A MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI

Rosh Hashanah is 3 weeks away! Now is the time to get ready. I think most of us make the mistake of thinking that the time of year, or the liturgy, or the importance of the Holidays, or the Rabbi, will make Rosh Hashanah meaningful for each of us. All of this may be true but, like with everything else in life, preparing ahead of time will have the greatest impact on our High Holy Day experience.

If you have not signed up to attend services, do it now. There is no better place than our island to celebrate this time of year. If nothing else, having the opportunity to experience sunrise and sunset in our little piece of the world should provide a spiritual connectedness not easily found in any other place. That said, Cantor Geller and I have enough special moments in store for you that this year should be particularly moving for you.

But even before you come, get ready. Below is a list of ten ways to prepare for the High Holidays which was initially written by Debra Orenstein, rabbi of Congregation B'nai Israel in Emerson, NJ. Take a look and begin the process of renewal now.

10. Make a honey cake or holiday brisket (or chicken soup)– ideally with someone you love. Use an old family recipe. Bake with multiple generations. Tell family and holiday stories. You can eat some of your favorite dish early, to get in a holiday mood. SCROLL DOWN TO SEE A RECIPE FOR ONE-BOWL HONEY CAKE.

9. Blow the Shofar daily and/or listen to it blown at synagogue throughout the month of Elul. This sound is the “wedding song” of God and the Jewish people from our ceremony at Mt. Sinai. It is also your spiritual alarm clock. Wake up to your past sins and better nature! For an extra mitzvah, blow Shofar for people who may not otherwise hear it, such as folks in assisted living facilities or hospitals. (or call me and I might be able to arrange to blow shofar for them).

8. Read Psalm 27. It is a tradition to recite and contemplate it daily during the month preceding Rosh Hashanah. This Psalm contains the line: “One thing have I asked of Adonai; that is what I will seek.” It invites us to consider our priorities. This Psalm is also the source of the last line of Avinu Malkeinu prayer: חָנֵּנִי וַעֲנֵנִי Chaneyni Va’aneyni – Have mercy on me and answer me.

7. Reflect on the past year. Take out your calendar and scan through the months to remind yourself of the events, opportunities, and people that made a difference in your life in 5784. What fed your soul? What worked well? What good did you do for others? What did you learn? What influenced your spiritual journey and/or Jewish identity? What losses or challenges did you face, and how did you respond? This year is a particularly painful year to look back on. Don’t ignore it. Lean into it and the questions we need to ask.

6. Set some spiritual goals for the coming year. What do you want more of? What do you want to eliminate? What needs improvement – in you and around you? How can you help? What five goals could you achieve in the next year that would make you feel proud of having contributed to the world, improved as a person, and/or fulfilled a purpose for which you are divinely qualified?

5. Listen and learn (with guidance). To prepare for the High Holidays, attend a class, join an online seminar, and/or enjoy High Holiday podcasts, webinars, sermons, or WhatsApp groups. I am teaching a class on Mondays’ at 10:00 AM. Here is the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84745445508?pwd=S1piRkR2N0xmMW9halFjVHNydTRNUT09

Cantor Geller is teaching classes on Wednesday evenings, right after minyan, about certain prayers in the liturgy of the High Holidays. Here is the link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83559208295?pwd=ZGNQbFlxR3Y4S1Vuc1hiYUNCMnNuUT09

4. Read and learn (on your own or with a study partner/s). Read commentaries to better understand the texts you will spend time with in synagogue. Browse a local or online bookstore for an edition of the Machzor whose commentary appeals to you. Or read modern or traditional commentaries on High Holiday Torah readings (e.g., Genesis 21-22 and Leviticus 19) or Prophetic (Haftarah) readings (e.g., I Samuel 11-2:10 and Isaiah 57:14-58:14). Sefaria.org is a great place to begin. For more suggestions, email me or call me.

3. Cultivate awe. Spend time in nature. Look carefully at the ocean or the bay or the night sky. Play with young children. See the world through their eyes because they tend to perceive the world as a place of delight and majesty. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel wrote: “Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement…. Get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted. Everything is phenomenal; everything is incredible; never treat life casually. To be spiritual is to be amazed.”

2. Heal relationships. Take time for some serious reflection, and then contact someone with whom you have a conflict to try initiating meaningful conversation and healing. Consider deeply before you reach out: What led to the conflict? What is your part in it? Do you have anything to apologize for? What can you ask in order to better understand the other person’s perspective? What would it mean to love your neighbor as yourself, to judge the other person favorably, and/or to pursue peace in this situation? Who do you want to be in this conversation? What could make you feel that the conversation was a success, regardless of how the other person responds? What is the best timing for a conversation? What is the best format? (Hint: it’s never going to be email.)

1. Do nothing. That is, sit quietly for periods of time to let your mind settle and your soul speak. Some people call this meditation; some call it worship. Many people like to begin by reading an inspirational text, to set the mood and create an internal “conversation starter” that invites the Higher Self to speak. You might read a selection from the Bible or the Machzor.

Shabbat Shalom - May 5785 be a year of better understanding and better relationships. May it be the year that we do not accept the world as it is and take significant steps to change it for the better. And may we refuse to take no for an answer.

Rabbi Michael S. Jay

 

Rabbi Jay and Sheri were diagnosed with COVID just before last Shabbat. Thanks to our lay leadership, Shabbat services were quickly shifted to Zoom. Rabbi and Sheri are slowly recovering and hope to be back to full strength soon.

If you wish to send them get well wishes, click here for Rabbi's email: mjayrab@gmail.com

See service details below.

Last Sunday night's Federation Film Festival showing of "Less Than Kosher" brought laughter and smiles to the 50 or so folks at the JCC. Thank you to Arlene & Fred Schragger, Federation Film Festival Committee members, for hosting the event and to our "camera man" Ron Buskirk.

Shabbat Candle

Lighting time

Friday evening

September 13, 2024

6:49 PM

JOIN US FOR

SERVICES

September 13, 2024

6:30 PM

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS SHABBAT DINNER

(Reservations required)

SERVICES

7:30 PM

IN PERSON AND ON ZOOM

Here is 

your invitation from 

Rabbi Jay to join Services

on Zoom

FRIDAY NIGHT

SPECIAL DESSERT FROM

GELBSTEIN'S BAKERY

donated by

Sherry & Howard Fruchterman

in honor of the yahrzeit of

Howard's father

Seymour Fruchterman

Saturday,

September 14, 2024

9:00 AM

ZOOM ONLY

Here is

your invitation from 

Rabbi Jay to join

Zoom services

SHABBAT

TORAH READING

Parashat Ki Teitzei

Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19

Ki Teitzei (“When You Go Out”) contains numerous laws, more than appear in any other Torah portion. These include laws about the treatment of a captive woman, returning lost objects, forbidden mixtures, the erection of a rooftop fence, rape, collateral, and workers’ wages.

Here is Parshah

HAFTORAH

Isaiah 54:1-10 

Here is the Haftorah

.HAVDALLAH

NO HAVDALLAH THIS WEEK

Here is

your invitation from 

Rabbi Jay to join

Zoom services

HAVDALLAH

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

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

Pickleball

NO PICKLEBALL THIS SUNDAY

*****

MONDAY, September 16

Rabbi's Class

10:00 PM

Canasta & Mah Jongg

12:30 - 3:00 PM

3:00 PM

Meet & Greet for JCC Singles

Cemetary Information Meeting

8:00 PM

******

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

Pickleball

See times below

******

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

Canasta & Mah Jongg

12:30 PM

WAV Book Group

4:00 PM

Study with Cantor Geller

7:45 PM

*********

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

Pickleball

SEE TIMES BELOW

Torah Study with Rabbi

11:00 AM

Intermediate Hebrew with Ira

2:00 PM

***********

FRIDAY,

SEPTEMBER 20

Studying the Prophets

with Rabbi Jay

9:00 AM

NEW CLASS

WITH RABBI JAY

Monday mornings at 10:00 Starting on Monday, 

September 16th.

Prepare for the holidays with Rabbi Jay. We will be looking at Rabbi Jonathan Sacks’ introductory essays to his Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Mahzors. Together we will discuss insights to the liturgy and themes of the holidays.

The JCC of LBI has made an agreement with the Crescent Memorial Cemetery in Pennsauken, NJ. Any member will be able to purchase a grave in a reserved section for the JCC of LBI.

Please join Board Member Bonni Rubin-Sugarman for a JCC Cemetery Section Informational Meeting on Monday 9/16 from 8:00-9:00 on Zoom.

Friday. September 13

Shabbat Dinner

6:00 PM

Sunday, September 15

Showing of the movie “Screams Before Silence”

10:00 AM

Monday, September 16

Meet & Greet: Activities for JCC singles, widows and widowers.

at JCC 3:00-4:30 PM

Wednesday, September 18

WAX Book Club

4:00 PM

Sunday, September 22

PJP Program

Travel the Jewish World

Jewish Copenhagen

12:30 PM

Friday,

September 27

WAX Brunch before High Holidays

Wally's

11:00 PM

Sunday, September 29

Federation Film Festival

Film: "No Name Restaurant"

7:00 PM

CLICK HERE FOR A COMPLETE CALENDAR OF EVENTS

COUNT DOWN TO THE HIGH HOLIDAYS

Rosh Hashanah

Wednesday evening, October 2, 2024

Thursday, October 3, 2024

Friday, October 4, 20024

Yom Kippur

Friday evening, October 11, 2024

Saturday October 12, 2024

CLICK FOR THE JCC HIGH HOLIDAY BROCHURE

Ushers are needed for the High Holidays. Please contact Harold Farin if you can help. 732-546-2767

ONE-BOWL HONEY CAKE

by Sheri Silver

This one-bowl honey cake is an easy Rosh Hashanah dessert that bakes up tender and moist. It keeps for up to a week and travels well, making it a perfect High Holiday gift. With a beautiful bronze, sugar-speckled exterior, this simple honey cake doesn’t even need frosting! 

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes  Yield: Serves 8-10

Ingredients

• nonstick cooking spray
• 1 cup granulated sugar + extra for prepping the pan
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 cup honey
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• ¾ cup strong brewed coffee
• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground cloves

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a Bundt or tube pan with nonstick cooking spray. If using a tube pan, cut a parchment circle to fit the bottom and spray again. Pour in a few tablespoons of sugar and tap the pan to coat, adding more sugar if needed.
2. Using the whisk attachment of an electric mixer, whisk the eggs till combined. Add 1 cup of the sugar, the honey, vegetable oil and coffee and whisk again till well combined. 
3. Add the remaining ingredients and whisk till smooth and well blended. Pour the batter into your prepared pan and bake the cake till a tester comes out clean, about 50 minutes.
4. Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Place another rack on top of the pan and carefully turn over to release the cake. Remove and discard the parchment paper, then re-invert the cake so it is upright. Cool completely before serving. 

THE FILM WILL HAVE CLOSED CAPTIONS

RESERVE A SEAT FOR THE FILM.

CALL DIANE BUSKIRK 856-952-5940 or EMAIL HERE

WAX BOOK GROUP

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOONS EACH MONTH

NEXT BOOK REVIEW MEETING

Wednesday, September 18th at 4:00 PM

Discussion Leader: TBA

Year of Wonders

By: Geraldine Brooks

When an infected bolt of cloth carries plague from London to an isolated village, a housemaid named Anna Frith emerges as an unlikely heroine and healer. Through Anna's eyes we follow the story of the fateful year of 1666, as she and her fellow villagers confront the spread of disease and superstition. As death reaches into every household and villagers turn from prayers to murderous witch-hunting, Anna must find the strength to confront the disintegration of her community and the lure of illicit love. As she struggles to survive and grow, a year of catastrophe becomes instead annus mirabilis, a "year of wonders." Inspired by the true story of Eyam, a village in the rugged hill country of England, Year of Wonders is a richly detailed evocation of a singular moment in history. Written with stunning emotional intelligence and introducing "an inspiring heroine" (The Wall Street Journal), Brooks blends love and learning, loss and renewal into a spellbinding and unforgettable read. 

Again this year with our participationn

in the PJP Consortium,

you can visit Jewish communities around the world virtually.

CONGREGATION NEWS

FR. JOHN FRAMBES, OFM

It is with great sadness that we share with you the passing of Fr. John Frambes, OFM, beloved friar at St Francis of Assisi Parish. He was a dear friend of the Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island. He studied Torah with us and after October 7 joined the congregation at services to show his support. We will miss his warm smile and kindness. May his memory be a blessing.

Funeral Arrangements for Fr. John Frambes, OFM

at St. Francis of Assisi Parish

 4700 Long Beach Blvd. Brant Beach, NJ

We invite you to join us as we honor and remember the life of Fr. John Frambes, OFM.

Viewing

Sunday, September 15th

4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Wake Service at 7:00 PM

Doors will open at 4:00 PM

St. Francis of Assisi Church

Gathering

Monday, September 16th

10:00 AM

Mass of Christian Burial

Monday, September 16th

11:00 AM

A reception will follow in the church hall.

Please join us in celebrating the life and legacy of Fr. John.

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 

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:

JOIN NOW