Buy Israel... Especially Today...

Dear Friends- 

Normally I would share this on the "Rabbinic Blog" section of our Web site. This is important enough however that I wanted to share it in both locations. Please read, act and share this with others. Thank you!

Rabbi Cohen

Join AJC in the “Buycott” of Israeli Goods 
TOMORROW, Tuesday, November 30^th!

AJC is proud to join other pro-Israel groups across the country on 
Tuesday, November 30^th to support “Buy Israeli Goods” Day
and to counter those calling for boycotts of Israeli products.

Help us send the message to retailers such as Hiller's, Costco, Whole Foods,
Trader Joe’s and ULTA by buying up all of their Israeli-made products!

 HOW CAN YOU HELP?

VISIT www.buyisraelgoods.org to search for Israel products in our area! 
Whether its hummus or olives or Ahava skin cream, every purchase helps!

SPREAD THE WORD! Please share this email with at least 5 friends.

THANK THE STORE for carrying Israeli products! 
Be sure to alert and thank the store manager for carrying Israeli products.
Let them know that you will be a repeat customer for that reason!

TAKE A PICTURE!
Send a picture of you and your family and friends buying Israeli goods to: newjersey@ajc.org

Thank you for helping AJC show support for Israel!

Make A Difference This Thanksgiving...

For more images from our 

Annual Turkey Drive click

With Thanksgiving approaching, TSTI members were involved in multiple efforts this week to help fight hunger in our community. On Wednesday, we took our monthly turn at the InterFaith Food Pantry of the Oranges. Every month when we go, there seem to be more people needing help. We distributed groceries to 62 families this week - a significant increase from just a few months ago. While we are so happy that we can help, we are concerned about having a constant source of food items to give out.

On Sunday, we staffed a table at Whole Foods in West Orange, which is running a November food drive to benefit the Pantry. The Pantry receives no government funding, so we rely on food drives and donations to meet the need. That’s why our “Bring One” program is so important. If we (only!) served 60 people a month, we would need 960 cans/boxes of food just for our week’s distribution! 

And in between, we were the local site on Saturday for the annual Thanksgiving Turkey and Food Drive for the Community Food Bank on NJ, the central organization that provides food to organizations in 18 of NJ’s 21 counties (the InterFaith Food Pantry is a member organization).  We collected 85 turkeys (down a bit from last year, but enough for 1275 turkey dinners) and two large bins of groceries. We also for the first time handed out information about food stamp opportunities and local pantries to the more than 15 cars that stopped and asked if we were handing out (rather than collecting) turkeys. 

If you help at the pantry or the Turkey Drive you see evidence of hunger right in our midst. There’s also been news to read about hunger in America recently, and it's unfortunately not good news. According to a study released November 15 by the US Dep't of Agriculture, almost 15 percent of US households lacked enough money to feed themselves at some point last year . What is termed "food insecurity" means that financial constraints caused 17.4 million people (!!!) in this country to skip meals, run low or out of food, or were unable to purchase balanced meals. 

6.8 million of these households — with as many as 1 million children — had ongoing financial problems that forced them to miss meals regularly. Read more here.

The Star Ledger ran a front page story this week highlighting how 810,000 NJ residents who live below the poverty line make choices like eating at soup kitchens so their children can eat what’s in the cupboard. "In their own stark words, Jerseyans depict the harsh reality of poverty".

Let’s all be thankful this week that we can share in the bounty of family, friend, and a festive meal. And turn that thanks into action: when you shop for Thanksgiving (or just any day), pick up some extra cans of non-perishable food and drop them in out bins! 

Looking Ahead...

LOOKING AHEAD...

Visit our website at www.tsti.org for information about our upcoming events Annual TSTI Blood Drive:  The Irv Soloway TSTI Blood Drive will be held at 9am - 12:30pm during Chanukah Mania on Sun., Dec. 5.  Please email Marla Ostroff  orJamie Ostroff to sign up. Shabbat Scholar and Supper:  Please join us for our next installment on Fri., Dec. 10 at 6pm, followed by dinner, and hear Mark Dubowitz speak about "A War on Terrorist Media".  Registration and fee for Shabbat dinner required by Dec. 5.  Please contact thorwitz@tstinj.org.

This Week

TSTI Weekly

Adult Education Film Series:  Sun., Nov. 21 at 7pm - Enjoy snacks and movie followed by a lively discussion moderated by Dr. Eric A. Goldman.   We will screen "Focus" based on Arthur Miller's novel, with incredible performances by William H. Macy and Laura Dern.  Please RSVP to Tracy Horwitz at thorwitz@tstinj.org. Innovative Options for the 2nd Half of Life:  Join other 50+ years young at the JVS' Creative Maturity Expo on Sun., Nov. 21 at 10am - 4pm at the JCC Whippany.  For more information, click here.   Family Fun at the Circus:  Special discount for TSTI family and friends at the Big Apple Circus on Nov. 21.  Get ringside seats for $59 at the 4:30pm show at Lincoln Center.  To order your tickets, click on Order Online or call 888-541-3750.  Enter promotion code SHAREY.  For more information click here.  Visit the Temple Judaica Shop for your Hanukah candles and many more items.  Open Tuesdays and Sundays during religious school and Friday evenings' Oneg. Now your online holiday shopping can earn $funding$ for Temple!  All you need is the We-Care Reminder, a secure browser extension for Internet Explorer and Firefox.  Just click on http://tsti.We-Care.com/Start to download.  For more information, click here. Scholarships for a Reform Jewish summer experiencefrom the TSTI Women's Connection:  For more information, click here. $1,000 grants for new campers at 150+ Jewish sleep-away camps now available for Summer 2011! Visit www.onehappycamper.org for more details and to apply.  Contact Tracy Levine for more information at973.929.2970 or email tlevine@thepartnershipnj.org.      For more about these and other items, log on to TSTI.org.

This Week's Meetings

MEETINGS AND PROGRAMS

Fri., Nov. 19 STISY Retreat 3pm Sun., Nov. 21 Adult Ed. Film Series 7pm Mon., Nov. 22 Finance Committee Meeting 7:30pm Wed., Nov. 24     Jewish Meditation Group 11am   Religious School Board Meeting 7:30pm

Temple Family News

TEMPLE FAMILY NEWS

Condolences to... Jonathan Gertner on the death of his father Sheldon 'Bud' Gertner Ruth Ross on the death of her son David Lenusky Mazel Tov to...    The Kohn, Shea and Maron families on the B'nai Mitzvah of their children   Share your family's news with our Clergy and with members of Caring Community. Please let us know of your family's life cycle events or if you or someone you know is ill or in need of assistance from Temple.  WE ARE HERE FOR YOU, BUT PLEASE DO NOT ASSUME THAT THE CLERGY HAS HEARD THE NEWS!  Contact Sunny Seglin at 973-763-4116 or click on: Sunny Seglin, JudyEpstein or  Ellen Blake    Do you have a new address, phone number, email? Let us know so we can stay in touch.   SEND A TSTI TRIBUTE TO ACKNOWLEDGE LIFE CYCLE EVENTS Call 973-763-4116 or email tributes@tstinj.org for information on the Funds available and for Acknowledgment Cards to be sent. It's an easy way to show you care!

Chanukah Tikkun Olam

            

Chanukah Tikkun Olam

Eight nights of Chanukah too often equates with eight nights of presents. Why not set aside at least one night of Chanukah for your family to jointly do an act of kindness towards others? Check out the TSTI Tikkun Olam page for a dozen family-friendly suggestions to get you started.