by Elaine Durbach
NJJN Bureau Chief/Central

January 1, 2009

An annual evening of Jewish learning in Scotch Plains will feature a spectrum of talks delving deeper into tradition, reaching out to new groups, and opening up some very contemporary areas of exploration.

The organizers of the Leil Iyun on Saturday evening, Jan. 10, have chosen “Expanding Horizons” as their theme. The event, hosted by the Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey, will take place at the Wilf Jewish Community Campus.

In view of the ongoing conflict with Gaza, organizers have also decided to add a program of solidarity with the people of Israel to the evening’s schedule.

The Leil Iyun speakers, virtually all from the Central area, will address subjects ranging from the environment to politics to parenting, in two back-to-back sessions.

“We wanted to pique the interest of those who have come the past few years to make them want to come again, and to interest those who might not have come before,” said Scott Lazar, who chairs the federation’s education committee in charge of the event.

Organizers are particularly interested in reaching out to younger people. “We wanted to cater to the interests of all the different segments of the community in our catchment area,” Lazar said.

To that end, they are also offering free baby-sitting for children ages five to 11.

Each year people complain about being able to attend only two talks out of the array of so many, but Lazar pointed out that the evening is just a sample of what is available. “Ideally,” he said, “Jewish learning should be a year-round experience, something that’s incorporated into our daily life.”

Dealing with the environment, Rabbi George Nudell of Congregation Beth Israel will consider the mitzva of “going green,” and Rabbi Leah Doberne-Schor of Temple Emanu-El will explore what are the Torah’s “inconvenient truths” on the subject.

On the political front, Rabbi Joel Abraham of Temple Sholom will look at the future Obama administration and what Judaism demands of individual citizens, while Felice Maranz, the federation’s director of community relations, will consider its ?implications for Israel.

For those dealing with the young — at school or in the home — Rabbi Avrohom Blesofsky of the Chabad of Union County will talk about explaining God to children. Turning to the deeply personal, Rabbi Douglas Sagal of Temple Emanu-El will discuss Jewish sexual ethics.

Linda Poleyeff, the federation’s director of Jewish education, said the program has always been valued as an opportunity for people from disparate parts of the community to celebrate their shared love of Judaism.

“But even more so this year,” she said, “it seems people are really eager to get together. It’s such a tough time, and we wanted to give them an opportunity to explore different ways to deal with the problems we’re facing.”

Mining answers

Happiness and peace of mind will be the subjects of a cluster of talks. Rabbi Avrohom Herman of the Jewish Educational Center’s Elmora Avenue Synagogue and Cantor Stephen Stern of Temple Beth O’r/Beth Torah will talk about the help Judaism offers in stressful times. Rabbi Dr. Jonathan Schwartz of Congregation Adath Israel will discuss the significance of fear. Cecille Asekoff, a director with the National Association of Jewish Chaplains who is based in Whippany, will mine the answers offered in Pirkei Avot, Sayings of Our Fathers.

For many, music is the most effective antidote to stress. Four speakers will be discussing the subject: Cantor Matthew Axelrod of Congregation Beth Israel will discuss expanding spirituality through music; Rabbi Mendy Herson of the Chabad Jewish Center at Basking Ridge will consider the energy within prayer — “the music of the soul”; Barry Merer, the music educator at Temple Emanu-El, will give an overview of nigunim, melodies without words, and Cantor Shana Onigman of Congregation B’nai Israel will explore the tropes that characterize Torah chanting.

There could also be comfort in something as familiar as food. The federation’s emissary from Israel, Sael Abecassis, will give preparation tips and actual tastes of the Sephardi dishes he learned to make in his own home in Sderot.

Helping those in need will be the focus for Rabbi Mitchel Bomrind, who teaches at the Jewish Educational Center and at Kean University in Union, and will explore the impact of giving tzedaka in good times and bad, while Rabbi Akiba Lubow of Temple Beth-El Mekor Chayim will discuss tikun olam, the obligation to mend the world.

Always starting from a foundation of Jewish wisdom, speakers will look to the past, the pressing issues of the present, and the future — of the soul and the people.

Rabbi Levi Block of the Union County Torah Center will have as his topic the concept of reincarnation and how it is handled in hasidic teachings and stories. Susie Meyersdorf of Congregation Beth Israel will make a presentation about the Marranos and discuss the possibilities of “finding” the descendants of those forced to convert to Christianity. The editor-in-chief of NJ Jewish News, Andrew Silow-Carroll, will outline five trends affecting the Jewish people, and Rutgers Hillel executive director Andrew Getraer will tackle the central question: “Why be Jewish?”

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