President Fern Heinig visiting preschoolers at their temporary “digs”.
Due to emergency reconstruction at Shomrei as a result of a recent burst pipe (and flood), Shomrei preschool has relocated temporarily to Temple Sholom in Cedar Grove. From reports by Fern and the Rabbi who visited today, the kids are having as much fun as ever!
The Latke Crew Baked 630 latkes for last night’s Hanukkah party! Thanks and “yasher koach” to the entire hardworking Latke Crew: Leon Berman, Charlie, Kate and Alan Breslin, Adam Dembrow, Yechiel Felder, Fern Heinig, & Aaron Task. (see a gallery of photos below). A number of people asked me for my recipe, so here it is:
I was in a place of anger after the surprising and horrific events of the past week in Charlottesville, Virginia. When Rabbi Greenstein sent out the notice about an interfaith candle light vigil in Summit, I wasn’t so excited at the prospect of attending. I think I wanted to shout more than pray. What good would our quiet passivity be against an emboldened neo-Nazi movement? But I convinced my boys to go with me and we joined the Rabbi.
About 30 men from the wider Shomrei Community (Congregants and Preschool Dads) attended the 1st “Beer. Bourbon. Bonfire” evening on the lawn at Shomrei. The evening cooled down and the weather was perfect.
All the Wednesday JLC kids and I spent the last two Wednesdays cooking together. Last week they learned the recipes and this week they cooked themselves (with a little help). They divided into teams and had a competition. The younger ones making dessert – a whipped cream and pound cake affair. The older kids made homemade Falafel from scratch – from the dried chick peas (the only way to make authentic Falafel!). We pureed, chopped and mixed. Also on the menu was Tahinah Sauce with imported Israeli Tahinah, Labne (yogurt with herbs and lemon zest), Israeli Salad and Pita/Zaatar crisps. Continue reading
Alan & Ann Lippel, Rabbah Lastreger and Lou Hammerman. Photo: Nick Levitin
Last night, over dinner, about 35 members of Shomrei met Rabbah Nathalie Lastreger (“Rabbah” is the Hebrew term for a woman Rabbi) the spiritual leader of Minyan Mishpachti Masorti (Masorti Family Minyan) a congregation in the northern Galilee village of Kfar Vradim, Israel. “Masorti” (Hebrew for “traditional”) is the name for the Conservative Movement used outside the United States. Accompanied by congregants and congregational leaders from Minyan Mishpachti Masorti, Rabbah Lastreger recounted her personal journey from an Orthodox Rabbi’s wife to becoming a Masorti Rabbi herself. She described in detail many of the challenges facing women Rabbis as well as non-Orthodox religious institutions in the state of Israel. In Israel, only orthodox synagogues and Rabbis are recognized and receive state funding. Marriages, ordinations, and conversions (among other things) performed by non-Orthodox Rabbis are not recognized.
Shomrei is establishing a partnership with a Masorti community in Israel through a program called Rav Si`ach (“open discussion”). The community is Minyan Mishpachti Masorti (Masorti Family Minyan) a congregation in the northern Galilee village of Kfar Vradim. Their new rabbi is Rabbah Nathalie Lastreger who will visit Shomrei the evening of Wed. Feb. 22. We’ll have a discussion and dairy dinner. Cost $10 per person (to cover food cost) RSVP Here by Feb 18.
Rabbah Nathalie will be in the States at the end of February. She is excited about meeting the Shomrei community in person so as to begin our relationship on a more personal basis.
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At last night’s Annual meeting many people thanked Nick Levitin for his service as President of Shomrei. I can’t just let this moment pass without making a comment myself.
Nick Levitin’s term of office as Shomrei’s President has just concluded. I’ve been working closely with Nick for three years on many things — Shomrei. He was Executive Vice President at the time I started to volunteer in earnest. As I started to get more involved in getting things to operate better on the technological front Nick was my constant working partner.
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Sam hands out some “Sams”
A great big “Yasher Koach” to Nancy Breslin The Purim Carnival Chair her committee, Sally Goodgold, Karen Greenwald, Aimee Brooks, Jennifer Sharret and Aylah Winter and the scads of volunteers! The Carnival was a big success. Tons of kids running all over the place! Kids from the JLC were running the games and helping out.
(click images to enlarge)
Follow John Lasiter’s board Celebrate Shomrei on Pinterest.
I’m so pleased to be cooking for Shomrei Celebrates the dinner honoring Aileen Grossberg this coming February 20th, (tix here). Aileen’s made so much delicious food for our congregation over the years it’s an honor to return the favor! Above is a set of images and recipes for the dinner and desserts I’ll be using as inspiration. (a few tweaks here and there). There will also be copious Hors d’Oeuvres but those are top secret! Continue reading