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Registration deadline: Wed, Sep 17
A Note from Rabbi Treu
In Jewish time, a new day begins in the evening, as it becomes dark. So too, a new year begins in the fall. There is a deep wisdom to this: before we can grow – with a new dawn, a new spring – we need to find ourselves rooted. We need to get ready to begin again.
Who do you want to be in 5786? How will you find yourself?
Read the rest of Rabbi Treu’s note:
The Power of Forgiveness: A Multifaith Exploration
Saturday, September 13, 6:30 pm, $5
Featuring Dr. Mohammad Ali Chaudry, Islamic Society of Basking Ridge; Reverend William D. Carter, III, Franklin-St. John’s United Methodist Church; Suzanne Ludlam, Morristown Church of Latter-Day Saints; Fal Pandya, Namaste Global Foundation; and Rabbi Abigail Treu, Oheb Shalom Congregation.
As the Jewish community enters the sacred season of reflection and repentance, we gather to explore forgiveness across faith traditions. Featuring teachers of the Muslim, Hindu, Methodist, Latter Day Saint, and Jewish faith traditions, we ask: how can forgiveness heal our hearts and communities? Open to all faiths and backgrounds, the evening begins with a panel discussion over light bites and drinks, and then shifts into Slichot, the pre-Rosh Hashanah forgiveness service.
Co-sponsored with the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ and Temple B’nai Jeshurun.
Rosh Hashanah
Mon, Sep 22: Rosh Hashanah in the Park
5 pm arrival; 5:30-6:30 pm service
Join us for this Oheb and community tradition! Bring your own chair or blanket!
Mon, Sep 22, 6:45 pm: Evening Service (Ma’ariv) at Memorial Park, 580 Valley Street, Maplewood
Both events take place in Memorial Park, 580 Valley Street, Maplewood. We will not be holding services on site at Oheb. Rain location: Oheb Shalom
Tue, Sep 23 and Wed, Sep 24: Rosh Hashanah Morning Services
9 am-1 pm
Approximate slots within the time frame are below. Begin with the end in mind: we blow shofar at the end of the service so if you’re coming for just an hour, come for the last hour. Be part of the build! Help build the energy by beginning with the end in mind: decide how long you want to be there for, and work backwards from there!
9 am: Shaharit (Morning Service, led by Charles Wantman)
10 am: Torah service
11 am: Shofar, conclusion of Torah service, and Sermon
11:45 am: Musaf service (that’s the part with the “who shall live, who shall die” and other greatest hits)
Tue, Sep 23: Family Service
10:15-11:30 am
Led by Rabbi Treu and is designed for kids (of all ages) and their parents/caregiver. This is not a drop-off program – parents, please attend with your children.
Youth Programming
Grade-Level Programming
10:30 am-1:30 pm
Offered on 1st day of of Rosh Hashanah and on Yom Kippur. Designed for children from Kindergarten to 6th grade. There is supervision and these are drop off programs. Children will be able to come and go freely between the activity room and the sanctuary.
Babysitting available
10:00 am-1:30 pm
Offered on 1st and 2nd days of Rosh Hashanah and on Yom Kippur. For children in Kindergarten and younger. Children must be potty-trained. No registration required.
Tue, Sep 23: Tashlich
Time TBD
Symbolically casting our sins away by throwing crumbs or pebbles into a river. Following services, meet at the Duck Pond in Flood Hill. This service will be lay-led.
Sun, Sep 28: Memorial Service at Oheb Shalom Cemetery, 1321 North Broad Street, Hillside.
11 am
Everyone is welcome to attend, whether you have family or friends interred there or not. It is Jewish tradition to visit graves of relatives around the High Holidays. Last year we began what is now an annual tradition of offering a service at the Cemetery to enable anyone to say Kaddish surrounded by the community. In the event of rain, the service will move indoors at the Cemetery. If you have any questions or particular needs, please call Andrew Lebow (917) 992-5525.
Yom Kippur
Wed, Oct 1: Kol Nidre
6:15-8:15 pm
Thu, Oct 2: Yom Kippur Services
9 am: Shaharit (Morning Service)
10:15 am: Torah service
11 am-2 pm: Rabbi Treu’s Sermon, Yizkor, and Musaf Service
2:45-4:15 pm: Social Justice Program: “How Do We Stand Up for Justice and Equity in a Polarized Nation?” featuring Claudia E. Cohen, Bonnie Berman Cushing, and Robert A. Marchman.
4:20 pm: Minchah (Afternoon Service, including recitation of the Book of Jonah, led by Charlie Shapiro)
5:45 pm: Neilah (Closing Service)
7:17 pm: Fast ends with final Shofar blast and Havdalah
Parents: please bring your children to Murnick Social Hall at 6:30 pm to line up for the light parade.
Thu, Oct 2: Family Service
10:15-11:30 am
Led by Rabbi Treu and is designed for kids of all ages and their parents/caregiver. This is not a drop-off program – parents, please attend with your children.
Youth Programming
Grade Level Programming
10:30 am-1:30 pm
Designed for children from Kindergarten to 6th grade. There is supervision and these are drop off programs. Children will be able to come and go freely between the activity room and the sanctuary.
Babysitting available
10 am-1:30 pm
For children in Kindergarten and younger. Children must be potty-trained. No registration required.
Teens Help in the Food Pantry
11 am-noon
All post B-Mitzvah teens are invited to help organize supplies in the food pantry. No registration required.
Thu, Oct 2: Break the Fast
Following services; sponsored by Ed Zinbarg in gratitude for reaching his 50th High Holy Day Season at Oheb Shalom.
Sukkot
Sun, Oct 5: Men’s Club Sukkah Construction
8 am, parking lot
Sun, Oct 5: Community Sukkah Decorating
11:30 am, parking lot
Tue and Wed, Oct 7 and 8: Sukkot Morning Services
9:45 am-noon, In-Person and via Livestream
Thu and Fri, Oct 9 and 10: Hol Hamoed Sukkot Services
8-9 am, Via Zoom
Fri, Oct 10: Sukkot First Friday & Dinners
Dinners 5:30 & 7: 30 pm, Service at 6 pm
Early Pricing Deadline is Sun, Oct 5
Sun, Oct 12: Hol Hamoed Sukkot Service
9:45 am-noon, In-Person and via Livestream
Mon, Oct 13: Hoshanah Rabbah Service
8-9 am, via Zoom
Bring a food pantry donation during Sukkot
The gemara (Sotah 48b) tells us that if a person has enough bread to eat today, they are lacking emuna (faith) in Hashem if they worry about what they will eat tomorrow. But this only applies to oneself. When it comes to other people, be concerned about what they will eat tomorrow and for many days to come.
–R’ Yechezkal Levenstein zt”l
Most needed items:
Cereal, rice/pasta, vegetarian canned soup/fruit/vegetables (no glass containers), shelf-stable milk, tinned tuna, peanut butter, jam, hygiene products, and baby diapers sizes 1-4.
Note: All items must be kosher with Hechsher label, not past its best by/expiration date and please no matzah donations.
Contact:
Meredith Katz – meredithdina@gmail.com
Meredith Lambert – Meredith@mplevents.com
Jennifer Glass – jglass@eventage.net
Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah
Tue, Oct 14: Shemini Atzeret Service
9:45 am-noon
In-person and via Livestream. Yizkor will be around 11 am.
Tue, Oct 14: Simchat Torah Dinner & Celebration
5:45-8 pm
Join us for dancing, singing, and a giant Torah party!
5:45-6:30 pm: Dinner
6:30 pm: Ma’ariv, followed by hakafot dancing led by the live klezmer musicians of Isle of Klezbos (no registration necessary for prayer and dancing)
Thanks to all those who are sponsoring dinner in celebration of the lives of loved ones who have passed away since last Rosh Hashanah. The full sponsor list and explanation of their generous offering to the community can be found at the RSVP link below.
Wed, Oct 15: Simchat Torah Services at CBI
9:30 am
The joy continues on Simchat Torah morning, Wednesday, Oct 15 as we join our friends at Congregation B’nai Israel (160 Millburn Avenue, Millburn) to celebrate the Torah and honor two very special Oheb superstars: Paul Nagelberg and Charles Wantman. These two past presidents keep things going and flowing at Oheb – Paul the stalwart organizer of the Daily Minyan and Charles a key lay leader giving hours of his time to help run the sound system at Oheb and leading shaharit for many years at High Holy Day services. Kiddush lunch to follow.
Lulav & Etrog Set
To make sure you have your set in time for Sukkot, click the button below.
Deadline to order is Mon, Sep 30. Pick-up is on Sun, Oct. 5.
To learn more about the symbolism of the lulav & etrog, click here.
Membership Directory
Our annual Membership Directory is an essential resource for our synagogue community, listing contact information for members, clergy and staff. Distributed in print during High Holy Days, it will help keep you in touch with everyone at Oheb throughout the year. Deadline has passed.
Advertise With Us
Advertising in the Directory is a great way to reach a loyal, local audience while supporting our congregation. If you are a business owner or service provider of any type, your ad will be seen by hundreds of engaged households who value community connections.
It’s also a long-standing tradition for Oheb members to purchase ad space where they send wishes to all for a sweet and happy New Year. Please note that ads must be sent CAMERA-READY, either .jpg or .pdf format. Content is subject to approval.
Book of Remembrance
Each year during the High Holy Days, we take time to remember those who came before us – loved ones whose lives shaped our own. The Book of Remembrance is a meaningful way to honor their memory. Deadline: Fri, Sep 19.
The book includes the names of family members and friends who have passed away, submitted by members of our community. It is used during Yizkor (Memorial) services when we reflect on and connect with those we’ve lost.
Participating in the Book of Remembrance is a simple but powerful act. By including a name, you’re keeping their legacy alive – not just in your own heart but within our synagogue family. You’re saying: Their life mattered. I remember them. We remember them.
We invite all members to include names of those they wish to honor, whether they passed away recently or many years ago. It is customary to honor their memory with tzedakah (a charitable donation). While it is not required, we welcome and appreciate contributions of at least $18
High Holy Days Pop-Up Choirs
Be part of making services beautiful at Oheb Shalom for High Holy Days 5786! This year, we are doing things a bit differently. How it works: Each week leading up to Rosh Hashanah, we will have choir rehearsals. Instead of signing up for choir in general, you can sign up by song. Once you register/sign up to be part of a song, you will receive the written music as well as recorded parts. You can sign up to be part of as many or as few songs as you like! Maybe you want to dip your toe in and sign up for one or two? Maybe you want to do a little more or all of it? We will be doing a mix of classics and some new selections.
Candle-Lighting Times
Jewish families light candles at the start of festivals and shabbat. Traditionally this is done 18 minutes before sunset, or earlier on the first night of the holiday, and then once dark hits on the second night of the holiday. The times below are helpful guidance for those looking to take on this practice – whether you light candles the right moment or just the right night, may their glow fill your home and heart with peace, hope, and illumination.
Rosh Hashanah – 6:35 pm
Yom Kippur – 6:20 pm
Sukkot – 6:12 pm
Simchat Torah – 6:01 pm