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JEWISH COMMUNITY
CENTER OF
LONG BEACH ISLAND
E-LETTER
November 15, 2024
14 Cheshvan 5785
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A TORAH MESSAGE
FROM THE RABBI
This week’s Torah portion, Parashat Vayeira, begins with Abraham sitting in the doorway of his tent as he recuperates from the circumcision that he performed on himself at the age of 99. As he sits there, three men (in reality they are angels) approach to visit with him. Even in his “delicate” condition, Abraham runs out to greet the visitors. He emphatically offers them water for washing and Sarah prepares food for them to eat.
From this episode the Rabbis determined that Abraham and Sarah were the exemplars of the Jewish value of welcoming guests. The Hebrew term is “Hachnasat Orchim”. As modeled by Abraham and Sarah, we should, at all times, be as welcoming as possible.
The Talmud expresses the importance of this concept. Therein, at Shabbat 127a we learn that:
"Rav Dimi of Nehardea said: “The welcoming of guests takes precedence over the house of study…Rav Judah said in Rav's name: “the welcoming of guests takes precedence over welcoming (and worshipping) God".
So important is the idea of being hospitable and welcoming to guests, that it is not limited to our homes. At the JCC we pride ourselves on warmly welcoming everyone who enters the building. We do the same thing when services are on Zoom. Everyone should feel hugged by our community. When I am wandering on LBI, or around Ocean County, I always work hard to be welcoming to the people I meet.
In part, this requirement of our tradition ensures that we become ambassadors of kindness. However, there is another reason for it. As the Torah tells us any number of times, “we know what it is like to be the stranger”. Our history is filled with us being the stranger. Ours is a history of being unwanted. Ours is a history of being treated improperly. Ours is a history of having doors slammed in our faces.
Remember. From the Torah to the Talmud. From our biblical heroes to our Rabbis of old. All the way to us. We should be welcoming the guests who enter our lives with open arms. On Kol Nidre I discussed that one way to fight against this crazy world in which we live is to try to do something “Jewish” every day. Guess what! Every time you are welcoming to a guest, you are doing Jewish. There probably is not an easier way to “Do Jewish”!
Welcome the guest to your home, to your community, to your heart. Do Jewish and make the world a better place.
Shabbat Shalom – Rabbi Michael S. Jay
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Candle Lighting Time
(Southern Ocean County)
Shabbat Eve
Friday. November 15, 2024
4:22 PM
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Friday, November 15, 2024
7:30 PM
ON ZOOM ONLY
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to join Services
on Zoom
FRIDAY NIGHT
Saturday, November 16, 2024
9:00 AM
IN PERSON AND
ON ZOOM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to join
Zoom services
SHABBAT
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TORAH READING
Parashat Vayera
Torah Portion: Genesis 18:1-22:24
Vayera (“He Appeared”) opens as guests inform Abraham that Sarah will give birth. Despite Abraham’s attempts to convince God otherwise, God destroys the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Sarah gives birth to Isaac, and Abraham sends away Hagar and Ishmael. At God’s command, Abraham prepares to sacrifice Isaac, but an angel of God tells Abraham to offer a ram instead.
Here is Parshah
HAFTORAH
II Kings 4:1-37
In this week's Torah reading, G‑d promises a child to Abraham and Sarah, despite childless Sarah's advanced age. This week's haftorah describes a similar incident that occurred many years later — the prophet Elisha assuring an elderly childless woman that she will bear a child.
Here is the Haftorah
WEEKDAY SERVICES
Sunday - Thursday
Ma'ariv Service
7:30 PM
Here is your invitation from Rabbi Jay to
join Zoom services:
MA'ARIV
Monday- Friday
Shacharit Service
8:15 AM
Sunday at 9:00 AM
Here is your invitation from Rabbi Jay to
join Zoom services:
SHACHARIT
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The JCC section at Crescent Memorial Park is available for sales. Please contact Bonni Rubin-Sugarman at 609-417-7148.
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SUNDAY, November 17
Pickleball (see times below)
Barnegat Light Museum Lecture
2:00 PM
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TUESDAY, November 19
Pickleball (See times below)
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WEDNESDAY, November 20
Canasta & Mah Jongg
12:30 PM
WAX Book Club
4:00 PM
Rabbi leading the discussion
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THURSDAY, November 21
Pickleball (See times below)
Torah Study with Rabbi Jay
11:00 AM
Davening & Duchaning Class
with Stu
7:45 PM After 7:30 Minyan
PJP John Kendrick Series
Danny Kay
8:30 PM
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22
Studying the Prophets
following morning minyan
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Thursday, November 21
Davening & Duchaning Class
with Stu
After evening Minyan
Sunday, November 17
Barnegat Light Museum Lecture
2:00 PM
Wednesday, November 20
WAX Book Club
4:00 PM
Thursday, November 21
PJP John Kendrick Series
Danny Kay
8:30 PM
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Friday , December 6
Shabbat Dinner
6:30 PM
Sponsored by Harold Farin
in honor of his 90th Birthday
Sunday, December 8
PJP Travel Program
Jewish Yemen
1:00 PM
Thursday, December 12
PJP Israel Program
Political Dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
8:30 PM
Wednesday, December 18
WAX Book Club
4:00 PM
Thursday, December 19
PJP John Kendrick Series
Joan Rivers
8:30 PM
Friday, December 20
WAX Brunch at Kubels
11:30 AM
Thursday, December 31
New Year’s Eve Party at the JCC
8:30 PM
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Pickleball for members only
Tuesdays, Thursdays, Sundays
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MAH JONGG & CANASTA
WEDNESDAYS
12:30 PM TO 4:00 PM
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JCC WOMEN’S AUXILIARY: BOOK GROUP DISCUSSION
WEDNESDAYS AT 4:00 PM
NEXT BOOK REVIEW MEETING
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NEXT BOOK REVIEW MEETING
Wednesday, November 20th at 4:00 pm
Discussion Leader: Rabbi Jay
The Little Liar
By: Mitch Albom
Eleven-year-old Nico Krispis has never told a lie. His schoolmate, Fannie, loves him because of it. Nico’s older brother Sebastian resents him for both these facts.When their young lives are torn apart during the war, it will take them decades to find each other again. Nico’s innocence and goodness is used against his tightly knit community when a German officer barters Nico’s reputation for honesty into a promise to save his loved ones. When Nico realizes the consequences of the betrayal, he can never tell the truth again. He will spend the rest of this life changing names, people he loves most. Albom’s extraordinary storytelling is at its powerful best in his first novel to confront the destruction that lying can wreak both on the world stage as well as on the individual lives that get caught up in it. As The Stranger in the Lifeboat spoke to belief, The Little Liar speaks to hope, in a breathless page-turner that will break your heart open and fill it with the power of the human spirit and the goodness that lies within us all. Narrated by the voice of Truth itself, The Little Liar is a timeless story about the power of love to ultimately redeem us, no matter how deeply we blame ourselves for our mistakes.
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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....
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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.
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Lavina Haven Soy Candles and
Essential Oil Soaps
| Resin Bowls and Candlesticks by Seacrest Designs | |
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The following names will be read by the Rabbi on Friday evening:
Ephraim Baker
Moe Grossberg
Dorie Solomon*
Leo Steinberg
I. Irving Weissler*
Eric Dolinger
Sophia Fruchtman*
Nathaniel Lee Green*
Mildred Kader
David Litvin
Irving Traster*
Harriet Treatman
Sadie Rose Entin
Bernice Hudes
Saundra Opatosky
Julius Robinson*
Lauren Westlake
Steven Baron
Benjamin Cohen
Beatrice Plotkin Fruchtman
Mae Goldberg*
Abe Josephson*
Harris Weiner
Isidor Weisel
Vivian Chairnoff
Abraham Levy
Joseph Litt
Joseph Meshulam
Ada G. Bass*
Bertrand Berman
Joseph Levin
Bess Silver
Laura Ziegeler
Claire Gottlin
Sidney Lichtenstein
George Medvin
Gilbert Tebeleff
We encourage you to join us on the day of your loved one’s yahrzeit. recalled. You are also welcome to share with the minyan some special memories of your loved one.
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Eileen Feldgus
November 16
Carole (Cookie) Gomer
November 17
David Hamburger
November 17
Mitchell Frumkin
November 18
Stephen C. Gilbert
November 19
Marlene Matz
November 22
Rima K. Rosenstein
November 22
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SHARE YOUR NEWS
AND PICTURES
CONTACT:
rvalen1963@aol.com
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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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YOU CAN NOW FILL OUT A GIVING FORM AND PAY ON LINE IN ONE SIMPLE PROCESS.
Go to jccoflbi.org - Giving/Pay
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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:
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
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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
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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.
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JCC LEADERSHIP
OFFICERS
President- Phil Rosenzweig
1ST Vice President-Sherry Fruchterman
2ND Vice President-Diane Hoffman
3RD Vice President- Jon Geier
Treasurer- Stu Cofsky
Secretary- Cliff Denker
Immediate Past President -Michael Babst
BOARD MEMBERS
Howard Babbitt
Diane Buskirk
Lorna Klein
Paul Levine
Ken Podos
Sondi Pripstein
Terri Robinovitz
Bonni Rubin-Sugarman
Rose Valentine
Ken Yudman
WOMEN'S AUXILIARY
President - Diane Buskirk
Co-Vice President - Noralyn Carroll
Co-Vice President - Jill Denker
Treasurer - Suzy Geier
Secretary - Joanne Babbitt
Immediate Past President - Irene Babst
Representative to the Board - Sondi Pripstein
Rabbi Michael S. Jay, Spiritual Leader
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