|
JEWISH COMMUNITY
CENTER OF
LONG BEACH ISLAND
E-LETTER
May 12, 2023
21 Iyar 5783
| |
TURTLE TALK WEDNESDAY MAY 18 | |
|
Only One Mother
Hundreds of stars in the pretty sky,
Hundreds of shells on the shore together,
Hundreds of birds that go singing by,
Hundreds of lambs in the sunny weather.
Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the wide world over.
George Cooper (1838-1927)
| |
A TORAH MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI |  | |
At the beginning of Parashat Bechukotai, the Torah tells us that if we do good, by following the commandments in the Torah, we will be blessed. But, if we fail to follow its rules, then we will be cursed. As if to highlight the negative aspect, the listing of curses is much longer than the listing of blessings. Indeed, the curses become increasingly grotesque.
With the pronouncement of blessings and curses, there is an underlying message that is easily missed because of its subtlety. Ultimately, the ability to receive a blessing or a curse resides within us. Through Free Will we determine whether to do God’s bidding, or not. The message? Our destiny, at least where God and good deeds are concerned, is within our control.
Free will permits us to make decisions, but it does not protect us from the consequences of those decisions. This is where things become complicated. Why are we given a choice? Why doesn’t God snap God’s Godly fingers and pronounce: “From now on people will only do the right things!”
I think God places the onus on us because God wants to be in relationship with us, and a relationship is only “real” if both parties to it make choices about that relationship.
God is literally saying: “Make the correct choices and, together, We will be happy and prosper. But if you make the wrong choice, together, We are all going to suffer.” The “We” is God, the Israelites, the land, and everything in and on the land.
The Israelites are given two distinct visions of their future. They are given a choice about which to follow. To us, as readers, the choice seems to be a “no-brainer”. But as we continue reading the Torah, and as we study Jewish history, even recent Jewish history, we know that, even given the best of information, the correct choices are not always made. We are an interesting people.
What are we to learn from this? In our lives we always have choices. Some are near epic and some are mundane; but we are presented with options just the same. The choices we make do not only impact us. Our decisions impact the lives of individuals and our community as a whole. Your Free Will is not a gift for you to use to serve your singular purpose. Exercise it in such a way that the community around you will benefit. Make God proud of our relationship.
And so concludes the Book of Leviticus. The beauty of Torah is that there are no endings; the story continues; it moves in nuanced words that shift in meaning from person to person, time to time, and era to era. Choice, alternative, option; use them to better yourself, strengthen community, and to enhance your relationship with the Holy One.
Shabbat Shalom – Rabbi Michael S. Jay
|  | |
SHAVUOT
All Services - Zoom and In-person Friday, May 26th – 10 AM & 7:30 PM
Saturday, May 27th 9:00 AM
Yizkor recited at 10:30 AM
| |  |
|
Candle Lighting time
Friday evening
May 12, 2023
7:43 pm
(So. Ocean County)
JOIN US FOR
SERVICES
| |
Friday Night
May 12, 2023
7:30 PM
Services
IN PERSON & ON ZOOM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to join
Zoom services
FRIDAY NIGHT
Saturday Morning
May 13, 2023
9:00 AM
IN PERSON & ON ZOOM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to join
Zoom services
SHABBAT MORNING
TORAH READING
Here is the Reading
Parashat Behar-Bechukotai
Leviticus 25:1-27:34
Here is the Parshah
PARSHAH
Behar (“On The Mountain”) details the laws of the sabbatical year (Shemita), when working the land is prohibited and debts are forgiven. It also sets out laws of indentured servitude and of the Jubilee year (Yovel), when property reverts to its original ownership. Bechukotai (“In My Laws”) is the final Torah portion in the Book of Leviticus. It begins describing blessings that follow obedience to God's laws and curses that come with desecration of them. It ends with laws of vows and consecration of people and property.
HAFTORAH
Jeremiah 16:19-17:14
Here is the Haftorah
HAFTORAH
.
HAVDALLAH
Saturday evening
8:45 PM
Here is your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to
join Zoom services:
HAVDALLAH
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
UPCOMING SERVICES
Cantor Geller will be joining us Friday the 19th via zoom
| | |
|
SIMAN TOV AND MAZEL TOV
TO OUR B'NAI MITZVAH
IRENE, DEB AND INA
What a wonderful Shabbat last week with three adult members of our congregation - Irene Babst, Deb Levy and Ina Morganthal - becoming b'nai mitzvah. They lead a prayer in Hebrew, read from their Haftorah and gave truly heartfelt d'var torahs. Their teacher Ira Morganthal was beaming as were all those in attendance in the Sanctuary and on Zoom. Parents, siblings, children and grandchildren near and far were part of the ceremony. We are proud of what they accomplished and so grateful of the joy that they brought to our synagogoue.
| | |
|
A great hike at Bass River State Forrest Wednesday with naturalist Lisa Riley. The group then had lunch at Lucille's in Warren Grove. A true "Piney" day! | |
|
We are so excited to announce that the author of this month's WAX book will be joining us this Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 for the book review. Thanks to our discussion leader Jill Ratner, Letty Cottin Pogrebin, author of A Memoir of Shame & Secrecy," will be our guest. She is a founding editor of Ms. magazine, a writer, lecturer, social justice activist, and the author of twelve books -- ten nonfiction works and two novels. If you have read the book, great. If not, join us for the discussion anyhow. It should be a terrific session.
| |
|
May 15
WAX Human Trafficking Program
May 17
WAX Book Review
May 18
WAX Turtle Talk
May 24
Shavuot Cooking Class
SCROLL DOWN TO FLYERS FOR DETAILS
| | |
|
PICKLEBALL
NO PICKLEBALL THIS SUNDAY
THIS THURSDAY AT 12:00 NOON
| |
|
MAH JONGG & CANASTA
WEDNESDAYS
12:30 TO 4:00 PM
| |
|
EXCITING NEWS FOR THIS WEEK'S BOOK DISCUSSION | |
THIS WEEK'S ACTIVITIES
NO RABBI'S CLASSES THIS WEEK
MONDAY, May 15
WAX Human Trafficking Program on Zoom
7:45 PM
WEDNESDAY, MAY 17
Canasta & Mah Jongg
12:30 AM - 4:00 PM
4:00 PM WAX Book Review
THURSDAY, MAY 18
WAX Turtle Talk
10:00 AM
In Person at the JCC
Pickleball
12:00 Noon
SEE LINKS BELOW
| |
|
JCC WOMEN’S AUXILIARY: BOOK GROUP DISCUSSION
WEDNESDAYS AT 4:00 PM
| |
|
NEXT BOOK REVIEW MEETING
Wednesday, May 17th
Shanda: A Memoir of Shame and Secrecy
By Letty Cottin Pogrebin
Discussion Leader: Jill Ratner
An intimate memoir from a founding editor of Ms. magazine who grew up in a Jewish immigrant family mired in secrets, haunted by their dread of shame and stigma, determined to hide their every imperfection—and in denial or despair when they couldn’t.
| |
|
|
FUTURE BOOKS
Wednesday, June 21st
My Mother’s Secret: A Novel of the Jewish Autonomous Region
By Alina Adams
Wednesday, July 19th
Signal Fires
By Dani Shapiro
Wednesday, August 16th
Rebel Daughter
By Lori Banov Kaufmann
A Zoom link will be sent shortly before the event.
| |
 | |
The following names will be read by the Rabbi on Friday evening:
Shelly Keller
Evelyn Rubinfeld
Walter Steigerwald
Millie Bass*
Samuel Buznitsky
George Fuhrmann
Sylvia Greenspan
Clara Hoffman
Harvey B. Levin
Bernard Ostroff
Abraham Rosenfeld
Howard Sherry*
Samuel Rosenweig
Elaine Berkowitz
Milton Britz*
Jerome Molbert*
Scott L. Paley
Esther Rosenfeld
Joseph Tomar
Josephine Cramer
Dr. Harry Herman*
David Kaplan
Elizabeth Piwosky
Isidor Rothstein
Bernice Szanger*
Elaine Frand
Martin Garb
Abraham Joseph Kates*
Jerome Stanley Katz*
Herbert Kramer
Kate Alexander
Mark Babbitt
Richard Gardner, MD
Vera Lipman
Harry Solomon*
Judith Weinstein
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.
| | |
|
Carole Nunberg Britchkow
May 13
Irene Babst
May 14
Samuel Braun
May 14
Jeff Sussman
May 14
Cheryl Celebre
May 15
Susan Karp
May 15
Jeri Riffle
May 15
Lisa Abramson
May 16
Mark Schlossman
May 16
Barbara Sesso
May 16
Jeanne Brenman
May 17
Francine Braun
May 18
Susan Carson
May 18
Ina Telles
May 18
| |
Stuart & Lori Steigerwald
May 18
43rd Anniversary
Jonathan & Rabbi Paula Drill
May 19
38th Anniversary
| |
Phil Rosenzweig
recovering from surgery
| | |
|
Mazel tov to
Sheri & Rabbi Michael Jay
on the marriage of their daughter
Samantha
May 18, 2023
| |
|
Tim Weisel
grandson of
Sheila & Harris Weisel
Masters Degree
SUNY Binghamton
| |
|
Griffin Ilan Valentine
grandson of
Rose & Rudy Valentine
Masters Degree in Culinary Education
Johnson & Wales
| |
|
Ryan Henry Valentine
grandson of
Rose & Rudy Valentine
Bachelors Degree in Communications
SUNY Albany.
| |
MAZEL TOV
to Eric Reilly, grandson of Sheila & Harris Weisel, who was honored with the New York State Assembly District 21 Young Leaders Award.
| |
|
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.
| |
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
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:
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
| |
2023 MEMBERSHIP FORMS
Your support is so important to the continued success of the JCC.
Here is form for renewal:
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:
| |
 |  |
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.
| |
JCC LEADERSHIP
OFFICERS
President- Phil Rosenzweig
1ST Vice President-Sherry Fruchterman
2ND Vice President-Diane Hoffman
3RD Vice President- Rose Valentine
Treasurer- Ira Morgenthal
Secretary- Cliff Denker
Immediate Past President -Michael Babst
BOARD MEMBERS
Howard Babbitt
Diane Buskirk
Mitch Frumkin
| | |
Jon Geier
Paul Levine
Donald Pripstein
Terri Robinovitz
David Shatz
Rob Van Naarden
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
| | |
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
MONDAY - FRIDAY
CLOSED THURSDAY
FROM 10 - 2
Staff:
Leslie Dinkfelt, Office Manager
Mary Beth Krieger, Staff Member
Diane Parzych, Staff Member
Susan Berube, Kitchen Manager
| | |
LATEST
BULLETIN:
PRAYER BOOK:
WEB SITE:
PAVERS:
TREE OF LIFE
YAHRZEIT PLAQUE FORM:
KOL HAKAVOD DONATION FORM
TRIBUTES:
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Rabbi Michael S. Jay
Phil Rosenzweig, President
E-mail Editor: Rose Valentine
Graphics by
Irene Babst
Contributing Columnist
Sheila Weisel
| | | | | |
