Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island E-Letter

June 5, 2020
12 Sivan 5780

Join us Friday evening for a Virtual Shabbat Dinner. Invite family and friends to sit at your virtual Shabbat table to light candles, and say the blessings over the wine and challah together. Please notify
Irene Babst (846-904-5145) to let us know you will be joining us.

Use this link to be a part of our Shabbat Dinner DINNER

A MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI

Every morning we say a specific Psalm for that Day of the week. It is a meaningful part of the daily service because it is a reminder of where we are, not just in the service, but also in the week and in our lives. Each day is new and distinct, and we are required to address the issues of that day. The Psalm for Tuesday (82), leapt off the page at me this week. It says, in part:

God rises in the court of the mighty,
Pronouncing judgment over judges:
“How long will you pervert justice?
How long will you favor the wicked?”

“Champion the weak and the orphan;
uphold the downtrodden and the destitute.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
Save them from the grip of the wicked.”

That there is wickedness in this world is incontestable. We, Jews, know what wickedness is. We have been the victims of it for over two thousand years. 

When an officer of the law unnecessarily kills a black man, as others are watching, and when that officer does not look as if he is breaking a sweat, that is wicked.

When thousands of innocent storeowners have the sources of their livelihood looted and razed to the ground, that is wicked.

When Synagogues and churches are defaced and set ablaze, that is wicked.

When police are shot, stabbed, and run over, that is wicked.

The people who committed these acts are wicked. Yes, there is wickedness in the world. 

How could someone look at the television over the last 2 weeks and not scream out in anguish.   Lives have been taken. Businesses, already ruined by the quarantine, have been decimated. A country is in turmoil. 

It is for just this reason that God took us out of Egypt. As God reminded us in Leviticus 19:2: “You shall be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.” We need to help the world get to a better place; each of us. It is as simple as that.  We each need to search for the best way to address this task. This is a truth that we need to face. 

I believe the task begins with a piece of text from this week’s Torah portion, Naso. The task begins by being blessed and by giving a blessing. The Levites blessed our ancestors, our parents blessed us, and we bless our children:

Y’verekh’kha Adonai v’yish-m’rekha     May the Lord bless and protect you;
Ya-eir Adonaid panav eilekha vikhuneka May the Lord’s spirit shine upon you;
Yisa Adonai panav eilekha             May the Lord’s spirit shine upon you V’yeseim lejha Sh                     and grant you peace.

The path to healing this world begins with a blessing. Accept a blessing and give a blessing. Bless your family, bless your friend, bless your neighbor, bless your community, bless your country, bless your homeland, bless the weak, bless the orphan, bless the downtrodden, bless the destitute, and bless God.

A blessing may protect. A blessing may cause God to be near. But the purpose of the blessing is to send us, with strength, on the journey upon which we seek to embark. And, in the end, what we all seek, what the blessing is meant to be, is the first step in bringing all of us peace. May it happen in our time. Amen. 

Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Michael S. Jay

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
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 "Honey  from the Heart" 
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.
THE WEEK THAT WAS...

Celebrating Shavuot via Zoom was certainly a change from the normal yom tov. Gratefully, each service had a minyan plus and Yiskor was able to be recited. Our study and service on Thursday evening had over 30 units ("minyan squares") and we had the opportunity to have a rich and interactive discussion about various topics.

It is good to see so many congregants and friends joining us via Zoom. If you haven't done so yet, please consider being part of our JCC Zoom community.
UPCOMING EVENTS

Women's Book Group
Monday, June 15 at 10:30 AM via Zoom
Book: "The Flight Portfolio" by Julie Oringer
The author takes us back to occupied Europe in this gripping historical novel based on the true story of Varian Fry's extraordinary attempt to save the work, and the lives, of Jewish artists fleeing the Holocaust.

Virtual Welcome Back Brunch
Let's welcome everyone back with brunch together
Sunday, June 28 at 10:30 via Zoom
Israel Update with Dr. Eric Mandel, founder and Director of MEPIN™, the Middle East Political and Information Network™. MEPIN is a private Middle East research analysis read by members of Congress, their foreign policy advisors, members of the Knesset, journalists, and organizational leaders.

ZOOM CLASSES NEXT THIS WEEK

Family Dynamics in Chumash Class (The Joseph Story) 
Monday, 6/8 @ 10:00 AM Click on
Click on CHUMASH

"Psalm Day - Psalm Where - Some How" 
Tuesday, 6/9 @ 1:00 PM Click on  PSALM


Ask the Rabbi 
Wednesday, 6/10 @ 3:00 PM
Have a cup of tea or a cocktail with the Rabbi Wed. afternoon. Click on  ASK THE RABBI

Weekly Torah Study - Pirkei Avot
Thursday, 6/11 @ 11:00 AM Click on   TORAH STUDY

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.
See Order form here: Prayer Book


TRIBUTES
SEND ONE OF OUR TRIBUTES IN HONOR OR IN MEMORY OF
See order form here:  TRIBUTES


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: 

JCC INFORMATION

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
web site:  www.jccoflbi.org   
  
THE OFFICE IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED.
PLEASE USE THE PHONE OR EMAIL WITH REQUESTS.
OUR OFFICE STAFF WILL BE CHECKING IN REGULARLY.

  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 
rvalen 1963@aol.com
 


SHABBAT SHALOM

Candle Lighting Time
(Southern Ocean County)

Friday evening,
June 5, 2020
8:03 PM
(So. Ocean County NJ)

JOIN US FOR INTERNET
SERVICES

Friday evening,
June 5, 2020
 6:00 PM

SHABBAT DINNER
AND SERVICE

We will light candles, say the motzi and borei pri HaGofen and then break up into smalled groups to have dinner

Rabbi has developed a few questions to consider over your dinner

1) Tell us about an important object or heirloom in your home.
2) Tell us one person in Jewish history that you would like to meet.
3) The Torah portion this week contains the Priestly Blessing. Are you comfortable receiving a blessing? Are you comfortable giving a blessing? What is a blessing?

We will then come back together for a Kaballat Service

Here is 
your invitation from 
Rabbi Jay to
Join Zoom Shabbat Dinner & Services:


Saturday Morning
Service
Saturday, 
June 6, 2020
10:00 AM
Here is 
your invitation from 
Rabbi Jay to
Join Zoom Services:

Torah Portion
Numbers 4:21 - 7:89
Here is the portion: 

Haftorah


Saturday,
June 6, 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:

YAHRZEITS FOR NEXT WEEK
David Cohen
William Feather*
Jessica Fields
Celie Nelson
Samuel Starr*
Grace Berman
Dr. Raul Fleischmajer
Hilde Hess Lewisohn
Sylvia Marcus
Gene Medlow*
Ida Opatosky
Leonard Ostreicher
Murray Rosenthal
Barbara Cohen
Martin Garb
Joseph Herman
Hilda Baron
Gertrude Polinsky
Mitchell Konner
Joan Podos
Sidney Tannenbaum
Bernard Gross
Michael Salonsky
Freda Schlanger*


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

MAZEL TOV

Lynne & Stan Berman
on the engagement of their grandson
Yehuda Berman
to Chani Isbee
of Baltimore.

Marsha & Mark Chazin
on the graduation of their grandson
Josh Chazin
the son of Marty and Stacey Chazin
on his graduation
magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania.

CONDOLENCES
TO

Harold Farin
on the loss of his aunt
Libby Gurian.
Libby celebrated her 100th birthday
on April 25.

GET WELL

Don Paris


SHARE YOUR NEWS
AND PICTURES

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,
Debby Schweighardt
if you are in need of assistance or if you know of a JCC member
that needs our help.
973-634-5349 
   
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Lee Gardner
June 6
Ira Morgenthal
June 6
Marc Rubin
June 6
Phyllis Lishnoff
June 7
Bev Rosenberg
June 7
Marjie Carnevale
June 10
Roberta Kap lan
June 11


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:

PRAYER BOOK:
 
WEB SITE:
 
 PAVERS:
 
TREE OF LIFE
TREE  
 
YAHRZEIT PLAQUE FORM:
 
KOL HAKAVOD DONATION FORM
 

TRIBUTES: