A MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI

Parashat Va’Etchanan: The Text of a Prayer

When I lead Minyanim (services) or teach about Tefillah (prayers), I often like to play a game I call: "Where did that come from?!” Recognizing that much of our liturgy comes directly from the Torah, I like to point out where a quote originated. Sometimes I simply point if out or sometimes it is the beginning of a deeper conversation to determine whether a specific quote’s use in the prayer is the same as its meaning in the Text from which it came. 

Parashat Va’Etchanan stands out because much of it has found its way into our daily existence as Jews. For instance, this Torah portion contains a restatement of the Ten Commandments together with the Shema, each, in its own way, the sine qua non of our faith. But there is another quote from V'Etchanan that maintains a very important position in each of our prayer services.  It is from 4:39) The English text is: "Know this day and take it to heart that Adonai is God in heaven above and on earth below, there is no other." The Hebrew is:

וְיָדַעְתָּ֣ הַיּ֗וֹם וַהֲשֵׁבֹתָ֮ אֶל־לְבָבֶ֒ךָ֒ כִּ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ ה֣וּא הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים בַּשָּׁמַ֣יִם מִמַּ֔עַל וְעַל־הָאָ֖רֶץ מִתָּ֑חַת אֵ֖ין עֽוֹד׃

V’yadata ha-yom va-hasheivota el l”vavkha, ki Adonai Hu Ha-Elohim ba-shamayim mi-ma-al, v’al ha-aretz mi-takhat, ein od. 

Where do we see this? It is in the Aleinu, the prayer that we say at the conclusion of every service. This sentence is at the end of the first paragraph that many of us sing as a congregation in an easily recognizable tune.

The Aleinu prayer is, according to Rabbi Hayim Halevy Donin, “[o]ne of the noblest expressions of the universal character of Jewish monotheism”. It was written in the 3^rd century and is often ascribed to the Babylonian sage, Rav. Originally intended to be said during the Musaf service on Rosh Hashanah, it became the closing prayer of each daily service during the early 13^th century.

The piece of Va’Etchanan that is in the Aleinu reaffirms the notion that our God truly is the one and only God. When it says that Adonai is God in heaven and on earth below, the liturgy is telling us that God is the God of “everywhere” and “everything”. 

In the greater context of the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses is giving his final speech to the Israelites. At length, and with love, Moses is taking the Torah and synthesizing God's Commandments into his own words; in a form that humans will better be able to understand. (Indeed, human emotions abound in Deuteronomy.) As in his life, these words will enable Moses, even after his death, to be an intermediary between the people and God.

Knowing that the words are Moses’, every time we say the Aleinu and recite this piece of Text, it is as if Moses is calling out to us; calling to each of us. We are being reminded of the very basic nature of Torah’s message; there is One God in heaven and on earth. In this regard, it is not by accident that the first part of the Aleinu is in the present tense. It is intended to be a permanently present message; a message that transcends time. It reminds us that every day, every hour, every minute, and every second, the God to whom we find ourselves praying is the one God. 

One God, One Torah, One people.

Shabbat Shalom – Rabbi Michael S. Jay

SUMMER BAZAAR

Our Summer Bazaar was a great success. The weather was perfect for walking around to check out the items for sale, the quality of the merchandise was upscale, the flow of shoppers was constant and the volunteers enjoyed their time together in the kitchen and at the JCC table.

Many thanks to our Bazaar Chair EXTRAORDINAIRE Howard Babbitt and staff members Mary Beth Krieger and Diane Parzych.

Saluting our Volunteers:

Joanne Babbitt

Stan Berman

Ron Buskirk

Art Davis

Cliff Denker

Jill Denker

Elys Dreyfus

Howard Fructerman

Jon Geier

Diane Hoffman

Paul Levine

Ina Morgenthal

Ina Morgenthal

Malenie Piscetelli & Natalie

Don Pripstein

David Shatz

Karen Shatz

Rose Valentine

And of course Rabbi Jay who circluated all day greeting and answering questions from members and vistors alike.

Special praise from Chair Howard Babbitt: "Don Pripstein, Jon Geier, and Ron Buskirk deserve extra praise for being there before 6 and organizing what could have been a chaotic mess. And Paul Levine was always there as needed. Most of all, Marybeth was irreplaceable. There from before 6 until at least 5 and just everywhere, doing everything."

The WAX + Kitchen Crew:

Diane Hoffman

Joyce Levine

Noralyn Carroll

Bev Rosenberg

Marybeth Krieger

Lynn Berman

Diane Parzych

Renee Ward

Jon Geier

Suzy Geier

Cliff Denker

Jill Denker

Sue Davis

Judy Lipman

Bunny Kaufman

Marlene Matz

Robin Kanis

Ruth Turner

Hannah Kosky

Diane Buskirk

Friday, August 16

Shabbat on the Beach at Loveladies

6:00 PM

Sunday, August 18

Marsha Chazin Dance Program

7:00 PM

Tuesday, August 20

WAX Brunch

Drift Beach Bar & Restaurant

11:00 AM

Wednesday, August 21th

WAX Book Discussion

4:00 PM

Friday, August 23

Shabbat on the Beach at Spray Beach

6:00 PM

Friday, August 30

Shabbat on the Beach at Spray Beach

6:00 PM

LOOK FOR INFORMATION ABOUT A

TRADITIONAL SHABBAT DINNER

SPONSORED BY THE MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

SEPTEMBER 13TH

CLICK HERE FOR A COMPLETE CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Get ready for some sizzling ballroom dancing on Sunday, August 18 at 7:00 - 9:00 PM

at the JCC on LBI.

JCC WOMEN’S AUXILIARY: BOOK GROUP DISCUSSION

 WEDNESDAYS AT 4:00 PM

NEXT BOOK REVIEW MEETING

Wednesday, August 21th at 4:00 PM

Discussion Leader: TBA

Vignettes on Life: Reflections of a Septuagenarian

By: Carol Karkavy

In her new memoir Carol Harkavy has combined her love of writing, her journal entries spanning forty-five years, and her timeless wisdom to create a book of reflections and life lessons. She invites readers to take a peek into her humor, hopes, dreams, frustrations, fears, and anxieties that are openly revealed in this no-holds-barred, coming-of-old-age memoir. The author's goal is to impress upon younger readers the importance of not being late for the dance and to encourage older readers to realize that it is never too late to follow your heart. Nelson Mandela's quote, "It always seems impossible until it's done" is a constant reminder of what we can achieve if we are determined and motivated to persevere. Self-doubt, uncertainty, and negativity are our own self-imposed enemies and must be recognized and overcome before they paralyze us in such a way that prevents us from following our passion. Vignettes on Life will not only inspire readers of all ages to follow their dreams but will also share ageless wisdom with them to help guide them through this complicated maze we call "life."

WE ARE EXCITED TO AGAIN THIS YEAR TO HOST

TWO FILMS AT THE JCC. SEE FILMS AND DATES BELOW.

Again this year with our participationn

in the PJP Consortium,

you can visit Jewish communities around the world virtually.

COMING THIS SEPTEMBER

CONGREGATION NEWS

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 z"l 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

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:

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