JEWISH COMMUNITY

CENTER OF

LONG BEACH ISLAND

E-LETTER

January 3, 2025

3 Tevet 5785

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NEW YEARS EVE AT THE JCC OF LBI

The JCC was turned into a ballroom and, in spite a torrential rainstorm, JCC members and their guests enjoyed a wonderful evening. The DJ had folks up and dancing, the food was a banquet of upscale dishes and delicious desserts and the trivia contest was great fun (congrats to the winning table "The Dynamos"). Congratulations to the committee for a job well done: Paul Levine, Joyce Levine, Lorna Klein, Bill Klein, Howard Babbitt, Joanne Babbitt, Bonni Rubin-Sugarman, Karen Shatz, David Shatz, Ron Buskirk and Diane Buskirk. Special thank you to Mary Beth Krieger and Stacie Podos.

The celebration was the kickoff for our 75th Anniversary year with a banner designed and hung on the front of the building.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE MERRYMAKERS AT THE

JCC PARTY

A MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI

As I am writing this, it is the last day of Hanukkah. I hope everyone had a joyous holiday and that you did not eat any more than a healthy number of latkes and Sufganiyot (Jelly donuts). And I also hope that the light of the menorah is etched in all our minds beckoning us each to be the Shamash, the candle that lights all the others.

During Hanukkah we say what is perhaps my favorite prayer service in our entire liturgy, “Hallel”. The word “Hallel” literally means “praise”. The service is a series of six psalms (113-118) that we recite at prescribed times during the year. We say it during Sukkot and Hanukah, Pesach, and Shavuot.

But why do we say Hallel? What is the point? The simple answer is that it is to praise God for the good that has happened to us, and for the good that we hope we will experience in the future. The theory seems to be that if we heap praise on God, then how could we possibly receive anything but “good” in return? This answer is nice because it fits into our traditional theology which teaches us that God created the heavens and earth, and everything in between, and has a hand in all that happens. Thus, we praise the Deity and sit back and wait for the positive return.

But I think it is more than that. We praise and we joyously sing out because sometimes we just need to do that. If we wait for the perfect moment to be joyful, we might be waiting a very long time. Things are rarely 100% perfect. So, our tradition prescribes a time for us to simply acknowledge the “good” in our lives. To shout “Hallelujah!” (Praise be to God).

Hallel is telling us that we should not set preconditions to our happiness. If we “chase” happiness; if we say I will be happy when I have a new home; or I will be happy when I lose weight; or I will be happy when I get a new car or a new job, it is possible that will never be happy.

This message is highlighted near the end of the Hallel service when we sing Psalm 118, Verses 21-29. In particular, verse 24 is instructive. It reads: “Zeh ha-yom asah Adonai, nagilah v’nism’ka vo.” (This is the day God has made, let us rejoice in it), and expresses the need to seize the moment.

The message? Praise and be happy now. We should open our eyes to the good that each of us has in our lives. In other words, we should be actively happy. When we are happy, we are better suited to make others happy.

We just said Hallel for 8 straight days because it was part of the Hanukkah prayer service. However, every day presents unceasing opportunities to recognize Hallel moments. Recognize them and find a reason to say a personal Hallel every day.

Shabbat Shalom– Rabbi Michael S. Jay

stu’s a-stu-te sayings…..

Psalm 78:38 and Psalm 20:10 והוא רחום יכפר עון ולא אשחית.....

Two of the most frequently recited verses in davening are from

Psalm 78 and Psalm 20:

They are even repeated several times during the course of a single service

And He is merciful, He atones iniquity and does not destroy; many times He takes back His wrath and does not arouse all His anger

O Lord, save us and may the Sovereign answer us on the day we call

Why then are these pisukim [verses] repeated often? The need to remember [Zakhor] is a theme that runs throughout Tanakh [Torah, Nive’eem [prophets] and Kituveem [writings] as with King David’s Tehilim [psalms] We must simply remember God's mercy and faithfulness

Quite often, when words from Tanakh are repeated, it is done for emphasis

It provides for us simple yet profound opportunities to show our reverence, responsibility, and respect toward God.

Candle Lighting Time

(Southern Ocean County)

Shabbat Eve

Friday. January 3, 2025

4:27 PM

JOIN US FOR

SERVICES

Friday

January 3, 2025

Services

7:30 PM

ZOOM ONLY

Here is

your invitation from

Rabbi Jay to join Services

on Zoom

FRIDAY NIGHT

Saturday

January 4, 2025

9:00 AM

IN PERSON AND

ON ZOOM

Here is

your invitation from

Rabbi Jay to join

Zoom services

SHABBAT

TORAH READING

Parashat Vayigash

Genesis 44:18-47:27

Vayigash (“He Approached”) opens as Judah pleads with Joseph not to keep Benjamin as a prisoner. Joseph reveals his true identity to his brothers, crying and kissing them. The brothers bring Jacob from Canaan to Egypt, and Jacob and his children settle in Goshen. The portion ends as Joseph buys most of Egypt’s land in exchange for food.

Here is Parshah:

HAFTORAH

Ezekiel 37:15-28

This week's haftorah mentions the fusion of the kingdoms of Judah and Joseph during the Messianic Era, echoing the beginning of this week's Torah reading: "And Judah approached him [Joseph]."

Here is the Haftorah

HAVDALLAH

5:30 PM

ON ZOOM ONLY

Here is

your invitation from

Rabbi Jay to join

Zoom services

HAVDALLAH

WEEKDAY SERVICES

Monday - 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

Sunday at 9:00 AM

Here is your invitation from Rabbi Jay to

join Zoom services:

SHACHARIT

REMINDER....

A NEW MI'SHEBERACH LIST BEGINS THIS WEEK. PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE WITH YOUR NAMES FOR HEALING.

SUNDAY, January 5

Pickleball (see times below)

****

TUESDAY, January 7

Pickleball (See times below)

******

WEDNESDAY, January 8

Canasta & Mah Jongg

12:30 PM

Singles, Widows and Widowers

3-4:30 PM

*********

THURSDAY, January 9

Torah Study

11:00 AM

Pickleball (See times below)

PJP Program

Sid Caeser Hail Caesar

8:30 PM

***********

FRIDAY, January 10

Studying the Prophets

following morninng minyan

PICKLEBALL SCHEDULE

CLICK HERE FOR SID CAESAR PROGRAM

Meeting ID: 972 925 3056

Password: 1234

CLICK HERE FOR THURSDAY MORNING TORAH STUDY

CLICK HERE FOR FRIDAY MORNING PROPHET STUDY

Wednesday, January 8:

Singles, Widows and Widowers

3-4:30p

Thursday, January 9

PJP Program

Sid Caesar Hail Caesar

8:30 PM

Thursday, January 16

PJP Program

Changes in Israeli Politics and Society”

8:30 PM

Friday, January 17

WAX Lunch

11:30 PM

at Kubel's

Friday, January 17

Shabbat Dinner

6:30 PM

Wednesday, January 22

WAX Book Review

4:00 PM

Thursday, January 30

PJP Program

Jewish Mexico

8:30 PM

Friday, January 31

Candlemaking Class

11:00 AM

MAH JONGG & CANASTA

WEDNESDAYS

12:30 PM TO 4:00 PM

PICKLEBALL

Sundays, Tuesdays ad Thursdays

JCC WOMEN’S AUXILIARY: BOOK GROUP DISCUSSION

WEDNESDAYS AT 4:00 PM

NEXT BOOK REVIEW MEETING

Wednesday, January 22^nd at 4:00 pm

Discussion Leader: TBA

Wherever You Go by Joan Leegant

Yona Stern has traveled from New York to Israel to make amends with her estranged sister, a stoic ideologue and mother of five who has dedicated herself to the radical West Bank settlement cause. Yona’s personal life resembles nothing of her sister’s, but it isn’t politics that drove the two apart.

Now a respected Jerusalem Talmud teacher, Mark Greenglass was once a drug dealer saved by an eleventh-hour turn to Orthodox Judaism. But for reasons he can’t understand, he’s lost his once fervent religious passion. Is he through with God? Is God through with him?

Enter Aaron Blinder, a year-abroad dropout with a history of failure whose famous father endlessly―some say obsessively―mines the Holocaust for his best-selling, melodramatic novels. Desperate for approval, Aaron finds a home on the violent fringe of Israeli society, with unforeseen and devastating consequences.

In a sweeping, beautifully written story, Joan Leegant, winner of the PEN New England Book Award and the Edward Lewis Wallant Award, and a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award, weaves together three lives caught in the grip of a volatile and demanding faith. Emotionally wrenching and unmistakably timely, Wherever You Go shines a light on one of the most disturbing elements in Israeli society: Jewish extremist groups and their threat to the modern, democratic state. This is a stunningly prescient novel.

PJP PROGRAMS

As part of the PJP consortium the JCC is privy to many outstanding programs.

Travel around the world to Jewish neighborhoods...Study the ever complex dynamics of Eretz Yisrael...Enjoy stories of famous Jewish commedians,,,,

Zoom link will be published prior to each program....

The JCC section at Crescent Memorial Park is available for sales. Please contact Bonni Rubin-Sugarman at 609-417-7148.

We are very excited to add to the WAX Gift Shop items from local merchants and artisans. Stop in to look and buy one (or more) of these beautiful pieces for your home, as a gift or just for yourself. Here is a sample of some of our new products. The gift shop is open during office hours M-F 10 - 2.

New item in the Gift Shop COASTAL COLORS COLLECTION OF MEZZUZAHS. Great Chanukah gift for someone moving into a new home.

Eileen Jacobs, Potter

Seacrest Designs

Lavina Haven Soy Candles and

Essential Oil Soaps

Mezzuzahs

Resin Bowls and Candlesticks by Seacrest Designs

CONGREGATION NEWS

The following names will be read by the Rabbi on Friday evening:

Louis Bass*

Linda Marlene Herman

Jacob Stern

Naomi Antonoff

David Fineberg

Jerry Green*

Henry Herzig

Samuel Lisagor*

Mary Berkowitz

Larry Boxer

Marilyn Morgenthal*

Samuel Rosenberg

Lena Scheer

Stuart D. Snyder

Sam Telles

Marcia Bershtein

Esther Ruta Mirrer*

Vernon Rosenberg*

Rosie Starr*

Rose Kleinfeld

Sarah Mizrahi

Robert Ian Stevens*

Jay Ungar

Susan Blumenfield*

Anne Galer

William Gordon

Samuel Horowitz*

Ann Kamler

Helene Lowenthal

Herman Marcus

We encourage you to join us on the day of your loved one’s yahrzeit. You are also welcome to share with the minyan some special memories of your loved one.

CLICK HERE FOR EVENING SERVICE

CLICK HERE FOR MORNING SERVICE

Joel Rosenberg

January 4

Charles Schleifer

January 4

Howard Treatman

January 5

Scott Ranani

January 7

Diane Buskirk

January 9

Kenneth Podos

January 10

Robert & Lynn Levitt

January 5

61^st Anniversary

Stephen & Helene Scharf

January 5

50^th Anniversary

Steven & Shelley Harris

January 7

35^th Anniversary

Jason & Jamie Wasserman

January 7

21^st Anniversary

SHARE YOUR NEWS

AND PICTURES

CONTACT:

rvalen1963@aol.com

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

YOU CAN NOW FILL OUT A GIVING FORM AND PAY ON LINE IN ONE SIMPLE PROCESS.

Go to jccoflbi.org - Giving/Pay

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:

PAVER 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:

dihoff1@aol.com

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

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.

Since then, three additional individual Endowment Funds have been established. Other members are encouraged to also provide for the future of our JCC by establishing similar funds. Please consider adding to this number.

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:

YAHRZEIT

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

2024 MEMBERSHIP FORMS

Your support is so important to the continued success of the JCC.

Here is form for renewal:

RENEW NOW

And if you have been reading our Shabbat Reminder and other communications and have not yet joined our congregation, here is the new member form:

JOIN NOW

JCC FUNDS

Your gift to the JCC supports 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.