Dear Members & Friends,
When I was cleaning up my desk, I found a "Reflection" from Rabbi Jack Z'L. I'm not going to tell you when it was dated since you will figure I haven't tidied up in quite a while.
He wrote about services during the winter months, when the JCC was short of a minyan and could not conduct services that included saying kaddish. He shared that there is a strange tradition when counting people for a minyan. We don't count one, two, three. Instead we recite a verse from Tanach which contains 10 words, "counting" one word per person, either Psalms 28:9 or Psalms 5:8. This tradition goes back to when Moses took a census of the Israelites and was told not to count heads, but have each person contribute a half shekel.
Commentators believe that the Torah was teaching us not to treat people as numbers. When we do that we tend to overlook the fact that each person is unique and important.
The purpose of a synagogue is to provide a place where people can come and pray. Rabbi Jack continued: "I urge you to consider yourself so important and so unique that, because of you, this Jewish community can come together to pray and to celebrate."
During the winter months, we often struggle to have a minyan on Friday night. Over the last month or so, folks have come to say Kaddish and were not able to. So like Rabbi Jack I urge you, if you are a winter resident or come down regularly on the weekend, to set aside at least one Friday evening a month to join us for services.
Shabbat Shalom
Rose Valentine, President
SHABBAT FAMILY FUN NIGHT & DINNER
Friday evening, January 20, 2017
6:30 PM
- Sloppy Joes North Jersey Style
- A game of "Jewpardy"
followed by Services
$15 per person
Call the JCC Office to make your reservation 609-492-4090
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A TORAH MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI
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In this week's Torah portion, Va-Yiggash, Joseph, who had been playing coy with his brothers, finally decides to reveal his identity. His Revelation has almost as much impact on his brothers as God's revelation at Sinai will have on the Israelites after they left Egypt. At this point, Joseph tells his brothers that they must all come to Egypt to live, safe from the famine that had been gripping the world.
But what was it that convinced Joseph to come clean to his brothers and to reward them? Throughout much of the story of Jacob and his children, there is much dysfunction. The brothers do not seam to be a unit. Even when they decide to get rid of Joseph, there is not 100% agreement on what should be done. In short, they are not a team.
Last week we saw that the brothers all tore their clothes and threw themselves prostrate on the ground when Joseph accuses Benjamin of stealing the goblet that Joseph had planted in Benjamin's bag. Indeed, Judah comes to argue vociferously on Benjamin's behalf and to protect Jacob their father.
With Judah's selfless request to be held prisoner in Benjamin's stead, it seems that the brothers had finally learned how to be a team. Instead of arguing amongst themselves they determined what needed to be done for the good of the whole extended family. Community took precedence over the self-interest of each individual brother.
It is a good message. Rather than focusing on what needs to be done to make each of us happy, rather than be self-indulgent or seeking gain or praise for ourselves, we should be concerned with the larger community of which we are a part.
With god's help, our JCC is a vibrant and growing. As it continues to develop, each one of us, from the Rabbi, to each Board member, to each Congregant, should see himself or herself as a part of a team. We each need to consider how to continue to nurture and to sustain what we have helped to create. The Joseph story moves in a very positive direction once each brother sees himself as an integral part of a team. Similarly, the JCC's amazing trajectory will be maintained as long as we each see ourselves as part of a larger community.
The JCC is here for each of us and, on some level, each of us, according to our own ability, is here for the JCC.
Shabbat Shalom - Rabbi Michael S. Jay
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Rabbi Jay will be here on Tuesdays beginning next week (1/3/17) and will have office hours from 1:00 - 3:00 PM. Drop in to chat (call the office to make sure he is in and not out on an emergency 609-492-4090) or make an appointment with him (973-865-9534).
This is also a good time to telephone the rabbi.
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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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THANKS
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This week, those who attended last summer's Women's Rosh Chodesh received the letters they wrote. Thanks to Sheri Jay for bringing this special program to us. We look forward to next summer's gatherings.
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ACME SUPERSAVER STAMPS
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LAST CALL FOR ACME STAMPS
If you were collecting Acme stamps to redeem them for pots and pants for the gift table at the Mah Jonng Tournament, please drop them off at the JCC office and put in Karen Schwing's mailbox. We will be redeeming them in the beginning of next week.
Thanks for your help!
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MEN'S CLUB
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Sunday, J
anuary 15, 2016
9:30 - 11:00 AM
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UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
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MOVIE SCHEDULE FOR THE WINTER
Saturday Nites
Movie 7:00 PM
Havdallah 6:45 PM
January 7 "Fiddler on the Roof"
January 21 "Schindler's List"
February 4 "Blazing Saddles"
February 18 "Yentl"
March 4 "Crossing Delancey Street"
Havdallah 8:00 PM
March 18 "West Side Story"
Movie 8:30 PM
Havdallah 8:15 PM
April 1 "The Producers"
Movie 8:45 PM
Havdallah 8:30 PM
April 15 "Sound of Music"
Movie 9:00 PM
Havdallah 8:45 PM
April 29 "Young Frankenstein"
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TD AFFINITY PROGRAM
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Easy money!
Do you have an account with TD Bank?
You can contribute to the JCC without it costing you a cent. TD Bank will pay us on the number of accounts in our TD Affinity Club. There is no minimum number of members. We automatically receive $10 for every checking account and .01% of the balance on Savings Accounts. In addition we receive $50 for any new accounts. This is strictly confidential and the JCC does not know the amount in any of the accounts.
We just received a check for $456.00 from TD Bank. So think about joining this program and helping the JCC to reap the benefits.
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NAME BADGES
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If you did not order a name tag, we will be putting in another order. Here is the link for the form to order your name tag: BADGES
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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 ([email protected]) 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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ADS FOR JCC BULLETIN
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Please contact the JCC Office (609-492-4090) if you would like to place an ad in the Bulletin
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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 DECEMBER/JANUARY/FEBRUARY BULLETIN
with this link
E-mail Editor: Rose Valentine
rvalen
[email protected]
"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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1/7 - 1/14
Saturday 
Havdallah 6:45 PM
"Fiddler on the Roof" showing @7:00 PM on our new big screen
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SHABBAT SHALOM
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4:26 PM
(So. Ocean County NJ)
JOIN US FOR SERVICES
8:00 PM
Rabbi's Sermon:
A prayer For our Country: A history of an interesting tradition
Presenting of
"B
lue Book"
to
Jenna Marcy
daughter of Erika & Kevin Marcy
in preparation for her
bat mitzvah
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The Jewish Community Center of LBI 
