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JEWISH COMMUNITY
CENTER OF
LONG BEACH ISLAND
E-LETTER
April 6, 2026
19 Nisan 5786
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YOM HASHOAH April 14, 2026
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If you were looking for your weekly Shabbat Reminder last Thursday... NO it didn't go into SPAM. Because of the holiday falling right before Shabbat there was no window to send one out. This Reminder Plus includes the rest of this week and the following week at well (4/5 - 4/16)
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A MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI
As a Rabbi, my preferred seder is the one in which we go from cover to cover in the Haggadah. (And we do it from right to left.) In my perfect seder, we read the entire script, sing all the songs, and perform every ritual. In my unflawed seder, there is extended discussion and thoughtful explication, that broadens what is in the book, and no one looks at their watches.
There is serious conversation, but there is also laughter. And we never forget to mention Seder’s past, and the people, the food, and unique ritual that enriched us. In truth, this is the seder that has moved me almost my entire life and certainly long before I became a Rabbi. Perhaps it played a role in my decision to become a Rabbi.
I’ve wondered why it has often been so hard to have family or friends give just 3 of the 8,760 hours there are in the year, to a ritual that our people have been doing for some 3,000 years. Shouldn’t it be enough just to do it for Zadie or Bubbie, or for Mom or Dad, or for those who walked through fire and water, to make sure that we are still able to sing Dayeinu, or for God?
But that’s me, and for me. I subscribe to a mystical teaching of the Rabbis that essentially says that the Torah (or God, or tradition) is refracted to us through a prism. This means that it hits each of us in a unique way.
Though unique, it still comes to us from the same source, we just receive it and understand it differently. A different understanding can lead to different expression. So, while my perfect seder works for me, even though I may be happiest if everyone would do it my way, it does not make it the “only” way.
In truth, thank God, the Seder is still the most followed Jewish ritual. You might think that honor might go to lighting Hanukkah candles, but it does not. Around the world, on Passover, Jews gather. While I might wish everyone participated in my version of a full Seder, I am filled with joy at the fact that Jews here, and around the world, are getting together on seder night to do something. Whether people are reciting the whole Haggadah, or the 2-minute seder, or simply pointing out the matzah, or just saying “We were slaves, now we are free, let’s eat”, it is remarkable that so many of us are taking the time to connect.
To those of us who have gathered this year, however we have observed, Kol Hakavod. The honor goes to us. May we gather “Next Year In (a Peaceful) Jerusalem”. (By the way, the Torah acknowledged that there were reasons that folks could not observe Passover at the prescribed time. Believe it or not, the Torah provides a “make-up” date. It is called “Pesach Sheni”[Second Passover], and this year it is on Friday, May 1st.)
While it is still fresh in your mind, now would be a good time to write down the things you might want to add to your seders for next year.
If you have not had the opportunity to see the lovely message from our Christian friends in the Sandpaper, open this week’s Sandpaper to page 12 (SEE AD BELOW). We wished a Happy Easter back on our electronic sign, and I wrote a message to our Christian clergy friends. You can see that here:
CLICK HERE TO READ A LETTER FROM THE RABBI TO THE LBI FAITH COMMUNITY
I am thankful for our community, for the memories you shared with me about your seders, and for your desire to be connected to your fellow Jews on or near our beautiful Island.
Shabbat Shalom and Moadim L’Simcha – Rabbi Michael S. Jay
mjayrab@gmail.com
| 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 | |  | |
CANDLE LIGHTING
Erev
Seventh Day of Passover
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
7:09 PM
Erev
Eighth Day of Passover
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
8:09 PM
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SERVICES
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
7th DAY OF PASSOVER
9:00 AM
IN PERSON AND
ON ZOOM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to join Services
on Zoom
7TH DAY OF PASSOVER
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Thursday, April 9, 2026
8th DAY OF PASSOVER
9:00 AM
YISKOR
10:45 AM
IN PERSON AND
ON ZOOM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to join Services
on Zoom
8TH DAY OF PASSOVER
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Candle Lighting Time
(Southern Ocean County)
7:12 PM
SERVICES
Friday
April 10, 2026
SERVICES
7:30 PM
ON ZOOM ONLY
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to join Services
on Zoom
FRIDAY NIGHT
Saturday
Friday, April 11, 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
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TORAH READING
Parashat Shmini
Leviticus 9:1-11:47
Shemini (“Eighth”) opens with the consecration of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). Two of Aaron’s sons are consumed by a fire sent from God when they attempt to offer a “strange fire.” God describes the animals, birds, and fish that are permissible and prohibited for consumption, as well as some laws of ritual purity.
Here is the Portion
HAFTORAH
II Samuel 6:1-7:17
This week's haftorah mentions how Uzzah was struck dead when he disrespectfully touched the Ark of the Covenant; reminiscent of Nadab and Abihu's death described in this week's Torah reading.
Here is the Haftorah
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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
THIS WEEK SEE SERVICE SCHEDULE ABOVE FOR WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY MORNING SERVICES
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PASSOVER OVER IS NOT OVER!!!
Don't let those extra sheets of matzah go to waste!
Here are a few recipes for the rest of the holiday.
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MATZAH BRIE WITH THE SALAMI AND ONIONS
(could be breakfast for dinner)
Ingredients
- 1 onion thinly sliced
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 8 thin slices of salami cut into strips
- 6 sheets of matzo
- 6 eggs whisked
- Kosher salt
- Freshly cracked black pepper
- Garnish: thinly sliced scallions
Instructions
- Heat a large saute pan, lightly coated with evoo, over medium-high heat. Saute onion for 5 to 7 minutes until caramelized and medium golden brown.
- While onions are caramelizing, break matzo into large shards and place in a colander in the sink. Run warm water over matzo to soften it a bit. Don’t soak it, just moisten it!
- Add salami to the saute pan and continue cooking for 3 minutes until salami begins to crisp up.
- Push salami and onions to the side and add eggs and matzo to the pan. Gently stir matzo until eggs are set, then bring onions and salami into the party and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
- Garnish with sliced scallions
.from https://jamiegeller.com/
MATZAH CLUSTERS
Combine 3 sheets of crumbled matzah with 3 cups of MELTED semi-sweet chocolate, and 1 cup each dried cherries, silvered almonds and coconut. Drop by the teaspoonsful onto a baking sheet lined with wax paper Refrigerate until firm.
from my box of Passover recipes. Unknown origin RV
| | END ZONE VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL FIELD | | | |
INSPIRING PASSOVER NEWS
For the first time ever, Chabad of Vanderbilt hosted its annual Passover seder inside FirstBank Stadium, bringing hundreds of students together for an unforgettable on-field celebration. Yasher Koah
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4/7 - 4-16
TUESDAY, April 7
Pickleball
10 AM - 1 PM
*****
WEDNESDAY, April 8
NO Mah Jongg/Canasta
*******
THURSDAY, April 9
NO Pickleball
NO Torah Study
11:00 AM
Sunday , April 12
Pickleball
10 AM - 1 PM
TUESDAY, April 14
Pickleball
10 AM - 1 PM
Community Yom Hashoah Program
6:30 PM
*****
WEDNESDAY, April 15
Mah Jongg/Canasta
12:30 PM
*******
THURSDAY, April 16
Pickleball
10 AM - 1 PM
Torah Study
11:00 AM
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Tuesday, April 14
Community Yom Hashoah Program
6:30 PM
Wednesday, April 22:
WAX Book Club
4:00 PM
“The Midwives’ Escape: From Egypt to Jericho” By Maggie Anton
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MAH JONGG & CANASTA
WEDNESDAYS
12:30 PM TO 4:00 PM
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PICKLEBALL
Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays
10 - 1
| | | WAX BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP | | |
Wednesday, April 22nd at 4:00 pm
Discussion Leader: TBA
The Midwives’ Escape: From Egypt to Jericho
By Maggie Anton
An Egyptian mother and daughter, Asenet and Shifra, a midwife and her apprentice, wake up on the morning of the tenth plague to find Asenet's husband and son, both firstborns, dead. Asenet's sister Pua, married to an Israelite, urges Asenet's family to leave Egypt with them, which they reluctantly do, along with Asenet's wainwright father and his two apprentices. Recognizing that the Hebrew god is more powerful than any of the Egyptians' gods, other non-Israelites join the exodus, including Hittite and Nubian palace guards. Once hearing and accepting God's commandments at Mt. Sinai, these two Egyptian midwives join the Israelites on their forty-year journey to The Promised Land where they tend to the wounded, share hardship and adversity, fall in love, and start a new home and a new generation.
| | MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR JUNE 10 | | |
Interested in hosting Lighthouse International Film Festival LIFF guest (s) during the festival, June 10 - 14? The festival brings tech, filmmakers, staff and interns to LBI for the event. Those who host receive 2 All Access Passes and are not expected to feed, drive or entertain.
Contact Christine Rooney if you are interested liffinfo@gmail.com
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The gift shop is open during office hours M-F 10 - 2.
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The following names WERE read by the Rabbi on Friday evening April 3:
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*
Henry Millstein*
Norman Shaer
Pearl Weinzimmer
Jacob Britz*
Kathryn Hadley*
Arnold King Brenman, MD
Fanny Dickman
Joseph Horowitz
David Rosenbloom*
Samuel Troum*
Joseph Callet*
Sylvia Evans
Deborah Gottlieb
Anita McMillan
Richard Saivetz*
The following names will be read by the Rabbi on Friday evening April 10:
Carole Nunberg Britchkow
Geraldine Isanuk
Barbara Sher*
Marian Selsky*
Sydell Sussman
Ben Weisberger
Barbara Greenberg
Howard Lander
Raleigh Liebenberg
Bill Sisenwine
Kurt Albu
Dora Haber
Raphael Haber
Anna Schwartz
Daid Weinstein
Mae Hirschorn Cohen*
Morris Ross
Calvert I. Waranch*
Ruth Brasch
George Foosaner
Alfred David Frumkin
Ruth Goldman*
Marty Telles
Matilda Tubis
Stewart Turner
Izzy Ungar
Marvin Einhorn
Larry Holt
Audrey Konwiser
Evelyn Miller*
Jennie Shapiro
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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Hugh Chairnoff
April 4
Maxine Paris
April 4
Clifford Denker
April 6
Robert Farin
April 7
Alan Wechsler
April 9
Laura E. Leizer
April 10
Barry Freedman
April 11
Stanley Wallach
April 11
Sandra Rosenbloom
April 12
Karl Mayro
April 13
Elyse Halevah
April 14
Frederic Schragger
April 14
Arthur Abramowitz
April 15
Gail Meltzer
April 15
Donald Pripstein
April 15
Viki Pashman
April 16
Hedda Chairnoff
April 17
Suzanne Geier
April 17
Alan Jacobson
April 17
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George & Susan Karp
April 7
47th Anniversary
Scott & Dana Ranani
April 8
26th Anniversary
Cary & Lynn Reimer
April 8
54th Anniversary
James & Amy Wolf
April 9
32nd Anniversary
Howard & Janet Cohen
April 12
39th Anniversary
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SHARE YOUR NEWS AND PICTURES
CONTACT:
rvalen1963@aol.com
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Marybeth Kreiger
Arlene Schragger
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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
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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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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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.
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.
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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
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
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