Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island E-Letter
January 22, 2021
9 Shevet 5781
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TU B'SHEVAT - JANUARY 28TH
Tree-planting ceremonies, especially by children, are traditional on Tu B'shevat.
Tu B'shevat also reminds us of our responsibility to the environment – that we should cry out against the enormity of the destruction of rain forests and the damage to the world around us.
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A MESSAGE FROM
RABBI JAY
PERSONAL COMMUNITY
There is no way to avoid the truth about Parashat Bo; much of it is harsh and brutal. And yet, it also contains gently nuanced messages of beauty. The harshness comes in the language of war and devastation that is the last three plagues. There were Locusts that destroyed the land so completely that “nothing green was left, of tree or grass of field, in all the land of Egypt”. There was darkness; a darkness so intense that “[p]eople could not see one another, and for three days no one could get up from where he was”. And finally, there was the horrific last plague which needs no further discussion.
The beauty comes in two basic forms. The first hint of magnificence is contained between the lines of the Text. One must take note of the fact that the Israelites are not dancing in the streets at each instance of Egyptian pain. There is holiness in not basking in your enemy’s misfortune. It is a lesson that our government, and this each and every citizen of this country, should take to heart as we attempt to move forward.
The second nearly hidden piece of splendor revolves around family and community. God gives the instructions for the very first Seder, which occurs on the eve of the Israelites’ departure from the Egypt. As part of the instruction, God tells Moses that there should be a lamb for each family; that this is a personal observance. But, because God gives these instructions in the plural form (i.e. “You shall observe” means “everybody shall observe”), it is, at the same time, a communal observance.
God says that each family must consume an entire lamb; however, if a family is too small to accomplish this task, then it should share its lamb with another small family. Thus, built into the system, is a method by which members of the community can help each other. To help each other, we must be paying attention to who needs help.
The world would indeed be a better place if, as our ancestors did, we do not cheer and jeer at the misfortune of others and, at the same time, if we accept the fact that the community exists, as a whole, to help its individual members in their time of need.
I loved the concluding line of Amanda Gorman’s inaugural poem:
"The new dawn blooms as we free it. For there is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it."
This is good Torah.
Shabbat Shalom – Rabbi Michael S. Jay
RABBI'S OFFICE HOURS
Rabbi will have the Zoom link open Wednesdays
Noon to 1.
Zoom meetings can always be made by appointment
973-865-9534
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Candle Lighting Time
Friday evening,
January 22, 2021
4:44 PM
(So. Ocean County NJ)
JOIN US FOR SERVICES
ON ZOOM
Friday evening
January 22, 2021
6:00 PM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to
Join Zoom Services
Saturday morning
January 23, 2021
Torah Study
9:00 AM
Services
10:00 AM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to
Join Zoom Services
Torah Portion
Parashat Bo
Exodus 10:1-13:16
Here is the Parshah
Haftorah
Jeremiah 46:13 - 46:28
Here is the Haftorah
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Havdallah
Saturday
January 23, 2021
6:00 PM
Sunday - Thursday
Ma'ariv Service
7:30 PM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to
Join Zoom Services:
Sunday - Friday
Shacharit Service
8:15 AM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to
Join Zoom Services:
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MONDAY 1/26 @ 10:00 AM
Chumash Class (Peoplehood) with Rabbi Jay
WEDNESDAY 1/28 @ 8:00 PM
Rabbi's University Class
THURSDAY 1/29
11:00 AM Torah Study with the Rabbi
2:00 PM Beginning Hebrew with Ira
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HERE ARE THE LINKS FOR THE ACTIVITIES FOR THIS WEEK |
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Valentine's Day
AN EVENING OF 0PERA, BROADWAY & GREAT JEWISH CLASSICS
And Wine Tasting
Featuring
CANTOR DAVID BABINET
WITH PIANIST YISROEL EDELSON
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH
7:30 PM - ZOOM EVENT
$50.00 Per Link
Wine sold Separately
This event is a collaboration between JCC and the Women’s Auxiliary (WAX) of Long Beach Island. Thank you to our sponsors for their support!
for the details of our newest event planned for Sunday, February 14, 2021. There are clickable links in the document that will allow you to register, pay for event and order your wine. Wine purchase not necessary.
Hope to see you there!!
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If you are a member and have registered to pay on line through our website, click on the link below and put your ticket order under CONCERT EVENTS and in the comment box put VALENTINE. This link will take you to membership and just scroll down for Membership Account Log In. |
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Dear Congregants:
You are invited to attend our fifth Shabbat dinner on Friday, February 5, 2021 at 6:00 PM. Please plan on joining us for a Shabbat filled with friendship and community.
We will start our evening with the blessings and services, followed by a period of sharing your Shabbat dinner with family and friends in a breakout room. If you have no specific request and are open to making new friends, please respond to this email and we will arrange for you to be seated with a fabulous group of people.
Please click on this link and fill in the form by Friday, February 5 at 3:00 PM. List your name(s), (couple(s) or single(s), and include the names of friends and family to be included in your private breakout room or send an email to: JCCOFLBIShabbatDinner.
Or join at the last minute, all are welcome!
This is our fifth celebration of this type of event this year, hoping to see you then!!! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Rabbi Jay (973) 865-9534 or Irene B. at (856) 904-5145 for dining arrangements.
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A great way to make a difference In Israel's future from the comfort of your home.
In Israel, access to the English language is really dependent on your economic status, and is English proficiency is the largest barrier to University entry for underprivileged students. Some of the members of our Synagogue have been mentoring a student through an organization called Israel Connect. This organization works with Israel's Ministry of Education to identify regions most in need, and works with the teachers to provide access to all students. Using Zoom, you can tutor a high school student in Israel from the comfort of your home. The whole interaction is enjoyable and simple, and it makes all the difference for the student. You can see a little more from the video below, or from their website www.IsraelConnect.Today
OR
ARLENE SCHRAGGER @ 609-240-1306
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Thank you to David Shatz for sharing with us the link to the Westchester Jewish Council's program last Tuesday night featuring Dr. Eric Mandel's talk on "Israel's Challenges".
Dr. Mandel is a frequent guest of the JCC and his knowledge of Israel and its relationship with the US and the Middle East as well as China is as always current and thorough.
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We have really enjoyed our time with Maggie Anton, author of the Rashi's Daughters Trilogy. She has shared so much knowledge with us and in particular a feeling of life in the 9th Century in the city of Troyes ( see above) in France. We will miss her and hope when it is safe to travel she can take us on a tour of the city where Rashi and his daughters lived as well as a stop at the fabulous outlets the city offers. Thank you to Gloria Cantor for making this connection.
NEXT BOOK DISCUSSIONS
Feb. 24th @ 4 PM
Unorthodox by Naomi Ragen
March 24th @ 4 PM
The Guest Book by Sarah Blake
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Rabbi Jay led a most interesting discussion of the back stories of the movie "Funny Girl".
The idealized depiction of Fanny Brice and her husband Nick Orenstein was Barbra Streisand's first movie.
For many on Zoom Thursday night, this film is a favorite.
Look for more information on upcoming Movie Nites. Any suggestions for future films would be welcome.
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For those who would like to learn more about
Fanny Brice
Here is a program sponsored by
The Lower East Side Jewish Conservatory
"Hello Gorgeous: An Hour or So with Fanny Brice"
Thursday, March 11 from 7 - 8:30 PM.
Registration is required. Only 100 tickets.
Here is the link register:
Thanks to Karen Shatz for the information
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FEBRUARY
Shabbat Dinner
Friday, 2/5
6:00 PM
Women's Shabbat Service
Saturday, 2/13
10:00 AM
Be a part of this special Shabbat.
Respond to this email if you want to do a Reading in English, Aliyah or Torah Portion
WAX Valentine's Day Wine & Song
Sunday, 2/14
7:30 PM
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."Leonard Bernstein -
The Musician, The Man"
A Talk by Larry Rosendorf
Thursday, 2/18
7:15 PM
WAX Hamantashen Bake
Sunday, 2/21
10:30 AM
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UPCOMING FEDERATION PROGRAM
Oy Corona II A Night of Comedy:
The Sequel Purim Edition
Tuesday, February 23rd 7:30PM
Join us for a fun joke-telling competition: tell a joke or help decide the winner. Jokesters get to choose the local non-profit they are competing for to win prize money!
Want to register to watch, sign up below!
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WAX HAPPENINGS
click on the link below to review all the upcoming WAX events
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THIS WEEK'S YAHRZEITS
The following names will be read at Friday night services.
Edith Konner
Mina Rosenbaum
Joseph Rudnick*
Diane Rudoff
Mollie Segal
Robert Fischer
Sarah Ganek
Hannah Moses*
Max Rosenbaum
Laura Barsh
Thelma Brusilow
Harvey Light
Al Black
Richard Gilbert
Hyman Goldstein
Raya Koller
Linda Zelin
Barnet Bookman*
Benjamin Reiser*
Dave Tarlow
Charles Bloom
Jacob Konner
Lucy Lief
Rabbi Pinchos Chazin
Robert Greenbaum
George Patmas
Estelle Stokes
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In this Zoom era, we have been able to have a daily minyan at 8:15 AM and at 7:30 PM and on Shabbat. We encourage you to join us on the day of your loved one’s yahrzeit. In the morning, the service is about ½ hour beginning at 8:15 and in the evening at 7:30 until about 7:45. Rabbi will be glad to say the traditional El Malei Rachamim prayer for you, which is recited during the funeral, going up to the grave of the departed, Yizkor remembrance day and other occasions on which the memory of the dead is recalled. You are also welcome to share with the minyan some special memories of your loved one. |
CONDOLENCES TO
ADAM FISHMAN
on the loss of his father
HOWARD FISHMAN
"May God remember forever our dear ones who have gone to their eternal rest. May they be at one with the One who is life eternal. May the beauty of their lives shine for evermore, and may our lives always bring honor to their memory."
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Dean Adler
January 23
Denni Koupf
January 23
Rita Pepperman
January 23
Herbert Zemble
January 24
Martha Serepca Frank
January 25
Ellen L. Rosen
January 25
Evelyn Stern
January 25
Barry Sussman
January 25
Brian Gottesman
January 26
Robert Van Naarden
January 26
Eileen Buznitsky
January 27
Annbeth Katz
January 27
Karen Schwing
January 27
Cookie Botwinick
January 28
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SHARE YOUR NEWS
AND PICTURES
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CARING COMMITTEE
This committee acts as a support system for congregation members facing illness and other personal situations that need to be addressed.
Please contact Chairperson,
Debby Schweighardt
if you are in need of assistance or if you know of a JCC member
that needs our help.
973-634-5349
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A LONG TIME AND MOST GENEROUS MEMBER HAS CHALLENGED US TO RAISE $50,000 BY MARCH 15 AND IF WE DO—HE WILL MATCH OUR FUNDRAISING WITH HIS OWN NEW $50,000 GIFT TO THE JCC!!
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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Phil Rosenzweig, JCC First Vice President
Chair of Fundraising Committee
610-263-0124 (direct)
610-263-0115 (main)
215-754-4139 (efax)
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GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
PAVERS
Inscribe a paver at the front entrance to the building
8" X 4", 8" X 8" and 12" X 12"
SEE UPDATED ORDER FORM:
Become a permanent part of the JCC landscape.
Purchase a personalized paving stone
in honor of your family or in memory of a loved one.
Please contact Diane Hoffman
with your order or with any questions:
PRAYER BOOKS
There are still High Holiday Prayer Books and Chumashim available to be purchased in memory or honor of someone or something. The cost of a Prayer Book is $72 each and $120 for an Eitz Hayim Chumash. The donation includes an affirmation sticker in the book and an acknowledgement letter or letters.
TRIBUTES
SEND ONE OF OUR TRIBUTES IN HONOR OR IN MEMORY OF
TREE OF LIFE
Add a leaf (leaves) to our beautiful Tree of Life located in the Social Hall. See the order form here: TREE OF LIFE
Bronze Leaf $90
Silver Leaf $126
Gold :Leaf $180
ENDOWMENT FUND
Join Herb and Selma Shapiro z"l to help assure the continuity of our JCC, and our ability to continue providing a full- congregation to serve the Jewish people of the area. Judith z"l & Donald Pripstein have joined the Shapiros with a $50,000 donation and have established The Pripstein Family Endowment Fund.
A donation of at least $50,000 to the endowment fund will allow the donor to name one of the funds as the donor wishes. All such name funds will be joined together to be part of the endowment fund portfolio.
All members are encouraged to help this important effort by contributing to this fund whether as a specific named fund, or as a general donation. Your gift to the fund can be sent to the JCC Office. Please mark your check accordingly.
YAHRZEIT PLAQUES
Space is available for memorial plaques on the yahrzeit boards in the Sanctuary.
Here is the order form:
KOL HAKAVOD
Please consider being a part of this campaign to supplement the clergy needs of our congregation. This is a separate, voluntary commitment and is additional to our low annual dues obligation. HERE IS THE LINK TO BRING UP THE DONATION FORM KOL HAKAVOD
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JCC FUNDS
Your gift to the JCC support our Clergy, our Congregation and the Community.
ENDOWMENT FUND
This fund was established to assure the continuity of our JCC, and our ability to continue providing a full-service congregation to serve the Jewish people of the area. While a donation of any amount is encouraged, a donation of at least $50,000 allows the donor to name a special or specific Endowment Fund in memory or honor of a specific person event, or family.
GENERAL FUND
Donations to this fund are not earmarked but placed in the general administrative account. Donations to this fund can be in honor or memory of a person, event, or family.
KOL HAKAVOD FUND
Donations to this campaign supplement the clergy needs of our congregation.
RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND
This fund, managed by the rabbi, allows donors to enable the rabbi to do the work of tzedakah in response to the needs of individuals, organizations and the community.
ZENA & JERRY JAY KIDDISH FUND
The Zena and Jerry Jay Kiddush Fund was established in memory of Rabbi Jay's parents to help provide funds for our Saturday morning kiddushes.
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THE JCC OF LBI IS LOCATED AT
2411 Long Beach Boulevard (24th Street)
Spray Beach, NJ 08008
Telephone: 609-492-4090 FAX: 609-492-7550
THE OFFICE IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED.
PLEASE USE THE PHONE OR EMAIL WITH REQUESTS.
OUR OFFICE STAFF WILL BE CHECKING IN REGULARLY.
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Staff:
Leslie Dinkfelt, Office Manager
Mary Beth Krieger, Staff Member
Tony DeGregorio, Custodial Staff
Kitchen Manager: Susan Berube
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LATEST
BULLETIN:
PRAYER BOOK:
WEB SITE:
PAVERS:
TREE OF LIFE
YAHRZEIT PLAQUE FORM:
KOL HAKAVOD DONATION FORM
KOL HAKAVOD
TRIBUTES:
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Rabbi Michael S. Jay
Michael Babst, President
E-mail Editor: Rose Valentine
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