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Lifelong Learning Events & Programs
Hebrew has three ways to refer to a synagogue: Beit Tefilah (House of Prayer); Beit Knesset (House of Assembly); and Beit Midrash (House of Study). The TBEMC Lifelong Learning Committee is committed to creating a Beit Midrash for our community by providing congregants opportunities to connect with each other while exploring historical, cultural, and religious aspects of Judaism.
Even during these challenging times of COVID-19, we have come together, through Zoom, to learn from noted experts in their fields and from each other – in the weekly Thursday morning classes, monthly Book Club, and special events.
We have several upcoming events planned! Look in the weekly email or our online calendar for the latest.
Recent events from the Lifelong Learning Committee:
August 2021: “The Art of Jonah’s Flight” by Rabbi Matthew Berkowitz, exploring the first chapter of the Book of Jonah.
September 2019: “How to Appreciate the High Holy Days: The Important Themes, Prayers and Customs of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur” two-part series presented by Rabbi Kerbel
2019-2020: The Jewish Connection to Comedy Film Series:
“The Frisco Kid”
“Brighton Beach Memoirs”
“Biloxi Blues”
“Broadway Bound”
“Keeping the Faith”
Fall 2019: “Why the Jews”: An Exploration of the Anti-Semitism Throughout History and What to Do About It” two-part series presented by Rabbi Paul Kerbel
Fall 2019: Thursday morning class – “Message of the Prophets” class, led by Rabbi Kerbel
November 10, 2019: Scholar-in-Residence Program: Professor Jack Wertheimer, Professor of American Jewish History at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Two lectures: “Jews on the Move: How Migrations Have Remade American Jewish Life” and “The Good News about American Judaism.”
December 15, 2019: Trip to See “Fiddler on the Roof” in Yiddish in NYC with dinner at Ben’s Deli
January – June: Thursday morning “Torah Classes” with Rabbi Kerbel
June 10, 2020: Zoom Webinar: “COVID-10 Pandemic: An Overview of Federal and New Jersey State Response, the Impact on the Jewish Community, and Opportunities for Advocacy,” led by Joshua Cohen, Director, Government Relations & External Affairs, Jewish Federations of New Jersey
July: Thursday morning classes “Book of Psalms” – led by Jerry Baranoff
July 16, 2020: Zoom Discussion: “Racism, Anti-Semitism, Black Lives Matter and the Jewish Community” led by Melanie Roth Gorelick, Senior Vice-President, Jewish Council for Public Affairs and Jim Johnson, Corporation Counsel, City of New York
July 23, 2020: Thursday morning class, “Book of Job” led by Jerry Baranoff and Neil Mayer
September 3, 2020: Zoom discussion “The View from Federation: Response to the Pandemic in New Jersey, the United States and the World” led by Dov Ben-Shimon, CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ
October 15, 2020: Zoom Presentation: Rabbi Dan Ornstein discussed his new book “Cain v Abel: A Jewish Courtroom Drama”
November 12, 2020: Zoom Presentation: Professor Amy Kalmanofsky, Dean, List College, discussed her book “Dangerous Sisters of the Hebrew Bible.”
How to Watch Our Services from Home
We’ve made our services available for streaming. There are two ways you can tune in:
1. Watch through our livestream on any device through this link: https://venue.streamspot.com/de189c20
or through the feed below.
2. Subscribe to our YouTube channel by clicking here, or search YouTube for “TBEMC Cranford”.
For service times, please check the Calendar on our site.
Become A Member
We would love to have you join us!
Why join TBEMC? Visit this page to learn more.
How to join TBEMC? We’ve got a page for that, too!
Our Rabbi would also like to say hello!
Meet Rabbi Kerbel
Rabbi Paul David Kerbel joined Temple Beth-El Mekor Chayim in 2019. Rabbi Kerbel brings a wealth of experience and practice to our congregation, serving congregations large and small, both as a senior rabbi and associate rabbi during his career.
Born in Philadelphia, Rabbi Kerbel was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Rochester, New York and Hollywood, Florida. Rabbi Kerbel’s father Bob served as a Jewish communal professional in these communities, and his mother Ruth as an active lay leader in the communities and synagogues in which they lived. His parents imbued in him the importance of interweaving commitment to the synagogue, community and Israel.
Rabbi Kerbel was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 1985, receiving the Isaac H. Wolfson Award for Dedicated Service to JTS during his four years of undergraduate and five years of rabbinical school experience at JTS. He was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree in 2011 for dedicated service to the American Jewish community.
Rabbi Kerbel and his wife Melissa are the proud parents of Sam and Aliza who live in New York City, Rabbi Judah and Eliana who also live in New York City, and Micha, a recent graduate of The Ohio State University, who works for The American Jewish Committee in Washington, DC. Melissa serves as the East Coast Director of the American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
Rabbi Kerbel serves as the Rabbinic Campaign Chair of the Schechter Institutes, Israel’s leading pluralistic academic institution, and as a senior member of the Global Jewish Community Committee of UJA Federation of New York. He is a member of the New York Board of Rabbis and an active supporter of the Anti-Defamation League, AIPAC, and Friends of the Israel Defense Forces. He looks forward to becoming involved in the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest, the New Jersey Rabbinical Assembly, and area Boards of Rabbis.
Previous events listed below
A murder mystery, a comedy show, a Zumba class – see what we’ve been up to…
With this year being different in so many ways, we’ve also found new ways to keep spirits high among our members!
Other recent events at TBEMC:
- A film series celebrating Jewish comedies, from Brighton Beach Memoirs to Keeping the Faith
- A stand-up comedy show
- A virtual Zumba class
Stay tuned for more fun events at TBEMC!
Virtual Art Auction Fundraiser
UPDATE: The auction is now closed. Thanks to all who participated!
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Get your friends together (virtually or in person) for our first-ever ART AUCTION on Saturday, October 24!
Bid on all genres of art from CHAGALL, and ANDY WARHOL to BANKSY, all from the comfort of your own home!
You can participate in this live event from anywhere in the country, so invite your cousins in Chicago, friends in Florida, or in-laws in California – everyone is welcome!
The preview begins October 22nd at 9 AM. Take an early peek at the items to be auctioned, and if you can’t make the live event, you can even make an early bid.
On October 24, the Zoom cocktail party begins at 7:15 PM, then the Live Auction starts at 8:00. Zoom after party at 9:30 PM.
Entry fee of $18 includes your Paddle Number (via a registration link you can share for free with non-members)
and a door prize ticket.
Sponsorship donors starting at $54 will get a Bubbly and sweets gift bag to enjoy during the auction.
Contact Susan in the office with any questions.
High Holy Days Schedule
TBEMC HIGH HOLY DAYS SCHEDULE 2020/5781
Saturday, September 12
SELICHOT
8:00 pm
Selichot Service on Zoom sponsored by Union County Reform & Conservative congregations
8:30 pm -3:00 am
Rabbinical Assembly “Selihot Night Live” program
Friday, September 18
EREV ROSH HASHANA
6:30-7:30 pm
Evening Service
Saturday, September 19
ROSH HASHANA DAY 1
9:00-11:30 am – Morning Services
11:00am-12:00pm – Family Service Outdoors led by Rabbi Kerbel and Ellie Barkin
6:30-7:45 pm – Minha and Evening Service
Sunday, September 20
ROSH HASHANAH DAY 2
9:00-11:30 am – Morning Services
10:30-11:30 am – Family Service Outdoors led by Shirel Gidekel and Lincoln Richman
11:30 am – Outdoor Shofar Service and Family Blessings and Avinu Malkeinu and Adon Olam
5:15 pm – Tashlich and Mincha Service – please contact the office for the location or refer to the membership emails
Ten Days of Repentance
Wednesday, September 23, 7:30 PM, on Zoom
Join us for a virtual TBEMC High Holy Day Community Gathering
Agenda:
- Minyan
- D’Var Torah by Rabbi Kerbel on the Ten Days of Repentance
- President’s High Holy Day Address
Followed by presentations on:
1) Create a Jewish Legacy Circle
2) TBEMC Sponsorship Opportunities
3) Lev Shalom Machzor Project
4) Israel Bond Video and Appeal
5) Q and A with Synagogue leaders
Sunday, September 27
EREV YOM KIPPUR
6:15 pm – Mincha
6:30-8:30 pm – Kol Nidre and Evening Service
Monday, September 28
YOM KIPPUR DAY
9:00 am – Preliminary and Shacharit Service
10:00 am – Torah Service
10:30 am – Yizkor Sermon and Service
11:00am-12:00pm – Outdoor Family Service
11:00am-12:00pm – Musaf
5:00 pm – Yizkor Service #2
5:20 pm – Mincha
6:30 pm – Neilah
We will conclude Neilah outdoors with Havdalah Service and Final Shofar blowing
“Laughter Is Therapeutic” Comedy Event, 5/31, 4 PM
