As we approach the new year, I am filled with a sense of excitement and anticipation.
This High Holy Day season, I encourage each and every one of you to get involved and engage with our community on a deeper level. Our congregation thrives when we all contribute our unique talents and perspectives. Whether you have a passion for music, education, social justice, or simply lending a helping hand, there are countless ways to participate and make a difference.
Here are just a few opportunities for you to get involved:
Attend our Services: Join us for our inspiring Selichot, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur services, and for any of our meaningful services throughout the year.
Volunteer: Consider volunteering your time and talents to support our congregation. Whether helping with event planning or charitable activities, your involvement can make a meaningful difference.
Join a Committee: Our congregation has various committees focused on different aspects of our community life, from adult education to social justice. Explore opportunities to join and make an impact in an area that aligns with your interests.
Connect with Fellow Members: Take the time to connect with fellow congregants. Doing so can provide support, encouragement, and a sense of belonging.
As we usher in the New Year together, let’s renew our commitment to a more connected, compassionate, and engaged community.
All services will be held in person and live-streamed on the MRT website and on our Facebook page.
Selichot
Saturday, September 9th
Study, 7:00 pm
Service, 8:30 pm
Erev Rosh Hashanah
Friday, September 15th
Service, 7:45 pm
Rosh Hashanah
Saturday, September 16th
Morning Service, 10:00 am
Family (Children’s) Service, 2:00 pm
Tashlich, 3:00 pm (immediately following the Family Service)
Kol Nidre
Sunday, September 24th
Service, 7:45 pm
Yom Kippur
Monday, September 25th
Morning Service, 10:00 am
Family (Children’s) Service, 2:00 pm
Afternoon Programs, 3:00 pm
Yizkor Service, 4:45 pm
Closing Service/Neilah, 5:30 pm
Did You Receive Your
High Holy Day Packet?
Envelopes containing tickets and detailed High Holy Day information have been mailed out. Please contact the office if you have not received yours.
SELICHOT STUDY
AND SERVICE
Saturday, September 9th
Study: 7:00 pm
Service: 8:30 pm
When Forgiveness is Not Possible: Study and Discussion with Rabbi Renee Edelman
What do we do with all the feelings that arise up when forgiveness is not an option? When someone that we need to apologize to, or need an apology from, has died or refuses to respond to our calls or emails. How do we turn anger or pain into something that helps us to grow? For our discussion, we will look at traditional texts, as well as an episode of HBO’s series Succession.
Jewish calendars for the new year 5784 are now available in the office. Stop by during office hours to pick up your copy!
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sisterhood Tasty Treats Order Pickup
September 13th, 1 pm-5 pm
September 14th, 11 am-3 pm
MRT Annual High Holy Day Collection
Our High Holy Day collection will run from Rosh Hashanah to the end of Sukkot.Feel free to pick up a bag and list on Rosh Hashanah and bring it back on Yom Kippur or during one of our Sukkot events.
More information about the HHD Collection can be found further down in this newsletter.
Outdoor Walk to Tashlich
September 16th, 3:00 pm
Tashlich will begin promptly at
3:00 pm. Immediately after the Family Service, we will walk together or meet at the river at Riverdale Ave.
For environmental reasons, consider bringing pebbles or birdseed in lieu of bread.
Directions to the river from MRT: From Hance Avenue, passing MRT on the left, turn left onto Riverdale Avenue. Drive approximately one mile and park on the side of the road.
High Holy Day Prayer Books Available to Borrow
Once again, we will have prayer books available to borrow for those people joining us virtually for the High Holy Days.
Stop in during normal office hours to borrow a book:
Monday-Wednesday: 10 am – 4 pm
Friday: 10 am – 2 pm
If those times are not convenient for you, please contact the office to arrange a pickup time.
Help Men’s Club Build Our Sukkah!
The Men’s Club needs your help to build the Sukkah on Sunday, September 24th at 8:30am. Contact Dave Makow, davebones1@yahoo.com or 732-567-4139 if you are available to help.
Membership Directory Update
Have you recently moved or has your contact information changed (email, phone number, etc.)?
If so, please notify Jordana Steinberg in the office at jordana@monmouthreformtemple.org. Our new directory will be coming out in October and we want to ensure that all of the addresses and contact information we have on file are current.
Thank You!
Our sanctuary renovations are complete!
Thank you to all of the individuals who helped to create a sanctuary that reflects the beauty of our congregation.
This transformation would not have been possible without the help, support and generosity of so many individuals.
First and foremost, we extend our deepest appreciation to the late Barbara Goldstein, one of the original founding members of MRT, whose posthumous contribution was instrumental in making this renovation a reality.
Special thanks to the MRT Sisterhood. The beautifully reupholstered furniture adds an element of warmth and elegance to the bema and lobby.
MRT is truly blessed to have such a caring and generous community.
YOM KIPPUR AFTERNOON WORSKSHOPS
SEPTEMBER 25th at 3 PM
OPTION 1
In the Belly of the Beast
Facilitated by Rabbi Renee Edelman
We all know the story of Jonah, the reluctant
Prophet. God asks Jonah to go to Nineveh and tell
the people of the land to repent. Instead, Jonah flees from God and, in a series of events, finds himself in the Belly of the Whale. Looking at the Jonah story through the tales woven by our ancestors and modern thinkers, through midrash, poem and art, we will create a new narrative of Jonah and the whale. Where do we find transformation through responsibility in our lives?
OPTION 2
Yom Kippur Meditation Session
Facilitated by David Hecht
We will begin a review of some of the different meditation techniques that have beenused in the traditions of Jewish Mysticism. I will then lead the group in a guided visualization meditation. Next we will experience silent meditation. Finally we will share our reflections, thoughts, and perhaps make connections to our Yom Kippur experience.
MRT ANNUAL HIGH HOLY DAY COLLECTION
High Holy Day Food and Supply Drive for
The Center in Asbury Park
During the High Holy Days, we at MRT do a Food and Supply Drive for The Center. MRT has supported The Center since its inception in 1992. The Center provides support services for people living with HIV/AIDS and their caregivers. The dedicated staff of mostly volunteers offers its clients a safe haven in order to instill a sense of community and stability in their lives, as well as permanent, supportive housing for 25 adults.
Our High Holy Day Collection will run from Rosh Hashanah to the end of Sukkot. Pick up a bag and list on Rosh Hashanah and bring it back on Yom Kippur or Sukkot. If the Temple is open, please drop off items in the lobby, or feel free to leave items outside in the bins next to the front doors.
HYGIENE SUPPLIES
Men’s razors
Laundry detergent
Women’s razors
Men’s underwear Sizes 32, 34,36,38
Shaving cream
Women’s underwear sm, med. Lg. xl.
Women’s deodorant
Men’s and Women’s t-shirts
Toilet paper
Paper Towels
Shampoo and conditioner
Reusable shopping bags
Body wash
Body lotion
FOOD FOR THE PANTRY
Canned fruit
Canned vegetables
Tomato sauce
Shelf-stable milk
Granola bars
Ensure
Cookies
Snacks
Black bean cans
Pasta
Mashed potato mix
Cake mix
High Holy Day Appeal 2023
Monmouth Reform Temple is committed to raising the funds needed in order to support our programs in a way that is consonant with our values as a community. Members sustain the congregation both through financial support as well as through gifts of the heart given through volunteer service.
It’s vitally important to support our synagogue throughout the year. We should be grateful that together we build a community of deep value and meaning.
More information about our High Holy Day Appeal will be forthcoming.
Planning Ahead with Social Action
The MRT Social Action Committee has a strong year planned. We were so fortunate to have Rickie Kasdan and Marci Rachlin as our fantastic co-chairs these past few years!
As of July, the new co-chairs are Cheryl Gaudette and Jay Wiesenfeld and we look forward to continuing MRT’s excellent history of emphasis on social action.
We have changed our structure to have a steering group which will meet monthly, and will have quarterly meetings on Zoom open to all temple members. The quarterly meetings will focus on an area of Social Action and include presentations and an occasional guest speaker.
Our goal is to involve more members of MRT in a large variety of social action activities, whether on-going or short-term. To this end, we will be meeting and coordinating with the Religious Education committee, Sisterhood/Men’s Club, Adult Education, and Mitzvah Academy to develop achievable goals. Such activities will also be presented at our quarterly meetings. We are excited about involving everyone in our community with an activity that meets their time commitments, abilities and interests.
We will also have monthly topics and we will send out information about these to our congregation. So far this is our schedule for the fall:
September -Voting information
October – Candidate forums
November – Shine-a-Light
December – Holiday gifts for the needy
The Social Action Committee will be determining the recipients for the Tzedakah box donations, so please send any suggestions to either Cheryl Gaudette or Jay Wiesenfeld. The recipient for September and October is “Maui Strong,” for aid to the communities devastated by wildfires in August.
We end this report with a list of the areas of involvement for social action at MRT:
Lunch Break, Family Promise, The Center in Asbury Park, Interfaith-Rise, our Gan Mazon garden, Jewish Family and Children’s services, Interfaith Neighbors, Shine-a-Light, Meals on Wheels, Holiday gifts for The Center and FRA, HHD collection, diaper collections, Mitzvah Day, Tzedakah box, soap sacks, coat drive, hygiene supplies/underwear/towels for homeless, voting access, RAC initiatives, Climate/Environmental Justice actions.
Reflection and Renewal: A Message from Rabbi Renee
Soon we come together as a larger family to celebrate our Holy Days. We will greet each other joyfully, catching up on summers and kids and grandchildren. We realize that our friends’ lives have changed during the past year: marriages, college, and new babies. Our lives have changed as well. We are not the same people who walked into this sanctuary last Rosh Hashanah eve. I am not the same Rabbi with whom you prayed last year. I am excited to pray with you, to inspire you, bring us all hope and words that we can hold onto for this new Jewish year.
During the next month, we will think about how we have been altered through living the past year and whether these differences are for the better in reaching our higher selves. One of the words for prayer is L’Hitpalel, which means to examine oneself. Socrates spoke the truth when he said that the unexamined life is not worth living. In Exodus, God asks Moses to come up to the mountain and be there. One of the Hasidic Rebbes asks: “If Moses was already on the mountain, why would he need to be there”? One is a physical state of being while the other is to be spiritually present. I am looking forward to our coming together physically and spiritually, as we return home for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Community, Music and Spiritual Growth
with Cantor Clissold
As your cantor for the past 22 years, I have had the honor and privilege of witnessing and participating in incredible years filled with joy, growth, and meaningful experiences. From the unforgettable High Holy Days to the inspiring choir, the dedicated B’nai Mitzvah students, and exceptional leadership within our community, our synagogue has truly flourished.
The High Holy Days are undoubtedly one of the most significant periods in the Jewish calendar, and they set the tone for the entire year. This past year was particularly special as our congregation came together for meaningful services, engaging discussions and moments of reflection. We continue to work to make this holy day observance and all our worship even more special.
Our choir has been a source of immense joy and inspiration throughout the year. Their dedication and passion have brought an elevated level of musicality to our services. Together, we have embraced diverse musical traditions, blending ancient melodies with contemporary arrangements, creating a harmonious experience that uplifts and unites our congregation. With the amazing help of Alice Berman and Evan Courtney, we are working to uplift our worship.
For me, working with our B’nai Mitzvah students is nurturing the next generation and it has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Witnessing their growth, determination, and commitment to their Jewish identity fills me with great pride. Each student brings their unique talents and personality to the bimah as they connect with their heritage, and it is a joy to guide them through this transformative journey.
This year, we welcomed an extraordinary new rabbi to our community. Her wisdom, empathy, and dedication to our congregation’s spiritual growth have been truly inspiring. Rabbi Renee has breathed new life into our synagogue, infusing our rituals and teachings with fresh perspectives and innovative ideas. Her presence has brought us closer together and I sincerely look forward to our continued partnership.
With our new rabbi, fantastic office team, dedicated volunteers and leaders, and exceptional educational director, who ensures that Jewish learning is both enriching and enjoyable, may MRT continue to grow in all ways!
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THESE UPCOMING EVENTS
SUKKOT
Everybody is welcome to pray, meditate, or eat in the MRT Sukkah. The special events in the Sukkah are:
Congregational BYO Dinner in the Sukkah
Friday, September 29 at 6:00 pm
Men’s Club Potluck Dinner in the Sukkah
Monday, October 2 at 6:00 pm
Wine & Cheese in the Sukkah
Tuesday, October 3 at 6:30 pm
Religious School “Pizza in the Hut”
Wednesday, October 4 at 5:30 pm
Sisterhood Catered Dinner in the Sukkah
Thursday, October 5 at 6 pm
Congregational Simchat Torah Celebration
Sunday, October 8th @ 11:30 am
Adult Education Programs
The Adult Education Committee has developed the below flyer that showcases study and educational programs being offered at Monmouth Reform Temple for the 2023-24 year. Printed copies of the trifold will be made available at High Holy Day Services. In addition, 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.
Over 65 MRT youth attended Jewish summer camp with a scholarship from the MRT Summer Camp Endowment Fund, created by a LIFE &LEGACY donor.
A donor chose to initiate a Religious School Endowment with an immediate contribution. With additional contributions, the endowment has grown to over $175,000 and now helps subsidize MRT religious school tuition every year.
The Scholar in Residence program, sponsored by Adult Education, has had excellent speakers because a LIFE & LEGACY donor created an endowment for this purpose.
Our first 51 LIFE & LEGACY donors have had a strong and growing impact on the MRT community.
Perhaps you have heard about LIFE & LEGACY but don’t know much about it. Perhaps you have meant to promise your after-life contribution but haven’t gotten around to it. Perhaps you have established your after-life contribution but would like to add to it. Perhaps you would like to make an immediate contribution to one of the MRT Endowments.
Commitments or contributions, minimum $1000, may be directed to one of our 4 Endowment Funds:
Rabbi Sally J Priesand Endowment for the Future
Religious School Endowment
Scholar in Residence Endowment
Rivkin Summer Camp Endowment
All Endowments seek to maintain principal while enabling earnings to be used on an annual basis to help sustain MRT’s mission.
As we welcome the New Year, we hope you will consider joining the growing list of LIFE & LEGACY circle members through an immediate contribution or an after-life commitment.
Please reach out to any one of our LIFE & LEGACY committee members, or the Temple office, to discuss how you can participate in this mitzvah.
MRT LIFE & LEGACY Committee members:
Zach Gilstein
Joel Morgovsky
Eleanor Rubin
Marjorie Wold
Bob St. Lifer
Rabbi Renee Edelman
Gan Mazon- The Garden
Thank you to those who help fulfill the
mitzvah of feeding the hungry
The gardeners at Gan Mazon recently delivered 297 lbs of vegetables to Jewish Family Services to distribute. The garden is thriving, but we need more help harvesting on Wednesday mornings and tending on Thursday evenings between 5-7 pm.
We know people finish work at various times so come at your convenience. You do not have to come the whole 2 hours. Email or text me and we will be there to greet you. The piles of produce from this small 3000 sq ft farm are amazing. Thanks to our small but hardworking dedicated group we are able to provide a constant supply of veggies. It is very exciting to see the huge piles.
Jobs very from washing and bagging, weighing to picking or tending. Tending is tying up with zip ties or weeding. We also need a a picnic table if anyone has one to donate.
Please join us. Kids welcome! Call or text 732.245.0681 if interested.
Welcome back to Monmouth Reform Temple Religious School!
We are so happy to be learning together again and we are looking forward to an exciting and rewarding year.
For new and current students: Here is the linkto register for the 2023-2024 school year.
Visual Worship
In Exodus Chapter 35, we read how God cares a great deal about the visuals in worship. There was intricate detail about the color, size, shape, and textures of every aspect of the ancient worship service from the Altar, to the Ark of the Covenant.
Join us at our four Visual Worship Services at MRT, and experience the beauty and images surrounding text and prayer.
DATES at 7 PM
November 10, 2023
February 9, 2024
April 12, 2024
June 21, 2024
MRT SISTERHOOD NEWS
Sisterhood is fantastic and thriving!!! We have such a great group of women and have so much fun together. If you have not given Sisterhood a try, I strongly encourage you to check it out. We are a fabulous, warm, friendly group of women who know how to accomplish things together and do it well. We also know how to have a good time!
Through our many fundraising events, which you support, Sisterhood has been able to provide MRT with newly reupholstered bema chairs and lobby furniture to add to the newly renovated sanctuary.
We hope you have had a wonderful summer. We sure did! We want to thank Brook Coppola and Nancy Zaslowe for being incredible hosts again! Once again we had a delightful luncheon at Nancy’s beautiful home in Long Branch. Several women went to the beach and were very happy to lounge for a while together in the sun. Brook held our annual pool party at her lovely home in Little Silver for the third year. We had great turnouts at both of these events.
Our final event of the summer was the annual book swap and a catered deli dinner at the temple. Thank you to Linda Burns for sponsoring the dinner. This event was so enjoyable and well attended. As always, we were together for fun, laughs, discussions, and food.
Mahjong continued over the summer in the temple. Although the group was much smaller, it was nice to see each other weekly. We are back to our weekly games on Wednesdays from 1:45-3:45 in the social hall at MRT. Feel free to come and join us!
For Rosh Hashanah, we are having another successful apple pie and honey or chocolate babka with honey fundraiser. This year we titled it “Tasty Treats”. We really appreciate all the women who chip in to help wrap and label all the packages, for a quick turn around. A special thank you to Marci Rachlin who is picking up the pies and ordering the babka. Thank you to all the temple members who support the Sisterhood fundraiser.
Coming up:
Wrapping (10-12 am) and order pick up of apple pie/chocolate babka with honey on Wednesday, September 13 between 1-5 pm
Pickup apple pie/chocolate babka with honey orders at MRT also on Thursday, September 14 from 11-3 pm
Sisterhood Member dinner for Sukkot will be held on Thursday, October 5
Our annual walk to end breast cancer will be on Sunday, October 15
No Limits Cafe dinner – Sunday, October 22
Our next Book Club is on October 23 at 7pm.
Anyone is welcome to join us!
Mahjong every Wednesday 1:45-3:45
Monthly Book Club 10/23, 11/13, Dec TBD, 1/22, 2/12, 3/18, 4/8, 5/20, 6/17, 7/22
White elephant Bingo and Potluck lunch at MRT – Jan or Feb
Reminder – All MRT women are welcome to be Sisterhood members. If this is your first year as a temple member, you do not need to pay dues. We will be continuing activities both indoors and outdoors, and some of our activities might remain online. We understand that some people are unable to make it to our events. Stay well and continue to be safe! Please reach out to us with any comments, questions, suggestions, or ideas.
Thank you again to all our amazing board members! Welcome to Racielle Lande for joining our board this year and Anne Carney, who is our representative for WRJ. Thank you to Meryl Smith who is responsible for all our communication. Thank you Marci Rachlin for coordinating the Sisterhood presentations of gifts at the Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and has taken over coordinating the outreach to Sisterhood members with a loss or illness. Thank you so much to Karen Levinsky for the incredible job keeping the finances in order as the treasurer. Thank you Karen Kahn, Jill Austin, and Cheryl Gaudette for all the guidance and help that was provided as past presidents and the individual projects that you continue to take charge of. Thank you Linda Burns for the organization of our Book Club and movie talks. Lastly, we want to thank all of our members. Whether you came to one Zoom activity, an in-person event, or many of our programs, we are happy to have you as part of our group of “Sisters”.
MRT Sisterhood Co-presidents,
Nancy Zaslowe and Ellen Goldberg
MRT MEN’S CLUB ACTIVITIES
Men’s Club currently has these activities lined up:
Usher support –Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Building of the Sukkah*– Sunday, September 24 at 8:30 am-Should be finished by noon.
*Volunteers needed to help with the building of the Sukkah. Please contact Dave Makow (contact info below) if you can help.
Men’s Club dinner in the Sukkah-Monday, October 2 at 6 pm-Bring a dish to share. BYOB. All MRT congregants are invited.
Taking down of the Sukkah–Sunday, October 8 at 9 am- Should be finished by noon.
