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JEWISH COMMUNITY
CENTER OF
LONG BEACH ISLAND
E-LETTER
October 11, 2024
11 Tishrei 5784
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FOR THE BEST VIEWING OF THE SHABBAT REMINDER
CLICK HERE
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"MAY YOU BE INSCRIBED
FOR A GOOD YEAR"
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A MESSAGE FROM OUR RABBI
On the first day of Rosh Hashanah I discussed, at length, how hope has been the most important secret weapon of the Jewish people through the millennia. Even when we have been in the worst of situations, we have had the unique ability to have a hopeful vision of the future, and to use that hope as a catalyst to reach of that future. It is the certainly one of the reasons we have lasted for over 3,000 years, outliving great empires.
The Torah, our liturgy, our culture, our stories, our homeland, and our God are all filled with hope. One needs only to look for it and it is there.
I explained that we should not confuse hope with optimism. They sound similar but they are quite different. According to Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, “Optimism is the belief that things will get better. Hope is the belief that, if we work hard enough, we can make things better. Between them lies all the difference in the world. Optimism is a passive virtue, hope an active one. It takes no courage, to be an optimist. It takes a great deal of courage to have hope. Knowing what we do of our past, no Jew can be an optimist. But Jews have never – despite a history of sometimes awesome suffering – given up hope.”
My message for Rosh Hashana was just this. Things may be bleak around us, but we should never give up our hope that the world will be a better place, and that we will play a part in making it so.
Part of the way we make the world better is through our annual ritual of shedding ourselves of useless, and harmful, negativity.
Yom Kippur, and this time of year, provides the opportunity for us to atone for our sins. It is the time that we ask for forgiveness, but it also requires us to forgive. It is a brilliant system because it forces us to shed negative feelings before they can become permanently embedded in us. Cleansed of these impurities we can then live our lives without the burden of bad karma. We should use this gift that our tradition has given us.
Here is a meditation for you to do as we enter Yom Kippur:
I hereby forgive all who have hurt me, all who have done me wrong, whether deliberately or by accident, whether by word or by deed. May no one be punished on my account.
As I forgive and pardon fully those who have done me wrong, may those whom I have harmed by word or by deed forgive and pardon me, whether I acted deliberately or by accident.
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to God, my Rock and Redeemer.
5784 was a tough year. May 5785 be better, better, and still better.
G’mar Chatima Tovah – Rabbi Michael S. Jay
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CANDLELIGHTING
TIMES
(Southern Ocean County)
Friday evening
October 11, 2024
6:16 PM
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SUCCOTH
CANDLELIGHTING TIMES
Wednesday, October 16
5:58 PM
Thursday, October 17
6:55 PM
SERVICES
Wednesday, October 16
7:30 PM
Thursday, October 17
9:00 AM
Friday, October 18
9:00 AM
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WEEKDAY SERVICES
Monday - Thursday
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
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LOOKING BACK ON ROSH HASHANAH 5785
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Beautiful flowers donated by Renee Ward grace the bimah | |
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Our JCC tent welcomes worshippers to the JCC | |
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A most meaningful service of HOPE was conducted by Rabbi Jay and Cantor Geller on Rosh Hashanah. Thank you to all our ushers and greeters
and to our in-person worshippers who together made the stepped-up security procedures work so smoothly.
"It is so special to be able to commemorate the anniversary of October 7th together. Thank you Rabbi Jay & Cantor Geller". This was just one of many chats on Zoom last Monday night sent in appreciation of the commemorate service attended by 60 households.
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YOM KIPPUR
We look forward to being together with our in-person and zoomer congregation this Friday evening and Saturday.
Yiskor and Neilah will be live streamed for those who did not purchase a ticket.
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Thank you to all those listed loved ones in this year's Book of Remembrance which you can view below. | |
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A YOM KIPPUR TRADITION
There are some other traditions regarding clothing that are observed to varying degrees in different synagogues. One tradition is to refrain from wearing anything made out of leather on Yom Kippur. Why? Because at the time this tradition was established, only the well-off could afford clothes and shoes of leather, and so wearing leather was seen as an act of showing off. Since the purpose of the High Holy Days is to encourage humility, self-examination and self-improvement, Jews of an earlier era decided that leather (and other symbols of wealth and privilege) shouldn’t be worn on this particular day. If you happen to wear leather to synagogue, don’t worry about it: it’s OK. But if you happen to notice people wearing dressy clothes with canvas sneakers that don’t match, now you’ll know why.
Article from Stu Lehrer, Ritual Chair
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Sunday, October 13
18-Mile Run Water Station
10:00 AM
Sunday, October 20
WAX Brunch in the Sukkah
Tuesday, October 22
Boscov Shopping Day
18 MILE RUN
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13
GIVE OUT WATER AND CHEER THE RUNNERS PARTICIPATING IN THE 18-MILE RUN AT THE WATER STATION IN FRONT OF THE JCC.
Come to the front of the JCC building at 10:00 AM. Let the office know you will be volunteering.
The run is dedicated to the Israeli Olympic Athletes murdered in Munich 52 years ago.
"May their memory be a blessing"
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Friday, November 1
Trip to Stockton Holocaust Center
Sunday, November 3
PJP Travel Series
Jewish Ethiopia
1:00 PM
Thursday, November 14
PJP Israel Series
“Between Arabic and Hebrew: Mizrahi Culture in Israel”
8:30 PM
Friday, November 15
WAX Brunch at Jersey Girls
11:00 AM
Sunday, November 17
Barrnegat Light Museum Lecture
2:00 PM
Wednesday, November 20
WAX Book Club
4:00 PM
Thursday, November 21
PJP John Kendrick Series
Danny Kay
8:30 PM
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I will be leading a discussion on the very popular Netflix series "Noboby Wants This" at our Sukkah brunch. The ten episode series follows the unexpected relationship between an irascible, loud, agnostic woman and a rogue rabbi.
See you there.....Rose Valentine
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WAX BOOK GROUP
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOONS EACH MONTH
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NEXT BOOK REVIEW MEETING
NO BOOK FOR OCTOBER
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, changing locations and identities, desperate to find a way to forgiveness—for himself and from the
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.
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WHEN YOU CONTACT JILL WITH YOUR RSVP, SHE WILL SEND YOU ADDITION INFORMATION ABOUT THE RESOURCE CENTER, THE TOUR AND PARKING DIRECTIONS. | |
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Again this year with our participationn
in the PJP Consortium,
you can visit Jewish communities around the world virtually.
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The following names will be read by the Rabbi on Friday evening:
Jill Sisenwine Berger
Eva Braun
Philip Millstein*
Karl Rebarber
Hannah Resnek
Freda Black
Sara Jacobs Fink*
Arthur Petter
Beatrice Smith*
Jerome Koransky
Madeliene Margolis
Dina Singer
Belle Wolpert
Morris Freeman
Shirley Lakin
Betty Pacharz
Fanny Troum*
Henry Gaulton
Rose Kincus
Henry Melin
Betty Bosswick
Rose Britz*
Abraham Greenspan
Ruth Srager
Al Aronson
Beulah Gubar*
Dora Kaplan
Alfred Krechovitz*
Bea Mendlow*
We encourage you to join us on the day of your loved one’s yahrzeit. In the morning, the service is about 45 minutes to an 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, going up to the grave of the departed, Yizkor remembrance day and other occasions on which the memory of the dead is recalled. You are also welcome to share with the minyan some special memories of your loved one.
*Denotes yahrzeit plaque which will be lit this week
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Stuart Mandell
October 12
Lori Steigerwald
October 12
Joe Fleischer
October 13
Carl Greenberg
October 13
Jacqueline Printz
October 13
Jay Britz
October 14
Ronda D. Gilbert
October 15
Fred Rothman
October 15
Lori Sherman Appel
October 16
Neil Dolinger
October 16
Steven Swissman
October 18
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Ken & Sue Fuirst
October 13
34th Anniversary
Martin & Cindy Bergman
October 14
Martin Flumenbaum & Ruth Hochberger
October 15
47th Anniversary
Howard & Gail Meltzer
October 17
33rd Anniversary
Jeffrey & Lois Miller
October 17
37th Anniversary
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SHARE YOUR NEWS
AND PICTURES
CONTACT:
rvalen1963@aol.com
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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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YOU CAN NOW FILL OUT A GIVING FORM AND PAY ON LINE IN ONE SIMPLE PROCESS.
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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 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
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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
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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.
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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
Treasurer- Stu Cofsky
Secretary- Cliff Denker
Immediate Past President -Michael Babst
BOARD MEMBERS
Howard Babbitt
Diane Buskirk
Lorna Klein
Paul Levine
Ken Podos
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Sondi Pripstein
Terri Robinovitz
Bonni Rubin-Sugarman
Rose Valentine
Ken Yudman
WOMEN'S AUXILIARY
President - Diane Buskirk
Co-Vice President - Noralyn Carroll
Co-Vice President - Jill Denker
Treasurer - Suzy Geier
Secretary - Joanne Babbitt
Immediate Past President - Irene Babst
Representative to the Board - Sondi Pripstein
*New Board Members
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