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Shomrei’s mighty MESH crew is back in full swing. The congenial and efficient team of Linda Wieseneck, Joan Zief, Leslie Billet and Lynne Kurzweil whipped up a late summer BBQ meal for 50 that included Martin”s Turkey Burgers garnished with lettuce and tomato, baked beans and semi-homemade coleslaw. We added clementines and a chocolate-dipped biscotti for dessert and, of course, a water bottle. Lynne and Leslie delivered the meals, along with some leftovers from the weekend.
Today’s blog is a gathering of relevant holiday items with lots of links. Read on…
Grandparents, as I’ve learned over the past 2 decades, are special. Grandparents even have a Hallmark holiday, Sunday September 13th this year. (more…)
Shomrei is receiving very special recognition on the night of Oct. 8, at the annual gala of Family Promise, a longtime provider of services to housing-insecure families with young children in Essex County. For more than 30 years, this nonprofit has sheltered and supported young families who couldn’t find space in the county shelter system.
Shomrei was there from the beginning, the first synagogue in Essex County to host homeless families in what was then known as the Interfaith Hospitality Network. Shirley Grill was one of its first board members, Dale Russakoff is its current board chair, and in the years in between, generations of Shomrei families volunteered to cook for, entertain and provide support to families who stayed in our building for two weeks a year.
The hosting program ended with Covid, but many Shomrei members continue to donate generously so that Family Promise can guide struggling families from shelter to self-sufficiency.
Family Promise will honor Shomrei at its annual gala for its long and ongoing support. Rabbi Julie has been asked to give the keynote address.
The Family Promise Gala draws 200 or more people from across Essex County, and we would love to have as many members as possible be part of this special honor. Link for tickets below. Alternatively, you can contribute in any amount to the purchase of tables by emailing Dale via the Shomrei Office, . A $2500 contribution buys a table for ten.
We hope to share this evening with everyone whose mitzvot have sustained Family Promise over the decades.
Harvesting Hope
An Autumn Evening of Hope & Community
Thursday, October 8, 7:00 – 10:00pm
The Albion Summit
570 Springfiield Ave. Summit, NJ 07901
Tickets $250 per person
more info and tickets
We’ve made it through the dog days of summer which actually have nothing to do with real dogs but with the star Sirius. This star aligns with the sun for 40 days from about mid-July to mid-August, usually the hottest part of the summer.
Now we are in the Hebrew month of Elul which means we are on a fast roll toward the High Holidays. (more…)
As summer begins to wind down, the Jewish calendar invites us into a different kind of season—one of reflection, renewal, and hope. In our Jewish tradition, Selichot (“forgiveness,” in Hebrew) marks the beginning of that journey, and offers us a meaningful opportunity to prepare our hearts and minds for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
The Selichot service is centered around beautiful prayers that encourage us to reflect on the past year, celebrate personal growth, and consider where we’d like to do better in the year ahead. Selichot reminds us that every new year offers the chance to begin again—with intention, compassion, and purpose. (more…)
