It’s not too late to join the Cantor Search Committee. The first meeting is tomorrow night via Zoom at 8 pm.
JOIN THE CANTOR SEARCH COMMITTEE
Monmouth Reform Temple is beginning the search for our next Cantor, and we need your help!
This is a unique opportunity to play a meaningful role in shaping the future of our community. The Cantor Search Committee will work together to identify and select the best candidate to inspire and lead us in worship, education, and music.
Why Join?
·Be part of an important and impactful process.
·Share your insights and perspectives to help guide this crucial decision.
·Collaborate with fellow congregants in shaping our temple’s future.
What We’re Looking For:
·Passionate and engaged members of the Monmouth Reform Temple community.
·Individuals who are committed to thoughtful and respectful collaboration.
·A willingness to contribute your time and effort during the search process.
How to Get Involved:
If you’re interested in joining the Cantor Search Committee, please email MRTCantorSearch@gmail.com to express your interest ASAP.
Together, we can ensure the future of Monmouth Reform Temple’s spiritual and musical leadership is bright and inspiring! We look forward to hearing from you.
*The Religious Action Center of NJ, also known as RAC-NJ, is our state organization composed of 41 Reform Congregations with a membership of over 1400 families. RAC is a leader in advancing and championing social and racial justice. Every year RAC-NJ selects a statewide social justice campaign
constructed with Reform Jewish values, including compassion and
humanity.
MRT, together with the other NJ Reform congregations, can combine
energy to achieve positive results to include breaking down barriers
between the varied communities that comprise New Jersey.
About David Siegel…
David was an executive manager reporting directly to senior political
leadership at both Federal and State governments. He successfully
developed and directed a wide array of priority, high-visibility, critical
human service programs over a 40 year career. He provided proactive
leadership to improve performance outcomes, removed obstacles to
goal achievement, and overcame resistance to change.
David was a “for attribution” national media spokesperson. He provided leadership to large staff for programs that touched the lives of vulnerable children and families, including innovative welfare-to-work projects, improving the collection of child support, providing key services for at-risk youth, implementing landmark legislation related to refugees and unaccompanied minor children, as well as oversight of $13 Billion dollar investments in the nation’s social services structures.
David also served as a US Air Force Signals Intelligence Officer, commissioned in 1968. He was stationed in Taipei, Taiwan from 1970-1972.
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.
Friday night’s oneg is sponsored by Dean and Sharyn Ross, in honor of the Social Action Committee, in recognition of the important work they do for MRT and the wider community.
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 the congregational refreshments on shabbat!
An announcement will be made on the bema and, if you want, the rabbi and cantor will invite you up for a special honor.
Save the date for our annual Purim Shpiel, which will take place on March 15th at 6 pm. This year’s year’s Shpiel will feature the music of ABBA.
Mamma Mia Megillah brings the music of ABBA together with our fateful tale of Esther, Mordechai, Haman, and Achashverosh! Featuring all your favorite ABBA hits, like “Mamma Mia,” “Dancing Queen,” and “Take a Chance On Me.”
Stay for dinner afterwards, catered by Harold’s Deli.
More details to follow soon.
February Tzedakah Box
Wildfire Crisis Relief Fund
The recipient for the Tzedakah box is the Wildfire Crisis Relief Fund of the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles. The Jewish Federation is collecting and distributing funds to provide essential resources, including mental health support, warm meals, shelter, and space for displaced individuals, families, and institutions. They have an expanding list of support services and organizations for the greater community as it struggles to overcome the current wildfire disasters.
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 Wildfire Crisis Relief Fund.
Mitzvah Day 2025
Sunday May 4th is Mitzvah Day! A day of Tikkun Olam- a day for working to repair the world .
There are so many who need our help more than ever. This is an opportunity to give to our neighbors and truly be a part of the community we live in.
The Mitzvah of “service to others” has long been a tradition at MRT. Historically, we have all gotten together to work on various community projects. This year, as in the past few years, we are planning a hybrid Mitzvah Day with a mix of in person events, both outside and indoors, as well as virtual projects that can be done at home. Our hope is to have everyone in our Temple community involved in some way, as a leader or as a participant in a project.
We are having our first organizational meeting on March 20 @ 7:00 PM. This will also be both at the Temple and on Zoom. Please RSVP if you plan to attend in person or on Zoom.
Please join us to learn more about the program and the many ways you can participate.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us
It is time to start planning for our garden. The garden was started in 2008 and has produced vegetables for several different foodbanks and kitchens in the area.
In the past 5 years we have mainly donated to Jewish Family and Children’s Services in Asbury Park. They service about 250-300 families with our vegetables.
We plant, harvest and tend the garden on Wednesday mornings and either Tuesday or Thursday evening. We usually spend about 1- 2 hours working depending on the temperature and our energy level. There are jobs for every ability and energy level.
We grow many of the veggies on trellis’s or raised beds for easy harvesting. This past season we donated approx. 2400 lbs of vegetables.
In order to continue this year, we need more volunteers. You do not need to commit to every week. You can choose a day or evening time. We need around 10 adults or teenage volunteers that can work on alternate time slots.
Please contact me to indicate your interest in helping with this needed project. No gardening experience is necessary, we will teach you! Students can receive community service hours for helping.
Leave a Lasting Legacy: Honor a Loved One with a Personalized Brick in Our Garden Walkway
Dear Fellow Congregants,
As you recently saw in my report, MRT is in need of financial assistance to help pay for some necessary improvements in the building that include the roof, sliding doors and HVAC system.
There are any number of ways you can be of help and you will be hearing about them in the weeks and months ahead. This one is by no means going to single handedly fill the financial deficit but it is a quick, easy and meaningful way you and your family can help.
As you may know, we have a brick walkway in our garden and many of you have purchased bricks over the years in memory of or in honor of loved ones and special occasions.
Please consider purchasing a brick now for one such recent or upcoming occasion or simply to just honor a loved one. Here are just some of the reasons to purchase one or more at this time:
To remember the life of a loved one
To honor a loved one
Commemorate a special occasion
Birth of a child
Bar/Bat Mitzvah
Confirmation
Wedding or wedding anniversary
Birthday
It is such a special way to leave a legacy for a loved one and you and they will enjoy seeing it in the garden for years to come.
Please click the button below to download an application.
MRT offers two opportunities to meditate together each week.
Boker Tov- Friday, February 21st 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, February 24th 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:
Join Dean Ross and other board members at Panera in Shrewsbury.
Tuesday Morning Study Group
Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 10:00 am
Study group led by Rabbi Renee Edelman. Contact Jordana at jordana@monmouthreformtemple.org for the Zoom link.
MRT Committee News
Israel
The Israel Committee of MRT cordially invites you to a special gathering on Sunday, March 9th from 1 PM-3 PM at MRT, where we can share our thoughts about Israel today.
Congressional Representative Josh Gottheimer will address the community on Feb. 23rd in Rumson and MRT member Andy Melnick will speak to the congregation during services on Feb. 28th at MRT, both men having recently returned from important visits to Israel. We urge you to hear these speakers in-person or on livestream. Details will follow. See below for more information regarding the briefing with Josh Gottheimer.
Our gathering on March 9th will give us an opportunity to react to what we have heard, add our own thoughts in a friendly atmosphere, and share some of our concerns and our hopes and prayers for peace in Israel and Gaza. Rabbi Renee Edelman will convene the meeting and help us to understand the tensions in the Middle East.
Refreshments will be served.
Please let us know thatyou will join us on March 9th from 1-3 PM by calling or texting Eleanor Rubin at 908-451-7687.
Thank you.
Susan St. Lifer and Eleanor Rubin, Co-chairs Israel Committee
Adult Education
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.
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.
How: Bowling Party
When: Saturday, March 8, 2025, 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Where: Harmony Bowl,
1815 Highway 35 N, Middletown, NJ
Who: Sisterhood Members (and a plus 1)
Cost: $4.00 shoe rental; $7.00 per game
Food: Snack Bar offering burgers, hot dogs, pizza, hot pretzels, fries, etc. and assorted hot and cold beverages
Chinese restaurant on the property offering take-out
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, February 21, 2025
Shabbat Service at 7:00 PM
Rae Barshack, *Lillian Bernstein, Alex Brandl, *Bernard Brandwene, Phyllis Brodsky, *Jose Colmenares, Fred Fehrenbach, Rebecca Fichtel, Marjorie Fishman, Andrea Freidman, Joseph Friend, Rae Geiger, *Geraldine (Jerry), Golden,Tillie Greenberg, *Marvin L. Kahn, *Celia Karlman, Beverly Maurer, *Maurice Meyer Jr., Joseph Michalowitz, *Philip Miller, Jean Morse, *Samuel Prussoff, *Harry Rubinstein, *Rosalind Sadwith, Stephen Seckular, Florence Snyder, Bella Szmulewicz, Florence Ulanet, *Max Walsky
Names to be read on Friday, February 28, 2025
Shabbat Service at 7:00 PM
*Dave Andersen, William B. Arend, *Abraham Bialy, Rita Bleetstein, *Neil Brandwene, Fred Chalnick, John Richardson Clissold, Dorothy Gary, Eugene German, Seymour Grauer, Sophie Gruber, Donald J. Hallard, Elliot Hassan, Jean Jochnowitz, Joe Friend Jr., Phillip Kalb, Reba Levin, Rose Levinsky, Anne Marriner, Raymond Misch, Lawrence Parkinson, Rose Schiller, Dorothy Silfen, *Beatrice Silverman, Frances F. Singman, *Dorothy Teitelbaum, Hyman Weshnak, Louise Zarin
*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!
