Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island E-Letter
September 24, 2021
16 Tishri 5782
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From the opening of our hearts on Rosh Hashanah to the searching of our souls on Yom Kippur, to the rebuilding of our lives on Sukkoth, we are continually working on ourselves and on our communities. Our RH and YK and Sukkot services were hybrid and all meaningful. Sometimes we had more in the building(“in the Room”) than on Zoom. Sometimes we had more on Zoom that in the Room. And sometimes there were equal amounts in the Room and on Zoom.
Regardless of where the congregants were, what I saw as I looked around the room, or as I surveyed the zoom screens, was that everyone was engaged and interested in the services, in the prayers, and in the community. This was a blessing for me and for Cantor Geller, and I need to thank you for that on behalf of both of us.
As I am wont to do, I will summarize some of my messages from the High Holy Days.
1) We spend a lot of time figuring out ways to remember things. But we should also find a way to forget the things that cause us to feel angry or sad. Rabbi Brad Artson recommends that we cultivate the art of “holy forgetting”. We need to have the ability to say: “a negative event is simply not important for me to hold on to.” In this way we can free up energy for the good things we want to do.
2) Our ability to make ourselves and the world better, begins with each of us having a core set of beliefs. Our Jewish tradition has existed for so long, in part, because it is infused with a belief system which provides strength to us so that we can use to navigate the good and the bad of the world. Core beliefs, whether communal or personal, are the engine that drives the good things that we do. Many of you shared some of what you believe with me. Thank you for entrusting me with answers. It is those beautiful thoughts that have helped to build and nurture us, our families, and our communities.
3) The entirety of Yom Kippur, from Kol Nidre until the blowing of the Shofar at the conclusion of the Neila service, might be viewed as a play. It is a play with music, choreography, drama and tension. The ending of this play is uncertain because no one really knows what will happen in the future. Life, itself, is like this. it is a play in which the ending is not fully scripted. Despite all that we do, we are never quite sure what tomorrow will bring. While we cannot control the end, we can control how we act during the entirety of the life/play itself. This is one of the messages of the Yamim Noraim: How we live our lives matters. It matters to us, it matters to others, it matters to God.
4) We are good a marking the “firsts” of our lives. First tooths, first steps, first day of school, etc., are all marked and remembered. We do not do such a good job with the “lasts” of our lives. While it is true that our tradition admirably handles death and mourning, it does not do such a good job with more mundane “lasts”. We do not have rituals to acknowledge the last diaper, the last time our child says “uppy”, or the last time we drive our favorite car. One of the reasons why the Rabbis required us to say 100 blessings in a day was to make us more mindful of the simple things that happen in our daily lives and to consider which was a blessing in real time. I ASKED YOU AT THE TIME I GAVE THIS TALK TO TELL ME A “LAST” THAT YOU WISHED YOU HAD RECOGNIZED IT TO BE THE “LAST” WHEN IT HAPPENED. IF YOU HAVE NOT YET WRITTEN TO ME ABOUT HIS, PLEASE THINK ABOUT IT AND WRITE TO ME KNOW.
Monday morning, September 22nd, is Shemini Atzeret. This means that we will have a Yizkor service that morning. Services begin at 10:00 am, and I expect Yizkor to be at about 11:15 am. As part of Yizkor observance, it is customary to light a Yahrtzeit candle the night before. Thus, this year, you should light the candle on Monday evening, September 27th.
Remember one requirement of the Sukkot is that be happy. It is a happiness driven not be riches or power. It is a happiness wrought by the very act at looking at the world around us. Look and appreciate the trees, the flowers, the butterflies, the sun , the moon, the stars, and the wind and one cannot help but feel good.
Moadim L’Simcha(May These Times Be Joyous) – Rabbi Michael S. Jay
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SUKKAH VILLAGE PRINCETON
for more information see
https://www.visitprinceton.org/event/sukkah-village-princeton/17904/
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SHABBAT SHALOM
Candle lighting Time
Friday evening,
September 24, 2021
6:32 PM
So. Ocean County
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JOIN US FOR SERVICES
Friday evening
September 24, 2021
6:00 PM
ZOOM ONLY
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to Join
Zoom Services
Saturday morning
September 25, 2021
Services
9:00 AM
In person and on Zoom
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to Join
Zoom Services
Torah Reading:
Exodus 33:12-34:26; Numbers 29:17-34
Here is the Reading
Haftorah
Ezekiel 38:18 - 39:16 ·
Here is the Haftorah
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Saturday evening
8:30 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:
MA'ARIV
Sunday - Friday
Shacharit Service
8:15 AM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to
Join Zoom Services:
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CLICK ON THIS LINK TO DOWNLOAD THIS:
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SOME HOUSEKEEPING
If you borrowed a High Holiday prayer book, please make arrangements to return it to the office.
Next week the office will be open on Thursday and Friday from 10 AM - 2 PM
BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE
A copy of the book can be picked up at the office or arrangements can be made to have it mailed to you.
You can also view or download the book from our website or click on this link:
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SH'MINI ATZERET & SIMCHAT TORAH SERVICE SCHEDULE
SH’MINI ATZERET
Candlelightig: 6:27 PM
Monday, Sept. 27 - 7:30 PM - Erev Succoth
ZOOM ONLY
Tuesday, Sept. 28 - 10:00 AM
Yizkor Recited 11:15 AM
IN PERSON AND ON ZOOM
SIMCHAT TORAH
Candlelightig 7:56 PM
Tuesday, Sept. 28 - 6:00 PM
ZOOM ONLY
Wednesday, Sept. 29 – 10:00 AM
IN PERSON AND ON ZOOM
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50/50 RAFFLE WINNERS
First Place Winner-Sandra and Mark Rosenbloom ($4,965.00)
Second Place Winner - Ina and Ira Morganthal ($2,478.000
Third Place Winner - Rose & Rudy Valentine ($826.00)
A tremendous shout out to Diane Hoffman for organizing and promoting this year's banner raffle fund raiser.
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ZOOM Classes resume at the JCC |
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NEW CLASS WITH RABBI JAY
beginning Wednesday, October 6 at 7:45 PM
On Wednesday Evenings, Beginning, October 6th, just after Maariv (around 7:45) I am doing a weekly Torah class using Rabbi Jonathan Sacks' book: "Judaism's Life-Changing Ideas". In this book he takes the weekly Torah portion and discusses a great idea that he gleans from it. It is an awesome compendium of essays.
Join me for each class over the course of the entire year, or join me when you can. I guarantee that the discussions will be interesting and help each of us to see how far reaching our Torah is.
You can purchase the book ahead of time by going to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or by going to Rabbi Sacks' (Z"L) website. If you do not have the book by the first class, do not worry, I will share PDF's with you for the first few weeks.
Resuming October 7
Weekly Torah Study: Torah Portion of the Week
Thursday, @ 11:00 AM
Resuming October 7
Beginners Hebrew Class
taught by
Ira Morgenthal on Thursdays at
2:00 PM.
908-705-2576
beginning Monday, October 11 at 10:00 AM
FOUNDATION TO A THOUGHTFUL JUDAISM
From the Hartman Institute: This groundbreaking, pluralistic curriculum grew out of an interest
in sharing ideas that have been taught to rabbis at the Hartman Institute for decades and is
designed to give even beginners access to deep Jewish thought. This sophisticated curriculum is not a 'how-to' Judaism 101 course but can serve as a complement forlearners interested in grappling with philosophical questions on Jewish peoplehood, faith, ethics, and practice that are at the heart of Jewish tradition.
MAH JONGG RESUMES OCTOBER 6
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Dear Congregants:
You are invited to attend our eleventh Shabbat dinner on Friday, October 15, 2021 at 6:00 PM. Please plan on joining us for a Shabbat filled with friendship and community.
We will start our evening with the blessings and services, followed by a period of sharing your Shabbat dinner with family and friends in a breakout room. If you have no specific request and are open to making new friends, please respond to this email and we will arrange for you to be seated with a fabulous group of people.
Please click on this link and fill in the form by Friday, October 15 at 3:00 PM. List your name(s), (couple(s) or single(s), and include the names of friends and family to be included in your private breakout room or send an email to: JCCOFLBIShabbatDinner.
Or join at the last minute, all are welcome!
This is our first celebration of this type of event this year, hoping to see you then!!! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Rabbi Jay (973) 865-9534 or Irene B. at (856) 904-5145 for dining arrangements.
Rabbi Jay and Sheri
Michael and Irene B.
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18 Mile Run
49th Annual Long Beach Island Commemorative 18 Mile Run
Sunday, October 10, 2021
After A 2 Year hiatus due to coastal storm flooding and COVID-19 precautions, the 18 Mile Run is back in person!!
The event is sponsored by St. Francis Community Center, Brant Beach, NJ, in cooperation with the LBI Jewish Community Center.
CONTACT THE OFFICE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP WITH THE WATER STATION IN FRONT OF THE JCC.
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THIS WEEK'S YAHRZEITS
The following names will be read at Friday night services.
Bertrand Berman
Saul Celnik
Doris Farin*
Lynn Kamler Levi*
Pauline Sherman
Samuel Hoffman
Milton Seavey
Casper Ungar*
Judith Blumberg
Rose Goldstein*
Marcia Nelson*
Lenore Traster*
Stanley Bloom
Leonard Einhorn
Lessie Markowitz*
Shirley Morgan
Edith Nissenblatt
Bessie Okner
Abe Hirschorn*
Andrew Rothschild
Irene Schiff
Henry Schragger
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In this Zoom era, we have been able to have a daily minyan at 8:15 AM and at 7:30 PM and on Shabbat. 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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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
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Arthur Steinberg
September 25
Paul Carniol
September 26
Marc Andrew Landis
September 26
Joanne L. Levine
September 26
Darlene Gardner
September 27
Stewart Cofsky
September 28
Jerome Marcus
September 29
Jill Yudman
September 29
Mary Pleeter
September 30
Howard Fruchterman
October 1
Michael Green
October 1
Carolyn Ross
October 1
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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 - NEW INFORMATION !!!!!!!
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. Judith z”l & Donald Pripstein joined the Shapiros and established The Pripstein Family Endowment Fund.
As recently reported, Don Pripstein pledged another $50,000 to establish The Judith & Donald Pripstein Endowment Fund.
As a result of Don’s letter, Harold Farin has stepped forward and has established “The Farin Family Endowment Fund”. This Fund will join with the three others as part of the JCC Endowment Fund portfolio. Other members are encouraged to also provide for the future of our JCC by establishing similar funds.
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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JCC FUNDS
Your gift to the JCC support 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 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
THE OFFICE IS OPEN TUESDAY AD THURSDAYS
FROM 10 - 2
CONTINUE TO USE THE PHONE OR EMAIL WITH REQUESTS.
OUR OFFICE STAFF WILL BE CHECKING IN REGULARLY.
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Staff:
Leslie Dinkfelt, Office Manager
Mary Beth Krieger, Staff Member
Kitchen Manager: Susan Berube
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LATEST
BULLETIN:
PRAYER BOOK:
WEB SITE:
PAVERS:
TREE OF LIFE
YAHRZEIT PLAQUE FORM:
KOL HAKAVOD DONATION FORM
KOL HAKAVOD
TRIBUTES:
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Rabbi Michael S. Jay
Michael Babst, President
E-mail Editor: Rose Valentine
Graphics by
Irene Babst
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