Support Israel Through Our Mishloach Manot

To our beloved Etz Ahaim community,

Purim is right around the corner, and we can hardly believe it.

As we've done for the past few years, the Daughters of Etz Ahaim will be delivering a Mishloach Manot package to each family of Etz Ahaim on Purim day as a collective gift from the kahal.

This year, however, we want to give the community a chance to do another mitzvah through these Mishloach Manot, an important and beautiful mitzvah on its own. With Israel on all of our minds and in our hearts, we feel it is crucial to take every opportunity possible to support Am Yisrael in our actions, whether big or small.

And so, we're excited to announce that those who help sponsor Etz Ahaim's Mishloach Manot can also look forward to their donations benefiting Israel. Twenty percent of all the proceeds will go to a fund supporting Israel. We appreciate any amount from $18 to $360 or more.

Please feel free to make your donation online at etzahaim.org by clicking the "Donate" button on the web page. You can also mail your donation checks to 230 Denison St, Highland Park, NJ 08904. Please make them out to “Daughters of Etz Ahaim” and put “Mishloah Manot” in the memo.

Am Yisrael Chai!
Daughters of Etz Ahaim

mishloach manot

Help Rebuild Our Community’s Heart: Jerusalem Pizza →

Jerusalem Pizza, a beloved establishment in Highland Park and Edison, recently fell victim to a devastating fire. With over 35 years of dedicated service to the community, the loss is deeply felt. Now is the time to rally together and support Shalom Cohen and his family, as well as the restaurant that has been a staple in our lives for so long.

Let's Give Shalom and Yardena Cohen Words of Encouragement as They Rebuild

As Shalom and Yardena Cohen work on rebuilding our beloved HP restaurants, Jerusalem Pizza and China Lee, we wanted to keep the memories from the last 35 years alive for them.  

If you would like to share a fond memory of the two restaurants, along with words of encouragement, recognition, and appreciation for the Cohens. You can submit your entry by filling out the form below or by emailing jerusalempizzamemories@gmail.com.

A book will then be compiled and presented to the Cohens. 

We look forward to the rebuilding of both stores!

A Message from the Vaad

February 7, 2024 כ"ח שבט תשפ"ד

We would like to inform you that at around 11:00 p.m. last night, a fire broke out in the building which houses Jerusalem Pizza. The fire caused significant damage to Jerusalem Pizza and - to a lesser extent - China Lee. The cause of the fire is unknown and the police are investigating. Thankfully, the owner Shalom Cohen was not present at the time and no one was injured. However, both Jerusalem Pizza and China Lee will be closed for the time being. We are grateful to Shalom for the service he has provided to our community for many years, and we hope he will recover from this and come back stronger.

Many have responded with concern and asked what they could do for them at this time. When we posed this question to Yardena, she replied, "I just ask that people say a Perek of Tehillim for the Chayalim." We are humbled to be part of a community with such outstanding people, and we will update you accordingly with specific assistance that can be provided for the Cohens and their workers.

Hoping for Besuros Tovos,

Vaad Harabonim of Raritan Valley

A Very Successful Tu B'Shvat Seder

On Tu B’Shvat, Etz Ahaim had a Tu B’Shvat Seder with plenty of fruit, tea, and of course Torah.

Rabbi Tal Has Written a New Book: Minhat Eliyahu

I am grateful to HaShem that I have the merit to publish my first book of questions and answers called Minhat Eliyahu. The questions were from the beloved congregants that I had the pleasure to serve: Beit Mordechai in West Hartford Connecticut and Congregation Etz Ahaim in Highland Park, New Jersey.

Through these questions and their answers, you can see the unique situation we find ourselves living in the diaspora, and all the Halachic questions that come from it. This version of the book is published in Hebrew, but the English version will be published very soon. If you would like to order a copy, please email me at rabbieliyhutal@gmail.com.

הודו לה' כי טוב כי לעולם חסדו בשעה טובה ומוצלחת זיכני ה' להוציא את ספרי הראש שאלות ותשובות מנחת אליהו שאלות שנשאלתי בקהילות הקדושות בהם זיכני ה' לשרת בקודש בית מרדכי קונטיקט ובקהילת עץ החיים ניו ג'רזי, דרך קריאת התשובות אפשר להרגיש ולחוות את אחריותו של רב קהילה בגולה ולהבין שהשאלות בגולה שונות משאלות שנשאלות בארה''ק וכמובן התשובות בהתאם להזמנות ניתן ליצור איתי קשר במייל rabbieliyhutal@gmail.com שנזכה ביחד להגדיל תורה ולאדירה אמן

In Loving Memory of Elisha Loewenstern z"l →

Elisha Loewenstern z"l, 38 years-old from Harish, was killed in Gaza on December 13 by an anti-tank missile fired by Hamas.  He was on a mission to rescue wounded soldiers. Though exempt from reserve army service, Elisha felt that it was his duty to defend the State of Israel and volunteered for service.

Elisha was a high-level Torah scholar, successful software engineer and a devoted father and husband.  He is described by friends and family as a pure soul, who never raised his voice and always strove to become a better person.  As an ordained rabbi committed to helping others, Elisha was a pillar of the community in Harish, teaching extensively.

He made Aliyah with his family from Highland Park, New Jersey at the age of eight, and grew up in Beit Shemesh.

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Elisha leaves behind a wife, Hadas, and six children ages 10 months to 12-years.  He had been preparing his 12-year old son for his upcoming Bar Mitzvah.

To donate, click on the button below or go to https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/peer-to-peer/b19e505e-b2a2-4e10-beb6-3278a7795765.

Here are links to articles in Hebrew and English about Elisha’s death, as well as a television interview with his widow.

• https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/s1bjy11ui6

• https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-announces-death-of-soldier-raising-death-toll-in-gaza-ground-offensive-to-116/

• https://13tv.co.il/item/news/politics/security/vwa4g-903848486/