A Great Blog

Wendy Ferber, Millburn-Short Hills Hadassah Woman of the Year

2010-03-09T10:53:00.000-05:00

The Millburn-Short Hills Chapter of Hadassah is pleased to announce that Wendy Ferber is their chapter’s 2009-2010 Woman of the Year. Wendy has been an integral part of the chapter’s success for many years and has made a substantial commitment to many Hadassah projects locally and in Israel.

More $1,000 Camp Grants Available!

2010-03-08T22:52:00.000-05:00

More $1,000 Camp Grants Available! Great news – summer’s getting closer and we have additional funding to provide $1,000 grants to first-time campers at over 100 Jewish sleepaway camps across the country, from traditional camps to new options such as sports specialty camps, outdoor adventure and arts programs in NYC. Many families have deferred summer plans due to the economy and other reasons, and may feel challenged by the expense of camp. Even if a family has already chosen a Jewish camp, we want to give them a grant as well! Grants are non-needs based, supplemental to synagogue incentives or camp scholarships. Our goal is to benefit as many children of the MetroWest community as possible, as their experiences will prompt others to explore Jewish overnight camp. Visit www.onehappycamper.org for details and to apply.

Mazal Tov To The Leights On Being Honored By The Cares Foundation

2010-03-01T10:41:00.001-05:00

Ten years ago TSTI member Kelly Leight founded CARES, the Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Research Foundation in order to bring together scientific and medical experts as well as advocates and families in the CAH (Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia) community. For many years Kelly was also the Executive Director of the Foundation.

Since then CARES has identified over 24 million Americans who are carriers of some form of CAH.

Now Kelly, Adam, Josh and Alyssa are being honored by the CARES Foundation at their Everyone Cares Gala on March 18th. WE, their TSTI Family Wish them a huge Mazal Tov on this honor.

Mazel tov to Faith Goldman on her Conversion

2010-02-05T15:59:00.000-05:00

We are thrilled to welcome Faith who, after leading a Jewishly committed life at TSTI with her husband, Noah and children Sophie and Nathan (and a baby due this week), took the formal step of conversion on February 5th and is now recognized formally as a Jewish woman.

Rachel Bernstein Wedding

2010-01-21T12:16:00.001-05:00

Rachel Bernstein and Tariq Sheikh were smilin' 'neath the Mexican sun following their wedding in Cabo in January, 2010. Mazel tov to Ethel Sidney and Andy Bernstein on this momentous event in their daughter's life.

Israel At Its Best... As Usual Steps In To Helps After A Disaster

2010-01-20T12:45:00.000-05:00

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Ruth Tenner's Great Granddaughter Named in Temple

2010-01-07T11:15:00.001-05:00

It was a very happy January first for Ruth Tenner as her great granddaughter, Olivia Rylee Weber, was named in our sanctuary. Pictured is Ruth's daughter, Susan Schenfeld, Ruth, great granddaughter, Samantha, baby Olivia, Ruth's granddaughter, Elyse, and great granddaughter, Marissa. Ruth sponsored a special oneg with traditional Jewish foods that was enjoyed by the congregation following the Shabbat service.

MAZEL TOV

2010-01-05T16:54:00.000-05:00

MAZEL TOV
to Leslie and Eric Sporn on the birth of a grandson, Simon Hugo Beyer, born December 25, 2009. Proud parents are Hallie and Jeff Beyer.

Bob Krasner's Photography On Display

2009-12-11T10:14:00.001-05:00

Bob Krasner is pleased to announce that he is the "Artist of the Month" at the brand new Maplewood Deli + Grille. A new show of recent black and white images of Maplewood and nearby locations will run through January 31st (so you should have time to see it at least twice !). If you decide to stick around and have lunch, tell Sean that Bob sent you!Signed archival prints are available either framed or unframed.

Also, Bob's color images of our area are still on view at the Village Coffee Shop across the street (164 Maplewood Ave).

2009-12-04T14:17:00.000-05:00

Mazel tov to
Michael Jaffe on the birth of a granddaughter, Emma Nightingale Jaffe. Happy parents are Amy and Justin Jaffe.

Mazal Tov To Helen & Saul Rosen On the Birth of Their Twin Great Grandsons

2009-11-20T13:52:00.000-05:00

Mazal tov to Helen & Saul Rosen on the birth of

Twin great grandsons: Jacob and Harrison Koppelman

Mazal Tov To Donna and Tom Cohen

2009-11-20T10:02:00.000-05:00

on the birth of their grandson. Proud parents are Ariele and Gil Amor.

Mazal Tov to Joanne & Bill Stern

2009-11-20T09:33:00.000-05:00

on the birth of their 3rd grandchild, Penelope Rebecca Stern!

Mazal Tov To Helen & Saul Rosen On the Birth of Their Twin Great Grandsons

2009-11-20T09:32:00.000-05:00

Mazal tov to Helen & Saul Rosen on the birth of

Twin great grandsons: Jacob and Harrison Koppelman

Mazal Tov To Michael Jaffe On The Birth Of His First Granddaughter

2009-11-20T09:27:00.000-05:00

We wish a huge mazal tov to Michael Jaffe on the birth of his first grandchild, Emma Nightingale Jaffe.

Mazel Tov to Peers-Nitzberg and Pitman Families

2009-11-19T09:28:00.000-05:00

The Peers-Nitzberg and Pitman families on the B'nai Mitzvah of their children.

Temple Member Dr. Jane Aronson named one of Glamour magazine's Women of the Year for 2009

2009-11-09T15:38:00.000-05:00

MAPLEWOOD, NJ – November 9 – “Orphan Doctor” Dr. Jane Aronson, Founder and CEO of Worldwide Orphans Foundation (WWO), has been named one of Glamour magazine's Women of the Year for 2009. Dr. Aronson, a Maplewood resident, will receive the Glamour honor with 11 other extraordinary and inspirational women who are making a difference in the world during a Nov. 9 awards ceremony in New York City.

Annually, Glamour pays tribute to courageous and inspiring women who have made unprecedented contributions to the worlds of entertainment, business, sports, fashion, science and politics. Dr. Aronson, a world-renowned pediatrician specializing in international adoptions and orphaned children worldwide, will be recognized for WWO’s lifesaving humanitarian assistance to improve the lives of more than 20,000 children in overseas orphanages and her stalwart advocacy to draw attention to the plight of the world’s orphaned children.

“It is such a deep honor for me to be selected this year as one of Glamour’s Women of the Year with some of the most accomplished women of our time,” said Dr. Aronson, a mother of two children adopted from Vietnam and Ethiopia.

“This recognition demonstrates the importance of offering real solutions and opportunities to orphaned children around the globe. It will go a long way in ensuring that orphans are not defined by their circumstances, but go on to become healthy, productive citizens with a bright future,” said Aronson.

Dr. Aronson will be featured in a special December issue of Glamour magazine. Other 2009 honorees include: Dr. Maya Angelou, imprisoned journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee, Google's Marissa Mayer, designer Stella McCartney, Iran's One Million Signatures Campaign, comedian Amy Poehler, U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, journalist and California First Lady Maria Shriver, and tennis champion Serena Williams. First Lady Michelle Obama will receive a special recognition award for her work on mentoring.

“She has a heart the size of Texas and a drive like Tiger Woods, and she has made a huge difference to countless children and their families,” says Hugh Jackman, actor and longtime supporter of Worldwide Orphans Foundation.

“Dr. Aronson stands alone as a person who has impacted the lives of the world’s most neglected children – those without parents – many of whom would simply languish without the programs she has developed through the formation of Worldwide Orphans Foundation," says Glamour editor-in-chief Cindi Leive.

Founded in 1997, WWO is a leading U.S.-based international organization that works to transform the lives of the world’s orphaned children by addressing their medical, developmental, psychosocial and educational needs.

WWO was one of the first nongovernmental organizations to introduce professional peer training in Vietnam and Ethiopia for pediatric HIV/AIDS treatment, and was one of the first to provide antiretroviral treatment to orphans with HIV/AIDS in both countries. Other innovative programs for orphaned children include physical/occupational therapy, early intervention or “granny” programs that engage retired educators as caregivers; education, arts and humanities programs; and sports and recreational camps.

Glamour magazine: www.glamour.com/women-of-the-year/2009/jane-aronson

What Temple Leaders Do When Not At Temple...

2009-11-05T16:21:00.000-05:00

Here is a news clip that ran the night of the NYC Marathon.

In it Breena Fishback, one of our temple officers, is interviewed prior to running the marathon.

(The relevant part comes at about 2:03 into the clip.)

From Maplewood On Line...

2009-10-06T13:08:00.003-04:00

This was posted about TSTI last week on Maplewood On Line…thought the whole Temple community should have access to it as well.

First let me say that going to services last evening and this morning was a wonderful experience. I had never realized how handicapped-friendly our congregation really is until I got the opportunity to experience it first hand. The additional reserved spaces for handicapped persons were close to the main entrance but even so, we were given the option of driving up directly to a pick/up drop off space by the door if this was needed (we declined). The cut out leading from the parking lot to the pathway leading to the door was perfectly level making navigation with the wheelchair a breeze. One of the ushers opened a side door for us which lead directly to the front of the sanctuary so that we had to travel only a minimal distance (we were able to exit the same way which avoided having to navigate through crowds). We were directed to an area set aside for those with mobility issues, which was right by the exit referred to above. Last night the Rabbi seeing my wheelchair extended into the aisle came over and removed a chair so I could "sit with the rest of the congregation." I am so glad that we went.

From Maplewood On Line...

2009-10-06T13:08:00.002-04:00

This was posted about TSTI last week on Maplewood On Line…thought the whole Temple community should have access to it as well.

Help Is On The Way...

2009-10-06T13:07:00.003-04:00

It’s really when you are at your wit’s end; when you are frustrated in general and unhappy about your situation, and the person from your temple on the other end of the phone says: “I am sure I can help you with this.”

Help Is On The Way...

2009-10-06T13:07:00.002-04:00

Parking Lot Kindness...

2009-10-06T13:06:00.007-04:00

The parking lot was a flurry of activity on Rosh Hashanah morning between the early and late services. As it filled up, parking became more of a challenge. At one point, I watched a congregant struggling to back into a tight spot – with cars all around him waiting to pull in. It was not going smoothly. Just then, someone got out of another car, tapped on the window and from what I could see (I could not hear), graciously offered to do it. Stress averted – problem solved.

Sweetness In The Midst Of Loss...

2009-10-06T13:06:00.006-04:00

I had a death in my family and a woman I never met called me. She wanted to drop by with a challah. Some time passed and then she came by with a gift – a candle, some tea, a note from the Rabbi – a very sweet gesture. Do folks know that people at Temple do this for others here?

Parking Lot Kindness...

2009-10-06T13:06:00.005-04:00