A TORAH MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI
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Last week in Parashat Pinchas, God Tells Moses to climb the heights of Abarim to see the Promised Land, reminding him that he will not be joining the Israelites when they enter that land. It must have been a sad moment for Moses as he realized with finality that God would not rescind the Divine's punishment. And yet, according to the Torah, Moses is silent. The Midrash; however, tells us that Moses was not silent. Indeed, I recall learning that Moses said to God something to the effect of: "Is it more difficult for You to change Your word than it is to split the Red Sea"?
It seems an odd and imperious question and, according to the Midrash, God gives Moses an answer at the very beginning of Parashat Matot. The answer is supplied when God recites to Moses the laws of the vow. Therein God provides that: "If a (person) takes an oath...he/she shall not break his pledge; he/she must carry out all that has crossed his/her lips".
God's response to Moses' question is that it would indeed be more difficult for God to change His word that it was to split the Red Sea. Since God uttered those words with meaning and with intent, the Holy One would need to carry out the punishment. Anything less would not be appropriate.
Our promises are important and our pledges matter. God is letting Moses know that every word that comes out of our mouths has an impact. Thus, every word must be treated as a vow.
Imagine a world in which everything a person says is true and in which we did not go back on our promises. We should remember this lesson for ourselves, but also be sure to teach it to our children and grandchildren.
The next two weeks are seeing a continuation of our educational and informational programming. This Shabbat our Scholar Near the Beach is Susan Werk, Educational Director of Congregation Agudath Israel of West Essex. Susan has been with us as our Scholar each year that I have been here. She was also instrumental in helping us to develop our Shabbaton program. This Shabbat Ms. Werk will talk on Friday about the Enduring Messages contained in the Book of Numbers (which we are concluding this week). On Saturday morning she will give a talk and a lesson during services about Parashat Matttot-Masei. On Sunday, she will be teaching a portion of the Rosh Hodesh program being led by Sheri Jay.
Next Shabbat (July 28-29) will be very busy. On Friday evening we will have a speaker from the Technion (Israel's MIT), Jerry Kleinman, the Associate Vice President of the American Technion Society. Mr. Kleinman will talk about the Technion's partnership with Cornell University to build a graduate school in New York City.
I am pleased that our Saturday morning Service on July 29 will feature JTS Senior Rabbinical Student, Ben Goldberg as our Scholar Near the Beach. Ben will lead a portion of our service, give a brief talk about the Torah portion during services and then lead a Lunch and Learn after services. The topic of his class will be the Midrashim (stories) of Parashat Devarim. Ben's appearance is made possible with the help and guidance of Bob and Judy Cook and I am particularly excited to have him join us since it is the first time that a student of my Rabbinic Alma mater will be our Scholar.
We are a blessedly busy community.
Shabbat Shalom - Rabbi Michael S. Jay
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SUMMER HOURS
Rabbi Jay will be at his office at the JCC on Mondays and will have office hours from 10:00 AM - Noon. Drop in to chat (call the office to make sure he is in and not out on an emergency 609-492-4090) or make an appointment with him (973-865-9534).
This is also a good time to telephone the rabbi.
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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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THE WEEK THAT WAS...
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And what a week it was....
Friday evening due to the rain we moved the Beach service into the sanctuary. Over 70 people made their way there.
The rabbi brought a beach chair, sand and some beach balls to the bimah and the ruach, spirit, felt in the room was wonderful.
Saturday morning service was highlighted by the reading of torah and haftorah by Dr. Michael Lippman and the special kiddish he and his wife Julie sponsored in honor of the 60th anniversary of this bar mitzvah.
Sunday morning 45 people came to hear the report from CAMERA
on anti-Israel bias in the media. Everyone walked away with a better understanding of CAMERA's work in monitoring the media, as well as how we can recognize the often subtle and nuanced bias when reading or hearing the news. Thank you to David Shatz for securing our speaker. We hope to work with this organization in the future. For more information see their web site:
http://www.camera.org/
Monday morning, was a very interesting discussion at the book club on the book:
"My Grandfather Would Have Shot Me" by Jennifer Teege and Nicole Sellmair. The next book review is on August 14th at 10:30 AM. The book is: "The Paris Architect"
A TRIBUTE TO ROSIE STARR
Wednesday, over 100 people gathered at the JCC to pay tribute to the Center's Matriarch, Rosie Starr, who passed away at the age of 97 last January. You could feel her presence in the room as family and friends told stories about Rosie - her wisdom, her love of life and her wonderful way of looking at the world.
Thank you to the Starr Family for hosting this luncheon and to the Sisterhood for making all the arrangements. Rosie had a bat mitzvah in her 80th year and it was very important to her. With that in mind, it was announced that the moneys collected for the Rose Starr Fund will go to the gifting of a book to all future congregation bat mitzvah celebrants.
The Starr Family including Rosie's two sons and grandson, her sister Sally and a host of nieces and nephews.
Thursday was the Sisterhood Mah jongg Tournament chaired by Karen Schwing & Stacey Vreeland. 84 women enjoyed a day of mah jongg, a delicious lunch fully prepared in the JCC kitchen and lots of door prizes. As we are going to press just hours after the event, the list of volunteers will be published in next week's Shabbat Reminder. Needless to say, the event could not have been successful without these wonderful helpers.
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ONGOING SUMMER ACTIVITIES
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MAH JONGG
E
VERY WEDNESDAY FROM 12:30 PM - 4:00 PM
RABBI'S CLASS
Fridays from 10:00 - 11:15 PM
The Ethical Life: Jewish Values in an Age of Choice This course will focus on the general Ethics of our tradition and how that tradition can be applied to issues that have risen historically and today. This class runs for ten weeks. Each class is stand alone, so there is no need to come to all of them. There will be a suggested donation of $5 per class or $40 if you plan on attending all ten classes.
LUNCH & LEARN
with Rabbi Jay
Mondays 12:00 - 1:30 PM
An extended book club using Rabbi Joseph Telushkin's book,
Jewish Wisdom: Ethical Spiritual, And Historical
Lessons From the Great Works and Thinkers. Each
class will be stand-alone, so, if you cannot make it to
all of them, you should still come!
Lunch will provided with a suggested donation of $5.
(Used books will be available for purchase for around $10
each)
ZUMBA
Monday/Thursday/Friday
9:00 PM
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JULY EVENTS
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ROSH CHODESH
WOMEN'S GROUP
Av 5777
Join in the beautiful custom of Jewish women ushering
in the Hebrew month with prayer and study.
Led by
Sheri Horowitz-Jay
Sunday, July 23, 2017 @
9:00 AM
at the JCC of LBI
Workshop by Dr. Deborah Rabner:
How to make jeweled
head coverings
Optional: Bring a favorite pin of costume jewelry piece
Special teaching by our Scholar Near the Beach, Susan Werk
PLEASE RSVP to sherihorowitzjay@gmail.com or
Call the synagogue office
at 609-492-4090
HOEDOWN
Square Dance
Thursday, July 27th
6 - 9 PM
$25 Now - $30 at the Door
Professional Caller and Grub Served
Sunday, July 30 - 7:00 PM
THREE SOPRANOS CONCERT
Tickets available in the Office 609-492-4090
AUGUST PREVIEWS
Sunday, August 6 @11:00 AM -
POETRY READING WITH RICHARD MORGAN
Wednesday, August 9 @ 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
BAZAAR
Friday, August 11 @ 6:00 PM SISTERHOOD DINNER
Sunday, August 13 @10:00 AM ANNUAL CONGREGATION MEETING
Monday, August 14 @ 10:30 AM BOOK DISCUSSION
Friday, August 18 @6:00 PM
SHABBAT ON THE BEACH
in Loveladies
Sunday, August 20 @ 7:00 PM Documentary
"THERE ARE JEWS HERE"
Thursday, August 24 @ 7:00 PM WOMEN'S ROSH CHODESH
Saturday, August 26 @ 8:45 PM & August 27 @ 4:00 PM BART SHATTO CONCERT
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SISTERHOOD STUFF
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SISTERHOOD
SHABBAT & DINNER
Friday, August 11th
Dinner
6:00 PM
$25.00 person
Make your reservation
with the Office
Special Sisterhood Service
8:00 PM
"It Couldn't Be JOY
Without a Little OY"
SISTERHOOD WRAP UP MEETING
Tuesday, August 22
10:00 AM
Sponsor an
Oneg Shabbat
and Share the Joy of Shabbat!
Dates Available
August 4, 2017
September 1, 2017
SEE THIS FORM TO RESERVE A DATE:
SHOEBOX RECYCLING
PROGRAM
FOR DETAILS, PLEASE CLICK:
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SUMMER CONCERTS
Three Sopranos
Sunday, July 30th -
7:00 PM
Reserved Seats:
$60
Gen. Admission:
$45
Bart Shatto
Saturday, August 26 - 8:45 PM
Sunday, August 27 - 4:00 PM
Reserved Seats:
$70
Gen Admission: $45
SEASON PACKAGE (both concerts)
Reserved: $110.50
Gen. Admission: $76.50
CALL THE JCC OFFICE
TO ORDER YOUR TICKETS
609-492-4090
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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.
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 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM
TUESDAY 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM
WEDNESDAY 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM
THURSDAY 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM
FRIDAY - 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Office Staff:
Jeri Riffle, Executive Director
Leslie Dinkfelt, Office Manager
Marcie Deutsch, Computer Admin.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Rabbi Michael S. Jay
Rose Valentine, JCC President
VIEW THE JULY/AUGUST BULLETIN
with this link
E-mail Editor: Rose Valentine
rvalen
1963@aol.com
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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THIS WEEK'S EVENTS
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7/21 - 7/28
Friday
Rabbi's Class
10:00 - 11:15 AM
Saturday
Drop-In Havdallah
9:00 PM
Daven on the Beach @24th Street
9:00 AM
Women's Rosh Chodesh Program
9:00 AM
Zumba
9:00 AM
Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Jay
12:00 - 1:30 PM
Wednesday
Mah jongg
12:30 PM
Thursday
Friday
Rabbi's Class
10:00 - 11:15 AM
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SHABBAT SHALOM
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8:01 PM
(So. Ocean County NJ)
JOIN US FOR SERVICES
SCHOLAR NEAR THE BEACH
Susan Werk
Educational Director of
Congregation Agudath Israel
will be joining us for her 5th year as our scholar.
Friday,
July 21, 2017
8:00 PM
Susan Werk's Talk:
The Enduring Message of the
Book of Numbers
Torah Portion
Matot-Masei
(Numbers 30:2 - 3.42)
Here is the Parshah
Jeremiah 2.4 - 28, 3:4
Here is the Haftorah:
HAFTORAH
Torah Leiners:
Rabbi Jay
Aaron Lombardi
Drop-in-Havdallah
9:00 PM
Sunday
Daven on the Beach at 24th Street
9:00 AM
SPECIAL SERVICES
SHABBAT
7/28-29
FRIDAY NIGHT
A Presentation by the
Israel Institute of Technology
Join JCC of Long Beach Island and the American Technion Society at an exclusive event featuring Jerry Kleinman of the American Technion Society
The Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute:
The story behind the selection of the Technion and Cornell University by
the Bloomberg administration to create a new applied science graduate
school in NYC
What does it mean for Technion, for Israel and for New York City?
SATURDAY
VISITING STUDENT RABBI
Ben Goldberg is a rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, where he is also earning an MA in Midrash, and will be ordained in 2018. Raised in the Philadelphia suburbs, Ben graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in History and Jewish Studies.
Ben will do a D'var Torah as well as a Lunch & Learn following services
SISTERHOOD SHABBAT
August 11, 2017
Dinner 6:00 PM
Service 8:00 PM
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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YAHRZEITS
FOR NEXT WEEK
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These names will be read at services on July 21, 2017
Gerald Katz
Molly Lang
Harry Prebluda
Nathan Stokes
Jack Bendavid
Fannie Bzezensky*
Tillie Fischer
Edward Liebowitz
Anna Bloom
Samuel Goodman
Jack Morgan
David Rifkin
Adele Rosenberg
Beatrice Busch*
Anne Einhorn
Eleanor Cohen
Max Selsky
* Yahrzeit Plaque - These names are lovingly enshrined on our synagogue memorial boards.
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CONGREGATION
NEWS
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RHONDA & GARY DALEY
on the bat mitvah of their daughter
Religious School student
Alexa Daley
at the Franklin Institute this Shabbat
Here is Alexa delivering one of the shipments of donations to the food pantry. Alexa collected food and toiletries and such for those in need as her Bat Mitzvah project. She made and distributed "blessing bags" to the homeless and donated many items to the food pantry.
JACOB & MARY PLEETER
on the marriage of their daughter
Lauren
to Alex Bresner
SELMA SHAPIRO
ROCHELLE SPENCER
RONA STEIN
SHARE YOUR NEWS
CONTACT:
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, Joy Kern, if you are in need of assistance or if you know of a JCC member that needs our help.
609- 978-3669
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KIDDISHES
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Contact Lynn Berkowitz
or Rose Valentine
for information about
sponsoring a Kiddish
609-709-3160
973-632-0913
SEE NEW DONATION & MENU
Sponsorship includes:
*Printed acknowledgement on the food table, in
the Shabbat Reminder email and in the Shabbat program
*Verbal, public acknowledgement from the bimah during services.
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GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
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MORRIS L. SHAPIRO ENDOWMENT FUND
All organizations should have a substantial endowment fund to ensure its continuation. Except for dire emergencies, the principal amounts in the fund cannot be used to run the organization. Interest earned from the account may be used. As previously announced, Herb and Selma Shapiro have created a JCC Endowment Fund to honor Herb's father. It will be known as "The Morris L. Shapiro Endowment Fund at the JCC of LBI " The Shapiros have generously pledged a total of $50,000 to fund this. While initially established by the Shapiros, anyone may contribute to this important fund.
Join Herb and Selma in helping assure the continuity of our JCC, and our ability to continue providing a full-service congregation to serve the Jewish people of the area. All members are encouraged to help this important effort by contributing to this Fund.
Your gift to the fund can be sent to the JCC Office. Please mark your check accordingly.
AUDIO/VISUAL PROJECT - GREAT NEWS!
We are very excited that we will be beginning the installation of our new sound system just in time for our concerts and the High Holiday service. Thank you everyone who contributed to this fund. We are still looking for donations for the visual equipment for this project.
Please send your contribution to the JCC office: 2411 Long Beach Blvd., Spray Beach, NJ 08008 and note on the memo line A/V Project.
Space is available for memorial plaques on the yahrzeit boards in the Sanctuary. Here is the order form:
TREE OF LIFE (located in the Social Hall)
You can purchase a leaf in honor of an occasion or in memory of a loved one.
Here is the
Tree of Life Form:
TREE
PAVERS (
in front of the Front Entrance)
If you want to have a paver(s) installed by the High Holidays, your order must be in by August 1. The next time pavers will be installed is the Spring of 2018.
Only 4 x 8 and 12 x 12 size pavers are available
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ACME & SHOPRITE SCRIP
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We have scrip available from ACME as well as ShopRite. You can help the JCC of LBI earn free money by using these $25 gift
cards when you shop at these stores. Scrip is now available at the JCC office and in Barnegat with Jeri Riffle (609-290-9135).
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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.
We just received a check for $456.00 from TD Bank. So think about joining this program and helping the JCC to reap the benefits.
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TEXT BLAST SIGN UP
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If you would like to receive JCC of LBI reminders and alerts via text message on your cell phone, please contact the office by email (jccoflbi@gmail.com) or phone (609-492-4090) We would be alerting you for example that "Services are cancelled" or "Last opportunity to sign up for Community Seder".
This information will not be shared and will only be used for JCC purposes.
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ADS FOR JCC BULLETIN
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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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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 JEWISH JOURNAL: JOURNAL YAHRZEIT PLAQUE FORM: PLAQUE KOL HAKAVOD DONATION FORM KOL HAKAVOD KIDDISH SPONSOR KIDDISH FORM ONEG SPONSOR ONEG SUMMER CALENDAR CALENDAR |
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