A MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI
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There is no way to water down the scene that crosses over from last week's Torah portion to this week's. Last week, the Israelite men are enticed, by Moabite women, to participate in idol worship. God is not happy and tells Moses to kill the idolaters. Before Moses can take action, an Israelite man and a Midianite woman openly have sex in front of the gathered assembly, near the sanctuary. Without hesitation, Pinchas, the grandson of Aaron takes a spear and impales the two, inflagranti delicto. (And who says the Torah is boring?)
The Torah devotes much time to setting up courts and a legal system. And yet, in this week's Parasha, Pinchas, literally taking matters into his own hands, works outside of the court system that God has set up. Pinchas' extra-legal action pays off. He gets a gift of peace from God, and a plague that God had sent against the Israelites is stopped.
One would think that the message is that vigilantism and zealotry is a good thing. However, when we look at the rest of the Torah portion, we find that the message is much more nuanced.
The very next thing that happens in the Torah, is that Moses takes another census of the Israelites. On one level, the census acts as a momentary pause for the Israelites to take stock of themselves. It is not just about the numbers, it is about finding out where they are physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
We then find, through the story of the daughters of Zelophehad, whose father dies without a male heir, that the law is amendable. Whereas the Torah had initially only provided inheritance through the sons, God shifts the law to enable inheritance through daughters when there is no son. (To our egalitarian and equal rights centered world this sounds ridiculous. But at the time, it was a sea-change in the way the world worked.)
Moses is next told that he will die shortly and, rather than lament his fate, he wants to make sure that God has a successor in place. (Moses understood the need to turn over leadership peacefully and in an orderly fashion.) The result is that God tells Moses that Joshua will be the next leader and Moses appoints him publicly.
The Torah portion ends with God establishing the calendar of public sacrifices, the festivals, and the holy days of biblical Israel that serve as the foundation for contemporary Judaism. It lists the basic daily and annual cycle of observance: the daily offering, Shabbat, Rosh Hodesh, Pesach, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Sh'mini Atzereth.
I don't often give a summary of the weekly Torah portion, so why am I doing it here? There is a thread of understanding that I want to point out.
1) The Israelites exist, the Torah exists, God exists. Sometimes others (and even we) ignore these truths. Others seek to harm us and we, sometimes, even take steps to harm ourselves. When this happens, someone needs to step up and defend us. Here it is Pinchas.
2) When there is trouble, within or without, we must self-assess. Here the census illustrates this need.
3) Everything is subject to change and change is best achieved through conversation and thoughtful consideration. This is illustrated by the story of the daughters of Zelophehad.
4) When you come to what you think is an ending, whether it be of a relationship, a business, or a life, always consider what will happen going forward. Moses' concern that a successor be named before he dies expresses the importance of this.
5) Finally, Setting forth daily, weekly, monthly, and annual ritual helps to create community and to keep us centered in a world that often spins out of control. The Shabbat and holiday cycle provides this continual stabilizing connection for us. (These are not senseless attachments to a meaningless past. They are a glue that binds our past and future together)
Our world is in a state of, seemingly, perpetual flux. The truths that we understood yesterday, are not necessarily the truths that exist today. The Torah provides tools that can help us to navigate the shifting complexities that confront us.
Open the tool box, pull out the appropriate tool, and repair what needs repairing.
Shabbat Shalom - Rabbi Michael S. Jay
RABBI'S CLASS
My Friday class on Ethics will occur every Friday between July 12th and August 23rd from 10:00 am to about noon. The Class is entitled: "Conflict Resolution, the Beit Midrash Way." Each class is "Stand-alone", so if you cannot make it to all 7 classes it is fine. There is a suggested donation of $5.00 per class and $30.00 for all 7 classes. Among other things, we will learn how to actually talk when we disagree.
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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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SHABBAT ON THE BEACH moved inside because of concerns about the heat. Rabbi Jay decorated the bimah so it felt like we were on the sand and with guitarist Rick Abrams and a spirited congregation, it was a special Kabbalat service.
MICHAEL D'AMORE returned to an enthusiastic JCC crowd of 128 people. The dance floor was filled and the songs were favorites. With snacks on the tables and wine and desserts served, it was a happy place!!!!
Thanks to our event co-ordinators David Shatz and Helene Gordon. They were assisted by
Karen Shatz,
Alan Gordon,
Lewis Chakrin,
Joyce Levine,
Paul Levine,
Jill Denker,
Lenore Forsted,
Arlene Schragger,
Irene Babst,
Michael Babst,
Anne Johnson,
Russ Johnson and Rabbi Jay.
Our next event will be Sunday evening, August 18th at 7:00 PM.
Mark you calendar for "Remember the Catskills" with comedian,
Larry Donsky,
and duo, The Jersey Chix.
Snacks, drinks and dessert.
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MAH JONGG & CANASTA
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Mah jongg & Canasta
Wednesdays from
12:30 to 4:00 PM
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SUMMER ACTIVITIES
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BARK-HU AND SHEH-MEOW
A Prayer Service celebrating Our Pets.
Bring your pet and your blessing.
Our pets bring us joy, comfort us, and make our lives fuller.
When we are sad they make us happy, when we are alone they keep us company.
While they play a big part in our lives, pets are rarely a part of our spiritual lives
Sunday, July 28 @ 10 AM
LB Township Dog Park
68th St. & Blvd. Brant Beach
WOMEN'S ROSH CHODESH
Mothers - Daughters - Grandaughters
WELCOME
Thursday, August 1 @ 7 PM
at the home of Robin Valentine
by July 29, 2019 so our hostess can plan accordingly
Look for information for Thursday, August 22 Rosh Chodesh
Place & Time TBA
BREAKFAST WITH THE AUTHOR
Sunday, August 4 @ 9:30 AM
(see change of time)
Susan Shapiro Barash
discusses her new novel
"A Palm Beach Wife"
AUGUST BAZAAR
August 14th
8:00 AM - 3 PM
Volunteers Needed
Call the office if you can help
REMEMBER THE CATSKILLS
Sunday August 18th 7:00 PM
An evening with comedian, Larry Donsky,
and duo, The Jersey Chix
Snacks, drinks and dessert.
Tickets - $35.00
BOOK CLUB
August 19 th
10:30 at the JCC Library
Book to be reviewed:
"The Lost Girls of Paris"
by Pam Jenoff
One morning while passing through Grand Central Terminal on her way to work, Grace Healey finds an abandoned suitcase tucked beneath a bench. Unable to resist her own curiosity, Grace opens the suitcase, where she discovers a dozen photographs-each of a different woman. In a moment of impulse, Grace takes the photographs and quickly leaves the station.
Grace soon learns that the suitcase belonged to a woman named Eleanor Trigg, leader of a network of female secret agents who were deployed out of London during the war. Twelve of these women were sent to Occupied Europe as couriers and radio operators to aid the resistance, but they never returned home, their fates a mystery. Setting out to learn the truth behind the women in the photographs, Grace finds herself drawn to a young mother turned agent named Marie, whose daring mission overseas reveals a remarkable story of friendship, valor and betrayal.
ANNUAL CONGREGATION MEETING
Sunday, August 25.
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FEDERATION NEWS
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We are very excited to announce that two of the films in the Jewish Federation of Ocean County Jewish Film Festival will also be shown at the Regal Cinemas in Manahawkin.
Tuesday, August 20th
@ 7:00 PM
Sunday, August 25th @ 7:00 PM
"The Light of Hope"
Postcards about all the films will be sent to you shortly.
If you would like to be a sponsor of the festival,
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PROGRAMS OF INTEREST AT THE LIBRARY
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The Friends of the Island Library are sponsoring a program on Monday, July 29 at 7:00 p.m. at the library about workers who are becoming too old to work, but too poor to retire. Professor Mary Gatta has studied this issue, and says it will become a growing problem.
There is another interesting program coming up on August 19 at 7 p.m. about ancestry and genetics with Sandy Hahn Lanman.
Sandy Lanman's late mother had been given up for adoption in Germany in 1928. Seemingly, this would have been a dead-end road for finding any relatives. But through some good investigative journalism techniques, she was able to find her grandmother's immediate and extended family living right here in New Jersey within 5 months of beginning her search. She also had some interesting adventures that included identifying her grandfather through DNA.
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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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SHOPRITE & ACME SCRIP
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Purchase Acme & Shoprite Scrip while still available in the JCC Office.
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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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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
Mary Beth, Tony and Leslie
Office Staff:
Leslie Dinkfelt, Office Manager
Mary Beth Krieger, Staff Member
Tony DeGregorio, Custodial Staff
Kitchen Manager
Susan Berube
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Rabbi Michael S. Jay
Michael Babst, President
VIEW THE MAY/JUNE 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
7/26/19 - 8/2/19
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Friday 7/26 Rabbi's Class 10:00 AM
Wednesday
Mah jongg & Canasta 12:30 - 4 PM
Thursday Women's Rosh Chodesh 7:00 PM
Friday 8/2 Rabbi's Class 10:00 AM Shabbat Dinner 6:30 PM
SEE NEW TWO PAGE SUMMER CALENDAR
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July 26, 2019
7:57 PM
JOIN US FOR SERVICES
Shabbat with ZOA
Friday, July 26, 2019
Rabbi's Talk:
Why
Congress' recent Anti-BDS legislation is so important
Alan D. Jay, Director, New York Metro Region of ZOA will discuss the organization's four major annual events.
Saturday, July 27, 2019
10:00 AM Services
Numbers 25:10 - 30:1
Here is the portion
Haftorah
Jeremiah 1:1 - 2:3
Here is the Haftorah:
Torah Reader
Michael Lippman
Haftorah Chanter
Michael Lippman
"Why we love Israel &
how ZOA defends
Israel's right to exist"
Guest Speakers
Howard Katzoff
National Deputy Director
Zionist Organization of America
&
Alan D. Jay
Director NY Metro-West
Zionist Organization of America
Kiddish Lunch
sponsored by
Julie & Michael Lippman
in honor of his bar mitzvah anniversary
Last Shabbat, Bunnie Kaufman was a Kiddish sponsor in memory of her husband Herman
SPECIAL SHABBATS
SHABBAT DINNER
Friday, August 2
6:30 PM
Traditional Shabbat Chicken Dinner
$20 per person, $40 per person
SHABBAT ON THE BEACH
August 16 @ 6:30 PM
in Loveladies
Celebrating
AARON LOMBARDI
as he moves on
to Rutgers University this Fall
at Saturday morning
services
August 24th.
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
July 26, 2019
Elizabeth Bat Joseph
Pauline Cohn
Roy H. Entin
Frances Indzel
Frank D. Levi*
Rose Albert*
Rose Freeman
Samuel Hochberger
Anne Frances Rubenstein*
Sidney Zalkind*
Gladys Babbitt
Abraham Cherins
Gertrude Foosaner
Philip Gerstenblatt
Isadore Treatman
Sidney Weinman
Gerald Katz
Molly Lang
Marilyn Lerner*
Harry Prebluda
Nathan Stokes
Jack Bendavid
Fannie Bzezensky*
Helen Finestone
Roy Finestone
Tillie Fischer
Edward Liebowitz
Anna Bloom
Samuel Goodman
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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HAPPY BIRTHDAY
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Toby Meyer
July 27
Stacie Podos
July 27
Pamela Scheer
July 27
Deborah Smith
July 28
Robert Block
July 29
Carl Steinberg
July 29
Elayne Simandl
July 30
Phyllis Cohen
August 1
Debra Horowitz
August 1
If you have not given the office your birthday information and would like to receive birthday wishes, please notify the office of your date of birth.
And if you would like to have the Rabbi give you or a family member a special blessing on the Shabbat of your/their birthday, please let him know: RABBI
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CONGREGATION
NEWS
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TED COHEN
JENNIFER MILLNER
SHARE YOUR NEWS
AND PICTURES
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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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 AN ONEG SHABBAT
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SPONSOR
an Oneg Shabbat
on Friday night
with a $36.00
minimum contribution
See this form for details
ONEG
Call the JCC Office to reserve a date.
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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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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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
See form for your order:
PAVERS
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.
It will be
WRITTEN IN STONE
TREE OF LIFE
Add a leaf (leaves) to our beautiful Tree of Life located in the Social Hall. See the order form here:
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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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 ONEG SHABBAT SPONSOR: ONEG KIDDISH SPONSOR: KIDDISH |
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