Yom Kippur, Haftorah Introduction: Offer Your Compassion to the Hungry

Introduction by Rabbi Julie: Lynne Kurzweil, co-chair of MESH, a volunteer-run program for food insecure people living in Montclair, will introduce the Haftorah.

Before I begin I would like to give special thanks to my MESH Co-Chair, Aileen Grossberg, for all of her hard work planning, shopping and preparing meals for MESH and for writing these words

Are you all comfortable? Are you a little hungry- no breakfast this morning? Suffering from caffeine withdrawal? Think positively:  you saved a couple of dollars, didn’t have to stand in line at Paper Plane or the Local, didn’t have to think about meal preparation. Continue reading

MESH Report Sept 26, 2023

It was still gloomy outside but in the Shomrei kitchen the colors couldn’t have been brighter and the MESH volunteers cheerier as they prepared the night’s meal.

New Shomrei members- but experienced food preparers- Carol and Andy Blau joined co-chairs Lynne Kurzweil and Aileen Grossberg is putting together 50 simple but satisfying meals which included an array of colorful raw vegetables, hummus, a generous serving of Aileen’s “Everything Egg Salad, “ semi- homemade coleslaw, a large sandwich roll, a bag of chips, a mini coffee cake and container of applesauce. Continue reading

MESH Report Sept 12, 2023

Our team for this first MESH of the year included Linda Ariel, Lou Hammerman, Lynne Kurzweil and me (Sarita Eisenberg).

We made our signature dish of barbeque chicken – each guest received 2 drumsticks with a generous side of roasted potatoes and a slice of bread. The meal also included a serving of cole slaw, fuit cup, cookies (left over from Selichot), and a bottle of water. Continue reading

MESH Needs You!

We need you!!! Shomrei has cut back to providing 2 meals every month – down from our decade long commitment of every Tuesday evening. If we consolidate our people power we hope to be able to provide 50 meals twice monthly without the task repeatedly falling on the shoulders of a few dedicated volunteers. The 2nd and 4th Tuesdays will be our dates and we usually begin preparing at 2 pm. Continue reading

MESH Report June 29, 2023

We started out the MESH year making 20 meals, then 30. For this last MESH of the year, we upped the number to 50 meals.

Our MESH team included the trusty trio of Linda Ariel, Lou Hammerman and me (Sarita Eisenberg) plus Lynne Kurzweil. Aileen Grossberg provided the bread and dessert and delivered the packed food.

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MESH Report June 6, 2023

As announced, Chef Fern Heinig prepared her fabulous, tasty and healthy Mediterranean Salmon Feast for 30.  In order to accommodate the 50 guests that have been frequenting the Office location at 619 Bloomfield Ave in Montclair, the Girls Club of Glen Ridge, a new MESH Partner, provided 20 additional meals. Continue reading

MESH Report May 23, 2023

It’s sad to say that in recent weeks the request for meals from MESH which supples meals to the food insecure population off Montclair has risen from 30 to 50 per week.

Today’s team of Co-chairs Aileen Grossberg and Lynne Kurzweil, ably assisted by faithful volunteer Susan Rosenblatt, valiantly produced 50 tasty, filling meals. Our wonderful custodian Carlos helped us leave the kitchen as spotless as it was when we began.

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MESH Report May 16, 2023

Master Chef Joan Zief cooked up a down home feast for 32 of our MESH guests. Along with Sous Chef, Lynne Kurzweil, the main dish included tilapia with a roasted garlic and herb panko crust, homemade baked macaroni and cheese and sautéed greens (collard and mustard). Rounding out the meal was a slice of whole grain bread, clementines, cookies, peanuts, taffy, a water bottle and a breakfast bar for the morning. Continue reading

MESH Report April 25, 2023

Even though Meny from Marcel is catering meals for MESH this Tuesday, Shomrei provided supplemental food for MESH guests on Monday. Tasty leftovers from last week’s kiddish were packed up and transported by yours truly and warmly welcomed by Patricia Diaz, MESH staffer who was thrilled to have extra food to distribute. There was tuna fish salad, macaroni & cheese, whitefish salad, penne with broccoli, fruit salad, yummy looking brownies and crumb cake. Many thanks to the families who sponsored the kiddish with the added blessing of being able to care for members of our community. Continue reading

MESH Report April 18, 2023

A semi homemade meal was on the menu this past Tuesday. Chef Lynne, along with co-chefs Aileen Grossberg and Alex Kent, prepared Fish Fillets with Cheesy Mashed potatoes and Aileen’s made from scratch Apple Coleslaw. A colorful and healthy Fresh Fruit Salad, hearty long roll, 6 Oreo cookies, a breakfast bar and water bottle. Regular teen helper, Jaden, was on hand to help portion and pack. In spite of a few kitchen snafus, the 30 meals were ready for transport by Lynne to The Office at 4:50pm.

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