Rabbi Eliyahu Tal - Rabbi
Ray Morris - President
Visit our website for the latest news and copies of the bulletin.
Important Messages
- Mazel Tov Barbara and Issac Edery have a new grandson. Penina and Andrew had a baby boy Thursday morning.
- This Week's Qiddush is sponsored by The Bridge Restaurant thanking our members for their patronage.
- Se'udah Sh'lshit is sponsored by Eliran Rebeyev
- Etz Ahaim Purim Extravaganza on Sunday, March 9 at 1:00pm. Tickets at <https: data-preserve-html-node="true"//etzahaim.org/tickets>. There is also a raffle for a beautiful Purim Megillah.
- Sephardic Style Soft Matzah is available for order from Congregation Etz Ahaim. Baked under the supervision of our own Rabbi Tal. Go to https://etzahaim.org/matzah for more information.
- NORPAC Annual Mission to Washington is on May 20, 2024. Go to https://etzahaim.org/norpac for more information.
- Shamot (Geniza) Drive: There will be a community shamot drive at Congregation Ohr Torah Sunday March 16, 9:00am-5:15pm. The cost is $30 per large bag.
- Mishloach Manot Packing will take place on Sunday, March 9 at 10:00am. All are welcome to come and help!”
- 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 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.
- Ḥesed Committee is looking for Volunteers who can cook or shop for births or sad occasions. Email hesed@etzahaim.groups.io with your name and the contact information of your choice.
If you have any announcements you'd like to see in the weekly bulletin, email it to news@etzahaim.org
Friday
- Shaḥarit: 6:30am
- After Services: Coffee and Halacha
- Def Yomi: 4:40pm
- Minḥa and Kabbalat Shabbat: 5:40pm
- Candle Lighting: 5:38pm
Saturday — Parashat Tetzaveh/Shabbat Zachor
- Youth Groups for ages 3 to 8 in the Upper Classrooms: 9:30am to End of Shacharit
- Recite Shema: by 8:38am
- Shaḥarit: 8:45am
- Qiddush After Services (Sponsored by The Bridge Restaurant thanking our members for their patronage)
- Daf Yomi: 3:30pm
- Navi Class: 4:30pm
- Minḥa: 5:15pm — Followed by:
- Se’udah Sh’lshit (Sponsored by Eliran Rebeyev)
- Arvit and End of Shabbat: 6:27pm
- Shabbat Ends (Rabbenu Tam): 7:09pm
- Daylight Saving Time Begins: Set Clocks forward one hour before going to bed
Sunday
- Shaḥarit: 8:00am
- Followed by Breakfast and Torah
- Purim Extravaganza: 1:00pm to 4:00pm
- Minḥa and Arvit: 6:45pm
- Talmud — Daf HaYomi: After Minḥa/Arvit
Monday
- Shaḥarit: 6:30am
- After Services: Coffee and Halacha
- Class: Halacha in Depth: 2:30pm
- Pre-Minḥa Class 6:25pm
- Minḥa and Arvit: 6:45pm
- Talmud — Daf HaYomi: After Minḥa/Arvit
Tuesday
- Shaḥarit: 6:30am
- After Services: Coffee and Halacha
- Class: Halacha in Depth: 2:30pm
- Pre-Minḥa Class 6:25pm
- Minḥa/Arvit: 6:45pm
- Talmud — Daf HaYomi: After Minḥa/Arvit
Wednesday
- Shaḥarit: 6:30am
- After Services: Coffee and Halacha
- Class: Halacha in Depth: 2:30pm
- Pre-Minḥa Class 6:25pm
- Minḥa/Arvit: 6:45pm
- Talmud — Daf HaYomi: After Minḥa/Arvit
Thursday — Ta’anit Esther/Erev Purim
- Fast Begins: 5:51am
- Shaḥarit: 6:30am
- Class: Halacha in Depth: 2:30pm
- Insights on the Parasha: 6:25pm
- Minḥa/Arvit: 6:30pm
- Megillah Reading after Minḥa/Arvit.
- Fast Ends: 7:30pm
- Tish After Megillah reading and fast.
Next Friday — Purim
- Shaḥarit: 6:30am
- Megillah Reading During Shacharit
- After Services: Coffee and Halacha
- Second Megillah Reading: 9:00am
- Daf Yomi: 5:50pm
- Minḥa: 6:50pm
- Candle Lighting: 6:46pm
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
- 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
- Baruch ben Rivkah (Baruch 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
Choosing to be Queen Esther Video Presentation with Hadas Lowenstern , widow of Rabbi Elisha Lowenstern, HY”D who was killed in Gaza. Join communities across the globe in preparation for TA’ANIT ESTHER. Tehillim resources and video programming provided by the OU Women’s Initiative. Location: Congregation Ohav Emeth, 415 Raritan Avenue. Date: Monday 3/10 7:30pm
Evening of commUNITY for the Women of Highland Park and Edison. Sunday March 9 at 7:30pm at Ohr Torah
The Allen and Joan Bildner Center for the Study of Jewish Life will be offering The Annual Abram Matlofsky Memorial Lecture on Monday, March 24, 7:30pm. Samuel D. Kassow (Trinity College) discusses Rokhl Auerbach's remarkable memoir, which offers a portrait of Warsaw's prewar Yiddish literary and artistic community and its destruction at the hands of the Nazis. Kassow's new translation of the work received a National Jewish Book Award for Holocaust Memoir in January 2025.
For more information, go to <https: data-preserve-html-node="true"//bildnercenter.rutgers.edu>.
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. Upcoming sessions will be 3/12, 3/26.
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://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.
Jewish Family Services is seeking volunteers to deliver meals to homebound seniors in Middlesex County for their Kosher Meals-on-Wheels program. Routes are available in East Brunswick and in Edison/Metuchen. You must be over age 21 , have a reliable vehicle, and available to commit to weekly deliveries once per week.
To volunteer, email office@jfsmiddlesex.org or call 732-777-1940.
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!