March 8 — Shabbat Shekalim/Parashat Vayakhel/Mevarchim Chodesh Adar II

Rabbi Eliyahu Tal - Rabbi
Ray Morris - President

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

Important Messages

  • Nominating Committee for Etz Ahaim June Elections has been appointed. The committee consists of Bradley Greenberg (Chair), Chana Bishburg, Behzad Hakakian, Abie Hamouie, and Leora Wenger. You can contact the committee at nominations@etzahaim.groups.io.
  • Last Chance to support our new Yizkor Memorial Books. Go to https://etzahaim.org/yizkor and fill out the form or contact Gloria Morris.
  • Purim is Coming: Don't forget to donate to the sisterhood to support our Mishloach Manot. Twenty percent of the proceeds will go to a fund to help support Israel.
  • Special Shabbat Mevarchim Kiddush this Week after services. You can help sponsor these special kiddushes by going to https://donate.stripe.com/4gw17q6COcvE02AcMO
  • New families are moving to Highland Park If you hear of any new families moving to Highland Park, please inform the Hospitality Committee.
  • The Wooden Main/Front Door should be used only when security is present. When the guard is not there or once he has left, that door must remain locked and the downstairs side door used instead.
  • 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: 5:40pm
  • Candle Lighting: 5:39pm

Saturday -- Shabbat Shekalim/Parashat Vayakhel/Mevarchim Chodesh Adar II

  • Youth Groups for ages 3 to 8 in the Upper Classrooms: 9:30am to End of Services
  • Recite Shema: by 8:38am
  • Shaḥarit: 8:45am
    • Qiddush After Services (Special Shabbat Mevarchim Kiddush with special guest Rabbi Danino. Sponsored by Rabbi and Rabanit Eliyahu and Sarah Tal)
  • Talmud — Amud HaYomi: 4:20pm
  • Nav'i Class: 4:40pm
  • Minḥa: 5:20pm — Followed by:
    • Se'udah Sh'lshit (Sponsored by the Congregation)
  • Arvit and End of Shabbat: 6:25pm
  • Day Light Saving Time Starts at 2:00am. Set your clocks forward by one hour before going to sleep.

Sunday

  • Shaḥarit: 8:00am
  • Minḥa and Arvit: 6:40pm
    • Talmud — Amud HaYomi: After Minḥa/Arvit

Monday

  • Shaḥarit: 6:30am
  • Shulḥan Aruḥ Class 6:10pm
  • Minḥa and Arvit: 6:40pm
    • Talmud — Amud HaYomi: After Minḥa/Arvit

Tuesday

  • Shaḥarit: 6:30am
  • Shulḥan Aruḥ Class: 6:10pm
  • Minḥa/Arvit: 6:40pm
    • Talmud — Amud HaYomi: After Minḥa/Arvit

Wednesday

  • Shaḥarit: 6:30am
  • Shulḥan Aruḥ Class: 6:10pm
  • Minḥa/Arvit: 6:40pm
    • Talmud — Amud HaYomi: After Minḥa/Arvit

Thursday

  • Shaḥarit: 6:30am
  • Insights on the Parasha: 6:10pm
  • Minḥa/Arvit: 6:40pm
    • Talmud — Amud HaYomi: After Minḥa/Arvit

Next Friday

  • Shaḥarit: 6:30am
  • Minḥa: 6:45pm
  • Candle Lighting: 6:47pm

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 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

Rabbi Moshe Rothchild delivered a very inspiring and informative speech regarding helping women who have lost their husband's 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

Ahavas Achim Univeristy Presents Dr. Rona Novick on March 8 and March 9 for a Shabbaton with a focus on mental health and resilience.

For more information, contact Merri Ukraincik at merriluk@gmail.com or Brondy Strassman at barbara.strassman@gmail.com.

Rabbi Eli Reisman will be speaking to men and women on Purim Prep: Halochos of Drinking. It will be on Friday night, Parshas Vayakhel, March 8th, at 8:30 pm at Khal Chassidim, 46 N. 8th Avenue. Topics will include how much are we really supposed to drink; bentching, Maariv, and other common issues; and Halacha,haskafa and divrei aggadah, For more information contact Marsha Eiserman at 347-203-7906.

Rally to Support Bringing Home the Captives at Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park on Sunday, March 10 at 11:00am. This is on Terrace Drive near West 72nd Street in New York. NOTE: This is a new location from the original announcement.

Rabbi Brudny and Rabbi Sauer are raising funds for Matonos L’evyonim as has been done in the past. Rabbi Sauer will be available at his home, 150 Washington Ave in Edison, on Purim Day, through late afternoon. Matanos L'Evyonim will be distributed on Sunday, Purim Day.

  • Checks can be mailed to Matanos L'Evyonim, 150 Washington Avenue, Edison, NJ 08817 and made payable to Toras Chesed.
  • Sent via Zelle: to matevyon@gmail.com.
  • 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

Congregagion Ahavas Yisrael will be having their annual dinner on Sunday, March 10 at 5:00pm at Torah Links. Guests of honor will be Barbara and Joey Frish and the service award will be given to Leah and Ari Kotowitz. There will be a special tribute to the AY youth who are currently serving in the IDF. There will also be a chinese auction.

Any questions please call Rivka Jaffe at 732-762-0490 or email: aydinner@ayedison.org. To make a reservation or place an ad go to www,ayedison.org.

Hadassah Book Club is beginning a new book, A Bride for One Night by Ruth Calderon, paperback, 184 pp. ew members to join. The next meeting will be on Sunday, March 10 at 1:00pm. For the address and to order a book, contact Rosey at roselynbe@aol.com.

Chance Auction to Get Critically Needed Ambulance for Yehuda VeShomron on March 17 from 2:00pm to 5:00pm at Congregation Ohr Torah, 48 Edgemont Road, Edison NJ. $36 minimum donation at the door. Each adult includes 3 raffle tickets. Children welcome without charge.

Netivot is running a raffle with a $10,000 prize! Only 360 tickets will be sold, one ticket at each price point from $1-$360. Play now at https://mynetivot.com/360 Winner will be drawn on March 20.

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 

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

Shomer Shabbat Scouting is available for boys and girls of all ages. If you are interested, contact Steve Springer.

Rebbetzin Eichenstein Classes for Women

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