Tenafly – Rabbi Nat Benjamin

Alpine NJ, Family, High Holy Days, New Jersey Rabbi, New York Rabbi, Rabbi Nat Benjamin, Tenafly, Tradition

Hannukkah 5782 and Thanksgiving 2021 Together – Never Before Or Again

This year Hanukkah coincides with Thanksgiving, on 11/28/2021. The Jewish calendar repeats on a 19 year cycle, and Thanksgiving repeats on a 7 year cycle. You would therefore expect them to coincide roughly every 19×7 = 133 years. Looking back, this is approximately correct – the last time it would have happened is 1861. However, Thanksgiving was only formally established by President Lincoln in 1863. So, it has never happened before.

Because the Jewish calendar is very slowly getting out of sync with the solar calendar, at a rate of 4 days per 1000years . This means that while presently Hanukkah can be as early as 11/28, over the years the calendar will drift forward, such that the earliest Hanukkah can be is 11/29.

Of course, if the Jewish calendar is never modified in any way, then it will slowly move forward through the Gregorian calendar, until it loops all the way back to where it is now. So, Hanukkah could again fall on Thursday, 11/28…in the year 79,811 * .

Calendars , not with standing we need an early Hanukkah this year. It is a holiday that brings hope and good cheer to all of us regardless of our religious backgrounds.

So pass the cranberry sauce AND the latkes, please.

NOTE: The 79811 date is NOT accurate, but was meant to be tongue in cheek. Jewish law requires Passover to be in the Spring. Therefore, the Jewish calendar will have to be adjusted long before it loops all the way around.

Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com

Bergen County Rabbi, High Holy Days, Jewish Education, Jewish Survival, Judaism, Rosh Hashanah, Tenafly, Yom Kippur

High Holy Days at Chavurah Beth Shalom

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur — days of sweetness and atonement – are the culmination of a month-long process of coming back to God. During the High Holidays, we embrace the study and beauty of the Torah and rejoice with prayer and song.

2019 / 5780 HIGH HOLY DAYS INFORMATION

We are pleased to announce that our 2019 High Holy Days Services will be held at the Clinton Inn Hotel and Conference Center, 145 Dean Drive, Tenafly, NJ. 07670 on the following dates and times:

Sunday, September 29, 2019:  Clinton Inn & Conference Center
Erev Rosh Hashanah, 7:30 pm
Monday, September 30, 2019:  Clinton Inn & Conference Center
Rosh Hashanah, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Children’s Services, 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm
Tuesday, October 1, 2019: Alpine, NJ. Community House
Rosh Hashanah 2nd Day, 10:30 am
Tuesday, October 8, 2019: Clinton Inn & Conference Center
Kol Nidre – Erev Yom Kippur, 7:30 pm
Wednesday, October 9, 2019:  Clinton Inn & Conference Center
Yom Kippur Morning Service, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Children’s Service: 2:00 pm – 2:45 pm
Afternoon & Yizkor Service : 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm

We request that you send in your ticket requests early. Your membership dues include tickets for you and your children through college age.

For more information, contact the Chavurah at 201.567.7806 or email ChavurahBethShalom@gmail.com or see our home page under what’s new for all of our High Holy Day information.

Rosh HaShanah History
The origin of Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year, is Biblical (Lev. 23:23-25): “a sacred occasion commemorated with loud blasts (of the Shofar, the ram’s horn).” The Bible refers to the holiday as Yom Teruah.
(the day of the sounding of the Shofar) and Yom Zikaron Teruah (the day of remembering the sounding of the Shofar).

In Talmudic times, Rosh HaShanah became a celebration of the anniversary of the world’s creation and a day of self-examination, repentance and judgment. While the day was called Yom HaZikaron (Day of Remembrance) and Yom HaDin (Judgment Day), the name Rosh HaShanah (Head of the Year) was first used in the Mishnah has become the most prevalent.

Rosh HaShanah is both a solemn and happy day.
It is a time for introspection, asking for forgiveness, giving forgiveness, resolving to do better, remembering God is our King and Judge, and praying for a healthy and happy year to come. We are solemn in our repentance, but happy in our confidence that God is merciful and good.

Yom Kippur History
Repentance (Teshuva) is the theme of Yom Kippur.
While our sins alienate us from God, our repentance reconciles us with God.
On Yom Kippur, we ask for God to forgive us for our sins.

The first Yom Kippur occurred when Moses descended Mount Sinai with the second set of Tablets, a symbol of the renegotiated covenant between God and the Jewish People.
The Israelites alienated God by worshiping the golden calf. Moses ascended Mount Sinai to ask God for forgiveness. The Israelites repented by fasting during the day while Moses was on the mountain. On the tenth day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei (Yom Kippur), Moses descended Mount Sinai with the second Tablets.

God decreed the tenth day of the month of Tishrei as a day of atonement:

“Let it be a statute for you forever: in the seventh month, on the tenth of the month, you shall starve your vital energies and do no manner of work…. For on this day it shall bring atonement upon you, to purify you, before God shall you become pure of all your aberrations.” (Vayikra/Leviticus 16: 29-30)
Just as the Israelites alienated God with their unfaithful behavior, some of our behavior during the year has also alienated us from God.
Just as the Israelites repented for their sins, we also repent for our sins.
Praying and fasting enables us to envision the divine image that lives in each of us.
Just as God forgave the Israelites on the tenth of Tishrei, it is our hope that God will forgive us on Yom Kippur.

Alpine NJ, Jewish Education, Jewish Survival, Judaic Studies, Life Cycle, Tenafly

Religious School at Chavurah Beth Shalom

Bergen County Bar Mitzvah A Bat and Bar Mitzvah is such a very special time in the life of a child and their family.
It’s a time where we celebrate our children becoming young grown-ups, applaud their Judaic Studies and gather together with friends and family for that special day !
Our Chavurah Beth Shalom Religious School offers small classes in a fun and educational environment for our students. Along the way, we celebrate Jewish values and learn what is to be Jewish in today’s world.
We welcome you to come and visit our Chavurah in Alpine (NJ) and see for yourself.
Please contact Rabbi Nat Benjamin for further information as well as learn about our individual Bar/Bat Mitzvah lessons at your home.
Call Us: (201)294-8028
Email Us: ChavurahBethShalom@gmail.com

Alpine NJ, Chavurah Beth Shalom Membership, Jewish Education, Judaic Studies, Rabbi Nat Benjamin, Shabbat, Tenafly

Morning Shabbat at our Chavurah Beth Shalom

Please join us tomorrow, Saturday October 13, for a special Morning Shabbat that will be followed by Dr. Donald Bergman’s Health Seminar & Discussion !:
10:30 am:
Prayers & Sermon: Rabbi Nat Benjamin
Music: Cantor Janine Schwarz

11:00 am: Dr. Bergman will speak on: Beyond The Diagnosis, Thyroid Dysfunction, Thyroid Nodules, Osteoporosis & Low Bone Mass.A light brunch and coffee will be served to all members and friends of our Chavurah Beth Shalom.

#Shabbat #JudaicStudies #HealthSeminar

Rabbi Nat Benjamin — Dr, Donald Bergman will speak at our Health Seminar

Bergen County Rabbi, Chavurah Beth Shalom, New Jersey Rabbi, New York Rabbi, Tenafly

Memorial Day Parade In Alpine, NJ

Memorial Day In Alpine, NJ (2018) :
I am very excited to represent our Chavurah Beth Shalom at the Alpine(NJ) Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 28 and will deliver the invocation The parade will be at 11:00 am ( formation will be at 10:30am) and if anyone would like to attend, please feel free to join us .
Our Chavurah Beth Shalom, has been holding services in Alpine since 1991 and many of our families reside in Alpine and in nearby communities. We are privileged to share in showing respect for the men and women who serve and have served in our Armed Forces.
Following the ceremonies refreshments are served back at Alpine Borough Hall on Church Street. There will be activities for children and Alpine Mayor Paul Tomasko is looking forward to seeing us on Memorial Day.
Sharing hear a few pics from last year’s Memorial Day event. In the pictures are Mayor Tomasko along with founding Chavurah Beth Shalom members Dr. Deane Penn and Mrs. Susan Penn.

#Alpine #MemorialDay