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JEWISH COMMUNITY
CENTER OF
LONG BEACH ISLAND
E-LETTER
July 11, 2025
15 Tamuz 5785
| | ISRAELI DANCING SUNDAY NIGHT | | |
This week’s Torah portion, Balak, contains the beautifully descriptive poetic verse: מַה־טֹּ֥בוּ אֹהָלֶ֖יךָ יַעֲקֹ֑ב מִשְׁכְּנֹתֶ֖יךָ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל, “Mah Tovu Ohalekha Yaacov, Mishkenotekha Yisrael”. You might recognize this as the prayer that we say as we enter the synagogue every morning, or that is customarily recited at the start of the Friday evening service. It translates as: “How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings (sanctuaries) O Israel”.
The set-up for this piece of Text is some explosive Torah. The (non-Jewish) prophet, Balaam is hired by King Balak to curse the Israelites. God is unhappy with this plan and literally places words of praise in the prophet’s mouth. (Earlier in the Text God places words in the mouth of a donkey in a biblical precursor to Mr. Ed.).
The narrative is compelling, but I’d like to take a brief look at the six words that are prominently featured in our liturgy. (As I write this I am recalling that the Shema, too, is comprised of 6 words).
The prophet is looking over the entire Israelite encampment as he utters his words. He could be referring to separate structures when he refers to ohalekha (your tents) and the mishkenotekha (your dwellings/sanctuaries), but I think that he is seeing these two attributes in each home he sees.
An Ohel is a tent. A mishkan is a tabernacle; it is a place for the divine presence. What the prophet saw in his vision was that each tent was not just a home for eating, sleeping, and privacy. Each home was additionally a sanctuary and holy. Each residence, even though it was temporary and was erected as a place to fulfill human needs, served the dual purpose of bringing God and holiness into the living space.
At the same time, he saw that the Mishkan was not just a sanctuary, not just a holy spot, but also a home. It was literally a place for God to dwell. It is holy, it is a place for ritual and, yet, it has room to be an abode.
A home is not just living space. It is not just a physical structure with a collection of furniture and the things we acquire. A home is also a sanctuary in every meaning of that term. Torah wants our homes to be holy.
A sanctuary is not just a place for ritual and prayer. It is a place to feel comfortable, and a place to feel loved.
This Shabbat we should each take an inventory. Have we done all that we can to make our homes sanctuaries? For my part, I will continue to make sure that the JCC’s sanctuary feels like a home.
A home should be a sanctuary. A sanctuary should be a home. When we accomplish this dual task, we will absorb the light given by each which will, in turn, enable us to be a brighter light unto the nations.
Shabbat Shalom – Rabbi Michael S. Jay
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just possibly….
If you have the joy of attending Shabat morning services, but need to get to the mainland after Kidush: you know that traffic can be difficult The following is suggested that even though you might have some ‘bumper to bumper’ issues: taking this ‘wiggle waggle’ route might make it more comfortable
From the JCC, turn left onto East 24th Street. Take the first left onto Beach Avenue Take Beach Avenue to its end then turn. Right onto East MacEvoy Lane then turn Left back onto Beach Avenue which becomes Ocean Boulevard to its end at 31st Street. Turn left onto 31st Street to LB Boulevard [there might be some traffic at this point] Turn left onto West 28th Street to the first Right turn onto Central Avenue to Left onto West 12th Street to its end then turn. Right onto Shore Avenue which ends at West 9th Street – Get into the left lane to turn Left onto South Barnegat Avenue [CVS]. Then take the very next left onto West 8th Street. It then take you onto Route 72 West.
It actually might cut off some time but at the very least it will for the most part get you moving though of course, you can always stay on and enjoy LBI
Stu Lehrer
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SHABBAT SHALOM
Candle Lighting Time
(Southern Ocean County)
Shabbat Eve
Friday, July 11, 2025
8:07 PM
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JOIN US
FOR
SHABBAT
SERVICES
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Friday
July 11, 2024
6:00 PM
Services on the Beach
on 24th Street
Bring your beach chair!
In case of inclement weather services will be held at the JCC.
IN PERSON AND
ON ZOOM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to join Services
on Zoom
FRIDAY NIGHT
Saturday
July 12, 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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Neve Brooklyn Winnicki
daughter of
Chet and Brittany Winnicki
MAZEL TOV
TORAH READING
Parashat Balak
Numbers 22:2-25:9
Balak tells the story of the Moabite king Balak, who hires Balaam to curse the Israelites. Balaam’s donkey speaks along the way, and Balaam ends up blessing the Israelites. The portion ends with a story about Israelite men sinning with Moabite women and the stabbing of an Israelite and a Midianite.
Here is the Torah Reading
HAFTORAH
Micah 5:6-6:8
The Balak Haftorah, from Micah 5:6-6:8, focuses on the Micah's prophecy of the Messianic era and rebukes the Israelites for not observing God's commandments. It highlights God's protection of the Israelites from Balaam's attempts to curse them, and emphasizes the importance of justice, kindness, and humility. Ultimately, the Haftorah connects the events of Parshat Balak with the future redemption.
Here is the Haftorah
HAVDALLAH
8:45 PM
ON ZOOM ONLY
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
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BEACH SERVICES
at 6:00 PM
July 11: Beach Services at Spray Beach
July 18: Beach Services at Loveladies
July 25: Beach Services at Spray Beach
August 8: Services at Loveladies
August 15: Services at Loveladies
August 22: Services at Spray Beach
August 29: Services at Spray Beach
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SUNDAY, July 13
Pickleball
10 AM - 1 PM
Israeli Dancing
7 - 9 PM
******
TUESDAY, July 15
Pickleball
3 - 6 PM
******
WEDNESDAY, July 16
Canasta & Mah Jongg
12:30 - 4 PM
WAX Book Discussion
4 PM
*****
THURSDAY, July 17
Torah Study
11 AM
Pickleball
10 AM - 1 PM
Stockton Holocaust Resource Center Program
7:00 PM
at the JCC
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Israeli Folk Dancing
Sunday, July 13
7:00 - 9:00 PM
JCC WAX Book Group
Wednesday, July 16
4:00 PM
Stockton Holocaust Resource Center
Speaker: Director Irvin Moreno Rodriquez
At the JCC
Thursday, July 17
7:00 pm
Klezmer Band World Tour Concert
at Harvey Cedars Bible Center
Sunday, July 20
7:00- 9:30 PM
WAX Brunch
Tuesday, July 22
11:00 AM-1:00 PM
Jersey Girls Beach Haven
JCC Summer Bazaar
Wednesday, July 30
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MAH JONGG & CANASTA
WEDNESDAYS
12:30 PM TO 4:00 PM
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PICKLEBALL
Sundays and Thursdays
10 - 1
Tuesdays
3-4 PM Beginners
4 - 6 PM Experienced Players
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Attention all JCC Pickleball players.
Our pickle community is buying an ad in the 75 Gala ad book. We are taking a picture for the ad at 11 am on Sunday July 13. Anyone who has played at least once at the JCC is welcome to join the picture. Bagels and lox will be provided (if you feed them they will come!!). Hope to see you Sunday.
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SURFLIGHT COMEDY SHOW
To Benefit the JCC of LBI
August 31, 2025
8:00 PM
Contact the Surflight Box Office to order your tickets.
609-492-9477
When you order your tickets, you can request to sit near the JCC section. The JCC will receive a portion of the revenue from ALL seats sold in the theater.
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WAX BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION GROUP
MONTHLY ON WEDNESDAYS AT 4:00 PM
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Wednesday, July 16th at 4:00 pm
Discussion Leader: Debby Schweighardt
*IN PERSON AT THE JCC LIBRARY AND ON ZOOM
"Maine Characters"
Every summer, Vivian Levy and Lucy Webster spend a month with their
father at his lake house — separately. Raised in New York City, Vivian is an ambitious sommelier with a secret that could derail her future. Lucy grew up in a tiny Maine town, where she now teaches high school English while watching her marriage unravel. They’ve never met. While Lucy envied her half-sister from afar, their father kept Vivian in the dark.
When Vivian arrives at the lake to spread his ashes and sell his cabin, she's shocked to find Lucy there, awaiting his return. In an ideal world, they’d help each other through their grief. Instead, forced to spend the summer together, they fight through a storm of suspicion and hostility to untangle the messy truth about their parents’ pasts. While Lucy is desperate to hold onto the house, Vivian is scrambling after a betrayal. After thirty years apart, is it too late for them to be a family?
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PLEASE REGISTER FOR THE ACTIVITIES BELOW WITH THE QR CODE. JUST POINT TO THE QR ON EACH FLYER
WITH YOUR PHONE CAMERA.
A YELLOW LINE WILL APPEAR. THEN CLICK.
THE REGISTRATION FORM WILL APPEAR
FOR YOU TO FILL OUT.
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JCC WOMENS AUXILIARY: BOOK GROUP DISCUSSION
WEDNESDAYS AT 4:00 PM
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The JCC section at Crescent Memorial Park is available for sales. Please contact Bonni Rubin-Sugarman at 609-417-7148.
| | | | Beautiful new jewelry item | | |
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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Finally! The 2024 Pavers are being installed.
Thank you to all those who patiently waited to see the end result of their thoughtful donations.
We are now starting our 2025 campaign - here is the link to the order form.
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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:
Stanley Appel
Albert Luterman
Janice Sherman
Janie Stavola
Jon Elayne Churgin
Sanford Cohen*
Herman Kaufman
David Resnek
Lillian Zalkind*
Beatrice Bader
Isaac Cohen
Frances Ganek Gendel
Reuben Gerber*
Dorothy Gordon
Bentley Gubar
Marlene Kaufman*
Irwin J. Pripstein*
Kay Gilbert
Sheila Gilman
Joseph Goldstein
Gertrude Gondelman
Irving Hirschfeld
Harry Jacobson*
David Srager
Jacob Weiner
Henry Zlotkin*
Tracy Gardner
Ada Weiner Lepene*
Esther London
Joseph Notterman
David Silverman
Tillie Balbresky
Theodore Freedland
Simon Greenberg
Dorothy Petchenik
Milton Weinstein*
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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Carolyn Fleischer
July 12
Judith Sara Landis
July 12
Phillip Belena
July 14
Lois Fox
July 14
Renison Gonsalves
July 14
Martha Schleifer
July 15
Jerry Greenspan
July 16
Shelley Harris
July 18
Robin Kanis
July 18
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William & Lorna Klein
July 12
10th Anniversary
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Thank everyone who contributed sneakers to our grandson Jonah’s Bar Mitzvah project. He collected over 220 pairs of sneakers.
Joanne & Howard Babbitt
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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
Paul Levine
Ken Podos
Sondi Pripstein
Terri Robinovitz
Bonni Rubin-Sugarman
Rose Valentine
Ken Yudman
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
Representative to the Board - Sondi Pripstein
Rabbi Michael S. Jay, Spiritual Leader
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