The Times of Israel political correspondent Sam Sokol will speak virtually for Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple in New Brunswick on Sunday, Oct. 5, at 11 a.m. about the unprecedented security and social challenges facing Israel as its war in Gaza grinds on.
Among those uncertainties are the fate of Gaza and who will lead it once the war ends and continued challenges that even a severely weakened Hamas poses. There is additional internal conflict sparked by the crisis over haredi Orthodox enlistment.
Sokol, formerly a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz, will explain where we are, how we got here and what’s next. He is the author of Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews and is the winner of the 2015 B’nai B’rith World Center’s award for excellence in Diaspora Reportage. Originally from New York, he lives in Beit Shemesh with his wife and seven children.
Sokol will be speaking on Zoom from Israel. There is no charge and non-members who would like a link to the program should write to Rachel at rabbisec@aemt.info.
When her three-year old great-niece became one of the youngest hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7. 2023 Liz Hirsh Naftali knew nothing about getting hostages released but was determined to get her back. On Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. she will appear at the Jewish Community Center of Middlesex County in Edison to speak about her book, Saving Abigail.
On that day when terrorists killed 1,200 captured Israelis and kidnapped 246 others they entered the border community of Kfar Aza, killing Abigail’s parents in front of her and her two siblings before taking the youngest, Abigail Mor Edan, hostage and holding her for 51 days.
Naftali, who has split her time since 1992 between the U.S. and Israel, became a tireless advocate for her great-niece lobbying the American government and congressional and world leaders on her behalf.
Naftali is a businesswoman and the host and creator of The Capitol Coffee Connection podcast.
The event will offer audience reflection, pay tribute to those who lost their lives and promote unity within the community and is being presented in partnership with the Jewish Book Council. Light refreshments will be served.
The program is free and open to the public but advance registration is required at jccmc.org/october7th.
A new initiative of the Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey to spark interest in Judaism and Israel among teens 14 to 16 years old will launch with the first of a five-part program at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 9. Teens will gather in a sukkah at an undisclosed location to learn about Israeli and Jewish history and current people, politics and issues and earn volunteer hours as part of the Sababa Tribe program. Federation Jewish Engagement Manager Emily Appledorf said the program seeks to create a sense of connection, communication and community helping teens create a social network and laying the groundwork for interest in federation-sponsored teen travel scholarships to Israel. There will also be games, prizes, food and fun. The program is being offered in partnership with RootOne, which offers teen summer travel scholarships, and the Jewish Education Project.
To register contact emilya@jewishheartnj.org or go to the federation website jewishheartnj.org. Location will be provided after registration and vetting.
To commemorate the second anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas and to remember, honor and celebrate the resilience and strength of the Israeli people, the Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey will hold a program in Deal at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5.
The program will be highlighted by a tribute to 15-year-old Carmel Bachar, murdered in the attack on Kibbutz Be’eri, by writer and musician Guy Rosmarin as well as a performance by Kol Halayla, Rutgers Hillel’s a cappella choir.
Carmel ands his mother, Dana, were killed that day and laid to rest together. Carmel’s final request was that he be buried with his surfboard and he is now riding the waves forever.
Himself a Jersey Shore resident and avid surfer, Rosmarin recently published his first book,Yesterday’s Tomorrow: Just a Dream Part I, a historical time travel novel.
Cost is $10. To register and receive location, go to Heart of NJ October 7 Community Commemoration.
