CELL PHONES AND EYEGLASSES WANTED
The Confirmation Class is collecting old cell phones and eyeglasses, which will be donated for charitable causes. Please deposit the phones and glasses in the bin in the temple atrium. The collection for the soldiers in Iraq is continuing and donations can be left in the temple atrium.
YOUTH GROUP ACTIVITIES
On January 10, 4:00-7:00 p.m., Chaverim (3-5 graders) will have a Movie Night at TRT. Join your friends (in your favorite PJs) for an evening of food, laughter and a great movie! On January 24, Jr. RTSY (6 & 7 graders) TRT Spot (Teen Rec Time) – hang out with your friends at TRT. There will be games, food, lots of fun and no parents! For further information, contact Liza Kaufman, 732-580-8775, or LizaMichele@optonline.net.
Upcoming RTSY (grades 8-12) events: Trip to NY Jewish Film Festival. Shabbat dinner served to Chaverim and on 2/28, TRT”s fabulous Purim Carnival. For further information, contact Rachel Klein, 732-780-0789 or rklein5976@aol.com, or rtsy4trt@aol.com.
DINNER AT FRIDAY’S – SUPPORT TRT
On the sixth night of Hanukkah, Wednesday, December 16, help support the Confirmation class and have dinner at TGI Friday’s on Route 9 North, Morganville. You can pick up a flyer, located in the temple lobby, or just mention you are with TRT, between the hours of 4:00 and 9:00 p.m. and 20% of your purchase will be donated back to the Confirmation class and, in turn, TRT. If you cannot dine in, order take out and mention TRT. Thank you in advance. Any questions, contact Robin Persily, 732-625-1299, or rpersily06@aol.com.
PURIM SHPIEL
On Wednesday, December 16, 7:30 p.m., there will be the first meeting for the Purim Shpiel. If you can sing, act, dance or just want to have fun – we need you!! Rehearsals are on Sundays at 7:00 p.m. (except when they are not) and the Shpiel is on Saturday, February 27. Rehearsals are important (believe it or not!) and we need you to attend as many as possible. If you have any questions, call Robbin Friedell, 732-462-1692
SOCIAL ACTION
From November 22 through December 13, there will be a Toy Drive. Families are asked to devote the 6th night of Hanukkah, December 16, to learning about the problem of poverty. We would like to make this a family program – have a family discussion about the poverty in our country and how your family can make a difference. We are asking that you help TRT make a difference by donating the gifts you would exchange on the 6th night of Hanukkah. Please note, our collection ends earlier so that gifts may be distributed. A collection box will be in the atrium from November 22-December 13 for new, unwrapped items.
From November 15-December 20, there will be a Coat Drive. Suggested items are clean, gently used or new coats in all sizes – men’s, women’s children, new gloves, hats and scarves. A collection box will be in the atrium during this time.
CALLING ALL MAH JONGG PLAYERS
Mah Jongg Cards for 2010 can now be pre-ordered directly from TRT Sisterhood. The cards are $7.00 for standard card, $8.00 for large print. This includes membership to the National Mah Jongg League at no additional cost. The card will be mailed directly to your home. The cost is the same as in stores, but TRT Sisterhood will get a donation from the Mah Jongg League. Have your whole group and friends order from us. Please use the order form in the November or December newsletter. Orders must be received by January 15. For further information, contact Jodi Weintraub, 732-972-2194 or < a href=mailto:"qponcutter@aol.com">qponcutter@aol.com
SISTERHOOD PAID-UP MEMBERSHIP EVENT
On January 5, at 7:00 p.m., join Sisterhood for the Annual Paid-Up Membership Event featuring Pat Brakman, Nurse Practitioner from Planned Parenthood of Central New Jersey, who will speak on women’s issues. A light buffet and refreshments will be served. To come, just send your dues, payable to TRT Sisterhood, to the TRT office. Basic dues are $40. You may also join at a higher tier and get a 5, 10 or 15% discount at the Hanukkah Boutique on November 22, or on 1 item for the showcase at any other time. You may join for $54 and receive a 5% discount, $72 and receive a 10% discount or $90 and receive a 15% discount. Pleas let us know by December 31 that you are coming to the Paid Up Sisterhood event. If you cannot attend, please join Sisterhood anyway, and become a part of this special organization for the women of TRT. For further information, contact Jodi Weintraub, at 732-972-2194, or qponcutter@aol.com
TRT’S SECOND ANNUAL GOLF OUTING
On Monday, May 3, TRT will sponsor the second annual golf outing at the Peddie School Golf Course in Highstown, NJ. The event includes breakfast and lunch. Look for registration forms in the upcoming newsletters. Bring friends, make a foursome, or we will find people for you to golf with. For further information, contact Jeff Aptaker, 732-577-9416, or Brad Rubin, 732-409-4740. Space is limited… sign up early!
ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES – DAYTIME AND EVENING CLASSES
“Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Judaism, But Were Afraid To Ask” will be given on Sundays, once a month from October through April, from 10:00 a.m. to noon. The class will be taught by Rabbi Weber and Cantor Alexander. Join us for a free series of classes and discussions for anyone who wants to know more about Judaism. This is open to the entire community, without charge. Breakfast will be served from 10-10:15; please RSVP so we can have it ready for you. “Jewish Ethics: Love Your Neighbor As Yourself”. This is the best-known commandment in the Bible. Yet we rarely hear anyone talk about how to apply these words in daily life. In our text, Rabbi Joseph Telushkin gives both Jews and non-Jews an extraordinary summation of what Jewish tradition teaches about putting these words into practice. The class is taught by Rabbi Weber and is open to people of every level and background. Participants will be expected to read in preparation for each class, but there are no tests! There is no fee for members. The fee for non-members is $100. The text is $32.50 and will be available in the temple office. Daytime classes will meet on alternate Monday afternoons, from 12:30-2:00 p.m., beginning October 5. Evening classes will meet on alternate Thursday evenings, from 8:00-9:45 p.m., beginning October 8. To register for either course, please go to TRT AdultEd, or call the temple office, 732-308-0055.
SISTERHOOD - SELL YOUR GOLD AND A DONATION WILL BE MADE TO TRT
Diamond Castle has generously offered to make a donation each time someone sells back gold at their establishment. All you have to do is make sure you tell them that you are from Temple Rodeph Torah, and let us know as well, so we may thank you. They are located in Diamond Plaza on the south side of Route 9, opposite Pathmark. So please go through your draws and see if you have any old or broken gold jewelry. You will be pleasantly surprised.
GIVE THE GIFT OF TORAH
We are very excited to crate a collection of Chumashim at TRT. These are books containing the Torah and Haftorah text in Hebrew and English with modern commentaries. These books will allow us to follow along during Torah readings on Friday nights and during B’nai Mitzvah celebrations, and help us create meaningful connections with our Torah text. If you would like to donate a book or books, the cost is $72 per book. The book you purchase may include a dedication “in honor of” or “in memory of’ and will have a plate inscribed with your dedication. To purchase, please send your check, payable to TRT, to the temple office. For further information, contact Cantor Alexander, 732-308-2311, or cantor.alexander.trt@gmail.com or Bonnie Miller, 732-536-8041.
TZEDAKAH BOX
Did you know that we have a tzedakah box in the lobby, just to the right of our Judaica showcase? Each month a different charity will be selected as the recipients of TRT’s tzedekah collection. For the month of March we will be supporting Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Monmouth. In April we will be supporting ARZA, an organization that represents the Reform Movement’s presence in Israel. We hope whenever you are in the temple lobby, you will remember our tzedekah box and make a contribution of any amount to this worthy cause.
NEW MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY
If you are a full or senior member, your parents and/or grandparents can join the temple for $180 for a couple or $90 for a single per year and be members of TRT. They will have all the rights and privileges of membership, including High Holiday tickets. Now your whole family can be a part of temple life together. If you would like more information, or to get an application, call the temple office, at 732-308-0055.
CHARITABLE HANDS
Attention all knitters and Crocheters! Charitable Hands is a new group at TRT dedicated to repairing the world one stitch at a time. We meet every other week on rotating days to create hats, mittens, scarves, and chemo caps for those in need. The next meeting is Thursday, October 23, at 7:15 p.m. Please join us! Don’t know how to knit or crochet? We will teach you! For more information, call Pam Brisman, at 732-303-1443, or pbrisman@optonline.net.
Rodeph Torah's Employment Resource Now Open
If you or someone you know is seeking full-time employment, or if you have a position to fill, we offer a free confidential service. This is open to the entire community; member or non-member, Jew or non-Jew.
If you seek employment, please send your resume AND A ONE-PARAGRAPH DESCRIPTION FOR THE POSITION(S) YOU SEEK to trtjobbank@gmail.com; otherwise, send it the temple, attention: TRT Job Bank.
If you have a position to fill, please send a one-paragraph description of the position and basic requirements. Paragraphs will be listed - with no names - on the TRTCares Job Bank website. Again e-mail is preferred, at trtjobbank@gmail.com.
For more information, call TRTCares, at 732.320.8287
Shiva Chairs Available
Temple Rodeph Torah is pleased to be able to provide wooden shiva chairs with back support for our members.
These chairs, which are lower than normal chairs to comply with Jewish tradition, are a great help to people who suffer from back problems and who cannot sit on the customary shiva boxes.
The chairs must be signed out and returned by a temple member, but are available to all our members at no cost.
Please call the temple office, at 732.308.0055, for information.
Refer A Friend To TRT - Receive One-Month Free Dues!
Did you know that if you refer a friend to the temple and they join, you get one month free dues?
Please let your friends know - it's a great deal!
If you have a friend who may be interested, call Marla Bucher, our Membership Chair, at 732.972.7307.
ADULT CHOIR – KOLOT YAFIM WANTS YOU!
Ever wanted to know the new music we sing during services? Do you want a great group of friends to sing with? Do you love to sing along, but are scared you don’t know how? Come to our rehearsals – they are fun, there is no audition and we would love to have you. We are rehearsing for Shabbat Shirah (Friday, January 29, 8:00 p.m.). Our upcoming rehearsals are on January 17, 24, 4-6 p.m. For further information, contact Cantor Alexander, at 732-308-2311, or Cantor.Alexander.TRT@gmail.com or just show up at rehearsal.