Temple Emanu-El, 100 James St., Edison, has announced its upcoming schedule for January. All events take place at the temple unless otherwise noted.
• Jan. 9, Shabbat B’Shir at 10 a.m., greeting the Sabbath with song. Torathon is the annual day of Torah study, with the congregation’s own learned scholars leading the way. This is a day of learning as well as a fundraiser for the Lifelong Learning programs. Participants are asked to donate to the sessions held by the scholar(s) of their choice, in amounts from $1 to whatever they wish, for as many hours as they would like. A dairy lunch will be available for $8. For those who bring a dish to share, lunch is free. Ask for a sign-up sheet at the temple or call 732-549-4442.
• Jan. 15, Tot Shabbat brings a fun-filled experience to younger children to enjoy as they participate in a short service at 6 p.m. then do arts and crafts at 6:30 p.m., usually finishing by 7. All children up to 6 years old are welcome to the program.
Shabbat dinner will be served at 7 p.m., and services will begin at 8 p.m., followed by the Rev. Owens, a guest speaker.
• Jan. 17, the Temple Emanu-El blood drive will be held at the Metuchen Library on Middlesex Avenue from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. The Rev. Dr.Martin Luther King Jr. will be remembered at New Hope Baptist Church. Temple Emanu-El’s adult and teen choir will lend song to the program.
• Jan. 23, an early morning (9 a.m.) Tot Shabbat will be offered for the little ones. Beth Schafer, singer and songwriter, will present a concert of Yiddish and English songs, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
• Jan. 25, Temple Emanu-El’s book club will meet at 7:30 p.m. in the temple library. The reading is “A Thread of Grace” by Mary Doria Russel.
• Jan. 29, Shabbat pot-luck dinner, filled with pleasant surprises. Come at 6 p.m. for the “Meichals” and stay for the family service/ Shabbat Shira at 7 p.m.
For more information, call 732-369- 3270 or 732-549-4442.