Recent TSE Emails

Dear Friends:
It is hard to believe that it has been over six months since the unimaginable happened in Israel, when in a matter of hours 1,200 Israelis were brutally murdered and 253 people were taken hostage into Gaza on October 7, 2023. Since that day, the world has felt different for Jewish communities everywhere. The ongoing war in Gaza affects all of us in different ways. Some college campuses have become places where Jewish students are experiencing an increase in anti-Semitism. Synagogues have experienced acts of hatred, and even within our own families, viewpoints about the war have caused stress, and sometimes even fracture, between family members. There is that sense of before and after – the world before October 7th and the world after.

It is only natural that as we gather at our Seder tables tomorrow, our joy is diminished this year because we carry tremendous sadness with us. The refrain, "let my people go" rings differently this year, not as some ancient story from a distant past, but rather as a very real and very immediate need in this moment. That feeling of oppression is weighing down on us because of those in Israel who will say yizkor for the first time and light yahrzeit candles this Passover for relatives who were murdered; because of families who will have empty chairs at their table while they wait desperately to hear if their relatives in captivity in Gaza are alive and if they will be released from captivity; because of college students who are being held responsible for a war over which they have no control; and because of the pain we feel for innocent Palestinians, especially children, who have been killed, displaced or are starving as a result of war brought on them by Hamas' hateful actions.

Ritual can bring comfort and help us make our way through difficult moments, and this year, you may want to include something about October 7th in your Seder. These are a few links to resources that I think might be meaningful:
Hartman 5784 Seder Supplement
ARZA (Association of Reform Zionists of America) Seder Supplement
UJA Federation NY Supplement
CCAR Seder Supplement
Everyone Counts Seder Supplement


Tomorrow, as we sit down to Seder, the hostages will have been in captivity for 198 days. To remember them, consider leaving an empty seat at your table, or placing the picture or name of a hostage on your Seder plate. 

We always end the Seder with words of hope, לְשָׁנָה הַבָּאָה בִּירוּשָלָיִם, “Next Year In Jerusalem!” In the midst of such devastating brokenness this year, we all pray that next year, when Passover arrives, there will be healing, wholeness and peace for Israelis and Palestinians, for Jews all over the world, and for all of humanity. 
I wish you and your family a comforting and meaningful Passover.
L’shalom,
Rabbi Melinda Panken

With great sadness we share that Gloria Russin passed away. She was the wife of Ed Russin, mother of Steven (z''l) and Barry and mother-in-law to Amy and Andrea. She was the sister to Lewis Smith and Roz Squire and the grandmother to Shane, Blake, Alec, Ariella and Olivia.

Funeral will be 11:00am on Friday, April 19th at Mount Sinai Cemetery in Morganville with burial to follow. 

Shiva will be at the home of Barry and Amy Russin, 3 York Road, Marlboro on Friday after the service until 5:00pm, Saturday from 6:30-9:00pm with Minyan at 7:00pm and Sunday from 1:00-4:00pm and again 6:00-9:00pm with Minyan at 7:00pm.   

On Monday, April 22 Ed will be sitting shiva at his home, 25 Regina Road, Morganville from 1:00-4:00pm.

Donations can be made to American Cancer Society

May God console those who mourn in Zion, Jerusalem and throughout the world

All Shabbat Services can be viewed in-person or our Facebook or YouTube pages.

Sunday

Get Ready to Bake with Paula Shoyer, the Kosher Baker

A lay led (usually) Minyan is held every Saturday, in the Moadon, at 10:00AM. This is perfect for those that want to say Kaddish.

CLICK FOR THE FULL CALENDAR

All Shabbat Services can be viewed in-person or our Facebook or YouTube pages.

Tonight

Sunday

Next Friday at 7:30 PM

Get Ready to Bake with Paula Shoyer, the Kosher Baker

A lay led (usually) Minyan is held every Saturday, in the Moadon, at 10:00AM. This is perfect for those that want to say Kaddish.

CLICK FOR THE FULL CALENDAR

Congratulations to 
Rabbi Jonathan Falco and Rebecca Kreutzer
on their engagement
March 31, 2024

Mazel Tov!

All Shabbat Services can be viewed in-person or our Facebook or YouTube pages.

We will also be celebrating the Aufruf of Lisa Handelman and Larry Wallis.

And in two weeks

Get Ready to Bake with Paula Shoyer, the Kosher Baker

A lay led (usually) Minyan is held every Saturday, in the Moadon, at 10:00AM. This is perfect for those that want to say Kaddish.

CLICK FOR THE FULL CALENDAR

With great sadness we share that Marjorie Price passed away. She was the wife of Joel Price, mother of Jeannie Heller, Mindy Betoff and Stefanie Schneider and the mother-in-law to Neil and Marc. Marjorie was the step-mother to Terry Price and Jerry Price and the step-mother-in-law to Joseph Janes and Jo Leonard. She was the grandmother of Ian, Kyle, Justin, Andrew, Evan, Paige, Emma, Benjamin, Zachary, Gregory and Annie.  

Funeral will be on Sunday, March 24th at 11am at Temple Emeth,
1666 Windsor Road, Teaneck, NJ. 

Shiva will be on Sunday, March 24th immediately following services at the temple until 2 pm and from 5pm-8pm at The Galaxy - 7002 JFK Blvd East Tower 2, Apartment 28C Guttenberg, NJ. Shiva will continue on Monday 
from 2pm - 8:30pm, with minyan at 7:30pm at the home of Mindy and Neil Betoff, 139 Yorkshire Drive Morganville, NJ.

Donations can be made to Jewish National Fund or to  Rabbi Panken's Discretionary Fund @ Temple Shaari Emeth.

May God console those who mourn in Zion, Jerusalem and throughout the world

All Shabbat Services can be viewed in-person or our Facebook or YouTube pages.

Not only is there a special guest at the Shabbat Service this week; but we will also be celebrating the Aufruf for Brooke Swartz and Matthew Fishkin.

Hear from our congregant, Lenny Glickman

Lenny is a respected executive in both the government and nonprofit sectors. His career includes President and CEO of HIAS, Inc., the Jewish community’s international refugee and immigrant services agency. While at HIAS, Lenny helped lead the agency and our community from focusing primarily on the resettlement of Jewish refugees from the former Soviet Union toward the protection and resettlement of refugees from global crises. He also was CEO for two foundations which are deeply rooted in the Jewish community. In government, Lenny was the minority staff director on the Government Affairs Committee for the late U.S. Senator John Heinz, press secretary to U.S. Rep. Tom Ridge, and the top career official at the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement. Lenny has authored scores of publications, given live testimony to Congress, appeared on national television programs and received numerous government and human rights awards and citations. He has a Master's degree in International Relations from the American University in Washington, D.C. and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh.

Current week and past Bnai Mitzvah can be viewed at   shaariemeth.org/bmitzvahstream

Last Chance to Join the Fun
This Saturday

Get Ready to Bake with Paula Shoyer, the Kosher Baker

A lay led (usually) Minyan is held every Saturday, in the Moadon, at 10:00AM. This is perfect for those that want to say Kaddish.

CLICK FOR THE FULL CALENDAR

Congratulations to 
Jamie Gitlitz and Maxx Carroll
on their engagement
December 29, 2023

Jamie is the daughter of Robin and Larry Gitlitz

Mazel Tov!

Rabbi Panken's 20th Anniversary will be celebrated at these upcoming events:

• Saturday, May 11th at 7:30 p.m. “Rock Shabbat” concert featuring the renowned Jewish rock group, Nefesh Mountain, at Temple Shaari Emeth
  
  
• ​​​​​​​Sunday, June 2nd at 11:00 a.m. Grand Anniversary Luncheon at Battleground Country Club
  
  
• Saturday, June 22nd at 6:00 p.m. Ice Cream Social & Havdalah service at Temple Shaari Emeth 

We are thrilled to announce that Temple Shaari Emeth is celebrating Rabbi Melinda F. Panken's 20 years of dedicated service to our synagogue and the greater Monmouth County community. Over the next few months, we have planned several events at or near the Temple. We hope that you will join us in celebration in person or in our commemorative journal.
 
During her tenure at Temple Shaari Emeth, Rabbi Panken has made a significant impact in our Temple community, Western Monmouth County, and beyond.  As our spiritual leader, Rabbi Panken celebrates our Temple community’s life cycle moments, including officiating at marriages and baby namings, comforting the ill and supporting those in times of loss. Over the years she has watched hundreds of children take their place in our community as B’nai Mitzvah. She loves teaching and especially appreciates the opportunity to work with every age group in our community.

Rabbi Panken is an active member and leader of the Greater Freehold Clergy Association and MOSAIC, working for many years to improve the dialogue among all faiths. She served as Chair of the Bioethics Committee at Centrastate Hospital, and has partnered with Open Door, and EHAP to address the needs of those who are food and housing insecure in our neighborhood. Rabbi Panken has also supported the Reform Movement, serving on the Executive Committee of HUC-JIR Alumni Council, as well as various committees for the CCAR, ARZA and the URJ. Locally, she has also partnered with The Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey. 

Tickets are available for the Luncheon and Concert, and sponsorships are available to support the Celebration. 

Sponsorship Deadlines:
For the Nefesh Mountain Concert: May 3rd
For the Luncheon:                          May 20th

​​​​​​​The slide show/digital journal will be shown at both the concert and luncheon. A printed journal will be distributed at the luncheon.

Congratulations to 
Rachel Beck & Logan Grossman
on their engagement
February 24, 2024

Rachel is the daughter of Tracy and David Beck
and Logan is the grandson of 
Arline and Hy Grossman

Mazel Tov!

With great sadness we share that Philip Fier passed away on Monday.  He was the huband of Rhoda Fier, and father of Marcie and Rick.  He was the father-in-law to Jim and Elissa and the grandfather to Jared, Jamie, Jessie, Abby and Ali. 

The funeral will be at 11:30am on Thursday, March 7 at Gutterman and Musicant Jewish Funeral Directors, 402 Park Street, Hackensack. 

Shiva will be on Sunday, March 10 from 1pm-6pm at the home of Rick and Elissa Fier, 8 Sulky Lane, Marlboro with Minyan at 5:00pm.

Donations can be made to  Englewood Health Foundation or  American Friends of Leket Israel.

May God console those who mourn in Zion, Jerusalem and throughout the world

Please click HERE to register for this event on MJC's website

With great sadness we share that Myra Baskin passed away. She was the mother of Ronnie, Joy and Mitchell.  She was the grandmother to 
Danielle, Michael, Amanda, Nicole, Mark and Joshua and the great-grandmother to Arianna, Lily, Max, Aden, Zachary and Alec.

The funeral will be tomorrow, Monday, March 4th at 1pm at Beth David Cemetery (300 Elmont Rd, Elmont, NY 11003) in Elmont, NY.

Shiva will be private.

Donations can be made to Magen David Adom.

May God console those who mourn in Zion, Jerusalem and throughout the world

All Shabbat Services can be viewed in-person or our Facebook or YouTube pages.

Current week and past Bnai Mitzvah can be viewed at   shaariemeth.org/bmitzvahstream

Get Ready for Purim

Click for the full TSE Calendar

A lay led (usually) Minyan is held every Saturday, in the Moadon, at 10:00AM. This is perfect for those that want to say Kaddish.

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