ClickHEREfor a summary of the April 16th Board of Trustees Meeting.
SPONSOR AN ONEG
Celebrating a birthday, anniversary or any other special simcha? Observing a loved one’s yahrzeit? What better way to honor the occasion than by sponsoring an oneg!
An announcement will be made on the bema and, if you want, the rabbi and cantor will invite you up for a special honor.
Come join us this Friday at 7 pm for our Visual Worship service, centered around the themes of spring and renewal. The service will be led by Rabbi Renee Edelman, Cantor Gabrielle Clissold, and Dan Kahn.
PLEASE NOTE: 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.
MITZVAH DAY
Sunday, May 5th 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), projects that can be done at home, Religious School projects, and virtual giving. 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 there!
Click the left button below for a list of all of the community collections and activities we have planned for Mitzvah Day 2024, along with the link to sign up. Or click the middle button to go directly to the sign-up page.
Some of the collections are already underway. In addition, now through Mitzvah Day, we are highlighting a community organization in need of support. Liv Like a Unicorn is a non-profit pediatric cancer foundation. Their mission is to support research and families dealing with pediatric cancer. For more information, click HEREto check out their website. Donate online through the button on the right (indicate the donation is for Mitzvah Day/Liv Like a Unicorn) or send in a check payable to MRT. Please make sure to write Mitzvah Day/Liv Like a Unicorn in the memo section.
Please join the Social Action/Mitzvah Day committee in making a contribution to our community.
Marci Rachlin and Dean Ross Co-Chairs of Mitzvah Day 2024
Come join the garden! Enjoy fresh air and camaraderie as you take part in this hugely appreciated project!
You can join in weekly, alternating weeks, monthly, or just come whenever you are free! Time is approximately 1-1 1/2 hours, but stay as long as you want! Teenagers can get community service credits for High School.
There are all levels of physical activity:
1) Sitting in a chair to pick from the trellis
2) Planting in the dirt
3) Standing at the table drying or sorting produce (removing any split tomatoes, etc.)
4) Bagging veggies to be weighed
5) Driving to Jewish Family Services
If anybody has a picnic table they would like to donate to be used to sort vegetables, it would be greatly appreciated!
The Kosher Meals-on-Wheels program of Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Monmouth County is this month’s recipient of the Tzedakah Box collection. Serving Monmouth County since 1976, JFCS has, in addition to Meals-on-Wheels, programs for Food Security, Holocaust Survivors, Senior Socialization, and Home Health Aides. Gan Mazon at MRT has been supporting JFCS with our produce for many years. Bob and Susan St. Lifer are MRT’s sponsors for this Tzedakah Box collection.
Bob and Susan St. Lifer are this month’s sponsors.
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 Kosher Meals on Wheels.
Upcoming Events
MRT Meditation Sessions
MRT offers two opportunities to meditate together each week.
Boker Tov-Friday, April 26th 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 29th 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:
Want to learn more about Judaism? This class is for those who want a refresher on Judaism, want to learn more about Judaism, or are looking to convert to Judaism. Email Jordana at jordana@monmouthreformtemple.org or call the Temple office for more information and to register.
Shabbat Morning Torah Study
Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 9:00 am
See the Friday Pamphlet for the link to join
Coffee and Conversation
Tuesday, April, 30 2024 at 8:00 am
Join Dean Ross and other board members at Coffee Corral.
All needle crafters are invited to create knitted/crocheted wearable and personal items to be donated to various local shelters, such as:
Soap sacks
Infant and toddler size knit or crochet blankets
Toddler sweaters, hats & mittens
Adult lapghans
A bin for soap sacks is set up in the MRT coat room from now until May 12th and will be checked regularly.
Contact Maddy Kalb frogladymk@comcast.net to arrange a pickup or to make drop-off arrangements of all other items.
Mitzvah Day Soap Drive (our 6th year!)
We are once again collecting bars of soap in original packaging for SACK (Supporting a Community with Kindness www.soapsack.com). Bars of soap in crocheted/knitted sacks will be distributed to food pantries and homeless shelters throughout Monmouth County. A bin for soap sacks is set up in the MRT coat room from now until May 12th and will be checked regularly.
The Adult Education Committee has developed a flyer that showcases study and educational programs being offered at Monmouth Reform Temple for the 2023-24 year. the flyer may be accessed through the temple website: monmouthreformtemple.org, by clicking on adult Jewish learning, programs and schedules.
We hope you will take advantage of many of these exciting, eclectic offerings in music, film, tourism, Israel,Bible study, spirituality and mysticism, history, and current events. We welcome you to take the plunge into our pool of learning.
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 Karen Kahn at kkahn1@verizon.net,cell# 732-208-3564
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 26, 2024
Shabbat Service at 7:00 PM
Due to the technology involved, the Visual Worship service cannot/will not be livestreamed. Let the office know if you would like a name read for Kaddish on a different week.
Arlene Batzar, Dorothy Canbria, *Lena Smolensky, Collis Max, Eagle Carol Field, Sheldon Fierstein, Florre Fine, Eleanor Gaudette, Abraham Gruber, Laura Holzman, Dolor Jette, Solomon Jochnowitz, Sigmund Kaswiner, *Paul Kramer, Harry Levine, *Sidney Martin, Esther Grace Milchman, Irma Oestreicher, *Rae Ostrov, Julius Perlman, Eugene Rottenberg, *Wendy Salomon, Rose Spellman
Names to be read on Friday, May 3, 2024
Shabbat Service at 6:00 PM
Nick Attias, Sarah Einhorn, Anne Klein, *Rabbi Bill Kurry, Daniel Lowenstein, Annette Marks, Morris Mulgrum, Seymour Okon, Bessie Rosenberg, *Michael Ruggera, *Burton M. Salomon, Dr. Sanford Goodman, Martin S. Schechter, *Ruth Singer, Murray Sussman, Joseph Szitanko, Warren Tockerman, David F. Whyman
*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!
