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JEWISH COMMUNITY
CENTER OF
LONG BEACH ISLAND
E-LETTER
September 26, 2025
4 Tishri 5785
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A MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI
This week’s torah portion, Vayeilech, contains the last two mitzvoth (commandments) of the Torah.
The 612th mitzvah is to congregate together (haq’hel) once every seven years and listen to the Torah being read. The 613th, and last, commandment is for each of us to write a Torah scroll.
Both these commandments appear designed to make sure that the Torah never disappears, neither from our consciousness, nor physically. The mitzvah of haq’hel is probably the basis for our practice today of reading the Torah every week, on Shabbat, and on holidays. The last commandment ensures that it will always be possible to disseminate the Torah.
It is brilliant plan which seems to have worked. The Torah has been read publicly since at least the Babylonian exile, around 537 B.C.E. It appears that God understood that if we hear the Torah, we will want to study it and to understand it.
Since writing a Torah was a long process which required great skill and a certain piousness, ultimately the Rabbis permitted us to fulfill the mitzvah of writing a Torah by retaining others to do it on our behalf. Today it is often customary to retain a “sofer”(scribe) to write a Torah for a community and for community members to write the last few letters.
Indeed, these requirements may have facilitated the Jewish focus on education. If you need to write or read a Torah, you need to learn the Aleph-Bet. Once you learn to read and write, you can use that knowledge to read and write other documents. It is easy to imagine that the Jewish connection to education started with the need to learn Torah. All those Jewish authors, poets, artists, doctors, educators, engineers, scientists, and Jurists may owe their success to the two last commandments of the Torah.
As we pray for a good new year, let’s pray that the tradition of reading the Torah, and writing Torah scrolls, continues to be a vital part of the Jewish people this year and from generation to generation.
If you want to increase your observation of the 612th Mitzvah to hear the Torah read, I can help you. Join us every Thursday at 11:00 Am on Zoom, when we study the Torah Portion of the Week. CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK:
עם אחד עם לב אחד
am ehad im lev ehad -
one people, with our hearts beating as one
Shabbat Shalom and Shanah Tovah U’metukah – Rabbi Michael S. Jay
God willing 5785 will be a year of health, peace, sweetness, and truth.
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Cry No More by Alden Solovy
Cry no more for the sins of the past.
Rejoice in your repentance and your return.
For this is the day that God made
To lift you up from your sorrow and shame,
To deliver you to the gates of righteousness.
Remember this:
Love is the crown of your life
And wisdom the rock on which you stand.
Charity is your staff
And justice your shield.
Your deeds declare your kindness
And your works declare your devotion.
Cry no more for your fears and your dread.
Rejoice in your blessings and your healing.
For this is the day that God made
To raise your countenance and hope,
To deliver you to the gates of holiness.
from This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day
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Candle Lighting Time
(Southern Ocean County)
Shabbat Eve
Friday, September 26, 2025
6:28 PM
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SHABBAT SHUVAH
Shabbat Shuvah refers to the Shabbat that occurs during the Ten Days of Repentance between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Only one Shabbat can occur between these dates. This Shabbat is named after the first word of the Haftarah (Hosea 14:2-10) and literally means “Return!”
Friday
September 26, 2024
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JOIN US
FOR
SHABBAT
SERVICES
7:30 PM
IN PERSON AND
ON ZOOM
with Cantor Geller
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to join Services
on Zoom
FRIDAY NIGHT
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Saturday
September 27, 2025
9:00 AM
IN PERSON AND
ON ZOOM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to join
Zoom services
SATURDAY MORNING
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TORAH READING
Parashat Vayeilech
Deuteronomy 31:1-31:30
Vayeilech (“He Went”) opens as Moses tells the Israelites that he will not lead them into the Land of Israel, and that Joshua will take over. He instructs the Israelites to gather and read Torah publicly every seven years. At God’s command, Moses writes a poem bearing witness to God’s covenant with the Israelites
Here is the Torah Reading
HAFTORAH
Hosea 14:2-10;
Micah 7:18-20
The prophet Hosea exhorts the Jewish people to "Return, O Israel, to the L-rd your G‑d," encouraging them to repent sincerely and ask for G‑d's forgiveness. The haftorah concludes with a brief portion from the Book of Micah, which describes G‑d's kindness in forgiving the sins of His people.
Here is the Haftorah:
Hosea
Micah
WEEKDAY SERVICES
Monday - Thursday
No regular service
10/1
Ma'ariv Service
7:30 PM
Here is your invitation from Rabbi Jay to
join Zoom services:
MA'ARIV
Monday - Friday
No regular service
10/2
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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If you do not have a place to worship this Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur and would like to join us at the JCC, tickets are still available. Here is the link on our website.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AND PAY ON LINE
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HIGH HOLIDAYS FOOD DRIVE
This Wednesday Evening: October 1, when you come to the JCC for Kol Nidre Services,
please bring a non-perishable food item and place it in the Food Pantry bins
Food is a beloved central feature of most Jewish holidays – The fast of Yom Kippur, by definition, demands no special foods - Among the several explanations for why we fast is to sensitize us that there are those in our midst who experience hunger not just one day, but every day
The food will then be delivered to the St Francis Food Pantry
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YOU CAN BUY YOUR RAFFLE TICKETS ON LINE UNTIL WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 1 AT 12:00 NOON
Click on https://jccoflbi.org/giving-opportunities/. Scroll to the bottom of the page to make a donation. Enter the amount and Raffle in Other and our staff can fill a book out for you.
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We understand that many of you have family/friend traditions where you have your Break the Fast meal. However many of our members do not and that is why the JCC Board believes it is so important to our community to offer a break the fast. But we need to know how much food to buy and prepare so please use the link below to RSVP NO LATER THAN FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 26!!! And just to whet your appetite (and you will be hungry), here is the menu: Bagels and all the fixings, egg, tuna and whitefish salads, kugels, and bintzes. All for only $18 per person! Please RSVP.
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JCC CLASSES CANCELLED
THIS WEEK
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MAH JONGG & CANASTA
WEDNESDAYS
12:30 PM TO 4:00 PM
NO GAMES THIS WEEK
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PICKLEBALL
Sundays and Thursdays
10 - 1
NO PICKLE BALL UNTIL AFTER THE HOLIDAYS
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Sunday, October 5
John Kendrick's Broadway Series
Oklahoma
8:30 PM
Thursday, October 9
The film "Torn"
7:30 PM
Friday, October 17
WAX Brunch
11:00 AM
Sunday, October 19
The Jewish Museum, NY – “Afterlives: Recovering the Lost Stories of Looted Art”
1:00 PM
Wednesday, October 22
Boscov's Friends Helping Friends
Sunday, October 26
John Kendrick's Broadway Series
South Pacific
8:30 PM
Monday, October 27
Adult Education: Davening 101
7:45 PM
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EXCITING NEWS FROM THE OCEAN COUNTY
JEWISH FEDERATION
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Dear Friends,
We’re excited for our inaugural Cultural Festival! We have a variety of programs and hoping it's something for everyone.
We decided to build on the successful film festivals in the past and expand our cultural approach to include a wider array of events, including partnering with our community. We are offering events both in person and virtually so a large number of people can participate.
The festival will highlight maintaining our culture in a multi-cultural society, a theme you'll find in the films, storytelling, and comedy.
We hope you participate and enjoy all the programs we have to offer!
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Festival Highlights!
The first program is hosted by Chabad of Jackson on September 30th! A game show for the 55+ crowd – How Jew You Do? A free program with lunch, but you must pre-register with musi@chabadofjackson.com.
We have two special film screenings marking the 2nd anniversary of the October 7th massacre.
Torn: The Israel-Palestine Poster War on New York City Streets is being hosted by the JCC of LBI, available virtually between October 5 through the 9th. On October 9th at 7:30 we’ll have a zoom with the film’s producer Nim Shapira, moderated by Rabbi Michael Jay. Torn captures the emotional fallout of the now iconic “KIDNAPPED” poster campaign. The screening is free for donors to the Israel Emergency Fund, and if you haven’t donated this year the registration form has a link.
Congregation B’nai Israel is hosting October 7: Bearing Witness to the Massacre on Sunday, October 12th with the film’s producer Justin Kron. $10 registration includes bagels and coffee, register by October 9th.
Both films’ trailers and registration links can be found at www.jewishoceancounty.org/israel-solidarity.
Our final partner program is the Fall Festival, Sunday, October 26 from 1:30-4. Hosted at Common Grounds, the community garden run by our partners at One Ocean County, continuing their work to bring the Ocean County community together.
Our full festival day is Sunday, October 19th! Individual programs are $15 and the full day is $36.
2PM Join us for lunch and a story, with storyteller Noa Baum presenting The Power of Story: Rekindling Our Shared Humanity.
3:30 PM We have two comics from Comedy for Peace, Dotan Malach and Amin Ali. They avoid politics and bring the world together.
5:30 PM join us for dinner and a movie. Linda Lavin’s last film, One Big Happy Family, celebrating a Bat Mitzvah with a growing extended family!
See all the details for these programs at www.jewishoceancounty.org/culturalfestival. Register for these programs here.
Looking forward to seeing you!
Lorna Klein, Event Chair
PLEASE NOTE LORNA IS A MEMBER OF THE JCC OF LBI BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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We have an exciting upcoming event on October 22, 2025, and I need your help and support.
Boscov’s Department Stores are sponsoring “Friends Helping Friends”, a 1 day only in store and on-line shopping event. For a $5 (or more, if you like) donation to Women’s Auxiliary, you will receive a 25% off Shopping Discount Pass! All proceeds from your donation go to the Women’s Auxiliary! This is a win-win for everyone! You get to do your shopping at a discounted price (Chanukah is right around the corner), and Women’s Auxiliary raises funds to help the JCC!
Boscov’s stores are located in Toms River, Egg Harbor Township, Monmouth, Moorestown, and Woodbridge in New Jersey, as well as Neshaminy and Plymouth Meeting in Pennsylvania.
I have a supply of the Shopping Passes, so please reach out and support our event!
Thank you,
Joanne Babbitt
215-962-3688 (cell; call or text)
609-312-7439 (home)
Jb_toot@att.net
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BEGINNING OCTOBER 6TH WE WILL BE SENDING OUT A SEPARATE WEEKLY EMAIL FOR ALL THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO OUR MEMBERS.
A LINK WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE ON THE SHABBAT REMINDER
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Jewish Museum Series
This is the first of the Zoom programs brought to our members through our participation in PJP (Partners in Jewish Programming). Look for more information about future Museum programs including "American Jewish Soldiers and the Liberation of the Concentration Camps” and Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience – “Stories from the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience”
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Sunday, October 19 @ 1:00 PM
The Jewish Museum, NY – “Afterlives: Recovering the Lost Stories of Looted Art”
During World War II, untold numbers of artworks and pieces of cultural property were stolen by Nazi forces. After the war, an estimated one million artworks and 2.5 million books were recovered. Many more were destroyed. This exhibition chronicles the layered stories of the objects that survived, exploring the circumstances of their theft, their post-war rescue, and their afterlives in museums and private collections.
Afterlives includes objects looted from Jewish collections during the war, including works by such renowned artists as Pierre Bonnard, Paul Cézanne, Marc Chagall, Gustave Courbet, Paul Klee, Franz Marc, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, and Camille Pissarro. The Jewish Museum has also commissioned four contemporary artists to create new works that address the resonance of the exhibition’s themes: Maria Eichhorn, Hadar Gad, Dor Guez, and Lisa Oppenheim. Treasured pieces of Judaica, including rare examples of Jewish ceremonial objects from destroyed synagogues, will also be on view, as well as rarely seen archival photographs and documents that connect the objects to history.
75 years after the Second World War, Afterlives explores how surviving artworks and other precious objects were changed by those events, and how they have moved through time, bearing witness to profound historical ruptures while also acting as enduring carriers of individual expression, knowledge, and creativity. The exhibition follows the paths taken by works of art across national borders, through military depots, and in and out of networks of collectors, looters, ideologues, and restitution organizations.
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Coming in January 2026, we will also be bringing to our members a PJP series entitled " Jewish Art with Evgenia Kempinski"
Evgenia Kempinski is a professional Jewish tour guide, born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia. With over fifteen years of experience guiding Jewish heritage tours in her hometown, she has developed a deep passion for uncovering and sharing the stories of the Jewish Diaspora. With her family she spent six enriching years living in Israel and now resides in Barcelona, continuing her mission to connect people with Jewish history and culture around the world. She is the founder of the Online Jewish Travel Club, a vibrant community that brings together Jews from different countries through a shared love of travel, art, and Jewish heritage.
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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.
The gift shop is open during office hours M-F 10 - 2.
| | Honey Pots for your Holiday table | | Mah jongg Key Chains and Bags | | |
CALL PAUL LEVINE WITH ANY QUESTIONS
484-802-0586
SEE ORDER FORM BELOW
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The following names will be read by the Rabbi on Friday evening:
Irma Golden*
Robert Husak*
Henry Levitt
Muriel Shapiro Powitz*
Sandy Rifkin
Isadore Brecher
Helen Koseff*
Leon Segal
Dorothy Sherry*
Ida Steinberg
Helaine Bennett
Zena Josephson*
Sol Koslowsky
Michael Norman Kreiger*
Leo Slomovitz
Stuart Ekind
Jill Sisenwine Berger*
Eva Braun
Philip Millstein*
Karl Rebarber
Hannah Resnek
Freda Black
Milton Fine
Sara Jacobs Fink*
Arthur Petter
Beatrice Smith*
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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Darlene Gardner
September 27
Stewart Cofsky
September 28
Joyce Davis
September 28
Jerome Marcus
September 29
Jill Yudman
September 29
Mary Pleeter
September 30
Carolyn J. Belena
October 1
Howard Fruchterman
October 1
Carolyn Ross
October 1
Jill Denker
October 2
Marcia V. Wilkof
October 2
Zanna Lantzman
October 3
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Barry & Elaine Sussman
October 2
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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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
Ken Podos
Sondi Pripstein
Terri Robinovitz
David Shatz
Bonni Rubin-Sugarman
Rose Valentine
Ken Yudman
WOMEN'S AUXILIARY
President - Diane Buskirk
Treasurer - Suzy Geier
Secretary - Joanne Babbitt
Lorna Klein
Joyce Levine
Representative to the Board - Sondi Pripstein
Immediate Past President - Irene Babst
Rabbi Michael S. Jay, Spiritual Leader
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