A MESSAGE FROM OUR EDUCATION DIRECTOR, BETSY ZALAZNICK


June is the season of Annual Meetings.  Or Chadash held its Annual Meeting this past Thursday and tonight is the Joint Jewish Federation of Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren Counties and the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center's (aka The Bridgewater JCC) annual meeting.   Last year I attended my first Bridgewater JCC annual meeting, as I had been asked to serve on its Board of Trustees, and would be recognized as a new Trustee at this community meeting.  

 

My memories of that evening, a year ago in June, are vivid.  There were no name tags.  (At Or Chadash that would be considered a crime!)  The room was filled with warmth and community, and everyone was smiling at me and very kind to me.  However, it was an eye-opener and reminded me what it feels like to be an " outsider."  I was not familiar with the acronyms, the back-stories behind the scholarships being awarded, and some of the end-of -the-year accomplishments being shared.  I was very much out of my comfort zone.

 

This meeting sensitized me to my involvement at Or Chadash.  It made me reconsider what a guest or new member's experience at Or Chadash feels like, especially one less familiar with Judaism.  Each and every time I use a Hebrew word now, I try to insure that I am using the English translation.  I think about my acronyms, too!

 

Fast forward to tonight's annual meeting in Bridgewater.  Having attended seven Board meetings and participated in some other projects at "The J" as it is called by "insiders",   I feel much more part of the community.  (But, I haven't been successful in  convincing the leadership to use table name cards at the Board meetings, or name tags. I guess that's still a work in progress.)

 

Tonight I am not attending the meeting alone. Rabbi Forman serves on the Federation Board.  I am extremely pleased, though, to announce that Tali Parliyan and Jordyn Moscowitz (rising 11th and 10th grade students and Teaching Assistants at Or Chadash) are joining me.   All of Or Chadash's teens were asked to apply to be on the JCC's Teen Board, and Tali and Jordyn accepted the challenge.   In their roles as Teen Board members, Tali and Jordyn will be meeting monthly with the JCC Teen Board, and planning programs at the JCC - including its annual 5K run, meeting with Israeli students this summer, and planning a Parents' Night Out.  Additionally, Teen Board members are invited to attend a few Board Meetings (the adult monthly meetings!) 

 

I am thrilled for our students to be able to gain a wider scope of our local Jewish community and am so appreciative of Laura Friedman and Paige Silberfein, Director and Assistant Executive Director of the SSBJCC for giving our students this amazing opportunity.  

Betsy

Thank you to all who made the clothing drive a success!  Your items will get a second chance and help out those in need. Above is a donation receipt form  -- and thanks again for your contributions!