A welcoming community of Jewish life, worship and learning
A welcoming community of Jewish life, worship and learning
Important Message
Moving Forward into our spiritual home
To the Temple B’nai Abraham community,
It is with excitement that we announce our first stage of reentering the physical site of our spiritual home.
Safety is of the highest priority, and we are in constant consultation with medical experts and are keeping on top of all state regulations regarding COVID-19. Where our reopening task force is confident that risk is extraordinarily low as long as all safety precautions are followed and conditions remain ideal, we seek to return to our home and welcome congregants in where we can.
The initial phase is small but significant. On the guidance of the task force we will be having our first Bar Mitzvah this coming Shabbat at 10:00 AM in the sanctuary, onsite for our Bar Mitzvah family only, with services streamed over StreamSpot and Zoom, where you can log in and share Shabbat shalom greetings with others in attendance as we have grown so accustomed to on Facebook Live. Please note that B’nai Mitzvah services will not be broadcast on Facebook Live.
The next phase of reopening will include clergy leading services from the sanctuary streamed, and we are in the process of exploring phase three— how with minimal risk we can welcome community members in for Kabbalat Shabbat and Shabbat Shacharit services.
Please know that all of this may be revised and we may need to take steps backwards to ensure safety. We very much wish to be back home at Temple B’nai Abraham, but we will not do anything that puts life at risk.
There will be strict requirements for TBA B’nai Mitzvah in the sanctuary, including masks worn by everyone and social distancing. If families prefer,
Zoom B’nai Mitzvah from home are still an available option. Requirements will be shared with B’nai Mitzvah families, and anyone else upon request.
We are thrilled to have a path towards coming back together safely, and we welcome your comments and feedback. Again, for now, these onsite services are for the B’nai Mitzvah families only. Please continue to be patient as we work on reopening, and please help us in continuing to ensure the health and safety of our community. We are all in this together, and look forward to the day that we can all come together.
For pastoral emergencies please call 973-348-5211. For other communications, the staff can be reached by email.
We are a congregation that is more than 165 years old that works together to define our own independent path. We strive daily to be faithful to the teachings of the Torah, dedicated to the acquisition of Jewish knowledge, and committed to the well-being of the Jewish people in America, Israel and around the world.
We would love to meet you.
Mission Statement > History >
Clergy> Staff Directory>
Temple Profile>
Weekly Services
Live streaming will be available when Shabbat services are onsite.
Service Siddurs
-Friday evening: Kabbalat Shabbat, Siddur Hadash PDF
-Saturday morning: Shabbat Shaharit, Siddur Hadash PDF
-Saturday afternoon Shabbat Mincha: Siddur Hadash PDF
-Evening: Havdalah PDF
-Minyan of Comfort Ma’ariv service PDF
Join Rabbi Vaisberg, Cantor Epstein and Max Edwards, Rabbinical Assistant for Shabbat Services on Facebook Live on the TBA Facebook page
Friday, July 10
6:30 PM Erev Shabbat Services on Facebook Live
Please note for those seeking to say kaddish, a virtual minyan counts when one cannot be present.
Saturday, July 11
9:00 AM Parashat Hashavua: Pinchas via Zoom
10:00 AM Shabbat Services, via Facebook Live.
9:15 PM Havdallah Service via Facebook Live
Zoom Tutorials
TBA Response to Minneapolis and the national situation
Do not stand idly by while your neighbor’s blood is shed… You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Leviticus 19:16-18)
“Daily we should take account and ask: What have I done today to alleviate the anguish, to mitigate the evil, to prevent humiliation? Let there be a grain of prophet in every man!” (Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, “Religion and Race,” 14 January 1963)
This past weekend, just as we re-experienced the revelation of Torah into our midst— the revelation of our sacred teaching that instills in us that we were once slaves in Egypt, that we were subjugated and rejected and put through agony at the hands of those with hate in their hearts, so too did we re-experience the revelation that our American brethren continue to be subjugated, rejected, attacked, and killed. Not for their character, but for the color of their skin. George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others. How much longer can we stand by while African-Americans live in fear for their lives? When will we Americans say and truly realize, in our hearts, that the blight of racism is a plague upon our entire society? When will we finally enact the legislative, educational, and systemic changes necessary to raise all people up to the level of dignity and safety to which every human being is entitled? Read the full message>>
Upcoming Events
Live streaming will be available when Shabbat services are onsite.
TBA offers a wide array of classes, meetings, and programs via Zoom.
Click here for the Zoom schedule and links. (password protected )
If you have difficulty logging on to Zoom, please email tbainfo@tbanj.org.
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Simon Wiesenthal Center -eastern region Please partner with the SWC by reporting anti -Semitic or other coronavirus-related hate activity online or impacting your community by contacting the Simon Wiesenthal Center at SWCNY@Wiesenthal.com.
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Jewish Job Network (JJN)
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). JJN is an informal volunteer organization serving the Jewish community in our local area. The support includes guidance in resume writing, interviewing, career counseling, networking (including LinkedIn), starting a new business, learning how to consult and job retraining.
http://jewishjobnetwork.com.
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Jewish Family Services – JFS is offering support groups. To view the support groups for the month of June, please go to https://www.jfsmetrowest.org/jfs-programs-june-2020/. To register, email jfsgroups@jfsmetrowest.org and they will email you the Zoom link and password. For information, please go to https://www.jfsmetrowest.org
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Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest of New Jersey > Resources
Summer programs at Greater MetroWest Federation of New Jersey>
–Racism in America: Understanding Today
Monday, July 13, 7:30-8:30 PM Federation’s conversations on racial injustice continue with this second in a three-part series. This session will feature a distinguished panel of local African American leaders who will discuss ways that the Jewish community can be allies in the fight for racial justice. Understanding Yesterday featuring a panel of local Greater MetroWest rabbis. Federation’s CRC department has complied this list of resources for studying racism in America. Register
–Racism in America: Conversations Just for Teens
Thursday, July 16, 7:00-8:30 PM
A similar three-part series will be offered for teens including a panel of local rabbis, a listening session with Black Americans, and opportunities for activism with peers. Details can be found here and registration.
Registration has opened for the second session of Jewish Changemakers summer fellowship program, beginning August 3 – 21 for individuals 20-25 years of age. This online leadership and training program will provide mentorship, professional development, advocacy, and career opportunities to young adults. Teams will work through interactive online sessions to tackle a local need brought on by the COVID-19 global crisis. In addition to great resumé fodder, summer fellows will also receive a generous stipend upon completion of the program. Learn more about this fellowship and register at jewishchangemakers.org.
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Jewish Vocational Service of MetroWest (JVS)
-Career Counseling Workshops
–Important Information for those Having Difficulty Paying Their Rent
COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program (CVERAP)
DCA Announces Open Enrollment Period
COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program
Open Enrollment Period:: Monday, July 6, 2020, at 9:00 through Friday, July 10, 2020, at 5:00 PM
Applicants must have an email address to apply online at: https://www.waitlistcheck.com/NJ559-2809
beginning July 6, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. through July 10, 2020 at 5:00 PM
For more information, dial 609-292-4080 or 551-249-2687. You can also visit our website at: https://www.nj.gov/dca/vouchers.html, which includes information on the Maximum Income Limits and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for this Program
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The 20th annual New Jersey Jewish Film Festival is going virtual!
Throughout the summer, you will be able to watch most of the films that were scheduled to run in the 20th annual festival in the comfort of your home and enjoy post-screening discussions via Zoom. Each film will have a unique time-limited link. We will send instructions for viewing each film along with the links to our sponsors and ticket holders. https://jccmetrowest.org/programs/njjff/schedule/#overview
TBA is a community sponsor for the film The Mover on Wednesday, July 22. https://jccmetrowest.org/event/njjff-the-mover/
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Wonderful offerings from the Institute of Jewish Spirituality
https://www.jewishspirituality.org/get-started/resources-for-challenging-times/fbclid=IwAR3t90s6Co_jsaBtbWBWJEDzU0dLvNTaaRhic8bi8N2vFTr0b1tu0NJGCWA
-Jewish meditation, free sessions: Weekdays from 12:30-1:00 pm
-Jewish yoga: Mondays (11:00-11:45 am) and Thursdays (4:00-4:45 pm)
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Hebrew Free Loan of NJ http://hebrewfreeloanofnj.org/
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NJ State COVID-19 Information Hub website https://covid19.nj.gov/
General FAQs-https://covid19.nj.gov/faqs/general-public
- Live Updates -https://covid19.nj.gov/index.html#live-updates
Summer TBA Book Group with Rabbi Vaisberg via ZOOM
Wed, Jul 8, 2020 | 7:30 pm
Sisterhood- The Women’s Connection Virtual Paint Party Board & Brush
Thu, Jul 9, 2020 | 7:00 pm
Temple office “closes” at 3:00 PM on Fridays, in July & August
Fri, Jul 10, 2020 | 3:00 pm
Talmud with Max Edwards, Rabbinical Assistant
Thu, Jul 16, 2020 | 1:00 pm
“The Goldberg Variations: Class, Ethnicity, and Identity in “The Goldbergs” with Cantor Jessica Epstein
Thu, Jul 16, 2020 | 7:00 pm
Blessing for the Mitzvah of Putting on a Mask