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In spite of the sadness on the anniversary of the attack on Israel on the holiday, the JCC was still filled with the joy of parading around with our Torahs Thursday evening. It was especially sweet as Rabbi Jay carried the Torah with the new cover (see above) dedicated to Captain Ariel Reich who fell in defense of Eretz Yisrael.

SIMCHAT TORAH JEOPARDY & CREATION: O MY GOODNESS

Stu Lehrer, Ritual Chair

THE SHAMIR

For those of us who were fortunate to attend Erev Simchat Torah services, our illustrious Rabbi Jay led Jewish Jeopardy – The Final Jeopardy statement was:

MIDRASH SAYS THAT A TINY CREATURE HELPED TO HEW THE STONES IN THE BUILDING OF THE FIRST TEMP

The answer is: WHAT IS A WORM OR IN HEBREW: THE SHAMIR ?

In the Gemora [Talmud], the Shamir is a worm that had the power to cut through stone – King Solomon is said to have used it in the building of The First Temple in Jerusalem in place of cutting tools – It was inappropriate to use tools that could cause bloodshed, so the wise monarch employed the Shamir

THE CREATION: DAY BY DAY

Last Shabat, we began reading of the Torah from the very beginning: Beresheet. We all know that HaShem created the world in six days and on the seventh day, the Almighty rested [Shabat]. We might be familiar with the verses that follow what the Lord formed each day that say: “…And God saw that this was good, and there was evening and morning on Day One…”  And so on…

BUT – there is an exception and it’s Day Two – It does not conclude with the “…And God saw that this was good….” - It just continues with and there was evening and morning on Day XXX….” – The question is why does it do this

We always hear that there is never just one explanation toward anything Jewish – So here are just a few possible interpretations:

• Perhaps God did not actively create anything on Day Two – Yes, God made the expanse or firmament but it seems that could just be a separation of what was created on Day One rather than an unique creative event.
• Humankind was not the focus> If God did actively create on Day Two, the Lord may have spent creative time on the heavens, so that this would have been the only day where earth was not the primary creative focus.  
• Or it’s just that God didn’t finish creating everything originally scheduled for Day Two so what happened on Day Two was merely ok, and not good.

Is the Shema really a prayer?  What’s with all that moving?  Why are there differences in the services?  Do we really practice ‘priestly blessings?’

Please join the JCC’s newest 2-part course:

DAVENING & DUCHANING 101

DAVENING

Take a trek through the Sidur & Chumash with our varied prayers & writings learning the eclectic customs, traditions, & laws that have been carried on from generation to generation with twists & variations from the Ashkenazic & Sephardic venues

Stu W Lehrer will be our tour guide traveling through the pages of our own Sidur Sim Shalom & Etz Hayim Chumash sharing insights toward the aspects of davening over time

The interesting itinerary will fascinate participants even raise some eyebrows with what will be interpreted as unusual, intriguing, and even amusing enlightenment – Discussions will be a key element to the format

DUCHANING

From the time of Aaron, the first High Priest, chosen among his many duties, to bless the Children of Israel, Birchat HaKohanim or Duchaning has been a poignant service engaging till today

Stu, a Kohain himself, will share the history and process of this rite that is performed on Sukote, Pesakh, and Shavuote

DAVENING & DUCHANING 101 will be conducted on Zoom only on Thursday Nights following Ma’ariv which begins at 7:30 PM

Each class will last about 30 minutes of 6 sessions each:

October 31 – November 7 – 14 – 21 – December 5 – 12 & it’s free!

Please join us for Minyan followed by our newest Adult Ed course at

Zoom Meeting ID:  835 5920 8295 – Passcode 437 484

JCC WOMEN’S AUXILIARY: BOOK GROUP DISCUSSION

 WEDNESDAYS AT 4:00 PM

NEXT BOOK REVIEW MEETING

NEXT BOOK REVIEW MEETING

Wednesday, November 20th at 4:00 pm

Discussion Leader: TBA

The Little Liar

By: Mitch Albom

Eleven-year-old Nico Krispis has never told a lie. His schoolmate, Fannie, loves him because of it. Nico’s older brother Sebastian resents him for both these facts.When their young lives are torn apart during the war, it will take them decades to find each other again. Nico’s innocence and goodness is used against his tightly knit community when a German officer barters Nico’s reputation for honesty into a promise to save his loved ones. When Nico realizes the consequences of the betrayal, he can never tell the truth again. He will spend the rest of this life changing names, people he loves most. Albom’s extraordinary storytelling is at its powerful best in his first novel to confront the destruction that lying can wreak both on the world stage as well as on the individual lives that get caught up in it. As The Stranger in the Lifeboat spoke to belief, The Little Liar speaks to hope, in a breathless page-turner that will break your heart open and fill it with the power of the human spirit and the goodness that lies within us all. Narrated by the voice of Truth itself, The Little Liar is a timeless story about the power of love to ultimately redeem us, no matter how deeply we blame ourselves for our mistakes.

Thursday, November 7 @ 8:30 PM

Rabbi Jack Riemer and Rabbi Elie Spitz, “Duet on Psalms: Drawing New Meaning from Ancient Words”

Psalms are our people’s songs, an ancient playlist that still strikes a chord in our hearts. From lamentation to celebration, the Psalms speak to us from generation to generation. Rabbis Elie Spitz and Jack Riemer take us into a deeper exploration of the Psalms, going beyond the surface meaning of the words with new, thoughtful interpretations, taking a fresh look at these ancient texts and the relevance they can hold for us today. It is a testament to their lasting power that the Psalms continue to provide readers with solace, challenge, inspiration, and more. Duets on Psalms will inspire you to revisit these ancient texts and see them with fresh eyes because, in the end, it’s not what the psalmist intended that matters but the meaning you gain from each psalm as you make its words your own.

Rabbi Jack Riemer, a well-known author and speaker, has conducted many workshops and seminars to help people learn about the inspiring tradition of ethical wills and to prepare their own. As head of the National Rabbinic Network, a support system for rabbis across all denominational lines, he gives sermon seminars to rabbis throughout the United States. He is editor of The World of the High Holy Days (Bernie Books) and Wrestling with the Angel (Schocken), coeditor of So That Your Values Live On: Ethical Wills and How to Prepare Them, and contributed to May God Remember: Memory and Memorializing in Judaism—Yizkor (both Jewish Lights).

Rabbi Elie Spitz served as the Rabbi of Congregation B'nai Israel in Tustin, CA from 1988 to 2021. He has served as a member of the Rabbinical Assembly Committee of Law and Standards (1994-2004; 2008-2016) and as a Global Justice Fellow for the American Jewish World Service (2016-2017). A graduate of The Jewish Theological Seminary and Boston University School of Law, Rabbi Spitz is the author of four books and many articles dealing with spirituality and Jewish law. He has taught the philosophy of Jewish law at the American Jewish University and taught at the Wilkinson College, Religious Studies Department at Chapman University.

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 of some of our new products. The gift shop is open during office hours M-F 10 - 2.

Eileen Jacobs, Potter

Seacrest Designs

Lavina Haven Soy Candles and

Essential Oil Soaps

Mezzuzahs

Resin Bowls and Candlesticks by Seacrest Designs

CONGREGATION NEWS

YOU CAN NOW FILL OUT A GIVING FORM AND PAY ON LINE IN ONE SIMPLE PROCESS.

Go to jccoflbi.org - Giving/Pay

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. 

ANSWER: DON, ELAINE AND SONDI PRIPSTEIN

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:

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