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JEWISH COMMUNITY
CENTER OF
LONG BEACH ISLAND
E-LETTER
January 17, 2025
17 Tevet 5785
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A MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI
Ready, Willing, and Able
God willing the hostage agreement, however imperfect it might be, will be implemented on Sunday and 33 hostages will begin to be returned from the clutches of unadulterated evil, some 471 days after they were assaulted, beaten, humiliated, and taken. Since that day we have been saying prayers, at every prayer service, for their return. The latest of version of our prayer was drafted by Stu Lehrer, revised by me, and added to by Paul Levine. Here it is:
TEFILAH FOR THE HOSTAGES
Shomer Yisrael – Guardian of Israel
Hear our prayer:
Bless our civilian Israeli Sisters and Brothers, together with the brave members of the Israel Defense Forces, and all Hostages, who are being held captive.
Accept our prayer for the families and friends of the Captives. Provide for them the strength to carry on with the hope that, by Your Will, their loved ones will be freed.
Bring the Hostages back to the embrace of their dear ones, their country, and the Jewish people everywhere.
May their release be the start of a time in which we may all live in Peace and security.
May this be Your will. And let us say Amen.
We will continue to say this until every hostage is returned. If you do not come to minyan on a regular basis, please copy this prayer and recite it when you can.
It’s one of the ways YOU CAN DO JEWISH. Remember: #ITZAMITZVAH!
עם ישראל חי AHM YISRAEL CHAI!! THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL LIVE!
AND NOW FOR A LITTLE TORAH………..:
This Shabbat we have the privilege of starting to read the Book of Exodus which recounts our travails as slaves in Egypt, our departure, and the beginning of our travels in the desert. It contains incredibly powerful narrative and, looking at it now, we read it in awe of what God, Moses and the Israelites achieved. But I think we also read it without considering how precarious it all was. When we hear it chanted today we don’t consider all of the pieces that needed to fit together in order to complete the puzzle. Allow me to provide a short and incomplete list of incidents that needed to occur:
Moses needs to be born; he needs to be hidden and then placed in a basket on the Nile; Pharaoh’s daughter needs to be in the right place in order to adopt Moses; She then needs to adopt Moses; Miriam needs to be there in order to ensure that Moses is brought back to his mother to be nursed and weaned; Moses needs to safely leave Egypt after killing an Egyptian; Jethro needs to be in an exact spot in order for Moses to meet Jethro’s daughters. (No small feat considering they were shepherds who moved constantly in search of new grazing land.) In truth, to complete this list of coincidences would take more space than this weekly message allows.
One might say that each of the above could easily have been guided by the hand of God. Certainly, any one of these events would have been child’s play for, “The One Who Spoke and Created the World”. But there is one single event that, to me, is the lynchpin of the entire story. It is simple and, yet, complicated because it has to do with the inner thought process of a human being.
When God calls out to Moses at the burning bush, the Prophet says “Hineni”, “Here I am” (ready to do Your bidding). Given our tradition’s strong belief in “free will”, this “Hineni” is big stuff. What would have happened if Moses had said, “I’m not here” or “I’m busy tending sheep and raising a family, find someone else” or “I’ve got a poker game tonight”? Perhaps this is unthinkable but if Moses had said “not present”, the rest of the story doesn’t happen; our history never occurs.
The message? Each of us has an incredible amount of power; one person can make a difference. While clearly not every person has the ability to “be” Moses, each of us can be “like” Moses. When the opportunity presents itself, when a task needs to be undertaken, we should each be like the Jewish People’s greatest prophet and say, “Hineni”. When we do this we join God in perfecting the world, and in creating a continuing history for our descendants that is worthy of our ancestors.
Shabbat Shalom – Rabbi Michael S. Jay
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JANUARY SHABBAT DINNER
January 17, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Pizza
Veggie Calzones
Salad
Dessert
Contact the JCC office to make your reservation
609-492-4090
jccoflbi@gmail.com
$20.00 per person
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Candle Lighting Time
(Southern Ocean County)
Shabbat Eve
Friday. January 17, 2025
4:41 PM
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SHABBAT DINNER
6:30 PM
JOIN US FOR
SERVICES
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Friday
January 17, 2025
Services
7:30 PM
IN PERSON AND ON ZOOM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to join Services
on Zoom
FRIDAY NIGHT
Saturday
January 18, 2025
9:00 AM
IN PERSON & ON ZOOM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to join
Zoom services
SHABBAT
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TORAH READING
Parashat Shemot
Torah Portion: Exodus 1:1-6:1
Shemot (“Names”) is the first Torah reading in the Book of Exodus. It opens describing the enslavement of the Israelites in Egypt. Moses is born, placed in a basket on the Nile, and adopted into Pharaoh’s household. He later encounters God at a burning bush and begins his mission of demanding that Pharoah let the Israelites go.
Here is Parshah
HAFTORAH
Isaiah 27:6-28:13, 29:22-23
This week’s haftorah parallels the week’s Torah reading on many levels. One of the parallels is the message of redemption conveyed by Isaiah—“and you shall be gathered one by one, O children of Israel”—that is reminiscent of the message of redemption that G‑d spoke to Moses at the burning bush, a message that Moses then communicated to Pharaoh.
Here is Haftorah I
Here is Haftorah II
HAVDALLAH
5:30 PM
ON ZOOM ONLY
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to join
Zoom services
HAVDALLAH
WEEKDAY SERVICES
Monday - Thursday
Ma'ariv Service
7:30 PM
Here is your invitation from Rabbi Jay to
join Zoom services:
MA'ARIV
Sunday - 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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stu’s a-stu-te sayings…..
The Five Books of Moses: Hebrew and English relevance and purpose
The Torah is comprised of five books – The Hebrew word for five is Chameshah hence, the actual book we use to follow along in The Torah is called a Chumash
Yet, the names of these Five Books are uniquely different from the Hebrew designation to the English titling yet there is an exceptional connection to it all:
Beresheet – Genesis:
The book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible is called בראשית “Bresheet”, which means “in the beginning” “In the beginning” would be a rather strange title in the English language and culture, as well as many other Western cultures, but it makes perfect sense in Hebrew – Though Genesis is defined as the origin or formation of something
Shemot – Exodus:
Exodus, is just that, the story of the Exodus - But the Hebrew name is Shemot, שמות which means “names” - Shemot is derived from the root word שמ shem – It makes sense to call this Second Book of Torah Exodus noting of the exit from slavery to freedom and onward trek to the Promised Land – Yet Shemote is an ideal nomenclature for bearing the vital names of our ancestors and the beginning of our heritage
Viyikra – Leviticus:
Leviticus is in the Hebrew Bible the book of ויקרא Viyikra which means “called out” – Yes, the notable beginnings of the vital role of Levites [and thus Kohanim] is imperative to our ritual history, hence the given Leviticus name; understanding the calling out of the entire Bnai Yisrael is crucial to the story
Bamidbar – Numbers:
When we think of the book of numbers, that is exactly what we think of, long lists of numbers - The book starts out with a census and contains an accounting of the generations of the children of Israel - Name after name, list after list, story after story, the book of Numbers reads like an accountant’s ledger - But it is really about their time in the wilderness which is the Hebrew name for this book, במבר, Bamidbar
Devarim – Deuteronomy:
The last book of the Torah is Deuteronomy - The name Deuteronomy is of Greek origin and literally means “second words”, referring to this book being a restatement of the “nomos,” or the law - In Hebrew this book is called דברים Devarim It comes from the word דבר dabar - Edward Bulwer-Lytton in his 1839 play "Richelieu" composed the astounding line ‘…..the pen is mightier than the sword…..’; so too do we find the might that Devarim: WORDS play in the telling of all extraordinary and important stories as The Torah.
Stu Lehrer
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SUNDAY, January 19
Pray, Stay and Play
Bagels and fixings
9:00 AM
Pickleball (see times below)
****
TUESDAY, January 21
Pickleball (See times below)
******
WEDNESDAY, January 22
Canasta & Mah Jongg
12:30 PM
WAX Book Review
4:00 PM
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THURSDAY, January 23
Torah Study
11:00 AM
Pickleball (See times below)
**********
FRIDAY, January 24
Studying the Prophets
following morninng minyan
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Friday, January 17
Shabbat Dinner
6:30 PM
Wednesday, January 22
WAX Book Review
4:00 PM
Thursday, January 30
PJP Program
Jewish Mexico
8:30 PM
Candlemaking Class
POSTPONE UNTIL
5/16/25
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MAH JONGG & CANASTA
WEDNESDAYS
12:30 PM TO 4:00 PM
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PICKLEBALL
Sundays, Tuesdays ad Thursdays
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Sunday 1/19/25 the Pickleball group (specifically Ruth Turner) is sponsoring another Pray, Stay and Play. Join the Sunday morning service (to assist getting to minyon) at 9 with bagels lox etc or just drop by to play pickle or just watch and hang out
10-1
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JCC WOMEN’S AUXILIARY: BOOK GROUP DISCUSSION
WEDNESDAYS AT 4:00 PM
NEXT BOOK REVIEW MEETING
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NEXT BOOK REVIEW MEETING
Wednesday, January 22nd at 4:00 pm
Discussion Leader: TBA
Wherever You Go by Joan Leegant
Yona Stern has traveled from New York to Israel to make amends with her estranged sister, a stoic ideologue and mother of five who has dedicated herself to the radical West Bank settlement cause. Yona’s personal life resembles nothing of her sister’s, but it isn’t politics that drove the two apart.
Now a respected Jerusalem Talmud teacher, Mark Greenglass was once a drug dealer saved by an eleventh-hour turn to Orthodox Judaism. But for reasons he can’t understand, he’s lost his once fervent religious passion. Is he through with God? Is God through with him?
Enter Aaron Blinder, a year-abroad dropout with a history of failure whose famous father endlessly―some say obsessively―mines the Holocaust for his best-selling, melodramatic novels. Desperate for approval, Aaron finds a home on the violent fringe of Israeli society, with unforeseen and devastating consequences.
In a sweeping, beautifully written story, Joan Leegant, winner of the PEN New England Book Award and the Edward Lewis Wallant Award, and a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award, weaves together three lives caught in the grip of a volatile and demanding faith. Emotionally wrenching and unmistakably timely, Wherever You Go shines a light on one of the most disturbing elements in Israeli society: Jewish extremist groups and their threat to the modern, democratic state. This is a stunningly prescient novel.
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PJP PROGRAMS
As part of the PJP consortium the JCC is privy to many outstanding programs.
Travel around the world to Jewish neighborhoods...Study the ever complex dynamics of Eretz Yisrael...Enjoy stories of famous Jewish commedians,,,,
Zoom link will be published prior to each program....
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The JCC section at Crescent Memorial Park is available for sales. Please contact Bonni Rubin-Sugarman at 609-417-7148.
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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.
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New item in the Gift Shop COASTAL COLORS COLLECTION OF MEZZUZAHS. Great Chanukah gift for someone moving into a new home.
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Lavina Haven Soy Candles and
Essential Oil Soaps
| Resin Bowls and Candlesticks by Seacrest Designs | |
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The following names will be read by the Rabbi on Friday evening:
Paul Sidel
Ruth Albu
Richard Aronson
Sidney Bitton
Ruth Grossman
Julius Rapaport*
Janet Runko
Sophie Silver*
Florence Strikowsky
Walter Blumberg
Rose Gerstenblatt
Evelyn Davis Kolsby*
Andrea Lander
Arnold Brasch
Rose Dondershine*
Margie Miller
Katy Poster*
Hilda Rich
Abner Silver*
Marilyn Silvershein
Sam Beckerman
MaryAnn Blum
William Carey
Laura B. Dicicco
Leo Labran
Shirley Slomovitz
Bruce Steinberg
Irene Steinberg
Matthew Steinberg
William Steinberg
Zachary Steinberg
Madeline Brinberg
Beatrice Chazin
Jeanne Goldstein
Robert Heller
Edna Katz
William Markowitz*
Miriam Sadon
Edward R. Spencer*
We encourage you to join us on the day of your loved one’s yahrzeit. You are also welcome to share with the minyan some special memories of your loved one.
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Audrey Wisotsky
January 18
Sherry Fruchterman
January 19
Stacey Garb
January 19
Steven Kelsen
January 19
Jeffrey Miller
January 20
Rona Stein
January 20
Norman Chevlin
January 21
Dean Adler
January 23
Denni Koupf
January 23
Herbert Zemble
January 24
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Richard Schey & Vicki Baty
January 19
39th Anniversary
Richard & Jill Berson
January 24
54th Anniversary
Ronald & Diane Buskirk
January 24
49th Anniversary
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SHARE YOUR NEWS
AND PICTURES
CONTACT:
rvalen1963@aol.com
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ERIC REILLY
grandson of Harris Weisel
named a semi-finalist in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the country's most prestigious science and math rresearch competition.
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It is with great sadness that we share the passing of
JCC of LBI Member
HAROLD FARIN
A funeral service will be held Friday, January 17, 2025 from 12:00 PM at Temple Beth Ahm, 550 Lloyd Rd, Aberdeen Township, NJ 07747 followed by his interment at Mount Lebanon Cemetery, 189 Gill Lane, Iselin, NJ.Shiva will be held at the Farin Residence in Homdel.
The funeral will be LIVE STREAMED https://www.templebethahm.org/
Memorial contributions in Harold's memory may be made to Temple Beth Ahm, The JCC of Long Beach Island, Memorial Sloan Kettering, or Riverview Hospital.
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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.
Go to jccoflbi.org - Giving/Pay
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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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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
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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
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
Rabbi Michael S. Jay, Spiritual Leader
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