Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island E-Letter
November 6, 2020
19 Chevsan 5781
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A MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI
God appears to Abraham in the form of three angels who visit him as he is recuperating from his circumcision. The circumcision might be bad, but the visit is good. Abraham and Sarah play the role of a great hosts by providing hospitality to the strangers. This is good.
Abraham is given the joyous, if somewhat unbelievable, news that despite their advanced age, within a year, he and Sarah will have a child. This is good. Sarah laughs a sarcastic laugh, which is bad.
Abraham is then given the horrific news that Sodom and Gomorrah will be destroyed. This is bad. Abraham argues for God to rescind the edict, which is good. But his attempt fails because the inhabitants of the city cannot even meet the lowest standard of morality and kindness. This is bad.
Angels enter Sodom and are shown generous hospitality by Lot, which is good. However, all of the other inhabitants of the city seek to rape and do harm to the Angels, which is bad. Lot seeks to protect the angels from the mob, which is good. But he does so by offering his daughters for the pleasure of the unruly mob, which is bad.
The cities are destroyed, which is bad. But Lot and his family are saved, which is good. However, Lots wife looks back at the burning cities and turns into a pillar of salt. This is bad.
Lot and his daughters are saved, which is good. But the daughters, thinking the world has ended, get their father drunk in order to have relations with him and then are impregnated by him. This is bad.
Abraham is treated well by Abimelech, which is good. But he offers Sarah to Abimelech saying that she is his sister, which is bad. God threatens to harm Abimelech, which is bad. But Abimelech never touched Sarah and avoids God’s wrath, which is good.
Sarah gets pregnant and gives birth to Isaac, which is good. But Sarah sees Ishmael mistreating Isaac and demands that Abraham ban Ishmael and Hagar to the desert, which is bad. Abraham bans them, which is bad. But God takes note and makes a nation out of Ishmael, which, in theory, is good.
Abimelech’s servants seized Abraham’s well, which is bad. But Abimelech and Abraham make a pact that acknowledges that the well is Abraham’s. This is good.
God tells Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, which is bad. Abraham agrees to perform this unsavory task which, depending on how you interpret it, may be good or bad. God does not allow the sacrifice to take place, which is good. Abraham leaves the sight of the attempted sacrifice without Isaac. This is bad.
Why have I gone through this exercise? Whether you read Torah as metaphor or as an accurate report of historical events, it has the goal of teaching lessons. Through everything that happens, through the good and the bad, Abraham moves forward. Sarah moves forward. Lot moves forward. God moves forward. and the story moves forward. We, the reader, move forward. (Note that Lot’s wife doesn’t move forward, because she is stuck looking back).
Indeed, life is not static. Our lives are not static. Life is not supposed to be static. There are highs and lows. There is good and bad. There is joy and sorrow.
One might simply call this unavoidable reality: “Living a life”. However, there is another way to view it. It comes in the Text itself. When God tells Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, the Text tells us that God is “testing” Abraham.
Perhaps everything, the good and the bad, is a test. Maybe it is our reaction to the stimuli around us that makes a difference. Do we gloat when good happens? Do we mope when bad happens? When good happens do we positively share our bounty? When bad happens do we blame and turn violent?
Whether it is to the good or the bad, our reactions are recorded; God, and/or the world around us notice them. Respond with humility, kindness, love, dignity, and compassion.
AND ONE LAST THING. IT IS A GROSS UNDERSTATEMENT TO SAY THAT THERE IS A LOT GOING ON IN THIS LAND THAT WE LOVE. I RECOMMEND THAT WE EACH USE SHABBAT AS A TIME OF TRUE REST. AFTER SERVICES, LET’S STAY AWAY FROM OUR SMART PHONES, LAPTOPS, IPADS AND OTHER DEVICES. IF SOMETHING, OTHER THAN A REAL EMERGENCY IS KEEPING YOU FROM TURNING YOUR DEVICES OFF, ASK GOD FOR THE STRENGTH TO DO SO.
SHABBAT IS INTENDED AS A DAY OF REST. TAKE A REST FROM YOUR DEVICE. TAKE A REST FROM SOCIAL MEDIA. TAKE A REST FROM THE NOISE THAT THE WORLD IS CREATING.
GIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF A PEACEFUL SHABBAT.
Shabbat Shalom – Rabbi Michael S. Jay
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REMEMBERING OUR LOVED ONES AT THEIR YAHRZEIT |
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If you have given your yahrzeit information to the office, you should receive a notice of the date for lighting a yahrzeit candle. The name of your loved one is listed in the bulletin and those names are also read out loud by Rabbi Jay at the Friday evening service.
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.
We are so proud to offer this opportunity to our members and to the community. The links for the services can be found on the JCC web site. Thanks to the generosity of Paul & Joyce Levine, yahrzeit candles are available at the JCC. Just leave a message on the office phone and arrangements can be made for pick up/
Rabbi Jay reminded us at the High Holidays that Yizkor (as well as saying Kaddish on a yahrzeit) “provides us with the gift of focusing on memory.” He went on to say “We can use these moments to meditate on the blessings of those whom we recall today. We can recall the things that gave us joy and we can remember the things that gave us strength.”
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SATURDAY 11/7
Torah Study with Rabbi Jay
MONDAY 11/9
Chumash Class (Family Dynamics) with Rabbi Jay on Monday at 10:00 AM.
TUESDAY 11/10
Rabbi's Class at the Jersey Shore Jewish Virtual University (see article below on Virtual University to register)
THURSDAY 11/12
- Torah Study with Rabbi Jay at 11:00 AM
- Beginners Hebrew Class with Iran Morgenthal at 2:00 PM.
- Movie Discussion of "Blinded by the Light at 8:00 PM after services
FRIDAY 11/13
Virtual Shabbat Dinner
See details in Upcoming Events below
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HERE ARE THE LINKS FOR THE ACTIVITIES FOR THIS WEEK |
NOVEMBER WAX MEETING
Sunday, November 15, 2020 - 1:00 PM
Our High Holiday Hassan, Sara Geller, will be our guest speaker. She has graciously agreed to speak to us on her life experiences of becoming a cantor. Log-in information will be provided prior to event, and yes, all are invited.
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Candle Lighting Time
Friday evening,
November 6, 2020
4:30 PM
(So. Ocean County NJ)
JOIN US FOR SERVICES
ON ZOOM
Friday evening
November 6, 2020
6:00 PM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to
Join Zoom Services
Saturday morning
November 7, 2020
TORAH STUDY
AT 9:00 AM
Use the link below
for Shabbat
There is no obligation to stay for services.
Saturday morning
November 7, 2020
10:00 AM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to
Join Zoom Services
Torah Portion
Parashat Vayera
Genesis 18:1-22:24
Here is the Parshah
Haftorah
II Kings 4:1 - 4:37
Here is the Haftorah:
Aaron Lombardi will read Torah this Shabbat
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HAVDALLAH
Saturday, November 7, 2020
at 7:00 PM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to
Join Zoom Services
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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We have a lot of exciting plans for the November.
Please join us.
Tuesday, 11/10, 17 and 24 at 8:00 PM
Rabbi's Class at the Jersey Shore Jewish Virtual University
Mondays at 10:00 AM
Chumash Class
Rabbi's deep dive into the Moses Story
Friday, 11/13 at 6:00 PM
November Virtual Shabbat Dinner
Sunday, 11/15 at 1:00 PM
A visit from Hazzan Sara Geller
sponsored by the WAX
All are invited
Wednesday,11/18 at 4:00 PM
WAX Book Discussion of the first Book of Rashi's Daughters
The author, Maggie Anton, will be joining us.
IF IT'S THURSDAY, IT'S THE JCC
11:00 AM Torah Study with the Rabbi
2:00 PM Beginning Hebrew with Ira
11/12 - Thursday evening Movie Discussion after Maariv
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This the first in the series of our Thursday night movie discussions. We will post the movie ahead of time for you watch on your own and then join us for an hour discussion after Maariv.
"Blinded by the Light" takes place in England in 1987. Javed, teenager from an Asian family, learns to live his life, understand his family and find his own voice through the music of American rock star Bruce Springsteen.
Available on HBO
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LOG IN INFORMATION FOR JCC PROGRAMS CAN BE FOUND
ON THE JCC WEB SITE
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.JCC WOMENS AUXILIARY: BOOK GROUP DISCUSSION
THE 3RD WEDNESDAY, AT 4:00 PM
Rashi's Daughters (3 book series) by
THE AUTHOR WILL BE JOINING US FOR THE NOV. 18
AND JANUARY 16 DISCUSSION
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In this novel, the year is 1068, and Rashi, a Jewish scholar is secretly teaching Talmud to his daughters. The oldest daughter, Joheved, has a passion for learning, but must keep it a secret in the medieval Jewish world. This story is based on the lives of real people.
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The second novel in a dramatic trilogy set in eleventh-century France about the lives and loves of three daughters of the great Talmud scholar
Rashi’s middle daughter, Miriam, is determined to bring new life safely into the Troyes Jewish community and becomes a midwife. As devoted as she is to her chosen path, she cannot foresee the ways in which she will be tested and how heavily she will need to rely on her faith. With Rashi's Daughters, author Maggie Anton brings the Talmud and eleventh-century France to vivid life and poignantly captures the struggles and triumphs of strong Jewish women.
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Wednesday, Jan. 20 at 4:00 PM
The dramatic final book in the epic historical trilogy about the lives and loves of the three daughters of the great Talmud scholar Rashi
Rachel is the youngest and most beautiful daughter of medieval Jewish scholar Salomon ben Isaac, or "Rashi." Her father's favorite and adored by her new husband, Eliezer, Rachel's life looks to be one of peaceful scholarship, laughter, and love. But events beyond her control will soon threaten everything she holds dear. Marauders of the First Crusade massacre nearly the entire Jewish population of Germany, and her beloved father suffers a stroke. Eliezer wants their family to move to the safety of Spain, but Rachel is determined to stay in France and help her family save the Troyes yeshiva, the only remnant of the great centers of Jewish learning in Europe.
ORDER YOUR BOOK NOW AND START READING TODAY!
Click here to purchase all 3 books in the series on Amazon. Click here to go to the Ocean County Library. A zoom link will be sent shortly before the event.
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Ocean County’s Jewish Virtual University!
As part of our efforts to connect members of the Jewish community with each other and with great Jewish opportunities, The Ocean County Jewish Federation is pleased to present this array of interesting, exciting, and meaningful learning opportunities from great Rabbis in our community, as well as some phenomenal educational resources from Israel.
Take a class, get connected, and support our Jewish community!
Here is the link for list of classes and to register.
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Rabbi Jay will be teaching a course entitled "Jewish Values in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict". Explore different attitudes towards the conflict through a study of Jewish narratives about Israel and the unpacking of the complex meanings of peace in Jewish tradition.
6 Tuesdays starting Nov. 10 at 8 PM.
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IF YOU HAVE A YARZEIT AND WANT TO SAY KADISH, JOIN THE RABBI FOR SERVICES SUNDAY - FRIDAY MORNING AT 8:15 to 8:45 AND EVENINGS SUNDAY - THURSDAY AT 7:30 to 7:45. SEE THE LINKS BELOW.
Ada G. Bass*
Bertrand Berman
Joseph Levin
Bess Silver
Laura Ziegeler
Claire Gottlin
George Medvin
Gilbert Tebeleff
Helene Geier
Martin Samwick
Elaine Cameron
Alex Hirsch
David Plotkin
Joseph Sherman
Max Silver
Manuel Smith*
Rhea Britz*
Gladys Krechovitz*
Abraham Lazar
Evelyn B. Sholin
Paul Starr
Jerome Szanger*
Harold Eiser
Mildred Greenwald*
Ernst Halpern
Yetta Houzman
Glen Medvin*
Claire Seavey
Irving Shapiro
Eli Starr, MD
Sophie Ehrlich
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Peter Smith
November 7
Harold Farin
November 10
Amy Schreer
November 12
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CONGREGATION NEWS
CONDOLENCES TO
JEFF SUSSMAN
on the loss of his father
Sydney Sussman
Click here to read about this amazing Trentonian
"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."
SHARE YOUR NEWS
AND PICTURES
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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The LBI Branch of Ocean County Library will be interviewing
author Susannah Marren
(Susan Shapiro Barash)
on November 12 at 5:30 PM.
This program is brought to the library community with the support of the Friends of the Island Library.
On the day of the event, click this link to sign into the virtual program.
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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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PLEASE LET THE OFFICE KNOW YOUR "WINTER" MAILING ADDRESS.
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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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