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OF THE SHABBAT REMINDER

PURIM AT THE JCC OF LBI

Thursday, March 13th

dress in your finest costume as we dine and read the Megillah

Pizza, Salad and Hamantashen at 6:30 PM

Megillah Reading at 7:30 PM

(In-person and zoom)

Friday, March 14th

Services at 8:15 AM including Megillah Reading

(zoom only

The Best Hamantaschen

from the nosher

Yield 16 - 20 cookies

INGREDIENTS

• 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter or margarine, at room temperature
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 Tbsp milk (or other non-dairy milk)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp grated lemon zest (optional)
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
• ¼ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Beat the butter and sugar together until smooth.
2. Add egg, milk, vanilla and lemon zest until mixed thoroughly.
3. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.
4. Add dry mixture to wet mixture until incorporated. Note: If the dough is too soft, increase flour amount by a few Tbsp at a time until firmer.
5. Form dough into a disk and cover with plastic wrap. Chill dough in the fridge for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.
6. Dust surface with flour to keep from sticking. Roll the dough to about ¼-inch thick.
7. Using a round 3-inch cookie cutter, cut out and place onto cookie sheet. To keep the dough from sticking to your cutter, dip in flour before each cut.
8. Fill each round with ½ tsp of your favorite filling, and using your favorite method, pinch corners together tightly.
9. Pop into the fridge for 10 minutes, or freezer for 5 minutes, to ensure hamantaschen hold their shape.
10. Bake at 400°F for 7-9 minutes.

NOTES

• You need to chill the hamantaschen dough for 1 hour, or up to overnight if you want to make it a day ahead.
• You can freeze the dough for 1-2 months wrapped in a double layer of plastic wrap. I would not suggest freezing already baked cookies with fillings inside.

Haman’s Fingers for Purim

A crunchy, rolled treat from Greek and Turkish Jewish tradition

from the nosher

Yield: 24

Ingredients

• 12 phyllo dough sheets, thawed overnight in the fridge
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup water
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice
• 2 cups blanched almonds
• 2 cups walnuts
• grated zest of 1 orange
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 tsp rose water (optional)
• 6–8 Tbsp melted butter

Instructions

1. Take phyllo out the fridge 2 hours before you start cooking.
2. Put sugar, water and lemon juice in a saucepan and bring to boil over medium-high heat. Cook for 5 minutes and remove from the heat. Transfer syrup to a measuring cup and let it cool down in the fridge for about 20 minutes. It can still be warm when you use it, just not boiling hot.
3. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
4. Put almonds and walnuts in a food processor and ground until fine (but don’t let it become a paste.) Take 2 Tbsp of the ground nuts and keep in a small bowl for later.
5. Add 1 cup of the sugar syrup to the food processor (keep the rest for later) and mix again. Add orange zest, eggs and rose water, and mix briefly, then transfer to a medium bowl.
6. Cut each phyllo dough sheet into two rectangles of about 7 by 8 inches. Cover phyllo with a towel. 
7. Put the first phyllo sheet on a working surface, narrow side towards you, and brush it lightly with the melted butter, almost all the way up. Spread a 1 Tbsp of the nut filling along the edge closest to you, leaving ½ inch clear on the sides. Fold the sides on the filling then start rolling the pastry from the filling side to create a cigar. Transfer to the baking sheet. Continue with the rest of the phyllo. Keep the cigars on the baking sheet an inch apart.
8. Brush each cigar with butter and then generously brush with the sugar syrup.
9. Bake for 12-14 minutes until golden and crispy. Transfer to a cooling rack. 

Notes

• You need to thaw the phyllo sheets overnight in the fridge, and take the phyllo out the fridge 2 hours before you start cooking.
• Store the baked Haman’s fingers in a sealed container at room temperature up to four days.

ABOUT THE FILM

This evocative drama delves into the profound human experiences in the aftermath of the October 7th attacks, capturing a narrative that transcends borders and speaks to universal themes of loss, resilience, and hope.Set against the backdrop of a kibbutz ravaged by conflict, "Of Dogs and Men" follows 16-year-old Dar, portrayed by the talented Ori Avinoam, as she embarks on a journey to find her missing dog, Shula.

Filmed in the immediate aftermath of the October 7th attacks, the film seamlessly blends fiction with real-life experiences, featuring improvised dialogues and authentic portrayals by local residents. Dar's quest not only leads her through the physical remnants of devastation but also into the hearts and stories of those who, like her, grapple with the scars of recent events.

SEE THE TRAILER BELOW

Showing sponsored by the JCC of LBI

Stu’s a-stu-te sayings….

You say Shabos, I say Shabat – Why?

[Don’t call the whole thing off!]

The difference between Ashkenazic Hebrew and Sephardic Hebrew primarily stems from the different geographic regions where Jewish communities lived Leading to distinct pronunciations influenced by the surrounding languages; Ashkenazi Jews from Eastern Europe adopted pronunciations influenced by Yiddish, while Sephardic Jews from Spain and the Middle East incorporated sounds from their local languages, resulting in variations in how Hebrew is spoken today. 

Key points about the difference: 

• Origin:  Ashkenazi Jews are from Central and Eastern Europe, while Sephardic Jews are from Spain and Portugal. 

Language Influence:   Ashkenazi Hebrew pronunciation is heavily influenced by Yiddish (Judeo-German), while Sephardic Hebrew reflects the sounds of Judeo-Spanish. 

Pronunciation variations: Specific Hebrew letters may be pronounced differently between Ashkenazi and Sephardic traditions, leading to audible variations when reading the same text.

Sephardic Jewish thought and culture was strongly influenced by Arabic and Greek philosophy and science. Sephardic Jews have a different pronunciation of a few Hebrew vowels and one Hebrew consonant, though most Ashkenazim are adopting Sephardic pronunciation now because it is the pronunciation used in Israel.

Most American Hebrew Schools in the early to mid-1960’s began teaching their students Sephardic Hebrew which may have been a tad confusing for families where the parents were, back in the day, instructed in Ashkenazic Hebrew and now, their children were taught as they speak in Israel

BTW: the Hebrew word for ‘confusing’ is מבלבל [mi’val’bale] which sounds a lot like Babel!

And then there’s Ladino which we’ll save for another time!

THE JCC OF LBI IS ONE OF HUNDREDS OF CONGREGATIONS PARTICIPATING IN SHABBAT ACROSS AMERICA!!!!!

JOIN US FOR SHABBAT DINNER AND A SPECIAL SERVICE

SHABBAT DINNER

MARCH 7 AT 6:30 PM

MENU

FOODARAMA WRAPS BUFFET

GRILLED CHICKEN BREAST & PORTOBELLO MUSHROOMS W/ FRESH

SPINACH AND ROASTED RED PEPPER COULIS

THE JEWISH HOAGIE WRAP- CORNED BEEF, PASTRAMI & KOSHER SALAMI W/

RUSSIAN DRESSING & COLE SLAW

TUNA SALAD W/ CELERY, CARROTS, RED ONION, MAYO, LETTUCE & TOMATO

GRILLED MARINATED VEGETABLES W/CARAMELIZED ONIONS & ROASTED RED PEPPER VINAIGRETTE

GARDEN PASTA SALAD

ASSORTED MINI FANCY PASTRIES

$25 PER PERSON

Dinner hosts: Joanne and Howard Babbitt

PLEASE NOTE THE CLASS WILL BEGIN

 ONE WEEK LATER (March 10th and 12th)

JCC WOMEN’S AUXILIARY: BOOK GROUP DISCUSSION

 WEDNESDAYS AT 4:00 PM

NEXT BOOK REVIEW MEETING

Wednesday, March 19th at 4:00 PM

Discussion Leader: TBA

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

By: Michael Chabon

A young escape artist and budding magician named Joe Kavalier arrives on the doorstep of his cousin, Sammy Clay. While the long shadow of Hitler falls across Europe, America is happily in thrall to the Golden Age of comic books, and in a distant corner of Brooklyn, Sammy is looking for a way to cash in on the craze. He finds the ideal partner in the aloof, artistically gifted Joe, and together they embark on an adventure that takes them deep into the heart of Manhattan, and the heart of old-fashioned American ambition. From the shared fears, dreams, and desires of two teenage boys, they spin comic book tales of the heroic, fascist-fighting Escapist and the beautiful, mysterious Luna Moth, otherworldly mistress of the night. Climbing from the streets of Brooklyn to the top of the Empire State Building, Joe and Sammy carve out lives, and careers, as vivid as cyan and magenta ink. Spanning continents and eras, this superb book by one of America’s finest writers remains one of the defining novels of our modern American age.

PJP Israel Series 2024-2025

 Thursday, March 20 @ 8:30 PM

Hadas Cohen, Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Oklahoma – Norman

“Israel and Jews in America – The History and Future of This Contentious Relationship”

How have political ideologies, different understandings of justice, and questions of identity shaped the contentious relationship between American Jews and the state of Israel?

Discussing crucial historical moments from the fervent Zionist dreams of the early 20th century and the dramatic birth of Israel in 1948, to the Six Day War and today’s dynamic, sometimes divisive, relationship, this talk will unravel the intricate tapestry of political, social, and cultural threads that bind and separate American Jews and Israel. To understand what the future holds for this important relationship, we will explore key issues such as the rise of antisemitism, questions of religious pluralism, and the generational shift and decline in support for Israel. 

Dr. Hadas Cohen is a visiting assistant professor at the department of history at the University of Oklahoma, where she is also an Israel Institute Teaching Fellow. She holds a PhD in political science from the New School University, a master’s degree in human Rights and International Affairs from Columbia University and she is a licensed lawyer in Israel with a B.A. in law from the Hebrew University. She wrote her dissertation about women traitors within the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, after which she continued to carry out research in Berlin about the Israeli immigrant community in the city. Later she became a post-doctoral fellow at the Faculty of Law at Bar Ilan University and was a visiting researcher at the Davis Institute for International Relations at the Hebrew University.  



The JCC section at Crescent Memorial Park is available for sales. Please contact Bonni Rubin-Sugarman at 609-417-7148.

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.

SEE BRAND NEW ITEMS BELOW

CONGREGATION NEWS

AROUND THE OCEAN COUNTY

JEWISH COMMUNITY....

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. 

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