Rotary Weekly Briefing
Summit, NJ • Edition for May 18
⏰ Meeting Alert
THERE IS NOMEETING ON MAY 18
Our next gathering shifts off the usual schedule.
No meeting on Memorial Day.
Instead, we meet on:
➡️ TUESDAY, May 26 — Christ Church
Please mark your calendar. Yes… it’s a Tuesday.
📚 Speaker Recap: Rabbi Chana Leslie Glazer
Last Monday, we welcomed Rabbi Chana Leslie Glazer of Congregation Beth Hatikvah. She offered a compelling look at Reconstructing Judaism, the modern American movement founded by Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan (1881–1983).
Key Takeaways
- Judaism’s roots extend back 4,000 years, with three traditional branches: Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform.
- A fourth branch — Reconstructionist Judaism — emerged in the early 20th century.
- Kaplan defined Judaism as an “evolving religious civilization,” not a fixed set of divine laws.
- He rejected the idea of God as a supernatural being.
- He removed references to Jews as a “chosen people,” replacing them with language about being “called to service.”
A thoughtful and engaging presentation — our thanks to Rabbi Glazer.
🎟️ Raffle Reminder
A few members still have outstanding raffle tickets.
Please call Joe at 908‑337‑9536 or email joe@pamjoe.com and he’ll pick them up.
Your help is needed — please return them.
📅 Upcoming Meetings
- May 26 (Tuesday) — Christ Church
- June 8 — Scholarship Monday
- June 22 — Strategic Plan Review & Discussion
- TBA — Installation Event
🩸 Community Service: Blood Drive
Our second blood drive of the year is coming up:
Thursday, June 4
Central Presbyterian Church
70 Maple St, Summit
2:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Appointments required: 1‑800‑RED CROSS
🌿 Community Event: Summit Green Showcase
Wednesday, May 27 • 7:00–8:30 PM
Central Presbyterian Church Auditorium
70 Maple Street, Summit
More than 14 local organizations will highlight Summit’s environmental initiatives, including:
- City of Summit departments
- Reeves-Reed Arboretum
- Summit Green Schools
- Great Swamp Watershed Association
Focus areas include waste reduction, watershed conservation, and native plantings & green parks.
Co-presented by Central Presbyterian Church and CivicStory, moderated by Susan Haig.
A terrific opportunity to learn, connect, and support local sustainability efforts.
