Rabbi: Abraham J. Mykoff

President: Danny Ravitz

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Donations in honor/in memorium

The best way to honor or memorialize a relative or friend is by doing a mitzvah in their name; this serves to elevate the individual's soul since they were the catalyst for the mitzvah. This is particularly beneficial to the departed who can no longer accomplish this for themselves. Therefore, a donation to support Cong. Poile Zedek can be particularly meaningful to the family of the departed or to the individual whom you are honoring.

Donations can be made to Poile Zedek via our website: www.poilezedek.org or by check to Cong. Poile Zedek, P.O. Box 166, New Brunswick, NJ 08903. An acknowledgment will be sent to the honoree or family of the departed. Please be sure to indicate in whose name the donation is being made and the reason for the donation, as well as the address for the acknowledgment.

Mazal Tov

to Rabbi Baruch & Sarah Goodman on the marriage Tuesday of their daughter, Devorah Leah to Shmuly Davidoff of London, England.

to Michael & Judi Seidemann on the birth of their great granddaughter, Nechama Reis to their children, Nochum & Brochaleah Ettinger of Sanhedria, Israel

Hamakom Yenachem

We would like to extend our condolences to Robert Kreitman and family on the recent loss of his father, Jack Kreitman.

We would like to extend our condolences to Janet Shopowich and family on the recent loss of her father, Harry Shopowich.

Hamakom yenachem etchem b'toch sh'ar avlei Tzion v'Yerushalayim.

Monday, July 26, 2010

PZ Mobile!

Would you like to keep up with Poile Zedek on the go? Well now you can! Introducing the new "cell friendly" Poile Zedek blog. To view our mobile site just open this blog in a web enabled mobile device, or click the link on the bottom of this page.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Join us for the High Holy Days

Rosh Hashana: Thursday, September 9 & Friday, September 10
Yom Kippur: Kol Nidre- Friday, September 17 & Saturday, September 18

High Holiday Services at Poile Zedek (as well as services year round) are relaxed, informal, and heimish. Everyone is engaged and is an integral part of the service. Beginners feel comfortable with the pace of the services and regulars appreciate the ability to concentrate on their prayers. At Rosh Hashanah Services beginners, or those feeling uneasy about the order and pace of the service, are teamed with congregants to guide them. Please mention to the Rabbi that you would like to participate. Our seudah luncheon after services on Rosh Hashanah and break-the-fast reception after Yom Kippur further enhance the holiday experiences.

For more information and to reserve your seat click
here: http://poilezedek.org/cms/index.php?page=rosh-hashanah-2009

Monday, July 19, 2010

Mazal Tov

Mazal Tov to Avraham & Aviva Shusteris on the birth of a girl last Thursday night, July 15.

Tisha B’av — Laws & Reflections

Tisha B'av, the 9th of Av, begins tonight. This 25 hour fast which lasts from sunset to when the stars appear commemorates the destruction of the Second Temple and the exile of the Jewish people from the land of Israel.

Tisha B'av has historically been a day when tragedies have befallen the Jewish people.

The Talmud lists five tragedies:
1) On this day, the meraglim (spies) returned after scouting out the land of Israel with a negative report. It was decreed that the generation that had left Egypt would die out in the desert during the forty years of wandering.
2) The first Bais Hamikdash (temple) was destroyed by the Babylonians.
3) The second Bais Hamikdash was destroyed by the Romans.
4) The fortress of Betar was destroyed by the Romans and Bar Kochba's revolt was crushed.
5) The city of Jerusalem was razed to the ground and plowed over.

Other tragedies which have occurred on Tisha B'av include the beginning of the First Crusade in 1095; the expulsion of Jews from Spain by King Ferdinand in 1492; and the beginning of World War One in 1914.

In addition to the restriction against eating or drinking, we refrain from bathing or washing for pleasure, anointing, wearing leather shoes, and marital relations. It is also customary to sit on low chairs such as mourners do.

Services at Poile Zedek begin tonight at 8:10 PM. Services tomorrow morning begin at 8:00 AM.

At night we read in the synagogue from Megilat Eicha, the Book of Lamentations. After the Megilla reading at night and after morning services on Tisha B'av day we recite kinot, elegies, regarding the destruction of the Temple and other tragedies that befell our people.