Creating Memorable Moments
December 23, 2019
Amir Shacham
Associate Executive Vice President, Global Connections
What do these moments have in common?...
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Increasing in Matters of Holiness
December 23, 2019
Dov Ben-Shimon
Federation CEO
There’s a fascinating debate in the Talmud, in Tractate Shabbat, between the House of Hillel and the House of Shammai. The question that they’re...
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There’s a Here- Here
December 19, 2019
Robert Lichtman
Chief Jewish Learning Officer
For as long as our collective memory can recall, we have been playing dreidel, winning and losing according to the letters on the four-sided top with ...
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Seasons Greeting – from Auschwitz?
December 11, 2019
Ilyse Muser Shainbrown
Director of Holocaust Education and Newark Initiatives
I spend a whole lot of time blogging, posting, and speaking about when things are either anti-Semitic or insulting to the memory of the Holocaust, or ...
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Make the Most of Your Year-End Charitable Giving
December 11, 2019
Steven Levy
JCF President
With the end of the 2019 tax year fast approaching and the stock market at or near record highs, now is a great time to use your appreciated...
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The Thanks-givers
November 26, 2019
Robert Lichtman
Chief Jewish Learning Officer
We are thanks-givers. Our very name, Yehudim (Jews), refers to Jacob’s son, Judah, one of the few remaining tribes from which most of us are descended...
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Our Family Is Under Fire
November 13, 2019
Dov Ben-Shimon
Federation CEO
As you are probably aware, there has been a major flare-up in violence between Israel and Gaza in the last couple of days. Here are the major points, ...
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75 Years later and still we have an issue….
October 16, 2019
Ilyse Muser Shainbrown
Director of Holocaust Education and Newark Initiatives
In July 2018 I spent my first Shabbat in Berlin. Although I had been to Germany several times before, I had not been fortunate enough to be in a...
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Soothe the Sting, Savor the Sweet
September 25, 2019
Robert Lichtman
Chief Jewish Learning Officer
The honey on our Rosh Hashanah tables that quickly gets messy from all of us dipping apples, challah, or what-have-you to symbolize our wishes for a ...
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Despite Election Results, Our Work Will Continue
September 16, 2019
Dov Ben-Shimon
Federation CEO
I spoke last week at the JCC MetroWest about Israel, the upcoming elections tomorrow, Israeli society, and what to expect in the coming week and weeks...
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A Visit Is Worth a Million Words!
September 5, 2019
Dov Ben-Shimon
Federation CEO
I’ve said it in these pages many times – there’s nothing, and I mean literally nothing like taking a Federation mission to experience the passion and ...
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Being Holy
August 14, 2019
Dov Ben-Shimon
Federation CEO
I’m so proud of the amazing Greater MetroWest participation in the annual summer family camp in Cherkassy, Ukraine....
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Heritage
August 7, 2019
Ilyse Muser Shainbrown
Director of Holocaust Education and Newark Initiatives
I’ve spoken and written often about the so-called birthright of a child, grandchild, or even great-grandchild of a Holocaust survivor. In many cases, ...
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This Choice Rests with Us
August 1, 2019
Robert Lichtman
Chief Jewish Learning Officer
I just received a message from our friends at The Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy/Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School that Cantor Shimon Vogel needs a...
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July 16, 2001
July 24, 2019
Amir Shacham
Associate Executive Vice President, Global Connections
What did YOU do on July 16, 2001? You probably don’t remember. Most likely, you had yet another ordinary summer day. Yet, for some people, this day...
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In Memory of Rita Waldor z”l
July 10, 2019
Amir Shacham
Associate Executive Vice President, Global Connections
I was visiting Kehilat Ra’anan a couple of days before Rita passed. I was there with our new Global Connections team members in order to tell the...
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Why Should I Give?
June 24, 2019
Dov Ben-Shimon
Federation CEO
“Why should I give to you?” she asked. “I give to the charities I like here at home. Sometimes I give to Israeli things I like too. Why should I give ...
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For Cecille
June 1, 2019
Dov Ben-Shimon
Federation CEO
My friend and colleague, Cecille Asekoff, after 40 years of dedicated service, was celebrated at her retirement this week. Among family, colleagues...
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