Journey From Song to Solitude

by Nick Levitin
Thu, Feb 14, 2019

Now Showing in The Shomrei Gallery: Journey: From Song to Solitude, The Photographs of Shomrei Congregant Nick Levitin

Dear Friends,

I’d like to invite you to an exhibit of my photographs currently on display at Shomrei.

This exhibit, entitled Journey: From Song to Solitude, is a reflection of my own journey with photography. Although, I started taking pictures when I was a young boy, the 70s was when I began in earnest. It was a volatile and dramatic time that offered up dramatic images of the passions of that decade. That is the first part of the exhibit. Over time, I have been drawn to more serene subjects and those make up the second half of this exhibit.

Net proceeds of any photographs sold goes to Shomrei’s Refugee Assistance Group.

The photos are on display in the gallery on the second floor. I do hope you will stop by and take a look.

Thanks,
Nick

Support the Pre-school playground, March 7

by Gerry Blume
Thu, Feb 14, 2019

Folks –

As VP of Membership, I’ve recently reached out to the pre-school to see how the synagogue community can work more closely with the pre-school community, with one possible outcome being that more pre-school families become members.

One suggestion has been that the general synagogue community support the March 7 pre-school fundraiser, Art Mazel. The pre-school is getting a new playground this spring; it is a prerequisite to the preschool’s continued certification. While they playground has been ordered, the pre-school still needs to raise $10,000 more to pay for it. If you agree with me that the pre-school is an important party of our Shomrei family, we all need to help with this effort. Continue reading →

The Simcha Band is Gearing Up for Purim

by Merrill Silver
Thu, Feb 14, 2019

If you play an instrument, join the Simcha Band! We’re always looking for new members to join our troupe! All ages welcome!

The 6th annual Purim Band will perform on Wednesday evening, March 20 during the Megillah reading and evening service. We hope you can participate as every musician is special to us. Although we’ve been playing the same repertoire (more or less) these past few years, we still need to rehearse. Also, when newcomers join us, they need some practice time with the band. Continue reading →

Guest Rabbi Ayalon Eliach at Shomrei

by Shomrei Emunah
Thu, Jan 31, 2019

Rabbi Ayalon Eliach will be Shomrei’s Guest Rabbi on the following dates:

Sat Jan 5th
Sat Feb 2nd
Sat Mar 30th
Sat May 11th
Continue reading →

Book Club: The Panther in the Basement by Amos Oz

by Josie Zeman
Thu, Jan 31, 2019

Shomrei Book Club

We had a good discussion about “Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English” at our meeting Jan. 28. The group included two Floridians by phone: Deanna London and Jo Gorodetzer. We thought the book was much more than just a “sweet” story as there were some serious aspects to the story.

Our next selection is “The Panther in the Basement” by Amos Oz— the meeting is on Monday, Feb. 18 at the synagogue. It’s a slim volume that tells of the Israeli writer’s years as a young fellow in pre-state Israel under the British occupation.

I hope to see many of you at the meeting, or for out-of-towners, you can call into a conference call. Details will be sent out closer to the meeting date. Continue reading →

Meaningful Work Choices — New Frontiers – @nourish, Sat, Feb 2, 2019, 10:30am

by Shomrei Emunah
Thu, Jan 24, 2019

Sat, Feb 2, 10:30 am
Free and open to everyone
Good Coffee and Nosh!

It takes courage to leave the known world for new frontiers. The panel members will share their experiences and open up the discussion to the audience so that we can all explore the journey of finding meaning in work and life.

Our panel, led by Dale Russakoff, who left her longtime job as a reporter at the Washington Post in 2008 to become a freelance writer, will consist of:

Alison Wininger
A public interest lawyer who represented low-income clients in the Bronx, Harlem and London, then chose to become a stay-at-home mom to her two daughters. She has begun to share her passion for social justice with her older daughter, Abigail, now 3, and together they volunteered with IHN for the first time in December. Continue reading →

Guest Rabbi Ari Perten at Shomrei

by Shomrei Emunah
Thu, Jan 17, 2019

Rabbi Ari Perten will be Shomrei’s Guest Rabbi on the following dates:

Fri Jan 18th – Sat 19th
Fri Feb 8th – Sat 9th
Fri Mar 8th – Sat 9th
Fri Mar 22nd – Sat 23rd
Fri Apr 5th – Sat 6th
Fri May 17th – Sat 18th
Continue reading →

Fri, May 10, 2019 – Cantor Galeet Dardashti: Heartfelt and Hypnotic Jewish Liturgical Music

by Shomrei Emunah
Wed, Jan 16, 2019

Renowned Cantor, Galeet Dardashti comes to Shomrei for a Firday night Kabbalat Shabbat service, Shabbat dinner and Presentation, Fri, May 10, 2019.

Her dynamic Sephardi/Mizrahi Kabbalat Shabbat service always has participants singing and clapping. Each new melody introduced is taught in nigun form (wordless melodies) first. This service involves prayers with beautiful melodies from a range of Middle Eastern/North African Jewish communities.

At dinner, Dr. Dardashti will offer an interactive presentation on Jewish Middle Eastern and North African (Mizrahi) piyut traditions (piyut: Jewish liturgical poem). Come hear, study, and learn to sing several of these beautiful poetic songs, and gain an understanding of their shifting cultural significance throughout Jewish history and in Israeli pop and rock music today. Continue reading →

Mar 1 & 2, 2019 – Joey Weisenberg, Musical Scholar-in-Residence, Cultivating the Power of the Communal Voice

by Shomrei Emunah
Tue, Jan 15, 2019

Joey Weisenberg will be Congregation Shomrei Emunah’s “Musical Scholar-in-Residence” Friday March 1 – Sat March 2, 2019. Mr. Weisenberg is the Creative Director of Mechon Hadar’s Rising Song Institute, which seeks to empower Jewish community-building through music. He works to educate and train communities around the world to unlock their musical and spiritual potential, and to make music a lasting and joy-filled force in shul and in Jewish life. He runs workshops and trainings across the country and is a multi-instrumental musician, singer, and composer. His nigunim, published in 6 CDs and a Songbook, have become popular worldwide.

Continue reading →

Jan 25 & 26, 2019 – Scholar in Residence: Dr. Gary Rendsburg The Dead Sea Scrolls: Still Enthralling 70 Years Later

by Shomrei Emunah
Thu, Jan 10, 2019

Fri, Jan 25, 2019
6:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat Service
7:30pm Dinner (free), Dr. Rendsburg will Speak

Sat, Jan 26, 2019
8:30am-1pm, Torah Study, d’Var Torah at Services, Speak at Kiddush (Q&A)
4:00pm, Teaching at Minch/Maariv/Havdalah

Congregation Shomrei Emunah
67 Park St. Montclair, NJ 07042
(973) 746-5031
(map & directions)