Past Events

 

Celebrating the Chinese New Year 2024: The Year of the Dragon

February 10, 2024, marks the start of the Chinese New Year.  On Sunday, February 4, 2024, members of the Morris County Human Relations Commission (HRC) attended the Northern New Jersey Chinese Association School’s New Year’s Program at Montville High School.  We were greeted enthusiastically and treated as VIPs -- front row seats and all.  The students entertained us with song, dance, and a Karate demonstration.  This joyous program was followed by refreshments and the opportunity to socialize.  A special thank you to HRC member, Tina Liu Jen, who invited us to share this celebration.  A wonderful way for all of us to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Chinese-New-Year

L to R Sue Rosenthal, Susan J Waldman Tina Liu Jen Meggy Wang Deputy Director of the Cultural Center of Taipei Economic & Cultural Center in NY Meyer Rosenthal

Papier Mache Dragons on Stage

Stage Decorated for Chinese New Year

Photos: 

Top L to R Mayor of Montville Matthew Kayne Sue Rosenthal Tina Liu Jen Meyer Rosenthal Susan J Waldman Northern New Jersey Chinese Association School Principal Stephen Lo

Top L to R Sue Rosenthal, Susan J Waldman, Tina Liu Jen, Meggy Wang,  Deputy Director of the Cultural Center of Taipei Economic & Cultural Center in NY, Meyer Rosenthal

Middle Photo:  The Lion Dance

Lower Photo:  The Stage

 

Project Homeless Connect

 On January 26, 2024, the Morris County Human Relations Commission actively participated in the 2024 Project Homeless Connect event at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Morristown, NJ.  The Commission’s aim was to support and uplift the community, demonstrating our commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in Morris County.

The event provided a valuable opportunity for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness to access a wide range of services and support. The resources offered, such as health screenings, giveaways, haircuts, public assistance, mental health services, veterans services, employment services, and food, made a significant impact on the attendees.

 

Repairing OUR World-United Against Hate

20231112_183406.jpg On Sunday, November 12, 2023, members of the Morris County Human Relations Commission (MCHRC) along with a community of synagogues, churches and other organizations, gathered at Adath Shalom Synagogue in Morris Plains for a community event featuring the screening of “Repairing the World—Stories from the Tree of Life” a riveting documentary on how the City of Pittsburgh united to be “Stronger than Hate.”  The film documents how the city came together after the October 27, 2018, massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue that took the lives of eleven people.

The attendees were welcomed by Rabbi Moshe Rudin of Adath Shalom and Vice Chair of the MCHRC, followed by a video-taped welcome from Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of the Tree of Life Synagogue.  The event was moderated by Meyer Rosenthal, MCHRC Chair Emeritus, and his daughter, Bonnie Rosenthal, who was the driving force behind the program.

 

After the documentary screening, Clarence Curry, Jr., MCHRC Chair, gave the following Call to Action:

“I want to thank the organizers and sponsors of this event for sharing this extremely powerful documentary on how a Community, a City responded20231112_183351.jpg to a horrifying act of HATE. There were obviously many compelling take-away messages, but for me there were several that can serve as a “Call to Action Road Map” for our Community. The importance of the sharing of this film for us lies in our collective efforts and actions that are “Pro-Active and Preventative,” identifying and implementing activities and measures that address and combat hate and serve to ensure that there is not fertile ground for it in Morris County.

One of the take-aways was “Our Diversity is Our Strength”. But it is only a strength if we are forging Relationships. It is through “Relationships” that we build the bridges to actions that help create and develop Partnerships. The most effective Partnerships are those based on Relationships which fosters trust, resulting in initiatives that are more powerful and embracing.

Through “Relationships and Partnerships, we learn to Listen, not just Hear. We are the Difference, both collectively and individually. My Charge to us Collectively is to Join, Partner, Collaborate.  The Charge individually is to “Speak Up, Stand Up, Say Something because Apathy is the Enemy.

20231112_182724.jpg In conclusion, please stand and join me in the “Not in Our Town-Stop Hate Together” Pledge which can be found in your Program:

‘I pledge to stand up to all forms of hate, racism, bigotry, and bullying. I will not stay silent in the face of intolerance based on race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, religion, ability or any other factor. I will work together with my neighbors to create safer, more inclusive communities for all.’”

At the end of Clarence’s remarks, representatives of the sponsoring organizations came to the front of the sanctuary and joined with the audience to sing Let There Be Peace On Earth.  It was a very moving event and, notably, an inspirational way to begin the first day of “United Against Hate Week,” November 12 – 18, 2023.

 

 

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Photos:

#1 Detective Sergeant Patrick LaGuerre, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office; Rabbi Moshe Rudin, Adath Shalom Synagogue

#2 (Back Row) Meyer Rosenthal, MCHRC Chair Emeritus; Bonnie Rosenthal; (Front Row) Sue Rosenthal, MCHRC Secretary. At the sign-in table.

#3 Clarence Curry, Jr., MCHRC Chair; Elaine Johnson, MCHRC Past Chair; William Schievella, MCHRC Law Enforcement Committee Chair.

#4 Clarence Curry, Jr. Call to Action

#5 William Schievella; Jasmine Lim, MCHRC Community & Cultural Relations Committee Chair.

#6 Susan J. Waldman, MCHRC Treasurer; Elaine Johnson and her husband Charles.

 

Morris County Diversity Celebration 2023

Theresa Maughan and Clarence Curry, Jr. preparing the display.The Diversity Celebration on Sunday, July 9, 2023, was “an amazing success” according to Morris County Human Relations Commission Chair, Clarence Curry, Jr.   That is in spite of the fact that due to the stormy weather prediction, the event was moved indoors.  Special thanks to the Methodist Church on the Green for hosting.

Jasmine Lim, Community and Cultural Relations Committee Chair, who coordinated the Commission’s

 participation in the event, noted that “we had a very prominent table location and got a lot of traffic.”   Jasmine thanked the members of the Commission who helped staff the table during the event: Wayne Cresta; Clarence Curry, Jr.; Osman Davies; Tina Liu Jen; Theresa Maughan; Sue and Meyer Rosenthal; and Rabbi Moshe Rudin.

Participation by the community in this annual event continues to grow year after year.  The Commission is delighted to join with so many other groups reflecting the diversity that is Morris County.

 

 

 

 

 

Remembering Raoul Wallenberg 2023

Remembering Raoul Wallenberg 2023 

On Sunday, August 6, 2023, the annual celebration of the birth of Swedish diplomat, Raoul Wallenberg, Courage and Compassion:  Remembering Raoul Wallenberg, was held at Smith Field Park in Parsippany-Troy Hills at the site of the sculpture dedicated to his heroism.  The program, co-sponsored by the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills, Adath Shalom Synagogue, and the Parsippany Interfaith Council, commemorated the humanitarian message of Raoul Wallenberg who became a literal lifeline for up to 100,000 Hungarian Jewish citizens who would have otherwise ended up in the Auschwitz and Treblinka death camps as World War II was winding down.  Guests were also greeted by the Vasa Order of America, District Lodge New Jersey No. 6.  Vasa is a Swedish American Fraternal Organization. 

 

 

On this perfect summer day, attendees were welcomed by Meyer Rosenthal, Chair of the Adath Shalom Holocaust Education Committee and Chair Emeritus of the Morris County Human Relations Commission.  This was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Chuck Farber, a 98-year-old, World War II veteran and former resident of Parsippany-Troy Hills. 

Following the Invocation by Reverend Dr. Stacie Turk, Pastor, First Baptist Community Church, the program opened with greetings from Kory Warner, Vasa District Master.  He spoke about how much Raoul Wallenberg is revered by the Swedish people.   

Next we heard from Rabbi Shalom D. Lubin, Congregation Shaya Ahavat Torah and Rev. Donald A. Bragg, Parsippany Presbyterian Church, who compared Wallenberg to Isiah who, when God asked “Who will go?” answered “I will go.”   

Clarence Curry, Jr., Chair of the Morris County Huma n Relations Commission (MCHRC), praised the MCHRC as it celebrates the diversity of Morris County.  He was followed by a musical interlude by Cantor Avima Rudofsky Darnov, Adath Shalom and Cantor Bruce Ruben, Temple Beth Am.  They sang Blessed is the Match by Hannah Senesh, a poet from Budapest who worked with the Resistance during World War II.  

Unable to attend, Dr. Edward M. Adams, creator of the sculpture Courage and Compassion, sent a letter which was read by Meyer Rosenthal.  Dr. Adams regretted that he couldn’t be there and wrote about his creative thought process.  “Do I design a sculpture that honors a particular man?”  His decision was to design a sculpture that signifies Courage and Compassion. 

The next speaker was Aviva Neuman, Head of Culture & Public Affairs, Swedish Consulate of New York, who brought us greetings from Sweden, the Swedish people, and the Swedish Consulate.  She quoted James Baldwin, “The challenge is in the moment; the time is always now.” 

Kellie Doucette, District Director, Office of Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, brought greetings from the Congresswoman, who was unable to attend. 

John Krickus, Director, Morris County Board of Commissioners, was next.  He spoke about Harry Ettinger, a Morris County resident, who was one of the Monument Men of World War II.  He noted that the last of the Monument Men recently passed away at the age of 102.  He also spoke about Edward Mosberg, another Morris County resident, who survived the Holocaust and was a Holocaust educator until his death in 2022.   

The next speaker was James R. Barberio, Mayor of Parsippany-Troy Hills, who read a Proclamation declaring August 6, 2023, Raoul Wallenberg Day in Parsippany-Troy Hills.  He told us “We are all born with a talent and a purpose,” and that Raoul Wallenberg gave his gift back to God. 

In lieu of a benediction, Rabbi Moshe Rudin, Adath Shalom Synagogue, related how Raoul Wallenberg freed cattle cars full of Jews who were on the way to the camps by declaring them “under the protection of the Swedish Consulate” and about how Wallenberg faced down Adolf Eichmann, a key figure in the Nazi extermination of the Jews.  After the war, Raoul Wallenberg, age 32, disappeared into the Russian prison system and his whereabouts are still unknown. 

At the close of this moving commemoration of the life of Raoul Wallenberg, several participants placed white roses at the base of the sculpture.  It was a fitting ending to a wonderful program. 

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