|
A MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI
|
I am always intrigued by the beginning of Parashat Massei, which lists the 42 stops that Israelites made during their 40 year Schlep in the desert. Why are we told essentially what we have already been told before?
There are many reasons given by the commentators. Some say it is to enable the reader to remember the miracles that God performed during the Israelite's journey.
Others, say it serves as a reminder of the mistakes our ancestors made on their journey. (Complaining to Moses, praying to idols, trying to overthrow Moses, constant kvetching, etc.) Still others say that it serves as a reminder to be grateful to God.
I have previously written that the list acts as a metaphoric photo album or video montage of everything that happened to the children of Israel in the 40 years; the births, the celebrations, the marriages, and the deaths.
With the help of Aden Gdanski, my Bar Mitzvah student who will be called to Torah this Shabbat morning, I have a new way of looking at the 40 years of wandering. In our conversations, Aden expressed to me his fondness for taking family walks. For Aden, walks provide an opportunity for exercise, for talking, and for thinking.
I have only thought of the 40 years of wandering as a punishment and a burden. However, armed with the Torah of a 13 year old, my assumption has been flipped on its head.
According to Aden, walking is positive; walking is a good thing. So the 40 years of wandering must have had a positive side.
The silver lining of the journey was the ability for the Israelites to gain perspective over time. The time and distance provided an opportunity to prepare for the future, with an added benefit being that the Israelites had more time to fully consider what it would mean for them to have a land of their (our) own.
The wandering additionally gave time to think about what it is that the Israelites really wanted in their new homeland.
Time gives perspective. Thus, while the wandering may have seemed a burden, it really acted as a preparatory course planned by God for the benefit of the Israelites.
The bottom line is that there were benefits to the long delay. Indeed, if we consider this, one might argue that there simply was no need to rush to get into the Promised Land.
Life is often like this. We think it is taking us a long time to get some place, or to achieve a goal, but the extra time it took, helped to assure success. Said another way: "Sometimes it takes wandering around aimlessly to get to where you are supposed to be."
Perhaps we should not look at it as 40 years of wandering. Perhaps we should see it as 40 years of talking, considering, and problem solving.
The lesson this week, from a person just entering Jewish adulthood is:
"When you wander, you wonder".
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.
|
|
KOL HAKAVOD CAMPAIGN
|
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
|
|
THE WEEK THAT WAS....
|
Sunday morning, under the gazebo by the dog park in Brant Beach, JCC congregants and their dogs gathered for a blessing from the Rabbi. Cats were welcome but they "chose" not to come.
"I thank you for being my companion in times of joy, and my comfort in times of pain. I am so fortunate to have you in my life and I know our life together will continue to be happy and meaningful."
|
|
MAH JONGG & CANASTA
|
Mah jongg & Canasta
Wednesdays from
12:30 to 4:00 PM
|
|
CHAVERIM
|
 Please hold the date of Sunday 8/11/19 from 7pm-9pm for another fun get together for our Charverim group!! Details to follow. ALL ARE WELCOME
|
|
SUMMER ACTIVITIES
|
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 19th
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.
ROSH CHODESH II
Look for information for
Thursday, August 22 @ 7:00 PM
Place TBA
ANNUAL CONGREGATION MEETING
Sunday, August 25.
10:00 AM
|
|
FEDERATION NEWS
|
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"
|
|
PROGRAMS OF INTEREST AT THE LIBRARY
|
The Friends of the Island Library are sponsoring a program on
August 19 at 7 p.m. about ancestry and genetics with Sandy Hahn Lanman.
 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.
|
|
50/50 RAFFLE
|
 All members should have received their raffle tickets. Please make sure to send back your raffle stubs so that you are entered to win....and it could be quite a nice windfall.
Additional tickets are also available in the office.
Thank you to Helyn Benjamin, Mel Benjamin, Don Pripstein, Art David, Diane Hoffman and Barney Hoffman.
RAFFLE DRAWING IS AT BREAK THE FAST
|
|
NAME BADGES
|
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
|
|
SHOPRITE & ACME SCRIP
|
Purchase Acme & Shoprite Scrip while still available in the JCC Office.
|
|
BULLETIN ADS
|
Please contact the JCC Office (609-492-4090) if you would like to place an ad in the Bulletin
|
|
|
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 JULY/AUGUST BULLETIN
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
|
|
|
|
NEXT WEEK'S EVENTS
8/2/19 - 8/9/19
|
|
Friday 8/2
Rabbi's Class
10:00 AM
Shabbat Dinner
6:30 PM
Sunday
Breakfast with the Author
9:30 AM
Wednesday
Mah jongg & Canasta
12:30 - 4 PM
Friday 8/9
Rabbi's Class
10:00 AM
SEE NEW TWO PAGE SUMMER CALENDAR
|
|
|
August 2, 2019
7:50 PM
Friday, August 2, 2019
Rabbi's Talk:
Photographs and Memories
Saturday, August 3, 2019
BAR MITZVAH
OF
ADEN GDANSKI
son of
10:00 AM Services
Here is the portion
Haftorah
Here is the Haftorah:
Torah Readers
Rabbi Jay
Aaron Lombardi
Margot Jay
Mitchell Jay
The family invites the congregation to join their guests for an extended kiddish in honor of
Aden's bar mitzvah.
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 @ 6:00 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.
|
|
YAHRZEITS FOR NEXT WEEK
|
These names will be
read at services on
August 2, 2019
Jack Morgan
Phillip Heinish
David Rifkin
Adele Rosenberg
Beatrice Busch*
Anne Einhorn
Eleanor Cohen
Max Selsky*
Sy Frand
Shirley Rose
John Dzuna
Rudi Cohen
Irwin Moses*
Joseph Schiller
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.
|
|
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
|
Howard Koransky
August 3
Marcia D. Landskroner
August 3
Harold Herzeg
August 4
Jay Berman
August 5
Roberta Scott
August 6
Trudy Kaplan
August 7
Janet Cohen
August 8
Annette Kaplan
August 8
Jan Becker
August 9
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
|
|
CONGREGATION
NEWS
|
|
MICHAEL BAKST
on this retirement
from ShopRite
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
|
|
CELEBRATE A MILESTONE AT THE JCC
|
The JCC is a beautiful place to celebrate a milestone: wedding, anniversary, baby naming, birthday.
Contact the office for further information. 609-492-4090
|
|
SPONSOR AN ONEG SHABBAT
|
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
|
|
SPONSOR A KIDDUSH
|
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:
|
|
TD AFFINITY PROGRAM
|
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.
|
|
GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
|
|
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
|
| 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 |
|
|
