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JEWISH COMMUNITY
CENTER OF
LONG BEACH ISLAND
E-LETTER
October 16, 2024
14 Tishri 5785
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FOR THE BEST VIEWING OF THE SHABBAT REMINDER,
CLICK HERE
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A MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI
We had meaningful and moving services this year during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Because of all of that happened in the last year, this was not an easy year to prepare for the holidays. But you all helped to make it right. I have the unique privilege of viewing the congregation from many vantage points. I watched each of you from the Bimah, I saw you as I walked around during services, I saw your faces on Zoom, and I saw you as we wished each other Shanah Tovah at the end of services. There was holiness in the way you looked at your machzors, in the way you looked at me on the Bimah, in the way you followed the Torah with your gaze, and the way you listened to the Shofar. Cantor Geller and I both felt an increased sense of holiness from each of you. You did a great job!!
Now we move on to the joyous holiday of Sukkot. As I am writing this, our Sukkah is being built. There are many reasons for building and dwelling in a Sukkah on the Holiday of Sukkot. The first reason is that the Torah specifically tells us to “live in Sukkahs for 7 days…in order that future generations will know that [G-d] made the Israelite people live in Sukkahs when [G-d] brought them out of the land of Egypt…”
What is the purpose of sitting in the Sukkah? Let’s take a look at a few commentators. The first is from Isaac Aboab a 14th century Talmudic scholar living in Spain. He said:
The commandment to dwell in the Sukkah is intended to teach us that a person must not put his/her trust in the size or strength or salutary conveniences of his house, even though it is filled with the best of everything; nor should he/she rely on the help of any person, even if that person is the lord of the land. But let him/her put trust in G-d whose word called the universe into being, for G-d alone is mighty and faithful, and G-d does not retract what G-d promises. (Menorat Ha-Maor 3.6.1)
Rashbam (Samuel Ben Maier, 12th century France) taught that the Sukkah was about humility. He said in his commentary to Leviticus 23:43 the following:
Do not say in your heart, “My own power and the might of my own hand have won this wealth for me” (Deuteronomy 8:17); you should remember that it is the Lord your G-d who gives you strength to make progress. Therefore, the people leave [their] houses, which are full of everything good, at the season of the ingathering, and dwell in booths, as a reminder of those who had no possessions in the wilderness and no houses in which to live. For this reason, the Holy One established the Feast of the Tabernacles…..[so] that the people should not be proud of their well-furnished houses.
Rashi (10th century France) said that the walls of each Sukkah were actually G-d’s “cloud of glory”, i.e. The cloud that led the Israelites through the desert. Thus, even though the walls may seem fragile, they are capable of providing protection.
As a harvest holiday, residing in the Sukkah helps us to commune with the natural environment around us.
The 7 days of dwelling in the Sukkah may represent the shift from our “near-death” experience on Yom Kippur and our reintroduction back into the return to the world. The Sukkah thus becomes a weigh station between that experience and the real world.
While the Sukkah experience is unique and fun, it is not always comfortable. In fact, we find ourselves living outside just as the weather is beginning to turn crisp and the wind may be blowing. Our senses are heightened to our surroundings. We hear the wind, we hear the sounds of the outside. Some of us sneeze from the musty smell. While we are tuned into the beauty of our surroundings, we are also, on some level, made cognizant of the fragility of life.
If you do not have a Sukkah of your own, please come and sit in the JCC’s beautiful Sukkah. You should call ahead to let us know when you are planning to come by!!
Join us for services this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday mornings at 9:00 and join us for lunch in the Sukkah.
The Beach, the Sukkah, the Tradition, and the fun of a relaxed time together make this a great time of year!!
Shabbat Shalom and Moadim L’Simcha – Rabbi Michael S. Jay
THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO MADE THE HIGH HOLIDAYS SO SPECIAL...
Rabbi Jay and Cantor Gefen -
What a team!!!
Stu Lehrer, Ritual Chair, and his committee for their attention to all that is needed to have a safe and meaningful Holiday service
Harold Farin and his Ushers for seating everyone so smoothly
Cliff Denker and the JCC Greeters for welcoming everyone so warmly
The LBT Police Department for their diligence in keeping us safe
All the people who had aliyahs, honors and readings for coming on time and participating so joyfully.
Stu Lehrer for his thrilling shofar blowing.
Cliff Denker and Howard Babbitt, our technical crew, for being there to solve any problems.
All those who donated food items for the Break Fast and to Jon Geier for making sure it happened.
Our office staff - Leslie, Mary Beth and Diane -for all their support.
Irene and Michael Babst for admitting our zoomers into our services
And to all who joined us in person and on Zoom for a memborable High Holiday at the JCC of LBI.
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CHAG SAMEACH
&
SHABBAT SHALOM
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Candle Lighting Time
Erev Sukkot I
Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024
5:58 PM
Erev Sukkot II
Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024
6:55 PM
Shabbat Eve
Friday. Oct. 18, 2024
5:55 PM
JOIN US FOR
SERVICES
Erev Sukkot I
Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024
at 7:30 PM
ZOOM ONLY
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to join
Zoom services
WEDNESDAY NIGHT
SUKKOT I
Thursday, Oct. 17
at 9:00 AM
IN PERSON AND
ON ZOOM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to join
Zoom services
THURSDAY MORNING
Erev Sukkot II
Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024
at 7:30 PM
ZOOM ONLY
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to join
Zoom services
THURSDAY NIGHT
SUKKOT II
Friday, Oct.18, 2024
at 9:00 AM
IN PERSON AND
ON ZOOM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to join
Zoom services
FRIDAY MORNING
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SHABBAT
SERVICES
Friday, Oct. 18, 2024
7:30 PM
ON ZOOM ONLY
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to join Services
on Zoom
FRIDAY NIGHT
Saturday,
Friday, Oct. 19, 2024
9:00 AM
IN PERSON AND ON ZOOM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to join
Zoom services
SHABBAT
FOR TORAH PORTIONS AND HAFTORAHS
CLICK HERE
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WEEKDAY SERVICES
Sunday - Thursday
Ma'ariv Service
7:30 PM
Here is your invitation from Rabbi Jay to
join Zoom services:
MA'ARIV
Monday- Friday
Shacharit Service
8:15 AM
Sunday at 9:00 AM
Here is your invitation from Rabbi Jay to
join Zoom services:
SHACHARIT
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SH'MINI ATZERET
AND
SIMCHAT TORAH
SERVICE SCHEDULE
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Sh’mini Atzeret -
Yizkor Recited
Thursday, October 24, 2024
at 9:00 AM
Erev Simchat Torah
Friday, October 25, 2024
at 6:00 PM
Simchat Torah
Friday, October 25, 2024
at 9:00 AM
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THE PLANE HAS LANDED
Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's 50/50 Raffle. The final total collected for the raffle $15,138 with the JCC portlion $7,569
HERE ARE THE WINNERS:
1ST PRIZE: 60% - Irene Babst
2ND PRIZE: 30% - Marnie Dratch
3RD PRIZE: 10% - Andrea Seidler
Thank you to Diane Hoffman for piloting our Raffle Plane and guiding it to a successful landing.
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Handing water out at the 18-Mile Run: Cliff Farin, Ira Morganthal, Ina Morganthal, Mikey Gatto, Karen Shatz, David Shatz, Harold Farin, Eve Lehrer, Stu Lehrer , Elaine Thomas, Ron Marr, Len Small, Sheila Small, Sheri Jay, Syl Horowitz, and Art Gelman | | |
Decorating the Sukkah: Ruth Turner, Lora Klein, Joan Stern, Noralyn Carroll, Karen Shatz | | |
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DANCING THROUGH TEARS
We are very proud to be participating in this program.
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Pictured above is the front of the Torah Cover, one of our Torahs with the special cover and the inscription on the back of the mantle designating Ariel Reich as the fallen hero we are honoring and remembering here at the JCC. | |
ABOUT ARIEL REICH.....
Capt. Ariel Reich, 24, an ambitious combat officer in the Armored Brigade, 77th Battalion, was killed, along with fourteen other soldiers, during battles in northern Gaza on October 31.
During intense fighting, his team’s armored personnel carrier was hit by an anti-tank missile fired at them. At the start of the fighting, Ariel, who was from Jerusalem, had been taking a platoon commander’s course. He returned to his battalion and served as a deputy platoon commander.
Just before the war began, Ariel proposed to Noa, his partner, and the couple celebrated their engagement with their families.
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SUNDAY, October 20
Pickleball
Lunch in Sukkah
12:00 Noon
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TUESDAY, October 22
Pickleball
Boscov Shopping Day
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WEDNESDAY, October 23
Canasta & Mah Jongg
12:30 PM
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THURSDAY, October 24
NO Pickleball
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Sunday, October 20
WAX Brunch in the Sukkah
12:00 Noon
Tuesday, October 22
Boscov Shopping Day
Beginning Thursday, October 31
Davening & Duchaning Class
with Stu
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Friday, November 1
Trip to Stockton Holocaust Center
Sunday, November 3
PJP Travel Series
Jewish Ethiopia
1:00 PM
Thursday, November 7
Singles, Widows and Widowers Meeting
3:00 PM
Thursday, November 14
PJP Israel Series
“Between Arabic and Hebrew: Mizrahi Culture in Israel”
8:30 PM
Friday, November 15
WAX Brunch at Jersey Girls
11:00 AM
Sunday, November 17
Barnegat Light Museum Lecture
2:00 PM
Wednesday, November 20
WAX Book Club
4:00 PM
Thursday, November 21
PJP John Kendrick Series
Danny Kay
8:30 PM
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I will be leading a discussion on the very popular Netflix series "Noboby Wants This" at our Sukkah brunch. The ten episode series follows the unexpected relationship between an irascible, loud, agnostic woman and a rogue rabbi.
See you there.....Rose Valentine
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JCC WOMEN’S AUXILIARY: BOOK GROUP DISCUSSION
WEDNESDAYS AT 4:00 PM
NEXT BOOK REVIEW MEETING
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NEXT BOOK REVIEW MEETING
Wednesday, November 20th at 4:00 pm
Discussion Leader: TBA
The Little Liar
By: Mitch Albom
Eleven-year-old Nico Krispis has never told a lie. His schoolmate, Fannie, loves him because of it. Nico’s older brother Sebastian resents him for both these facts.When their young lives are torn apart during the war, it will take them decades to find each other again. Nico’s innocence and goodness is used against his tightly knit community when a German officer barters Nico’s reputation for honesty into a promise to save his loved ones. When Nico realizes the consequences of the betrayal, he can never tell the truth again. He will spend the rest of this life changing names, people he loves most. Albom’s extraordinary storytelling is at its powerful best in his first novel to confront the destruction that lying can wreak both on the world stage as well as on the individual lives that get caught up in it. As The Stranger in the Lifeboat spoke to belief, The Little Liar speaks to hope, in a breathless page-turner that will break your heart open and fill it with the power of the human spirit and the goodness that lies within us all. Narrated by the voice of Truth itself, The Little Liar is a timeless story about the power of love to ultimately redeem us, no matter how deeply we blame ourselves for our mistakes.
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The following names will be read by the Rabbi on Friday evening:
Lena Greenwald*
Elaine Hirsch*
Mildred Berman
Selma Blacker*
Daniel Glass
Helen Karp
Ethel Tarlow
Bertrand Berman
Saul Celnik
Doris Farin*
Lynn Kamler Levi*
Milton Litt
Pauline Sherman
Samuel Hoffman
Margaret Nudel
Milton Seavey
Casper Ungar*
Judith Blumberg
Rose Goldstein*
Marcia Nelson*
Lenore Traster*
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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Dana Newborn
October 20
Diane Tucker
October 21
Samuel Halperin
October 22
Carol Hartman
October 22
Alan Turtz
October 22
Ann Beckerman
October 23
Patricia Aresty
October 24
Jonathan Fingerhut
October 24
Leonard Small
October 24
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Arthur & Ninette Steinberg
October 19
44th Anniversary
David & Lenore Forsted
October 20
56th Anniversary
Stephen & Barbara Pyles
October 20
34th Anniversary
Steven & Eileen Powitz
October 22
58th Anniversary
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SHARE YOUR NEWS
AND PICTURES
CONTACT:
rvalen1963@aol.com
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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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YOU CAN NOW FILL OUT A GIVING FORM AND PAY ON LINE IN ONE SIMPLE PROCESS.
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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
Herb and Selma z”l Shapiro established the first individual Endowment Fund in memory of his father, as part of the JCC’s Endowment Fund portfolio.
Since then, three additional individual Endowment Funds have been established. Other members are encouraged to also provide for the future of our JCC by establishing similar funds. Please consider adding to this number.
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 named funds will be joined together to be part of the Endowment Fund portfolio.
Endowment funds are necessary to ensure the continuation and well being of our congregation. All members are encouraged to help this important effort by contributing to this portfolio, whether as a specific named individual fund, or as a general donation. The donation can be spread over one, two, or three years, and can be paid via check, donation of appreciated stock, wills, or from the RMD of your IRA or 401K account. 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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2024 MEMBERSHIP FORMS
Your support is so important to the continued success of the JCC.
Here is form for renewal:
RENEW NOW
And if you have been reading our Shabbat Reminder and other communications and have not yet joined our congregation, here is the new member form:
JOIN NOW
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JCC FUNDS
Your gift to the JCC supports 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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JCC LEADERSHIP
OFFICERS
President- Phil Rosenzweig
1ST Vice President-Sherry Fruchterman
2ND Vice President-Diane Hoffman
3RD Vice President- Jon Geier
Treasurer- Stu Cofsky
Secretary- Cliff Denker
Immediate Past President -Michael Babst
BOARD MEMBERS
Howard Babbitt
Diane Buskirk
Lorna Klein
Paul Levine
Ken Podos
Sondi Pripstein
Terri Robinovitz
Bonni Rubin-Sugarman
Rose Valentine
Ken Yudman
WOMEN'S AUXILIARY
President - Diane Buskirk
Co-Vice President - Noralyn Carroll
Co-Vice President - Jill Denker
Treasurer - Suzy Geier
Secretary - Joanne Babbitt
Immediate Past President - Irene Babst
Representative to the Board - Sondi Pripstein
Rabbi Michael S. Jay, Spiritual Leader
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