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Our Leadership

Rabbi  Mark David Finkel
Cantor  Menachem Toren 
Executive Director  Robert Kanarick 
Educational Director  Mary Sheydwasser 
Nursery School Director  Roberta Ginsberg 
Youth Group Advisors  Ariel Lippa, Jared Rosenbloom , Andrea Goldsmith, Hadas Toren
Officers   
President  Randee Fox 
1st Vice President  Andrea Orris 
2nd Vice President  Ellis Mass
3rd Vice President  Ira Rosenbloom
Treasurer  Marlo Karp
Financial Secretary  Lee Brodsky
Corresponding Secretary  Elahna Weinflash
Recording Secretary  Jeffrey Weiss

 A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT 

December article 2008 

December 21st is the first night of Hanukah.  Yes, it’s late this year.   Every year, I never have to wait long before someone in my family brings up the first Hanukkah I hosted at my house 15 years ago.  My sister and I owned a condo in Fort Lee and we invited everyone over.  New to the ‘hosting thing’, it didn’t’ occur to me to make the latkes ahead of time.  There I was, in a small condo kitchen, making fresh latkes ‘to order’. I could not make them fast enough. I would have little time to take a batch from the oil, quickly drain them and serve them, before they all would all clamor for the next batch.   

As I think back (and even I still giggle) about my whole family sitting there; sister, brother, parents, cousins, aunts and uncles, all waiting for the next batch as I slaved away in the kitchen. The modern kitchen, with a black backsplash and black tile floor, was covered with flour. By the time I was done, there wasn’t a spot anywhere that wasn’t covered with oil splatters or flour, including me.  The kitchen and I were covered from head to toe, ceiling to floor.  The kitchen had a counter that you could look into the dining room. So basically, they all had entertainment with dinner.   

Fifteen years have passed and I am still hearing that story. As soon as anyone mentions Hanukkah, the ‘great latke tale at Randee’s and Joanne’s’ is retold, over and over again.  “Remember Hanukkah when Randee made those latkes. It looked like a bag of flour exploded in the kitchen. It was even on the ceiling...”  

But, you know, I love that story. I love that the story gets longer and more exaggerated and more absurd with every passing year. I love that my boys are growing up hearing it and by the time they have kids, they will tell the story to my grandchildren as though they were there, eating the latkes.  

That’s what it’s all about, memories, real or exaggerated. Everyday, holiday or not, we have the chance to make memories with those we love.  Make them with your family and friends.   

Happy Hanukkah  

Randee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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