Blood Drive Will Take Place This Sunday at Union Catholic High School

On Jan. 13., Temple Sholom will sponsor a blood drive at UCHS, donors will receive a $10 Dunkin' Donuts gift card.

On Jan. 13, residents of Scotch Plains and Fanwood can donate blood at the campus of Union Catholic High School. The blood drive is being sponsored by Temple Sholom of Fanwood and Scotch Plains and the temple is offering 10 dollar gift cards to Dunkin' Donuts for all donors. In a release for the blood drive the temple noted the gift card as a, "thank you for the mitzvah of helping to save a life." The drive will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Remember, in order to donate blood you must be at least 17 years of age and weigh over 110 pounds. About Temple Sholom: Founded in 1913, Temple Sholom is a Reform Jewish Congregation led by Rabbi Joel N. Abraham. The Temple and its religious school are home to about 250 families from the greater …

• Photos (1)

Observe Yom Kippur 2012 in Fanwood-Scotch Plains

Find out where and how to observe the Jewish holiday in your community.

Yom Kippur is, in short, the holiest day of the year in Jewish religion and culture. It is also referred to as the “Day of Atonement,” and the tradition is to solemnly fast for repentance and atonement of sins. Yom Kippur marks the end of the annual High Holy Day period (Sept. 16 to 26), which begins with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. On Sept. 25, observation will begin at sunset. In Fanwood, Temple Sholom, located at 74 S. Martine Ave., will celebrate Yom Kippur on Sept. 26 with Yom Kippur Shacharit(morning) Service in the Sanctuary beginning at 10 a.m. Additionally a Children's Service will be held in the Chapel for children ages 3 to second grade at 10 a.m. followed by an 11 a.m. service for children third grade through sixth …

• Photos (1)

Temple Sholom Holds Program for Preschoolers to Learn Sukkot

Parents and Kids Learn Together With Jews Clues

On Sunday, September 30, from 10:30 a.m. until noon, Temple Sholom of Fanwood/Scotch Plains will offer a special preschool-age class on Sukkot designed for children ages 2 to 4 with a caregiver as part of its “Jews Clues” series exploring holidays, stories and traditions through play, music, arts and crafts. The program will take place at Union Catholic High School in Scotch Plains. Cost is $15 per session. “When the families arrive that morning, they go on a hunt for the three ‘Jews clues’ hidden around the room,” explains Director of Education Michelle Shapiro Abraham. “When they find the clues, they figure out together what Jewish tradition they are learning about that day.”   All families are welcome to participate in this exceptional…

• Photos (1)

Student Raises $1,000 to Help Save Atlantic Rainforest

Aaron Arkin, a Terrill Middle School seventh-grader raised $1,000 as part of his Mitzvah project for Temple Sholom.

At 13, Aaron Arkin, a Terrill Middle School seventh-grader is already making the world a better place.  In preparation to become a Bar Mitzvah at Temple Sholom on Jan. 28, Arkin has cultivated a passion for environmentalism, raising nearly $1,000 for the Plant a Billion Foundation – an organization that plants trees in the Atlantic Rainforest. “I think that oxygen found in the forest is definitely something we need to live and since they are chopping down millions and millions of trees, I thought it was important to help plant a billion more," he said. The Nature Conservancy started the "Plant a Billion" campaign in 2008 to help save the Atlantic Rainforest; one of the biggest and most endangered tropical rainforests in the world. Through …

• Photos (2)

This Week Ahead

This Week Ahead: Week of Monday, November 28

Every Monday, Patch highlights what's happening in Scotch Plains and Fanwood this week.

The Fanwood Police Department Annual Coat Drive for inner-city children begins today, Monday November 28. The coat drive is accepting new and gently used coats, for children ages three to sixteen as well as hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, and socks.  For more information on this event, read here. Scotch Plains-Fanwood Public Schools will be holding an Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Information Session for parents and guardians at Coles Elementary School today, Monday, November 28 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Coles School is located at 16 Kevin Road in Scotch Plains. Evergreen School will be hosting a book fair, all day on Thursday, December 1. A regular public Board of Education meeting will be held at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 29. K9 Resorts …