Chavurat Lamdeinu
Prayer - Study - Community
About Us
| About Rabbi Ruth Gais |
She has served congregations in Orlando
and St. Augustine, Florida, and is the
founding rabbi of Chavurat Lamdeinu in
Madison, New Jersey. She lives in Summit,
NJ, with her family.
and St. Augustine, Florida, and is the
founding rabbi of Chavurat Lamdeinu in
Madison, New Jersey. She lives in Summit,
NJ, with her family.
| About Russell G. Jayne |
| Russell has been serving as Shaliach Tzibur of Chavurat Lamdeinu since its founding in 2003. In addition to his duties here, he teaches music at Temple Shaari Emeth in Manalapan, NJ, and the Perrineville Jewish Center. He is also a Religious Studies teacher at Temple Shalom in Roxbury, NJ. In August 2008, Russ will begin cantorial school at the Jewish Theological Seminary |
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The ancient Romans had a saying, “nomen est omen,” roughly
translated as “your name is who you are.” This is true for Chavurat
Lamdeinu as well. Understand our name and you will know a lot about
who we are. We are a Chavurah, a group of people who are chaverim,
friends, fellow travelers, fellow seekers. And we are Chavurat
Lamdeinu, a group of people who are fond of each other and who
believe in “Lamdeinu - Teach us!”
It takes a lot of words in English to explain what the Hebrew says quite
simply: we are people who are eager to learn, from God through our
sacred texts and through prayer, but also from each other, through
praying, studying and being together.
Some of us have been together for years, some of us have joined
recently. We are all volunteers. No one gets paid. We have no
president, no Board of Trustees. We have a treasurer, Mal Schwartz,
who handles our finances which we use to pay for our rent, new
books, tzedakah and any other miscellaneous needs. Once a year we
have a “congregational meeting.” Bruce Stein is our Webmaster and
weekly email updater. Russ Jayne is our Shaliach Tzibbur, and I am our
Rabbi. We all take turns furnishing our weekly Kiddush. People
continually contribute great ideas about enhancing our worship,
prayer space, and community, and they just go ahead and do them. It’s
a marvel, really.
In short, we like and respect each other and have a great time.
translated as “your name is who you are.” This is true for Chavurat
Lamdeinu as well. Understand our name and you will know a lot about
who we are. We are a Chavurah, a group of people who are chaverim,
friends, fellow travelers, fellow seekers. And we are Chavurat
Lamdeinu, a group of people who are fond of each other and who
believe in “Lamdeinu - Teach us!”
It takes a lot of words in English to explain what the Hebrew says quite
simply: we are people who are eager to learn, from God through our
sacred texts and through prayer, but also from each other, through
praying, studying and being together.
Some of us have been together for years, some of us have joined
recently. We are all volunteers. No one gets paid. We have no
president, no Board of Trustees. We have a treasurer, Mal Schwartz,
who handles our finances which we use to pay for our rent, new
books, tzedakah and any other miscellaneous needs. Once a year we
have a “congregational meeting.” Bruce Stein is our Webmaster and
weekly email updater. Russ Jayne is our Shaliach Tzibbur, and I am our
Rabbi. We all take turns furnishing our weekly Kiddush. People
continually contribute great ideas about enhancing our worship,
prayer space, and community, and they just go ahead and do them. It’s
a marvel, really.
In short, we like and respect each other and have a great time.
Rabbi Ruth Gais is Director of New York Kollel: A Center for Adult
Jewish Study. She was ordained in 2000 from Hebrew Union
College-Jewish Institute of Religion.
A native New Yorker, she has a BA from Bryn Mawr College in Greek
and Latin and a Ph.D. from Princeton University in Classical
Archaeology. For many years she taught about the Classical world at a
variety of institutions including The Brearley School, Syracuse
University, Hunter College, The Intercollegiate Center for Classical
Studies in Rome, and Drew University.
Jewish Study. She was ordained in 2000 from Hebrew Union
College-Jewish Institute of Religion.
A native New Yorker, she has a BA from Bryn Mawr College in Greek
and Latin and a Ph.D. from Princeton University in Classical
Archaeology. For many years she taught about the Classical world at a
variety of institutions including The Brearley School, Syracuse
University, Hunter College, The Intercollegiate Center for Classical
Studies in Rome, and Drew University.
Russell G. Jayne, Pharm.D., Tenor, lives in Boonton, NJ, and has been
singing since his childhood. He has been a soloist with the Morris
Conservatory Chorus and has sung with L.O.V.E. in the Donnell Library
Concert Series and at Christ & St. Stephen’s Church in NYC. Russell
made his operatic debut in November of 2000 with the Genesis Opera Co.
as Luigi in Puccini’s “Il Tabarro.” In March of 2001 he returned to the
Genesis Opera Co. as Bacchus in Richard Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos.”
singing since his childhood. He has been a soloist with the Morris
Conservatory Chorus and has sung with L.O.V.E. in the Donnell Library
Concert Series and at Christ & St. Stephen’s Church in NYC. Russell
made his operatic debut in November of 2000 with the Genesis Opera Co.
as Luigi in Puccini’s “Il Tabarro.” In March of 2001 he returned to the
Genesis Opera Co. as Bacchus in Richard Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos.”
And she's a fencer!
Comment from a member What attracted me to the group in the first place was that I found the group traditional but at the same time progressive. It was also less formal and more intimate than the Conservative synagogue I had been attending, although I was previously used to an Orthodox environment. (I have not been to a Reform synagogue in 40 years!) No one demanded that I sit in a certain place. No one told me to wear a certain item of clothing. No one bothered me about bills or statements or about which “tribe” I belonged to. I never hear anyone bemoaning the fact that they or their children or whomever might be intermarried. I never hear anyone talking about the sky falling in because of assimilation. (That seems to be an obsession elsewhere.) I liked it because it was easy going and accepting. So, there you have it. |