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A TORAH MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI
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Beshallach:
First is a somewhat irreverent observation. As the Israelites are crossing the sea on dry land, there is an ironic piece of reportage given our current climate. When God splits the Red Sea and the Israelites are walking through it on dry land, the text says that the waters formed a "Wall for (the Israelites) on their right and on their left". Is God laughing at us as we slog through our own, seemingly irreconcilable, "wall" issues? While our current issues are very serious and hardly funny, I am of the opinion that the Holy One does, in fact, have a sense of humor.
Second, before the actual splitting of the Red Sea, the Israelites are camped on its shores when they see the Egyptians giving chase on 600 chariots. Caught between the Egyptian army and the huge body of water, the Israelites scream at Moses, chastise him, and blame him for their impending doom. Moses in turn cries out in prayer to God. God's answer is literally: "Why do you cry out to me? Tell the Israelites to move forward..." In other words, God is saying: "Don't just stand there waiting for me to do something, take action. Do something for yourselves". There is a great lesson here. There are times for praying, and times for action. Obviously, as a Rabbi, I am of the opinion that prayer is a helpful, useful, and a necessary part of our lives. That said, there are times (like when an army is bearing down on you) that people need to take matters into their own hands.
This week, on Sunday night and Monday, we observe the holiday of Tu B'Shevat. This is the Jewish holiday celebrating the birthday of the trees. As such
, Tu B'shevat is viewed as an appropriate occasion to educate Jews about our tradition's advocacy of responsible stewardship of God's creation, manifested in ecological activism. Tu B'shevat is an opportunity to raise awareness about, and to care for, the environment through the teaching of Jewish sources celebrating nature. It is also a day to focus on the environmental sensitivity of the Jewish tradition by planting trees wherever Jews may live, or to donate to organizations, such as the Jewish National Fund, which devote much time and energy to re-foresting Israel. On the JCC's recent trip to Israel we planted trees in the North of Israel.
It is only fitting that Monday is not only Tu B'Shevat, but Martin Luther King Day as well. Just as Tu B'Shevat seeks to repair the world, MLK sought to make the world a better place by seeking to rid it of hatred and bigotry. Reverend King preached peaceful protest and publicly prayed for equality for all men and women, regardless of race, skin color, or religion. But he also saw to it that action was taken. Just as God told Moses to tell the Israelites to move forward, Martin Luther King helped to coordinate protest marches and rallies.
It was after the march in Alabama from Selma to Montgomery, in 1965, after he locked arms with Martin Luther King, Jr., that Abraham Joshua Heschel famously said: "I felt my feet were praying." Just as the Israelites had moved to cross the Red Sea toward redemption, MLK moved the African American community of the 60's toward a redemption of their own. Prayer can take many forms. During the peace marches of the civil rights movement it was Prayer in motion.
Shabbat Shalom, Chag Tu B'Shevat Sameach, and Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - 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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UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
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SUNDAY AT THE MOVIES
Sunday, January 27
2:00 PM
Showing "Schindler's List"
2019 is the 25th Anniversary
of the release of this film.
Followed by a discussion of
"Who Saved Who?"
February's Sunday movie is planned for the 10th of the month. We hope to show the documentary "RBG"
 SHABBAT DINNER
Our next Shabbot Dinner is planned for
Friday,
February 1st
FLORIDA REUNION
DETAILS BELOW
Tuesday, February 26 at Noon
at
DUFFY'S
Linton and Federal, Delray Beach
Call Helyn Benjamin @ 561-740-7499
or
Eileen Buzinsky @561-362-3880
to let them know you will attending
or
for additional information
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COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
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MAH JONGG & LUNCH
DATE: Monday - January 21, 2019
TIME: 11:30 a.m.
PLACE: Brazzi Wood Fired Trattoria
601 Route 72 (heading East in the Harborside Plaza)
DETAILS: We will order off the menu and get separate checks.
An extra $1.00 will be collected as an extra tip for the wait staff. Also note that the way Brazzi's set up they'll reserve the tables of four to play, and then we'll all sit together to have lunch about an hour in to our playing. It's really very pleasant and they are very accommodating.
Call Marianne Clemente 212-249-6292 to RSVP.
PS
"MAH JONGG Lovers: Every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday there is open Mah Jongg games at the Stafford Recreation Center at 25 Pine Street in Manahawkin (the small white house next to the main Recreation Center on Bay Avenue). It starts at 12:30 PM and goes until 4:00 PM.
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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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GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
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SEND ONE OF OUR TRIBUTES IN HONOR OR IN MEMORY OF
PAVERS
Inscribe a paver at the front entrance to the building
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
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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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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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
Mary Beth Krieger, Staff Member
Tony DeGregorio, Custodial Staff
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Rabbi Michael S. Jay
Michael Babst, President
VIEW THE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER/JANUARY 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
1/18/19 - 1/25/19
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Monday
Tu B'shvat
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Friday
January 18, 2019
4:42 PM
(So. Ocean
County NJ)
JOIN US FOR SERVICES
FRIDAY
January 18, 2019
Services
7:00 PM
RABBI'S TALK:
How nice Baltimore's Inner Harbor looks at night.
SATURDAY
January 19, 2019
NO SERVICES THIS SATURDAY
Beshalach
(Exodus 13:1 7 - 22)
Here is the Parshah
PARSHAH
Judges 4:4 - 5:31
Here is the Haftorah
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.
TU B'SHVAT
Monday, January 21
PLANT A TREE
This day marks the season in which the earliest-blooming trees in the Land of Israel emerge from their winter sleep and begin a new fruit-bearing cycle.
We also celebrate the 15th of Shevat by eating fruit, particularly from the kinds that are singled out by the Torah in its praise of the bounty of the Holy Land: grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates.
DATE FIG BARS
Ingredients:
Filling
3 cups of chopped dates and figs
1 cup of water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons vanilla
Crust
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour (or all-purpose)
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Directions:
Filling
In a saucepan, combine the ingredients, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 5 minutes. The mixture will thicken after a few minutes.
Remove from heat and set aside to cool. I ran the immersion blender through it to give it a nice smooth texture and let it sit for a while.
Crust
Whisk together the dry ingredients (except the nuts) and then add the melted butter. Stir until well combined.
Lightly grease a 9x9 inch pan and press 2 1/2 cups of the crust mixture into the pan, smoothing it out to fill the bottom with no gaps.
Spread the filling on the crust. Add the nuts to the remaining crust mixture and sprinkle it over the filling.
Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees, until golden brown. Let cool before cutting.
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CONGREGATION
NEWS
GAIL & KEN GOLD
on the birth of their grandson
Ethan
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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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YAHRZEITS FOR NEXT WEEK
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These names will be read at services on January 18, 2019
Al Black
Richard Gilbert
Hyman Goldstein
Raia Koller
Linda Zelin
Barnet Bookman*
Benjamin Reiser*
Dave Tarlow
Charles Bloom
Jacob Konner
Lucy Lief
Rabbi Pinchos Chazin
Robert Greenbaum
Estelle Stokes
Irvin Cohen
Julius Marmon
Rose Glickman*
Nathan Israel Printz*
Sam Zavelson
PLEASE LET THE OFFICE KNOW WHEN YOU WILL NEED A MINYAN TO SAY KADDISH.
* Yahrzeit Plaque - These names are lovely enshrined on our synagogue memorial boards.
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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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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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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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| 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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CHOLENT SHABBOS 
chat.
