1 March 2021 / 17 Adar 5781-18 Nisan 5781

FJCCNEWSLETTER OF THE FLEMINGTON JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER

Rabbi Eric S. Cohen, PhDIssue Date

April 2021 /

19 Nisan - 18 Iyyar 5781EST. 1926

President Bruce L. Moskovitz

1st Vice President Sharon Rednor

2nd Vice President Jonathan Nemeth

3rd Vice President Bruce Kamich

Tresurer Jonathan Weitz

Secretary Nadine Milecofsky

Immediate Past President

Mindy Engle-Friedman

Trustees Jerry Atlas Scott Byne

Jeffrey Doshna Jack Forman*

Jim Fox Richard Frank* Zel Gerstein*

Marsha Goldstein Dan Gross*

Alan Hylton*

Marvin Jacobson Cara London

Nathan Lefkow Ed Mehrlust*

Kim Muller Howard Nifoussi*

Ronald Ort Alan Radzin

Rachel Rodriguez Dale Sperling

Elizabeth M. Spinowitz

Phil Stern* Larry Wissner* Michael Wolf*

Editor Elizabeth M. Spinowitz

*Life Trustees

2

April 2021 /

April 2021 / 19 Nisan - 18 Iyyar 5781

This coming month, we celebrate Lag B’Omer.  “Lag” in Hebrew is the number 33, and this day is the 33rd day of counting the Omer, the 49-day period between Passover and Shavuot.  The Omer is a time of

semi-mourning, when weddings and other celebrations are forbidden, and, as another sign of grief, observant Jews do not cut their hair.  On the 33rd day, there is a break from the semi-mourning of the Omer. There are a few explanations why we celebrate Lag B’Omer.The most often cited explanation for the Jewish practice comes from the Talmud.  There, we are taught, that, during this season, a plague killed thousands of Rabbi Akiva‘s students because they did not treat one another respectfully.  Rabbi Akiva was one of our greatest sages.  According to a medieval tradition, the plague ceased on Lag B’Omer, the 33rd day of the Omer.  As a result, Lag B’Omer became a happy day.The Talmudic explanation makes most sense when put into historical context. Rabbi Akiva became a big supporter of Simeon bar Koseva, known as Bar Kochba, who, in 132 C.E., led a ferocious but unsuccessful revolt against Roman rule.  The slaughter by the Romans, after the revolt failed, may have nearly wiped the Jewish presence from the land of Judah.   The Talmudic rabbis, still suffering under Roman rule, and cautious about referring openly to past rebellions, may have been hinting at those deaths when they spoke of a plague among Akiva’s students.A completely different reason for the holiday concerns one of Rabbi Akiva’s few disciples who survived the Bar Kochba revolt, Rabbi Simeon bar Yohai. He is said to have died on Lag B’Omer. Rabbi Simeon continued to defy the Roman rulers even after Bar Kochba’s defeat, and was forced to flee for his life and spend years in solitary hiding. Legend places him and his son Eleazar in a cave for 12 years, where a miraculous well and carob tree sustained them while they spent their days studying and praying.  In Israel, on Lag B’Omer, people flock to the site of Rabbi Simeon’s tomb in the village of Meron in the Galilee, where they light bonfires and sing Kabbalistic hymns.  Hasidic Jews follow the custom of bringing their 3-year-old sons to Meron to have their hair cut for the first time.Unrelated to Rabbi Simeon, the kabbalists also give a mystical interpretation to the Omer period as a time of spiritual cleansing and preparation for receiving the Torah on Shavuot. The days and weeks of counting represent various combinations of the sefirot, the divine emanations, whose contemplation ultimately leads to purity of mind and soul. The somberness of this period reflects the seriousness of its spiritual pursuits.More recently, Lag B’Omer has become an opportunity to go outside, celebrate nature and get back in touch with the earth after the rainy season. Lag B’Omer is not mentioned in the Torah, its origins are up for debate, and different communities of Jews ascribe different practices to the holiday.  (Sephardim actually celebrate on the day AFTER Lag B’Omer!)  And yet, we continue to observe it.  Perhaps, this is part of the secret of Jewish survival.  There is no greater consensus than this: they tried to murder us, they did not entirely succeed…, let’s eat!

Rabbi

In this issue… B’Nai Mitzvah Corner - Pg. 5

WOTY Invitation - Pg. 9

Celebrating Israel - Pg. 13

Book Club - Pg. 14

3 April 2021 / 19 Nisan - 18 Iyyar 5781

It has been heartening to learn that, week by week, more of our congregants have been able to secure their COVID shots. Yes, I know how frustrating it has been for many, but I expect over the coming few months most of our adult

congregants will be vaccinated. Thankfully, this will present us with a new set of challenges as we wrestle with policies to return safely to our beloved sanctuary. We will, of course, be guided by the Centers for Disease Control and state/local guidelines. It’s also heartening that we’re already seeing evidence of the anticipation to return to our sanctuary. We just celebrated Ian Rodriguez’s bar mitzvah and the synagogue was filled to “capacity” – at least the capacity we allow under our pandemic restrictions. Kudos to Rachel and Gary Rodriguez for working so closely with our COVID Task Force, Deborah Kesselhaut, the caterers, and Rabbi to fill the sanctuary, honor the bar mitzvah and family, yet keep everyone safe. For the first time in nearly a year we were able to arrange a hearty catered kiddush. Rachel did a masterful job of shuffling the seating arrangement Rubic’s cube so that tables were spaced properly, “pods” were seated together, and fully vaccinated individuals could sit together. Everyone followed the guidelines to remain masked except when eating. We will have simchas coming up over the next few months that will again test our abilities to celebrate our joyous occasions while keeping everyone safe under the guidelines, including Rachel Butt and Jamie Goldman’s wedding and several more bar/bat mitzvah’s. We are also planning for other hybrid (Zoom plus in-person) activities, including, possibly, a Tikkun (learning session) the first night of Shavuot. I have every confidence that our close collaboration with the Rodriguez family helped pave the way to enjoy these events safely on our way to a post-pandemic return to the sanctuary. Some delightful news to report for which I welcome the congregation’s input: The Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren is bestowing a grant of $5000 to

organizations in their catchment area, including the FJCC. The Federation requires that we submit a plan for the use of the funds – it cannot be used for general day-to-day operation. Suggestions to date include:

• A series of Friday night dinners (perhaps with guest service leaders or speakers) late fall or winter to entice folks to return to the sanctuary

• A Hebrew High program or Hebrew School program • Seed money for a gala or other special event.

So, if you have some thoughts on how we might best use these restricted funds, drop me an e-mail and I’ll share it with our Board. I’m also thrilled to inform the congregation that Gene Esterkin, one of our beloved members who passed away in 2019, bequeathed a sizable sum to the FJCC. Many of us recall that Gene enjoyed reading to our kids, was a regular at our Shabbat services well into his 90s and always enjoyed sharing the kiddush with the congregation after services where our congregants took special care to make sure Gene had a seat and his meal ready when he entered the social hall. I spoke with his son, Seth and learned of Gene’s love for the FJCC. Importantly, the Board has begun conversations to establish an endowment for the FJCC for which Gene’s bequest will be the seed money. The FJCC Giving Garden is starting our seventh season growing fresh vegetables for neighbors in need. The Nursery School students are planting seeds in their classrooms. The Hebrew School students will be preparing the beds. And our dedicated volunteers will plant, water, weed, harvest, and deliver fresh food to the Flemington Food Pantry and Family Promise. But we need more help. Consider becoming a Giving Garden volunteer. No experience necessary. Community service credit. Fun family activity. And most important, the reward of knowing you did a mitzvah.

And for some chuckles: For Pesach, do we have to remove our cookies from our browser? I will not sleep until I find a cure for insomnia! Some terrific signs to encounter: Every time you make a typo, the errorists win. PUSH! If that doesn’t work, PULL! If that doesn’t work, we must be closed! At an electrified tramway crossing: Touching wires causes instant death! $200 fine At the zoo: Please Be Safe – Do not stand, sit, climb, or lean on fences. If you fall, animals could eat you and that might make them sick. At a restaurant: EAT or we both starve.

With gratitude,

Bruce L Moskovitz FJCC President

Lest you think that in all the tumult of the pandemic, Purim, and Passover, your Board of Trustees has been twiddling our thumbs, I present incontrovertible evidence of us hard at work on our Zoom meeting (above). (Many thanks to our artist-in-residence, Cara London, for this rendering! OK, Cara, next time you must pay attention and stop the doodling!)

4 April 2021 / 19 Nisan - 18 Iyyar 5781

Hebrew School Jumps into Spr ing!The Purim Megillah reading on Zoom was well attended and included the Billy Ray

Sheets song and Hebrew High School Purim Players.  We did not have a Model Seder last year because of Covid. This year Rabbi hosted a Family Model Seder on Zoom (see

front page image).  It was fun and include songs, stickers, and jumping frogs.    The Hebrew School Covid Advisory Panel will be meeting this month to explore our return to building this fall.  The Hebrew School calendar is being finalized and the

teachers will be meeting to discuss coming back to the classroom.  

On April 30th the Gimel and Dalet

Thank you for your donations to the Food Pantry, especially

during these challenging times!

Helping Hands

Jake Walsh and Lil Red

Gofor deliver your collected food items to

the Flemington Food Pantry (for the 13th

year)!

5 April 2021 / 19 Nisan - 18 Iyyar 5781

GENERAL FUND Linda & Jerry Atlas in memory of Arnold Klein, beloved father of Barbara Batt Michele Bauer and Deborah Milgrim in memory of Corinne Nifoussi, believed aunt of Michele Bauer and Deborah Milgrim and beloved mother of Howard Nifoussi Yvonne & Paul Magala in honor of the FJCC Anneliese & Howard Nifoussi in honor of all who came to Shiva Minyanim and supported us during our shiva periods. Barbara Thomas - Rabbi, thank you for your good wishes and prayers Joey & Bruce Kestenbaum in memory of Melvyn Kestenbaum, beloved father of Bruce Kestenbaum Lisa Martin & Seymour Mondshein in honor of Janice Lueling, beloved mother of Lisa Martin; Terry Mondshein, beloved mother of Seymour Mondshein; Corrine Nifoussi, beloved mother of Howard Nifoussi Frederick & Suzanne Rothstein in memory of Howard Nifoussi’s mother, Corinne Nifoussi Seth & Amy Rubin in memory of Corinne Nifoussi, beloveds mother of Howard Nifoussi Kenneth & Elaine Stern for the yahrzeit of Arlene Stern, beloved mother of Ken Stern Evie & Phil Stern for the yahrzeit of Edythe Stern, believed mother of Philip Stern

Stanley Weinstein for the yahrzeit of Herman Weinstein, beloved father of Stanley Weinstein Cathie & Arthur Wetstein in memory of Corrine Nifoussi believed mother of Howard Nifoussi

KIDDUSH FUND Anneliese & Howard Nifoussi - Thank you to the Rabbi and the Board for sending us a shiva meal during both of our shiva periods. Kim Muller, Judy Duff & Rhonda Dalton for the Flemington Area Food Pantry in memory of Sanford Friedman

RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND Linda & Jerry Atlas • in honor of the Blaha Family, in memory of

Stephen Joseph, beloved son • in honor of our 61st anniversary • refuah shelemah to Matt Schutz • mazel tov to Kari & Scott Gursky on the birth of

their son Evan Abram • in memory of Stephen Epstein, beloved father

of Dale Sperling • in memory of Rosalind Plantikow, beloved

mother of Laurie Rapkin • in memory of Bella Solomon, beloved mother of

Leslie Reid-Green • in memory of Thelma Kaplan, beloved mother

of Anneliese Mifoussi

Contributions

Bar Mitzvah Corner - Jordana & Landon KATZ It is with great love and joy we announce that our daughter, Jordana Brielle, and our son,

Landon Ross, will be called to the Torah for their B’nai Mitzvah on Saturday, April 24th. They have both been dedicated to learning their Torah and prayer service in preparation

for their special milestone. Jordana is currently in 6th grade at Lambertville Public School. She enjoys learning and

has achieved the highest honors in all of her academics and enrichment classes. Jordana is passionate about helping others succeed and is often called upon to volunteer her time

with younger grade levels at school, as well as the FJCC. Some of her favorite hobbies include cooking, designing and sewing clothing, taking voice lessons, performing shows

at the local theater, and of course, shopping. During her free time, Jordana loves spending time with her family, watching Netflix, playing board games, taking walks with

her dog Cali and going to the mall. Landon is a 7th grade distinguished honors student at South Hunterdon Middle School. His favorite subject has always been Math, where he has earned awards for excellence.

Landon loves sports of all kinds and is rarely seen without a ball in his hand. When he isn't watching a game on TV, he’s playing basketball, baseball or soccer. He has earned

numberous accolades over the years plaing on travel teams in New Jersey & Pennsylvania. Most notable is Landon’s desire to help others; whether it is coaching a newer player, a classmate needing help or an elderly neighbor who needs their dog walked or plants

watered…you can always count on him.

11 March 2021 / 17 Adar 5781-18 Nisan 5781Page 8

The “Sisterhood” Derby

7 April 2021 / 19 Nisan - 18 Iyyar 5781

We may think of April as a month of renewal, flowers, sunshine (or showers) and the promise of summer warmth. But as Emily Dickinson wrote: “That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet.” It is in this context that we may look at the Jewish Day of Remembrance, or Yom Hashoah. The date on the Hebrew calendar of the 27th of Nisan was selected by the Israeli Knesset in 1951 and formally enacted in 1953. The day is called "Day of (Remembrance of) the Holocaust and the Heroism.” We have come to think about the lives lost during this annual observance, but when do we consider the lives saved? At first, education in Israel about the Holocaust focused on

suffering inflicted by the Nazis. The unbeknownst downside of this was that, when surveyed, young Israelis within a short decade, felt that European Jews were “led to slaughter like sheep.” The response was to highlight the resistance movements, some active and others passive. For example, the secular date chosen for Yom Hashoah observance coincided with the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, the largest single revolt by Jews during WWII. There are many more instances of defiance amidst unbearable circumstances: The Baum Group, The Jewish Combat Organization & Jewish Military Union, the uprising at Sobibór in October 1943, the Jewish Sonderkommandos uprising in 1944 at Auschwitz, the Bielski brothers in the forests of what was then Poland

(1943), and the many examples of Jews joining partisan resistance movements, fighting alongside gentiles set against Nazi occupation of their countries. Many of the efforts were not formal or organized enough to call movements, but rather extreme bravery in the face of inhumanity. How can we measure the number of Jewish (and even non-Jewish) lives these people and events and, sometimes, individual choices may have saved? Even one life is enough, but could there have been tens of thousands? This year on Wednesday, April 7th, what will you remember?

Sources: US Holocaust Memorial Museum, Smithsonian Magazine, MyJewishLearning.com, TheGuardian.com, Wikipedia, Wikipedia, google.com

This month in Jewish History… Yom Hashoah Ve-Hagevurah

The story behind the annual remembrance of the Holocaust

For more on Yom Hashoah at the FJCC, see page 13.

8 April 2021 / 19 Nisan - 18 Iyyar 5781

Did you know…

…The Flemington Jewish Community Center website has links to all the educational items a young bar- or

bat-mitzvah may need (or an adult who needs to brush up on their trope)?

You can find blessings, parshah and haftarah audio tracks to practice at home

while visiting our

Education Page on the new website!

THIS. IS.

THE WEB CORNER.Each month, we will offer a link from our

new website to showcase something about the flemingtonjcc.org that you may not know or may not have

seen!

16 March 2021 / 17 Adar 5781-18 Nisan 5781

Click Here to Register!

Calling all race fans!

Come for… WOTY 2021 Lunch Mint Juleps PRIZES for Kentucky Derby Bingo BEST HAT award

Sunday, May 2nd 12:00pm FJCC “Churchill” Grounds

Join us, LIVE & in-person, to celebrate the

2021 Woman of the Year with an outdoor luncheon

Wear your spring best and a

Derby-worthy hat!

Register online

10 April 2021 / 19 Nisan - 18 Iyyar 5781

FORPERSONAL

SHOPPINGCONTACT:GayleNeibert

908-310-4513OR

MarleneWolff

908-578-7766

While the synagogue is officially closed for everyday business, we invite those who have

to make the occasional visit to stop by the permanent display right outside the gift shop

doors. Take a look at our merchandise and leave payment. As always, you can shop online at TraditionsJewishGifts.com or

Attachments & Sage!

Giftshop

11 April 2021 / 19 Nisan - 18 Iyyar 5781

Spring into salad for this month’s plant-based recipe…

Vegan Cobb SaladPrep Time: 10 min Total Time: 10 minYield: Serves 2

Ingredients• 3 heads of romaine

or 5 oz. bag• 1 large corn off the

cob or 1 cup canned• 1 cup cherry

tomatoes, sliced in half

• ¼ red onion, diced• 1 cup crispy

roasted chickpeas (canned is great too)

• ½ cup coconut bacon

• ½ cup radishes, quartered

• ⅔ cup Vegan Ranch Dressing

• Mineral salt & pepper, to taste

• Fresh chopped parsley, to garnish

InstructionsIn individual large bowls, add the romaine and arrange the chickpeas, tomatoes, radishes, avocado, vegan bacon, corn and red onion over top. Drizzle with dressing and sprinkle of salt and pepper.

Serves 2Store: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 – 4 days.

Photos & Recipe from simple-veganista.com

12 April 2021 / 19 Nisan - 18 Iyyar 5781

BIRTHDAYS 1

Ilyssa Fox Charles Miller Ethan Rednor

Rose Weitz 2

Alexandra Fox Steve Fox

Phillip Franklin Matthew Winnick

3 Bruce Kamich

4 Carol Wolf

5 Brian Goodman

6 Benjamin Goodman

Andrew Weinstein

8 Steven Weinstein

9 Donald Shuman

10 Douglas Atlas

Elyssa Krampel Danielle Rubin

11 Jacob Sperling

12 Charlotte Byne

David Freedholm Lisa Ziv

13 Olivia Kleiman

Gregory Scibilia

14 Alexander Rapkin

Cheryl Schutz 15

Jacob Walsh 16

Rachel Silberman 17

Marsha Gerstein Shellie Jacobson

18 Leah Greenstein Alexandra Rubin

19 Natalie Atlas

Dana Schindler 20

Alan Blankstein 21

Ethan Gertzman 23

Colin Jakubowski Ian Jakubowski Amy Marshall

24 Donna Levinston

Braff 25

James Fox Elise Franklin

26 A. Bragin

27 Nathaniel Nemeth Hannah

Sornstein 28

Jackie Lefkow

ANNIVERSARIES 8

Laurie & Mark Weinstein

14 Jane & Eric Wasserman

20 Ray & Liz Slavin

YAHRZEITS 1

Deborah Gersh Mr. Raymond St.

Pierre 2

Jacob Jacobson Abe Kuchinsky Martin Shapiro

3 Nathan Poppel

4 Ronald Shankoff

Harold Siegelaub 5

Michelle Cohn Leo Seligsohn

6 Saverrio

Zuchovicki 7

Sylvia Mittler 8

Sol Gerstein 9

Jacob Dvoor 10

Ida Dvoor Irwin Goldman

Stu Gross

11 Shirley Klinger

Dorothy Ort 12

Faye Nahama Jerome Weiner

15 Herman Lefkow

Benjamin Thomas

Anita Winnick 18

Milton Frant 19

Daniel Itzcough Orlin

Lawrence Rubin Gertrude Seligsohn

20 Leo Kushnick

21 Irving Ort

Gale Mack Staton 22

Kenneth Neal Kashan

23 Chaim Leaf Louis John

Rosenbrock 24

Jo Ellen Leavitt 25

Samuel Linsenbaum Arlene Stern

27 Lori Ollwerther Bernard Weiss

HAPPY SPRING

13 April 2021 / 19 Nisan - 18 Iyyar 5781

April Events Cele brat ing

Israel

TO REGISTER: CLICK HERE

TO REGISTER FOR THESE EVENTS: CLICK HERE

14 April 2021 / 19 Nisan - 18 Iyyar 5781

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Got it, thanks! Looks good Let’s discuss

Enter your thoughts here

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Click here to register

Click here to register Image courtesy NY Times

BOOK CLUB

APRIL 12

7:00 PM

15 April 2021 / 19 Nisan - 18 Iyyar 5781

Monthly Newsletter for Family Promiseof Hunterdon County

Each year Family Promise hosts a Box City event which seeks to raise awareness about the issueof homelessness in our community by asking participants to spend the night sleeping outside in

a cardboard box or tent. In the interest of safety, this year’s event will be held virtually, withparticipants joining in from their own backyards. The event will take place on May 15th and 16th

and will be open to people of all ages. Participants can join as an individual or team up withfamily, friends, youth groups, sports teams, or service organizations. Each participant must raise

a minimum of $30 to become a box city resident and prizes will be given to the individual andteam fundraisers that raise the most money. Our goal this year is to raise $30,000 which will beused to prevent homelessness and provide critically important services to homeless families inHunterdon County. We invite you to join us for the 11th annual Box City event and help fight

homelessness in our community!

Help us Keep the Tradition Alive - Join Us for the 11th AnnualBox City Event!

For more information, or to register or donate, please visit:http://bit.ly/BoxCity2021FP.

FAMILY PROMISE NEWS

16 April 2021 / 19 Nisan - 18 Iyyar 5781

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17 April 2021 / 19 Nisan - 18 Iyyar 5781

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18 April 2021 / 19 Nisan - 18 Iyyar 5781

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