| Organization Details | |
| Name: |
Chabad of Hunterdon County [learn more] [website] |
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| Address: |
90 Beaver Ave Clinton, NJ 08809 |
| Contact: |
Rabbi Eli Chabad of Hunterdon County rabbi@jewishhunterdon.com90 Beaver Ave Clinton, New Jersey, 08809 USA 908-238-9002 |
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Jewish Center serving the Hnterdon County area. Hebrew School, Holiday Programs and more |
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While there are many Chinese Auctions benefiting important and worthy organizations, the mychabadauction.com auction benefiting Chabad of Hunterdon County's scholarship fund has a twist; a prize package that includes "Fighter Pilot for a Day".
When Jared Isaacman heard about the auction, he wanted to take part. Raising money for charities in creative ways is not new to Jared. As a young 26 year old CEO of one of the fastest growing companies in America, United Bankcard of Clinton, NJ, as well as the holder of the World Record for flying around the world in a light jet in under 62 hours, breaking the existing record of 82 hours, Jared raised over $60,000 for Make-a-Wish Foundation. As the owner of planes, including fighter jets, Jared came up with a unique prize for mychabadauction.com, a Fighter Jet Pilot for the Day experience.
"The ability to combine having fun and supporting a good cause is a growing trend in fundraising efforts and their success" says Rabbi Eli Kornfeld Executive Director of Chabad of Hunterdon County, "People want to enjoy giving back to the community". The winner will enjoy a once in a life time experience, the thrill of flying in one of Jared's authentic fighter jets. The L-39ZA is a high performance fighter jet capable of over 8 G's and flying at 80% of the speed of sound. The prize includes a special training session on how the fighter jet works, training on the ground, flight operations and safety aspects such as how to operate the ejection seat etc. Following the training, the winner boards the fighter jet for either a High G experience or just a relaxing sightseeing flight. High G refers to the various acrobatic twists and turns that the fighter jet is capable of maneuvering. The L-39ZA is capable of 8G's, the highest level allowed outside the military.
The website was designed and built by eggzack.com an industry expert and leader in ecommerce websites. John Zack CEO and founder of EggZack says this is a revolutionary site that gives access to anyone around the world to log on and view the prize packages and buy tickets and win.
The Auction evening is scheduled for Sunday, March 14 at the Glassman Estate in Annandale and will feature comedian Joel Chasnoff, Joel was the warm-up act for Jon Stewart and Lewis Black of The Daily Show. Joel recently returned from a USO Comedy Tour of Japan and Korea entertaining American Marines. He's supplied his voice to numerous cartoons and has performed at more than five hundred colleges, clubs, and Jewish conferences across North America, Israel, and Europe.
Mychabadauction.com has other unique prizes like the all new Apple iPad, a seven day vacation to Ocean City MD, two round trip tickets to Israel a trip for two to Disney World, jewelry and much more. Visit www.mychabadauction to view prize packages and purchase tickets.
Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) will unveil its fall course, SoulQuest: The Journey Through Life, Death, and Beyond. The twin mysteries of life and death have fascinated philosophers and laymen alike since the dawn of time. Many questions have been asked, but far fewer have been answered.
"This is a classic case of the market creating the demand for this course," says JLI Director Rabbi Eli Kornfeld. "We have received consistent requests from students to create a course that addresses these issues head on. Sooner or later, everybody must reckon with questions of their own mortality."
"This course addresses the most commonly asked questions about the soul's journey," says Rabbi Yisrael Rice, the course author. "And then some not-so-common questions that many people have never even thought of."
"Though there are many traditions that deal with the nature of the soul and its journey through this life and beyond" continues Rice, "this course reveals a counterintuitive conclusion that is unique to the Jewish tradition."
Participants will find comfort in understanding the soul's journey. Additionally, the course consistently brings the study of our before and after back to its practical ramifications of day-to-day living.
Lessons will examine a range of classic Jewish sources, drawing extensively from the Talmud and Kabbalah.
Rabbi Kornfeld of Chabad of Hunterdon County will be teaching this course at The Chabad Jewish Center in Clinton for six Tuesdays, starting November 3rd, and potential students are welcome to call (908) 238-9002 for more information. Course fee is $80.00 with a 10% discount for couples, the fee includes text books and all course material.
SoulQuest, like all JLI's courses, is designed for people at all levels of Jewish knowledge. Participants without any prior experience or background in Jewish learning can attend and enjoy this course. All JLI courses are open to the public, and attendees need not to be a member of any particular synagogue or temple.
The Soulquest course is being offered in 300 locations around the world simultaneously enabling students to continue the course if their traveling and are away during the course. For a list of cities visit www.myjli.com.
Please visit www.myJLI.com or www.SoulQuestion.com for up-to-date information about SoulQuest.
JLI courses are presented in Clinton under the auspices of Chabad of Hunterdon County.
(Members of the media are invited to attend a local class and/or interview local course facilitators in advance. Interviews with national facilitators and course creators can be arranged upon request as well. To arrange an interview, to visit an upcoming class, or for further information, please contact Rabbi Eli Kornfeld at, director of Chabad of Hunterdon County. (908) 238-9002. rabbi@jewishhunterdon.com
The Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) is the adult education arm of Chabad-Lubavitch. JLI's classes and programs are offered at over 300 locations in more than 250 cities nationwide and internationally (including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, The Netherlands, South Africa, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela). Over 100,000 people have attended JLI classes since its founding in 1998. Every course offered by JLI is taught concurrently in all locations. This unique feature has helped create a truly global learning community.)
The Jewish Woman's Circle of Hunterdon will be hosting a special Israeli Dancing Workshop this Sunday, October 25th at 7:00. Well known dance instructor, Elyse Litt, will be leading the workshop, sharing over 20 years of experience teaching Israeli dance. "Numerous studies have shown that dance is a leading reducer of stress and producer of joy and happiness, "says Rachel Kornfeld, Director of the Jewish Women's circle. No prior dance experience is necessary.
All are welcome to join. The cost is $10.00 which includes the dance workshop, Israeli themed refreshments and one entrance into a special raffle. RSVP by calling 908-238-9002 email Rachel@jewishhunterdon.com or visit www.jewishhunterdon.com
The Jewish Woman's Circle is a project of Chabad of Hunterdon County; all events are located at the Chabad Jewish Center 90 Beaver Ave Clinton, NJ
Chabad of Hunterdon County will be hosting a Community Shabbat Dinner open to all on Friday evening October 23. The Dinner will feature Holocaust survivor Mrs. Esther Bakonyi. Esther will share her riveting memories and experiences from her childhood, living through the horrors of World War II as a five year old girl.
Here are excerpts from her personal memoirs:
"I was five years old. I was always friendly and the grownups probably felt sorry for me - maybe they knew that my fate was sealed. So they treated me like a toy, took me on errands, showed me interesting things - one neighbor even taught me to play chess. Also, I had many new children to play with, since Jews were no longer tolerated in the town parks, we were playing in various families' homes.
So the Germans came. The Nazi government ordered every Jew over six years of age wear a six-pointed star of bright yellow, visibly placed on an outer garment, and no, you could not cover it. The next step was to round up all Jews from the city and from the provinces, and move them into one area. Which meant that you had to leave your home with few belongings, and move into the designated area, the GHETTO, where several families were crowded into one apartment. The displaced non-Jews of course were moved into the vacated Jewish homes.
I have two personal memories from the Ghetto..."
The Shabbat dinner will feature a catered dinner by kosher chef David Z. Solomon of Morristown, a special children's program and Shabbat songs.
All are welcome to attend. The cost is $18 adult $10 Children under 12. To RSVP please call 908-238-9002 email info@jewishhunterdon.com or visit www.jewishhunterdon.com
Entering its sixth year, Chabad Hebrew School is proud to announce that registration is open to students and their parents for the upcoming school year. Chabad of Hunterdon County invites potential new students and their families to visit the school, meet the staff and teachers, and enroll their children in a free one-month trial.
Chabad is proud of its reputation for a quality hands-on education individually tailored to meet each child's unique needs. We are known for our diverse student body and for a warm and friendly atmosphere that enables each child to learn at a comfortable pace..
Through reading and writing Hebrew and learning about Jewish history, holidays, and more, students gain an appreciation for the joys, values, and traditions of our heritage. Lessons are vividly brought to life by the dedicated and enthusiastic teachers whose imagination and vision ensure a unique learning experience. As one teacher, Sarah Kramer, explains, "Each lesson is created to engage all the senses so that the student feels an excitement and connection to the material being presented." The program is thus carefully blended with games, incentives, crafts, dramatics, family celebrations, and other exciting extracurricular activities.
The students' enthusiasm for the lessons says it all. "I don't know what they do there at Chabad, but each week my children can't wait for Hebrew school," says Dee Frank, a parent from Whitehouse. In the words of Josh Kutznesoff, a student from Flemington, "Every week I wait to see what we will learn in Hebrew school." This anticipation is what we strive for here at Chabad.
"The goal of our school is to create a warm, friendly, and open environment where students are imbued with a warmth and curiosity for Judaism, " explains Rachel Kornfeld, the Hebrew school director. "Our motto is Learn it, Love it, Live it,."
Registration for Chabad Hebrew School is now open for the upcoming 2009-2010 school year, which begins on Sunday, September 13th. Membership is not required. Every Jewish child is welcome regardless of affiliation or prior knowledge. Classes are held on Sunday mornings at 10:00 am for children aged 3 through 13 at the Chabad Jewish Center, 90 Beaver Ave, in Clinton. To schedule an appointment to visit Chabad Hebrew School, please call (908) 238-9002 or e-mail Rachel@JewishHunterdon.com. For further information, log on to www.JewishHunterdon.com.
Chabad of Hunterdon County, NJ celebrated its 6th Anniversary Dinner Banquet with a memorable Dinner Banquet at the Grand Colonial Inn in Perryville.
It was a special event with many community business leaders, organizational leaders as well as political leaders joining the over two hundred and thirty people in attendance.
The event featured Joe Piscopo from Saturday Night Live as its MC and entertainer as well as guest performer Yoel Sharabi a world renowned Jewish singer and performer. There were a number of people that were honored at the event including Mr. & Mrs. Stanley and June Goldstein Lifetime Achievement Award, Mules and Zak Griffin Hebrew School Children of the Year and Mr. Michael Camerino Community Leadership Award. Rabbi Eli Kornfeld Chabad of Hunterdon County Executive Director remarked "The event was a tribute to the community and its willingness to support and partner with Chabad in insuring its continued growth and success"
Proceeds from the Dinner will fund Chabad of Hunterdon's growing number of programs servicing the Hunterdon County area.
Following the cocktail hour everyone was treated to a special video presentation highlighting the achievements Chabad has accomplished during its first six years as well as its vision for the future.
The event featured many who shared their personal experiences with Chabad including Mr. Richard Kaplan of Novartis, Sharon Gonnen of Thomson Reuters who spoke about the recent passing of her mother Renay Salamon A'H who was a chairperson for the event and prominent supporter of Chabad of Hunterdon.
The event concluded with Chabad of Hunterdon annual raffle and the winners were:
Ilene Kaplan: Fur Coat
William Fiore Breitling Watch
Dave Ryback 50/50
First Photo - Miles & Zak Griffin; Hebrew School Sutdents of the Year with their parents Scott & Beth
Second Photo - Michael Camerino & Rabbi Eli Kornfeld; Community Leadership Award Recipient
Join the best selling author, lawyer and spiritual mentor and discover an exciting systematic approach loving truly and finding your soulmate through the courage of commitment.
FORMER NFL LINEMAN AND SUPERBOWL CHAMP ALAN VEINGRAD TO SPEAK ON SUPER BOWL SUNDAY AT CHABAD OF
Maintaining Jewish Identity and Pride on the Playing Field
Clinton, NJ January 14, 2009 -- Former NFL offensive lineman (1986-1992) and member of the 1992 Superbowl Champs, the Dallas Cowboys, Alan Veingrad, will address the
There will be a special children’s program and Alan will teach some pointers as well as sign autographs. Following Alan’s talk there will be special Super Bowl Lunch including kosher wings, heroes, hot dogs, fries and more. Register prier to event enter a chance to win autographed football and signed picture with Alan. Prier to event $15; Family $36; at the door $18; Family $45 Sponsored by The Flemington Department Store.
About Alan Veingrad
Shlomo Veingrad's broad shoulders are wrapped in a prayer shawl, and at six-foot-five, he towers over the other congregants in the synagogue. He hoists the heavy Torah scroll over his head with ease: Those same long, mighty arms spent seven years shoving aside National Football League defensive linemen to clear space for Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith.
As an offensive lineman for the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys from 1986 to 1993, Alan Veingrad, 44, a
Back then, before he wore a yarmulke – the Jewish skullcap – on his head, before he kept kosher, before he used his Hebrew name, he studied playbooks instead of scriptures. His inspiration was Jimmy Johnson; his most prized possession was his Super Bowl ring.
That Super Bowl was in 1993, and it would be his last. Newly married and his body aching from Johnson's "bloodbath" practices, Veingrad retired.
But like many professional athletes who become reliant on built-in structure and motivation from coaches, Veingrad felt lost when the cheering stopped. A cousin invited him for Shabbat dinner, and thus began his metamorphosis. After spending most of his life in a violent, macho world, Veingrad was intrigued by the simpler, gentler Jewish way of life.
He went to
"I'm one of those guys who was always starved for inspiration," said Veingrad. "And I realized that I can find what I was missing within my Jewish heritage. The more I learned, the deeper I wanted to goâ€
Local rabbis say his bigger-than-life appearance and his engaging personality make him an inspiration. "He has been able to channel that dedication and commitment he had for football to Judaism, while living in a very secular environment," says Rabbi Eli Kornfeld of Chabad of Hunterdon County
"People are drawn to him because he played in the NFL, won a Super Bowl," said Kornfeld. "He's a guy people can relate to and he has a powerful message not just for Jews, but for all people: that it's possible to live in this world and find time for faith and family. People see me, a rabbi, and think I don't understand them. A football player is a real guy, and that captivates people."
"I was shocked at first," said older brother Steve Veingrad, a Miami-Dade police officer, "thought he was crazy, but now I see he's found happiness and tranquility, and I'm proud of him."
"Opened My Mind"
"He went from Super Bowl to Super Jew," said Steve Veingrad. "His new life isn't really for me, but in December, I did buy myself a little mezuzah [a doorpost scroll containing verses from the Torah] that I wear on a chain around my neck, under my uniform. He opened my mind."
The old Veingrad's perfect Saturday was spent with beer and buddies watching college football. Now, he walks to synagogue for Shabbat services with his family. Veingrad fully observes the day of rest, which means no driving, cell phone, television, cooking and no flipping light switches. He spends the day praying, studying and bonding with his three children.
Veingrad was born Jewish and had a bar mitzvah at age 13 at
Though he wasn't religious, he felt excluded at times.
One of the few Jewish players at Sunset High, Veingrad would bow his head in silence when Fellowship of Christian Athletes representatives led the team in a prayer before practice and games.
"It never bothered me, because it was something you were used to hearing if you were a football player," he said. Later, in his college days at
Veingrad said he never experienced anti-Semitism on the football field. His teammates at college, now known as Texas A&M at Commerce, invited him to fish and ride horses on their ranches. A few years ago, he was inducted into the school's Sports Hall of Fame, and they rescheduled the ceremony to accommodate his Shabbat observance.
During his tryout for the college team, Veingrad admitted, he pulled a fast one on the coaches in the 40-yard dash. When the coach with the stopwatch turned his back to walk toward the finish line, Veingrad took a gigantic step forward.
"Ready, Set, Go!" the coach yelled. Veingrad just made the required time of 4.9 seconds and got a scholarship. He and coach Ernest Hawkins would laugh later about his 39-yard dash.
"He was a tall, skinny kid, pretty good speed and strength," Hawkins recalled. "He had good intelligence and was a real hard worker."
Veingrad considered the NFL an unrealistic goal. But an assistant coach said NFL scouts would like his long arms and height. He kept working out and bulking up, and got what looked like a break: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed him as a free agent in 1985. He was cut 10 days later. Another tryout with the Houston Oilers ended the same way.
Veingrad bided his time as a student-coach at
He signed as a free agent with the Cowboys in 1991 for $1.4 million.
Always one of the first to arrive at synagogue, Veingrad creditted coach Johnson for his punctuality.
"If the meeting started at 7:00, you were expected to be there at 6:50," Veingrad said. "Jimmy said if you got there right at seven ... you couldn't switch from cutting up in the hallway with your friends to being in the mind-frame for a meeting. I bring that lesson to the religious world.
"If showing up for meetings with Jimmy Johnson 10 minutes ahead of time was important," explained Veingrad, "how much more important is showing up early to shul [synagogue] to meet with the King of all Kings, G‑d Almighty?"
Johnson hasn't seen the new Veingrad, slimmed 60 pounds to 225 from his playing days, but he isn't surprised the former Cowboy is taking his new calling seriously.
"Alan was a very intelligent player who gave outstanding effort, and he became valuable because he was versatile and could play any position on the line," said Johnson. "Had he not been intelligent and not tried hard, he wouldn't have made it in the NFL."
Business Meetings
He insisted he doesn't miss being a pro and as for his Super Bowl ring, he wears it only for speaking engagements and important business meetings.
"I loved the games, the challenge, the competition," he said. "I was a very intense player, and I loved Sundays. There is nothing like it, can't replace that feeling of coming out of a tunnel in Green Bay, beautiful blue sky, 50 degrees, the smell of beer and brats in the air.
"I get a charge from different things now."
Veingrad was divorced from the mother of his three kids a few years ago and remarried Chaya Veingrad last month. He works for Silverhill Financial, a commercial mortgage lending company, during the week.
On the side, he travels the country giving speeches.
"When I speak at Anytown
Veingrad's father, Leo, was uneasy with his son's renewed commitment to Jewish life at first. When Shlomo invited him to Shabbat dinner and services, he politely declined, saying, "That's for you; it's not for me, son."
But he had started to come around, prier to his passing he shared his pride â€My dad said, 'Son, I was really proud of you as a football player with that Packers and Cowboys helmet on your head, but I'm prouder of you with the yarmulke on your head,' " Veingrad said, stroking his flowing beard. "Amazing."
Laugh, Laugh, and Laugh
Some More
Women’s Night of
Comedy
Monday, January 26, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Chabad Jewish Center
All are invited to attend a night of laughter and
comedy with actress, screenwriter and laughter therapist Esther Rachel Russell
Let go and laugh out loud with your friends at a comedy improvisation workshop.
Mrs. Russell is a graduate of the NYU School of Drama and is in the midst of her
Chabad Women’s Circle provides an opportunity to bring together women with divergent points of view, backgrounds and affiliations in an atmosphere of friendship,
Couvert: $18 • Refreshments will be served
For more information and to RSVP please call (908) 238-9002 or email Rachel@JewishHunterdon.com visit www.jewishhunterdon.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Rabbi Eli
Kornfeld
Chabad of
908-238-9002 or
rabbi@jewishhunterdon.com