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A MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI
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 This week marks the last Shabbat that I will be saying Kaddish for my mom. It is an interesting week for this because in the Torah portion, Vayeira, Abraham and Sarah have a son, Isaac. Isaac represents the continuation of the story that his parents started. As I begin the process of closing down the year-long observance of my mom's death, I do so knowing that her 4 sons and 6 grandchildren are continuing what she and my dad began some 62 years ago.
According to our tradition, we mourn the loss of a parent for 12 months, but we say Kaddish for only 11 months. Our sages teach that we should cease saying Kaddish earlier to avoid connecting our parent with the period of judgment for a wicked person, which is said to be 12 months. So we say Kaddish for our parent for eleven months, and then we stop.
Another version of this tradition is that our parent's soul is in limbo and our Kaddishes, as sanctifications of God's name, help to move that soul forward toward its final spot in heaven. We don't want it to appear as if our parent's soul was not worthy, on its own merit, to make it to heaven, so we say Kaddish for 11 months in order to show that it did not need help all the way.
Some might question the requirement that the mourner repeat the Kaddish prayer over and over and over. In truth, for me, the Kaddish has been a constant friend these last several months. The words, the cadence, and its consistent appearance in the same spots during each service, have created a rock of connection at a puzzling and disconcerting time when such steadiness is really needed.
There are several books written about the "Kaddish Community", that group of people at each service whose main goal is to sanctify God's name in order to bolster the memory of a loved one. I have found that my relationship to the Kaddish, and to my mom, changes with each recitation. Through it, I can honestly (and maybe sadly) say, I probably spent more quality time with my mom over the last 11 months than I had spent with her in the last 11 years. It was time spent in reflection, conversation, and connection. Our tradition provides many unheralded gifts and this is one of them.
But the connection does not end with our loved one. We also connect with those other members of the community who are saying Kaddish. I committed myself at each service to determine if someone saying Kaddish needed support and/or consolation. Usually this meant that I would unassumingly position myself next to the person saying Kaddish so that we might say it together. The intent has been to provide strength and comfort.
As the doors to the gate of mourning begin to close, I am beginning to wonder what it will be like to not say the Kaddish. Will I continue to connect to my mom? Will I miss the prayer? Will I miss being a part of this not so happy community? I will let you know.
As always, if you have questions thoughts or comments, please feel free to reach out to me.
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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WHILE WE WERE AWAY....
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Thank you to Irene Babst & Jennifer Millner who prepared and put out the Kiddish on Saturday morning.
A special note of appreciation to our volunteers who helped take down the Sukkah and give out water to the participants in the 18 mile run:
Jennifer Milner
Linda and Ron Marr
Suzy Geier
Joyce Fields
Don Pripstein
Cliff Farin
Irene and Michael Babst
Kudos to Paula Hait, Sisterhood Representative to the JCC Board, for the following letter to the October 17th issue of the SandPaper
Let's Not Forget
Oct 17, 2018
To the Editor:
Congratulations to those who both participated in and won this year's LBI 18-Mile Commemorative Run! I was one of many who watched and cheered as these athletes ran down the Boulevard on Oct. 7.
I am writing, though, about the article in the Oct. 10 issue about the race results ("Bigos Gives Encore by Capturing First in LBI 18 Mile Run"). The article, written by David Biggy, refers to the title of the race, but it fails to mention two very important facts. First, this commemorative race honors the 11 Olympic athletes and coaches from Israel who were murdered in 1972 during the Olympic games in Munich and also those whose lives were lost in the terrorist attacks on 9/11 in 2001. Secondly, this event is jointly sponsored by the St. Francis Community Center and the Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island.
Let's celebrate all the great things that happen on our Island, but let's not forget, when appropriate, who is the support behind the events and why they are happening.
Paula Hait
Long Beach Township
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GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
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SEND ONE OF OUR TRIBUTES IN HONOR OR IN MEMORY OF
ENDOWMENT FUND
Join Herb and Selma Shapiro z'l to help assure the continuity of our JCC, and our ability to continue providing a full-service congregation to serve the Jewish people of the area.
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 name funds will be joined together to be part of the endowment fund portfolio.
Judith & Donald Pripstein have joined the Shapiros with a $50,000 donation and have established The Pripstein Family Endowment Fund.
All members are encouraged to help this important effort by contributing to this fund whether as a specific named fund, or as a general donation.
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: PLAQUES
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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.
Think about joining this program and helping the JCC to reap the benefits.
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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.
FOR HANDICAPPED ENTRANCE
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, Wednesday, and Friday
Mary Beth, Tony and Leslie
Office Staff:
Leslie Dinkfelt, Office Manager
Marcie Deutsch, Computer Admin.
Mary Beth Krieger, Staff Member
Tony DeGregorio, Custodial Staff
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Rabbi Michael S. Jay
Michael Babst, President
VIEW THE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER BULLETIN
with this link
E-mail Editor: Rose Valentine
"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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NEXT WEEK'S EVENTS
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10/26 - 11/2
Wednesday
Mah jongg
12:30 PM
FINAL WEEK FOR MAH JONGG
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Friday
October 26, 2018
5:43 PM
(So. Ocean
County NJ)
JOIN US FOR SERVICES
FRIDAY
October 26, 2018
8:00 PM
Services
Rabbi Jay's Talk:
Which is worse, Banning your child or being willing to sacrifice your child?
SATURDAY
Saturday, October 27, 2018
9:00 AM
Torah Study
10:00 AM
Services
Here is the Torah Reading:
Haftorah
II Kings 4:1 - 4:37
Here is the Haftorah:
Torah Readers:
Aaron Lombardi
Rabbi Jay
Please help us create a special atmosphere by not using electronic devices (phones, cameras, games etc) in or around the synagogue on Shabbat
and Holidays. No food or drink is permitted in the sanctuary.
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YAHRZEITS FOR NEXT WEEK
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These names will be read at services on October 26, 2018
Steven Baron
Benjamin Cohen
Beatrice Plotkin Fruchtman*
Mae Goldberg*
Abe Josephson*
Harris Weiner
Isidor Weisel
Vivian Chairnoff
Joseph Meshulam
Ada G. Bass*
Bertrand Berman
Joseph Levin
Bess Silver
Laura Ziegeler
George Medvin
Gilbert Tebeleff
Helene Geier
Martin Samwick
Elaine Cameron
Alex Hirsch
David Plotkin
Joseph Sherman
Max Silver
Manuel Smith*
Rhea Britz*
Gladys Krechovitz*
Abraham Lazar
Evelyn B. Sholin
Paul Starr
Jerome Szanger*
PLEASE LET THE OFFICE KNOW WHEN YOU WILL NEED A MINYAN TO SAY YAHRZEIT.
* Yahrzeit Plaque - These names are lovely enshrined on our synagogue memorial boards.
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CONGREGATION
NEWS
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SHARE YOUR NEWS
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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SPONSOR A KIDDUSH
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We are proud to announce the establishment of the
Zena Jay Kiddush Fund
in memory of Rabbi Jay's mother
Those who want to sponsor a kiddish or would like to donate to the fund, can contact the office at 609-492-4090
For information about
sponsoring a Kiddush
SEE DONATION & MENU:
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CELEBRATE A MILESTONE AT THE JCC
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The JCC is a beautiful place to celebrate a milestone: wedding, anniversary, baby naming, birthday.
Contact the office for further information. 609-492-4090
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SISTERHOOD STUFF
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GIFT SHOP
Come visit the JCC Sisterhood Gift Shop
in the lobby
to purchase your judaica needs or for a special gift
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| ACME & SHOPRITE SCRIP |
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 Scrip is available from Acme as well as ShopRite.
You can help the JCC of LBI earn free money by using these $25 gift cards when you shop at these stores.
Contact the office at 609-492-4090
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BULLETIN ADS
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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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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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| DOCUMENTS AND LINKS |
| JUST CLICK AND YOU'RE THERE!!! LATEST BULLETIN: BULLETIN
WEB SITE: JCC WEB SITE MEMBERSHIP FORMS MEMBERSHIP PAVERS: PAVERS TREE OF LIFE TREE YAHRZEIT PLAQUE FORM: PLAQUE KOL HAKAVOD DONATION FORM KOL HAKAVOD |
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