Congregation Adas Emuno

This Week at Adas Emuno—A Big Weekend!

May 16, 2024 8:58 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

May 16, 2024

Dear Friends,
Kurt Roberg turns 100 today!
Mazal tov to Kurt on this amazing feat.
We will call Kurt up to the bimah tomorrow in honor of his milestone birthday.

Owen Beckerman, Kale Dennis and Leo Avidon will celebrate their Confirmation, also tomorrow, at our Shabbat Evening Family Service (7:30 PM)
Mazal tov to Owen, Kale and Leo and their families!
These graduating students will share their Confirmation essays, and the full class will help lead the service, with the Cantor, Adam Kohane and the Dennis family all adding to the uplifting music.

Rachel Capote, Deb Fein, Dan Pasky, Lauren Roland, and Karen Sherwood will celebrate their adult b'nei mitzvah at our Shabbat Morning Service (10:00 AM).
Mazal tov to the class and their families!
They will read from the Torah and also share their B'nei Mitzvah essays.

To cap off this remarkable weekend, our Religious School will end the academic year on Sunday, with games and picnic. Thank you to the partnership of students, parents, and teachers that once again has made for an eventful year.

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno—Celebrating Israel’s 76th Birthday

May 09, 2024 8:40 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

May 9, 2024

Dear Friends,
The fact that Israel is so beleaguered is all the more reason to celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut and her 76th birthday. We will joyfully do so at our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM).

Our annual Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM) comes to an end this week, as we offer concluding thoughts on our year-long survey of Jewish belief.

Israel will also be celebrated at our Sunday Religious School when we recreate a "shuk (market) and students will be able to go on an Israeli shopping spree.

On Monday (7:30 PM) the Adas Emuno Book Club discusses what I consider to be one of the great Jewish American classics: The Assistant by Bernard Malamud. (Ask Doris or Michael Fishbein for the Zoom link.)

Next week is very special and here are several reminders:
Our Shabbat Evening service will be led by the Confirmation class, and a music ensemble.
Kurt Roberg will be called up for his 100th birthday!
Our Shabbat morning service will be led by our five adult b'nei mitzvah!
Religious School will conclude with outdoor games and a picnic.

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno—Iris and Joe Will Be Ordained!

May 02, 2024 8:21 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

May 2, 2024

Dear Friends,
Soon after Pesach each year are two significant Jewish days not from the Torah but from our own day.
The first is Yom HaShoah: Holocaust Remembrance Day.
As the survivors themselves become fewer and fewer it is up to us to preserve their memory.
We will do so at our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM) with music and remarks appropriate for this solemn time.

The events of modern Jewish history have led some denominations to make changes to traditional Jewish prayer, which in turn has led to debate. We'll examine some of the innovations and ensuing arguments at our Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM).

Saturday is also Leonia Day- we'll have a table at Wood Park (12-4) and will be happy to see you drop by.

On Sunday Joe Flaxman and Iris Karlin will be ordained as cantors at a ceremony at Temple Emanu-el in New York. Mazal tov to Joe and Iris on their richly deserved accomplishment!

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno—Earth Walk and Picnic at Overpeck Park!

April 25, 2024 8:52 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Apr. 25, 2024

Dear Friends,
Here are three nice ways to mark the end of Pesach:

Poetry Shabbat- Our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM) will feature members of our Poetry Garden group interspersing some of their favorite poems throughout the service.

Pesach Stories- Our Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM) will discuss the original account of the Exodus and other stories inspired by the holiday.

Pesach Picnic- Join us on Sunday for an Earth Walk and Picnic (12:15 PM) at Overpeck Park, bringing your own lunch, with contributions to benefit Hackensack Riverkeepers.

Shabbat shalom and Hag Pesach Sameach,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno—Friday Service Begins at 7 pm

April 18, 2024 1:06 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

April 18, 2024

This Pesach will be different- it is an excruciating time for Israel, and celebrating the Festival of Freedom when so many are still being held hostage and Israel is still under attack is so challenging but necessary.

Come in-person on this Sabbath to once again show your solidarity with Israel, as we all sing Am Yisrael Chai and Hatikvah.

The Sabbath before Pesach is traditionally known as Shabbat HaGadol, the Great Sabbath.
Our K-1 class will help us enter the holiday spirit and make it great at our Shabbat Evening Family Service (7:00* PM- note the earlier start time to accommodate our youngest students).

Our Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM) will continue our discussion of prayer, including some thought provoking examples from new Haggadot.
Yet at the same time we always find a way to talk about important current events....

On Sunday both our Tot Passover (9:30 AM) and Religious School Pesach Program will also enhance our celebration.

Wherever and whenever you are gathering, we wish you a joyful and meaningful holiday, even as we pray for Israel, her soldiers, citizens and captives.

Shabbat shalom and Hag Pesach Sameach,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno—Larry David a Talmudist?

April 11, 2024 8:33 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Apr. 11, 2024

Dear Friends,
Evidently our student cantor is a fan of "Curb Your Enthusiasm", because he is going to speak at our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM) on "Larry David as a modern day Talmudist".
Who knew?
The show, by the way, ended last Sunday, after 12 seasons spread over 25 years.

Joe is also going to lead our Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM) by examining the Haggadah with an eye toward "making a meaningful, and short, Seder".

Thank you to Joe in advance for covering for me; I'll be leading a scholar-in-residence weekend in Las Vegas... at a congregation, not a casino!

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno—Artists Showcase Sunday Afternoon!

April 04, 2024 8:35 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Apr.4, 2024

Dear Friends,
Join us for our Volunteer Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM) when we pay special tribute to all those who serve on the many committees that contribute so richly to our congregation's life.
As our president said recently, our volunteering spirit here at Adas Emuno began 150 years ago and has never stopped.

Our love of learning has never stopped as well.
At our Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM) , we'll begin a new unit that looks at how the different denominations of Judaism approach private and public prayer.

And then on Sunday our volunteer spirit will be on unique display at our "Meet Our Artists" (3:00-6:00 PM), which will showcase the artistic talents of our members in a social gathering and silent auction fundraiser at the historic home of our mayor Bill Ziegler and Sue Boyd.

Finally, a reminder from your friendly rabbi who loves all things space- don't miss the rare total eclipse of the sun (with your special eclipse glasses) which will take place on Monday, with peak viewing from 3:00-4:00 PM, with near totality in NJ at 3:23 PM.

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno

March 28, 2024 8:29 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

March 28, 2024

Dear Friends,
Have you continued to think about Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer's remarks about Israel?
They are just too significant and troubling to ignore.
So we will take them up at our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM).

Both Torah Study and Religious School are off this week for the spring break.

Looking ahead to next week:
"Volunteer Shabbat" (Apr. 5) will honor all those who serve on our many committees with a special Shabbat dinner and service.
" Meet Our Artists" (Apr. 7) will showcase the artistic talents of our congregation in a social gathering/ silent auction fundraiser at the historic home of our mayor Bill Ziegler and Sue Boyd.

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno—Family Service and Purim!

March 21, 2024 9:06 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Mar. 21, 2024

Dear Friends,
It's all about Purim!
Join us for all or some of the festivities during this March Madness/Purim all-star weekend:

1. Shabbat Evening Family Service (7:30 PM), led by Grade 2/3, with Purim songs.
2. Shabbat Morning Purim Torah Study (10:00 AM), on the most provocative parts of the Book of Esther.

Then on Purim Day, Sunday the 24th:
3. Adas Emuno Family Purim Service (10:00 AM)- come in costume and be ready to make noise!
4. Purim Carnival (11:00 AM)- in the social hall and on the patio.

Also on Sunday:
5. Purim Tot Celebration (9:30 AM), open to all pre-school age children and their parents.
6.Gesher Shalom full Megillah reading and morning service (8:30-9:45 AM) in the sanctuary.

Shabbat shalom and Hag Purim Sameach!
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno

March 14, 2024 8:21 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

March 14, 2024

Dear Friends,
Did you hear about the $1 Billion (no typo) donation to the Einstein School of Medicine in the Bronx?!
I'll tell the story of this remarkable gift and how it resonates with the Torah portion and the highest rung of tzedakah at our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM).

As we finish our unit of halakha (Jewish law) we'll look at some of the most controversial challenges to it over the last century by the Reform and Conservative movements, at our Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM)

Purim is one week away!
Here is what to know about our weekend celebration:
1. Shabbat Evening Family Service (7:30 PM)
2. Special Shabbat Morning Purim Torah Study (10:00 AM)
Then on Purim Day, Sunday the 24th:
3. Gesher Shalom full Megillah reading (8:30 AM)
4. Adas Emuno family Megillah reading (10:00 AM)
5. Purim Carnival (11:00 AM)

Keep reading: Bernard Malamud, one of America's great writers, recently received the high honor of having his complete works reissued by the Library of America. For our next book club meeting in May we will read one of his masterpieces, The Assistant. Also recommended: two of his best short stories, The Magic Barrel and The Angel Levine.

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz