We send our kids to camp for a variety of reasons. Of course, we send them to Camp to have fun and to have a variety of Jewish experiences that they can not get anywhere else. But sometimes something happens at Camp that has a profound impact on the campers and the staff. We had…

It was a beautiful Shabbat service on the chapel on the hill last night.  The youngest campers, Carmel, led the service and they did a fabulous job.  It got me thinking about something, too. Being a 9 year old and standing in front of the camp with the support of a staff or faculty member…

The Union for Reform Judaism’s Biennial is where Reform Jews gather to learn, pray, share ideas, dance and sing, hear from inspiring guest speakers, reunite with old friends, make new connections, and make decisions about the policies of the Reform Movement. Your teens who attend the NFTY Leaders’ Assembly will experience the tremendous sense of…

I am up here at our URJ Camp Harlam for my usual two weeks in the summer and I have to tell you that this has been the busiest summer ever. All in a good way, too! First, a word of thank you to the congregation. I could not be up here serving as your…

This summer, we have four teens participating in Urban Mitzvah Corps, a 6-week summer volunteer program run through the URJ.  Every night, a participant posts a blog entry and click HERE to check out an entry from a current SALTY leader, Jenna Wyatt.

Last fall at the post High Holiday review one of our members suggested that the prayer book for our well-attended Community service was not the best Beth Miriam could offer. Since our synagogue is vibrant, welcoming and innovative we felt that the prayer book should reflect that. After some discussion Rabbi Stanway decided it was…

Donating to our funds is a good way to honor someone.  All you need to do is either call the office at 732-222-3754 to make a credit card donation or mail your check to 180 Lincoln Ave., Elberon, NJ 07740 TBM FUNDS OUR GENERAL PURPOSE FUNDS Tree of Life – A beautiful way to honor…

I have been asked to respond to a question by “Jewish Values Online” – an interdenominational assembly of rabbis who respond to submitted questions through Jewish lenses.  I recently received this question: What is the Jewish response – besides of course helping those in need – to environmental tragedy, like the earthquake and tsunami in…

NFTY Convention has been one of the most memorable experiences of my Jewish life so far, if not my entire life. I had heard stories from other NFTYites about their amazing Convention experiences, but it still managed to exceed even my highest expectations. Each day was jam packed with programming and services, as well as trips…