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PLAZA PRESS
The Newsletter for Jewish Federation Plaza
Chanukah, the Jewish festival of rededication, also
known as the festival of lights, is an eight day festival
beginning on the 25th day of the Jewish month of
Kislev. Chanukah is probably one of the best known
Jewish holidays.
Related to the holiday is the lighting of candles. The
candles are arranged in a candelabrum called a
menorah that holds nine candles: one for each night,
plus a shammus (servant) at a different height. On the
first night, one candle is placed at the far right. The
shammus candle is lit and three berakhot (blessings)
are recited. After reciting the blessings, the first
candle is then lit using the shammus candle, and is
placed in its holder. Each night, another candle is
added from right to left. On the eighth night, all nine
candles are lit.
It is traditional to eat fried foods on Chanukah because
of the significance of oil to the holiday. Among
Ashkenazic Jews, this usually includes latkes. The
traditional gift of the holiday is "gelt," small amounts
of money. Another tradition of the holiday is playing
dreidel, a gambling game played with a square top.
Most people play for matchsticks, pennies, M&Ms or
chocolate coins. The traditional explanation of this
game is that during the time of Antiochus' oppression,
those who wanted to study Torah, an illegal activity
would conceal their activity by playing gambling
games with a top whenever an official or inspector was
within sight.
Wishing all JCHC residents a Happy Chanukah!
December 2015
Celebrating December
Chanukah December 6-14
Bingo Month
Safe Toys and Gifts Month
Antarctica Day
December 1
Special Kids Day
December 2
Lost and Found Day
December 11
World Choral Day December 13
Christmas December 25
Boxing Day
December 26
Kwanzaa
December 26–January 1
New Year’s Eve
December 31
Manager’s Corner
The holidays are quickly approaching! Jewish Federation Plaza wishes all of our
Residents and their families a wonderful holiday season. The first night of Chanukah is
Dec. 6th, beginning at sundown. Happy Chanukah to all that celebrate!
Residents are encouraged to stop by to see Laura Berkin, Resident Services Coordinator.
Her office is on the 4th Floor Promenade next to the mailboxes. She can
assist you with transportation issues, local doctors, businesses, and any other questions.
If you want to attend the Sunday Brunch, Laura can sign you up too!
Building reminders:
Out of consideration to all of our driving residents, please park in your assigned parking
spots and limit using the handicapped spots, if at all possible. We appreciate your
cooperation.
Electronic Arm-please remind your visitors to stop at the arm and follow the directions on
the sign for entry.
IMPORTANT!-Residents should not open the door or hold the door at building one for any
reason! All guests, aides, workers, etc., are to always come thru the main door and sign in
at security.
Ann Marie Bass-Site Manager
Winter Traditions The sweet smell of gingerbread and a glimpse of evergreen are two sure signs that the holiday season is upon us. While gingerbread can be delicious to eat, many will be using it as a construction material on Gingerbread House Day, December 12. Author DeeAnn Mandryk traces the origins of the gingerbread house to the early 1800s in Germany, after the Brothers Grimm published their collection of fairy tales. One tale in particular—that of Hansel and Gretel lured into a house made of bread and sugar—inspired bakers of a traditional German gingerbread, known as lebkuchen, to become architects on a miniature scale. Why build houses out of gingerbread? They’ll last a long time.
Mandryk credits the first gingerbread people, however, to Queen Elizabeth I. The queen would honor important visitors with gingerbread people fashioned in their likeness. It’s unknown whether the queen actually liked to eat these hard, spicy treats.
Many winter evergreens—such as holly, mistletoe, and even such conifers as fir, spruce, and pine—were revered in ancient times by Druids, Celts, and the Vikings. Botanist Larry Stritch explains how these cultures believed evergreens were sacred due to their ability to withstand snow and freezing cold. Decking the halls with boughs of holly provided both winter decoration and protection and good luck for the home. On December 19, which is Look for an Evergreen Day, bundle up and venture outside to find winter greenery. Or set up a chair near a cozy window and enjoy the beauty of the season with a warm cup of mulled cider or hot cocoa.
Upcoming Events
CEO Chat
Floral Design Workshop
Crossword Fun
Iris Berman Preschool Hanukkah Program
Irving’s and Farmers Market
Etz Chaim Hanukkah Program
Short Story Group
Tenants Association Hanukkah Party
Ike’s Bagel Café, Livingston
Life Long Learning
Meditation & Relaxation
Poetry Workshop
Essex Green
JCC Hanukkah Celebration
JCHC University: Waves of Jewish Immigration at Lester
Trader Joes, Florham Park
JCHC University: Successful Aging at Plaza
BINGO
JCHC University: Jewish History & Jewish Women at Lester
Book Club
Salt & Electrolytes with Roberta
JCHC University: Brief History of Jewish Surnames at B’nai Brith
Hirschhorn: You’ve Come a Long Way Bubbeleh by Deborah Schapiro
Rabbi Study Group
Gamefest
Tenants Association New Years Gala Celebration
And much, much more. Please be sure to check your calendar for dates and times of all events.
JCHC University: Genetics The 2 part series
presented by Mark Grebenau took place at
Village Apartments.
JCHC University speaker Roberta Atti
presented the topic “Herbs and Spices—Health
in a Pinch.”
The JCHC University lecture entitled “Journey
of the Mind” was presented by Sandye Garrison,
Joan Bender and Gertrude Freeman.
Happy December Birthday
Boris Reynus Dec 03 Tessie Schpiro Dec 04 Marvin Davidson Dec 04 Ralph Loschialpo Dec 10 Preeti Cholera Dec 11 Ronald Rames Dec 14 Alice McNealy Dec 16 Saul Brazer Dec 24 Bica Bercovici Dec 27 Joan Bender Dec 27 Dolores Lederman Dec 28
Outside the Lines
Looking for that perfect gift for someone on your “nice” list? Consider a coloring book.
Coloring books are no longer just for children. Adult Coloring Clubs meet up at bars after work. Executives gather employees in conference rooms for impromptu “coloring sessions.” Just look at Amazon’s bestseller list, which recently included three coloring books for adults. The hottest is by Scottish artist Johanna Basford, whose Secret Garden offers dozens of elaborate illustrations. There’s also Steve McDonald’s Fantastic Cities, with vast cityscapes to fill. Think outside the crayon box and opt for colored pencils or even gel pens.
Why are adults suddenly so drawn to coloring? Media such as ABC, Fox, Yahoo, and even the New Yorker have tried to explain the faddish phenomenon. Clinical Psychologist Ben Michaelis explains that the amygdala, the part of our brain responsible for our fight or flight response, takes a rest while we focus on coloring. The process creates a calming effect. Dr. Michaelis is such a believer that he both prescribes coloring to his patients and uses it at home with his own family.
Kid’s Cookies n’ Concerts:
Iris Berman Early Childhood Center Will proudly present
Hanukkah Program
Thursday, December 3rd
1:15 p.m.
Dining Room
All are invited to attend!
HAPPY
BIRTHDAY
WISHES
To: Ethel Kendler
From: Dorothy Kleinert
Clara Beckerman
& Aggie
Sandye Garrison
Sarah Moskowitz
Rhoda Morris
To:
Thelma Gottlieb
From: Dorothy Kleinert
Rhoda Morris
Clara Beckerman
& Aggie
Sandye Garrison
To: Judith Cohen
From: Clara Beckerman
& Aggie
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
WISHES
To:
Evelyne Lerner
From: Dorothy Kleinert
Clara Beckerman & Aggie
Sandye Garrison
Sarah Moskowitz
Rhoda Morris
Millie & Joe Podnos
To: Esther Torres
From:
Sandye Garrison
Rhoda Morris
MAZEL TOV
To: Sarah Moskowitz
on granddaughter's
wedding
From: Ilse Frank
Pearl Berkowitz
Dorothy Kleinert
To: Miriam Lateiner
on the birth of her
great granddaughter
From: Ilse Frank
Sandye Garrison
To: Ethel Kender
on the birth of her
great granddaughter
Quinn
From: Dorothy Kleinert
THANK YOU
A sincere Thank You
to my friends
for the many
tributes
I received
From:
Evelyne Lerner
GET WELL
WISHES
To: Dolores Lederman
From: Helen Boll
LIBRARY
DONATIONS
From:
George Aptecker
Alyce Atkins
Helen Boll
Shirley Linker
Ed Schwartz
Esther Schwartz
Norma Tooter
Florence Widelitz
Life Interrupted
We live in the Digital Age, where computers allow us access to vast amounts of information and almost-infinite social networking. To put it another way, it’s a near-endless amount of distraction. Gloria Mark, University of California professor of informatics (the science of computer data), likens it to a candy store with unlimited offerings. And, as many know, an endless stream of candy is bad for our health.
What better way to ring in the new year than with No Interruptions Day on December 31? Research conducted by Mark and her colleagues shows that work interruptions cost us hours in productivity each day. But what of those who believe work itself is an interruption? Then you, too, can participate. Take time on the 31st to unplug and spend quality time with someone special—face-to-face, heart-to-heart.
DECEMBER 2015 PLAZA Calendar is subject to change
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 11:00 EXERCISE 1: 00 Seeing Eye
Puppy 2:00 CURRENT
EVENTS
6:00 LIBRARY 7:15 CEO CHAT
2 10:45 Livingston &
Short Hills Mall 11:00 Move Today &
Walking Club 3:00 Floral Design Workshop 7:15 BINGO
3 10:45 Rt 10 &
Irvings & Farmers
Market
11:00 Exercise 1:15 Kid’s Cookies n’ Concerts: Hanukkah Program with Iris Berman Early Childhood Center 3:00 Plaza Men’s Club
4 9:00
SHOPRITE
10:00
SHOPRITE
1:00 ONEG
SHABBAT
5 9:00 SHABBAT
SERVICE
11:00 KIDDUSH
7:00 MOVIE
6
Hanukkah
begins at
sundown 11:00
BRUNCH
2:00 MOVIE
7 Hanukkah,
1st Day
10:15 TOWN BUS
10:45 Ike’s
Bagel Café,
Livingston
11:30 TAI CHI
7:00 Life-Long
Learning 7:15 BINGO
8 Hanukkah,
2nd Day 11:00
EXERCISE
2:00 CURRENT
EVENTS
6:00 LIBRARY 7:00 Etz Chaim Hanukkah Program
9 Hanukkah, 3rd
Day 10:45 Essex Green
11:00 Move Today & Walking Club 12:15 Life-Long
Learning 1:30 CHORAL GROUP 7:15 BINGO
10
Hanukkah,
4th Day 12:30 JCC Hanukkah Celebration 11:00 Exercise 2:00 Short Story
Group featuring
Pearl Kaufman
11
Hanukkah,
5th Day 9:00
SHOPRITE
10:00
SHOPRITE
1:00 ONEG
SHABBAT
12 Hanukkah,
6thDay 9:00 SHABBAT
SERVICE 11:00 KIDDUSH
7:00 MOVIE TBA: Tenant Assoc Hanukkah Party on the Promenade
13
Hanukkah,
7th Day 11:00
BRUNCH
2:00 MOVIE
14 Hanukkah,
8th Day 10:15 TOWN BUS
11:30 TAI CHI
1:15 JCHC
University:
Waves of Jewish
Immigration @
Lester 7:00 Life-Long
Learning 7:15 BINGO
15 11:00 EXERCISE
1: 00 Seeing Eye
Puppy 2:00 CURRENT
EVENTS
6:00 LIBRARY
7:15 Meditation & Relaxation
16 10:45 Trader
Joe’s Florham
Park
11:00 Move Today &
Walking Club 12:15 Life-Long
Learning 1:30 CHORAL GROUP 7:15 BINGO
17 10:30 Exercise with Tami Social Event for class participants only 12:30 JCHC
University
Successful Aging
@ Plaza 2:00 Poetry
Workshop 7:00 Book Club
18 9:00
SHOPRITE
10:00
SHOPRITE
1:00 ONEG
SHABBAT
19 9:00 SHABBAT
SERVICE
11:00 KIDDUSH
7:00 MOVIE
20 11:00
BRUNCH
2:00 MOVIE
2:00 Salt &
Electrolytes
with Roberta
Atti
21 Winter
Begins 10:15 TOWN BUS
11:30 TAI CHI 2:45 JCHC
University: Jewish
History & Jewish
Women @ Lester 7:00 Life-Long Learning 7:15 BINGO
22 11:00 EXERCISE
2:00 CURRENT
EVENTS
6:00 LIBRARY 8:00 Senior TV Movie
23 10:30 Whole
Foods & Target in
Union 11:00 Move Today &
Walking Club 12:15 Life-Long Learning 1:30 CHORAL GROUP 6:45 Jewelry Making Workshop 7:15 BINGO
24 11:00 Exercise 9:00 SHOPRITE
10:00 SHOPRITE
1:00 ONEG
SHABBAT
2:00 Watercolor
Paint in the
Recreation
Room
25
Christmas
Office &
Dining
Room
Closed
26 9:00 SHABBAT
SERVICE
11:00 KIDDUSH
7:00 MOVIE
27 11:00
BRUNCH 2:00 MOVIE
Gamefest
after Movie
28 10:15 TOWN BUS 11:30 TAI CHI
12:15 JCHC
University: Brief
History of
Jewish
Surnames @
B’nai Brith 7:00 Life-Long
Learning 7:15 BINGO
29 11:00 EXERCISE 1:15 Rabbi
Study Group
2:00 CURRENT
EVENTS
6:00 LIBRARY 8:00 Senior TV Movie
30 10:30 Walmart Rt
22, Christmas Tree &
Panera 11:00 Move Today &
Walking Club 12:15 Life-Long
Learning 1:30 CHORAL GROUP 7:15 BINGO
31 New
Year’s Eve 11:00 Exercise 9:00 SHOPRITE 10:00 SHOPRITE 2:00 Hirschhorn:
You’ve Come a Long
Way: Bubbeleh by
Deborah Schapiro 7:30 Tenants Association New Years Eve Gala