Shabbat Reminder 12/26/25

JEWISH COMMUNITY

CENTER OF

LONG BEACH ISLAND

E-LETTER

December 26, 2025

6 Tevet 5786

Visit our Website

CLICK HERE FOR THE BEST VIEWING

OF THE SHABBAT REMINDER

FROM THE HEART....

Rabbi & Sheri are away this week on a much earned vacation. It gives me the opportunity to share some thoughts I have had these last weeks.

It's been tough to hear the news lately. Rudy and I were on Bondi Beach several years ago on our trip to Australia and New Zealand. I can still remember how lovely it was there. We also just happened to be in Sydney when an Israeli folk singer was performing at the Opera House. We were lucky to get tickets and to spend a special evening with an enthusastic Jewish community.

Rabbi shared with us last Friday night some of the letters he received from LBI clergy following the massacre on Bondi Beach. One message shared that they joined us this summer at one of our services on the beach and how beautiful it was. I think we always feel pretty safe here on LBI. At the same time the JCC hires the local police who greet us on the top of the dune while we are welcoming in the Shabbat. Unfortunately, we cannot be niave about our safety here and we have security at every service and event along with state-of-the-art cameras. This does not come without a cost and our budget line for security reflects that.

I have included two photos above for you to see. Last week, St. Francis posted a message on their electric sign "Happy Chanukah to our Jewish brothers and Sisters". OMG. That is a first and so much appreciated. In response, we put a message on our sign a December 24 and 25 wishing our LBI friends a Merry Christmas. How could we not respond to this outpouring of love and respect for our holiday.

We are blessed to have a vibrant Jewish community here in Southern Ocean County. Whether you are a regular at services or participate in classes and programs or just pay your dues, we need your support to continue to be a beacon of light for the Jewish communty. Request for 2026 dues will be mailed out shortly. Please continue to maintain your membership. If you receive the weekly email and are not a member, please consider joining us

https://jccoflbi.org/product/new-membership-application/

Wishing everyone a drama-free 2026

Rose Valentine

Shabbat Reminder Editor

Rabbi Jay will be in his office at the JCC after services on Saturdays. The Rabbi is also available at any time or place to schedule in-person, or virtual meetings at your convenience. The Rabbi can be reached by call/text 973-865-9534 or email at Mjayrabrab@gmail.com

Candle Lighting Time

(Southern Ocean County)

Shabbat Eve

Friday, December 26, 2025

4:22 PM

JOIN US

FOR

SERVICES

Friday

December 26, 2024

7:30 PM

ON ZOOM ONLY

WITH

RABBI RICHARD HAMMERMAN

Here is

your invitation from

Rabbi Jay to join Services

on Zoom

FRIDAY NIGHT

Saturday

Dcember 27, 2025

9:00 AM

ON ZOOM ONLY

WITH

CANTOR SARAH GELLER

Here is

your invitation from

Rabbi Jay to join

Zoom services

SATURDAY MORNING

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 the Portion

HAFTORAH

Ezekiel 37:15-28

In this week’s haftarah, the prophet Ezekiel speaks of a time when all the tribes of Israel will be united in the land of Israel and faithful to God. This theme of reunification, with a special emphasis on Judah and Joseph, mirrors the reconciliation that takes place in Parashat Vayiggash.

Here is the Haftorah

TORAH QUESTION

The Jewish people are named after Judah. How might Judah’s behavior in Joseph’s story make him a model for the Jewish people?

WEEKDAY SERVICES

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

NO SERVICES 12/31 AND 1/1

SUNDAY, December 28

Pickleball

10 AM - 1 PM

******

TUESDAY, December 30

Pickleball

10 AM - 1 PM

*****

MAH JONGG & CANASTA

WEDNESDAYS

12:30 PM TO 4:00 PM

NO GAMES UNTIL JANUARY 7

PICKLEBALL

Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays

10 - 1

NO PICKLEBALL 1/1

Wednesday December 31

New Year's Eve Celebration

8:30 PM

Tuesday, January 6

WAX Brunch: Site TBD

11:00 AM

Thursday, January 15

Dr. Tull “Everything you want to know about Medicinal Cannabis”

7:45 PM after services

Friday, January 16

Shabbat Family Dinner

6:30 PM

Wednesday, January 21

Book Club

4:00 PM

Saturday, January 24

Cholentfest after services

Sunday, January 25

PJP “Purim in the Works of European Artists”

1:00 PM

Friday, January 30

Special WAX Shabbat Program

7:30 PM

MAKE YOUR RESERVATION AND PAY HERE

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.

The gift shop is open during office hours M-F 10 - 2.

CALL PAUL LEVINE WITH ANY QUESTIONS

484-802-0586

SEE ORDER FORM BELOW

ORDER FORM HERE

CONGREGATION NEWS

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

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 Unger

Susan Blumenfield*

Anne Galer

William Gordon

Samuel Horowitz*

Ann Kamler

Helene Lowenthal

Herman Marcus

Becky Reiff*

Alex Birnbaum*

John M. Furman

Eva Kaplan

Gertrude Rifkin

Larry Zwillman

Benjamin Goodman*

Joseph Martin*

Howard Paitchel

Norman Rothman

Bernice Shechtman

Joan Wolfson

Bertha Goldstein

Richard Kirsh

Hillary Levine

Joshua Scharf

Mildred Tittelbaum

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.

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

Stuart Steigerwald

December 27

Casey Breslow Glugeth

December 28

Joyce Levine

December 28

Carolyn Racusin

December 28

Barry Sherman

December 28

Kerry Iris

December 29

Natty Lapidus

December 29

Matthew Rosenbloom

December 29

Julie Sheffet

December 29

Samuel Sisenwine

December 30

Joan Blattner

December 31

Stephen Lishnoff

January 1

David Hendler

January 2

Clifford & Jill Denker

December 30

41st Anniversary

SHARE YOUR NEWS

AND PICTURES

CONTACT:

rvalen1963@aol.co

Ira Morgenthal

Irene Babst

Robin Valentine

Warren Matz

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

2025 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

BE A PART OF THE WOMEN'S AUXILLARY

2025 DUES FORM HERE

JCC FUNDS

Scroll down to see the new Ner Tamid Fund

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.

NER TAMID FUND

The Ner Tamid Fund was established in 2025 as part of the JCC’s 75^th Anniversary Celebration. Its purpose is to fund necessary maintenance or improvement of our beautiful JCC building as well as the Parsonage. To ensure that the JCC remains an Eternal Light for the Jewish Community on and off the island and in Southern Ocean County generally, please consider making a separate donation to the Ner Tamid Fund, or allocating a small portion of your High Holiday donation to that fund.