Rabbi Forman spent a day exploring and getting "up close and personal" in the old Jewish neighborhood of Newark, New Jersey.
On Sunday, September 13th Or Chadash celebrated the new year with a spectacular Klezmer concert and end of summer picnic. Multi-instrumentalists and vocalists Sruli and Lisa played the clarinet, violin, accordion, bass recorder, cello and drum, and performed and taught Klezmer and Hasidic music. "We are delighted to have Sruli and Lisa back at Or Chadash and to welcome the greater Flemington community to join us in this wonderfully entertaining program," said Rabbi Joseph M. Forman, the congregation's spiritual leader. The concert was free, and Or Chadash welcomed the community to join in this fun, family-friendly celebration of the new year—a perfect event for children and adults of ALL ages.
This year Or Chadash is becoming more environmentally friendly by "going green." This means that a lot of information which was previously sent to you via mail will be accessed via our web site: www.orchadash-nj.org . This saves in so many ways. We will able to reduce printing, mailing, stationery and administrative costs. Some of the newest initiatives will include getting High Holy Day tickets as "e-tickets," signing up on-line for volunteer opportunities and child-care, providing us with information for our Yizkor Book, purchasing High Holy Day prayerbooks and making donations for our High Holy Day Appeal. All of this information will be will be available online. For those of you who do not have Internet access, we will be happy to accommodate you as we have in the past.
Did you get to try one of the Philadelphia Pretzel Company pretzels accompanied by a variety of dips? Did you get to play Haman’s Hotrods? Did you get to participate in the entertaining and interactive speil? Then, you were one of the many at Or Chadash who celebrated Purim on March 8, 2009 with more than a dozen games and crafts, a wide range of carnival food, and of course, a well-acted speil!
On Sunday, March 15, 2009, Rabbi Joseph M. Forman welcomed glass artisan Jim Schettino, owner of Out of Hand glassworks who designed and created with his wife the 16 stained glass windows adorning the recently renovated sanctuary at Or Chadash. Mr. Schettino described the process and symbolism of the windows to the donors, members of the congregation and Religious School students attending the program which culminated in a reception and art project led by member Mary Clare Lewy of creating your own stained glass window. (also see recent photos page)
