Sidebar: Festival sponsors

More than 1,000 members of the Jewish communities of Monmouth and Ocean counties spent the day together at the Monmouth-Ocean Celebrates Israel festival at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft on Sunday, May 6.

The day-long festival, which was organized by the Jewish Federation of Greater Monmouth County and the Jewish Federation of Ocean County, included a 5.9k Walk for Israel that wound through the BCC campus.

The walk raised funds for "Children Paint the War," an art therapy program for children traumatized by last summer's war, and for the Jewish Agency Victims of Terror Fund, according to Ann Goldman, the Monmouth federation's director of planning and allocations and one of the event chairs. She added that the total amount raised is still being tabulated.

The 2007 walk drew more than 500 participants in all age categories; at the completion of the walk, they joined other community members at a Judaic expo that featured kosher treats, artwork, crafts, jewelry, and other artifacts from vendors from New Jersey, New York, and Israel. Synagogues and non-profit organizations also provided information at the event.

Other activities throughout the day included Israeli singing and dancing for children and adults; children's activities, such as giant bouncy rides; and a series of informal, topical-event discussions conducted by rabbis from area synagogues.

"These discussions enabled us to really interface with the community and also provided the opportunity to talk about issues that are important to Jews everywhere," said Rabbi Melinda Panken of Temple Shaari Emeth in Manalapan, whose discussion topic was Challenges of Zionism Today.

"Israel has become the embodiment of the living Torah," Panken said. "But there are ongoing threats to the Israeli state from terror groups and other nations in that region. We must take a realistic approach to ensure that Zionism has a safe haven."

Feelings of support for Israel and solidarity among the members of the Jewish community ran strong throughout the day.

"The feelings of solidarity here are wonderful – really amazing," said Assemblyman Samuel Thompson of New Jersey's 13th district, which includes part of Monmouth County. "Because of recent events in the Middle East, it's more important than ever to express solidarity and support in a public way."

And maintaining a connection to Israel and the Israeli people should be demonstrated at every opportunity, added Rabbi Nasanayl Braun of Congregation Brothers of Israel in Elberon. "It's always important to remind the community of our strong link to the land and people of Israel," he said. "It reinforces our obligation to do what we can, and a festival like this one is a true reminder of core Jewish values."

As the festival committee begins to evaluate the overall success of the event, the sense of fun experienced by those who attended was obvious from the moment the day's activities got under way, Goldman said.

"It's exhilarating to see the Jewish community come together like this," she said. "There is a place at this festival for every aspect of the Jewish movement. At the end of the day, the primary issues for Jews are the same, and we can put away our differences and come together as a Jewish community."

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Festival sponsors

Cantor Marla Barugel, front, of Congregation B'nai Israel
in Rumson, leads festival attendees in Israeli dancing.

SYNAGOGUES SPONSORING the 2007 festival included Chabad of the Shore in Long Branch; Congregation Ahavat Achim, Howell; Congregation B'nai Israel, Rumson; Congregation B'nai Israel of Toms River; Congregation Brothers of Israel and Temple Beth Miriam, both in Elberon; Congregation Kol Am, Freehold; Congregation Sons of Israel, Temple Shaari Emeth, and Temple Beth Shalom, all in Manalapan; Temple Shalom, Temple Beth Ahm, and Congregation Bet Tefilah, all of Aberdeen; Monmouth Reform Temple, Tinton Falls; the Freehold Jewish Center; the Marlboro Jewish Center; Temple Beth El, Oakhurst; Temple Beth Torah, Ocean Township; and Temple Rodeph Torah, Marlboro.

Other sponsors included the Jewish Community Center of Western Monmouth in Manalapan; the Ruth Hyman JCC in Deal; the Jewish Family & Children's Service in Asbury Park; the Solomon Schechter Academy of Ocean and Monmouth in Howell and the Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Monmouth County in Marlboro; and Hadassah, Southern New Jersey Region.

Corporate sponsors for this year's event included the Atlantic Surgical Group, Bernstein Global Wealth Management, Children's Dental Group/Monmouth Dental Group North, Evergreen Creations, Food Circus/Foodtown, Meridian Health, New Jersey MultiCare Center of the Workmen's Circle, Starbucks Coffee, and Sun National Bank.