A MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI

The second half of this week’s Torah portion, Balak, contains the beautifully descriptive poetic verse “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.

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 (tents) and the mishkenotekha (dwellings/sanctuaries). But, he also could be seeing these two attributes, “tents” and “sanctuaries”, in each home he sees.

An Ohel is a tent; it is a dwelling place for people. 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.

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. 

The reverse is also true. Our JCC is not just a religious space. It is not just a sanctuary. It is also our home. It is a place where we welcome people. It is a place where we spend time together as a larger family. We pray here. We laugh here. We eat here. We sing here. We learn here. We play pickleball here. We deepen our connections to each other and our tradition here. And we console each other here.

A home and a sanctuary. A sanctuary and a home. This is the message to us. 

The Jewish people are not only special because of the Temple, or because of the prophets, or because of the kings or because of the Torah. What really makes the Jewish people special is what goes on in our homes. They are homes of love, respect, and learning. They are homes where children learn to be mensches. They are homes where we prepare people to go out and do good in the world.  Essentially, because of what we do in our homes, our homes are holy.

This Shabbat we should each take an inventory of our tents. Have we done all that we can do to make our homes sanctuaries?  If our living space becomes more holy; if each of our homes becomes a place of repair and a platform for the performance of good deeds, perhaps our lights will help to brighten the lights of the homes around us and, with God’s help, the rest of the world.

Shabbat Shalom – Rabbi Michael S. Jay

Friday, July 19

Shabbat on the Beach at Lovelades

6:00 PM

Sunday, July 21

An Evening with Carl Steinberg

7:00 - 9:00 PM

Tuesday, July 23

WAX Brunch at LBI Table

11:00 AM

Thursday, July 25

Trivia with DJ Mike

3:30-6:00 PM

Friday, July 26

Shabbat on the Beach at Spray Beach

6:00 PM

Friday, August 2

Shabbat on the Beach at Spray Beach

6:00 PM

Sunday, August 4

Gypsy Moon Concert, Dinner and Silent Auction

5:30 PM

Friday, August 9

Shabbat on the Beach at Lovelades

6:00 PM

Sunday, August 11

Annual Congregation Meeting

Wednesday, August 14

JCC Bazaar

8:00 AM - 3 PM

Friday, August 16

Shabbat on the Beach at Lovelades

6:00 PM

Sunday, August 18

Marsha Chazin Dance Program

11:30 AM

Friday, August 23

Shabbat on the Beach at Spray Beach

6:00 PM

Friday, August 30

Shabbat on the Beach at Spray Beach

6:00 PM

JOIN

MUSICIAN AND JCC MEMBER

CARL STEINBERG

for a evening of songs you love

The Eagles, Creedence Clearater and the Beach Boys

SUNDAY JULY 21

7:00 - 9:00 PM

$10.00 per person

THE GYPSY MOON DUET

Sunday, August 4th at 5:30 PM

Dinner

Concert by the Gypsy Moon Duet

An In-House Silent Auction

$40 per person

The committee is excited about the silent auction prizes they have collected so far. You could win a woman’s bicycle, Yankee tickets, Mets tickets, Broadway tickets, artwork, and a stunning antique pendant with rubies. It is going to be a great event!!!!!

SUMMER BAZAAR

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14TH

8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

CONGREGATION NEWS

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PAVERS

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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.

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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

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