Meet and Greet Rabbi Loren Monosov and Her Husband Jeremy at a Wine and Cheese Party, Sat., Jan. 30th 7 P.M. to 9 P.M.

Babysitting is available

In celebration of Tu BiShvat the Jewish New Year for trees, which will be celebrated on January 25th, Jewish National Fund (JNF) is offering anyone the opportunity to win a trip to Israel by planting a tree with the organization.

JNF has partnered with EL AL Airlines and the Carlton Hotel Tel Aviv for an exciting online raffle to win a trip of a lifetime. When you plant a tree through JNF between January 15, 2016 at 12:00:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) and January 25, 2016 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET, you will be entered to win the grand prize of a free round-trip ticket to Israel, courtesy of EL AL Airlines, with a free two-night stay at the Carlton Tel Aviv, breakfast included. The more trees you plant the more chances you have to win! A first prize winner will win one round-trip ticket to Israel, courtesy of EL AL Airlines, and ten runners-up will win a free JNF E-Z Tree™ account of 10 trees. You may also enter by calling 800.542.8733.

Last year’s grand prize winner, Mila Lukova of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, a long-time JNF supporter who often purchases trees for birthdays and memorials remarked, “Planting a tree represents eternal life and that really resonates with me. Israel is like home to me and planting a tree or memorial plaques through JNF is the best way to showcase eternal life in Israel.”

While in Israel, the sweepstakes winner will have the opportunity to plant a tree with their own hands at the JNF-Harvey Hertz Ceremonial Tree Planting Center at Neot Kedumim, the world’s only biblical landscape reserve.

Tu BiShvat embodies the abiding dedication to ecology, environmentalism, and conservation that JNF has always championed. Over the years, Tu BiShvat has taken on the theme of planting trees in Israel, creating a special connection to JNF.

There is no purchase necessary to take part in the JNF Tu BiShvat Sweepstakes. You may enter by filling out a downloadable PDF at jnf.org/tbscontest and mailing your entry to: JNF Tu Bishvat Sweepstakes, c/o Jewish National Fund, Attn: Isaac Heger, 42 E. 69th St., New York, NY 10021. Online and telephone entries must be received by 11:59:59 ET on January 25, 2016 and mail-in entries must be postmarked by January 25, 2016 and received by end of business day on January 29, 2016. Limit one entry per mailing envelope. Drawing will take place on or about Feb.4.

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JEWISH NATIONAL FUND (JNF) began in 1901 as a dream and vision to reestablish a homeland in Israel for Jewish people everywhere. Jews the world over collected coins in iconic JNF Blue Boxes, purchasing land and planting trees until ultimately, their dream of a Jewish homeland was a reality. JNF gives all generations of Jews a unique voice in building a prosperous future for the land of Israel and its people.

JNF embodies both heart and action; our work is varied in scope but singular in benefit. We strive to bring an enhanced quality of life to all of Israel’s residents, and translate these advancements to the world beyond. JNF is greening the desert with millions of trees, building thousands of parks, creating new communities and cities for generations of Israelis to call home, bolstering Israel’s water supply, helping develop innovative arid-agriculture techniques, and educating both young and old about the founding and importance of Israel and Zionism.

JNF is a registered 501(c)(3) organization and United Nations NGO, which continuously earns top ratings from charity overseers.

For more information on JNF, call 888-JNF-0099 or visit www.jnf.org.

We’ll be featuring the documentary film I Shall Not be Silent, produced and directed by Rachel Fisher and Rachel Pasternak, about Rabbi Joachim Prinz, a keynote speaker at the 1963 March on Washington, and a special speaker.

https://www.facebook.com/events/155407848146982/

Excerpts of Prinz’s Writings Narrated by Andre Braugher

In Berlin in the 1930’s, the civil rights of Jews were systematically stripped away. A young rabbi refused to be silent. His name was Joachim Prinz and he set out to restore the self-esteem of the German Jews. Knowing the Nazis were monitoring his every word, and despite repeated arrests, Prinz continued to preach about the value of Judaism. He saved many lives by encouraging Jews to emigrate from Germany.

Expelled from Germany in 1937, Prinz arrived in the United States, the land where democracy had supposedly triumphed over bigotry and hatred. Here, he witnessed racism against African Americans and realized the American ideal was not a reality.

As rabbi of Temple B’nai Abraham in Newark, NJ and later as President of the American Jewish Congress, Prinz became a leader of the civil rights movement. Prinz worked to organize the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, declaring, “bigotry and hatred are not the most urgent problem. The most urgent, the most disgraceful, the most shameful and the most tragic problem is silence.” Moments later, Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his “I Have A Dream” speech.

Throughout his career, Prinz spoke out for justice, unconcerned with the popularity of his positions. He identified with the prophets, writing in a 1975 letter, “Remember the Biblical adage, ‘For the sake of Zion, I shall not be silent.”

From http://www.menemshafilms.com/joachim-prinz-i-shall-not-be-silent

Read more here.