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JEWISH COMMUNITY
CENTER OF
LONG BEACH ISLAND
E-LETTER
April 9, 2025
11 Nisan 5785
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I started this message with an idea for an addition to our Seder tables. I listened to a podcast with Rachel Goldberg Polin. You may recall that her son, Hersh, Z”L, was kidnapped and murdered by Hamas. Since there are still 59 hostages still being held by Hamas (both living and dead), she posed a new symbol this year for the Seder plate, a lemon. There is visual and olfactory beauty to the fruit, and yet its taste is bitter, and it is inedible.
Since the Seder is designed, in part, to cause folks at the table to think and ask questions, this would be a good way to make sure that questions get asked.
Speaking of questions. In the Haggadah, the last of the Four Questions asks why we recline as we eat at the Seder. The short answer is that because we are free, we can now relax at our meal as free people do. But what is freedom? At its core, freedom includes the ability to choose how we spend our time. A slave or hostage is subject to the whim of his/her master/abductor and therefore has no control over his/her time. A free person can use his/her time as he/she wishes.
However, “control” of time is a tricky thing. We cannot actually control it. Time is its own universe; it moves forward without regard to whatever else is happening. What we can do is control what we “do” with our time. Thankfully, our tradition provides us with many meaningful ways to spend our time.
As we sit down to our Seders this year, let’s make the best use of our time. Take a moment to quietly sit and survey the table and everyone sitting around it with you. Note the symbols, the sounds, the smells, and the smiles. And, as you recall the story of our people’s redemption, connect with those who have chosen to spend their time with you.
We have a story to tell as a people, a story to tell as a community, and personal stories. Tell them all and Hear them all. Glory in the special nature of our people, your friends and loved ones, and yourself.
Be present, be a participant, be a listener, be a storyteller. It is Time well spent.
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Pesach Sameach – Rabbi Michael S. Jay
PS: My dear readers. It is probably an understatement to say that the world, as it stands today, can leave one feeling a bit concerned, upset, and feeling unbalanced. The Rabbis would tell you that this is all-the-more reason to use as much energy as you can muster, to find the things that you are grateful for. Gratefulness might be a bit harder to find today, but if you put your energy into it, you will find it. Once found, share your gratitude with others at your Seder. This exercise will not solve the problems in this world, but it will help to provide the energy necessary to begin to address them. I wish everyone Sweetness and Strength.
REMEMBER #ITZAMITZVAH
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COUNTDOWN TO PASSOVER
SEARCH FOR CHOMETZ:
Thursday, April 10
BURNING OF CHOMETZ:
Friday, April 11
LAST DAY TO SELL CHOMETZ
Friday, April 11 by 6:00 PM
FIRST SEDER:
Saturday, April 12
SECOND SEDER:
Sunday, April 13
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SHABBAT SHALOM
&
HAPPY PASSOVER
Candle Lighting Time
(Southern Ocean County)
Shabbat Eve
Friday, April 11, 2025
7:13 PM
Erev Passover
Saturday. April 12, 2025
8:14 PM
Second night of Passover
Sunday, April 13, 2025
8:15 PM
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Shabbat HaGadol
(“Great Shabbat”) is the Shabbat immediately before Passover. There is a special Haftarah reading on this Shabbat of the book of Malachi.
Friday
April 11, 2025
Services
7:30 PM
ON ZOOM ONLY
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to join Services
on Zoom
FRIDAY NIGHT
Saturday
April 12, 2025
9:00 AM
ON ZOOM ONLY
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to join
Zoom services
SHABBAT
TORAH READING
Parashat Tzav
Leviticus 6:1-8:36
Here is the Parshah
HAFTORAH
Malachi 3:4-24
Here is the Haftorah
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WEEKDAY SERVICES
Monday - Thursday
Ma'ariv Service
7:30 PM
Here is your invitation from Rabbi Jay to
join Zoom services:
MA'ARIV
Tuesday - 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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Thursday morning, April 10
Shacharit Service
Learning session for the First Born **
8:15 AM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to
join Zoom services:
SHACHARIT
Sunday, April 13
Monday, April 14
Saturday, April 19
Sunday, April 20 - Yiskor
All services begin at 9:00 AM
ON ZOOM ONLY
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to join
Zoom services
PASSOVER SERVICES
**Fast of the Firstborn
It is an ancient custom for the firstborn to fast on the day before Passover. This commemorates the miracle which spared the firstborn Jewish sons from the plague which struck down the firstborn sons of the Egyptians. If the fourteenth of Nissan falls on a Shabbat as it does this year, the fast is observed on the previous Thursday [the twelfth of Nissan], for if a fast is suspended because of Shabbat, it is not held on a Friday. This fast is treated leniently. The prevailing custom is to participate in a seudat mitzvah, a celebratory meal marking the completion of a Torah study, which overrides the requirement to fast.
Join us for services and some Torah study Thursday morning and fulfill your obligation of fasting.
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The Passover Seder plate traditionally holds six symbolic foods:
- a roasted shank bone (zeroah)
- a roasted egg (beitzah)
- bitter herbs (maror)
- a green vegetable (karpas)
- a sweet paste (haroset)
- a second type of bitter herb (chazeret)
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Ashkenazi Charoset
Ingredients
6 apples, grated - no need to peel
1 cup walnuts, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2-3 tablespoons sugar or honey
1/3 cup sweet red wine or grape juice
Preparation
1. Place the apples and walnuts into a large bowl.
2. Add cinnamon and sugar or honey.
3. Stir in the sweet wine, you can use the traditional Manischewitz Concord Grape, but any sweet wine or even grape juice is fine.
4. Stir well and store in refrigerator until ready to serve.
from https://jamiegeller.com
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stu’s a-stu-te sayings…..
PASSOVER GREETINGS
It is always a wonderful gesture to wish everyone well with happiness
In Judaism, we take the time to wish everyone a joyous and meaningful time to honor Shabat and on Holidays with expressions of sweet greeting
On Jewish Holidays, we will extend our sentiments to wish each other a
Chag Simay’ach [Happy Holiday]
Yet there is an exception and it’s done on Passover [Pesach]
On Pesach, we extend our greetings with
"Chag Kasher v'Sameach"
[חַג כָּשֵׁר וְשָׂמֵחַ]
This phrase specifically refers to Passover and translates to "Have a happy and kosher Passover"
Why "Kosher"?
The "kosher" part is particularly relevant to Passover because the holiday involves a strict observance of dietary laws, including the prohibition of leavened foods (chametz)
Kosher actually means pure and clean so it raises the bar of our celebrating this great Festival of Freedom
So as we approach this extraordinary Holiday
please extend that extra expression of sentiment
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Happy Passover,
From the Board and Staff
of the Jewish Federation of Ocean County
Annabel Lindenbaum, Board Chair
Keith Krivitzky, Managing Director
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SUNDAY, April 13
NO PICKLEBALL
Pickleball 10 - 1
******
TUESDAY, April 15
Pickleball
10 - 1
******
WEDNESDAY, April 16
Canasta & Mah Jongg
12:30 - 4:00 PM
WAX Book Club
4:00 PM
*******
THURSDAY, April 17
Torah Study
11:00 AM
Pickleball
10 - 1
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Wednesday, April 16
WAX Book Review
4:00 PM
Friday, April 25
WAX Luncheon
12:00 Noon
at Kubel's
Tuesday, April 29
Paint & Sip
10:00 AM
John Kendrick Series
Broadway - A Biography
8:30 PM
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Friday, May 2 JCC
Family Dinner and Service
6:30 PM
Wednesday, May 7
Singles, Widows and Widowers
3:00 - 4:00 PM
Friday, May 16
Candle Making Event at “Lavinia’s Haven”
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Wednesday, May 21
WAX Book Club
4:00 PM
Friday, May 23
WAX Brunch – Venue TBD
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MAH JONGG & CANASTA
WEDNESDAYS
12:30 PM TO 4:00 PM
April 23. May 21, 28.
Play starts at 11am and ends at 1:45
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PICKLEBALL
Sundays, Tuesdays
and Thursdays
10 - 1
NO PICKLEBALL 4/13 AND 4/20
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JCC WOMEN’S AUXILIARY: BOOK GROUP DISCUSSION
WEDNESDAYS AT 4:00 PM
NEXT BOOK REVIEW MEETING
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Wednesday, April 16th at 4:00 PM
Discussion Leader: TBA
Book: Eternal Life By: Dara Horn
Rachel is a woman with a problem: she can’t die. Her recent troubles—widowhood, a failing business, an unemployed middle-aged son—are only the latest in a litany Continued on page 23 2 3 Volume 18/ Issue 2 JCC Women Auxiliary: Book Group Discussion – continued Wednesday at 4:00 PM Eternal Life by Dara Horn spanning dozens of countries, scores of marriages, and hundreds of children. In the 2,000 years since she made a spiritual bargain to save the life of her first son back in Roman-occupied Jerusalem, she’s tried everything to free herself, and only one other person in the world understands: a man she once loved passionately, who has been stalking her through the centuries, convinced they belong together forever. But as the twenty-first century begins and her children and grandchildren—consumed with immortality in their own ways, from the frontiers of digital currency to genetic engineering—develop new technologies that could change her fate and theirs, Rachel knows she must find a way out.
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LOOK FOR INFORMATION ABOUT
THESE OTHER SUMMER EVENTS
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July 17: Irvin Moreno Rodriquez, Director Stockton Holocaust Resource Center 7pm
July 30: JCC Summer Bazaar with Susan Shapiro hosting a Book Signing
August 21: Tour of Harvey Cedars Bible Center (HCBC) – 10am
BEACH SERVICES
June 13 – Beach Services at Loveladies 6pm
June 20: Beach Services at Spray Beach 6 pm
June 27: Beach Services at Loveladies 6pm
July 11: Beach Services at Spray Beach 6pm
July 18: Beach Services at Loveladies at 6pm
July 25: Beach Services at Spray Beach at 6pm
August 8: Beach Services at Loveladies
August 15: Beach Services at Loveladies
August 22: Beach Services at Spray Beach
August 29: Beach Services at Spray Beach
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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. Here is a sample one of our new products. The gift shop is open during office hours M-F 10 - 2.
HAND CARVED PENDANTS
DONATED BY A LOCAL LBI CERAMIST
$10.00 EACH
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The following names will be read by the Rabbi on Friday evening:
Arthur Daniels*
Oscar Glickman*
Georges Margent
Julius Snyder*
Elissa Biester
Sylvia Frankiel
Benard Gubar*
Rhoda Halperin
Irving Koseff*
Alfred Levin
Samuel Pepose
Maxine Petersohn
Seymour Reich
Jacob Saferstein
Fanny Fuhrmann
George Gubar*
Joseph Indzel
Patricia Mayro
Felix Schoenberger
Vera Sidel
Leonard Berman
Milton Bloom
Irving Bzezensky*
Laura Kaplan
Harold Katz
Benjamin Lehrer
Allan Mayro
Pearl Corson
Stuart Geier
Rose Gottlieb
Claire Levin
Malvina Malmed
Louis Rubinfeld
William Schreer
Bernice Silverman
Edward Albert*
Donald Bosswick
Robert Jack Bzezensky*
Harry Millstein*
Norman Shaer
Pearl Weinzimmer
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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Sandra Rosenbloom
April 12
Karen Foreman
April 13
Karl Mayro
April 13
Elyse Halevah
April 14
Frederic Schragger
April 14
Arthur Abramowitz
April 15
Gail Meltzer
April 15
Donald Pripstein
April 15
Vicki Pashman
April 16
Hedda Chairnoff
April 17
Suzanne Geier
April 17
Alan Jacobson
April 17
Martin Weinberg
April 18
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Howard & Janet Cohen
April 12
39th Anniversary
Rudolph & Rose Valentine
April 13
62nd Anniversary
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Rose & Rudy Valentine
50th Anniversary
Renewal of Vows
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MAZEL TOV TO
Ruth and Howard Miller on the engagement of their daughters
Jerri to David Moscow &
Jackie to Matthew Hochberg
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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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The Ocean County Library is honored to present “Courage to Remember,” a traveling exhibit of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, at three branches during the month of April:
- Barnegat Branch – 112 Burr Street, (609) 698-3331
- Lacey Branch – 10 East Lacey Road, Forked River, (609) 693-8566
- Waretown Branch – 112 Main Street, (609) 693-5133
Holocaust Remembrance Day takes place from sundown Wednesday, April 23 through sundown Thursday, April 24. “Courage to Remember” consists of 40 panels in three sections that visually describe the Holocaust experience from 1933 through 1945.
The images capture the brutality of persecution and genocide, the danger of complacency and the urgency of memory. Characterized as a tribute and a warning, it has been seen by millions on six continents and continues to travel internationally.
One section will be displayed in each of the three participating OCL branches throughout April. The Lacey Branch exhibit will encompass 1933-39; Waretown Branch, 1939-41; Barnegat Branch, 1941-45. The panels will be on view at all three branches on Friday, April 11.
The California-based Simon Wiesenthal Center confronts global antisemitism, prejudice and intolerance through nine branches in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Jerusalem and Brazil. It is an accredited Non-Governmental Organization at the United Nations, UNESCO, Organization of American States, Latin American Parliament and Council of Europe.
“Courage to Remember” is free and open to the public during normal operating branch hours. For more information, stop by or call the participating branch of your choice or call (732) 349-6200. See the full schedule of Library programs in the online Calendar of Events.
The exhibit is sponsored by the Ocean County Board of Commissioners, Ocean County Library, Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission, New Jersey Historic Commission, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Ocean County Jewish Federation, Beth Medrash Govoha, Simon Wiesenthal Center, Ocean County Prosecutor-Human Relations Commission, Ocean County College Center for Holocaust Genocide and Human Right Education, Ocean County Sheriff, and Ocean County Superintendent of Schools.
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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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