A welcoming community of Jewish life, worship and learning

Welcome to Temple B'nai Abraham

A Purim Carnival Pivot

Since a Purim carnival could not be inside this year at Temple B’nai Abraham, the synagogue hosted a Purim “Car”nival in the temple parking lot. Families dressed up their cars and themselves in costumes in celebration of this festive holiday, which highlights the courage and unity of the Jewish people. The celebration was a pivot from the usual holiday festivities of carnival games, bouncy houses, groggers (noisemakers), and food, but it still maintained the fun atmosphere with Rabbi David Z. Vaisberg, Cantor Jessica F. Epstein, Rabbinical Assistant Max Edwards, and Director of Jewish Learning Melissa Weiner leading the revelers in a short Megillah reading where participants honked against Haman, sang Purim songs, and enjoyed hamantaschen and Purim packages in their own vehicles.

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Jason Silberman, a Professional Mentalist and Magician photo gallery

TB A member and Early School alum Jason Silberman, a professional magician/mentalist, performed his amazing illusions in his “Virtual Show” for his TBA family. It was an interactive magic and mind-reading experience… not only was magic happening on screen but it also happened in own homes to everyone’s delight and amazement! During this virtual magic show, Jason fascinated his TBA family with a thought provoking illusion using his own memory book from his TBA Early School days!

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Thank you to Healthcare workers, first responders , essential workers

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2020 Christmas Bags of Cheer

The Social Action Committee sponsored a collection of “Christmas Bags of Cheer”. Congregants decorated brown bags with special holiday messages and decorations, and filled them with much needed new socks, as well as a packet of hot chocolate, a candy cane, prepackaged, snack-size cookies and a piece of fruit. Over 250 bags were received and donated to Livingston Neighbors Helping Neighbors (LNHN), who distributed the bags to St. Ann’s, St. Michael’s and St. John’s Churches in Newark. Pictured are: Janet Penn, Co-Chair TBA SAC, Ruth Ross, Co-Chair, SAC, Terri Friedman, Project Coordinator, Lisa Reisboard, Project Coordinator, Nick Santinelli, Drive/Volunteer Extraordinaire LNHN.

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TBA Eighth Day of Hanukkah Candle Lighting via Zoom

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The Quest for the Lost Flame

On Sunday December 13, Temple B’nai Abraham, Livingston, presented a special Hanukkah event… a Virtual Hanukkah Escape room, via Zoom, open to all temple members. “The Quest for the Lost Flame” is a Hanukkah-themed team challenge that is designed to be great fun for all. Teams faced several challenges and puzzles to unlock different rooms to find the lost flame.

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Annual Turkey and All the Fixings Collection

Rabbi David Z. Vaisberg and Social Action Committee Co-chair Ruth Ross with Pastor Floyd Gaskins and his wife, Dawn Gaskins, of Grace Temple Baptist Church, Newark, who were picking up donated turkeys and trimmings for the members of their church community

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Mitzvah Morning...Thank you to all!

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TTO Midday Run...Pivots to Success!

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Our Clergy Team

Chag Sameach!

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Our TBA Clergy Team

Rabbi David Z. Vaisberg leads B’nai Abraham’s dynamic clergy team, which also includes Cantor Jessica Epstein and Rabbinical Assistant Max Edwards. Each brings invaluable contributions to the bima and to our congregational family.

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Early School STEAM FUN

Students of The Early School of Temple B’nai Abraham are immersed in their STEAM- based curriculum ( science, technology, engineering art, and mathematics). Recently the students were studying different types of weather patterns. Weather disturbances, such as tornados, were explained, as well as what weather systems need to be in place for them to naturally occur in our environment. The science experiment “A Tornado in a Jar ” demonstrated this phenomenon.

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JLP Virtually the Best!

Busy day in the JLP-staying dry and getting ready for our next big holiday!

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JLP Meet and Greet

JLP DRIVE-THRU MEET & GREET MATERIALS PICK UP

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The Ross Sanctuary

We worship God with joy, humility and meaning, maintaining our own rich traditions as we perpetuate those of our faith.

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A GreenFaith Sanctuary

With a history of commitment to green practices, as in 2006 when Temple B’nai Abraham installed solar panels on the roof, GreenFaith NJ’s Environmental Certification program offered a unique opportunity for the synagogue to further dedicate itself to environmental stewardship.TBA is certified as a GreenFaith Sanctuary.

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A welcoming community of Jewish life, worship and learning

Welcome

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>

Whom Do I Contact for... TBA FAQS

For pastoral emergencies please call 973-348-5211. For other communications, the staff can be reached by email.

Sacred place safe space

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Download the TBA Calendar app!

Weekly Services

Live streaming is available when Shabbat services are onsite.

-S im Shalom Shacharit Purim PDF

–Purim songs PDF

-Friday evening: Kabbalat Shabbat, Siddur Hadash PDF

–Saturday morning: Shabbat Shaharit, Siddur Hadash PDF
–Shabbat T’tzaveh B’nai Mitzvah of Max Amsterdam and Gabrielle Gerstel PDF

–Saturday afternoon Shabbat Mincha: Siddur Hadash PDF

-Minyan of Comfort Ma’ariv service PDF
–Weekday Shacharit Siddur Sim Shalom PDF

Shabbat Services

Join Rabbi Vaisberg, Cantor Epstein and Max Edwards, Rabbinical Assistant for Shabbat Services on Facebook Live on the TBA Facebook page

Thursday, February 25
Erev Purim
6:30 PM Purim Service & Shpiel via Facebook Live
Erev Purim services will be fun for the whole family, featuring the Zooma Mia Purim Shpiel.

Friday, February 26
Purim
9:30 AM Purim Service & Reading of the Megillah Esther via Zoom and Facebook Live
NEW: Purim morning services: a more traditional praying experience with a mixed Hebrew/English Megillah reading over zoom.
6:30 PM Kabbalat Shabbat Services via Facebook Live
Disabilities Awareness Month Shabbat with Guest Speaker Jane Fischer, Temple Member. Topic: “The Power of the Human Spirit”

Saturday, February 27
9:00 AM Parashat Hashavua:Tetzaveh via Zoom
10:00 AM Shabbat Morning Services via Live Control or Facebook Live
Gabrielle Gerstel, daughter of Diana & Alan Gerstel, will become a Bat Mitzvah
Max Amsterdam, son of Dana & Andrew Amsterdam, will become a Bar Mitzvah
6:30 PM Havdalah Service via Facebook Live

Service Siddurs PDFs

Service Siddurs

-Friday evening: Kabbalat Shabbat, Siddur Hadash PDF

-Holiday: Friday evening Kabbalat Shabbat, Siddur Festival PDF

–Saturday morning: Shabbat Shaharit, Siddur Hadash PDF

-Holiday: Saturday morning, Shemini Atzeret, Yizkor PDF

–Saturday afternoon Shabbat Mincha: Siddur Hadash PDF

-Holiday: Erev Simchat Torah PDF

-Holiday: Simchat Torah Reading PDF

––Weekday Shacharit Siddur Sim Shalom PDF

-Evening: Havdalah PDF

-Minyan of Comfort Ma’ariv service PDF

–Hanukkah Blessings and Songs PDF ( for our Zoom candle lightings!)

Upcoming Events

Virtual Blood Drive until February 28
Mon, Feb 1, 2021 | 9:00 am
Mitzvah of the Month Collection
Mon, Mar 1, 2021 | 9:00 am
The Hebrew Bible, Line by Line with Rabbi Vaisberg and Max Edwards
Mon, Mar 1, 2021 | 9:30 am
Words to Action: ADL Teen Program
Mon, Mar 1, 2021 | 6:00 pm
A Cinema Series Addressing Moral Issues
Mon, Mar 1, 2021 | 7:30 pm

Liv e streaming is available when Shabbat services are onsite.

Zoom Links for TBA programs, meetings & events (password protected) Need help? tbainfo@tbanj.org

March Events sponsored by the Social Action Committee

–March Mitzvah of the Month sponsored by the SAC
Making Baked Ziti for Local Families Suffering from Food Insecurity
Drop off at the Temple Tuesday, March 23–Thursday, March 25, 9:00 AM–3:30 PM.>>

-Virtual Blood Drive until February 28>>

–RAISING SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS THROUGH FILM 3.0: A Cinema Series Addressing Moral Issues, via Zoom Monday, March 1, 7:30 PM >>

Community Resources

Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest

Women of Wisdom Education Series
February 22, March 24, 7:30 – 8:30 PM
Join discussions on some of the most pressing and challenging issues of our time: 1) An Evening to Exhale: Coping and Managing Stress in Uncertain Times, 2) Anti-Semitism: Reality, Reaction and Response, and 3) An Open Discussion About Women’s Health at Every Stage. Note: a minimum gift of $54 is requested. Register here.

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Jewish Vocational Service of MetroWest (JVS)

–Job-Seekers Workshops
COMMUNICATE YOUR CAREER SKILLS , Thursday, March 4, 2021 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. GUEST SPEAKER–BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: David Schuchman, Principal Consultant, Princeton Tech Advisors
Would you like to know how to identify careers that match the skills and passions you have? Then, would you like to know ways to communicate your skills to hiring managers? This free, interactive, online Job-Seekers Workshop will discuss just that. You’ll learn how to identify your hard and soft skills–and discover effective techniques for assessing, valuing, and promoting your skills.
THIS PROGRAM IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A VIRTUAL EVENT. ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED>> Job-Seekers Workshop: Communicate Your Career Skills – Jewish Vocational Services (jvsnj.org)

-Career Counseling Workshops
HAVE YOU LOST YOUR JOB DUE TO COVID-19? Jewish Vocational Service of MetroWest Can Help!
The COVID-19 health pandemic has affected the employment of MILLIONS of Americans. If you’re one of them, Jewish Vocational Service of MetroWest is here to give you the tools, training, and support you need to be successful in your job search. For more information about how JVS of MetroWest can help YOU, contact Meryl Kanner at 862-704-2233, or mkanner@jvsnj.org

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Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest of New Jersey > Resources

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The Oheb Shalom Social Justice Group
Police Response to the Mentally Ill in Crisis: Must it be Life or Death? Tuesday, February 23, 7 PM via Zoom. A clinical psychologist and West Orange Police Captain will discuss how to recognize a mental health crisis and steps necessary to deescalate a police encounter. The NJ Mental Health Players will simulate a police officer receiving a phone call from a family member or neighbor observing someone in crisis. This program is free and open to all. Zoom meeting ID: 882 8053 3631 Passcode: hh4fjn

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2021 Scholarships & One Happy Camper Grants Now Available!
1- Apply now for a $1,000 One Happy Camper incentive grant! Click here!
2- Rocker Family Scholarships can help make camp affordable! Click here for details and to apply.
Contact us for free summer consultations! Click here to request a free consultation and receive a free Family Fun Kit ($50 value) of camp-inspired games and accessories. Questions, call 973.929.2972.

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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. http://jewishjobnetwork.com.
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Jewish Family Services – https://www.jfsmetrowest.org/
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Jewish Alcoholics, Chemically Dependent Persons, and Significant Others (JACS) is the first and foremost mutual support network for Jewish individuals and their families that are affected by drug addiction and alcoholism.www.addictioncenter.com

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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/
Department of Health | Communicable Disease Service | COVID-19 (nj.gov)

Clergy Blog

TBA Podcasts

Robert Atlas : Hidden Child Testimony Link>
Robert Atlas, father in law of teacher Emmy Atlas, took time to speak about his “Five First Names” and his experience as a Hidden Child in Poland during the Holocaust.

Women’s Interfaith Forum video link, January 20, 2021>