As we enter the high holidays, I am happy to provide an update about Essex Together, a great social action program I invite you to learn about and participate in: (more…)
I am happy to share a victory achieved by Essex Together, just two months into its founding.
As you may recall, JerseyCity together had significant progress this past spring in the elimination of unnecessary and unfair fines, fees and outstanding warrants incurred by individuals who recently left prison or are currently incarcerated. (more…)
I am happy to report that Shomrei is now a founding member of Essex Together, joining 10 other faith based and nonprofit organizations working to bring about change in the County. The launch event was held on May 27th at Bethany Baptist Church in Newark and was a a life affirming night of music, presentations and sharing.
“Our goal is to create a beloved community and this will require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives.” Dr. Martin Luther King.
When I walk into Shomrei, enter the lobby and climb the stairs for services, I have a “life is good” kind of feeling, That powerful sense of connection is strengthened when I volunteer and one of my favorite forms of volunteering is ushering. I get to say hello to people I know, people I haven’t seen in a while, and introduce myself to people I don’t know. The experience of being connected is joyous. (more…)
When the pandemic began, I missed the office, I missed restaurants, I missed travel, but most of all I missed synagogue on Shabbat. There is something deeply comforting about seeing the same people at the same time, in the same place, in the same seats each week. I especially love being at synagogue on a snowy winter day. During kiddish I would sit with members of our congregation, and watch snow fall through the large widows in our social hall while eating bagels and lox, salad, and cookies. It is an “all is right with the world” experience. (more…)
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