JEWISH COMMUNITY

CENTER OF

LONG BEACH ISLAND

E-LETTER



April 24, 2026

6 Iyar 5786

 

CLICK HERE FOR THE BEST VIEWING

OF THE SHABBAT REMINDER

A MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI


In the simplest of terms, what I love about Parashat Kedoshim is its clarion call to the Jewish people. To understand it, let’s look at the first 2 verses of Chapter 19:


וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃

דַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל־כׇּל־עֲדַ֧ת בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל וְאָמַרְתָּ֥ אֲלֵהֶ֖ם קְדֹשִׁ֣ים תִּהְי֑וּ כִּ֣י קָד֔וֹשׁ אֲנִ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃

The Lord spoke to Moses saying: Speak to the WHOLE Israelite community and say to them: “You shall be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.”


While God’s proclamation that the Jewish people must be holy is a highwater mark moment for the Israelites, what makes this moment truly extraordinary is the word “WHOLE”. God’s requirement is that EVERY Israelite be holy. Not just the priests, not just Moses, not just the chieftains, not just the judges, not just the men. The rule is addressed to the entire population. 


Why is this important? Because it means that each one of us has an equal responsibility to represent the Jewish people. It is a burden but, at the same time, it is a privilege. Think of what holy means and then do holy. 


The question to ask is: “What is holy?” “Kadosh” is often translated as “holy,” but it means more. It can be to devote, or appoint, or designate, or set apart, or different, or distinct. To be holy is not just to be moral, or pure, but also to intentionally be separated for a purpose.


When we say that God is kadosh, we’re saying God is distinct from anything else. Not just the all-powerful creator, but set apart as just and merciful, and ethical, and loving. This same God created us in God’s image and called on us to be kadosh too.



It might sound complicated or intimidating. But through Torah and our tradition, we realize what God is actually asking of us. God is not asking us to separate from the rest of the world or to pretend to be perfect. God wants us to live uniquely within, and of, the world. God does not want us to blend in with the mundane. God wants us to choose integrity when compromise would be easier, compassion when indifference would be less complicated, and to move through this world with positive purpose when distraction and danger loom everywhere.


Holy is about being different in a constructive way. It is about finding all those Mitzvahs in the Torah that help us to be the best human we can be. To consider ourselves holy (or chosen) is not about superiority. It is about identity. It is about a positive Jewish identity. It is about a positive Jewish identity that compels us to be make this world as good as it can possibly be despite all the negative around, and about, us.


We each need to go out and be unapologetically Holy, Holy, Holy.


Shabbat Shalom – Rabbi Michael S. Jay


Candle Lighting Time

(Southern Ocean County)

Shabbat Eve

Friday, April 24, 2026

7:25 PM

Friday

April 24, 2026

SERVICES

7:30 PM

ON ZOOM ONLY

Here is 

your invitation from 

Rabbi Jay to join Services

on Zoom

FRIDAY NIGHT

Saturday

April 25, 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


TORAH QUESTION?

How might the various ethical commandments in Parashat Kedoshim demonstrate the ways in which personal conduct and the well-being of society as a whole are intertwined?


Kiddish is sponsored

by Harris Weisel

in memory of

this wife Sheila

and

his mother Tessie

and in honor if his

bar mitzvah anniversary



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


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 Mjayrab@gmail.com

SUNDAY, April 26

Pickleball

10:00 AM - 1 PM

******

TUESDAY, April 28

Pickleball

10 AM - 1 PM

*****

WEDNESDAY, April 29

MAH JONGG

12:30 PM

*******


THURSDAY, April 30

Pickleball

10:00 AM - 1 PM


Torah Study

11:00 AM

SECURITY TRAINING DATES


Stop The Bleed 

June 4th, 10-12:30

Active Threat Training 

June 25th 10-12:30

JFED will be conducting both programs!


Friday, May 1

WAX Shabbat & Dinner

6:30 PM


Friday, May 8

Safety & Your Skin with

Chuck Sidwas

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM


Monday, May 11

Easy Hiking with Lisa Riley

10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon


Friday, May 15

WAX Brunch

11:00 AM


Sunday, May 17

Wine Tasting Event

7:00 PM


Wednesday, May 20

WAX Book Club

4:00 PM


PICKLEBALL

Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays

10 - 1

MAH JONGG & CANASTA 

WEDNESDAYS

12:30 PM TO 4:00 PM 


CLICK HERE FOR A WAX CALENDAR OF EVENTS

WAX BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP

Wednesday, May 20th at 4:00 pm

Discussion Leader: TBA

The Book of Lost Hours

By Hayley Gelfuso


Enter the time space, a soaring library filled with books containing the memories of those have passed and accessed only by specially made watches once passed from father to son—but mostly now in government hands. This is where eleven-year-old Lisavet Levy finds herself trapped in 1938, waiting for her watchmaker father to return for her. When he doesn’t, she grows up among the books and specters, able to see the world only by sifting through the memories of those who came before her. As she realizes that government agents are entering the time space to destroy books and maintain their preferred version of history, she sets about saving these scraps in her own volume of memories. Until the appearance of an American spy named Ernest Duquesne in 1949 offers her a glimpse of the world she left behind, setting her on a course to change history and possibly the time space itself.


In 1965, sixteen-year-old Amelia Duquesne is mourning the disappearance of her uncle Ernest when an enigmatic CIA agent approaches her to enlist her help in tracking down a book of memories her uncle had once sought. But when Amelia visits the time space for the first time, she realizes that the past—and the truth—might not be as linear as she’d like to believe.

Checkmark

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR JUNE 10

THIS PROGRAM IS PRESENTED BY THE INTERFAITH CLERGY OF LONG BEACH ISLAND OF WHICH THE JCC OF LBI IS A PART

BUY YOUR COMEDY SHOW TICKETS NOW



NEW ITEMS IN THE GIFT SHOP


HOLDERS FOR MATCH BOOK FOR CANDLE LIGHTING

MEZZUZAHS FOR CHILDREN'S ROOM

STERLING SILVER NECKLACES MADE IN iSRAEL


The gift shop is open during office hours

M-F 10 - 2.


CONGREGATION NEWS

The following names will be read by the Rabbi on Friday evening:


Rose Einhorn

Rose Koslowsky

Bernard Levine

Harry Papier

Gussie Treiber*

Nellie Callet*

Adele Donin

Anna Gerber*

Blanche Zwillman

Louise S. Adell

Ruthie Lipshultz

Mady Rosenthal

Stephanie Schwait

Regina Sherman

Jeanne Brenman

Betty Gorelick*

Edward Jackson

Jane Reiss

William S. Graboyes

Irving Gross

Annbeth Katz

Taube Marian Blumberg

Pearl Buchalter

Dr. Harold Feldman

Rebecca Karpoff

Gerson Adell

Edna Axilbund

Jeanette Barrish

Donald Bershtein*

David Epstein

Seymour K. Freidberg*

Philip Petchenik

David Stern


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.

"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."



Joshua Gindin

April 26

Rabbi Michael S. Jay

April 27

Michael Slomovitz

April 28

Mark Tilbor

April 29

Kenneth Yudman

April 29

James Donovan

April 30


David & Terri Robinovitz

April 28

58th Anniversary

Don & Lisa Abramson

April 30

43rd Anniversary

Barry & Lynn Sherman

May 1

43rd Anniversary 

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



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



JEWISH LEARNING WITH STU


Stu’s A-Stu-te Sayings  R – E – S – P – E – C – T

 

I loved Aretha Franklin and my favorite song of hers was R – E – S – P – E – C – T

 

The Hebrew word for R-E-S-P-E-C-T is כבוד ‘Kivode’

 

I was always taught that ‘Kivode’ applies to everyone and everything

 

The Hebrew word for a sacred text is ספר  ‘Sefar’

 

When we pray with our Sidur and Chumash, or learn using any Hebrew Sefar we should apply R-E-S-P-E-C-T

 

We are all familiar that if by unfortunate circumstance, the Sefar should fall, we should immediately pick it up and kiss it before replacing it where it belongs – That shows true R-E-S-P-E-C-T - כבוד


We should extend that courtesy: Should you need to leave your chair even for a moment, please make sure your Sidur, Chumash, or Sefar is closed and facing forward so that the front cover is shown


When you have completed using your Sefar, please make sure that the cover is facing forward [vis: ensuring of its respectful resting place as in our Sanctuary the chairs have back book rests or under the chair holders]

It is a simple act that truly shows R-E-S-P-E-C-T   כבוד

 

 

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


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


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.

 

JCC LEADERSHIP



OFFICERS

President- Phil Rosenzweig

1ST Vice President-Sherry Fruchterman

2ND Vice President-Diane Hoffman

3RD Vice President- Jon Geier

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


JCC INFORMATION


THE JCC OF LBI IS LOCATED AT

2411 Long Beach Boulevard

(24th Street)

Spray Beach, NJ 08008

Telephone: 609-492-4090 FAX: 609-492-7550

email: jccoflbi@gmail.com

web site: www.jccoflbi.org  

  

THE OFFICE IS OPEN

MONDAY - FRIDAY

FROM 10 - 2




 Staff:

 Leslie Dinkfelt, Office Manager

  Mary Beth Krieger, Staff Member

 Diane Parzych, Staff Member

Susan Berube, Kitchen Manager




BULLETIN:

LATEST BULLETIN



PRAYER BOOK:

Prayer Book

 

WEB SITE:

JCC WEB SITE


PAVERS:

PAVER FORM 


TREE OF LIFE

TREE

  

YAHRZEIT PLAQUE FORM:

YAHRZEIT PLAQUES


KOL HAKAVOD DONATION FORM

KOL HAKAVOD


TRIBUTES:

TRIBUTES 



CONTACT INFORMATION:

  Rabbi Michael S. Jay

mjayrab@gmail.com


Phil Rosenzweig, President

prosenzweig@sanddlawyers.com 


 

E-mail Editor: Rose Valentine 

rvalen1963@aol.com 

Graphics by

Mary Beth Krieger

Contributing Articles by

Stu Lehrer