Hanukkah Parade Lights Up Livingston, West Orange

Eighth night of joyous holiday marks end of Festival of Lights with car parade through townships.

Members of the West Orange and Livingston Jewish communities held their annual Hanukkah Parade Saturday night in West Orange and Livingston. The parade, which started at the Valley National Bank Building, 66 W. Mount Pleasant Ave. in Livingston, traveled part of the way down Route 10 and ended up in West Orange at the Lubavitch Center Shul, 395 Pleasant Valley Way. There were almost 25 participants this year. Each car was adorned with a fully lighted Menorah glowing with eight lights lit to represent the final day of the Jewish Festival of Lights. Were you at this year's Hanukkah Parade? Share your photos with Patch.

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Shul Spiel: Lubavitch Center of Essex County

What's Happening in West Orange Synagogues

This week's focus returns to the Lubavitch Center Shul, 395 Pleasant Valley Way.

On Dec. 8, the Lubavitch Center hosted a Chanukah party for the community and about a hundred people showed up. Everyone enjoyed pizza, latkes, French fries, falafel and salads. The kids had a lot of fun playing a "stuffed menorah" guessing game, Chanukah bingo, and "Make-a-menorah-from-whatever-is-in-a-bag" game. As part of the Smile On Seniors program, we recruited some volunteers to Brighton Gardens, Green Hill, Care One, and Canterbury Village where we celebrated Chanukah with the seniors. They were overjoyed playing Chanukah bingo, eating donuts, and singing along to the menorah lighting.  At the Livingston Mall on Sunday people gathered around as Rabbi (Mendy) Kasowitz  lit the Menorah, sang Chanukah songs, and played a guessing …

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Elections, Homicide, Athena Top Local West Orange News

Charles, Casalino earn seats on township board of education; County prosecutor's office investigating death.

  Incumbent Michelle Casalino will join newcomer Ronald Charles on the West Orange Board of Education following Election Day wins Tuesday. Casalino was the top vote-getter in the four-person race for two seats. Charles finished second and was followed by Joseph Sorbino and Adam Kraemer. Board member Paul Petigrow dropped out of the race in September. The Essex County Prosecutor's Office is investigating the death of a West Orange woman on Oct. 31. Lelia Whatley, 22, was found unresponsive at her Washington Street residence early last Wednesday and was pronounced dead at the scene, said Katherine Carter, spokesperson for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office. Whatley's death was ruled a homicide after an autopsy Monday found she died of …

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PHOTOS: Guests Enjoy West Orange Buffet

Three West Orange synagogues provide hot meal at Congregation Ohr Torah for those without power, in need of warm place to relax.

Dear Friends, Lubavitch Center along with Congregations AABJ&D and Ohr Torah invite those without power to a hot dinner buffet at Congregation Ohr Torah, 270 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, this evening (Sunday) beginning at 4:30. We know how stressful it is during this difficult time in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Our goal is to provide a warm and friendly atmosphere to help you through the day. We understand you are not starving and that many of you have gone to stay with family or friends. However, moving out of your home with children or staying home with no lights/heat can be tough. I encourage you to come tonight relax and enjoy a hot meal together. If you plan to join us, please e-mail your name and number of people in your …

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Shul Spiel: Lubavitch Center of Essex County

What's Happening in West Orange Synagogues?

This week's focus returns to the Lubavitch Center of Essex County.

  At the Lubavitch Center we had an amazing High Holiday season starting with a renovation that opened up space in the Shul. We were able to comfortably sit close to 180 people for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Sukkos was fantastic, the first two days of holiday we enjoyed a Sukkah Hop around town, and on Saturday night, Oct. 6, we took a bus to Crown Heights where we danced in the streets to live music celebrating the festival of our joy. Simchas Torah was great. We enjoyed a delicious dinner buffet and we danced around the bima with the Torahs late into the night. As we close out the holiday season with the completion of the Torah and immediately begin reading it anew, let us carry over the inspiration from the High Holidays to the rest …

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Shul Spiel: Lubavitch Center of Essex County

What's Going on at West Orange Synagogues?

This week's focus returns to the Lubavitch Center Shul.

As July ended and August began, in came the Jewish month of Av in which they say, “When Av enters we decrease in joy.” However, we can’t help but note the many exciting events that took place.  Our dear friends, Mikey and Yana Frohlinger, will be making Aliyah to the Holy Land of Israel. To bid them farewell, the Lubavitch Center Shul hosted a major Kiddush in their honor. It was sponsored by many different people, all who have been touched by this caring family at some point in their lives. Over 150 people showed up and enjoyed a hot luncheon, which included delicious, meaty cholent with kishke (an old Jewish Shabbat tradition), kugel, herring, salads, pastas, meat lasagna, and drinks.  That Saturday evening, July 28, Tisha B’Av was …

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Shul Spiel: Lubavitch Center of Essex County

What's Happening at Local West Orange Synagogues

This week's focus returns to the Lubavitch Center Shul.

Yesterday, we celebrated Lag BaOmer.  What Is Lag BaOmer? Lag BaOmer, the 33rd day of the Omer count, is a festive day on the Jewish calendar. It is celebrated with outings (during which the children traditionally play with bows and arrows), bonfires, and other joyous events. Many visit the resting place (in Meron, northern Israel) of the great sage and mystic Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the anniversary of whose passing is on this day.  Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, who lived in the second century of the common era, was the first to publicly teach the mystical dimension of the Torah known as the Kabbalah, and is the author of the basic work of Kabbalah, the Zohar. On the day of his passing, Rabbi Shimon instructed his disciples to mark the date as…

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Lubavitch Center Shul Hosts Community Seder

41 guests take part in service to commemorate exodus.

Director of the Lubavitch Center Rabbi Mendy Kasowitz recently hosted a Community Seder to commemorate Passover. The Seder, which was held on April 6, included 41 guests and was held at the Lubavitch Center Shul, 395 Pleasant Valley Way in West Orange. The Lubavitch Center is a Chabad organization and is an affiliate of the Rabbinical College of America based in Morristown. For information on Chabad-Lubavitch of Essex County, click here or call (973) 486-2362.

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Shul Spiel: Lubavitch Center of Essex County

Shul Spiel: What's Happening at Local West Orange Synagogues

This week the focus returns to the Lubavitch Center of Essex County.

The Lubavitch Center of Essex County invites everyone to join in a Community Passover Seder on Friday, April 6 at 7 p.m.  The Seder will feature rich discussions about Passover, excellent food, and joyous singing. Chabad Rabbi Mendy Kasowitz, and his wife Altie, will facilitate the inter-generational program. The eight-day festival of Passover is celebrated this year from sundown on Friday evening, April 6 until after nightfall on Saturday, April 14th. Passover commemorates the exodus of the Jews from Egypt and will be celebrated with festive Seder dinners. Other holiday observances include restricting the consumption of leavened products such as bread and pasta, instead eating unleavened matzah. Additional information about the Passover …

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Shul Spiel: Lubavitch Center of Essex County

Shul Spiel: What's Happening at Local West Orange Synagogues

This week's focus returns to the Lubavitch Center Synagogue.

JLI Graduation The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) will conclude the winter course Money Matters: Jewish Business Ethics; on Monday night, Feb. 27. Rabbi Mendy Kasowitz will conduct the final lesson of the six-week course from 7:30-9 p.m. at Lubavitch Center Shul, 395 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange. "The recent failures in the financial industry have drastically changed the way we think about business," Kasowitz said. “At JLI, we deeply believe that business should be a force for good, and that's why we're presenting students with timeless Talmudic insights into real-world ethical dilemmas,” he added. "Markets need morals, and morals are not made by markets. They are made by schools, the media, custom, tradition, religious leaders…

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