March 23 — Parashat Vayikra/Shabbat Zachor/Erev Purim

Rabbi Eliyahu Tal - Rabbi
Ray Morris - President

Visit our website for the latest news and copies of the bulletin.

Important Messages

  • Rabbi Tal has Published a New Book on commentary on Megillah Esther. The book is by his students at Yeshivat Torah Emet. The text of the book is available on our website
  • Purim Schedule This Year: We will be reading the Megillat Esther Mosae Shabbat and that will be followed by the Purim Party as well as a second nightly Megillah reading at 9:30pm. There will be a Megillah reading at Shacharit on Sunday, and a second on at 9:00am for those who missed the first reading.
  • Sephardic Soft Handmade Shemura Matzah is made available from Rabbi Tal and Rabbi Abiram Biton. See https://www.etzahaim.org/news/sephardic-matzah-nzgzl-94gbw for more details.
  • Nominating Committee for Etz Ahaim June Elections has been appointed: Bradley Greenberg (Chair), Chana Bishburg, Behzad Hakakian, Abie Hamaoui, and Moe Yarmush. Contact the committee at nominations@etzahaim.org
  • Sunday Breakfast and Torah is Back After Shacharit Services on Sunday. You can help sponsor the breakfasts by going to https://www.etzahaim.org/news/sunday-breakfast-is-back
  • New families are moving to Highland Park If you hear of any new families moving to Highland Park, please inform the Hospitality Committee.
  • Contact our Hesed 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.

Friday

  • Shaḥarit: 6:30am
  • Minḥa and Kabbalat Shabbat: 6:55pm
  • Candle Lighting: 6:54pm

Saturday -- Parashat Vayikra/Shabbat Zachor/Erev Purim

  • Youth Groups for ages 3 to 8 in the Upper Classrooms: 9:30am to End of Shacharit
  • Recite Shema: by 9:19am
  • Shaḥarit: 8:45am
    • Qiddush After Services (Sponsored by the Congregation)
    • Rabbi Will Reread Parsha Zachor after Kiddush for those who didn't hear it at services.
  • Minḥa: 5:30pm
    • Se'udah Sh'lshit at home.
  • Arvit and End of Shabbat: 7:41pm
  • Megillah Reading: 8:15pm
    • Followed by Venahafoch'hu! Purim Celebration
  • Second Megillah Reading: 9:30pm

Sunday — Purim

  • Shaḥarit: 7:00am
    • Megillah Reading After Amida
  • Second Megillah Reading: 9:30am
    • Followed by Open Purim Party at the Rabbi's House
  • Early Minḥa: 2:00pm
  • Second Minḥa at: 6:55pm
  • Arvit: 7:40pm
    • Talmud — Amud HaYomi: After Minḥa/Arvit

Monday — Shushan Purim

  • Shaḥarit: 6:30am
  • Minḥa and Arvit: 6:55pm
    • Talmud — Amud HaYomi: After Minḥa/Arvit

Tuesday

  • Shaḥarit: 6:30am
  • Minḥa/Arvit: 6:55pm
    • Talmud — Amud HaYomi: After Minḥa/Arvit

Wednesday

  • Shaḥarit: 6:30am
  • Minḥa/Arvit: 6:55pm
    • Talmud — Amud HaYomi: After Minḥa/Arvit

Thursday

  • Shaḥarit: 6:30am
  • Insights on the Parasha: 6:10pm
  • Minḥa/Arvit: 6:55pm
    • Talmud — Amud HaYomi: After Minḥa/Arvit

Next Friday

  • Shaḥarit: 6:30am
  • Minḥa: 7:00pm
  • Candle Lighting: 7:01pm

Bikur Ḥolim of Congregation Etz Ahaim

The Regency Nursing Home is currently closed to visitors. Drivers and coordinators needed. Call (732) 572-7181 for more information. The congregation extends refua shelema wishes to:

  • Asher ben Mazel
  • Liba Shaindel bat Chava Sachs
  • Gershon ben Sara
  • Dvorah Shahala bat Sarah Parvin
  • Chava bat Esther
  • 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

If you would 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.

News and Events

Community News

Rofeh Cholim Cancer Society, an organization supporting local patients with an array of services, will be having an event in conjunction with the opening of Giddy’s restaurant. Watch out for the event date coming soon.

Rabbi Brudny and Rabbi Sauer are raising funds for Matonos L’evyonim.

  • Rabbi Sauer will be available at his home, 150 Washington Ave in Edison, on Purim Day, through late afternoon.
  • You can send Matonos L’evyonim via Zelle to matevyon@gmail.com. Most Bank phone apps now incorporate Zelle.
  • Rabbi Sauer can be reached by phone at (323)877-2448 or by email: acssauer@gmail.com.
  • Rabbi Brudny can be reached by phone at (732) 668-3546 or by email: ababrudny@gmail.com

Chicks With Sticks is knitting and crocheting hats for preemies at Hadassah Hospital and for IDF Soldiers on Tuesday March 26 at 7:30pm. All levels are welcome from never learned to expert. We’re happy to teach you. Email ChicksWithSticksHP@gmail.com or text 203-435-2269 for more information.

The Chug Ivrit for Intermediate to Advanced Hebrew Speakers is reading מגולה לגאולה: מבבל לירושלים by Flora Taasan. It is Flora’s autobiography about her life growing up in Baghdad, and then making Aliyah in 1950. The meeting will be on Sunday, March 31 at 11:00am. Please contact Rachel at 732-819-9298 or rachel@weintraubworld.net.

The Annual Ahavas Yisrael Clothing Givaway on Sunday, March 31 from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Take from a beautiful selection of new and gently worn clothes. For questions or to donate clothing in excellent condition, contact Lisa Cohen at 732-606-2996 or Ida Sheiner at 917-439-6163.

A Passover Recipe Friendly Cooking Demonstration by the Raritan Valley Hadassah on Sunday, April 7 at 5:00pm by Chef Sharon Heyden, author of A Culinary Journey: Exotic Kosher Cuisine. Zoom option also available. In-person: $18.00 Zoom: Free. Only 20 in-person spots available! For more information or to RSVP, please call 908-227-4869 or email RaritanValleyHadassah@gmail.com.

NORPAC’s Mission to Washington is an annual event where we bring close to a thousand citizen activists to Washington, DC, in order to advocate for a stronger U.S.-Israel relationship with Members of Congress.

Join us on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, as we travel Washington, DC. On a single-day trip you will meet with Members of Congress and their staff and share your concerns with them about foreign aid to Israel, Iran, security cooperation, and more. Help us make a difference once again!

Buses will leave for Washington DC from our area at 6:30 AM and return between 9-10 PM. There will be briefings on the bus.  All meals will be provided.

Register now for the Early Bird Discount at www.norpac.net  or call (201) 788-5133. Adults - $180, Full time Students - $100 (must be over 12. Those under 18 must be accompanied by Parent or legal guardian)  After March 12- adults $220, students $135

For more info, contact David Moskovic, Marc Hanfling at docdad@aol.com, Barry Wolf,Yosef Schreiber,Charles Gershbaum 

Ahavas Achim Trip to Israel for Solidarity and Chesed Opportunities May 22 to June 3. $4,610 per person. For details. go to http://www.arieltours.com/aamm/

Rabbi Moshe Rothchild delivered a very inspiring and informative speech regarding helping women who have lost their husbands due to the October 7th massacre and current war. To listen, go to https://drive.google.com/file/d/1B77qxYpYNcc5-ClvJTsel7oGP3KZAy2x/view?usp=sharing

To contribute to this worthy cause, please make out checks to "Global Israel Alliance" and give to Aliyana at 400 North 8th Avenue, Edison or Zelle to rabbirothchild@gmail.com . Tax deductible donations can also be made via the website, https://war-in-israel.org/ . Thank you. Tizcu lmitzvos. Aviva and Barry Siegel

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!

Bikur Cholim is looking for more male volunteers to visit seniors and also looking for more seniors to visit. Please contact Cindy Baruch at 908-309-8818 or cindy.baruch@verizon.net

Rebbetzin Eichenstein Classes for Women

Please text Nechama at 347-909-2755 for information.