Congregation Adas Emuno

This Week at Adas Emuno—EARLY START TO SHABBAT SERVICE

December 25, 2025 9:56 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Dec. 25, 2025

Dear Friends,
A quiet weekend to end the year:
Our Shabbat Evening Service (7:00 PM) will be led by the cantor- note the earlier time due to weather concerns.

Both Torah Study and Religious School are on winter break.

With warm wishes for a Happy and Peaceful New Year,

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno—Hanukkah Celebration!

December 18, 2025 8:52 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Dec.18, 2025

Dear Friends,
We're coming down the home stretch of Hanukkah!

Our Shabbat Hanukkah Service (7:00 PM) is going to be special- first the lighting of our outdoor menorah, then the lighting of our antique 125-year-old indoor menorah, lots of Hanukkah songs with the debut of our bimah band, and lots of latkes (and dreidels) at the oneg.

Have you ever read the Book of Maccabees? The story of Hanukkah is quite a bit more complicated than you may realize. You're invited to special session of Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM) to learn all about it.

School is in session on Sunday, with a special Hanukkah program, and then the last night lighting is outdoors (7:00 PM). Again thanks to Marshall for being our stalwart each evening of the holiday.

Shabbat shalom and Happy Hanukkah,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week ar Adas Emuno—Warming Up for Hanukkah!

December 11, 2025 8:05 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Dec. 11, 2025

Dear Friends,
Get ready for Hanukkah!
At our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM) we will take a Hanukkah quiz to make sure we are ready for the holiday.

Our Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM) will examine the Jewish identity of the new Jewish state, including how they viewed the Maccabees.

The holiday itself begins on Sunday evening, and we thank our president Marshall Jacobowitz for presiding over the kindling of our Outdoor Menorah each night at 7:00 PM (sharp!).

Note that next Shabbat, the 19th, is our big Shabbat Hanukkah service and celebration, with our new bimah band, the lighting of our 125 year old menorah, and festive oneg.

Shabbat shalom and Happy Hanukkah,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno

December 04, 2025 11:13 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Dec. 4, 2025

Dear Friends,
At this time of the Torah year we're deeply immersed in the epic story of Jacob.
His love affair with Rachel is nonetheless filled with hardship and tragedy, which we'll learn about in our monthly Torah reading at our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM).

From its birth, modern Israel has wrestled with a somewhat unexpected question with wide implications- just who is a Jew?
We'll take an in-depth look at this issue at our Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM).

Come visit our annual Mitzvah Mall on Sunday (11:00 AM) with our students, as several charitable organizations are represented. There will be a surprise visit by a newly certified therapy dog in his first on-the-job role! Receive a beautiful donation card which makes for a nice Hanukkah gift.

The Adas Emuno Film Club meets via zoom on Monday (7:30 PM) when we discuss the now classic 1947 film Gentleman's Agreement, the first to take on antisemitism in America.

As it does each year, the Jewish Home at Rockleigh is distributing a free Hanukkah meal for seniors-call 201- 784-1414 now to reserve it.
Besides our daily outdoor Hanukkah lighting, our big celebration of the holiday will take place on Shabbat Hanukkah on the 19th, with the debut of our bimah band (7:00 PM).

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno—A Busy Week Ahead!

November 20, 2025 8:10 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Nov. 20, 2025

Dear Friends,
I know you will be very impressed when Grades 4-7 creatively combine to lead our Shabbat Evening Family Service (7:00 PM- note earlier time). A pot-luck Shabbat dinner for these grades will be held beforehand.

The first elections and legislation after Israel declared independence in 1948 had a profound impact on the new Jewish state, as did the ingathering of Jews from around the world. That is the subject of our Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM).

Our new Adas Emuno Travel Club will have its inaugural presentation this Sunday (10:30 AM). Peter Buxbaum (our vice-president, who also gave a wonderful High Holiday appeal) will speak of his multiple trips to Poland to explore his family's roots. Plenty of history and bagels to be served in the social hall!

The annual Leonia Interfaith Thanksgiving Service takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 25 (7:00 PM) at All Saints Episcopal Church (150 Park Ave). I will be giving the sermon this year and Cantor Suzy will participate. This is the really the only time during the year that we join with our fellow Leonians, and we appreciate your support.

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno

November 13, 2025 12:11 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Nov. 13, 2025

Dear Friends,
This week's portion emphasizes the Jewish commandment of burial, when Abraham takes great pains to secure a plot for Sarah- the story I will read from the Torah scroll itself, at our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM).

Do you know what happened the day after Israel declared independence in 1948? We will look at Israel's heroic effort to stay alive just after being born, at our Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM).

Our Thanksgiving Food Drive is more important than ever this year. Please bring your bags to the school porch by this coming Tuesday.

Mark your calendar:
Our new Adas Emuno Travel Club will have its inaugural presentation on Sunday, Nov. 23 (10:30 AM), when Peter Buxbaum will speak of his recent trip to Poland to explore his family's roots. Bagels to be served.

Leonia Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, Tuesday, Nov. 25 (7:00 PM) at All Saints Episcopal Church (150 Park Ave). I will be giving the sermon this year and Cantor Suzy will participate.

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno

November 06, 2025 8:41 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Nov. 6, 2025

Dear Friends,
The elections are over, and we won't be seeing those endless candidate ads. But the discussion of its implications is far from over. I'll offer a reflection as it affects the American Jewish community, at our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM).

The Reform movement is preparing to publish a new Torah commentary, and this Shabbat is piloting a sample chapter in many congregations, including are own. This will take place at our Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM), and your feedback will be conveyed to the editors.

Our Adas Emuno Book Club meets via zoom on Monday (7:30 PM) to discuss the acclaimed historical novel, "An Officer and a Spy". Given that it is about the notorious Dreyfus affair, which revealed widespread antisemitism in French society, it is all too relevant.

We're screening a classic movie, The Sound of Music, after school next Sunday the 16th at 12:15 (after learning that many of our young families have never seen it). A free lunch is included; please RSVP by Wednesday to adasschool@gmail.com. This past summer I visited sites associated with the musical in Salzburg, and saw a delightful marionette production which reminded me of how good the music really is.

On this Veterans Day weekend, we remember with gratitude those who served and those who continue to protect our country.

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno—Reading from the Torah

October 30, 2025 9:03 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Oct. 30, 2025

Dear Friends,
At our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM) we will celebrate Halloween.
No, just kidding!
As we do monthly, we'll read from the Torah... interestingly, about the other woman and the other son in Abraham's life.

At our Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM) we reach the moment we have all been waiting for- Israel's Declaration of Independence.

Don't forget to set your clocks back an hour on Saturday night.

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno

October 23, 2025 8:33 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Oct. 23, 2025

Dear Friends,
The annual reading of Noah reminds us about the astounding bio-diversity of our planet.
Amidst all the bad news, I'd like to share a bit of good news about one magnificent but critically endangered species, at our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM).
Rabbi Max will sub for Cantor Suzy, and offer special songs of creation.

How did the Holocaust and the United Nations Partition Plan indelibly influence the creation of modern Israel? We look at this hinge of history at our Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM).

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno and the Rabbi’s High Holy Days Sermons

October 16, 2025 9:00 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

Oct. 16, 2025

Dear Friends,
We rejoice that the hostages have finally, finally returned home!
At our Shabbat Evening Service (7:30 PM) we will celebrate and reflect on the meaning of this moment.

Happiness and heartbreak are also the subject of our Shabbat Morning Torah Study (10:00 AM), when this week we look at the tumultuous decade prior to Israel's founding.

On Sunday you are welcome to our first ever Birkat Be'reshith- Blessing of the Animals! (11:30-12:00). This is going to be a ton of fun, with treats for everyone. Come with your pet, your stuffed animal, or just yourself. Among the special guests: Ezra, our newly rescued golden Pyrenees- a gentle giant on his way to becoming a certified therapy dog.

Our bi-monthly Adas Emuno Film Club meets via zoom on Monday (7:30 PM), and whether or not you watched "Three Identical Strangers", the true story of separated then reunited triplets should lead to a fascinating discussion.

The holidays may be over, but if you scroll down, you can find my sermons, now posted thanks to Lance. Feel free to share them.

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

Antisemitism Anew (Rosh Hashanah 5786)

https://adasemuno.org/page-18091/13551662

Liberal Zionism (Kol Nidre 5786)

https://adasemuno.org/page-18091/13551666

America at 250:Facing Our History (Yom Kippur 5786)

https://adasemuno.org/page-18091/13551667