Our beloved Cantor Gabrielle Clissold recently announced her retirement effective June 2026. A Cantor Search Committee has been formed to find a new Cantor for our synagogue.
We want to hear from you! As we continue our search for a new Cantor, we’re inviting congregants to join small discussion groups to share what matters most — your values, priorities, and hopes for our spiritual leadership. Your voice will help shape the future of music, worship, and community at MRT. Sign up HERE to join one of our upcoming sessions.
Discussion group sessions are being held in the coming weeks to better sense the pulse of our congregation moving forward. Some of these sessions will be in-person and some will be on Zoom.
A Sign-Up Genius link is included below so that you can find the time most convenient for you to participate. We hope that most of the MRT congregation will take the time, around 45 minutes, to participate in these question and answer sessions.
If there is not a good time for you in the options listed, feel free to reach out to Sessions Chair Margie Wold, woldiem@aol.com.
No one can full replace our Cantor Clissold but we hope to find a Cantor who best fulfills the needs and expectations of our community.
There are members of our Congregation who are very sensitive to scents and fragrances. MRT strives to provide a “Scent Free” environment in our building. The MRT community asks that you avoid wearing scents of any kind when coming to our synagogue and please inform your guests who visit with us.
The April/May recipient of the Tzedakah Box is the food bank of Monmouth Day Care Center in Red Bank, sponsored by the Seligman family. For over 50 years, Monmouth Day Care Center has provided families in need with quality childcare regardless of their ability to pay. Their food bank fills in the gaps, ensuring that every child and their family has access to nutritional food at night and on weekends.
Tzedakah donations (cash or check payable to MRT) can be placed into the lobby Tzedakah box, sent to the MRT office, or made through our website by clicking HERE.*
*If paying by check or online,please make sure to add a note to your payment specifying that the funds should be directed towards Food Bank of Monmouth Day Care Center.
Mitzvah Day Bars of Soap/Soap Sack Collection
We are collecting knitted and crocheted soap sacks and bars of soap in original packaging for Mitzvah Day. They will be donated to food pantries and homeless shelters.
Collection bins is in the MRT coat room. Items can be dropped off during normal office hours.
For more information, contact Susan St. Lifer susan.stlifer@gmail.com, 732-780-4778 or visit the website at www.soapsack.com
Mitzvah Day 2025
Sunday, May 4th is Mitzvah Day! A day of Tikkun Olam – a day for working to repair our precious world! There are so many who need our help now, more than ever. This is an opportunity to give to our neighbors and truly be part of the community we live in.
The mitzvah of “service to others” is a part of our tradition here at MRT. Historically, we have all gotten together to work on various community projects. This year, once again, we have planned a hybrid Mitzvah Day, with a mix of in-person events (some outside and others indoors), as well as projects that can be done at home. Some of the collections are already underway. Our Mitzvah Day committee has planned an exciting and inspiring range of service activities for all ages and interests. There is something for everyone!
Mitzvah Day has opportunities for us all to work together in solidarity. We look forward to seeing you
Click the left button below for a list of all of the community collections and activities we have planned for Mitzvah Day 2025, along with the link to sign up. Or click the right button to go directly to the sign-up page.
Please join the Social Action/Mitzvah Day committee in making a contribution to our community.
Happy Spring! Please join us at the garden. We will have a short prep and plant time at the end of April. On Mitzvah day we hope to rake and lay down new burlap bags. Please try to help. It Usually takes 1- 1 1/2 hours. Kids 10 and up can help with this setup. Please email or text me to add your name to list so I can advise everyone of day and time. If there is a specific time or day that is good for you, please include in your email. Look forward to seeing you at the garden enjoying the fresh air!!
MRT offers two opportunities to meditate together each week.
Boker Tov- Friday, April 18th at 8:00 AM. This is MRT’s long-standing Friday morning meditation session consisting of a short reading, 18 minutes of silent meditation, a tiny bit of discussion, and then Kaddish.
Lilah Tov- Monday, April 21st at 9:00 PM. Transition peacefully into sleep with this short and meaningful meditation session. We will start with a reading, 18 minutes of meditation, and then a quiet recitation of a portion of the bedtime Shema.
Each session is a way to inject a little bit of peace into your week and will help you feel calm and centered and connected with your community. If you are new to meditation, these sessions can be a gentle introduction to the practice with a Jewish twist. I hope you will join us.
Both sessions can be accessed via Zoom by following the link below:
The Adult Education Committee develops and organizes programs that encourage adult Jewish learning, with emphasis on culture (music, art, literature, food, film,) Israel, Bible study, spirituality and mysticism, the environment, history and current events, and more.
Please review our 2024-25 calendar year flyer, which is attached below and available on the MRT website. It provides an overview of many adult educational offerings at MRT, including all Adult Education Committee programs. You can access it through our weekly E-blasts and the temple website: monmouthreformtemple.org, by clicking on Adult Jewish Learning, programs and schedules. Hard copies will also be made available to the congregation within the temple lobby.
The Adult Education committee is always seeking new members. We have a Zoom meeting every third Thursday of the month @ 4:00 p.m. We invite you to attend a meeting, join our committee, or register for any of our programs. We encourage you take advantage of these educational opportunities, as you take a step forward on a path of life-long learning.
Please contact one of our co-chairs for any additional information or questions that you may have. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Please join us for this important gathering where we will share our thoughts and opinions on our theme “UNDERSTANDING ISRAEL’’. At this crucial time in the history of Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East, this informal get-together with our MRT friends and neighbors will give us an opportunity to share a variety of opinions regarding our Jewish family at home and abroad.
We hope to see you in person and hear your stories about a visit to Israel, or a thought about visiting or not. Bring photos or memorabilia or the best book you’ve read on the subject.
Please register your attendance by May 1th with Susan St.Lifer at susan.stlifer@gmail.com. A zoom link will be provided for those who cannot attend in person. We look forward to being together.
Chairs: Eleanor Rubin and Susan St.Lifer
Sisterhood
Mahjong, Wednesdays, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm
We will be playing Mahjong in the MRT social hall every Wednesday from 1:00 pm-3:00 pm.
Our engaging MRT Sisterhood offers many activities and programs throughout the year to its members. We are also a member of Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ), the umbrella organization of Sisterhoods nationwide. WRJ offers a multitude of educational and social programs to explore and participate in. Feel free to visit http://www.wrj.org to subscribe for updates from WRJ via weekly e-mail.
Sisterhood Judaica Shop
Your MRT Sisterhood Judaica Shop has a selection of beautiful and meaningful gifts for the home, the holidays, special occasions and for the young people in your life.
Below is a catalog showing many of the items we have available. To order any items or visit the shop, contact Racielle Lande hilande0110@gmail.com
Please help us keep our mi shebeirach list current.
If you or a loved one have been included on the Mi shebeirach list and you would like for yours or their name to continue to be read, please let us know as soon as possible so we know to keep the name on the list.
We appreciate your help in keeping the list up to date.
Mi Shebeirach
If you are in need of pastoral care or would like to add a name to our Mi Shebeirach list to be read at Shabbat services, please contact Rabbi Edelman, Cantor Clissold or the temple office.
Please note: Names added to the Mi Shebeirach list will be read aloud during Shabbat Services for two weeks. If you would like to continue to have the name read, you must recontact the temple at the end of the two week period. As always, when you attend Shabbat services, you are welcome to announce the name of a loved one in need of healing.
Yahrzeits
May our loved ones’ memories forever be a blessing
The names of your loved ones will be read during Shabbat services for Yahrzeit, Shiva & Shloshim.
Names to be read on Friday, April 18, 2025
Shabbat Service at 7:00 PM
Michael Aho, Sheldon Boden, *Anna Cohen, Pearl Cohen, Yetta Drath, Max Eagle, *Dorothy Feinberg, Gerry Huegel, Ada Kalb, Harry Kessler, *Fannie Kipnis, Jeffrey Korman, Jeffrey Korman, Irma Ruth Lester, Louis Levin, *David Metz, Sophie Milchman, Jane T. Olshan, Osborn Patten, *Rose Priesand, *Rose Rubinstein, Edward Sandler, Frank Stark, Frank Whyman, Simon Wiesengrund
Names to be read on Friday, April 25, 2025
Visual Worship Shabbat Service at 6:00 PM
Due to the technology involved, the Visual Worship service cannot/will not be livestreamed. If you are unable to attend in person, since there is no livestream, let the office know if you would like a name read for Kaddish on a different week.
Arlene Batzar, Dorothy Canbria, *Lena Smolensky Collis, Carol Field, Florre Fine, Harry Gale, Abraham Gruber, Dolor Jette, Solomon Jochnowitz, Sigmund Kaswiner, *Jack Kohn, *Sidney Martin, Esther Grace Milchman, Harold Newman, *Rae Ostrov, Eugene Rottenberg, *Wendy Salomon, Rose Spellman
*Names with an asterisk have memorial plaques. To order a memorial plaque, please email or call Jordana in the MRT office. Purchasing a plaque ensures that Kaddish will be said, in perpetuity, at temple services during the week of the anniversary of that person’s death.
OFFICE HOURS :
Monday-Wednesday: 10 am – 4 pm
Thursday: Closed
Friday: 10 am – 2 pm
Our clergy and staff are always available to you. Please contact anyone with their information below.
We strive for a “No Conflict” schedule here at MRT. Please contact the office before scheduling any temple events. This way, each event will be on the calendar, and we can all participate in them.
When making payments or donations to MRT, please consider using PayPal in lieu of checks. It’s a safe, easy way to send money.
Simply go to the donation page of our website (https://monmouthreformtemple.org/donate/) and follow the instructions. Don’t forget to include the reason for your payment by clicking “Add a Note” once you are logged onto PayPal. Thank you!
