Weekly Bulletin

SCHEDULE

Friday: 
5:00PM: Mincha in the Shul Parking Lot (No access to the building)
7:00PM/ 7:00PM: Candle Lighting/ Mincha in the Main Shul and Parking Lot
7:34PM: Candle Lighting

Shabbat:
7:30 & 9:30 AM: Shacharit in the Shul 
8:30AM: In the Shul parking lot
8:45AM: Shabbos Morning Parsha Shiur with Rabbi Zwickler (in the Social Hall)
9:00AM: Sephardic Shacharit 
9:25AM: Kriat Shema
6:00PM: Mincha in the Shul Parking Lot
6:30PM: Pirkei Avot Shiur with Rabbi Zwickler (under the awning outside the Shul)
7:00PM: Sephardic Mincha
7:30PM: Mincha in Main Shul 
Join Rabbi Zwickler for Torah In 20 in the Main Sanctuary between Mincha and Maariv. 
8:28PM: Maariv in the Main Shul and the Shul Parking Lot
8:38PM: Havdalah

Sunday:
8:00AM: Shacharit
8:00AM: Sephardic Shacharit 
10:00AM: Hilchot Talmud Torah with Joel Rich
7:45PM: Mincha/Maariv

Visit www.aabjd.org to join a minyan in shul, at the parking lot, or in a backyard. 

RABBI'S MESSAGE

In Parshas Emor the Kohanim are commanded to steer clear of potential contamination via an encounter with a dead body.  The Lubliner Rav zt”l expounds upon this commandment explaining that the essence of a Kohain is to seek peace, following in the footsteps of Aharon hakohein, who was renowned for his peacemaking skills among the Jewish people.    While the Kohanim pursue peace, they must do so without jeopardizing their pure status.  We can apply this message to our lives as well.  We are at times called upon to help others who are facing their own personal or familial challenges.  While we do so with an open heart and wonderful intentions, we have to be cognizant of the impact such efforts may have on our Mental Health. The more aware we are of our own emotional state, the more we are able to be helpful to others. 

From today’s Points to Ponder:
Yesterday I mentioned that today I was going to speak about Lag Baomer. Who would have thought I would have to speak about Lag Ba'omer in this way. Sometimes in life we are speechless and don't understand,  but sometimes it is supposed to be that way. When Aron's children were killed, he was silent and here we are trying to take in what transpired last night in Meiron. How thousands of people came together to celebrate, to elevate their spiritual connection to Hashem, to their souls, to burst into simcha at the end of the time that the students  of Rabbi Akiva passed away.  Yet here such a tragic turn of events took place, where 45 people now lost their lives. I can't help but to think  when we say in Netana Tokef on Yom Kippur, Me BaRash. Who would have ever thought that this would have happened. The videos are so frightening and I wish there were better words for us to comfort each other other than to say that there are moments we dont understand in life.  As we continue to turn the page from a difficult year for the world, and also a difficult year for Klal Yisroel and look forward to the future, and then all of a sudden a tragedy strikes. As we say the words Baruch Dayan Haemes, we are incapable of understanding the way Hashem works and with that we are speechless, silent and that's the way it is supposed to be for now. Wishing everyone a Shabbos of comfort as we think about how precious life is ,and how we love our family and appreciate every moment that Hashem affords us in this world.

MAZEL TOVS

• Mazel Tov to Jill & Barry Geiger on the Bar Mitzvah of their grandson, Jordan Silverman, this Shabbat in Bergenfield. Mazel Tov to parents Dani Silverman and Renana Silverman and to brother Jared.

YOUTH

•  Click here  for Parsha Sheets
• Save the Date: Sunday, May 16: Pre-Shavuot Sunday Tie Dye and Spray Paint Event! Come decorate your clothing and the shul parking lot like Hashem decorated Har Sinai. 
• Join us in writing cards/letters EVERY FRIDAY to send to residents of Daughters of Israel. Click here for more information.

UPCOMING EVENTS 

• Sunday, May 2 at 10:00AM: Join Joel Rich as we continue our series of Zoom shiurim in which we study the first book of The Rambam’s Mishna Torah, Sefer Madda. We are currently studying the third chapter of Hilchot Talmud Torah. No prior background is required for this series and each session can be attended independently.  Click here to find an online version of Sefer Madda with English translation.
• Sunday, May 2 at 10:00AM:  Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy, along with the Lauren Elise Bier Nursery School at Congregation AABJ&D and the Iris & Errol Berman Early Childhood Center at Suburban Torah, invite the community to JKHA for "Build Up to Shavuot".  Early childhood families will engage in Lag B'omer and Shavuot hands-on activities outdoors on our state-of-the-art campus. Social distancing will be enforced and masks are required for children ages 2 and up.  To register or for any questions, please contact Allison Lyons, JKHA Director of Admissions, at alyons@jkha.org or 862-437-8050.  Click here for more info. 
• Sunday, May 2 at 11:30AM:  Do you know anyone who is looking to move? Now is a great time to check out our amazing West Orange community! On May 2nd, the Marketing Committee is pleased to be hosting a Discover West Orange Drive-By event. This will be a great opportunity for prospective families to meet the Rabbis and community members, take a tour of our shuls and schools, and experience some of our local food establishments.  To register or for any questions, please email discoverwestorange@gmail.com.
• May 2-5, 2021 for the Global Family Health and Halacha Virtual Conference, featuring Nechama Price, our community Yoetzet Halacha as well as and other Yoatzot, Rebbetzins, Rabbis, medical professionals, therapists, and wellness professionals. Topics will include: Raising children with healthy self-esteem and body image, healthy marital intimacy and relationship skills throughout a marriage, pregnancy and childbirth, infertility and infant loss, addiction and its impact on marriage, and more. For more information, including a complete list of lectures and speakers, and to register, visit www.healthandhalacha.com. There is no cost for this multi-day, virtual event.
• Monday, May 3 at 2:00PM: All women are invited to join Yesh Tikva, a Jewish organization which was founded to support Jewish women and men who are facing infertility.  Pre-Mother's Day Mindfulness: Redefining our Expectation of the Day with Dr. Michelle Windmueller. Click on the the link to pre-register.  
• Tuesday, May 4 at 10:00AM: All women are invited to join Rabbi Zwickler for a text based Parshat Hashavuah Shiur. Click here for more info. 
• Tuesday, May 4  at 8:15PM (Please note new time): Navi Shiur led by Rabbi Sharbat. Join us for a new series on the Book of Zecharya.  Click here for more info. Click here to join the Tanach WhatsApp for weekly shiur updates. 
• Tuesday, May 4 at 9:00PM: All women are invited to join Yesh Tikva, a Jewish organization which was founded to support Jewish women and men who are facing infertility. Experiencing Mother’s Day as a Mother Facing Infertility with Talia Hindin, PSYD, and special guest Orli Leiberman LMHC, PMH-C. Click on the the link to pre-register.  
• Wednesday, May 5 at 8:30PM: All men and women are invited to join Yesh Tikva, a Jewish organization which was founded to support Jewish women and men who are facing infertility. Mothering a Mother in Waiting: Being a Parent to Someone Facing Infertility with our clinical consultant Dvora Entin, LCSW, PMH-C. Click on the the link to pre-register.  
• Thursday, May 6 at 8:00PM: Join us for a Gemara Shiur on Mesechet Kiddushin led by Rabbi Eliezer Zwickler. Click here for more info.
• Thursday, May 6- Sunday, May 9: Join us for a community wide Mental Health Shabbat sponsored by the AABJ&S Inclusion Committee. Featuring Scholar In Residence Rona Novick. For more info click here. To find out more information on additional speakers and to register, click here. 
• Save the Date: May 12 at 8:15PM: Women's Beit Midrash program- Shira Schiowitz, Tanach teacher at SAR High School and Rebbetzin of the Shaare Tefillah community, will speak on "Shavuot and the Ties of Community." Zoom details to follow. 
• Save The Date: Sunday, May 16th: Tikkun Leil Shavuot- Join us for all night learning & refreshments - Stay tuned for details!
• Save the Date: Monday, May 24 at 8:30PM: General Membership Meeting
• Save the Date: Tuesday, June 1: An Evening of Hakarat Hatov. The annual dinner is the shul's most significant fundraiser. This year, we will be  recognizing members of our shul who have extended themselves over the last year. Part of the program will include a Hakarat HaTov Journal, where recognition ads may be placed. Our goal is to have full participation from our members. Look for more details in the upcoming weeks!

EVENT REPLAYS

• To enjoy Rabbi Zwickler's Weekly WebDvar, click here. 

UPDATES & REMINDERS 

• Counting Up Is Back: Once again, we are compiling a booklet of Divrei Torah featuring articles from adults, teenagers, and children from our Shul that will be available for Shavout. What better way to learn on Tikkun L'eil Shavuot than through ideas, insights, and lessons from friends and neighbors in our community. We invite every family to be a part of this special project that can be shared for Shavout and beyond. Please submit all Divrei Torah to office@aabjd.org by May 7th. Be Counted! In addition to contributing Divrei Torah, we invite you to contribute to "Counting Up" by sponsoring the learning in honor of someone and/or in memory of a loved one. What a beautiful way to instill the love of learning and Torah to our children and pay tribute to the memory of family members. "Be Counted" and be part of this unique learning and teaching experience. $360 Full Page, $250 Half Page, $180 1/4 Page, $54 Listing. To sponsor, go to to  www.aabjd.org  and click on the Donate tab, or  click here and choose "Shavout Book- Counting Up" from the drop-down menu.  For any questions please contact Bryan Bier or Larry Rein. 
• 2021 SHUL DIRECTORY: Please take a moment to look at the current Shul directory to verify your information.If you would like to add your cell phone numbers, emails or make any changes please email all of the information to the Shul office at office@aabjd.org.  If you have moved into the community since the last directory please make sure we have your listing. If you would like to advertise your business, all full page ads are $300. All ads must be prepaid. All changes must be in no later than Friday, May 14. 
• Camp Shemesh: Registration is open! Registration forms can be found at https://www.aabjd.org/camp-shemesh. Space is limited so sign up today. For more information please reach out to campshemesh@aabjd.org.
• Lauren Elise Bier Nursery School: Registration is open! Registration forms can be found at https://www.aabjd.org/nursery-school. Space is limited so sign up today.  For more information please reach out to alizam@aabjd.org.
• Visit our new website at www.AABJD.org. Update your profile information by logging in  from the upper right corner, and clicking on "My Account".  Update your contact information, family details, and yahrzeits. This information will enable us to provide you with communications and reminders that are most relevant to you.
• Please join the Orthodox Union community for the recitation of Tehillim (chapters 20, 27, and 130) and divrei chizuk each afternoon at 1:00PM.  The dial-in number is (773) 377-9170.​​​​​​
• If you would like to sponsor a shiur, day of learning or week of learning please click here and include dedication information.
• Join our WhatsApp groups!  Click here for a list of available groups.

CHESED OPPORTUNITIES

• The WO/Livingston Chesed Group is launching a project that will try to ease the financial burden on those community members who are unemployed/ underemployed. We are compiling a list of individuals who would be willing to donate their services (e.g. medical, legal, financial, IT, therapy, etc). If you are interested in joining this initiative, please fill out this form  https://forms.gle/gkMCuxWwSmwnNQsr7 or reach out to any of us at WOLivGives@gmail.com. 
• In an effort to assist individuals who are in need of job search support during this economic downturn, the Livingston and West Orange communities have revived the Jewish Job Network (JJN), including guidance in resume writing, interviewing, career counseling, networking, starting a new business, learning how to consult and job retraining.  If you are in need of assistance or if you are interested in volunteering, please go to JJN's website http://jewishjobnetwork.com.  If you have any questions on the above, please reach out to Fernand Schoppig - schoppig@fsassociates.com. 

SAFETY REMINDERS

• All members, guests, and faculty must wear masks that fully cover the nose and mouth at all times while on shul property—both during and after davening.  Masks may not be removed, even to cough, sneeze or blow your nose. This is absolutely mandatory both inside and outside the building, including the parking lot and common areas.
• In order to help ensure the health and safety of our community, we want to remind everyone of the critical importance of adhering to the calls for social distancing, including play dates or any innocuous get togethers.
• Dr. Torin Rutner is conducting COVID testing and COVID antibody testing locally. If you would like to make an appointment, please call or text him at 973 568-4469. 

PRINTING INSTRUCTIONS

To view and print the announcements go to https://www.aabjd.org/weekly-bulletin. Click the share button at the top and then hit print.