Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island E-Letter
December 18, 2020
10 Tevet 5781
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A MESSAGE FROM
RABBI JAY
In Vayigash, this week’s Torah portion, Joseph finally reveals himself to his brothers. It is a very emotional moment in the Torah narrative; one literally highlighted with hugging, crying, and kissing. But in order to get the full impact of the reconnection of the brothers, we need to roll the scroll back to the very beginning of the Joseph story.
In Parashat Vayesihev (chapter 37) we meet Joseph when he is 17 years old. He is his father’s favorite and his brothers hate him so much that they “cannot speak a friendly word to him”(37:4). It is at this point that matters get worse and, ultimately, Joseph is thrown in a pit and sold into slavery.
By the time the brothers are all in Egypt for this unscheduled reunion, Joseph is 39 years old. For 22 years the brothers have not spoken a friendly word. The estrangement ends at 45:15, after Joseph reveals himself and kisses and cries with all of his brothers.
At this point we are told that “…only then were his brothers able to talk to him”. And this is a key to the story. “They cannot speak a friendly word to him” only ends here. It is 22 years (8 chapters) of not speaking.
I have known families (and friends) who, for one reason or another, have stopped talking. Usually, it is painful. Sometimes it is destructive. Sometimes they do not even remember why they are not talking. It is always sad.
In the Joseph story the failure to speak ultimately leads to the brothers being emotionally capable of throwing Joseph into a pit.
What does it mean for Joseph that his brothers are now able to talk to him? Does it heal old wounds? Does it erase a painful past?
Most certainly the answer to these questions is “no”. But it does mean that they can move forward. They can reunite. They can try not to make the same mistakes.
In the case of Joseph and his brothers, the reunification leads to good things. The move to Egypt is good for the Jacob and his family. They get good land and they grow and prosper. All is good. Well, all is good until a new Pharaoh comes to Egypt. But that is another story.
Shabbat shalom – Rabbi Michael S. Jay
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Candle Lighting Time
Friday evening,
December 25, 2020
4:20 PM
(So. Ocean County NJ)
JOIN US FOR SERVICES
ON ZOOM
Friday evening
December 25, 2020
6:00 PM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to
Join Zoom Services
Saturday morning
December 26, 2020
Torah Study
9:00 AM
Services
10:00 AM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to
Join Zoom Services
Torah Portion
Parashat Vayigash.
Genesis 44:18-47:27
Here is the Parshah
Haftorah
Ezekiel 37:15 - 37:28
Here is the Haftorah:
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Havdallah
Saturday
December 26, 2020
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:
NO SERVICE 1/1
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Rabbi's classes will resume 1/4 (Family Dynamics) and 1/7 (Torah Study)
THURSDAY 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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THE WEEK THAT WAS...
We are so proud of our two members who were honored at the Federation Community of Caring Celebration last Thursday evening -
Lenore Forsted and Dr. Max Scheer.
If you missed the program, the video is available on the Federation web site. Click on this: CARING
The WAX get together last Monday night gave the women of the JCC a chance to get to know each other as well as share some ideas on how to keep active and engaged during the pandemic. Recipes, crafts, exercise and other activities were shared. Look for more information about the WAX activities in the near future. Thank you to Noralyn Carroll for moderating the evening.
Please feel free to forward an ideas, recipes etc. to be shared in future Shabbat Reminders.
PLACES TO WALK - EVEN IN THE WINTER
TWO PLACES TO STROLL ON LBI
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HIDEAWAY BAY NATURE TRAIL - BEACH HAVEN GARDENS
The short trail loops its way from the Boulevard to the Bay through varied vegetation including holly strands and Japanese black pine.
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BARNEGAT LIGHT - W. 12th STREET
A. Jerome Walnut Nature Trail.
0.25 miles total one way but you can extend it over the dunes. Benches along the way to sit and enjoy the view.
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BARNEGAT BRANCH TRAIL - 11.5 miles
Walk and bike trails with various points of access. Southern most point is from the southern trailhead parking lot at Railroad Avenue in Barnegat Township.
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Forsythe Refuge
Environmental Trail
on Cedar Bonnet Island
Access and Parking on the East Bound side between last two bridges going to the island.
1.5 miles of gravel looping trails. Benches along the way.
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WALK THE MANAHAWKIN BRIDGE
There are various spots to park and sidewalks to walk onto the various bridges connecting to the mainland. At the western most bridge there is a walkway that takes you under the bridge and onto the mainland.
Photo taken by a friend
under the bridge at just the right time.
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JCC WOMENS AUXILIARY: BOOK GROUP DISCUSSION
THE 3RD WEDNESDAY, AT 4:00 PM
CONTINUES....
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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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THIS WEEK'S YAHRZEITS
The following names will be read at Friday night services.
Alex Birnbaum*
John M. Furman
Eva Kaplan
Gertrude Rifkin
Larry Zwillman
Benjamin Goodman*
Joseph Martin*
Howard Paitchel
Bernice Shechtman
Bertha Goldstein
Richard Kirsh
Hillary Levine
Joshua Scharf
Mildred Tittelbaum
Morrie Baker
Bonnie Joy Farin*
Sidney Gottlieb
Martin Kader
Solomon Rosenstein
Gil Ross
Jacob Weill*
Frances Berson
Lise Polishook
Ethel Rosenberg
Sam Rosenberg
Esther Sheparde
Florence Cohen Galer
Herb Morton
Phyllis Tanenbaum
Murray Weiner
Dora Chazin*
Samuel Cweibel
Mildred Epstein
Sydney R. Racusin
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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.
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MARCIE DEUTSCH
JENNIFER MILLNER
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KAREN SCHWING ON HER RETIREMENT
ANDY SCHWING ON HIS GRADUATION FROM STOCKTON UNIVERSITY
GRIFFIN VALENTINE ON HIS GRADUATION FROM
JOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITY
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Debra Belena
December 26
Marsha Chazin
December 26
Carol Koransky
December 26
Mark Rosenbloom
December 26
Shelly Roseff
December 27
Stuart Steigerwald
December 27
Joyce Levine
December 28
Carolyn Racusin
December 28
Barry Sherman
December 28
Natty Lapidus
December 29
Samuel Sisenwine
December 30
Joan Blattner
December 31
David Hamburger
January 1
Stephen Lishnoff
January 1
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SHARE YOUR NEWS
AND PICTURES
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Marcie Deutsch dressed in her Chanukah finery for a holiday party, Myrtle Beach SC |
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 Chairperso for a holiday party, Myrtle Beachn,
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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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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