As we enter the high holidays, I am happy to provide an update about Essex Together, a great social action program I invite you to learn about and participate in: Continue reading
Tag Archives: Audrey Levitin
Terrific News from Essex Together
I am happy to share a victory achieved by Essex Together, just two months into its founding.
As you may recall, JerseyCity together had significant progress this past spring in the elimination of unnecessary and unfair fines, fees and outstanding warrants incurred by individuals who recently left prison or are currently incarcerated. Continue reading
Essex Together: An Update and Ways to Participate
I am happy to report that Shomrei is now a founding member of Essex Together, joining 10 other faith based and nonprofit organizations working to bring about change in the County. The launch event was held on May 27th at Bethany Baptist Church in Newark and was a a life affirming night of music, presentations and sharing.
NJ Together, Tikkun Olam and the Beloved Community
“Our goal is to create a beloved community and this will require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives.” Dr. Martin Luther King.
When I walk into Shomrei, enter the lobby and climb the stairs for services, I have a “life is good” kind of feeling, That powerful sense of connection is strengthened when I volunteer and one of my favorite forms of volunteering is ushering. I get to say hello to people I know, people I haven’t seen in a while, and introduce myself to people I don’t know. The experience of being connected is joyous. Continue reading
Responding to the Tragedy of Gun Violence
Like all of you, our hearts are broken following the horrendous death of innocent children at an elementary school in Uvalde Texas, which follows two mass shootings last week at a supermarket in Buffalo and a church in Laguna Woods California. Thoughts and prayers are not enough. We need to act. Taking action is the only thing that will change what is happening. Here are some suggestions for appropriate actions you can consider taking. Continue reading
Taking Action Against Climate Change
At this past Sunday’s Mitzvah Day event, Shomrei members took part in an educational program delivered by David Korfhage, President of Montclair Climate Action. David began the presentation by asking us, “What comes to mind when you think about climate change?” These were our responses, “Guilty” “Scared” “Confused” “Helpless”: “Paralyzed.”
“So there’s a lot of anxiety” he responded. “And the antidote to anxiety is to take action – to channel fear and anxiety into action, even if you don’t know what the results are going to be.” Continue reading
Happy Birthday Kiddush
The building was teeming with people this past Shabbat with JLC, the Henei Mah Tov service, Tot Shabbat, and the regular service in the sanctuary. The social hall was party-like with birthday balloons and colorful tableware.
What a pleasure to have so many young kids and their parents sharing the space and a very special kiddush lunch.
That first double digit birthday is a big deal for any kid. We were able to be a part of Brian Singh’s entry into “tweenhood.” Continue reading
Shabbat In A Time of Division
When the pandemic began, I missed the office, I missed restaurants, I missed travel, but most of all I missed synagogue on Shabbat. There is something deeply comforting about seeing the same people at the same time, in the same place, in the same seats each week. I especially love being at synagogue on a snowy winter day. During kiddish I would sit with members of our congregation, and watch snow fall through the large widows in our social hall while eating bagels and lox, salad, and cookies. It is an “all is right with the world” experience. Continue reading
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 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
Meet the New Members of the Board of Trustees
Yasher koach to the 2019-20 Board of Trustees. Special thanks to outgoing board members Fern Heinig & Lynne Kurzweil. Replacing them are Audrey Levitin and Romy Rost.
Romy Rost, Trustee (term expiring 2023)
I’m truly excited to join the Board and work together to continue to grow our Jewish community at Shomrei. Seeing my daughter’s joy being in the preschool here has inspired me to get more involved and hopefully bring skills and experience that will help Shomrei flourish, especially in these unique times. Our youngest daughter will soon join the preschool and I have no doubt that together they will discover their Jewish identity in this very nurturing environment. As a career and leadership coach, I love the practice of personal development and therefore am always encouraging myself and others to strive for ‘better’! I look forward to doing that with all of you, too.
Audrey Levitin, Trustee (term expiring 2022) & Co-Chairperson, Social Action Committee
I am so happy to be a Trustee on Shomrei’s board and look forward to serving the community in this new way. I love all things Shomrei. I come to services regularly, participate in Torah Study and one of my favorite things in life is to be with the community and enjoy kiddush on Shabbat. (A shout-out to Aileen and Beryl.) I am also the Co-Chair of the Social Action Committee with Sarita Eisenberg. My husband Nick is a past President and my children Josh and Nina are part of the Shomrei family. Shomrei is quite simply my home away from home.