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JEWISH COMMUNITY
CENTER OF
LONG BEACH ISLAND
E-LETTER
March 6, 2026
17 Adar 5786
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A MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI
MATZAH MEMORIES
Dear Reader,
Well, Purim is now over and that means that Pesach is only a few short weeks away. Insert “OY!!” here. Passover tells a relatively simple story of an enslaved people redeemed lovingly by an all-powerful God. Simple it may be, but we have come to observe it by means of a wonderfully complex and layered system of preparation and ritual. The holiday’s choreography is designed to create meaning and to foment individual and collective memory.
Despite all its nuanced complexity, at its core, the Passover story is about remembering. God remembering the Israelites and His Covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; the enslaved Israelites in Egypt remembering God; and us, today, remembering that we were slaves, and that God took us out of Egypt. Indeed, when God discussed the very first Passover with Moshe, he clearly had in mind that memories would play an important part in future celebration as He said:
This day shall be to you one of remembrance: you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord throughout the ages; you shall celebrate it as an institution for all time. (Exodus 12:14).
When we remember, we re-live and when we re-live, it is as if we were there. Live, remember, re-live.... a holy cycle.
But it’s not just about remembering, it is also about creating memories.
This year we have a great program designed to help you have Seders that will create memories. On Sunday, March 5th, at 10:00 AM, our friend Dr. Murray Spiegel will be here to help us to have Seders that will be memorable. In a program entitled: “300 Ways to Create and Unforgettable Seder”, Murray will have a fun, participatory multimedia workshop that inspire us to make our Seder nights “Different from all other nights”!
Look for the flyer elsewhere in this lovely Shabbat Reminder.
JOIN US!!!!
!!!!!!!!ASSIGNMENT WARNING!!!!!!!!!
Your assignment is to send me a Passover memory. It can be about a Seder from your childhood, or more recent. It can be about Passover preparation. It can be about explaining the holiday to someone else. It can be short, or long. It can be funny or serious. It can bring a smile, or a tear. (Are you getting the sense that I will accept just abut anything your offer?) THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT I WANT YOU TO SHARE.
!!!!!!!!END OF ASSIGNMENTWARNING!!!!!!!!
This year, as we are preparing for Passover and sitting down to partake of our Seders, may we all be cognizant of the notion that we are creating memories for ourselves, and for our children and grandchildren. Memories are one of God’s gifts to humankind. They represent a cement that binds each generation to the next.
SHABBAT SHALOM AND REMEMBER TO PREPARE FOR A ZISSIN AND MEMORY FILLED PESACH!
RABBI MICHAEL S. JAY
| Rabbi Jay will be in his office at the JCC after services on Saturdays. The Rabbi is also available at any time or place to schedule in-person, or virtual meetings at your convenience. The Rabbi can be reached by call/text 973-865-9534 or email at Mjayrabrab@gmail.com | |  | |
Candle Lighting Time
(Southern Ocean County)
Shabbat Eve
Friday, March 6, 2026
5:36 PM
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Shabbat Parah
Shabbat Parah (“Sabbath of the red heifer”) takes place on the Shabbat before Shabbat HaChodesh, in preparation for Passover. Numbers 19:1-22 describes the parah adumah (“red heifer”) in the Jewish temple as part of the manner in which the kohanim and the Jewish people purified themselves so that they would be ready (“pure”) to sacrifice the korban Pesach.
Friday
March 6, 2026
SERVICES
7:30 PM
ON ZOOM ONLY
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to join Services
on Zoom
FRIDAY NIGHT
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Saturday
March 7, 2026
TORAH STUDY
9:00 AM
SERVICES
10:00 AM
IN PERSON AND
ON ZOOM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to join
Zoom services and Torah Study
SATURDAY MORNING
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TORAH READING
Parashat Ki Tisa 5786
Exodus 30:11-34:35;
Numbers 19:1-22
Ki-Tisa (“When You Elevate”) opens as God tells Moses to collect a half-shekel donation from all Israelites and to anoint the Mishkan (Tabernacle), its vessels, and the priests. The Israelites worship the golden calf and Moses breaks the tablets. Moses beseeches God to forgive, and returns with a second set of tablets.
Here is Portion I
Here is Portion II
HAFTORAH
Ezekiel 36:16-38
The usual haftarah for Parashat Ki Tisa comes from the book of I Kings and references the worship of false gods. However, Shabbat Parah calls for a special haftarah. In this reading, the prophet Ezekiel both chastises the people of Israel for disrespecting God and says that God will bring them back from exile and purify them — a continuation of the purification theme seen in the concluding reading about the red heifer.
Here is the Haftorah
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TORAH QUESTION?
How might the incident of the golden calf challenge your ideas of faith and loyalty?
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WEEKDAY SERVICES
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
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SUNDAY, March 8
10 AM - 1 PM
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TUESDAY, March 10
Pickleball
10 AM - 1 PM
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WEDNESDAY, March 11
Mah jongg & Canasta
12:30 PM
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THURSDAY, March 12
Pickleball
10 AM - 1 PM
Torah Study
11:00 AM
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FRIDAY, March 13
Studying the Prophets
Following morning minyan
WAX Brunch
LBI Table
11:00 AM
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Friday, March 13
WAX Brunch
LBI Table
11:00 AM
Sunday, March 15
Passover Prep
11:00 AM
Wednesday, March 25
Baking wih Joanne
1:00 PM
Thursday, March 26
Virtual Tour of the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience
7:30 PM
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PICKLEBALL
Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays
10 - 1
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MAH JONGG & CANASTA
WEDNESDAYS
12:30 PM TO 4:00 PM
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JewBelong’s contemporary Passover Haggadah makes your Seder meaningful, engaging, and easy to follow. No Hebrew school flashbacks. No slogging through long paragraphs no one understands. And no guests quietly wondering when it's time to eat.
Just clear explanations, modern language, and a flow that's fun until the last cup of wine. Plus a great skit and lots of other fun surprises!
| | WAX BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP | | |
Wednesday, March 18th at 4:00 pm
Discussion Leader: Rose Valentine
Queen Esther By John Irving
Esther Nacht is born in Vienna in 1905. Her father dies on board the ship to Portland, Maine; her mother is murdered by anti-Semites in Portland. Dr. Larch knows it won’t be easy to find a Jewish family to adopt Esther; in fact, he won’t find any family who’ll adopt her. When Esther is fourteen, soon to be a ward of the state, Dr. Larch meets the Winslows, a philanthropic New England family with a history of providing foster care for unadopted orphans. The Winslows aren’t Jewish, but they despise anti-Semitism. Esther’s gratitude for the Winslows is unending; even as she retraces her roots back to Vienna, she never stops loving and protecting the Winslows. In the final chapter, set in Jerusalem in 1981, Esther Nacht is seventy-six. John Irving’s sixteenth novel is a testament to his enduring ability to weave complex characters and intricate narratives that challenge and captivate. Queen Esther is not just a story of survival but a profound exploration of identity, belonging, and the enduring impact of history on our personal lives showcasing why Irving remains one of the world’s most beloved, provocative, and entertaining authors—a storyteller of our time and for all
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The Faithful: Women of the Bible
A new Fox series, “The Faithful: Women of the Bible,” is premiering on March 22, just in time for Passover and Easter.
Its first installment tells the story of the first Jewish matriarch — Abraham’s wife, Sarah, who will be played by the legendary Minnie Driver, of “Good Will Hunting” and most recently “Emily in Paris” fame. Viewers will see the story of Abraham and Sarah, and also of Hagar, who Sarah instructs to bear Abraham’s son, Ishmael, after years of infertility, only to later give birth to their son Isaac.
The second installment follows Isaac’s wife, Rebecca, and the way she treats her two sons, Esau and Jacob.
The final episode of the mini-series will tell the stories of Jacob’s two wives: older sister Leah, whom he is tricked into marrying by her father, Lavan, and her younger sister Rachel, his favorite wife. Their 12 sons would later become the 12 tribes of Israel.
See Trailer below.
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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.
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The following names will be read by the Rabbi on Friday evening:
Gerald Abrams
Abraham Fisher
Rhoda Herman*
Norman Ketzlach
James Norberg, Sr.
Esther Renzin
Harry Sisenwine
Damary Hernandez
Maidie Kaplon
Dr. Richard Snyder
Netti Turek
Eric Weinberg
Helen Applebaum
Jetchen Karo
Stanley Karp
Adam Benjamin Lewisohn
Susie Sisenwine
Joseph Friedman*
Nathan Levison*
Morris Chmielnik
Marian Diamond
Arlene P. Freidberg*
June Hartman*
Victor Kasner
Herman Kleinfeld
Abraham Pervin*
Paul Watling
Elbert Abramson
Lillian Salander*
Betty Schleifer
Amy Smith
Milton G. Smith
Hershel Alan Denker
Joyce Edelman Kass
Albert Kessler
Phyllis Lachs
Morris Rebo
Sophia Shapiro
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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"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."
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Ken Feldman
March 7
Myrna Hernandez
March 7
Neil Falek
March 8
Lynn Reimer
March 9
Abraham Sadon
March 9
Ellen Weinberg
March 9
Lauren Scharf Snyder
March 12
Alan Traster
March 12
Bernard Hershenberg
March 13
Vera Hershenberg
March 13
Howard Miller
March 13
Bernard Rosenberg
March 13
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David & Karen Shatz
March 10
52nd Anniversary
Stuart & Paula Mandell
March 12
54th Anniversary
Howard & Deede Rothenberg
March 12
43rd Anniversary
Fred & Karen Schwing
March 13
33rd Anniversary
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Jackie Printz and Robert Finkel
on the birth of their new grandson
to Jake and Emma Wieseneck
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SHARE YOUR NEWS AND PICTURES
CONTACT:
rvalen1963@aol.com
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We would like to expand our Caring Committee to reach out to folks who need a "how are you doing?" call once and a while. Please contact
Debby Schweighardt
973-634-5349 if you are interesting in participating
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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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
Scroll down to see the new Ner Tamid Fund
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.
NER TAMID FUND
The Ner Tamid Fund was established in 2025 as part of the JCC’s 75th Anniversary Celebration. Its purpose is to fund necessary maintenance or improvement of our beautiful JCC building as well as the Parsonage. To ensure that the JCC remains an Eternal Light for the Jewish Community on and off the island and in Southern Ocean County generally, please consider making a separate donation to the Ner Tamid Fund, or allocating a small portion of your High Holiday donation to that fund.
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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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