Jewish fair marks sixth year
Committee members who have been organizing the Union Y's annual Jewish Fair and Expo are, from left, front row, Claire Bram, Dr. Marvin Bram, Rina Maimon, Stuart Cooper, Karen Cooper, and Jani Jonas; and, back row, Larry Soria, a Y staff member, and event chair Marc Hilton. Photo by Karen Cooper
Marc Hilton has been wondering what he let himself in for when he first suggested the idea of a festival to celebrate Jewish culture. Here he is five years later, helping to run an event that has become a tradition in itself.
Rain or shine, the sixth annual Jewish Fair and Expo at the YM-YWHA of Union County will take place on Sunday, Nov. 18, at the Green Lane Y in Union.
It will include all the features the community has come to expect — music and singing, kosher food and wine, 
Israeli and other vendors, and entertainment for the kids, plus some special additions.
"I moved away from Union two years ago, to Somerset. Each year I say it's going to be my last one, but then they talk me into helping again," Hilton said with a shrug, arriving at the Y after finishing his day's work in New Brunswick, ready for yet another preparatory meeting.
A number of his committee members are also in this for the sixth time. They include Hilton's cochair from 2002 onward, Dr. Marvin Bram, and his wife, Claire; Jani Jonas; Stu and Karen Cooper; Larry Soria; Debbie Shai; Larry Markowitz; David Gelband; Steve Taub; and Phyllis Caplan.
Cosponsoring the event are B'nai B'rith TriState Region, which has been involved from the start, and a new partner, Temple Beth Ahm of Springfield. Hilton has particularly welcomed the temple's participation. "They have a commitment to promoting a good feeling of Jewish pride in the community, and they saw this as a way to do that," he said.
Connecting people from different parts of the Jewish community has become one of Hilton's main goals — in addition to the idea that started the effort: encouraging people to have fun with 
all things Jewish and Israeli. Drawing on his new home location, he has even reached beyond those parameters and persuaded Sparkee, the mascot of the Somerset Patriots, to attend the fair.
That is in tune with this year's focus on sport and health. Much as Hilton strives for detachment, like a proud parent, he gets enthusiastic talking about the special features. "Each year we highlight something different," he said. For example, the first year, with the Intifada slicing into Israeli tourism, there was a big push to support Israeli artists and craftspeople. Last year there was an exploration of Jewish communities in Old Newark and present-day Brooklyn.
Star of this year's event is Alan Freedman, the founder and executive director of the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in Commack, Long Island. He will give a video presentation about the organization he started 14 years ago, and hand out posters. Trinitas Hospital, one of the major sponsors of the event, will provide on-the-spot free screening for diabetes, cholesterol, and high blood pressure.
Other sponsors include the Springfield B'nai B'rith Lodge, C & F Construction, ING Annuities, Bancnorth, Union Center National Bank, Maplecrest Auto Group, University Diner, Morgan-Stanley, Congregation B'nai Ahavath Shalom and Temple Israel in Union, and Royal Wine — which has contributed 18 bottles of wine for the fair raffles.
The Y also received a $500 grant from the New Jersey Department of Cultural and Heritage Affairs.
As at last year's Jewish Fair and Expo at the Union Y, an array of vendors will offer Israeli and other jewelry, clothing, Judaica, books, and kosher food. Photo by Karen Cooper
Jani Jonas, the Y programming director, said that when Hilton first approached her in 2002, she welcomed the idea of the fair as a new way to attract people to the facility, though she, Hilton, and their fellow organizers had no idea if it would strike a chord. Some argued that it should be a fund-raiser, but Hilton's view prevailed — that pleasure was the priority. Admission would be free so cost wouldn't be a barrier to families bringing lots of children — and it still is.
That first fair was a huge success; almost 800 people came. The next year, an early blizzard struck on the very day of the fair. Even with mounds of snow to contend with, a few hundred people turned out. To avoid a repetition of that weather glitch, ever since the fair has been held a little earlier — though Hilton said that might have cut into the vendors' sales with Hanukka-minded shoppers.
This year, with the Israeli economy thriving again, fewer Israeli crafts people have been coming to the United States in pursuit of customers, but there will still be about 20 of them with their wares, from handmade jewelry and clothing to cosmetics and Judaica. Gizmo the clown will be on hand to entertain kids of all ages, and the Hester Street Klezmer Troupe, now a regular feature of the fair, will perform, possibly accompanying the young choir singers from Jewish day schools who have also become one of the main attractions.
"Next year — I don't know," Hilton said. "Maybe I'll get someone else to take over from me."
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