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Temple Israel’s Rabbi Fine Teaches History of the Land of Israel in Sunday Morning Lecture Series

Ridgewood, NJ, Jan. 24, 2012—Adult Education at Temple Israel and Jewish Community Center in the Village continues on Sunday mornings with Rabbi Fine’s lecture series “History of the Land of Israel.” Rabbi David J. Fine, PhD, spiritual leader of Temple Israel, was ordained by the Rabbinical School at the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1999 and earned his doctorate in modern European history at The Graduate Center of City University of New York (CUNY) in 2010.

All Temple Israel adult education programs are free and open to the entire community.

HISTORY OF THE HOLY LAND: Sundays, 10:30 a.m.-Noon  
The lecture series, held on most Sunday mornings through June 10, 2012, will culminate in a 10-day tour of Israel, June 23-July 4, 2012. But, please note: commitment to the trip is NOT a requirement for attending the class.

Topics to be covered in the upcoming weeks are:

   * Ancient Synagogues and Churches (by Guest Lecturer Dr. Seth Schwartz, Lucius N. Littauer

     Professor of Classical Jewish Civilization at Columbia University)— February 5

  * Jews, Christians and Muslims in the Early Middle Ages—March 4

  * The Crusades— March 18

Also continuing with Rabbi Fine: TUESDAY EVENING TALMUD at 8:00 p.m., following minyan.

Discover the fascinating world of the rabbinic sages as we study the tractate Sanhedrin in English translation. No previous experience or Hebrew comprehension required. New students and non-members are always welcome.

Temple Israel and JCC is located at 475 Grove Street in Ridgewood. It is an egalitarian Conservative synagogue with members from over a dozen Bergen County communities. Weekly Shabbat services are held on Fridays at 8:30 p.m. (replaced by a 7:00 p.m. Family Service on the second Friday of each month) and Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. During the week minyan takes place on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. and Tuesday nights at 7:45 p.m. For more information, call 201-444-9320 or E-mail to office@synagogue.org.

SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE LECTURE AT TEMPLE ISRAEL ON FEB. 5
DR. SETH SCHWARTZ TO SPEAK ON “ANCIENT SYNAGOGUES AND CHURCHES”

Temple Israel and JCC of Ridgewood will host as Scholar-in-Residence Dr. Seth Schwartz, Lucius N. Littauer Professor of Classical Jewish Civilization at Columbia University on Sunday, February 5 at 10:30 a.m. Guest lecturing as part of Temple Israel Rabbi David J. Fine’s Sunday-morning series on “History of the Holy Land,” Dr. Schwartz will discuss “Ancient Synagogues and Churches.” Admission is free and all in the community are invited.

Seth Schwartz is a social, cultural and political historian of the ancient Jews, with strong interests in their Hellenistic, Roman, and early Christian environments. The author most recently of Were the Jews A Mediterranean Society: Reciprocity and Solidarity in Ancient Judaism, Dr. Schwartz received the National Jewish Book Award for his work Imperialism and Jewish Society, 200 BCE to 640 CE, a study of the influence of imperialism on the religious, political, social and economic development of Jewish life in ancient Palestine. The recipient of numerous prestigious fellowships, including the Guggenheim and Harvard Society of Fellows, Dr. Schwartz was the Gerson D. Cohen Professor of Rabbinic Culture and professor of History at The Jewish Theological Seminary before joining the Columbia faculty.

Temple Israel and JCC is located at 475 Grove Street in Ridgewood. It is an egalitarian Conservative synagogue with members from over a dozen Bergen County communities. Weekly Shabbat services are held on Fridays at 8:30 p.m. (replaced by a 7:00 p.m. Family Service on the second Friday of each month) and Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. During the week minyan takes place on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. and Tuesday nights at 7:45 p.m. For more information, call 201-444-9320 or E-mail to office@synagogue.org.

LEARN HOW TO PUT ON “TEFILLIN” AT TEMPLE ISRAEL ON FEBRUARY 5

The Brandeis Men’s Club of Temple Israel and JCC of Ridgewood invites the entire community to learn the history and ritual of “tefillin” on Sunday morning, February 5, at 9:00 a.m.

Tefillin are a set of small black leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah. The boxes are worn by Jews during weekday morning prayers. The hand-tefillin is placed on the upper arm, and a strap wrapped around the arm, hand and fingers keeps it in place. The head-tefillin is placed above the forehead. The Torah commands that tefillin should be worn to serve as a “sign” and “remembrance” that G-d had the power to deliver the children of Israel out of Egypt.

Temple Israel Rabbi David J. Fine, PhD, will discuss the history and ritual of tefillin, and newcomers will be assisted by congregants including the Hey (sixth grade) class from the Northern New Jersey Jewish Academy (NNJJA), the two-day-per-week Hebrew school that is a partnership between Temple Beth Sholom of Fair Lawn and Temple Israel of Ridgewood.

The one-hour tefillin demonstration will be conducted during Temple Israel’s Sunday Shacharit (or morning) service, and is a program of the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs. Under the title “World Wide Wrap,” this program is being held nationwide at many synagogues on February 5.

Temple Israel and JCC is located at 475 Grove Street in Ridgewood. It is an egalitarian Conservative synagogue with members from over a dozen Bergen County communities. Weekly Shabbat services are held on Fridays at 8:30 p.m. (replaced by a 7:00 p.m. Family Service on the second Friday of each month) and Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. During the week minyan takes place on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. and Tuesday nights at 7:45 p.m. For more information, call 201-444-9320 or E-mail to office@synagogue.org.

 
YOUTH SHABBAT AT TEMPLE ISRAEL ON FEBRUARY 11
 
Over 35 youth from the 4th through 12th grade will participate in leading Temple Israel's Shabbat morning service on Saturday, February 11, beginning at 9:00 a.m. The Temple Israel Youth Group Members will lead prayers, read Torah, and chant Haftarah
 
Many of the Youth Group Members from 4th-7th grade attend the Northern New Jersey Jewish Academy (NNJJA). The new two-day-per-week Hebrew school, which is a partnership between Temple Beth Sholom of Fair Lawn and Temple Israel of Ridgewood, was launched in September 2011. Rabbi Sharon J. Litwin, Temple Israel’s Associate Rabbi, who directs the school, will lead the Youth Shabbat D’var Torah discussion. After services, there will be a special festive Kiddush sponsored by Youth Programs and the Brandeis Men's Club.
 
Temple Israel and JCC is located at 475 Grove Street in Ridgewood. It is an egalitarian Conservative synagogue with members from over a dozen Bergen County communities. Weekly Shabbat services are held on Fridays at 8:30 p.m. (replaced by a 7:00 p.m. Family Service on the second Friday of each month) and Saturdays at 9:00 a.m.

THE SWEET ADELINES TO PRESENT CONCERT AT TEMPLE ISRAEL ON FEBRUARY 12
2ND of “Winter Music” Series at Temple Israel

Temple Israel and JCC of Ridgewood continues its new series of “Winter Music” on February 12. Performing on February 12 at 3:00 p.m. will be the Harmony Celebration Chorus (more widely known locally as a part of Sweet Adelines International), a dynamic and award-winning group of women who sing four-part, a cappella harmony. Their repertoire encompasses many genres of music – classics, Broadway, jazz, patriotic, pop, plus songs performed in their signature barbershop style. The Chorus has its weekly rehearsals at Temple Israel.

The Harmony Celebration Chorus most recently was named “Region 15 2011 Champions.” Region 15 of Sweet Adelines International includes part of New Jersey and part of New York. Harmony Celebration was also the first-place midsize chorus, with 53 singers on stage.

This concert is a fund raiser for Temple Israel and it is sponsored by the Temple Israel Music Committee. The cost is $20 per person and everyone in the community is invited. Temple Israel and JCC is wheelchair accessible and babysitting is available.

The Harmony Celebration Chorus is led by Scott Brannon, who brings 30-plus years of barbershop experience to his role at Musical Director. He has earned international recognition both as a chorus director and quartet singer, and as a coach of many groups performing at all levels of achievement, including International Champions. Funding for the Harmony Celebration Chorus has been made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, through grant funds administered by the Bergen County Department of Parks, Division of Cultural and Historical Affairs.

Temple Israel and JCC is located at 475 Grove Street in Ridgewood. It is an egalitarian Conservative synagogue with members from over a dozen Bergen County communities. Weekly Shabbat services are held on Fridays at 8:30 p.m. (replaced by a 7:00 p.m. Family Service on the second Friday of each month) and Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. During the week minyan takes place on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. and Tuesday nights at 7:45 p.m. For more information, call 201-444-9320 or E-mail to office@synagogue.org.

 
TEMPLE ISRAEL OFFERS TOT SHABBAT PROGRAM ON FEBRUARY 14
 
Children, parents, and grandparents are invited to Tot Shabbat at Temple Israel and Jewish Community Center in Ridgewood, NJ. on Saturday, February 14 from 11:00 to 11:45 a.m. Celebrate Shabbat with songs, prayers, stuffed torahs, and stories.
 
Led by experienced early childhood educator Naomi Linder, Tot Shabbat is a 45-minute program for newborns through 4 years old. Temple Israel’s Tot Shabbat is held on the second Shabbat of each month through June.
 
For more information, call Director of Education Rabbi Sharon Litwin at 201-444-4194. Temple Israel and JCC is located at 475 Grove Street in Ridgewood. It is a Conservative egalitarian congregation with members from over a dozen Bergen County communities. Weekly Shabbat services are held on Fridays at 8:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. During the week minyan takes place on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. and Tuesday nights at 7:45 p.m.

TEMPLE ISRAEL HOSTS VASHTI’S FEAST:
PRE-PURIM FUN AND FRIVOLITY ON FEBRUARY 29

All women in the community are invited to an evening of pre-Purim fun and frivolity on Wednesday, February 29, at 7:45 p.m., co-sponsored by Temple Israel of Ridgewood’s Sisterhood and the Sisterhood of the Fair Lawn Jewish Center/Congregation B’nai Israel. There will be belly dancing, massages, storytelling, yummy Middle Eastern treats (and wine and chocolate).

Come in costume—hip scarves, harem pants, lots of beads and bangles—or if you don’t want to wear a costume, come anyway! It all adds up to Sisterhood’s second annual Vashti’s Feast, an evening entertainment extravaganza.

Admission is free for members of either congregation and $10 for non-members. For more information, call 201-444-9320, E-mail to office@synagogue.org, or visit www.synagogue.org.

Temple Israel and JCC is located at 475 Grove Street in Ridgewood. It is an egalitarian Conservative synagogue with members from over a dozen Bergen County communities. Weekly Shabbat services are held on Fridays at 8:30 p.m. (replaced by a 7:00 p.m. Family Service on the second Friday of each month) and Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. During the week minyan takes place on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. and Tuesday nights at 7:45 p.m. For more information, call 201-444-9320 or E-mail to office@synagogue.org.