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JEWISH COMMUNITY
CENTER OF
LONG BEACH ISLAND
E-LETTER
April 25, 2025
27 Nisan 5785
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REMEMBERING NOT TO FORGET
Last night (Wednesday), and today (Thursday, April 24th) we are observing Yom Ha-Zikaron L’Shoah U’L’Gevurah (Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day). At minyan last night we included two special prayers to remember the solemnity of the day. (We also said a continuing prayer for those impacted by the wildfire in and around Barnegat) After the service, Sheri and I lit a yellow Yahrtzeit candle to remember the 6 Million of our brothers and sisters who perished at the hands of evil and brutal people before and during World War Two.
Tonight, I will attend and participate in a Yom Hashoah program at Temple Beth Am Shalom in Lakewood. During the program there will be a lighting ceremony in which the families of survivors will light 6 memorial candles in memory of the Six Million who perished.
We light to remember those who were lost to the villainy of evil people, in order that those lost should not be forgotten. But we also remember in order to prevent it from happening again.
Our tradition requires us to remember many things. We must remember the Shabbat. We must Remember that we were slaves in the land of Egypt. We must remember what Amalek did to us. We remember that we received the Torah from God at Mount Sinai.
We are a people for whom memory is in our DNA. On the wall above the Eternal Flame at the United States Holocaust Memorial, Deuteronomy 4:9 is quoted:
But take utmost care and watch yourselves scrupulously, so that you do not forget the things that you saw with your own eyes and so that they do not fade from your mind as long as you live. And make them known to your children and to your children’s children.
The Baal Shem Tov famously said that, “Forgetfulness leads to exile while remembrance is the secret of redemption”. Remembering ensures that we will pay attention to the world around us.
As we recall the Holocaust this year, and as we remember what happens when there is no one to protect a people, I cannot help but pay attention to the requirement to remember the fact that we were slaves in Egypt. We know what it is like to be a slave; we know what it is like to be a subjugated person. This memory requires us to be mindful of those in the world, and in our midst, who are downtrodden, subjugated, or in peril. Our memory forces us to have rachmanas (compassion or empathy) for those living precarious lives.
This would be a good time to affirmatively help those less fortunate than us. Bring food to a food pantry. Donate new, or lightly used, clothes to a charity. Donate money to, or volunteer at, one of many charities whose purpose it is to help those in need.
There were a precious few people who helped our bothers and sisters during the holocaust. We need to be those precious few to those in need of help today.
Part of being Jewish, and living the life that the Torah requests, really is being a light to the rest of the nations. Yom Hashoah provides a perfect platform from which to light the torch of humanity and carry it proudly.
Shabbat Shalom – Rabbi Michael S. Jay
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SHABBAT SHALOM
Candle Lighting Time
(Southern Ocean County)
Shabbat Eve
Friday, April 25, 2025
7:27 PM
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JOIN US FOR
SERVICES
Shabbat Mevarchim Chodesh Iyyar
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Friday
April 25, 2025
Services
7:30 PM
ON ZOOM ONLY
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to join Services
on Zoom
FRIDAY NIGHT
Saturday
April 26, 2025
Sunday,
April 20, 2025
9:00 AM
IN PERSON AND
ON ZOOM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to join
Zoom services
TORAH READING
Parashat Shmini
Leviticus 9:1-11:47
Shemini (“Eighth”) opens with the consecration of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). Two of Aaron’s sons are consumed by a fire sent from God when they attempt to offer a “strange fire.” God describes the animals, birds, and fish that are permissible and prohibited for consumption, as well as some laws of ritual purity.
Here is the Parshah
HAFTORAH
II Samuel 6:1-7:17
This week's haftorah mentions how Uzzah was struck dead when he disrespectfully touched the Ark of the Covenant; reminiscent of Nadab and Abihu's death described in this week's Torah reading.
Here is the Haftorah
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WEEKDAY SERVICES
Monday - 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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Yom Hazikaron
Wednesday, April 30
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Yom Ha'atzmaut
Thursday, May 1
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Yom Hazikaron is Israel’s Official Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism. Yom Hazikaron is an especially solemn time marked by ceremonies and moments of silence across the country.
Yom Hazikaron begins at sundown (8.00 pm) when a siren is sounded across the country for one minute. Everybody stops what they are doing, including cars driving on the highway, and observes the silence to show their respect and remember the fallen. That evening, the official State Ceremony to mark the start of Yom Hazikaron takes place at the Kotel in Jerusalem. Unlike in many other countries, Israel’s wars have taken place at home, and being a small country, almost everybody knows somebody who died in the country’s wars making Yom Hazikaron an incredibly personal time of remembrance.
The following day, a siren sounds for two minutes, at 11:00 am, and again the country stops to remember. Following this, memorial ceremonies take place across the country – either public or private, to remember the country’s fallen.
That evening, between 7 and 8:00 pm, another state ceremony takes place, this one at Mount Herzl, Israel’s National Military Ceremony. This ceremony marks the end of Yom Hazikaron, and the beginning of Yom Haaztmaut, Israel’s Independence Day, a day which contrasts dramatically with what preceded it and a strong reminder of the price Israel has paid and continues to pay for her independence. The ceremony involves performances, speeches, and a ceremonial lighting of twelve torches which symbolize the Twelve Tribes of Israel by twelve citizens who have made a great impact on the country. At the same time, towns and cities across the country have parties and fireworks displays.
The following day, parades and events take place across Israel including a spectacular military plane fly-by, parades, a famous International Bible Competition, and the ceremony for the Israel Prize which is Israel’s highest award and honor. The Israel Prize is given each year to about 10-15 people in the presence of the presence of the President, Prime Minister, the Knesset chairperson, and the Supreme Court president.
Yom Haatzmaut is a day typically spent with family, and Israelis flock to Israel’s National Parks, hiking trails, and beauty spots, hosting barbecues and picnics.
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SUNDAY, April 27
Pickleball 10 - 1
******
TUESDAY, April 29
Pickleball
10 - 1
Paint & Sip
10:00 AM
John Kendrick Series
8:30 PM
******
WEDNESDAY, April 30
Canasta & Mah Jongg
12:30 - 4:00 PM
*******
THURSDAY, May 1
Torah Study
11:00 AM
Pickleball
10 - 1
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Tuesday, April 29
Paint & Sip
10:00 AM
John Kendrick Series
Broadway - A Biography
8:30 PM
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Friday, May 2
JCC Family Dinner and Service
6:30 PM
Sunday, May 4
Afternoon Movie
2:00 PM
Wednesday, May 7
Singles, Widows and Widowers
3:00 - 4:00 PM
Friday, May 16
Candle Making Event at “Lavinia’s Haven”
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Tuesday, May 20
John Kendrick Series
Screen to Stage
8:30 PM
Wednesday, May 21
WAX Book Club
4:00 PM
Friday, May 23
WAX Brunch – LBI Table
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MAH JONGG & CANASTA
WEDNESDAYS
12:30 PM TO 4:00 PM
May 21, 28.
Play starts at 11am and ends at 1:45
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PICKLEBALL
Sundays, Tuesdays
and Thursdays
10 - 1
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CLICK HERE FOR UPCOMING EVENTS
THIS SPRING AND SUMMER
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JCC WOMEN’S AUXILIARY: BOOK GROUP DISCUSSION
WEDNESDAYS AT 4:00 PM
NEXT BOOK REVIEW MEETING
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Wednesday, May 21st at 4:00 pm
Discussion Leader: TBA
The Woman with the Blue Star
By: Pam Jenoff
1942. Sadie Gault is eighteen and living with her parents in the Kraków Ghetto during World War II. When the Nazis liquidate the ghetto, Sadie and her pregnant mother are forced to seek refuge in the perilous tunnels beneath the city. One day Sadie looks up through a grate and sees a girl about her own age buying flowers.
Ella Stepanek is an affluent Polish girl living a life of relative ease with her stepmother, who has developed close alliances with the occupying Germans. While on an errand in the market, she catches a glimpse of something moving beneath a grate in the street. Upon closer inspection, she realizes it’s a girl hiding. Ella begins to aid Sadie and the two become close, but as the dangers of the war worsen, their lives are set on a collision course that will test them in the face of overwhelming odds. Inspired by incredible true stories, The Woman with the Blue Star is an unforgettable testament to the power of friendship and the extraordinary strength of the human will to survive.
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LOOK FOR INFORMATION ABOUT
THESE OTHER SUMMER EVENTS
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July 17: Irvin Moreno Rodriquez, Director Stockton Holocaust Resource Center 7pm
July 30: JCC Summer Bazaar with Susan Shapiro hosting a Book Signing
August 21: Tour of Harvey Cedars Bible Center (HCBC) – 10am
BEACH SERVICES
June 13 – Beach Services at Loveladies 6pm
June 20: Beach Services at Spray Beach 6 pm
June 27: Beach Services at Loveladies 6pm
July 11: Beach Services at Spray Beach 6pm
July 18: Beach Services at Loveladies at 6pm
July 25: Beach Services at Spray Beach at 6pm
August 8: Beach Services at Loveladies
August 15: Beach Services at Loveladies
August 22: Beach Services at Spray Beach
August 29: Beach Services at Spray Beach
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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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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 one of our new products. The gift shop is open during office hours M-F 10 - 2.
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The following names will be read by the Rabbi on Friday evening:
Mae Hirschorn Cohen*
Morris Ross
Calvert I. Waranch*
Ruth Brasch
George Foosaner
Alfred David Frumkin
Ruth Goldman*
Marty Telles
Matilda Tubis
Stewart Turner
Izzy Ungar
Marvin Einhorn
Larry Holt
Audrey Konwiser
Evelyn Miller*
Jennie Shapiro
Nathan Blumberg
William Frank
Ann Hirsh Mednikoff
Michael Yudman
Lorraine B. Barol
Anna Blumenthal*
Dr. Morton Kaplon
Aaron Powitz
Fred Gottesman
Ada Heller
Fanny Kelsen
Rabbi Lazar Lebovitz
George Rosner
Pearl Elefant
Jack Halpern
Helen Herzig
Phil Pepperman
Batia Shatz
Margaret Stern
Anna Kaufman Wittenberg
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.
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Joshua Gindin
April 26
Bonnie Shrager
April 26
Rabbi Michael Jay
April 27
Michael Slomovitz
April 28
Roree Iris-Williams
April 29
Mark Tilbor
April 29
Kenneth Yudman
April 29
James Donovan
April 30
Mindy Katz Svetcov
May 1
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David & Terri Robinovitz
April 28
57th Anniversary
Don & Lisa Abramson
April 30
42nd Anniversary
Barry & Lynn Sherman
May 1
42nd Anniversary
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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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Help Support Alex for his Bar Mitzvah Project, Swimming Marathon to bring awareness to the Hostages;
While raising money to support StandWithUs
I am raising money for StandWithUs, an organization which is dear to my heart because it promotes Israel education and fights antisemitism around the world!
For my Bar Mitzvah project, I’ve decided to swim 11,800 meters — that’s 200 meters for each of the 59 hostages still being held by Hamas. That's 12 KILOMETERS!!
This isn’t just a swim. It’s my way of standing with the people of Israel, with the hostages and their families, and with the soldiers who are doing everything they can to bring them home.
I chose to dedicate my project to StandWithUs because it supports the battle against hatred toward Jews throughout the world. That fight is OUR fight.
Please help me support StandWithUs by making a donation through my page. The process is fast, easy and secure.
Thanks so much for your support... and please consider sharing this worthy campaign with your friends who care about the important mission of StandWithUs.
To donate, please visit my fundraising page HERE.
Thank you so much for your partnership!
Alex Lurie
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The Ocean County Library is honored to present “Courage to Remember,” a traveling exhibit of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, at three branches during the month of April:
- Barnegat Branch – 112 Burr Street, (609) 698-3331
- Lacey Branch – 10 East Lacey Road, Forked River, (609) 693-8566
- Waretown Branch – 112 Main Street, (609) 693-5133
Holocaust Remembrance Day takes place from sundown Wednesday, April 23 through sundown Thursday, April 24. “Courage to Remember” consists of 40 panels in three sections that visually describe the Holocaust experience from 1933 through 1945.
The images capture the brutality of persecution and genocide, the danger of complacency and the urgency of memory. Characterized as a tribute and a warning, it has been seen by millions on six continents and continues to travel internationally.
One section will be displayed in each of the three participating OCL branches throughout April. The Lacey Branch exhibit will encompass 1933-39; Waretown Branch, 1939-41; Barnegat Branch, 1941-45. The panels will be on view at all three branches on Friday, April 11.
The California-based Simon Wiesenthal Center confronts global antisemitism, prejudice and intolerance through nine branches in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Jerusalem and Brazil. It is an accredited Non-Governmental Organization at the United Nations, UNESCO, Organization of American States, Latin American Parliament and Council of Europe.
“Courage to Remember” is free and open to the public during normal operating branch hours. For more information, stop by or call the participating branch of your choice or call (732) 349-6200. See the full schedule of Library programs in the online Calendar of Events.
The exhibit is sponsored by the Ocean County Board of Commissioners, Ocean County Library, Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission, New Jersey Historic Commission, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Ocean County Jewish Federation, Beth Medrash Govoha, Simon Wiesenthal Center, Ocean County Prosecutor-Human Relations Commission, Ocean County College Center for Holocaust Genocide and Human Right Education, Ocean County Sheriff, and Ocean County Superintendent of Schools.
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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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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
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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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