J Blog

We are now in the middle of what is referred to as the Holiday Season. It is a festive time of year full of get togethers, travel and celebration. For most of the world, it has been two years since we as a society have had an opportunity to celebrate the holiday season with others. That doesn’t mean to try and make up for lost time and especially lost opportunity to indulge. So how do we enjoy the festivities and maintain a healthy ...

The second night of Hanukkah is very special as a few key elements of the Mitzvah of lighting the Hanukkah candles are realized on the second night. Technically speaking, one can fulfill the Mitzvah of Hanukkah candles by lighting one candle each night. Adding a candle each night is the fulfillment of what the Talmud calls “Mihadrin Min HaMihadrin (the most meticulous way to perform a Mitzvah). Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, in a ...

Family Corner is a space to offer interactive and thoughtful ideas for family engagement with the Parshat Hashavua (weekly Torah reading). This week in the Parsha we encounter themes of family strife, favoritism, faith in God, and dreams. Also, in this week's Torah portion – Jacob's Coat of Many Colors! Parsha Summary Jacob is shown to favor his son Joseph, whom the other brothers resent. Joseph has dreams of grandeur. (Genesis ...

Family Corner is a space to offer interactive and thoughtful ideas for family engagement with the Parshat Hashavua (weekly Torah reading). This week in the Parsha we encounter themes of Israel, war, prayer, kashrut, and protecting our loved ones and finding positive friends and role models. Parsha Summary Jacob prepares to meet Esau. He wrestles with a "man," who changes Jacob's name to Israel. (32:4-33) Jacob and Esau meet and part ...

“...we do not need these demonstrations as proofs, because the experience of God is the basis of certainty .” Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik וַיִּיקַ֣ץ יַעֲקֹב֮ מִשְּׁנָתוֹ֒ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר ...

Family Corner is a space to offer interactive and thoughtful ideas for family engagement with the Parshat Hashavua (weekly Torah reading). This week in the Parsha we encounter themes of dreams, journeys, angels, making promises to God, the Jewish Wedding and sensitivity towards others. In our Family Corner we’ve provided a video and PJ Library book recommendation on what to expect at a Jewish wedding, a family craft related to ...

“Hanukkah is about the freedom to be true to what we believe without denying the freedom of those who believe otherwise. It’s about lighting our candle, while not being threatened by or threatening anyone else’s candle.” -Rabbi Jonathan Sacks Join the J for Hanukkah Programs & Activities! NOV 22 | 2:00 PM | MERFISH TEEN CENTER | AGES 5-10 Hanukkah Family Craft Day with Rustic Brush Create a Hanukkah board, ...

Hi, my name is Brenda Boyd, and I am the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center Health and Wellness Director. I have been in the fitness industry for over 30 years. Some of you may know me from when I worked at the J from 2006-2015. I started off as a Pilates instructor/Trainer, then later became the Group Exercise Coordinator. I put together the women’s program, three transformation challenges, J-Fit and Go Girl Go. I left to work for ...

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח יִצְחָק֙ אֶֽת־יַעֲקֹ֔ב וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ פַּדֶּ֣נָֽה אֲרָ֑ם ...

Family Corner is a space to offer interactive and thoughtful ideas for family engagement with the Parshat Hashavua (weekly Torah reading). This week in the Parsha, we encounter themes of prayer, patience, honesty and family love. This week we’ve provided a video and a book recommendation on brotherly love (both based on the same Talmudic story), a family craft related to family bonding, a link to a family Parsha magazine and more. We ...