This Week at Adas Emuno

March 19, 2020
Dear Friends,
  This has been a week like no other and I pray you are finding calm and strength through the daily disruptions facing us all.

   Regretfully the NJ curfew and Leonia shutdown compels us to suspend Shabbat evening services.

    All other activities at the synagogue are already suspended. Plans are bring drawn up to continue religious school and b'nai mitzvah tutoring via distance learning.
     
     Our Board meeting will be conducted via Zoom this evening, and we will determine if and when services will be conducted on-line.

     I have personally contacted all our seniors that live alone to ensure that their essential needs are being addressed. 

    As is well known, our tradition places the imperative of pikuach nefesh, the saving of life, above all else. 

     And to quote NY Mets Pete Alonso, who put it so simply: "It's our duty to protect people who are at high risk."

     When we remind ourselves that all the disruptions we are facing are toward this goal, perhaps it makes it just a bit easier.

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

   

March 13, 2020

Dear Congregants,

      At this time of high anxiety and disruption due to the coronavirus, and in light of the state of emergency declared in Bergen County, we want to convey to you the important steps being taken by our congregation as determined by our leadership last night:

     1. Religious school is suspended until further notice.

         Our policy will be guided by that of the Leonia school district, and we are hoping to institute distant learning opportunities in the near future.

     2. Shabbat morning Torah study is suspended until further notice.

          The high proportion of seniors sitting in close proximity for an extended period elevates the risk of this activity.

     3. Shabbat evening services will take place, but without the ‘oneg’ that usually follows.

         We deem this the heart of our congregational activity, and low risk given the ability to spread out in the sanctuary, whereas the social/eating aspect downstairs elevates risk.

          Monthly Family Services will not take place, as the larger attendance in closer proximity also elevates risk.

       Extra-cleaning and hygiene precautions will be put into effect.

       B’nai mitzvah tutoring, which is one-on-one, will continue but non-essential group meetings should be postponed.

     We are a faith community that prides itself on social connection but we understand the unprecedented community imperative to observe social distancing during this pandemic.

     We join with all our fellow citizens in prayers for strength, wisdom and healing during this time of trial.

     Shabbat shalom, 

     Michael Fishbein and Rabbi Barry Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno

March 12, 2020
Dear Friends,

   We are all concerned about the coronavirus and a statement on the prudent steps being taken by the congregational leadership will be forthcoming in a separate email shortly.

     Our Shabbat evening service (7:30 PM) will take place as planned.

   Please note, however, that the special Shabbat morning collaborative Torah study at Temple Sinai has been cancelled. We will therefore take a one week hiatus from Torah study.

   Religious school on Sunday includes Confirmation.

   Sincere thanks to all who made Purim such a joyous celebration this week amidst everything that is happening- it was good to celebrate and laugh!

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno

March 5,
Dear Friends,
 So here's the Purim countdown:
 1. Purim Quiz- at our Shabbat evening service (7:30 PM).
  2. Purim Carnival- Sunday during religious school.
  3. Purim Pizza Dinner, Monday (6:00 PM)- free!
  4. Purim Service and Spiel, Monday (7:00 PM)- for all ages!

   Our spiel is a new "improv" style performance- don't miss it!
                                                
  Our regular Shabbat Morning Torah study takes place as well (10:00 AM), on the rise of the Hasidic movement.

   And don't forget to "spring ahead" one hour with your clocks on Saturday night.

Shabbat shalom and Happy Purim,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno

Feb. 27, 2020
Dear Friends,
   It's been a pleasure to have a variety of guest cantors at Shabbat services, and we invite you to experience this for yourself.
   We welcome guest student cantor Robyn Streitman at our Shabbat evening service (7:30 PM). 

   I plan on talking about The Other Election. I'm referring to the World Zionist Election (voting closes in two weeks), and why it is very important for every Reform Jew to cast a vote. If you can't hear my remarks, just go to www.arza.org to find out everything you need to know.

     A great many of us are Jews of Eastern European descent who trace our roots to Poland. At our Shabbat morning Torah study (10:00AM) we'll look at the golden age of Polish Jewry, and how that too came crashing down.

     As prelude to our next holiday, our Tot Purim program takes place this Sunday (9:30 AM).
    Keep in mind that our big Purim celebration on Monday evening Mar. 9 is for all ages. With free pizza and salad, a megillah reading and a new spiel- what's not to like?!

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz
    

This Week at Adas Emuno

Feb. 20, 2020
Dear Friends,
     We welcome Grade 3-4 at our Shabbat Evening Family Service (7:30 PM), who will be musically accompanied by Reina Stern and with Torah reading by Judy Aaronson.
     
     You've heard about the Spanish Inquisition and the Expulsion of the Jews in 1492. Why do the repercussions of this event reverberate to this day? We take a look during our Shabbat morning Torah study (10:00 AM).

     Mark your calendar for all things Purim: Tot-Purim on Sun. Mar. 1 (9:30 AM), Purim Carnival on Sun. Mar. 8 (11:00AM), Free Purim Pizza dinner, Mon., Mar. 9 (6:00PM), Purim Service and Spiel (7:00 PM).
 
Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

This Week at Adas Emuno

Feb. 13, 2020
Dear Friends,
  We welcome guest student cantor Ilana Goldman to our Shabbat evening service (7:30 PM).

  The Torah portion is a big one- the Ten Commandments, and we'll explore the meaning of the fifth, honoring parents.
 
  Our oneg is being sponsored by two other guests, well-known to our congregation: Virginia Gitter, in honor of her son Cary's play opening off-Broadway, and my mother, Barbara Schwartz, at the first yarzheit for my father.

  Ever hear of kabbalah- Jewish mysticism? At our Shabbat morning Torah study (10:00 AM) we'll look at the rise of this phenomena in medieval Europe.

Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

PS- It's Presidents Day Weekend, and school is on break.
       Purim is coming- Mon. eve Mar.9- mark your calendar!

Guest Cantorial Schedule

Feb. 4, 2020
Dear Friends,
  We are very pleased to announce that four cantorial guests will be singing at select Shabbat evening services over the next four months.
   Cantor Kathy Barr will sing this week (Tu Bishvat) as well as on Mar. 6, Apr.3, Apr.24 (Yom HaShoah) and May 29 (Shavuot).
   Student Cantor Ilana Goldman will sing on Feb. 14, Mar.13 and Apr. 17.
   Student Cantor Robyn Streitman will sing on Feb. 28, Mar. 27 and May 8.
   Reina Stern will sing on Feb.21, Mar.20 (family services), May 1 and May 15 (Confirmation). 
   
    We encourage you to meet our guests and enjoy this wonderful musical diversity.
    
Shalom,
Rabbi Schwartz

Our annual Purim Spiel will take place Monday, March 9. We will be singing four songs taken from Lance’s previous spiels.

This year there will be no heavy, cumbersome script books to lug. All the dialogue will be improvised! We will have 4-6 rehearsals on Tuesdays nights beginning Feb. 11. Michael Fishbein will be directing the show, unless someone competent wants to.

The story of Purim will inspire the spiel, but the dialogue in each scene will be improvised. You can be as quirky or nutty or heroic as you want to be and we will all work together to bring off a great show. No long rehearsals if things go according to plan. Perhaps one rehearsal the Sunday before the spiel.

Be brave! Be silly! Be beautiful! Be evil! Be heroic! It’s Purim!!

If you are interested in participating in this once-and-never-again spiel, please email michaelrfishbein@gmail.com.

This Week at Adas Emuno Jan. 30, 2020 Dear Friends,    This past week marked the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, and in Israel there was an unprecedented gathering of world leaders to mark the occasion.What lessons are we to learn from this? I 'd like to share a provocative piece in this regard at our Shabbat evening service (7:30 PM).      Much has been made of the "Golden Age" of Spanish Jewry. That's the next subject of our year-long Turning Points in Jewish History at our Shabbat morning Torah study (10:00 AM).      For those who enjoy community learning the annual Sweet Tastes of Torah evening takes place at Temple Israel of Ridgewood this Saturday night (6:30 PM).      And please mark you calendar: our annual Seder Tu Bishvat follows our service next week on the 7th, as does a special Tot program for the holiday on the 9th. Shabbat shalom, Rabbi Schwartz