but sadly the lights of Hanukkah are lost on some. A number of years ago, Lisa and I had decided to try an “au pair” program to help with our twin children. We interviewed and hired an Israeli, hoping she would teach the children Hebrew, share in …

InstallationMore than 400 members of B'nai Shalom and the greater community gathered together last Sunday, Sept. 18, for the installation ceremonies marking Rabbi Robert L. Tobin's ascension to the rabbinate of the congregation. Rabbi Tobin believes every occasion should be a teaching moment, and his installation was no exception.  The theme of the evening was his favorite quote from Pirkei Avot (Ethics of our Ancestors): "The world stands on three principles: Torah, service to God and deeds of kindness."  Participants in the ceremonies included David H. Lissy, Executive Director & Chief …

B’nai Shalom in Celebration and TransitionOn Sunday evening, June 12th, B'nai Shalom hosted a Gala Dinner Dance honoring Rabbi Stanley Asekoff and his wife Cecille for their 39 years of service to the synagogue and to the West Orange community.More than 450 people were present to show their appreciation, respect and affection for the Asekoffs. The festive evening included presentations and speeches from family, friends, dignitaries — including former Gov. Richard Codey and Assem. John McKeon -- and a speech delivered via video by the Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Michael Oren. …

Lag B’omer, the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer fell on Sunday May 22. This is a happy holiday on our Jewish calendar, traditionally marked by outings to fields, games, sports and bonfires.B’nai Shalom celebrated with a fun indoor Field Day (due to the weather) full of sports and games, crafts and ice cream for young children. We thank the organizers, Jessica Wise and Elke Luftig for once again offering a fun holiday activity that children and parents could all enjoy.Also on Sunday, our Sisterhood held a book review of The Help by Kathryn Stockett. This book generated a wonderful …

The month of May is filled with Commemorations and Celebrations at B’nai Shalom.The Art of Jewish Storytelling Next Wednesday, May 4, at noon, B’nai Shalom’s Hazak meeting will host Hirschhorn presenter, Carol Golub, who will share The Art of Jewish Storytelling. That same day, B’nai Shalom is a co-sponsor of the Jewish Family Services forum, The Future Ain’t What it Used to Be: Life’s Challenges Moving Forward. We encourage everyone to attend this event at the Aidekman Campus in Whippany. (Pre-registration is required.)  Yom Hazikaron and Yom HaaatzmautTo mark Yom Hazikaron and Yom …