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HIGH HOLIDAY APPEAL
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Dear Friends,
Your gift to the 5777 High Holiday Appeal is vital to the operation of the JCC of LBI. We depend on your generous support.
You should have received an Appeal letter a few weeks ago. Please take a few minutes to reflect on how your contribution can make a difference and return your card and appeal donation in the envelope provided. If you can't find the card, that's okay - you can send your appeal contribution to the office (2411 Long Beach Blvd., Spray Beach, NJ 08008) noting that it is for the High Holiday Appeal Campaign.
I have set a goal of $50,000 (or more) for this year's Appeal. As of today, $33,588.00 has been received. Thank you all those who responded so quickly and generously. We hope those who have not yet made their gift, will also chose to participate in the appeal campaign. All donations are much appreciated.
Rose Valentine
JCC of LBI President
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A TORAH MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI
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You have to love Noah. One day he is going about his business, whatever that is (I am assuming that he was not a boat builder), and out of nowhere God tells him that He is going to destroy the world and instructs him to build an ark. And Noah says nothing. Nothing? You'd think that he might have a question or two. Perhaps he'd like to know when, where, and how. But all we get from our hero is nada, zip, bupkis, effes; he doe not say a word. The good news is that, apparently, he successfully built the boat.
We are told that Noah is a righteous person in his generation. Righteous? Where is Noah's righteous indignation at the destruction of the world and all of its inhabitants? The status of Noah's righteousness troubled our great commentators. They set forth two opposing arguments. The First was that "Righteous in his generation" meant that if Noah was so righteous at a time when the world was, in God's word's: "corrupt...and filled with lawlessness", then surely he would have been even more righteous at a time when the world was a better place. In opposition it is argued that the people were so dishonest and so devoid of ethics, that the "righteousness" bar was set so low that it did not take much to be considered righteous.
Whatever the correct answer to the righteous question, the story does not really give us a sense of who Noah is. We only know that he is righteous, that he walks with God, that he is capable of building an ark, that animals listen to him, and that he likes wine. Indeed, through the Text he never has a conversation with God; he only listens and does what God tells him to do. We will learn later in the Torah that Moses considered himself to be a man of slow speech, undeserving of God's attention. If Moses is slow of speech, then Noah is speechless. Indeed the only words we hear from Noah are near the end of his story when he places a curse on his son Ham (yes, his name is Ham), after Ham seriously disrespects his father. Shouldn't a righteous person be forgiving?
So again I ask: How is Noah righteous? The answer is actually revealed by the first thing he does once the rain has stopped, the land has dried, and the ark has finally been emptied. At that point, Noah does not rest. He does not eat. He does not do a dance. Instead, he builds an altar and makes sacrifices. (For those concerned that such a sacrifice would have led to the unintended consequence of the extinction of a species, don't worry, for each animal that could be used as a sacrifice, Noah actually took 7 pairs on the ark).
Thus, Noah's first action that was not commanded by God was to thank God. Perhaps the message is that at the end of the day, whatever it may bring, the righteous person recognizes that he or she does not live or act in a vacuum. The good things that happen rarely occur without the involvement of others. Help may come from God, or it may come from people, but it exists. It may be out in the open or it may come from behind a veil. The righteous person acknowledges, gives thanks, and then keeps his or her eyes open for opportunities to perform good deeds in the future. Noah was not perfect. He was silent and he was not an advocate. But, he was a man of action, did God's bidding and gave thanks. In so doing, he saved the world. There is righteousness there. May each of us find a path to righteousness.
Shabbat Shalom - Rabbi Michael S. Jay
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KOL HAKAVOD CAMPAIGN
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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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THE WEEK THAT WAS...
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 Thank you to the Men's Club -
Jon Lombardi, Cliff Farin, Stuart Pepose, Myron Hirsch and Mark Cohen - for taking down the Sukkah and changing the Torah mantles and wimples from the High Holiday whites to the year-round covers.
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UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
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MOVIE NITE AT THE JCC 
Saturday November 5 at 7:00 PM
Saturday, November 19 at 7:00 PM - When Harry Met Sally (1989) starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan
Admission is free and all are welcome.
MEN'S CLUB MEETING -
Sunday November 6
10:00 AM
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ONGOING ACTIVITIES
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Wednesdays 12:30 - 4:00 PM
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WE ARE GOING TO ISRAEL - JOIN US
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Explore Israel with the Montebello Jewish Center and the Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island
Led by Rabbi Richard Hammerman and
Rabbi Michael S. Jay
February 8 -17, 2017
To see details and the itinerary, see this link
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| COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES |
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Sunday, October 30 - Sunday, November 20
Click on this site for a sneak preview of the films and show dates and times: FESTIVAL
All films will be screened at the
Marquee Cinemas - Orchard 10
1311 Route 37 West
Toms River, New Jersey 08755
(Adjacent to Ruby Tuesday)
General Admission is $10.00 per ticket.
Tickets purchased at the door are $12.00 per ticket and based on availability. Series packages are also available.
For additional information or directions -
Phone: 732-363-0530
Email: filmfest@ocjf.org
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
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Volunteers needed at INTERFAITH HEALTH & SUPPORT SERVICES
Assist 60+ Seniors with medical transports, shopping, visiting, reassurance calls, respite care or office administration. Free training!
Pre- Scheduled Appointments - Monday to Thursdays 9AM-3:30PM.
Office Volunteers-Fill-In Monday through Thursday 9AM-12PM or 12PM-3PM.
One day a week or one day a month.
Inquire at Interfaith 609 978 3839. Ask to speak with Janice or Christine.
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GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
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MORRIS L. SHAPIRO ENDOWMENT FUND
All organizations should have a substantial endowment fund to ensure its continuation. Except for dire emergencies, the principal amounts in the fund cannot be used to run the organization. Interest earned from the account may be used. As previously announced, Herb and Selma Shapiro have created a JCC Endowment Fund to honor Herb's father. It will be known as "The Morris L. Shapiro Endowment Fund at the JCC of LBI " The Shapiros have generously pledged a total of $50,000 to fund this. While initially established by the Shapiros, anyone may contribute to this important fund.
Join Herb and Selma in helping assure the continuity of our JCC, and our ability to continue providing a full-service congregation to serve the Jewish people of the area. All members are encouraged to help this important effort by contributing to this Fund.
Your gift to the fund can be sent to the JCC Office. Please mark your check accordingly.
AUDIO/VISUAL PROJECT
We are very excited about the decision of the Board of Directors to pursue the enhancement of the audio system for the JCC of LBI as well as the purchase of a projection system. This multi-phased project will allow us to become a venue for expanded programming and opens us up to many wonderful opportunities for future planning. Your gift large or small is much appreciated. Please send your contribution to the JCC office: 2411 Long Beach Blvd., Spray Beach, NJ 08008 and note on the memo line A/V Project.
Space is available for memorial plaques on the yahrzeit boards in the Sanctuary. Here is the order form:
TREE OF LIFE (located in the Social Hall)
You can purchase a leaf in honor of an occasion or in memory of a loved one.
Here is the
Tree of Life Form:
TREE
PAVERS (in front of the Front Entrance)
Only 4 x 8 and 12 x 12 size pavers are available
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ACME STAMPS
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If you are on the Island and shop at Acme, but are not collecting  the Farberware Saver Stamps, please collect them for the Mah-jongg Tournament. Drop them off at the JCC office and put in Karen Schwing's mailbox. We will use them to buy pots and pans for the gift table at the Mah-Jongg Tournament. Thanks for your help!
Karen Schwing and Stacey Vreeland, Mah-Jongg Tournament Co-Chairs
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TEXT BLAST SIGN UP
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If you would like to receive JCC of LBI reminders and alerts via text message on your cell phone, please contact the office by email (jccoflbi@gmail.com) or phone (609-492-4090) We would be alerting you for example that "Services are cancelled" or "Last opportunity to sign up for Community Seder".
This information will not be shared and will only be used for JCC purposes.
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JCC INFORMATION
THE OFFICE IS LOCATED AT
2411 Long Beach Boulevard (24th Street)
Spray Beach, NJ 08008
ENTER THE BUILDING DURING OFFICE HOURS
THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR.
PRESS THE ENTRY BUTTON ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ENTRANCE FOR ADMITTANCE.
Mailing Address:
2411 Long Beach Blvd.
Spray Beach, NJ 08008
Telephone: 609-492-4090
FAX: 609-492-7550
OFFICE HOURS:
MONDAY 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM
TUESDAY 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM
WEDNESDAY 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM
THURSDAY 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM
FRIDAY - 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Office Staff:
Jeri Riffle, Executive Director
Leslie Dinkfelt, Office Manager
Marcie Deutsch, Computer Admin.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Rabbi Michael S. Jay
Rose Valentine, JCC President
VIEW THE SEPT/OCT BULLETIN
with this link
E-mail Editor: Rose Valentine
rvalen
1963@aol.com
"Like" Us on Facebook: Search for Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island and make sure the JCC of LBI: The Place to Be icon shown above shows up
or cut and paste:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jewish-Community-Center-of-Long-Beach-Island/345647489300?ref=br_tf
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THIS WEEK'S EVENTS
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11/4 - 11/11
7:00 PM Movie "Cast A Giant Shadow"
MAH JONGG
12:30 - 4:00 PM
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SHABBAT SHALOM
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5:32 PM
(So. Ocean County NJ)
8:00 PM
Rabbi's Sermon:
"Getting the Calling and Answering It"
Board Representative:
Lynn Berkowitz
ONEG SHABBAT
SPONSORED BY
PATTY & JON LOMBARDI
in honor of the b'nai mitzvah
of Kayla & Zachary
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The Jewish Community Center of LBI 
