Jewish Community Center of 
Long Beach Island
E-Letter
April 19, 2019
14 Nisan 5779
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GETTING READY FOR PASSOVER
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10 Easy Steps for Easy Passover Prep
Ready, Set, Go Pesach!
By Lisa Katz
If you take it one step at a time, there is no reason to feel overwhelmed by Passover preparation. Just follow these 10 simple steps. (Editor's note: LOL)
1. Cleaning
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| Kashering the JCC kitchen |
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Before Passover, the house needs to be cleaned so that all chametz (leavened products) are removed. Don't forget the bag of baby crackers in your diaper bag. What about the Purim treats your 3rd grader has stashed away in her desk? Have to lift the sofa to get all that popcorn vacuumed up. While you are at it, you might as well throw some spring cleaning in there - get out the summer clothes and put away the winter blankets and coats.
2. Sabbath
Before you have looked up from the dusting, Shabbat HaGadol, the Shabbat before Passover, arrives. It is called Shabbat HaGadol because it marks the beginning of the redemption.
On the tenth day of the Hebrew month of Nissan (the Shabbat before the exodus on the fifteenth of  Nissan), the Israelites in Egypt prepared the Passover lamb, or Pesach-lamb (Exodus 12:3). When their neighbors asked them what they were doing, the Israelites explained that the lambs would be sacrificed on the fourteenth of Nissan, just before G-d would slay the firstborn of Egypt.
This frightened the firstborn children of Egypt. They begged their parents and Pharaoh to release the Israelites. When their request was denied, they rose in armed revolt. As a result, numerous enemies of the Israelites were killed.
3. Shopping
 Then it's time to run to the store to get all those specialty Passover foods and products. So many kosher for Passover cakes, cookies, and cereals. One can almost last the whole week without missing chametz too much. At the same time, these specialty Passover products tend to be expensive and fattening. If you want to keep your money with you and extra pounds off you, buy extra fruits and vegetables to eat during Passover. To minimize return trips to the store, make a careful shopping list. What will you be serving for the seder? What dishes do you plan to make during the week? Once you have your seder and weekly meals planned, try to create a shopping list that enables you to do all your Passover shopping in one stop.
4. Cooking
Now that the house is stocked, it is time to start to cook for the Seder. Better put aside at least 2 days
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Rabbi"s Soup on the boil |
to cook for the Seder, as many of the dishes are not ones you do every day and you may be lacking some of the accessories with which you usually cook. While cooking, be careful to keep the remaining chametz you have in the house in a separate area.
5. Selling the Chametz
 We are commanded to have no chametz in our possession during Passover. Do we have to burn the closed bag of snitzel in the freezer? No. Our rabbis have made it possible for us to sell this chametz to a non-Jew prior to the holiday.
Generally, we sell the chametz to a Rabbi who in turn acts as an agent and sells it to a non-Jew. The sale is real in that the non-Jew can actually get the chametz if he/she wants. And if the non-Jew decides to keep the chametz, then he/she must pay for it after the holiday.
6. Searching for Chametz
Finally, it is the night before Passover, and it is time to gather your family in your sparkling clean home for Bidikat Chametz. See our quick, step-by-step page on How to Search for Chametz. Once all the chametz in the house is found and burned, we are ready for the Passover Seder.
7. Planning the Seder
It is a good idea to put some time and thought into the kind of seder service you want.
What Haggadah will you be using? There are a variety of Haggadot, including several online which can be printed, and each one has a different influence on the seder service.
Will there be children at the seder? Perhaps they can make place cards to put on the table so everyone will know where they will be sitting? Or they can make pictures of the Passover story to hang in the dining room. During the seder itself, make sure there are opportunities for the children to participate. Did the little ones practice singing the Four Questions? Did the older ones learn something about Passover at school which they can share with everyone at the table? Perhaps you can prepare some questions about the Passover story to ask the children during the seder.
Is there something you can do to make the seder this year especially memorable? Our neighbor dressed up like Elijah, and when it was time to open the door for Elijah he walked in, drank the cup of wine, and left.
A few years ago, friends of mine asked all their guests to dress up like desert nomads. Then they conducted their seder on the floor as if they were in a tent in the desert.
8. Preparing the Passover Plate
It is important to prepare the six symbolic items - zeroa, beitza, karpas, maror, chazeret, charoset -  which should go on the seder plate. See this quick, step-by-step page on How to Prepare the Seder Plate.
9. Setting the Passover Table
The following is needed to set the table for the Passover Seder:
- festive tablecloth and napkins
- kosher for Passover dishes, flatware, water glasses, and wine glasses
- small dishes of salt water for dipping
- enough bottles of wine and grape juice for each person to have four cups
- a special wine cup reserved for Elijah
- a plate with 3 pieces of matzah on it and a cover over it
- seder plate
- Haggadot
Each place setting should include a plate, flatware, a water glass, a wine glass, and a Haggadah. Soup bowls can be kept in the kitchen and used to serve the soup. The salt water dishes and wine or grape juice bottles should be spread out on the table so everyone can reach them. An empty wine glass should be placed in the middle of the table for Elijah. On the plate of the person who will lead the reading of the Haggadah, first place the plate with the three pieces of matzah, and then put the seder plate on top.
10. Pesach Kasher!
Make your seder a memorable and enjoyable experience for the whole family. A nap before the seder is recommended for all, not just the kids, so that everyone arrives to the seder with good energy and spirit. During the seder, make sure everyone is involved and feeling a part of the story of the exodus.
THERE ARE EXCELLENT REFERENCES IN THIS ARTICLE. CLICK HERE TO SEE VARIOUS LINKS: PREPARE FOR PESACH
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A MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI
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It's Enough Already.
The songs we sing at our Seders are part of what makes the traditional gatherings so much fun. Perhaps no song adds to the joy more than Dayeinu. But as we happily bolt out the refrain, "Dayeinu"("It would have been enough") have we fully considered the message of the song? What does it mean to say, "It would have been enough"?
If one looks at the song as written, it recalls many wondrous things that God did for the Israelites beginning with the Exodus story and ending with the building of the Temple. Indeed, its 15 Stanzas may well be an allusion to the 15 steps that led up to the Temple. The song is actually a liturgical motif known as a "litany" which, according the JTS Commentary on the Haggadah, is a prayer consisting of a series of petitions recited by a leader alternating with fixed responses by the congregation. Here the recitation is of each of the good things that God has done for the Israelites. The congregation responds to each with "Dayeinu".
The 15 verses can be broken up thematically as follows: 1) Five verses discussing how we were redeemed from slavery; 2) Five verses highlighting the miracles that God performed, and; 3) Five verses illustrating our ancestors connecting with God.
But, this is enough of the technical gobbledygook. The message of the song is what strikes me. After each successive stanza, we are asserting that God did not need to go any further in bestowing gifts upon us. Accordingly, this would mean that if God had freed us from slavery, but left us alone in the desert, we would have been happy. First, given the amount of Kvetching that the Torah reports that our ancestors did in the desert, I find this conclusion to be virtually impossible. But, secondarily, what does it mean to say that had good fortune ended at a specific point, "It would have been enough"? Given our natural human propensity to want more and more and more, is it possible for us to ever say, "I have enough"?
I am not sure of the answer to this query, though I suspect for many of us it would be hard to say: "Stop, I don't need any more". But, maybe this is what we should be doing. (Starting with that extra helping of Chicken soup at the Seder.) While the main story of Passover is that God freed us from slavery, perhaps Dayeinu is trying to convey the additional message that we can free ourselves from being slaves to excessive wanting.
A few years ago I discussed this basic theme on Rosh Hashanah using Rabbi Irwin Kula's proposition that we should be happy with the partial things we receive in our lives. My friend and colleague, Rabbi Joshua Ratner, expressed it slightly differently in an article he wrote on Dayeinu when he quoted from Pirke Avot, 4:1. Therein we are told that
Ben Zoma teaches: "Who is rich? The one who is content with what one has."
What a world it would be if, at some point, each of us looked around at what we had and said, "Dayeinu, it is enough". At our Seders as we sit with family, friends, and community, and we read, discuss, sing, laugh, kvetch, and eat, we should each take a moment to gaze around us and say silently, or out loud, "Dayeinu".
Chag Sameach - 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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COMMUNITY SEDER
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Saturday, April 20, 2019
6:00 PM
Interactive Seder led by Rabbi Michael Jay
Adults:
$40
Children 13 - 18:
$25
Children under 13
free of charge
Here is the flyer and reservation coupon
or
Contact the JCC Office to make your reservation
609-492-4090
or click on this link
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WOMEN'S STUDY GROUP
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Sisterhood is Complicated:
The Story of Leah & Rachel
The next in this series of women's study programs is planned for Sunday, May 19th when we will look at the Leah/Rachel story. We
suggest that you read - or reread - "The Red Tent" in preparation for the group's May get-together
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A lite breakfast will be served.
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OCEAN COUNTY FEDERATION HAPPENINGS
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Thursday, May 16th at 6:30 PM
At the Ramada Inn in Toms River
Dinner Couvert $60.00
Entertainment
by
William Michals
Broadway actor and singer
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COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS
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St. Francis Center is having its 43rd annual Family Health and Safety Fair on Thursday, April 25 from 10 AM - 1 PM
FOR DETAILS SEE THIS FLYER:
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CUBA HERE WE COME
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Join Rabbi Michael Jay
and The Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island's
"People to People" Cuba Mission
CLICK ON THIS LINK TO SEE THE ITINERARY AND OTHER DETAILS: CUBA MISSION
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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 honorof your family or in memory of a loved one.
It will be
WRITTEN IN STONE
Deadline for Spring Installation April 30th.
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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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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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 FEBRUARY/MARCH/APRIL 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
4/19/19 - 4/26/19
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Saturday
6:00 PM
Community Seder
Reservations required
Click here for JCC Calendar:
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SHABBAT SHALOM
&
HAG SOMEACH
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Friday
April 19, 2019
7:21 PM
Saturday
April 20, 2019
8:30 PM
Light this candle from a
preexisting flame.
JOIN US FOR SERVICES
SHABBAT & PASSOVER SERVICE SCHEDULE
FOR THIS WEEK
Saturday 4/20
9:30 AM
Torah Reading:
Exodus 12:21 - 12:51 & Numbers 28:16 - 28:25
Here is the
Torah Portion:
Haftorah:
Joshua 5:2 - 6:1
Here is the Haftorah
S
unday 4/21
9:30 AM
Torah Reading:
Leviticus 22:26 - 23:4 &
Numbers 28:16 - 28:25
Here is the Torah Portion:
Haftorah:
II Kings 23:1 -23:9;
23:21 - 23:25
Here is the Haftorah:
NEXT WEEK'S SCHEDULE
Friday 4/26;
Saturday, April 4/27 (Yizkor)
all @ 9:30 am
Friday nite service 7:00 4/26
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 SHABBAT MORNING,
April 20, 2019
Elissa Biester
Sylvia Frankel
Benard Gubar*
Irving Koseff*
Alfred Levin
Samuel Pepose
Fanny Fuhrmann
George Gubar*
Joseph Indzel
Felix Schoenberger
Vera Sidel
Irving Bzezensky*
Laura Kaplan
Harold Katz
Allan Mayro
William Schreer
Pearl Corson
Stuart Geier
Rose Gottlieb
Claire Levin
Malvina Malmed
Louis Rubinfeld
Edward Albert*
Donald Bosswick
Robert Jack Bzezensky*
Harry Millstein*
Norman Shaer
Jacob Britz*
Kathryn Hadley*
David Rosenbloom
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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SALE OF CHOMETZ
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In many Jewish comm-unities, the rabbi signs a contract with each congregant, assigning the rabbi as an agent to sell their chametz. The practice is convenient for the congregation and ensures that the sale is binding by both Jewish and local law.
Attached is a contract with Rabbi Jay for selling of your chometz:
SALE OF CHOMETZ
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY
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Naomi Koller Fishman
April 20
Ellen Oxfeld
April 21
Jennifer Millner
April 23
Meryl Gindin
April 26
Phillip Lombardi
April 26
Bonnie Shrager
April 26
We have began sending email greetings to JCC members on their birthdays. 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
HELENE & STEPHEN
SCHARF
on the birth of their grandson
Owen Brooks Douglass
son of
Molly & Martin Douglass
great grandson of
Shirley Scharf
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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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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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SISTERHOOD STUFF
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TO SPONSOR AN ONEG SHABBAT ON ANY FRIDAY EVENING, PLEASE CONTACT
JODY BRUSILOW
AT 610-745-4006.
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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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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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| 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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