The Moorestown Jewish Association (MJA) invites residents to attend its Hanukkah party at the Community House of Moorestown on Sunday at 4 p.m.
“It’s going to be a ton of fun,” said Brooke Mailhiot, president of the MJA. “We’ll have live Klezmer music, and we’ll have arts and crafts, and we’re going to have a Kugel cookoff.”
The MJA and Rabbi Kahan of Chabad of Camden and Burlington Counties also welcome the township to help light the township menorah on the community house lawn on Dec. 19 at 6 p.m.
“As a whole faith, I think we welcome so many people,” Mailhiot said. “It’s almost like feeling like your family, and I think that is what I’d like to get across, that we are a family at the Moorestown Jewish Association.”
She emphasized how the MJA is an all-inclusive organization.
“We are open to bringing anyone of any faith to come and learn about Judaism,” Maihiot noted. “But also people that are in an interfaith marriage, or maybe are not religious at all but just want to enrich the lives of their family in any faith, in any form that they wish.”
Other MJA events throughout the year include Sukkot in the Sukkah, a community Purim event; apples and honey tasting; and dessert and discussions. Mailhiot shared an exciting future project between the MJA and Moorestown resident Saima Bhutta.
“ … We’re going to do a teen roundtable panel discussion – Jewish teens and Muslim teens – and talk about antisemiticism and stereotypes and have an open discussion so the teens can share their thoughts, and everybody can learn about their different faiths,” she said.
Mailhiot encourages those who have an interest in volunteering for the MJA, which also offers opportunities for students that include community-service hours required by the township high school.
“We love, obviously, people coming to the events, but we need support in planning them and making them happen,” she explained. “We love anyone’s input for great ideas for events and collaboration, and to just let Moorestown know that there is a home for anyone that wants to come and have Judaism part of their life in small increments or in larger increments.”
Mailhiot appreciates the close-knit feel of the MJA.
“I can’t tell you when I was brought on as a member, how instantly I met so many people and just felt like a community,” she enthused. “I think that it’s one really special thing about the organization.”
For more on the MJA, visit https://moorestownjewishassociation.org.
