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Elaine Durbach
In honor of Cantor Caplan’s retirement, the courtyard outside the synagogue’s Werb Chapel was named in his honor. With him and his wife, Nancy, are their three children, from left, Tamar, Simona, and Ilan.
July 2, 2026, 9:58 am
Harmony in action
Agudath Israel’s Cantor Joel Caplan ends four-decade role
By Elaine Durbach
Phyllis Bernstein, center, is in Israel with friends and fellow federation members Elyse Deutsch, left, and Carol Simon in 2015.
August 17, 2022, 4:58 pm
Remembering Phyllis Bernstein
The passionate, unorthodox Zionist was a one-of-a-kind philanthropist
By Elaine Durbach
As with this triptych of Popeye portraits, Richard Brown’s creativity often spreads to the frames around his work.
March 6, 2019, 2:23 pm
At last, octogenarian artist steps into the limelight
Exhibit of ‘outsider’ paintings, drawings is his first solo show
By Elaine Durbach
Shterney Kanelsky visits the basement where her husband hid from the Soviet authorities for two years as a child, in the family home in a Moscow suburb. Photos courtesy Bris Avrohom
February 13, 2019, 11:46 am
Chabad leaders say Russia visit wiped out decades of fear
Kanelskys chart their journey from clandestine to free Jews
By Elaine Durbach
Jeh Johnson, former national secretary of homeland security, said violence is fueled by “the decline in civility from political leaders.” Photo by Tony Turner
January 30, 2019, 11:03 am
Former security chief sees democracy as stronger than haters
Rise of anti-Semitism is result of Jews seen as ‘the other’
By Elaine Durbach
In front of the house he grew up in, Michael Takiff recalled the names of neighbors and playmates who lived nearby in the Elmora section of Elizabeth. Photos by Elaine Durbach
January 9, 2019, 2:45 pm
A nostalgic journey with a man and the tribe he contains
Elizabeth native to present one-man show tackling ‘Jews, God, history’
By Elaine Durbach
Rabbi Laurence Groffman, second from left, with son Isaac and guests at Temple Sholom’s interfaith dinner. Photos by Elaine Durbach
December 5, 2018, 11:42 am
Cedar Grove congregation celebrates interfaith friendships
By Elaine Durbach
David Winitsky, left, works with actor Rafael Poueriet, who plays a student trying to reclaim his life in the aftermath of tragedy. Photos courtesy Luna Stage
November 21, 2018, 11:54 am
Shedding light on violence in the shadow of tragedy
New play at Luna Stage can be ‘gateway to empathy’
By Elaine Durbach
An audience member puts a question to the media panel at Temple B’nai Abraham, as Rabbi Cliff Kulwin watches.
October 31, 2018, 1:21 pm
Media panelists slice through pre-election fog
Warn temple audience about rise of white nationalism
By Elaine Durbach
Sen. Robert Menendez said that his record in government demonstrates his support of issues important to the Jewish community. Photos by Elaine DeYoung
October 31, 2018, 11:48 am
Bitter senatorial campaign appears on stage
Hugin, Menendez make last-ditch effort to win Jewish vote
By Elaine Durbach
With no false modesty, Seth Kramer says that for Jewish baseball fans, “Heading Home” “might be the best movie ever made.” Photos courtesy Ironbound Films
October 29, 2018, 11:10 am
Jersey native’s home-run documentary
‘Best underdog movie’ tells baseball saga of Team Israel
By Elaine Durbach
“Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel”
October 4, 2018, 11:03 am
West Orange native ‘Heading Home’ with new documentary
Underdog story recounts Team Israel’s success in World Baseball Classic
By Elaine Durbach
In his hometown of West Orange, Israeli Knesset member Michael Oren said that American Jews fail to recognize the realities facing Israelis. Photo by Elaine Durbach
September 13, 2018, 11:41 am
Oren blames American Jews for Israel-diaspora split
Israel’s former ambassador to U.S. says Americans blind to reality on ground
By Elaine Durbach
Rabbi Eliot Malomet: We must be open to the possibility that hope will find us.
August 27, 2018, 12:43 pm
Mindful of political tensions, rabbis navigate narrow path
The challenge is to provide guidance, avoid partisanship
By Elaine Durbach
June 27, 2018, 12:00 am
A human rights museum opens in Millburn
By Elaine Durbach
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