FROM THE HEART

by Rose Valentine, Email Editor

I want to thank Rabbi Jay for allowing me to fill in for him with this week’s Shabbat Message.

Tuesday morning at minyan Rabbi shared with us a link to live stream the funeral of Hersh Goldberg-Polin from Israel. I want to mention one of the special things about morning minyan is that the group shares current happenings with each other. It is truly a chaverah.

I opened the Stand with Us web site to view the funeral with a blue and white cloth waving behind the speakers which included the President of Israel, Hersh’s father, mother, sisters and IDF buddies. All spoke beautifully and from the heart.

But it was the words of Hersh’s mother, Rachel Goldberg-Polin, that touched me the most. I too have lost a son. Not in such a public and painful way but still a tragedy for both of us - to have our dear sons take away so soon and in the prime of their lives. Here are some of her words and many of the things that I have lived by these last 10 years:

·     " And one thing I keep thinking about is how, out of all the mothers in the whole entire world, God chose to give Hersh to me. What must have I done in a past life to deserve such a beautiful gift? It must’ve been glorious."

Thanking G-d for having him in my life.

·      " ...it’s not that Hersh was perfect, but he was the perfect son for me, and I am so grateful to God and I want to do Hakarat Hatov (gratitude, literally recognizing the good) and thank God, right now, in front of all of you, for giving me this magnificent present of my Hersh. For 23 years, I was privileged to have the most stunning honor to be Hersh’s mama. I’ll take it and say thank you. I just wish it had been for longer."

·       "But now you will forever be our beautiful boy. You will stay the energetic, kind, patient, curious, funny, irreverent, pensive, forever handsome, forever young, forever my sweet boy."

I tell my grandsons, your father will always be a beautiful athlete, young and handsome.

·       "At this time, I ask your forgiveness if ever I was impatient or insensitive to you during your life, or neglected you in some way, I deeply and sincerely request your forgiveness Hersh. If there was something we could have done to save you and we didn’t think of it, I beg your forgiveness, we tried so very hard, so deeply and desperately, I’m sorry!"

·       “I will miss you every single day for the rest of my life, but you’re right here, I know you’re right here, I just have to teach myself how to feel you in a different way.”

Thank you Rachel Goldberg-Polin for reassuring me that I am doing the right thing, thinking the right things so I can remember with joy my son Joe. You are a woman wise beyond your years. YOU ARE MY HERO.

To read Rachel’s speech click here: RACHEL GOLDBERG-POLIN

And to read more click here: DON'T LEAVE US

Shabbat Candle

Lighting time

Friday evening

September 6, 2024

7:01 PM

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September 6, 2024

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FRIDAY NIGHT

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September 7, 2024

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SHABBAT

TORAH READING

Parashat Shoftim

Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9

Shoftim (“Judges”) discusses guidelines of leadership, opening with a command to appoint judges and continuing to detail laws of kings, priests, and prophets. It also describes laws relating to cities of refuge for accidental killers, false witnesses, warfare, and the rite performed in a case of unsolved murder

Here is Parshah

HAFTORAH

Isaiah 51:12-52:12

This week's haftorah is the fourth of a series of seven "Haftarot of Consolation." These seven haftarot commence on the Shabbat following Tisha b'Av and continue until Rosh Hashanah.

Here is the Haftorah

.HAVDALLAH

NO HAVDALLAH THIS WEEK

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HAVDALLAH

WEEKDAY SERVICES

Monday - Thursday

Ma'ariv Service

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MA'ARIV

Monday- Friday

Shacharit Service

8:15 AM

Sunday at 9:00 AM

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SHACHARIT

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

Pickleball

See times below

Federation Film Showing

7:00 PM

*****

MONDAY, September 9

Rabbi's Class

10:00 PM

Canasta & Mah Jongg

12:30 - 3:00 PM

******

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

Pickleball

See times below

******

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

Canasta & Mah Jongg

12:30 PM

Study with Cantor Geller

8:45 PM

*********

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

Pickleball

SEE TIMES BELOW

Torah Study with Rabbi

11:00 AM

Intermediate Hebrew with Ira

2:00 PM

***********

FRIDAY,

SEPTEMBER 13

Studying the Prophets

with Rabbi Jay

9:00 AM

NEW CLASS

WITH RABBI JAY

Monday mornings at 10:00 Starting on Monday, 

September 9th.

Prepare for the holidays with Rabbi Jay. We will be looking at Rabbi Jonathan Sacks’ introductory essays to his Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Mahzors. Together we will discuss insights to the liturgy and themes of the holidays.

The JCC of LBI has made an agreement with the Crescent Memorial Cemetery in Pennsauken, NJ. Any member will be able to purchase a grave in a reserved section for the JCC of LBI.

Please join Board Member Bonni Rubin-Sugarman for a JCC Cemetery Section Informational Meeting on Monday 9/16 from 8:00-9:00 on Zoom.

Sunday, September 8

Federation Film Festival

Film: "Less Than Kosher"

7:00 PM

Friday. September 13

Shabbat Dinner

6:00 PM

Sunday, September 15

Showing of the movie “Screams Before Silence”

10:00 AM

Monday, September 16

Meet & Greet: Activities for JCC singles, widows and widowers.

at JCC 3:00-4:30 PM

Wednesday, September 18

WAX Book Club

4:00 PM

Sunday, September 22

PJP Program

Travel the Jewish World

Jewish Copenhagen

12:30 PM

Friday,

September 27

WAX Brunch before High Holidays

Wally's

11:00 PM

Sunday, September 29

Federation Film Festival

Film: "No Name Restaurant"

7:00 PM

CLICK HERE FOR A COMPLETE CALENDAR OF EVENTS

COUNT DOWN TO THE HIGH HOLIDAYS

Rosh Hashanah

Wednesday evening, October 2, 2024

Thursday, October 3, 2024

Friday, October 4, 20024

Yom Kippur

Friday evening, October 11, 2024

Saturday October 12, 2024

CLICK FOR THE JCC HIGH HOLIDAY BROCHURE

NEW INFORMATION

The High Holiday Committee has decided to send out tickets this year. We think it will help with the flow of worshippers into the building if we do not have to refer to a spread sheet. In addition, this will add another layer of security as we reach the anniversary of October 7.

We are now offering non-members an opportunity to sit in the sanctuary for $250 per seat. 

Ushers are needed for the High Holidays. Please contact Harold Farin if you can help. 732-546-2767

Thank you to Ritual Chair, Stu Lehrer for helping us

prepare for the Holy Days with the article below.

RESERVE A SEAT FOR THE FILM.

CALL DIANE BUSKIRK 856-952-5940 or EMAIL HERE

SIGN UP HERE TO MAKE

YOUR DINNER RESERVATIONS

WAX BOOK GROUP

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOONS EACH MONTH

NEXT BOOK REVIEW MEETING

Wednesday, September 18th at 4:00 PM

Discussion Leader: TBA

Year of Wonders

By: Geraldine Brooks

When an infected bolt of cloth carries plague from London to an isolated village, a housemaid named Anna Frith emerges as an unlikely heroine and healer. Through Anna's eyes we follow the story of the fateful year of 1666, as she and her fellow villagers confront the spread of disease and superstition. As death reaches into every household and villagers turn from prayers to murderous witch-hunting, Anna must find the strength to confront the disintegration of her community and the lure of illicit love. As she struggles to survive and grow, a year of catastrophe becomes instead annus mirabilis, a "year of wonders." Inspired by the true story of Eyam, a village in the rugged hill country of England, Year of Wonders is a richly detailed evocation of a singular moment in history. Written with stunning emotional intelligence and introducing "an inspiring heroine" (The Wall Street Journal), Brooks blends love and learning, loss and renewal into a spellbinding and unforgettable read. 

Again this year with our participationn

in the PJP Consortium,

you can visit Jewish communities around the world virtually.

CONGREGATION NEWS

SHARE YOUR NEWS

AND PICTURES

CONTACT: 

rvalen1963@aol.com

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 

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 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

2024 MEMBERSHIP FORMS

Your support is so important to the continued success of the JCC.

Here is form for renewal:

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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:

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