Purim Magazine FC NJ

‫ב׳׳ה‬

Friendship Circle

PURIM HOW TO

PURIM FEBRUARY 25-26

THE HAPPIEST DAY

UNMASKED

TIPS FROM

QUEEN ESTHER INSIDE THE HAMANTASH

{FROM THE RABBI’S DESK} Dear Friend,

ABOUT THE COVER: Yehuda Lang is a Toronto-based artist that inspires art lovers worldwide with his unique and vibrant style. His “L'chaim” dancing Rabbi jumps off the page and demands we dance as well! Yehuda's art attempts to capture that Chasidic energy, and transform what the eye sees into what the heart feels. The artwork is available on www.YehudaLang.com.

Published by Friendship Circle 10 Microlab Road Livingston, NJ 07039 973.251.0200 www.fcnj.com

Has the world ever needed the joy of Purim like we do this year? The story of how one seemingly natural event led to another, and just like that, the evil plan of Haman was foiled. Great darkness was instantly transformed into light, and bitter sadness quickly became intense joy.

The dancing Rabbi on the cover wants you to know that it's a mitzvah to be happy and that joy helps break us free! Purim is that unique Jewish holiday that has been termed the Happiest Day of the Year! This magazine is our way of sharing that joy. You'll find the perfect how-to celebrate Purim with our step-by-step guide.

This year we have been physically separated and wearing masks. The Purim traditional of dressing up, reminds us that our outward appearance and behavior is always a mask. We realize that all those things that separate us from each other have nothing to do with our real identity. The celebration of Purim gives us the ability to look behind the mask and discover the real person.

May we have our own Purim miracle this year and experience the words of the Megillah, “‫אוֹרה וְ ִשׂ ְמ ָחה‬ ָ ‫הוּדים ָהיְ ָתה‬ ִ ְ‫לַ יּ‬, the Jews had light and gladness."

Wishing you a Happy and Healthy Purim!

Friendship Circle

GENERATIONS HOLD HANDS ACROSS

‫ב״ה‬

GENERATIONS

EDITOR IN-CHEIF: Bluma Marcus EDITOR: Rabbi Shmuel Marcus DESIGN: Carasmatic Design COVER ARTWORK: Yehuda Lang

‫לדור‬ ‫ודור‬

ARTWORK: Yitzchok Moully COPY EDITOR: JewD Fields

Remember Friendship Circle and LifeTown in your will. ©2021 by Soulwise Magazine. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce any portion of This magazine in any form, without prior written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages.

Printed in the USA

Purim 5781 / 2021

JOIN $3 MILLION ENDOWMENT CHALLENGE LifeTown.com/Endowment

Call 973-251-0203 for more information

A LETTER from

Queen Esther Dear People of Mine,

When I was a young girl (circa 4th Century BCE) the Persian

Empire basically ruled the world. King Ahasuerus ruled over 127 lands, and all the Jews were his subjects. In the third year to his rule, King Ahasuerus threw a massive party, got drunk, and had his wife, Queen Vashti, executed for failing to follow his orders. After that, I heard about a beauty pageant to find the new queen. I was a modest Jewish girl named Esther, I had no interest in the TikTok or Instagram of the day. I lived a very private life with my uncle Mordechai. Yet, somehow, I won the beauty contest and would become the new queen. On my way to the palace, my uncle told me not to divulge my nationality.

There was no kosher food for me in the palace and I survived on seeds. Although I was queen, I quickly learned that I needed an appointment to see the king.

Meanwhile, the Jew-hating Haman was appointed prime minister of the empire. My uncle Mordechai, the leader of the Jews, refused to bow to Haman. Haman was incensed, and he convinced the king to issue a decree ordering the extermination of all the Jews on the 13th of Adar, a date chosen by a lottery Haman made.

It was a scary time to be Jewish, as there was absolutely nowhere to run. I instructed Mordechai to galvanize the Jews, convincing them to repent, fast and pray. Meanwhile, I asked the king and Haman to join me for a feast. At a subsequent feast, I revealed

to the king my Jewish identity. Haman was hanged, Mordechai was appointed prime minister in his stead, and a new decree was issued, granting the Jews the right to defend themselves against their enemies.

On the 13th of Adar, the Jews mobilized and killed many of their enemies. On the 14th of Adar, they rested and celebrated. In the capital city of Shushan, they took one more day to finish the job.

Purim means “lots” in ancient Persian. The holiday was thus named since Haman had thrown lots to determine when he would carry out his diabolical scheme.

I wrote the full story of what happened in what’s called the Megilah or Scroll of Esther. I asked that all Jews observe Purim by doing the following 4 things: 1) Read the Megilah (Scroll of Esther). This is done once on the eve of Purim and then again on the following day.

2) Give money gifts to at least two poor people.

3) Send gifts of two kinds of food to one person.

4) Enjoy a festive Purim meal, which often includes wine or other intoxicating beverages.

By order of the queen, I bless you with a Happy Purim!

Yours truly,

Esther D Purim 5781 / 2021

how-to

PU RIM

Shabbat, Adar 8 / Feb. 20 PARSHAT ZACHOR

Do Not Forget: The Shabbat before Purim is called Zachor, because Zachor means to remember, and the Torah commands us to “Remember to blot out the name of Amalek.”

Haman (a great grandson of Amalek) is blotted out with graggers while reading the Megilah on Purim.

Thursday, Adar 13 / Feb. 25 FAST OF ESTHER

Ta'anit Esther is observed as a fast day in commemoration of the fast observed by Mordechai, Esther, and all Israel.

On the thirteenth of Adar, the enemies of the Jews had planned to subjugate and destroy them, but the opposite occurred, and the Jews held dominion over their enemies.

"The Jews gathered in their cities..." Unlike Yom Kippur, this fast is a custom, therefore, if you have any health issues or you are living through a pandemic, contact your Rabbi for guidance.

Purim Night - Thursday, Adar 13 / Feb. 25

Purim 5781 / 2021

HALF SHEKEL

HEAR THE MEGILAH

It is customary to give three half dollars to charity. This custom is in memory of the half shekel given by Jews in Temple times.

This biblical tax supported the supply of Divine offerings used in the Temple service.

Spiritually, the half shekel reminds us that G-d Himself is our other “half,” and He completes us by making us His partners in perfecting creation. The sages advise us to give three half shekels since the Hebrew word terumah donation, and the words "half a shekel," are mentioned three times in the Torah.

Head to your local Chabad for (an outdoor) reading of the whole Megilah. The Megilah, a.k.a. “The Book of Esther,” is the scroll that tells the Purim story. In her letter to the Jews, Queen Esther asked that we listen to the reading of the Megilah twice: once on Purim night, and again on Purim day.

Custom: When Haman’s name is mentioned (Chabad custom is that this is only when it is accompanied with a title), you can twirl graggers (noisemakers) or stamp your feet to eradicate his evil name.

purim day - Friday, Adar 14 / Feb. 26

the 4 mitzvot of purim MEGILAH

CHARITY

GIFTS OF FOOD

FESTIVE MEAL

The Megilah, a.k.a. “The Book of Esther,” is the scroll that tells the Purim story. In her letter to the Jews, Queen Esther asked that we listen to the reading of the Megilah twice: once on Purim night, and again on Purim day.

Give money (or food) to at least two needy people during the daylight hours of Purim. This mitzvah obviously brings joy to the poor and, surprisingly, you will notice that the giver also experiences intense joy by giving. So, give joy to get joy.

Send a package containing at least two different readyto-eat food items and/or beverages (e.g., pastry, fruit, beverage) to at least one Jewish acquaintance during the daylight hours of Purim.

Men send to men, and women to women.

Enjoy a festive Purim meal with challah or bread, celebrate with good food and fine wine. Note: This year Purim falls on a Friday, and out of deference to the approaching Shabbat, we start the meal earlier, ideally before midday.

Special Prayers On Purim, we include the brief V’al Hanissim section in all the day’s prayers, as well as in the day’s Grace after Meals. This prayer describes the Purim story and thanks G-d for the “miracles, redemptions, mighty deeds, saving acts and wonders” that He wrought for our ancestors on this day many years ago.

Shabbat, Adar 15 / Feb. 27 SHUSHAN PURIM If you live in a ancient walled cities—Jerusalem is the primary example—Purim is again observed on the 15th of Adar. This is to commemorate the fact that in the ancient walled city of Shushan, the battles between the Jews and their enemies extended for an additional day.

Wear a mask!

On Purim, children— and some adventurous adults too—traditionally dress in costumes, an allusion to G-d’s vailed hand in the Purim miracle, which was hidden behind natural events.

Purim 5781 / 2021

Esther’s Secret to Success

By Rabbi Yossi Marcus

Lessons from the Queen of Purim on how to become a Jewish hero In all of history, how many people can say, “I saved the Jewish people from destruction”?

Queen Esther can, though it’s unlikely she would. She might say, “I was the vehicle through which G-d saved the Jewish people.” Or just, “I was in the right place at the right time.”

The threat faced by the Jews in Esther’s times — by the genocidal Haman (boo!) and his hapless facilitator Achashverosh (double boo?) — was total annihilation, G-d forbid. We were all under Achashveroh’s rule. There was no “America,” or “Shanghai,” to escape to.

Purim 5781 / 2021

It’s horrifying to think of what might have happened, but only by doing so can we appreciate Esther and understand the reverence in which she is held by Jewish tradition. To bring it closer to home, imagine the love for a person who managed to stop Hitler, saving the lives of millions.

But why did G-d choose Esther as the vehicle for redemption?

BRILLIANT STRATEGIST Esther: A Few Quick Facts •

Her mother, a widow, died during childbirth, leaving Esther a double orphan. She was raised by her cousin, the Jewish leader of the time, Mordechai.

•

Her name was also Hadassah, and the Talmudic sages debate which of the two names was her given name and which her nickname.

•

Hadassah means a myrtle, a metaphor the Torah uses for the righteous.

•

Esther means hidden, since G-d was hidden in her time and hidden in the miraculous salvation.

•

She was one of seven prophetesses mentioned by the Torah.

•

The Scroll of Esther is not only about her but written by her.

•

By her insistence, the Scroll of Esther was included in the canon of the Bible.

The astute observer of the Purim story will note a number of Esther’s traits:

LEADERSHIP When Mordechai convinces her to risk her life and beseech the king to rescind the decree, Esther takes the reins of leadership.

She instructs Mordechai to gather the Jews to fast and pray for three days. Mordechai initially balks at this, since it impedes on the upcoming Passover holiday (no matzah ball soup?!). But Esther, whose prophetic prowess surpassed Mordechai’s, impresses upon him that there would be no Jewish people, G-d forbid, to celebrate Passover if they didn’t do the spiritual work of Return (teshuvah) through fasting and prayer.

SELF-SACRIFICE AND COURAGE Showing tremendous courage, she approaches the king uninvited, a crime punishable by death. Remember, this is the same king who killed off Queen Vashti earlier in the story for disobeying his command. Esther is prepared to die for the sake of her people.

Thankfully, the king welcomes her favorably. Yet Esther does not immediately beg for her people, she does something unexpected: she invites the king to a feast. Stranger yet, she invites Haman, the archenemy of her people, to attend as well.

And at the feast, does she get to the point? Far from it. She invites them to another feast!

This is all very strange, yet also brilliant. Esther understood the psychology of these two men. By inviting Haman she wanted to drive a wedge between the king and Haman, which worked so well that the king couldn’t sleep that night. “Why is Esther inviting Haman?” he wondered. His jealousy was provoked. So was his paranoia. “Are they plotting to kill me?”

By the time the second feast comes along, Achashverosh has raised up Mordechai and humiliated Haman. Esther has primed the situation perfectly for Haman’s demise. She makes sure that Haman will be present when the king goes ballistic, so that Haman’s demise comes quickly, before he can rally to change the fickle king’s mind.

HOW TO BE A HEROINE So what does it take to be a heroine or hero? Esther shows us a few of the ingredients: humility, self-control, confident leadership, a willingness to put herself at risk to save others, and strategic planning. But perhaps this is her most important trait: faith.

Esther is willing to try her hand at diplomacy, but only after addressing the spiritual side of things. She fasts and prays for three days. She realizes that G-d runs the world, not Achashveroshs and Hamans. Our efforts — to earn a living, find a cure, broker a deal — create a channel through which G-d’s blessings flow.

But without G-d’s blessings, the channel is...empty. Esther is the master of Divine concealment. She can see G-d’s countenance behind the deceptive mask of the natural world.

In our own lives, we face challenges and the existential concealment of the Divine. The first step to being a hero is to see beyond the surface. To unmask the facade of nature and “coincidence.” To recognize that der Aibershter firt de velt — the world has a Divine planner. We can then call upon our inner Esther to fearlessly and strategically pursue what is right and good. One mitzvah at a time, we too, will bring redemption to the world. • >> Excerpts from the The Book of Esther with a new commentary anthologized from Talmud, Midrash, classic Rabbinic commentators, and the Chabad Rebbes, deluxe edition. The text of the Megilah was translated and interpolated by Rabbi Yosef Marcus, with additional material by Rabbi Eli Block, including the fascinating look at the Purim story in the light of Chasidism. Buy the book at www.kehot.com.

Purim 5781 / 2021

!

O BO Haman f o w e i V ological h hy c y s P A Philosop d a b a h C erman Based on

By Ben Sh

Haman the evil villain of the Purim story is hated for much more than just his diabolical plan to abolish the Jews. On Purim, it is important to know Haman's backstory, so we can identify the Haman in our own lives. We did research into Haman’s history, and discovered the invisible force that holds us back in life. Grab your gragger and let's get started.

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW The hatred in Haman's heart has its roots in events that occurred centuries earlier. Let's flashback to the Jews as they were leaving Egypt.

News of the ten miraculous plagues and the splitting of the sea had spread across the region. Moses was untouchable and unstoppable in his march towards the Promised Land. Everything was going well, until the nation of Amalek attacked the Jews. Although Moses won the war, the Jews lost the status of untouchable. (G-d would blame Amalek for this attack and every future attack waged against the Jews. The Torah commands us to never forget Amalek.)

Two generations later, the Prophet Samuel directed King Shaul to capture Agag, King of Amalek, and eventually Samuel killed Agag. Yet, Agag was able to father a child while in captivity, and that child was Haman's great grandfather.

Purim 5781 / 2021

Haman was a living, breathing, descendant of Amalek.

Amalek's hatred and dedication to destroy the Jews is irrational, Apparently, everyone knew that Mordechai and Esther were scions and they will happily wage a losing battle. You could say, Amalek of the royal family of Shaul, the first king of Israel. Now, it was hates for no reason, similar to when we have non-rational fears personal. Haman would repay Shaul for the capture and killing and doubts. The persistent Haman in our life is our non-rational Agag, by killing Mordechai and the Jews. hesitation to doing the right thing.

Was it just revenge? Or is there more to the flashback?

THE SUBPLOT “Remember what Amalek did to you...as you came forth from Now the Purim subplot comes to life. The ugly pull of Egypt, how he encountered you on the way and cut irrational hatred, the desire to kill a people for no down all the weak who straggled behind you.” reason, can only be won with irrational dedication.

The Midrash explains that the Hebrew Approaching Jewish life with reason alone word "korcha" (“he encountered you”) can is flawed. The only way we can connect also be rendered as “he cooled you off.” with an infinite G-d is by actualizing The only Amalek represents the cold rationality a potential within ourselves that is way we can connect which makes us question everything we similarly unbounded. with an infinite G-d is do or experience.

One of the craziest things we The untouchable nation that had by actualizing a potential know about Jewish survival, is that brought down the mighty Pharaoh, there is an insane amount of power within ourselves that is was faced with a new enemy: Doubt in the irrational. The Jew does G-d's similarly unbounded. and fear. Spiritually, Amalek pierced work and later asks for the why. This is our sense of security, inflicting us with how we go beyond our limited selves negative thoughts and doubts. Haman and activate the infinite G-dly potential and Amalek are your most dangerous of our souls. enemy because they get into your head.

PURIM TREATMENT As a result of this, the Jews were If Haman's condition is irrational hate and baseless ego, commanded, "When G-d will relieve you of all your enemies... blot than his nemesis is thus irrational dedication and humility. The out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” When it comes to treatment for this can be called "Yehudi" as the scroll of Esther refers doubt, you need to get rid of it totally. If one ember is left alight, no to Mordechai, the ultimate poster child for irrational commitment. matter how dimly it may smolder, a fire will eventually break out.

The Jewish people are also called Yehudim, a word that shares a Jewish self-doubt must be crushed completely. (Boo!!) (Naturally, common root with Hoda'ah, signifying selfthe numerical value of Amalek is the same as the Hebrew word effacing acknowledgment — i.e., serving safek “doubt.”)

G-d with complete dedication.

HAMAN'S DIAGNOSIS In order to counter Haman's Why would Amalek attack a nation that just turned the great plans, Mordechai and Esther Nile into blood and had recently walked through a raging sea? Why showed a complete and would Amalek start a war they knew they would lose? unquestioning commitment To truly appreciate the Haman and Amalek condition we need to G-d’s Will, even when to examine the Jewish condition they so fiercely reacted to. challenged by the severest THE FORCE OF THE IRRATIONAL conditions. They encouraged The Jewish people showed their true colors when they declared, their fellow Jews to turn Naaseh VeNishma — “We will do, and we will listen.” This happened to G-d and strengthen at the foot of Mount Sinai as G-d was offering the Torah. Without their observance of reading the fine print at all, the Jews said “We will do,” referring to Torah, even while the desire to carry out G-d’s will, and later “we will listen,” referring under threat to understanding what and why. By proclaiming “We will do,” of Haman’s before “we will listen,” our ancestors implied that they would fulfill decree. • G-d’s will without hesitation or doubt, whether they understood it >> Ben Sherman or not. is a staff writer at Chabad Magazine.

You could say, we were crazy about being Jewish. The Jewish condition is an irrational love and commitment to G-d and the Torah. Sadly, this unique quality has a very dark flip side and enemy.

Purim 5781 / 2021

@BARTENURABLUE

Bartenura-NowYouCan-FP.indd 3

5/11/20 3:44 PM

44 PM

Inside the

By Shira Gold

M

y grandmother Rosa came from Russia with only memories and recipes. She, and my grandfather Jakob, somehow survived Europe's 1930's and arrived at Ellis Island in 1946. I always knew what time of year it was from the smells coming from her small Brooklyn kitchen. It was easy to sense the round raison challahs browning in the oven before the Jewish New Year. We all knew Chanukah was coming when we caught a whiff her signature latkes.

As the seasons changed and New York's snow started to melt back into rain, Bubby would spread a large plastic sheet over the kitchen table and start rolling out a thin cookie dough. What started out as the size of a small tennis ball was soon as large and round as a full size pizza. But more importantly, that dough was paper thin.

I would watch as she used a wine glass to cut perfect circles in the dough. Bubby was not a drinker, and those poor wine glasses waited all year for this moment. Off to the side was the same filling she used every year, poppy seeds. With a teaspoon and a lot of love, she gently served each circle a dose of poppy seeds before closing them into a triangle. And that was it. Bubby's hamantashen would cheerfully announce the arrival of Purim.

As I grew older, and television went from black and white to color, so did Bubby's hamantashen. First, the bright red cherry jelly came along, then the flavorful orange apricot. The old black and white poppy seed hamantash was over. Just imagine how far we've come—I recently met a kid who had a raspberry chocolate chip hamantash!

Honestly, the classic hamantash was always filled with poppy seeds. Indeed, the very word “haman” can either refer to the wicked Haman or poppy seeds (mohn), and the Yiddish word “tash” means pocket. Thus, “hamantashen” means “poppy-seed-filled pockets!”

This is in line with the classic explanation given in the Code of Jewish Law for eating hamantashen on Purim: Some say that one should eat a food made out of seeds on Purim in memory of the seeds that Daniel and his friends ate in the house of the king of Babylon, as the verse states, “And he gave them seeds.”

But what in the world does Daniel eating seeds have to do with Purim?

The Talmud explains that Hatach, Queen Esther’s faithful messenger, and one of the lesser-known heroes of the Purim story, is a pseudonym for none other than Daniel.

Furthermore, as we read in the Purim story, when Esther was in the king’s palace, she kept her identity secret. The Talmud explains

Art by Yitzchok Moully / moullyart.com

With a teaspoon and a lot of love, she gently served each circle a dose of poppy seeds before closing them into a triangle. that since the food was unkosher, she survived on various beans and seeds.

It is in commemoration of both Daniel and Esther that there is a custom to eat beans and seeds on Purim. The way this custom is traditionally observed is by eating pastry pockets, a.k.a. tashen filled with mohn, poppy seeds.

In addition to the classic reason for hamantashen, many other explanations have been offered to explain this custom. Indeed, just about every aspect of this treat is laden with symbolism. Here are some explanations given.

The Weakening of Haman “Tash” in Hebrew means “weaken.” Thus, the hamantash celebrates the weakening of Haman and our wish that G-d always saves us by weakening our enemies.

Hidden Messages During the Purim story, Mordechai sent numerous letters to his followers, warning them of the impending doom. Afraid to send the letters by conventional routes lest their enemies intercept them, he sent the letters hidden inside pastries. In commemoration of this, we eat pastries with a filling.

Hidden Sweetness The hidden hand of G-d is a major theme of Purim. G-d's protection and blessings are ever present. However, sometimes, like in the story of Purim, the hand of G-d is hidden, operating in a behind-the-scenes fashion. To celebrate this idea we eat hamantashen with filling that is hidden within the dough. • Purim 5781 / 2021

ent}

My Personal

Purim

By Sara Esther Crispe, reprinted with permission from Chabad.org

I

couldn’t believe it. Not again. There I was, eight weeks pregnant, and I was spotting. It was light, but it was definitely blood, and it was the last thing I wanted to see.

I called my husband and told him I needed to go to the emergency room for an ultrasound. It was late at night, but I just didn’t want to wait until the morning. We managed to find a babysitter and, once again, headed to the familiar corridor at the Bikur Cholim hospital in Jerusalem.

The very same corridor where I had been told previously on two occasions that my pregnancies hadn’t made it.

So, there I was, again. This time however, I had two healthy children at home which gave me the strength of knowing that maybe, just maybe, there would be good news.

After what seemed like an unbearably long wait, the nurse called me in and did the routine questioning. She wrote down my dates, my history, took my weight, everything. As it was so early in the pregnancy, I hadn’t yet been to my doctor, but with my history, and especially with the spotting, I knew it couldn’t wait.

The nurse did an ultrasound and kept moving the instrument over and over my stomach. I saw her straining her eyes, trying to determine what it was she was seeing, or worse, maybe what she wasn’t seeing. She then turned to me and explained that she Purim 5781 / 2021

couldn’t find the baby on the monitor. She saw the pregnancy sac but not the baby.

Having had this happen before, I knew what this meant, but she continued to explain that the ultrasound machines in the hospital weren’t the greatest resolution and since it was so early in the pregnancy that I really needed to go to my doctor and let him do an ultrasound on a better machine.

I wasn’t sure if she was telling me this to make me feel better, or because she really believed it, but I had no choice but to return home, unsure as to whether or not I was still pregnant.

The next morning, I made an immediate appointment and came in to see the doctor.

Again, I answered all the questions, and it was determined that I should have been seven or eight weeks pregnant. According to my dates, the baby should have been quite visible at that point, with a strong heartbeat.

Once again, we attempted the ultrasound. Once again, there was nothing to be found. I stared alongside the doctor at the empty screen. A pregnancy sac with all the pregnancy symptoms, with no baby to be found. This time I knew it wasn’t the resolution of the monitor. Though, once again, the doctor suggested that if it would make me feel better, I could wait another week and try again. I asked if there was any point in this. If there was any chance that in a week anything would be different. He

admitted that nothing would change, but that it might, just might, give me more time to come to terms with the situation.

I am not one to put off dealing with things so, to me, another week was even more difficult if not cruel. If my pregnancy was truly over, I wanted it over. I wanted to be able to mourn and move on. Dragging out the inevitable accomplished nothing other than stretching my pain.

The doctor gave me the form I needed to take to the hospital, but warned me that most likely, they wouldn't be able to admit me for a few days because of the holiday.

It was then that I realized that the next day was Purim. And not only was Purim supposed to be a joyous occasion but, at that time, my husband and I were running a program for post-high school students, and I was supposed to be cooking the celebratory meal for thirty-plus girls for our huge annual Purim party.

Although I had wanted to take care of this right away, I certainly had no interest in spending Purim in the hospital. I figured I would go home, get through the holiday, somehow put a smile on my face, and then deal with my loss afterwards.

When my husband asked me if I had any plans on dressing up as I had in the past, I told him I was dressed up. I was walking around laughing, smiling, friendly, happy.

That wasn’t me. That wasn’t how I felt. That

was my Purim mask. That upbeat attitude was masking how inside I was mourning the loss of my baby. My joy was my costume.

There is the concept that when we enter the Jewish month of Adar, we are to be marbim b’simcha, we are to increase in our joy. This is the month in which we celebrate the holiday of Purim, a time where we were witness to revealed miracles. And yet, I never knew until this incident that an obligation to be happy is not always so easy.

I had always found it strange that we are commanded to be joyous. Until that year. It took all of my strength to try and find joy, it took all of my strength to try and see the positive.

I somehow made it through that Purim.

My students had a blast. I busied myself with the details of the party and getting my kids dressed up. As we read the Megilah, I reminded myself that just as G-d’s name doesn’t appear once in the whole story of Purim, and yet clearly G-d is present in every moment, so too, even though I was suffering, it was clear that I wasn’t alone. I thought of how this holiday was celebrating an unbelievable turn of events from what could have been the most devastating massacre of the Jewish people into a day of celebration and freedom.

And I thought that maybe, just maybe, this related to my situation as well. A part of me berated myself for trying to think positively when there was nothing to think about. Two ultrasounds had already said the same thing. There was no baby. My pregnancy was over. And yet, the story of Purim also seemed closed and shut and then there was a miracle.

But when Purim was over, I figured I had no other choice but to register at the hospital. And yet, they wouldn’t let me. With all of the annoyances of Israeli bureaucracy, there was a time limit for the doctor’s slip, and the time had expired. I was told that in order to come to the hospital, I would once again need to go back to my doctor and get another slip from him. And no, he could not fax it. And no, it couldn’t be a different doctor.

I realized that by the time I could get to the doctor and then to the hospital, it would

be Thursday, and I absolutely didn't want to spend Shabbat in the hospital. I figured I would just go on Sunday to the doctor (Sunday is a work day in Israel) and then to the hospital that evening.

It was Saturday evening as I was arranging babysitting for the next day when I heard sirens. One after the other after the other. From all directions to all directions until their wail became deafening. I knew there had been an attack. And I knew that unfortunately there must have been many casualties.

I was walking around laughing, smiling, friendly, happy. That wasn’t me. That wasn’t how I felt. That was my Purim mask.

I turned on the radio to discover that a bomber had detonated himself about ten minutes away from my apartment, in the neighborhood of Beit Yisrael, alongside a group of women who were standing with their baby carriages. I would soon learn that six young children were murdered in this attack, another four mothers were killed and over fifty women and children were seriously injured.

I sat in shock trying to comprehend this immense loss. Children, who just a day ago were running around in their Purim costumes, were now gone. How quickly the world could turn upside down.

I thought to myself that even though I had lost my baby, there was no comparison to the pain and loss that these families, their loved ones and the entire Jewish people had just experienced. There was no way I was going to try to go to the hospital. The hospitals needed all their resources to focus on the victims. Anything not critical would have to wait.

I waited another week, until the next

Sunday, to finally return to the doctor for my new hospital admittance slip. I explained what I needed and he began to write and then, figuring I had nothing to lose, I asked if maybe, just maybe, since I was already in the office, he would be willing to do one more ultrasound.

He explained that my blood tests had shown that my hormone levels weren't high enough, and two ultrasounds had shown that there was no baby. Another ultrasound wasn't going to change anything.

I don’t know where it came from, as I am not one to publicly show emotion, but I started to cry and cry and cry. And this doctor had no idea what to do with me. As a way of offering comfort, he asked if an ultrasound would make me feel better. And while I didn’t really think it would, I was too overwhelmed to do anything other than shake my head “yes.”

I didn’t even bother lying down on the table as I wanted to see my sac one more time, clearly, and then move on. The doctor sighed as he began to move the instrument over my stomach. And then, within seconds, I was sure I saw something.

The doctor almost dropped the instrument as I asked in amazement, “Is that my baby? Is that a heartbeat?” To which all he could do was nod his head.

Once again he asked my dates, which indicated that I should have been almost ten weeks pregnant. And yet, I wasn’t.

According to the ultrasound, I was only six weeks pregnant. I was at the exact time when the baby is first able to be seen in an ultrasound. In the other two ultrasounds my baby wasn’t showing, not because he wasn’t there, but because he was too small to be seen.

"If you had done this ultrasound last week, we would not have been able to see the baby. What a miracle!" was all he could say. I left the office holding tightly in my hand the original form the doctor had given me for the D&C. That slip currently sits in my son's baby book.

Our baby boy was born exactly eight months later to the very day. We named him Netanel, meaning “gift from G-d.” •

Purim 5781 / 2021

JEWISH?

By Rabbi Shmuel Marcus

The word Jew has a unique history and meaning behind it. The Scroll of Esther’s Jewish leader is called “Mordechai the Jew.” So we thought this would be a good time to analyze the word itself.

What does “Jew” really mean?

Purim 5781 / 2021

THE JEW Imagine you get a call from a big-name attorney, informing you that you are the beneficiary of large estate in the Middle East. The windfall includes an inheritance of a literary trove that has shaped humanity and a patch of beach-front property near the Mediterranean Sea. In a slow, deep, voice, the attorney tells you that you’ll now be getting spiritual royalties from the works of Moses and King David, and you can now call the entire Promised Land your “Home.”

You would be excited, thrilled and, perhaps, friends may start treating you like you’re a real big deal. And you are.

If you haven’t gotten that phone call yet, consider this that phone call. The exact word used by the Torah to describe your Jewishness is “Inheritance.” And I quote: Deuteronomy 33:4, “The Torah that Moses commanded us is the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.”

This implies that Judaism is the birthright of every Jew, regardless of how “Religious” you are. You’re a Jew and the Torah (with all its traditions) and Israel (with all its blessings) are yours!

So, claim your inheritance and let your brothers and sisters know what rightfully belongs to them.

You are probably now processing the sudden phone call and appreciating the windfall. Maybe you’re even having your friends refer to you as “The Jewish Prince” or “Jewish Princess.” However, before you quit your job, keep reading.

ORIGINS OF THE WORD “JEW” We weren’t always called Jews. Over 3500 years ago the Torah calls Abraham “the Ivri.” Commonly known as the father of the Jews, Abraham himself never heard the word Jew. He was actually called an “Ivri” (Hebrew) and his kids were the Hebrews. This could be for a few reasons: 1) Ancestry: Ever (usually Anglicized as "Eber"), great-greatgrandson of Noah, ancestor of Abraham, was one of the bearers of the monotheistic tradition. Perhaps, as his descendant and disciple, Abraham was called an Ivri.

2) Faith: The word "Ivri" means "opposite side." Abraham believed in one G-d, and the rest of the world worshipped idols. Ivri means, "Abraham stood on one side, and the entire world stood on the other side."

3) Geography: Abraham the “Ivri” came from the “other side” of the Jordan River and was not a native Canaanite.

Do you feel like it’s you against the world? Well, now you know where that comes from.

HEBREW / ISRAELITES In the book of Genesis, Abraham’s grandson Jacob wrestles with an angel and wins. The angel gives Jacob the new name of Israel (Yisroel). Now the Torah starts calling the Hebrews, The Children of Israel, the Israelites. The Holy Land is now called the Land of Israel.

DUALITY OF A PEOPLE Jacob (Yakov) is the Hebrew word for heel, as he was grabbing his older twin brother’s heel as he emerged second from the womb. Born the underdog, the struggling “heel,” Jacob later achieves greatness and

is renamed Yisroel meaning victorious over an angel.

We are still called by both names The Children of Jacob and The Children of Israel, indicating our dual personality of both struggling with our mission and being victorious. Can you relate? It seems struggle is in our DNA, it’s part of our mission.

HEBREW, ISRAELITE, JEW The term "Jew" is first found in the name of Jacob's fourth son, Judah—Yehudah. Perhaps, at first only Judah’s kids were called the Jews and the other tribes still called themselves the Hebrews, but by the 5th century BCE, the ten tribes were exiled and lost. The only remaining Israelites were the residents of the Kingdom of Judah, and the term "Yehudi" or "Jew" came to refer to all the Hebrews, regardless of their tribal ancestry.

PERSONALITY PROFILE Yehudah shares the same root as the Hebrew word hoda'ah, which means acknowledgement or thankfulness. The Jew naturally acknowledges the existence of a Higher Power and is thankful for everything. Can you relate?

MEMBERSHIP What’s so unique about being Jewish, is that Jews defy all conventional definitions of a "people" or "nation." We lack a common race or culture. While we all share our eternal rights to the Land of Israel, the majority of Jews have not been to the Jewish homeland. Six out of ten Jews today do not identify as “observant” or “religious,” yet, we are all Jews.

We did our research and went back to the original verse, and it says G-d chose the Jews to be His "cherished treasure from all the nations... a kingdom of priests and a holy people" (Exodus 19:5-6).

Clearly, being a Jew is not something you need to do, it’s what you are. It’s like a birthright or an inheritance that makes you who you are.

MYSTICALLY JEWISH The Zohar, the basic work of the Kabbalah, agrees that you’re a big deal on a very deep level: There are three connections ('kishrin") that are bound to each other: G‐d, the Torah, and Israel —each consisting of a level upon a level, hidden and revealed. There is the hidden aspect of G‐d, and the revealed aspect; Torah, too, has both a hidden and a revealed aspect; and so it is with Jews. We also have both a hidden and a revealed aspect. Our hidden aspect is always connected and pure.

The Midrash relates: Two things preceded G‐d's creation of the world: Torah and Israel. Still, I do not know which preceded which. But when Torah states "Speak to the Children of Israel...", "Command the Children of Israel...", and so on, I know that Israel preceded all (Tana D'vei Eliyahu Rabba, chapter 14). This means that G-d's relationship with Israel "pre-dates" (in the conceptual sense) the Torah, for the Torah comes to serve that relationship.

When you think about your history and inheritance, when you give thanks and admit that G-d runs the world, it empowers you to face Haman’s darkness. “Mordechai the Jew would not bow to Haman.” Our Jewishness is what gives us the strength to stand up for what’s right and to transform sadness into joy. So, no matter what you call yourself, remember you are a Jew and you’re kind of a big deal. • Purim 5781 / 2021

Conversations you’ll never forget.

Lessons you’ll always remember.

A fictional account of

life’s deepest truths.

Twenty-year-old Joseph Green was sure he knew everything he needed to know about G-d, religion, and life. Then he had a cup of coffee with Zaidy.

Conversations with Zaidy conveys The Lubavitcher Rebbe's piercing insights through conversations between a young adult and his wise grandfather.

S &

ALL R FO

KGRO

ND

S Purim 5781 / 2021

B AC

KEHOT.COM 877-4-MERKOS

GE

U

A

{PERSONAL STORY}

WHY I WENT

Kosher

By Hanna B. Geshelin

T

he route of every Jew who becomes kosher observant is unique. One of the turning points on my journey occurred at a large Iowa university with a minuscule Jewish population, where during my freshman year of 1963–64 I was the only undergraduate female who identified herself as Jewish.

Among my roommates during my first term was a junior taking a child development class on cultures. She decided to join the committee researching the Jewish culture because she had a ready-made resource to interview—me. As a fourth-generation American descendant of Reform Jews who emigrated from Germany before the U.S. Civil War, I didn’t know much about Judaism, but I did my best to answer her questions. The relief that I felt when she finished questioning me was short-lived, however. Every term after that, the child development professor gave my name to the committee studying Judaism. To meet this challenge, I would have to learn something about my heritage.

The college library had two shelves of books on Judaism. I started at one end of the upper shelf and began reading. They gave me basic information about Jewish history, tradition and beliefs. With the help of the books, I managed to get through the questions during the winter term. Then, in the spring of my freshman year, I met Janet.

Janet was a Southern Baptist from a small town in Iowa. Like many students at college, she

came from a family for whom church was a major focus. Her beliefs guided her behavior in all aspects of her life.

I was the first Jewish person she’d ever met.

She told me that she had chosen to write about the Jewish culture because she wanted to learn about the origins of her faith. Could she come with me to synagogue?

The town had a small Reform congregation that met Friday evenings in the parlor of one of the churches. I agreed to take her, and as we

Then she said words that still reverberate through my mind: “If my church told me to do something, I’d do it.” strolled through the quiet streets, she asked me about my religious life. “Where do you eat?” she asked suddenly.

Mystified, I gave the name of the dorm dining hall.

“How do you manage?” she asked.

“What do you mean? I just eat.”

With an edge to her voice she said, “How can you ‘just eat’? We get ham, pork or shellfish three or four nights a week, and most of the rest of the time there’s meat and milk at the same meal.”

“Oh,” I said confidently, “You mean kosher.

I’m Reform, and we don’t keep kosher.”

“You don’t keep kosher? But from everything I've read, kosher is one of the cornerstones of Judaism. Why don’t you keep it?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know; we just don’t.”

Janet stopped and turned to face me, hands on her hips. I can still picture her standing there in the light of a street lamp, dressed the way she would for church, in a navy suit, a small white hat and white gloves. She looked me up and down as though I were a bug on a pin. Then she said words that still reverberate through my mind: “If my church told me to do something, I’d do it.”

In the long silence that followed, I rolled the words over and over through my mind.

If my church told me to do something, I’d do it. Janet’s words took my Jewish soul and shook me until I had to sit down, right there on the floor beside the library stacks. When I stopped shaking, I knew that I had no choice.

I was a Jew, and the Jews kept kosher. It was that simple.

My going Kosher took many years, and many more lessons in faith. But my first big step began that Shabbat night, when a Christian girl challenged me to stand up and act like a Jew. l Read more about Kosher at www.KosherSpirit.com

Purim 5781 / 2021

{advertisement}

Overwhelmed by your healthcare expenses?

YOU’RE NOT ALONE. Take the Kleins, for example.

Yossi and Sarah Klein live in Crown Heights with their four beautiful children. Like many families in our community, the Kleins struggle to balance their day-to-day expenses together with tuition, mortgage, bills, and their healthcare expenses. And what are their healthcare expenses?

A whopping $37,000 a year!

Sounds extreme? It may, but it’s also incredibly common. Healthcare expenses and tuition costs are typically a Jewish family’s greatest financial pressures. And compromising on your family’s health - well, that’s just non-negotiable.

That’s where United Refuah HealthShare comes in. As the first and only Jewish health sharing organization, United Refuah’s mission is to provide the Jewish community with an affordable healthcare option. That means United Refuah members slash their healthcare expenses often by as much as ten or twenty thousand dollars a year!

Before we explain “Health-Sharing 101,” let us say one thing: the real secret to United Refuah’s success is the fact that it’s a nonprofit organization. United Refuah was founded to meet a pressing need within the Jewish community. Since its inception, it has remained true to its original mission: providing the Jewish community with an effective and affordable way to manage its healthcare expenses. Members’ costs are so low because there is no unnecessary overhead to cover and no investors at the top collecting profit.

“It’s an honor to be a part of this mission,” says Moishe Katz, United Refuah’s National Director. “There’s a very real sense of being able to provide for the klal savings of tens of millions of dollars, and

get our members access to the healthcare they deserve.”

So, how does health sharing actually work? We’ve broken it down below.

The United Refuah sharing infrastructure is based on the monthly sharing contributions of thousands of members from 27 states across the country.

United Refuah members make low monthly contributions to their ShareFund based on their family size. When a member encounters a healthcare expense, the funds in their ShareFund are first accessed to pay for those expenses. If the member does not have sufficient funds in their own ShareBox, the healthcare costs are shared between other members, resulting in dramatically lower healthcare costs and dramatically higher satisfaction rates. So, not only do members save as much as tens of thousands of dollars a year, their monthly payments are directly helping other Jewish members with their healthcare expenses.

In addition, sharing requests are processed as quickly as the same day they are received!

United Refuah members are able to save an incredible amount on their annual expenses, without having to compromise on their quality of care.

“I joined United Refuah over two years ago, and have been complete-

{advertisement}

ly happy with my decision,” says author Victoria Dwek. “I wholeheartedly recommend it.”

Remember the Kleins from the beginning of this article? They’re the family who spent $37,000 a year on their healthcare expenses.

This year, they signed up for United Refuah’s family health sharing program.

Let’s take a look at their healthcare expenses.

As a family of 6, the Kleins contribute $499 per month to their United Refuah ShareFund.

When a member encounters a medical expense - say, the Kleins’ daughter broke her leg - the expense is split amongst United Refuah members. If the Kleins have met their pre-share, United Refuah members share 80% of the total cost, and the Kleins pay 20% of the total cost.

If the Kleins were to, Heaven Forbid, hit their co-share maximum of $8,000 United Refuah would then facilitate the sharing of 100% of additional eligible medical expenses (up to $1,000,000.00 per incident).

By the way, United Refuah members are not limited to “in-network providers,” so the Kleins were able to use the doctor and hospital of their choice with generous reimbursement limits.

So, whatever your healthcare needs are - United Refuah might just be the right fit for you.

Got questions? United Refuah’s team is on standby, ready to help.

And no worrying about wait times or annoying hold music - their team’s average phone answer time is just 20 seconds.

Call United Refuah Today at 440.772.0700 or Visit UnitedRefuah.org.

United Refuah empowers the Jewish community nationwide to make healthcare affordable through sharing. United Refuah is not an insurance company, and does not offer insurance. Sharing is subject to Sharing Guidelines.

United Refuah saves its average family between $10,000 - $20,000 on healthcare annually.

THE KLEIN FAMILY

DOVID STERN

New Monthly Payment: $199

New Monthly Payment: $499

THE BERGERS New Monthly Payment: $349

Call or chat today! We answer in 22 seconds or less.

440-772-0700 · URefuah.org · Info@UnitedRefuah.org

I

’ve had a leather bag full of fear, hanging by a strap over my left shoulder for many years. I’ve been collecting fear in that bag since early childhood and it’s only gotten heavier and more cumbersome. It’s no wonder I’ve got a touch of tendinitis.

The bag contains several pounds of, "I feel I’m not loved unconditionally," and even more of, "I need always to be brilliant so I can feel that I deserve to be desired", and a whopping supply of, "I need to constantly achieve, lest I get left behind."

Then there’s my suitcase, in which I carry fifty-plus years of insecurity, blame, and childish expectations of those closest to me. My palms are blistered from hauling it around.

And on my head I wear an old felt hat, ostensibly to keep the sun off my scalp. But in truth, I wear it because in a hidden compartment in the crown, I carry a little ball of the very worst stuff;

unappeasable anger.

Lately I’ve noticed I’ve been transporting these things for no good reason. I’m not sure exactly what they weigh in total, but I do know that whatever the number is, it’s far greater than the

If we were able to recall our pasts with total clarity, we would remember a time, way back in earliest childhood, when we weren’t dragging any of that emotional load, –and it would be obvious to us if we suddenly became packhorses for our own pain. But it didn’t happen suddenly. We started carrying the stuff slowly, little by little, over time, didn’t we? At this point in our lives, we’ve been carrying this burden so long that we’ve become inured to its weight.

Only in forgetfulness can we come to the wrongheaded conclusion that our pain and anger are an essential part of us. Only through some spiritual amnesia could we possibly come to believe that letting this great and senseless cargo drop from our hands, would somehow engender horrible consequences.

It is strange, sad, and all too human, how we’ve come to almost cherish the ideas which are the most harmful to us; as

Lately I’ve noticed I’ve been transporting these things for no good reason. pleasure they’ve given me for lugging them so long. In fact, I’ve come to realize they give me no pleasure at all. Perhaps you’re curious to know how it is that I hadn’t noticed this until now. I guess the answer speaks to one of mankind’s more exceptional qualities: An ability to forget.

HAMAN'S Leather Bag

Purim 5781 / 2021

By Peter Himmelman

if setting them down would feel like losing a limb.

What we are looking for is a blessing; a blessing that creates a circumstance by which we learn some great lesson about the world and, therefore, about ourselves. There are two ways that lesson can happen; through loss or joy.

When someone close to us dies, it’s as though we are looking at ourselves in a mirror.

Only then can we see. We see what we look like, what we have in our minds, and what we carry in our hands. And so, too, when we experience some great joy, such as when we’ve been reunited with a long-lost friend, or when we finally make a long held dream manifest — will we see ourselves in that same mirror.

Of course we pray that these lessons come to us only through joy, but the blessing in either case,

We’ve come to almost cherish the ideas which are the most harmful to us; as if setting them down would feel like losing a limb.

is that we’ll catch a glimpse of ourselves carrying all these needless and weighty things — things we hadn’t noticed. What happens next can be effortless.

Instead of wanting to cling to them, we will see them for what they truly are, impediments to our happiness, and we will let them drop to the ground.

Looking into that mirror, taking a view that is long and vast, makes it far likelier that we will have the presence of mind to set our burdensome things down, once and for all. First the leather bag, then the suitcase and finally, perhaps with just a pang of regret, the old felt hat. • >> Peter Himmelman is a rock and roll singer-songwriter nominated for both a Grammy and an Emmy. His book Let Me Out and his BigMuse. com workshops have unleashed the creative spirit and empowered thousands around the world.

Purim 5781 / 2021

{recipe}

Classic Hamantashen

By Fleishigs Magazine Pick up a copy at your local Kosher supermarket, Whole Foods, Barnes & Noble.

Give the gift that keeps on coming or subscribe for yourself at www.fleishigs.com.

INGREDIENTS

PREPARATION

Dough: 3 cups flour 1⁄2 cup sugar 1⁄4 teaspoon salt 1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder 1 cup frozen non-dairy margarine 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 tablespoons water Filling: Use the traditional fillings of poppy, apricot or prune or use your favorite flavors of preserves.

1. Combine dry ingredients in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse processor three or four times. Cut margarine into tablespoons and add to the flour mixture.

Pulse several times until mixture resembles small crumbs.

2. Beat egg with vanilla and two tablespoons of water.

Turn on the food processor and pour liquid through the feeding tube. Dough will form in less than a minute.

Add one tablespoon more water if the mixture seems too dry. Scrape dough onto a sheet of wax paper. Wrap well and chill for several hours or up to two weeks.

ASSEMBLY 1. Allow dough to return to room temperature before rolling. Cover cookie sheets with parchment. Preheat oven to 375° F. 2. Sprinkle flour on a flat surface. Divide dough in thirds.

Take one portion and roll out until it is about 1/8th inch thick. Cut into circles with a cookie cutter. Place about 1 teaspoon desired filling towards the top of the circle.

3. Fold over the top and two sides to form a triangle.

Pinch corners together and place carefully on cookie sheet. Repeat process until all the dough has been used.

4. Combine scraps and roll again to produce a few more hamantashen. Before baking, seal corners by pinching them together with water.

5. Bake 10-12 minutes or until hamantashen are lightly browned. Cool completely before eating or freezing. •

This page was co-sponsored by the Handicap Ski Association. Logo created by SRDesigns Purim 5781 / 2021

REL AX No More Post-Purim Panic!

By Leah Gottheim

P

assover prep can be an annual nightmare for many. The From cooking and baking supplies to matzah and grape juice, Passover chef at your home starts to stress about where to from matzah ball mix to macaroons, you can plan your menu get everything from kosher for Passover croutons to almond flour, and check off your shopping list in one quick shopping session. from chocolate chips to potato chips. In the past, getting your Passover.com also offers a Seder Essentials Kit, where you can order Passover food involved schlepping from store to store, looking for your Seder supplies in ONE click. all the products on your list, and for most There is nothing more embarrassing of us living outside of major Jewish cities, then sending a gift basket to your Rabbi it can be hard to even find everything you or friend only to later learn that it wasn’t This year experience true need. kosher for Passover. That is why we Now, Passover 2021, promises to be recommend using the “Sweets and Treats” freedom as you shop from your different. But why is Passover this year ultimate gift basket that is sure to delight couch and watch your items different than all other Passovers in history? anyone you want to gift this Passover, and In one word the answer is: Passover.com. you’ll be guaranteed that its totally kosher show up at your door.

This new user-friendly Passover site for Passover. seeks to provide menu ideas, seder plates No matter where you live in the to-go, and every other item on your US, don’t worry, Passover.com ships Passover list, all in one easy-to-use site. nationwide. Best of all, for any order over $100, you get a FREE This year, experience true freedom as you shop from your couch 5-lb box of matzah! So, sit back and relax, make Passover.com your and watch your items show up at your door. Passover.com is a Passover shopping destination this year, and watch your Passover collection of 100% kosher for Passover shelf-stable groceries, so you groceries show up right to your door. • can order with confidence and ease without having to check labels For more information visit www.Passover.com or worry that you’ll accidentally get a non-Passover product.

Purim 5781 / 2021

The CIRCLE FCNJ @HOME

Social distance… not socially distant!

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS PARENTS BARBECUE

Torah Time for Adults Allie’s Camp

Drive-In Movie Night

Friendship Circle Banquet Offers Glimpse of the Future E Mitzvah Volunteer Program

Messy Art

As Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) said, “You see the truth, theCar dignity andHome the worth Parade Visits of every child. That every child should be celebrated and elevated because you see someone created in G-d’s image. To me, that is miraculous.”

Presidents meeting

Balloon Show

Art Circle

very year, hundreds of families look to the Friendship Circle for support, programming and respite. They come because they know the Friendship Circle will welcome them and provide a loving, warm atmosphere in which their child will thrive.

Backpack Giveaway

Meet other Friendship Circle parents for an evening out with friends. Enjoy delicious food and learn about all the upcoming programs from Friendship Circle.

The Friendship Circle, he continued, “is a light to this nation of what we should do for every child. What Friendship Circle is pulling together LifeTown is carrying Virtualwith LifeTown Shoppes out this rich tradition of elevating life, of celebrating it, of leaving no child behind.

Yasher koach, continued strength, in what you are doing.”

The senator made his remarks at the Friendship Circle Annual Banquet, which was held onHashanah March 29.Packages More than 750 Rosh people gathered this year to show their support for families who have children and teens with special needs and to celebrate the honorees at the Friendship Circle

ALLIE’S SUMMER CAMP Volunteer to make summer camp an experience kids and teens won’t soon forget, and build lasting friendships FCwalk in the process. Opportunities are open to kids in grades 8-12, college students and adults.

To learn more, call 973-251-0200.

Night Activities

Annual Banquet.

The event was held at the future home of LifeTown in Livingston. A one-of-a-kind, fully accessible and integrated center, LifeTown will provide social, recreational and educational programming for the community at large and people with special needs.

CARnivals

TORAH CIRCLE/HEBREW SCHOOL

The evening’s honorees included Senator Booker; President and CEO of Investors Bank Kevin Cummings and his wife, Patricia; President of Rotwein+Blake Lance Blake and his wife, Ilene; Partner at Gordon and Gordon Attorneys at Law Michael Gordon and his wife, Arlene; President of Consolidated Service Virtual Socials Dance & Music Distributors Steven and Mara Simon.

For those in attendance, the evening offered the most comprehensive glimpse at what the future will hold once LifeTown is completed.

Through inspiring videos and speeches, the stage was set for how LifeTown will be utilized by the community at large thanks to a myriad of after-school programs, volunteer opportunities and classes.

Adding to the understanding of what

Our popular Sunday morning programs return for the year on Sept. 20. However you choose to participate, your Sundays will become incredibly more meaningful when you volunteer your time.

FRIENDSHIPCooking CIRCLE ANNUAL WALK Shabbat Circle

Packages

It’s a family fun day with a twist! Come out to support Friendship Circle families and enjoy great entertainment for the whole family. Pony rides, carnival games, bounce houses, face painting and more are on tap for the afternoon. The day kicks off with the annual FC Walk. It’s the must-do event of the year!

Tie-Dye Event

MIAMI MARATHON Runners, put your passion to good use and join “Team Friendship FCNJ” at the Miami LifeTime Marathon. You’ll help raise money for an incredible cause while running a premier race. Learn more at www.Miami. teamfriendship.org.

(continued on page 2) Sports @Lifetown

Healthcare Foundation Dedicates Sensory Park DONATE NOW www.FCNJ.com/Donate T Torah Circle

Shofar blowing around town

Shofar Factory

Sukkah Mobile

Virtual Camp

he Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey is awarding a $500,000 grant to the “LifeTown” capital campaign to build a fully accessible, indoor sensory with park and playground thatAffiliated will be utilized College by children of all agesRabbincal and abilities.

Global Shabbat Party

recreational, therapeutic and educational programs to the community at large.

“The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey is keenly aware of the difficulties facing families We’re with special-needs children and is thrilled to play a role partners of America—Lubavitch in makingwith LifeTown a reality in our The 47,000-square-foot LifeTown will community,” said Marsha Atkind, be home to Friendship Circle, which Executive Director of the Foundation. provides programming for children “The sensory playground funded by HFNJ and teens with special needs and their will help to enrich the lives and facilitate

973.251.0200 • www.FCNJ.com