Shabbat Your Way Message From Rabbi Julie

Dear Shomrei Community,

Every Friday night when we bless the wine for Kiddush, we sing both of the creation of the world and the exodus from Egypt. It’s a reminder that it is only as free people that we can pause our work and celebrate Shabbat. And this year, the one and only Shabbat during Passover falls on Shabbat Your Way!

Even though there won’t be any challah, we encourage you to have or host Shabbat Your Way on April 26.

And please share your Shabbat Passover story with us at email hidden; JavaScript is required.

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Welcome to the Board of Trustees, 2021

Yasher koach to the 2020-21 Board of Trustees.  Special thanks to outgoing board members Dawn Berman, Marc Chalom, Shana Rubin and Allison Task.

Welcome to new board members Adam Dembrow, Lynne Rubin, Sarita Eisenberg and Michael Sag:

Adam DembrowAdam Dembrow, Trustee (term expiring 2022)

My wife Sarah and I, and our kids Lily (11) and Eitan (8), just passed our fourth anniversary of living in Montclair, and we’ve been part of the Shomrei community since we moved here.  I have particularly been enjoying the group study sessions led by Rabbi Greenstein of Pirkei Avot and the Zohar.  I’m excited to join the Board of Trustees and am looking forward to working with the community that I’ve found so welcoming. Continue reading

2021 Annual Meeting Report

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The 2021 Annual Meeting of Congregation Shomrei Emunah & The Annual Meeting of the Shomrei Emunah Cemetery Association occurred on Monday, June 28, 2021. Members voted on a number of items including the budget and election of new members of the Board of Trustees.

Results of the meeting:

  • 2020 annual meeting minutes were approved as submitted.
  • Adam Dembrow, Sarita Eisenberg, Lynne Rubin and Michael Sag were elected to the Board of Trustees.
  • Special thanks to outgoing board members Dawn Berman, Marc Chalom, Shana Rubin and Allison Task and to the Moving Forward Task Force.
  • The 2021-22 budget was approved as submitted.
  • 2020 Cemetery Association meeting minutes were approved
  • Elections of  Cemetery Association officers was held.

2021 Annual Meeting Package which includes reports from President Miriam Haimes and Director of Education, Heather Brown and Cemetery Association president Carol Katzman.

Download the Meeting Materials

Honoring Shomrei Stars!

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Each year Shomrei honors one or more members for their commitment and volunteerism in support of our community. I am excited to announce that this year we are honoring a quintet of talented and dedicated individuals (as pictured L-R): Carol Katzman, Allison Task, Margot Laksin, John Lasiter and Adrienne Shulman Lasiter

Here’s what you need to know: 

  • First, SAVE-THE-DATE and come to a Shomrei bash in their honor on Saturday night, February 29th. (Invitation to follow.)

  • Second, HONOR OUR HONOREES by expressing your gratitude in this year’s community directory (Ad Journal).  (More information on how to do so below.)

Now let me share a little about our honorees’ impact on Shomrei…

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Gratitude

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We owe a lot of people our thanks!  It’s literally been a flurry of activity at Shomrei since the pipe burst and the flood ensued.  Once the initial crisis is over, the hard work begins — the restoration. So many volunteers and staff have stepped-up to meet this crisis on our behalf, it’s a good time to recognize some of them and express our gratitude! Continue reading

Photo Gallery: Shomrei Preschool Has a Temporary Home

President Fern Heinig visiting preschoolers at their temporary "digs".

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!

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@nourish, Shabbat Speaker Series, Fall Line-Up

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Here is our fall line-up of speakers for @nourish. Please join me for what will be an interesting series.  @nourish (“at nourish”) is Shomrei’s Shabbat seminar/discussion/activity series for adults presented by Shomrei JLC (Jewish Learning Center). Occurring monthly @nourish will bring varied and interesting speakers or activity leaders to Shomrei to engage our brains, bodies and being.

@nourish is free and open to the public.

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Hinei Mah Tov Prayerbook Sale Exceeds Goal!

HMT SiddurI am thrilled — beyond thrilled — to announce that not only have we met our goals of engaging our HMT and Shomrei families to purchase Jennifer Moses’ illustrated siddurim for use at Hinei Mah Tov, but we have exceeded those goals!

After Jennifer’s initial generous gift of 20 siddurim, we hoped the congregation could purchase another 60-80 siddurim for use at Shomrei.  As of today, 102 siddurim have been ordered, including 4 for home use. That’s a total of 98 siddurim that are being given as gifts to Shomrei, in addition to Jennifer’s original 20.

​How grateful I am, first for this incredibly beautiful and generous gift from Jennifer, and second — I’m really speechless at the outpouring of support and enthusiasm from the members of our community!

I am humbled, honored and so happy to continue to make Hinei Mah Tov the wonderful community we want it to be, G0d willing.