A MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI |
I love the Torah's "Joseph" story. It contains equal amounts of very real human behavior (good and bad), and divine action. Does the Torah wish us to focus on the human drama, or on God's overall plan? The linchpin to this question occurs early in the story.
After we learn that Joseph is Jacob's favorite son and that his brothers despise him for this fact (and for his tattling and dreaming ways), Jacob sends Joseph to search for his brothers and to bring back a report of their activities. (At the outset one must wonder how Jacob could, knowing that the brothers do not like Joseph, actually send his favored son to check on them. But this is a subject to be written about or discussed at another time.)
The Torah reports that Joseph was searching for his brothers in a field when a "man" found him wandering. Joseph asked the man if he knew where his brothers were and the man advised him that he heard them say that they were heading to Dothan. Joseph then goes to see his brothers, and it is there that he is thrown in a pit and subsequently sold as a slave in Egypt. The rest of the story then unfolds in all its narrative glory. (Come to Torah study or services this week and the few weeks to follow to hear the remainder of the story. If you cannot come to the JCC, then read the story in your Chumash, or on-line. If you don't want to read the story, rent a copy of "Joseph and Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat". It is not the Torah story word-for-word, but it is close and the music is great.) At any rate, I have digressed from my main point.....
Let's get back to the "man" who mysteriously shows up to tell Joseph where his brothers are. Our great commentators questioned who, or what, this "man" was. Was he a man sent by God? Was he an angel sent by God? Or, was he a man who just happened to be there by chance, without any divine intervention?
Good arguments can be made for either of the choices; however, one truth remains certain. Without that man in the field, the story does not move forward. For this, he needs to be acknowledged. Without this stranger's input, Joseph does not end up in Egypt, Egypt is not saved from famine, Jacob and his family are not invited to stay in Egypt, the Israelites do not become slaves, God does not redeem those slave, and those slaves do not become a nation in a land given to them by God.
Answering the question I posed in the first paragraph, I think that the ambiguity between human action or divine intervention may be the point. Sometimes an angel is an angel, a human is a human, an angel is a human, or a human is an angel. What matters is not what the "being" in question is. Rather, what matters is that at that moment, when needed, the "being" is present, and helps.
The Joseph story moves forward in all of its pageantry because of the "man" in the field. From the seemingly innocuous action of one human/angel telling a young boy where his brothers are, a life is, and lives are, changed and history gets placed on a course that will end up with the creation of the nation of Israel. Can one person really have such an impact? In short, yes.
Look into your own life and you will recognize that individual who changed your story. Consider that individual without whom your life would have been different. Was it a person? Was it an angel? Did the person/angel appear in your life due to divine intervention? It does not matter. What matters is that the person/angel was there.
I raise this issue now because we appear to be living in an increasingly difficult time for Jewish Americans. A cursory view of daily news reports and recent surveys shows a dramatic increase in anti-Semitic activity. This activity is both symbolic, e.g. swastikas being painted, etched, or drawn in locations across the country, and physical, e.g., attacks on Jewish people. This evil activity is coming from both the right and left sides of the political spectrum. This has also manifested itself in the increased ant-Israel/anti-Semitic activity that has been steadily growing on our college and university campuses.
While I am taking the position that we must vigilantly combat all of this anti-Semitic activity, as we enter into the Hanukkah season, I want to make sure that we remember that there are good people out there. People who care, people who help, and people who are loving. They are the people who somehow magically show up just when you need them. They have helped me, they have helped you, they have helped others, and they have helped the world.
On Hanukkah they are represented by the Shamash candle, the candle that lights all of the other candles. Without the Shamash, the other candles don't get the chance to brighten the world.
Is the man in the Joseph story a human or an angel? He could be one, the other, both, or neither. Either way, he is the person who made sure that the light that we call our "nation" was lit.
Look for, and recognize, each Shamash in your life.
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Urim Sameach - Rabbi Michael S. Jay
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KOL HAKAVOD CAMPAIGN
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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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LET'S PLAY DREYDEL
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HOW TO PLAY THE DREYDEL GAME
Any number of players can play dreydel. The dreydel is a four-sided top with the Hebrew letters, nun, gimel, hay, and shin on it. These letters stand for Nais Godol Hoyoh Shom - "A Great Miracle Happened There." Each player puts a penny, candy, or nut into the "pot" and then, in turn, spins the top. The Hebrew character at which the dreydel stops determines the results.
If nun is on the top, the player receives nothing from the pot.
If gimel is on the top, the player receives all of the pot.
If hey is on the top, the player gets half of the pot.
If shin is on the top, the player puts back one item into the pot.
The game is over when one player has managed to get the whole pot.
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THE WEEK THAT WAS...
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Thank you to Debra Falek for joining Rabbi Jay last Tuesday at SOMC as they went around visiting patients with the Chanukah story.
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STUDYING ANTI-SEMITISM
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"The History of Anti-Semitism from Torah to Today": A three-session study with Rabbi Jay.
Sunday, January 5 at 10:00 AM at the home of Rose & Rudy Valentine
Sunday, February 9 at 10:00 AM at the home of Irene & Michael Jay
Tuesday, March 24 7:00 PM at the home of Diane & Ron Buskirk
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MAH JONGG & CANASTA
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Mah jongg & Canasta
Wednesdays from
12:30 to 4:00 PM
NO CANASTA/MAH JONGG
THIS WEEK
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CHAVERAH GROUP
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Fourteen Tickets to the Notorious RBG Exhibit on January 10th at 12:00. at the National Museum of American Jewish History have been purchased for those who responded. Thank you to Suzie Geier for making the arrangements. Details to follow for travel arrangements.
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TD AFFINITY PROGRAM
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Easy money!
Do you have an account with TD Bank?
You can contribute to the JCC without it costing you a cent. TD Bank will pay us on the number of accounts in our TD Affinity Club. There is no minimum number of members. We automatically receive $10 for every checking account and .01% of the balance on Savings Accounts. In addition we receive $50 for any new accounts. This is strictly confidential and the JCC does not know the amount in any of the accounts.
Think about joining this program and helping the JCC to reap the benefits.
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GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
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YEAR END CONTRIBUTION
Members and friends of the JCC who have an IRA and are 70 1/2 years of age or older
can direct some or all of their required minimum distribution (up to $100,000) to the JCC of LBI and avoid paying taxes on the amount contributed. Charitable contributions can only be made from IRAs not 401 (K)s or similar types of retirement accounts. You do not need to itemize your taxes in order to make an IRA charitable contribution as long as the contribution is sent from the IRA directly to the charity, A direct contribution will reduce the taxable portion of the IRA. However, as you are not being taxed on the amount you cannot claim it as a tax deduction as well. Qualified charitable contributions must be made by December 31 each year in order to exclude that amount from taxable income.
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.
SEND ONE OF OUR TRIBUTES IN HONOR OR IN MEMORY OF
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.
TREE OF LIFE
Add a leaf (leaves) to our beautiful Tree of Life located in the Social Hall. See the order form here:
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-service congregation to serve the Jewish people of the area.
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.
Judith z"l & Donald Pripstein have joined the Shapiros with a $50,000 donation and have established The Pripstein Family Endowment Fund.
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: PLAQUES
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BULLETIN ADS
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Please contact the JCC Office (609-492-4090) if you would like to place an ad in the Bulletin
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NAME BADGES
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If you did not order a name tag, we will be putting in another order. Here is the link for the form to order your name tag: BADGES
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JCC INFORMATION
THE OFFICE IS LOCATED AT
2411 Long Beach Boulevard (24th Street)
Spray Beach, NJ 08008
ENTER THE BUILDING DURING OFFICE HOURS
THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR.
FOR HANDICAPPED ENTRANCE
PRESS THE ENTRY BUTTON ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ENTRANCE FOR ADMITTANCE.
Mailing Address:
2411 Long Beach Blvd.
Spray Beach, NJ 08008
Telephone: 609-492-4090
FAX: 609-492-7550
OFFICE HOURS
Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9 AM to 1:30 PM
Mary Beth, Tony and Leslie
Office Staff:
Leslie Dinkfelt, Office Manager
Mary Beth Krieger, Staff Member
Tony DeGregorio, Custodial Staff
Kitchen Manager
Susan Berube
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Rabbi Michael S. Jay
Michael Babst, President
mjbofjcclbi@gmail.com
VIEW THE NOV/DEC/JAN BULLETIN
with this link
E-mail Editor: Rose Valentine
"Like" Us on Facebook: Search for Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island and make sure the JCC of LBI: The Place to Be icon shown above shows up
or cut and paste:
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NEXT WEEK'S EVENTS
12/20 -12/27
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Wednesday
Visit to SOCM
10:30 AM
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SHABBAT SHALOM
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December 20, 2019
4:17 PM
Friday evening
December 20, 2019
SHABBAT
CHANUKAH DINNER
"Latkes & LoMein"
6:30 pm
followed by services
Rabbi's Talk
will include Hanukkah fun
Saturday
December 21, 2019
9:00 AM
Torah Study
10:00 AM
Services
Please help us create a special atmosphere by not using electronic devices (phones, cameras, games etc) in or around the synagogue on Shabbat
and Holidays. No food or drink is permitted in the sanctuary.
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HOLIDAY STUFF
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HOLIDAY SHOP
at the JCC
Mon/Wed/Fri
9:00 - 1:00
Chanukah decorations, candles, menorahs, books, dreidels
Wednesday
December 25
Annual visit to SOMC patients with
poinsettias
and holiday greetings
MEET AT THE HOSPITAL LOBBY AT 10:30 am
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YAHRZEITS FOR NEXT WEEK
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These names will be
read at services on
December 20, 2019
Phyllis Schwartz
Albert Goldberg*
Emil Goldstein*
Charles Barsh
Helen Eisen
Ray Farin
Jack Newman*
John Patrician
Charles M. Ross
Saul Hurwitz
Leanore S. Klein*
Jerome Odenheimer*
Stella Pervin*
Temi Saivetz
Philip Schleifer
Samuel Tucker
Rachel Cherins
Herman Glassman*
Sol Grossman
Joseph Blumenthal*
Arnold Schwartz
Marcia Yankowitz
Shari Zalkind*
Stanley Antonoff
Nathan Shapiro
Harvey Sherman
Joseph Valentine*
PLEASE LET THE OFFICE KNOW WHEN YOU WILL NEED A MINYAN TO SAY KADDISH.
* Yahrzeit Plaque - These names are lovely enshrined on our synagogue
memorial boards.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY
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Ronald Rosner
December 21
Bernard Barrish
December 22
Sheila Weisel
December 22
Beverly Miller
December 23
Craig Israelite
December 24
Donna Silverman
December 24
Ninette Steinberg
December 24
Richard Feldgus
December 25
Lynn Levitt
December 25
Debra Belena
December 26
Marsha Chazin
December 26
Carol Koransky
December 26
Mark Rosenbloom
December 26
Howard Tomar
December 26
Shelly Roseff
December 27
Stuart Steigerwald
December 27
If you have not given the office your birthday information and would like to receive birthday wishes, please notify the office of your date of birth.
And if you would like to have the Rabbi give you or a family member a special blessing on the Shabbat of your/their birthday, please let him know: RABBI
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CONGREGATION
NEWS
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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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CHOLENT SHABBATS
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Join us for our two scheduled "Cholentfest" dates, January 25th and February 22nd. Both days are Saturdays. We will have Torah study and/or services and then have cholent for lunch.
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CELEBRATE A MILESTONE AT THE JCC
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The JCC is a beautiful place to celebrate a milestone: wedding, anniversary, baby naming, birthday.
Contact the office for further information. 609-492-4090
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JCC COOKBOOKS
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Looking for a house gift for Thanksgiving, a Chanukah present or just enjoy trying new recipes? The JCC cookbook is available for $10 per book.
CHANUKAH LATKES (Potato Pancakes)
5 large potatoes, peeled
1 large onion
3 eggs
½ c. flour
1 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
¾ cup oil for frying
Grate potatoes and onion on the fine side of a grater or in a food processor, or put in a blender in a little water. Strain potatoes and onion through a colander, pressing out the excess water. Add eggs, flour, and seasonings. Mix well. Heat ½ cup of oil in skillet. Lower flame and place 1 large tablespoon batter at a time into sizzling oil and fry on one side for about 5 minutes until golden brown. Turn over and fry on other side 2-3 minutes. Remove from pan and place on paper towels to drain off excess oil. Continue until all batter is used, adding more oil if needed. Serves with applesauce. Serves 4 -6.
From "Best Kitchens of LBI" published and available at the JCC of LBI
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SPONSOR AN ONEG SHABBAT
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SPONSOR
an Oneg Shabbat
on Friday night
with a $36.00
minimum contribution
See this form for details
ONEG
Call the JCC Office to reserve a date.
609-492-4090
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SPONSOR A KIDDUSH
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We are proud to announce the establishment of the
Zena Jay Kiddush Fund
in memory of Rabbi Jay's mother
Those who want to sponsor a kiddish or would like to donate to the fund, can contact the office at 609-492-4090
For information about
sponsoring a Kiddush
SEE DONATION & MENU:
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DOCUMENTS AND LINKS |
JUST CLICK AND YOU'RE THERE!!! LATEST BULLETIN: BULLETIN WEB SITE: JCC WEB SITE MEMBERSHIP FORMS MEMBERSHIP PAVERS: PAVERS TREE OF LIFE TREE YAHRZEIT PLAQUE FORM: PLAQUE KOL HAKAVOD DONATION FORM KOL HAKAVOD ONEG SHABBAT SPONSOR: ONEG KIDDISH SPONSOR: KIDDISH |
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