|
A MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI
|
If you attended our Virtual Kabbalat Shabbat Beach Serice (AKA "VirKabShabbs") on Zoom last week, then you know how uplifting it was. What a gift it was to see so many folks dressed for the beach. What a treasure it was to see pictures of our LBI sand and surf. What a blessing it was to see live shots from the Bay. Many thanks to the David and Noralyn Carrol for the live feed and many of the photographs we saw. Thanks also go to Ted Leventhal for his photos as well.
Please join us this week as our good friend Rick Abrams and his
 |
|
|
Rabbi & Rick
Beach Service 2019 |
guitar join us to add some musical accompaniment to our service.
We are continuing to search for ways to connect, and to keep us connected. This brings us individual strength, but it also strengthens and brings vitality to our community. I continue to be amazed at how many join us for our services and programming and how each of you are willing to try new, and different, things. As always, reach out to me with your own ideas!
Now for a little Torah:
As I was reading Parashat Behar this week I became transfixed by the notion of the "Shmita" year, the requirement that every seventh year the land should be given a rest. Not just a rest, but a complete rest. No crops were to be planted and none were to be harvested. This notion of resting, of taking time to recharge the batteries, is so central to what God requires of the Jewish people that God highlights it by saying that even the land is entitled to a rest.
But if we are in charge of resting the land, who is in charge of making sure we rest? I ask this question because of my observations of people in today's world. My perception is that we do not know how to rest. When we were able to travel freely, to go out to dinner, to shop, and to walk, all without masks, how often did we permit ourselves the luxury of sitting and doing nothing? How often did we use the time to reflect? How often did we use the time to see what we should, or could, change?
I am forced to consider how our self-sheltering time now, relates to the Shmita year or, even, to Shabbat. Are we able to cast aside our, understandable, anxieties and use this time to actually "rest", or think, or reinvent, or change, or map out our future? Full confession from the Rabbi, I am finding it hard to do this. But what if we were able to take just a small piece of our current situation and look at it as a "Shabbat", a time to rest ourselves? What if we were to shed ourselves of some of the negativity of our past and to weave a more positive future, for us and for those around us? We could, perhaps, find in this hardship a small gift.
Our weekly rest has has provided us with an opportunity to step back and review; to take stock and revise. It is part of God's overall physical and mental health plan. Indeed, it is probably this recognition that enabled Asher Ginsberg (aka "Ahad Ha'am"), a poet and Zionist, to make his famous observation: "More than the Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat Has kept the Jews".
While the limitations set upon us are hard, I am looking for the small gifts embedded within the struggle. Seeing this as a, sort of , Shmita; a time of forced recharge, renewal, and reinvention, is one way to do this. Can you think of any other gifts?
My prayer this week is that God gives each of us the strength to use our rest wisely and to look for the very hidden gems embedded in the hard crust of this crisis.
Shabbat Shalom - Rabbi Michael S. Jay
PRAYER FOR PUTTING ON A MASK 
Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha-olam, asher keed'shanu b'meetzvotav, v'tzeevanu al sh'meerat ha-nefesh.
"Blessed are You Adonai our God, Sovereign of time and space, Who has provided us with a path to holiness through the observance of mitzvot, and commanded us about protecting life."
|
|
KOL HAKAVOD CAMPAIGN
|
|
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
|
|
ZOOM INVITATIONS THIS WEEK
|
Thursday, May 14 @ 7:30 PM
A Look at the film "Unorthodox" led by Rabbi Jay
Many folks while staying home have watched this film on Netflix.
It has been the subject of Zoom discussions throughout the Jewish community. For a companion piece to this film, see the documentary "One of Us" also on Netflix.
Click on ORTHODOX to join us for an interesting discussion
Kabbalat Shabbat Friday 5/15 @ 6:00 PM
Shabbat Services - Saturday 5/16 at 10:00 AM
Havdallah - Saturday 5/16 at 8:35 PM
Sunday, May 17 @ 7:30 PM 
A Look at the Film "Humor Me" starring Elliot Gould and written and directed by Sam Hoffman, son of JCC members Diane and the Honorable Barnett Hoffman.
Sam will be on Zoom with us to share his thoughts on the film and to answer any questions. He created the web series Old Jews Telling Jokes, which has been viewed over 50 million times, released on DVD, and broadcast on the BBC. His book, based on the series, is now in its sixth printing and the off-Broadway play derived from the series currently tours throughout North America.
The film can be seen on Amazon Prime if you have a Starzz subscription for free or can be rented for a small fee. There are limited free-trial offers available (just make sure you cancel it) as well as reasonable short-term offers to Starzz.
Click on this link to join us for a fun evening
Ma'ariv Services - Sunday-Thursday at 7:30 PM
Family Dynamics in Chumash Class (The Joseph Story) with Congregation Agudath Israel & the JCC of LBI
Monday, 5/18 @ 10:00 AM
"Psalm Day - Psalm Where - Some How"
Tuesday, 5/19 @ 1:00 PM
Ask the Rabbi
Wednesday, 5/20 @ 3:00 PM
Have a cup of tea or a cocktail with the Rabbi Wed. afternoon.
Weekly Torah Study - Pirkei Avot
Thursday, 5/21 @ 11:00 AM
|
|
THE WEEK THAT WAS...
|
|
Nearly 40 families joined us for our first ever virtual Shabbat on
 the Beach last Friday evening. WHAT FUN IT WAS!!! Folks in various beach attire sat in front of zoom backgrounds of the beach. Rabbi Jay led us with the Shabbat on the Beach service booklet in his "towel" tallit.
Noralyn & David Carroll were onsite reporters, actually going to the beach to give us
a report from Barnegat Light.
See the picture on the left.
It was not our usual Shabbat on the Beach experience but very enjoyable. No worry about rain, flies or sand in between your toes!!!!
|
|
WOMEN'S AUXILIARY
|
With all the uncertainties facing us in these times, it is important for our JCC community to retain and strengthen our traditions. One of our most cherished traditions as a New Year begins is honey... a taste of honey. The Women's Auxillary of the JCC of LBI is sponsoring
a program where you can send your loved ones - family, friends and colleagues - near and far, a jar of honey with a personalized New Year's greeting. Treat yourself and your family this New Year. Look for details soon.
|
|
|
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
THE OFFICE IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED.
PLEASE USE THE PHONE OR EMAIL WITH REQUESTS.
OUR OFFICE STAFF WILL BE CHECKING IN REGULARLY.
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
VIEW THE May/June
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:
|
|
|
|
SHABBAT SHALOM
Candle Lighting Time
(Southern Ocean County)
Friday evening,
May 15, 2020
7:47 PM
Friday evening,
May 15, 2020
6:00 PM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to
Join Zoom Services:
 Rick Abrams will be joining Rabbi Jay for a musical Kabbalat Shabbat
Saturday Morning
Service
Saturday,
May 16, 2020
10:00 AM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to
Join Zoom Services:
Torah Portion
Parashat Behar-Bechukotai.
Leviticus 25:1 - 27:34
Here is the Parshah:
Haftorah
Jeremiah 16:19 - 17:14
Here is the Haftorah:
Saturday,
May 16, 2020
8:45 PM
HAVDALLAH
 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:
MAARIV
|
|
YAHRZEITS FOR NEXT WEEK
|
|
Shelly Keller
Evelyn Rubinfeld
Walter Steigerwald
Mollie Bass*
Samuel Buznitsky
George Fuhrmann
Sylvia Greenspan
Clara Hoffman
Harvey Levin
Bernard Ostroff
Abraham Rosenfeld
Esther Rosenfeld
Howard Sherry*
Samuel Rosenweig
Elaine Berkowitz
Milton Britz*
Jerome Molbert*
Scott Paley
Joseph Tomar
Josephine Cramer
Dr. Harry Herman*
David Kaplan
Elizabeth Piwosky
Isador Rothstein
Bernice Szanger*
Abraham Joseph Kates*
Jerome Stanley Katz*
Herbert Kramer
Kate Alexander
Mark Babbitt
Richard Gardner, MD
Vera Lipman
Harry Solomon*
Judith Weinstein
Rabbi will read at Kabbalat Service
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.
|
|
CONGREGATION
NEWS
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
 Thanks to all our generous members and friends who donated to the JCC Corona Virus Fund.
We have collected $744.00.
The first donation will be to St. Francis Food Bank in the amount of $360.00.
Thank you to the Women's Auxiliary for coordinating the distribution of these funds.
|
|
GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
|
|
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
See order form here:
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:
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.
|
|
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
|
Lisa Abramson
May 16
Mark Schlossman
May 16
Barbara Sesso
May 16
Francine Braun
May 18
Susan Carson
May 18
Ina Telles
May 18
Allen Demby
May 21
Mitchell Freidberg
May 21
David Nelson
May 21
Carol Barsh
May 22
Lawrence Garb
May 22
Michael Miller
May 22
Special birthday wishes to
Lily Tepper
daughter of
Tricia & Aaron Tepper
granddaughter
of
Elyse & Carol Tepper
sister of
Micah Tepper
May 10th
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
|
|
NEED HELP WITH GROCERIES OR MEDICATION
?
|
Please let the Rabbi or office know if you need help with groceries or medication pick up.
|
| DOCUMENTS AND LINKS |
| JUST CLICK AND YOU'RE THERE!!! LATEST BULLETIN: BULLETIN WEB SITE: JCC WEB SITE PAVERS: PAVER FORM TREE OF LIFE TREE YAHRZEIT PLAQUE FORM: YAHRZEIT PLAQUES KOL HAKAVOD DONATION FORM KOL HAKAVOD ONEG SHABBAT SPONSOR: ONEG KIDDISH SPONSOR: KIDDISH TRIBUTES: TRIBUTES |
|
|
