Rabbi Eliyahu Tal - Rabbi
Ray Morris - President
Visit our website for the latest news and copies of the bulletin.
Important Messages
- This Week's Qiddush is sponsored by the Congregation
- Se'udah Sh'lshit is sponsored by Etz Ahaim's own Yeshiva Mital HaShamayim.
- Selichot Services Every Weekday at 5:55am and Sundays at 7:30am.
- Stop the Bleeding training uses the Stop the Bleeding kits that are inside Etz Ahaim to help staunch bleeding. If you know how to use these kits, you could save a life. There is now a free session at the Highland Park Community Center on Wednesday, September 17 from 7:00pm to 8:30pm. <https: data-preserve-html-node="true"//www.surveymonkey.com/r/HPSTB_2025>.
- Shomer Shabbat Scouting Groups in Highland Park for Jewish kids interested in a full scouting program. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Cub Scouts. Contact Steve Springer at 908.227.3750 for more information
- High Holiday Seats Rosh Hashana is just a couple of weeks away. Have you reserved your seats yet? Go to <https: data-preserve-html-node="true"//EtzAhaim.org/seats>. Purchase your seats directly from our webpage, or fill out the paper form.
- New families are moving to Highland Park If you hear of any new families moving to Highland Park, please inform the Hospitality Committee.
- The Ḥesed Committee Contact the at Ḥesed Committee at hesed@etzahaim.groups.io if you know of a member or family of a member who is in a local hospital or nursing home. They are also looking for volunteers who can cook of shop for births or other needs.
If you have any announcements you'd like to see in the weekly bulletin, email it to news@etzahaim.org
Schedule
Friday
- Selichot: 5:55am
- Shaḥarit: 6:30am
- After Services: Coffee and Halacha
- Minḥa and Kabbalat Shabbat: 6:50pm
- Candle Lighting: 6:53pm Before 7:00pm
Saturday — Parashat Ki Tavo
- Youth Groups for ages 3 to 8 in the Upper Classrooms: 9:30am to End of Shacharit
- Recite Shema: by 9:03am
- Shaḥarit: 8:45am
- Qiddush After Services (Sponsored by the the Congregation)
- Avot U'batim: 5:40pm
- Navi Class: 5:40pm
- Minḥa: 7:10pm — Followed by:
- Se’udah Sh’lshit (Sponsored by Yeshiva Mital HaShamayim)
- Arvit and End of Shabbat: 7:50pm
- Shabbat Ends (Rabbenu Tam): 8:21pm
Sunday
- Selichot: 7:30am
- Shaḥarit: 8:00am
- Followed by Breakfast and Torah
- Minḥa and Arvit: 6:45pm
Monday
- Selichot: 5:55am
- Shaḥarit: 6:30am
- After Services: Coffee and Halacha
- Pre-Minḥa Class 6:25pm
- Minḥa and Arvit: 6:45pm
Tuesday
- Selichot: 5:55am
- Shaḥarit: 6:30am
- After Services: Coffee and Halacha
- Cake Club: Torah Class and Dessert: 6:35pm
- Minḥa/Arvit: 6:45pm
Wednesday
- Selichot: 5:55am
- Shaḥarit: 6:30am
- After Services: Coffee and Halacha
- Pre-Minḥa Class 6:25pm
- Minḥa/Arvit: 6:45pm
Thursday
- Selichot: 5:55am
- Shaḥarit: 6:30am
- After Services: Coffee and Halacha
- Ḥumash and Ḥamin: 6:35pm
- Minḥa/Arvit: 6:45pm
Next Friday
- Selichot: 5:55am
- Shaḥarit: 6:30am
- After Services: Coffee and Halacha
- Minḥa: 6:45pm
- Candle Lighting: 6:41pm
At Etz Ahaim
Adrienne Orani will speak at Congregation Etz Ahaim on Tuesday, September 16 to women and girls on From Feminism of the '60s to Feminism of the Torah: My Journey. This talk is sponsored by the Daughters of Etz Ahaim and is open to all women in the entire community.
Sukkah Decorating Party on Sunday, September 28 at 11:30am. Everyone is invited to create sukkah decorations. Pizza and refreshments will be served to all those who create a decoration or help out. The party is sponsored by the Daughters of Etz Ahaim and is open to the entire community.
Cake Club Join us for some sweet learning every Tuesday 30 minutes before Minḥa. We will be covering various topics and enjoying some delicious homemade cake.
Ḥumash & Ḥamin Every Thursday 30 minutes before Minḥa. Enjoy real Sephardi Ḥamin while we learn Torah.
Bikur Ḥolim of Congregation Etz Ahaim
Drivers and coordinators needed. Call (732) 572-7181 for more information.
The congregation extends refua shelema wishes to:
- Asher ben Mazel
- Gershon ben Sara
- Dvorah Shahala bat Sarah Parvin
- Jacob Krief (Yacov Gideon ben Miriam)
- Lita Greenberg (Tzvia Sarah bat Golda)
- Linda Balavram (Emmunah bat Sara)
- Sara Shifra bat Yehudit
- Sharona Bella bat Malka
- Yosef Daniel ben Feige
- Leah Chava bat Shayna
- Baruch ben Rivkah (Baruch Sachs)
- Yehoshua Baruch Ben Chava Sachs
If you like to add someone to this list, or merely want the Rabbi to say a Mi Shaberaḥ on someone after Torah reading on Shabbat, please go to our webpage and fill out the form.
Community News
The Annual Women's Meet and Greet Please bring a dairy or parve dish. At the Home of Elle Lieblich, 4 Brookfall Road Edison NJ on September 13 at 9:00pm.
Shomer Shabbat Scouting Groups Would your child be interested in a Shomer Shabbat Scouting group with other Shomer Shabbat children? Our community has Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Cub Scout groups for your kids.
There will be tables at the Highland Park Arts in the Park on Sunday September 14 from 11:00am to 4:00pm and there will be an Open House on Sunday September 28 at 5:00pm at the Highland Park Community Center at 220 South Sixth Avenue.
For more information, Contact Steven Springer at s.springer@outlook.com or call at 908-227-3750.
Bakers for Rosh Hashanah Looking for bakers for our Rosh Hashanah bake sale for Israel! The bake sale will take place on Thursday, September 18 at Ohav Emeth. All proceeds will go to Widows of Warriors. For questions, please call/text Cindy Baruch at 908-309-8818.
Peace of Mind will have a special pre-Rosh Hashana Zoom session with Mark Regev, former Ambassador of Israel to the UK and International Spokesperson for the Prime Minister.
Sunday, September 14 at 10:30am Eastern Time at <https: data-preserve-html-node="true"//us06web.zoom.us/j/82675378611>.
Update from Jerusalem A Conversation with Yossi Klein Halevi The Rutgers University Bildner Center for the Study of Jewish Life presents The Ruth and Alvin Rockoff Annual Lecture on Monday, September 29 from 12:30-1:45 p.m. via Zoom. Register: <https: data-preserve-html-node="true"//tinyurl.com/msbsypjy>.
Join a discussion between Yossi Klein Halevi, a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, and a leading expert on Israeli, Middle Eastern, and global Jewish affairs, and Nancy Sinkoff, the Bildner Center's academic director, for an update on life in Israel almost two years after the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the ongoing war in Gaza.
Yad Leah Clothing Drive B”H will take place on Sunday November 9, 2025, from 9:00am until 12:30pm at Congregation Ohav Emeth.
Kittel Gemach Available If you or someone you know needs to borrow a kittel, please call Jeff or Lee Ann Schein at 732-545-9353. Four sizes are available. Kittel gemach is in memory of Lazar Lipman ben Chaim Yitzhak.
Support the Highland Park First Aid Squad by purchasing its discount cards. The cards provide discounts to many local businesses including Grill House, Bridge, Dunkin Donuts, Dairy Deluxe, China Lee, Orchid and Giddy's Pizzeria. There are 2 cards this year: one for $30 or both for $50. The cards may be purchased at the Ahavas Achim office, or by contacting any Squad member including: Ari and Deborah Lewitter, Yossi Benedek.
Kosher Meals on Wheels need volunteers this summer! Help Jewish Family Services cover vacations and last-minute cancellations during this busy season. Volunteers will fill in on an as-needed basis on routes in northern Middlesex County.
Deliveries are Monday/Wednesday/Friday, with pick-up of meals in Metuchen at 10:00 a.m. Please plan on devoting approximately two hours for deliveries. Email office@jfsmiddleses.org or call 732-777-1940 for more information or to volunteer.
The Women's Center at Jewish Family Services is having their annual School Supply Drive. They are calling you to donate backpacks, notebooks, pens, pencils & more for tools that will be gifted to children in JFS programs.
Donate online: -<https: data-preserve-html-node="true"//tinyurl.com/crwtph98>. For more information on how you can help, please contact JFS at 732-777-1940 or womenscenter@jfsmiddlesex.org
Shatnez Testing by Rabbi Yosef Sayagh will no longer be testing shatnez every week. Please contact Rabbi Yosef Sayagh by texting 732-330-4103 to find out when he'll be in Highland Park.
Israeli Dancing is open to all women of the community in Ohr Torah's social hall on alternating Wednesday nights from 8-9PM. This is a free session for all dance enthusiasts where multiple participants teach and anyone can request dances they know. Our next classes will be on September 3, September 17 and October 22
Please email naomi.caplan@gmail.com for more information.
Caregiver Support Group is sponsored by Bikur Cholim of Raritan Valley. This groups meets twice each month and is facilitated by a licensed social worker. For more information, contact Sharon Glaser at 732-887-3653 or email sharonnglaser@gmail.com.
Bereavement Support Group facilitated by Marnie Kean, LCSW. Advanced registration is required to attend. If you plan to attend a session please contact Esther Fendrick, Director of Adult Enrichment & Engagement, at 732-593-5969 or email efendrick@jccmc.org, by 6:00pm on the Monday before the session.
For more information, please contact Esther Fendrick. This program is co-sponsored by The Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey.
Highland Park's Lunch with Friends program urgently needs volunteers to assist with serving meals and engaging with senior attendees. Your presence on Mondays & Wednesdays can brighten their day and foster a sense of community. Visit: <https: data-preserve-html-node="true"//tinyurl.com/3457wkwz> for more information.
Grow With ACTT Achieving Change Through Torah (ACTT) has resources for 17 different topics on its website, <https: data-preserve-html-node="true"//www.actt613.org>, including Hashgachah Pratis - Divine Providence, which could help with effectively handling and growing from some of the challenges that we face in our lives.
The ROC of New Jersey's Jersey Employment Assistance Initiative can assist you by offering resumé coaching, interview coaching, LinkedIn networking coaching, and finding a mentor in your field. Over 100 of your neighbors have already received assistance with their job search from The ROC of NJ absolutely free.
For more information, please visit: <https: data-preserve-html-node="true"//www.therocnj.org/employment>.
Chaverim of Middlesex County is a volunteer nonprofit organization committed to helping community members in their time of need. Members respond to all non-medical emergencies including automotive help (flat tire, dead battery, locked car) and house emergencies. Their phone number is 732-844-3577.
They are currently looking for volunteers. Go to https://www.chaverimmc.org/volunteer-today to volunteer today!
The JFS Women's Support Group provides a safe and welcoming space for displaced homemakers seeking community and balance during major life changes. Meetings are held on the first Monday of each month from 11:00am to 12:00pm at the Jewish Family Service's North Brunswick office, 2C Blackhorse Lane.
For more information or to join the group, call: 732-777-1940 or email womenscenter@jfsmiddlesex.org.
Bikur Cholim is looking for volunteer drivers to help people get to and from their medical appointments. They also need volunteers to stock the St. Peter's locker on Thursday nights. If you can help with either of these mitzvot, please call Cindy Baruch at 908- 309-8818 for more information.
The NJ Chesed and Parnossa Network (formerly The ROC of NJ) is coordinating a community-wide effort to help provide minyanim at shiva homes. We have seen a few instances where there have not been minyanim at shiva homes for Shaḥarit and Mincha/Maariv. Therefore, we have created the Shiva Minyannaire Initiative WhatsApp Group. Please email: jp@therocnj.org and they will send you a link to join the WhatsApp group.
Shnainu Shidduch Group of Edison & Highland Park is a volunteer shidduch group that works to assist Orthodox Jewish singles, of all ages and hashkafot. They would like to get to now you. Please reach out to them via email so they can set up an appointment. or more information or to submit your profile, email: shidduchedisonhp@gmail.com.
It Takes a Village of Edison/Highland Park is looking for volunteers to join our dedicated network of over 70 local members! We provide support and assistance to single moms and dads with everyday tasks such as babysitting, financial guidance, errands and more. Join us and offer your skills in support of a single parent in our community! We are particularly interested in adding handymen, plumbers, and other home maintenance professionals to our volunteer roster. Please contact Rikki Samel 732 742 4559 - no commitment needed, volunteer when and how works best for you!