Congregation Adas Emuno

This Week at Adas Emuno

February 20, 2025 8:32 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Feb. 20, 2025

Dear Friends,
"Do not oppress the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt" is a refrain that repeats itself over and over again in the Book of Exodus.
The Hebrew word for stranger is the same for migrant.
What does our Reform Jewish movement say about what is happening to migrants at this moment?
Quite a lot, which we will consider at ourShabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM).

Nativism is nothing new in American history, and it led to tragic antisemitism in the 1930's, just as Jews were trying to escape the Nazis, which we will encounter in our Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM).

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno

February 13, 2025 9:24 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Feb. 13, 2025

Dear Friends,
After our big weekend last week, a quiet Presidents' weekend coming up.

Rabbi Max (and Cantor Suzy) will lead our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM), and will speak about "Leadership Lessons from Moses for the 21st Century".

Both Torah Study and Religious School are on break.

As we honor the memory of Washington and Lincoln, we reflect on the legacy of leaders who put country over cult of personality, and democracy over demagoguery.

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno

February 06, 2025 8:51 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Feb. 6, 2025
Dear Friends,
We have a big weekend ahead.
Our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM) is a triple header: its Volunteer Shabbat, Social Justice Shabbat, and Shabbat Shirah. The music will be extra special (with guest musicians), and we honor all those who give of their time and skills to keep our congregation going.

In honor of the approaching new year of trees, at our Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM) we will host our annual Seder Tu Bishvat, a delightful hour-long celebration of the land of Israel and the cycle of the seasons. I have a new "Trees of the Bible" quiz all ready, to supplement the array of fruits and juices and nature songs.

Tu Bishvat will also be creatively celebrated during school on Sunday (when we also tally our "souper-bowl" collection), and at our Tot Program that morning.

The debut of our new bi-monthly Adas Emuno Film Club takes place via zoom on Monday (7:30 PM). We're going to talk about the Netflix hit "Nobody Wants This". Since it involves a young rabbi, I volunteered to lead the discussion!

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno

January 30, 2025 8:43 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Jan. 30, 2025

Dear Friends,
When the Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Episcopal Bishop of Washington, challenged the president sitting in front of her, she was following in the long line of "prophetic preaching" that stretches all the way back to Moses.
Let's look at Moses' pioneering example, at our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM).

Moses also inspired the social justice activism of Jews who challenged the oligarchs of the early 20th century (like Henry Ford), as we will observe at our Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM).

Confirmation and Youth Group meet this Sunday.

Reminder- next week we honor our own social justice and other volunteers with a dinner and a special Shabbat Shirah musical service, and the next day celebrate Tu Bishvat with a creative mini-seder that takes place during Torah study.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno

January 23, 2025 8:30 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Jan. 23, 2025

Dear Friends,
The inauguration; the ceasefire; the wildfires...there is never a shortage of news, and things are always changing.
But the timeless tales of Torah do not (though their interpretation does).
At our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM) we will try out a new practice of reading from the Torah on a once per month basis (in place of the sermon).
We are doing so since we do not have this regular opportunity and our scrolls are feeling neglected!
I'll be reading and translating verse by verse (as my rabbi did when I was growing up), and we'll see how we like it.

You probably know the name Louis Brandeis. But do you know the name Aaron Sapiro? Both are critical to the fight for equality in America, and we will tell their stories at our Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM).

Just two weeks left to drop off your canned soup donation for our Souper Bowl- let's go for the score!

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno—MLK Day Events

January 16, 2025 9:05 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Jan.16, 2025

Dear Friends,
We honor the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. this weekend in three ways:
At our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30PM) we will incorporate music and words that emphasize our commitment to social justice.

At our Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM) we will explore the Jewish involvement in the Civil Rights movement, including the heavy price paid by Jewish activists in the south.

On Sunday join us for a special program: A Conversation with Loretta Weinberg, our pioneering state senator, moderated by Leonia mayor Bill Ziegler (bagel brunch at 10:15 AM; talk at 11:00 AM).

Contributing to our "Souper Bowl" by bringing in canned soup, and other non-perishables (place in bin on school porch) is another way to add meaning to the MLK weekend.

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno—Shabbat with Rabbi Max Chaiken

January 09, 2025 8:19 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Jan. 9, 2025

Dear Friends,
I'm grateful to Rabbi Max Chaiken for subbing for me at our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM).

Rabbi Chaiken will also lead our Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM).

A native of Teaneck, Rabbi Chaiken has been our 7th Grade teacher this year, our youth group advisor, and our talented song leader at Sunday morning youth and special Shabbat services.

Our Book Club meets on Monday (7:30 PM) via zoom, with a discussion led by Fran Shulman of the award-winning historical novel The Postcard (see link in Rabbi’s weekly email message).

Mark your calendar now: Bagels and Lox with Loretta. Sunday, Jan. 19 (10:15 brunch; 11:00 AM talk). In honor of the MLK weekend, a conversation with pioneering state senator Loretta Weinberg will be moderated by Leonia mayor Bill Ziegler.

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno—Tribute to Jimmy Carter

January 02, 2025 8:18 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Jan. 2, 2025

Dear Friends,
Although I never met Jimmy Carter personally, I was an eye-witness to Sadat's visit to Jerusalem. I'd like to offer a Jewish tribute to President Carter, and particularly his triumph at Camp David, at our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM).

The second semester of Shabbat Morning Torah Study begins this week (10:00 AM), as we look at the story of antisemitism in our country in the 20th century, and the brave people who fought against it. The subject is timely and important, and you are welcome to join us as a returning or new student.

Religious school also resumes this week, as we begin the civil new year, if you can believe it, one-fourth of the way into the 21st century!

Shabbat shalom and Happy New Year,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno—Gesher Shalom Concert This Sunday!

December 26, 2024 8:14 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Dec. 26, 2024

Dear Friends,
Hanukkah is here!
We hope you are a having a light-filled celebration with family and friends.
What a great concert we had here last Sunday to welcome the holiday.

To add to your light join us for our Shabbat Hanukkah celebration (7:00 PM).
We've assembled a mini-choir for the occasion, latkes of course, and other special holiday touches.

While there in no school or Torah study this week, there is a short outdoor kindling every night of Hanukkah at 7:00 PM sharp (with thanks to our president Marshall Jacobowitz for leading).

And we encourage you to join our partners, Gesher Shalom, for one more Hanukkah Concert and Party this Sunday at the Temple (1:30 PM), with contemporary and show music by vocalist Emma Green and jazz pianist Stephen Teti (and lots more latkes). RSVP to Debbie Mulholland of Gesher Shalom at 201-947-1735.

Shabbat shalom and Happy Hanukkah,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno

December 19, 2024 8:13 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Dec. 19, 2024

Dear Friends,
Every year's end I share "The Rabbi's Top Ten Jewish News Events", which I will do at our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM).
I'm doing so a week early, as next week is Shabbat Hanukkah.
Peter Hays will join the cantor on guitar, to get us rocking for the holiday.

Then on Sunday we also enter the holiday spirit with a Pre-Hanukkah Jazz Concert (1:30 PM).
Anyone who heard Temple member Scott Dennis with his band, the Hudson County Buskers, last year knows that you are in for a real treat.
So bring a friend, and enjoy a wine and cheese reception afterwards.

Even though religious school is on break, Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM) will take place.

Hanukkah begins Wed. night the 25th (yes, it’s also another holiday!) and as we have done for many years you are welcome to a short and sweet Outdoor Menorah Lighting (7:00 PM- sharp) every night of the festival.

And next week on the 27th join us for our Shabbat Hanukkah lighting of both our outdoor and (inside) our 124-year-old menorah, along with a festive service filled with light (7:00 PM).

Shabbat shalom and Happy Hanukkah,
Rabbi Schwartz