Guys and Graggers! – Purim Shpiel, 2016

guysgroggers

Come see “Guys and Graggers” during the Megillah-reading service on Erev Purim, Wednesday, March 23rd.

Based on the hit show “Guys and Dolls”, this shpiel was adapted for Purim by Craig Eichner, produced and edited by Lisa Pendola, and directed by Jennifer Moss. Continue reading

Shalach Manot Success!

shulman_adrienneI only recently learned why we make Shalach Manot goodie bags and deliver them to our entire Shomrei congregation – to increase love and friendship between Jews, thereby dismissing Haman’s accusations that there is strife and dissension among Jews.  Lovely!

Continue reading

The Windy Gragger: Purim Shpiel

It’s the Jazz Age of Shushan, when a king throws an endless party, a queen refuses a royal summons, an evil vizier hatches a nefarious plot, our hero and heroine struggle to save their people — and everyone wants to make the front page news! “The Windy Gragger” has all this and more (well, not much more). Set to the music of the Broadway show “Chicago,” this is the Purim story like you’ve never heard it before (unless you’ve seen the rehearsals, in which case you’ve sort of heard it before). Come see the one and only performance of “The Windy Gragger” on Purim evening, March 4, 2015.  The Windy Gragger will star (in alphabetical order): Craig Eichner, Yechiel Felder, Talia Fellus, Martin Hochbaum, Ann Lippel, Carney Mimms, Jennifer Moss, Lisa Pendola, Andy Silikovitz.

Here’s a complete Purim Schedule of Events and Services

A Shimmering Shomrei Hanukkah Party

2014-12-17 18.08.18
What an amazing Shomrei Hanukkah Party!  The moment the smell of frying latkes made its way around the building, I knew this was going to be an exciting night.  The JLC 7th grade students started the night off with a bang, with their homemade Hanukkah games and enthusiasm.  Children of all ages enjoyed pinning the tail on the menorah and trying to knock over large Hanukkah candles in the bean bag toss station.  We made edible menorahs and spun dreidels in paint, too, which made some beautiful designs.

Continue reading

Yasher Koach! Book Fair a Success!

10351601_10152869812169138_1258311824164469744_n

Vicki Compter Lefkowitz, Tsipi Taube and Adrienne Lasiter

The Shomrei Book Fair was a success! Scores of bookmarks were created by kids. Aileen Grossberg gave an interesting talk. Sara Birnbaum mad-libbed along. Heather Brown read to the little ones. Snacks were snacked! Rabbi David Greenstein even explained the Zohar on one foot.

Best of all loads of books were purchased by the Shomrei Community and over $800 was raised for the benefit of the JLC (Hebrew School) and the Shomrei Preschool.

Yasher Koach to organizers Tsipi Taube and Adrienne Lasiter and their committee: Sara Hollander Birnbaum, Heather Brown, Shirley Grill, Vicki Compter Lefkowitz, Lisa Pendola, Lynne Tapper, Renata Worob and June Zimmerman!

Palestinian Peace Activist, Speaks in Montclair

Ali Abu Awwad Credit: Claude Truong-Ngoc

Ali Abu Awwad
Credit: Claude Truong-Ngoc

“If there were peace life would have a value. There would be games for the children, employment and opportunities. While there is no peace, there will be no life.”

~Ali Abu Awwad

If someone had told me a few years ago that I’d be inspired by a Palestinian activist to solve a parenting dilemma, I never would have believed it.

Since childhood (close to five decades), I’ve known of conflict in the Middle East. I regard myself as having a Jewish-American viewpoint on Zionism. Having put considerable thought and effort into embracing egalitarianism and coexistence of all people in recent years, I have never felt particularly biased. So . . . it is tough to admit to having had a fear of (and even an aversion to) Arabs and their culture for most of my life. This prejudice felt like something I was raised with. The orthodox rabbis that taught at my Conservative Hebrew School on Long Island, my parents and friends’ parents, plus the general influence of society, all seemed to reinforce my bias and ignorance of the humanity of these people.

Continue reading