Have you ever heard someone speak, and felt you have become part of history? Last week I had the pleasure of hearing Lucienne Carasso, author of Growing Up Jewish in Alexandria: The Story of a Sephardic Family’s Exodus from Egypt tell us about her book at Congregation Etz Ahaim in Highland Park, New Jersey. After […]
Linda Balavram had recital Sunday, November 21 at Congregation Etz Ahaim in Highland Park, New Jersey. She plays the bassoon and is accompanied by pianist Kathleen Haynie.
About thirty years ago when the Soviet Union first opened its doors, an elderly woman arrived in Israel who was visited by many rabbis.
This beautiful tune, El Nora Alila, is sung at Congregation Etz Ahaim in Highland Park, New Jersey at nei’la time, the last prayer of Yom Kippur
Et Sha’arei Ratzon (Oked Vehanekad), sung by Sephardim on Rosh Hashana, is a 12th century poem about the sacrifice of Isaac.
A stained glass window inside Congregation Etz Ahaim in Highland Park, New Jersey depicts the fourth day of creation, Yom Daled in Hebrew.
I was in the mood to post a cheery photo, and here’s a great one of the daughter and me. I don’t recall who took the photo; it was a year and a half ago on Purim, a holiday where kids get dressed up, and my daughter was dressed as a Prima Ballerina. It was […]
Sephardic Orthodox Congregation Etz Ahaim in Highland Park, New Jersey attracts many people, Ashkenazim, too. Reasons include food, community and Rabbi David Bassous.
This post is dedicated to all those people who are wondering what in the world do those terms mean! Let’s start with two: Hasid vs. Litvak. When you hear Litvak, think Lithuania. Think the Vilna Gaon. Lots of Talmud study. Emphasis on who’s the smartest. My family is basically Litvak (except for those who married […]
Rabbi Bassous devoted his speech this past Shabbat to learning from the cemetery vandalism in New Brunswick. I missed the speech (my daughter had other plans for me), so I apologize in advance to Rabbi Bassous if I botch my summary of what he said. My husband related to me that he spoke about two […]