JEWISH COMMUNITY

CENTER OF

LONG BEACH ISLAND

E-LETTER


June 2, 2023

13 Sivan 5783





CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR WEBSITE

A MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI

What does the Rabbi, who also happens to be the father, say to the Kallah (Bride) and the Hattan (Groom) under the Huppah?


He tries to let them know that the candle each one is holding represents each one’s history and memories and that when they use those two candles to light the one candle in memory of the 5 grandparents who are no longer physically with us, that fusion represents the binding of their individual pasts to their collective future. He tries to let them know that the Huppah is a Mishkan Meh’aht, a small sanctuary, and that their friends and family represent all of Israel wishing them a healthy, happy, long, fulfilling, and meaningful life together. He tries to let them know that the Tallises of their grandparents above them are wrapping them in a huge hug from heaven.


He tries to let them know that they will bring holiness into the world, and their lives, by how they treat, relate to, and speak with each other. He tries to tell them that, like all of God’s creatures, they are created b’tzelem Elohim, in the image of God. He tries to tell them that Individuals, couples, and families, bring holiness into their lives, and to the world, when they set aside, and consecrate, time for each other.


He tries to tell them that he hopes that they will always look at each other the way that they are looking at each other, at that moment, under the Huppah.  


He tries to tell them that one generation has huge hopes for the next, and plants seeds for that next generation. He tells them that, as individuals, they are each good, strong, bright, and loving. He tells them that as a couple these and other incredible traits have grown exponentially. He tries to tell them that their ability to do this did not come automatically; that their parents and grandparents have planted seeds in, and for, them. Further, he says that those seeds have grown into firmly rooted trees that the couple will tend to and that, together, they will reap the beautiful flowers and fruits that they will grow.


He recites blessings over wine and has them place rings on each other’s fingers after saying:


BY THIS RING YOU ARE CONSECRATED TO ME, (AS MY SPOUSE), IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF MOSES AND THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL.

THERE IS NOTHING IN THE WORLD MORE PRECIOUS TO ME THAN YOU.


He tries to tell them that the vows they have just read to each other have moved him and are indelibly imprinted in his soul. It is the still, small voice.


He tries to tell them that when they were born and they were named, their parents said a blessing that asked God to grant them the privilege of seeing their children under the Huppah. He tells them that the parents just say the blessing, without even really thinking about it. He continues that at their Bar and Bat Mitzvahs their parents made the same request: “May we see our child being blessed under the Huppah”. Again, they say it without really thinking. But, he tells them, it was always there, in the back of your parents’ heads. We prayed for this day from the day you were born….to see you with the person you love, with your “beshert”, under the Huppah….Two becoming one….at the very beginning of sharing a life together. He then lets out an “OY”.


He tries to tell them that working with them (as a rabbi, not as a father) was a blessing. He lets them know that they have a powerfully positive energy in their relationship. It is an energy that doesn’t vibrate or flash like lightening. Instead, it leads to a forceful calm when they are together.  


He tries to tell them that he hopes that every gorgeous detail of their extraordinarily beautiful wedding day will forever remain etched and vivid in their minds. 


He tries to tell them that a bit of Torah will add to their holy and sanctified day. He tells them that Parashat Bamidbar is the perfect Torah portion for a wedding. Why? Because the entire book of Bamidbar is about the Children of Israel marching toward a holy goal: Nationhood and the Promised Land. 


He tries to tell them that from the moment they stepped under the Huppah, they started heading together toward goal after goal after goal. Some goals would be huge, and some would be small. But they would always move toward them together. He tries to give them a blessing: “As you go from two into one, may you always be together, in strength and love, heading toward your goals and your future.”


He then tries to tell them that, in the Torah portion, the tribes of the Israelites encamped around the Mishkan, the portable sanctuary. In the center of the Mishkan was the Ark of the covenant and on the Ark were two Gold chruvim (cherubim, like angels). In Parashat Naso the Torah says that God spoke to Moses from between the two chruvim. He then tries to tell them that there is a beautiful midrash about this: 


It is recorded that the two chruvim were male and female, and that only when they faced each other and looked into each other’s eyes, radiating peace and harmony, only then was the Divine Presence able to enter the sanctuary and talk with Moses.


He then tries to explain to them that the Huppah is the Mishkan, and that the guests represent the Children of Israel surrounding the Mishkan. He then told them that they, the bride and the groom, are the Chruvim on the Ark of the Covenant. He told them to look at him. And then to look out at the guests. Then he told them to look deeply into each other’s eyes and to hold the gaze.


He tried to tell them that, like the Chruvim, every time that they look into each other’s eyes and express love, and look into each other’s souls, they will be creating a holy moment. That is when the divinity that is within each of them will fuse as one and they will bring the divine into their lives, the lives of others, and to the world. 


He then chants and sings, the seven blessings and exhorts the guests to loudly say “AMEN” after each blessing.


He then wraps them up in the Tallitot that they wore at their Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. He tries to tell them that, just as at that time, they accepted adulthood now, as they are wrapped together, they are accepting the holiness of marriage and a life together.  


He then steps out of his job as Rabbi to become (just) a parent and joins his wife and the parents of the groom. Together they recite the priestly blessing: 

May you be like Ephraim and Menashah.

May you be like Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel, and Leah.

May God Bless you and guard you.

May God show you favor and be gracious to you.

May God show you kindness and grant you peace.


He then tries to tell them that breaking the glass represents the fact that, in life, things break. Their job will be to work together to fix these things. He then expresses a hope that the glass is broken into a thousand, thousand pieces and that their joy should last as long as it takes to put all those thousand, thousand pieces back together again perfectly.



Candle Lighting time

Friday evening

June 2, 2023

8:01 pm

(So. Ocean County)


JOIN US FOR

SERVICES


Friday Night

June 2, 2023

Services

7:30 PM


IN PERSON AND ON ZOOM


Here is 

your invitation from 

Rabbi Jay to join

Zoom services

FRIDAY NIGHT


Saturday Morning

June 3, 2023

9:00 AM

Services


IN PERSON AND ON ZOOM


Here is

your invitation from 

Rabbi Jay to join

Zoom services

SHABBAT MORNING


TORAH READING

Here is the Reading

Parashat Nasso

Numbers 4:21-7:89

Here is the Parshah

PARSHAH


Naso (“Take A Census”), the longest portion in the Torah, opens by detailing responsibilities of the Levites. It also describes laws of a woman suspected of adultery (sotah), the Nazirite, and the priestly blessing. The portion ends by listing the gifts that heads of tribes bring to the Mishkan (Tabernacle). 


HAFTORAH

Judges 13:2-25

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


It was wonderful on Shabbat Shavuot to see the JCC sanctuary filled and to feel the ruach (spirit) and joy from everyone.


Thanks to our friends from White Plains who join us each year, to our members and visitors for making it such a special hag.



Rabbi Jay gave the invocation at the Memorial Day celebration at the Greenbriar

Oceanaire community in Waretown.

Join the Federation of Ocean County to celebrate Israel's 75th - with a kosher Israeli dinner, seeing the incredible work we're helping youth-at-risk, and see the scouts perform!

FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE



UPCOMING EVENTS

June 4

WAX Paid Up Brunch

RESCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 27


June 9

Shabbat on the Beach (Loveladies)


June 11

WAX Walk the Bridge


June 16

Shabbat Dinner


June 21

WAX Book Discussion



June 22

WAX Maritime Museum Visit



June 23

Shabbat on the Beach (Spray Beach)


June 25

Welcome Back Brunch


June 27

WAX Brunch


June 29

JCC George Markey Concert


June 30

Shabbat on the Beach (Loveladies)


PICKLEBALL

SUNDAY & THURSDAY

AT 10:00 AM


MAH JONGG & CANASTA

WEDNESDAYS

12:30 TO 4:00 PM

 THIS WEEK'S ACTIVITIES



SUNDAY, June 4

Pickleball

10:00 AM


MONDAY, June 5

FINAL CLASS IN THIS SERIES

Foundations for a Thoughtful Judaism: Practice

A Hartman Class with Rabbi Jay

10:00 AM


WEDNESDAY, June 7

Canasta & Mah Jongg

12:30 AM - 4:00 PM


following Ma'ariv

7:45 PM

Study with with Rabbi Jay

"Jewish Wisdom"

using the book

by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin



THURSDAY, JUNE 8

Pickleball

10:00 AM


Torah Study with the Rabbi

11:00 AM 



NEW INTERMEDIATE HEBREW CLASS WITH IRA

2:00 PM

Contact Ira for more information

inaira213@gmail.com



MONDAY CLASS 
WEDNESDAY CLASS
THURSDAY CLASS

JCC WOMEN’S AUXILIARY: BOOK GROUP DISCUSSION

 WEDNESDAYS AT 4:00 PM

NEXT BOOK REVIEW MEETING


Wednesday, June 21st

My Mother’s Secret: A Novel of the Jewish Autonomous Region

By Alina Adams

Discussion Leader: Elsa Dreyfus


As her revolutionary neighbor mysteriously disappears during Josef Stalin's Great Terror purges, 18-year-old Regina suspects that she's the Kremlin's next target. Under cover of the night, she flees from her parents' communal apartment in 1930s Moscow to the 20th century's first Jewish Autonomous Region, Birobidzhan, on the border between Russia and China. Once there, Regina has to grapple with her preconceived notions of socialism and Judaism.

FUTURE BOOKS


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.

CLICK HERE FOR THE PAVER WORK SHEET
CONGREGATION NEWS

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


David Cohen

Muriel Rubin

Joseph Shatz

William Feather*

Jessica Fields

Celie Nelson

Samuel Starr*

Grace Berman

Dr. Raul Fleischmajer

Hilde Hess Lewisohn

Sylvia Marcus

Gene Mendlow*

Ida Opatosky

Leonard Ostreicher

Murray Rosenthal

Barbara Cohen

Max Faich

Joseph Herman

Hilda Baron

William Novick

Gertrude Polinsky

Mitchell Konner

Joan Podos

Sidney Tannenbaum

Bernard Gross

Michael Salonsky

Freda Schlanger*

Sondra Meshulam


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.

EVENING SERVICE
MORNING SERVICE
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE SERVICE

We are sad to share with you the passing of JCC Member

Mel Kleinfeld,

husband of Sybil Kleinfeld.

Mel passed away on May 28, 2023

at his home in San Francisco



Condolences to the entire

family

"May God remember forever our dear ones who have gone to their eternal rest. May they be at one with the One who is life eternal. May the beauty of their lives shine for evermore, and may our lives always 

bring honor to their memory."

Cake

Louis Celebre

June 4

Michael Nissenblatt

June 4

Andrew Ross

June 5

Lee Gardner

June 6

Ira Morgenthal

June 6

Marc Rubin

June 6

Phyllis Lishnoff

June 7

Bev Rosenberg

June 7

 

David & Debra Levy

June 3

39th Anniversary

Alan & Debra Traster

June 3

12th Anniversary

Michael & Irene Babst

June 4

12th Anniversary

Marc & Judith Lipman

June 4

53rd Anniversary

Jeffrey & Susan Carson

June 5

46th Anniversary

Barnett & Diane Hoffman

June 7

59th Anniversary

Roy & Ellen Konwiser

June 7

59th Anniversary

Sylvain Nakkab & Myrna Herman

June 7

31st Anniversary

Michael & Julie Lippmann

June 8

54th Anniversary

Donald & Maxine Paris

June 9

59th Anniversary

Michael & Toby Slomovitz

June 9

44th Anniversary

Suzy & Jon Geier

MAZEL TOV TO

RIMA & ROGER GOLDSTEIN

on the

  birth of their grandson

Joseph Saul Kovnot

son of Hilary Rosenstein & Jordan Kovnot of Philadelphia.


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 - community - forms

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.
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: 


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
web site: www.jccoflbi.org  
  
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 
rvalen1963@aol.com 
Graphics by
Irene Babst
Contributing Columnist
Sheila Weisel