Congregation Agudath Israel Celebrates Purim (Photos)

Photos from annual carnival held Sunday in Caldwell.

Congregation Agudath Israel of West Essex in Caldwell celebrated Purim Sunday with its annual carnival. Festival goers took part in a costume parade and numerous carnival-style activities. There was also a bouncy house, an obstacle course, sports games and other activities for children.  Purim celebrates the salvation of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire from a plot by evil prime minister Haman, a story told in the Book of Esther. 

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Silverstein, Botwinick Essex Representatives to New Jersey-Israel Commission

Pair among dozen Essex County residents named to trade, cultural, educational group in state.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has announced the appointment of Rabbi Alan Silverstein of Congregation Agudath Israel of West Essex and the reappointment of Gary R. Botwinick as Essex County representatives to the New Jersey-Israel Commission, according to a press release from the governor’s office. The commission, part of the New Jersey Department of State, was established in 1989. Its goal is to help promote the development of trade, culture and educational exchanges, as well as the development of capital investment and joint business ventures between the state and Israel and encourage a spirit of cooperation, according to the New Jersey Department of State website. New Jersey and Israel signed a Sister State Agreement in 1988 under …

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PHOTOS: Congregation Agudath Israel Holds Holiday Sale

Books, jewelry and other great holiday gifts offered at annual sale.

Congregation Agudath Israel of West Essex in Caldwell recently held its annual book and holiday sale.  The shopping event is run by Congregation Agudath Israel Sisterhood. Vendors included: Dana's Closet, Lucky One Jewelry and Accessories, A Little Chic Boutique, ABC Memories, Red Ink, Fibi & Clo, Initials Inc., Organize with Dana, Karen's Kreations, Mary Kay, Gem Stones & Crystals, Pampered Chef, Doll Clothes and Aprons and many more. 

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Teen Travels to Native Guatemala for Mitzvah Project

Seventh grader Seth Frey spent a week building a home for a poor family this summer.

When a Jewish boy turns 13, he becomes a bar mitzvah and is considered an adult. But before that could happen, he is obligated to give back to the world by doing mitzvahs, or good deeds. Seth Frey, a seventh grader at Grover Cleveland Middle School in Caldwell, chose to go to his native Guatemala to help build a home for a poor family. Seth, who recently turned 13, was adopted from Guatemala when he was six-months-old. He traveled to his birth country this August for the third time, but this visit was dedicated to his mitzvah project. He spent a week working alongside his parents, Ronni and Chris, and sister Molly, a sixth grader at Grover Cleveland, to build a 13-by-9 foot concrete home for a family in a small village. This is what Seth …

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Celebrating Rosh Hashanah 2012 in the Caldwells

Make this holiday special with these traditional recipes and share some of your favorites.

This Sunday, as the day draws to a close, the Jewish community will ring in year 5773 as part of their celebration of Rosh Hashanah, or the Jewish New Year. The festivities will continue until nightfall on Tuesday, Sept. 18. For a schedule of services at Congregation Agudath Israel of West Essex in Caldwell, go here. Rosh Hashanah, which literally means “head of the year,” signals the beginning of the High Holy Days. Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement, marks the end, and together they are two of the holiest days for Jews. Like most New Year celebrations, Rosh Hashanah is a time of introspection and a time to bring about changes in the coming year. The traditional blowing of the shofar, or ram’s horn, during services on Rosh Hashanah marks a …

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Congregation Agudath Israel Awarded Mini-Grant From Hadassah

Hadassah Foundation celebrating 13 years of grantmaking by presenting 13 mini-grants to organizations serving young Jewish people.

Congregation Agudath Israel of West Essex in Caldwell is one of 13 Jewish organizations across the country to be awarded a mini-grant by the Hadassah Foundation. The Hadassah Foundation is celebrating 13 years of grantmaking—its “bat mitzvah year”—by presenting 13 mini-grants to organizations serving young Jewish people. The 13 Bat Mitzvah Year Mini-Grants support new or expanded programs which support the physical, spiritual and emotional well-being of Jewish girls and young women, according to a press release. “We are delighted that this mini-grant program will enable so many youth-serving organizations in the Jewish community to create feminist-oriented programming,” stated Donna Gerson, Chair of the Hadassah Foundation, in a release. “…

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Agudath Israel Celebrates 90th Anniversary

Congregation broke ground on first building in 1912.

This Old Caldwell

90 Years Ago Today: Community House Breaks Ground

Jewish League of Caldwell broke ground on Community House.

Congregation Agudath Israel (CAI) of West Essex is celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2012. Before the congregation moved to a parcel of land on the corner of Academy Road and Elizabeth Street in Caldwell in the 1950s, local Jewish families worshipped in a one-room stucco building on Washburn Place. A groundbreaking ceremony for the Community House of the Jewish League of Caldwell took place on March 13, 1922. Depicted in the image above are some of the founders, including, fourth from right, Isaac Levy. Levy is the maternal grandfather of longtime Caldwell resident and CAI member Paul Seligman, who provided the photo to Patch. Seligman said his grandfather was a member of the Jewish League of Caldwell, a group of 30 area families that …

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Purim Festivities Kick Off Wednesday in Area

Caldwell, Verona and Cedar Grove synagogues mark holiday with services, skits.

The joyous Jewish holiday of Purim will take place locally this week in Verona, Cedar Grove and Caldwell with services and performances by synagogue members. The holiday commemorates the efforts of Queen Esther and her uncle, Mordecai, who stood up to King Ahashverosh’s prime minister Haman and stopped a decree to kill all the Jews of Persia in 400 B.C. Haman was eventually hung for his evil decree.  Jews around the world make noise with groggers and hiss to drown out the mention of Haman’s name. The story of Purim is read from a scroll called a Megillah. Local synagogues will hold Purim services, carnivals and events beginning Wednesday night.  Here’s a look of what’s happening locally in Verona, Cedar Grove and Caldwell: Congregation …

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Agudath, Notre Dame to Make Interfaith Pilgrimage

You Tube and Skype will link local community to Holy Land.

Rabbi Alan Silverstein, of Congregation Agudath Israel of West Essex in Caldwell, and Fr. Anthony Randazzo, Pastor of Notre Dame Roman Catholic Church in North Caldwell, will lead their congregants and parishioners on an Interfaith Pilgrimage to Israel later this month, according to a bulletin posted on Notre Dame’s website. The trip marks special milestones for both houses of worship. In 2012, Agudath will celebrate its 90th anniversary and Notre Dame will celebrate its 50th year. Highlights of the trip, which departs on Sunday, Jan. 29, will include sacred sites associated with the life of Jesus in the Galilee, a walking tour of Jerusalem and stops at Nazareth and Cana. Meanwhile, those back in the Caldwells will be able to share the …

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