Etz Chaim Newsletter 
December 10, 2016
10 Kislev,  5777
Upcoming Events


December 14 
Or Event 
at the home of 
Abbi & Jeremy Halpern
7:00pm

December 16-17
Scholar in Residence with Nachum Segal & 
Community Friday Night Dinner
Deadline to register is Friday, December 9th
Women's Kabbalat Shabbat
Beginner Tefillah Class with Rabbi Bendory

December 22
Chanukkah Chesed with Seniors at Federation Housing

December 23-24
The Mikdash Project comes to Etz Chaim
in preparation for Chanukah

January 17
Sisterhood Book Club Event
Modern Girls by Jennifer S. Brown
Mazal Tov!

  Mazal Tov to Michelle and Bruce Berger 
on the engagement of 
Jared Berger to Hillary Cole
K iddush Sponsor


Kiddush this Shabbat is sponsored by the 
Goldman and Susskind families to commemorate the Shloshim of Saul Goldman Z"L, Elayne Goldman Z"L and  M. Stanley Susskind Z"L.

Please join us at the conclusion of Shabbat morning services at about 11:00am for a Shabbat Limmud.
 
We will have a follow-up on a topic from last year entitled "Proper Shiva Etiquette."  The session will be led by our very own Mindy and Stephen Goldman and Shari-Beth and Jeff Susskind as they reflect on their recent experiences during Shiva.
Message from the Rabbi
Parshat Vayeitzei
Family is tough.  Jewish family is super tough!
As Yaakov Avinu is on the lam from his vengeful brother Esav, we read of his growing family.  Yaakov marries, then marries again and has many children.  These children are to become the sacred Tribes of Israel.
While casually reading the text, one may think that he just had all these kids and everything was fine.  A careful reading will show that virtually nothing in Yaakov's life came easy.  He faced challenges between his parents, his brother, his wives and most notable his children.  Yaakov never seems to catch a break.  This may make him the patriarch we can most easily relate to. 
We can speculate that this was all his own doing or that this was retribution for his deceitful actions towards his father.  You would not be so wrong for suggesting that.  When we look past cause and blame, we find that despite all of his challenges, Yaakov remained true to the cause and he became the third link in the unbreakable chain that began with Avraham.
Life often throws us curve balls that we simply cannot hit.  The question is what will we do on the next pitch?  Yaakov Avinu teaches us that we must always stick to tradition and family values no matter how difficult they may be to bear.

Shabbat Shalom
Etz Chaim Emergency Israel Campaign
Message from the Rabbi

I have been on several calls and meetings to hear the latest updates from Israel.  Just because the fires are out, does not mean we are in the clear.  
Unfortunately, things can flare up at any time.  
I thank all of you who have already responded so generously to our campaign to purchase lifesaving equipment in Israel.  Many have asked about the ability to donate online.  
Our tribute page is now active and it can be accessed by clicking on this link for the
The page will be updated with the latest progress as we move forward.
If you would like to make a donation by check, please make it out to "JNF" and marked for "Etz Chaim Livingston Firetruck."

Yiyasher Kochachem and Tizku L'Mitzvot.
The OR Annual Event
December 14 

The Or Movement works to develop and populate the Negev and the Galilee in Israel.  

The Or Movement's tireless efforts are clearly more critical than ever in ensuring Israel's future.  
 
You will learn about and be inspired by the work that Or Movement continues to do on a daily basis to strengthen Israel.

Please Join us at the home of 
Abbi & Jeremy Halpern 
for an evening to remember. 
We hope that we can count on your support. 

Kindly RSVP to 


Scholar-in-Residence and Friday Night Communal Dinner
December 16-17

We look to close out the 2016 season with an informative and exciting Shabbat next week.

Please join us for a
Scholar in Residence Shabbat
with Nachum Segal

 
Friday night communal dinner
                     

Registration Deadline is December 9

Kabbalat Shabbat Services at 4:15
Main Service in the main sanctuary
Women's Service in the Beit Midrash
 
After Davening, Nachum Segal will address the community on the topic of "Thirty Plus Years in Jewish Radio."  You will be able to hear about some of his best on-air experiences  and classic interviews.  
(Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend)

Following the lecture we will have another one of our most festive and enjoyable Communal Shabbat Dinners.  Please make sure to register while there is still room!  There will be activities for the kids and also an opportunity to meet with Nachum Segal.

On Shabbat morning, we will have our second installment of the Beginner Service led by Rabbi Bendory at 9:45am.
Following morning services, everyone is invited to join in the Main Sanctuary for a Nachum Segal interview.  You will learn all about his career, his latest switch to an all digital format and his initiative for Jewish Unity.

This is a Shabbat you don't want to miss!
 
Chanukkah Chesed with the Seniors 
at Federation Housing
December 22

Mark your calendars
for our annual Chanukkah program with the seniors at Federation Housing in West Orange

Thursday, December 22

This is a program we know the seniors look forward to and we hope you will join us this year.
Chanukkah Program
December 24

Join us for the First Night of Chanukkah!

Save the Date and Start Reading!
January 17

Tuesday, January 17

 Etz Chaim Sisterhood
Book Club Event

Modern Girls  
by Jennifer S. Brown



Moderated by Chana Krasnjanski
dynamic high school teacher
             Community Events

Baby Bop Shabbat Music Class
5th Class - December 9
Friends of the IDF & Israel Bonds New Jersey
Family Concert
December 14

 
Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest
  Family Havdalah on Ice
December 17

Join your friends from Greater MetroWest for Family Havdalah on Ice at Clary Anderson Arena in Montclair on December 17. 

Everyone with a shoe size of toddler 8 and up is invited to skate. 
The ice will be ours from 
7 until 8:45 p.m.

 Join us and bring your friends to skate.

In addition to skating, activities in advance of Hanukah will be brought to you by NJY Camps, Camp Harlam, Camp Young Judea Sprout Lake, Camp Ramah in the Berkshires, Eden Village Camp, and 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy. 

Come have a mini-reunion with friends. 
It'll be a great time for all.

Refreshments and skates are included with your registration below. 

Please register each child. 
Did we mention that this event is FREE?!



Questions? 
Contact Justin Sakofs, 
Director of Empowerment for Families of School Age Children 
at  Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ, at  jsakofs@jfedgmw.org  or 
(973) 929-2980.

Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School 
8th Grade 
Community Informational Meetings
December 18 & December 20

The Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School invites 8th graders and their parents to Community Informational Meetings:

Sunday, December 18th at 8pm hosted by the Klibanoff Family, 339 East Mt. Pleasant Avenue, Livingston.

Tuesday, December 20th at 8pm hosted by the Rutner Family, 24 Curtis Avenue, West Orange.


Please join RKYHS administration, teachers, and students as they share the RKYHS difference.  Learn about the first-rate academic and Judaic programs, innovated educational initiatives and vast co-curricular opportunities. 

For more information contact the RKYHS Admissions Office at 
862-437-8064 or starzik@jkha.org
Davening Schedule
Parshat Vayeitzei

  SHABBAT 
 Davening Times

Friday 
 
Candle Lighting
4:12pm

Mincha 
 4:15pm

SHABBAT DAY 
 
Shiur - 8:30am

Shacharit 
9:00am

Teen Minyan
9:45am

Z'man Kriat Shema
   9:31am  

Mincha 
4:10pm

Shabbat Ends
5:15pm


  Weekday Services
    Dec. 12 - Dec. 16

Sunday

Shacharit 
8:30am

Mincha/Ma'ariv
4:15pm

Mon-Fri
Shacharit - 6:45am
 
 
WE HAVE MOVED TO OUR WINTER SCHEDULE. 
WE WILL HAVE MA'ARIV ONLY ON
 MONDAY-
THURSDAY EVENINGS AT 6:45PM.

MINCHA/MA'ARIV SERVICES AT SUBURBAN TORAH ARE AT 4:20PM

Rabbi's Classes
Women's class
with Rabbi Klibanoff

Study of the 
weekly Haftorah

Tuesday mornings
10:30 - 11:30

Talmud Shiur in 
Masechet Sotah

Tuesday evening after Mincha/Maariv
Kiddush Sponsorship

  Sponsoring a kiddush is wonderful way to commemorate a loved one's yahrzeit or celebrate a simcha.  

If you would like to sponsor please 

Etz Chaim Youth


Parshat Vayetzei
Youth Happenings
 


Updating
Cholim list
Prayer for the Ill
To add or remove a name from the cholim list, please contact Shelley Paradis at shel4p@aol.com. 

 

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