Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island E-Letter
October 29, 2021
23 Cheshvan 5782
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A TORAH MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI |
The Torah tells us that: “Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah facing Mamre, WHICH IS IN HEBRON”.
Why do I point this out? Because so often, we still see others claiming that Israel has no valid claim to the Land given to it by God. According to some people, we are interlopers who only recently gained access to our homeland. This week’s Torah portion puts this intentional misdirection to rest.
Indeed, the Torah tells us that when Sarah died, Abraham needed a place to bury her and proceeded to negotiate for rights to the cave at Machpelah. Ephron, the cave’s owner, offered to give the cave to Abraham, free of charge. However, presumably because a gift can be revoked, Abraham refused the gift and insisted on purchasing the cave. As such, the Torah reports that Abraham paid a hefty price for the cave and the fields above it.
Because of Abraham’s foresight, the Jewish people have had ownership of land within the current borders of Israel since well before Moses even brought the Israelites to the banks of the Jordan River. It cannot be disputed that our ancestors owned portions of the land long before Joshua conquered Jericho and before, David unified Israel.
The Palestinians and much of the international community continually try to claim that Jews have no right to our holy places. Furthermore, they have the temerity to claim that the sites are only holy to Muslims and that Jews have no historical connection to Israel. Their claim is clearly and patently historically inaccurate. When you hear people say, “Palestine from the river to the sea”, they are denying the right of Israel to exist.
Next time someone tries to tell you that Israel does not have a bonafide right to our homeland, tell them to read Parashat Chayei Sarah and to know the truth. When others try to rewrite history, it is our obligation to make sure that accuracy rules the day.
We should each become the purveyors of our own Jewish history. If you have any questions or would like to learn about our Jewish history in Israel, please feel free to reach out to me.
Shabbat Shalom – Rabbi Michael S. Jay
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LOOK FOR THE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER/JANUARY BULLETIN with information about all our upcoming programs |
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SHABBAT SHALOM
Candle lighting Time
Friday evening,
October 29, 2021
5:40 PM
So. Ocean County
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JOIN US FOR SERVICES
Friday evening
October 29, 2021
6:00 PM
ZOOM ONLY
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to Join
Zoom Services
Saturday morning
October 30, 2021
Services
9:00 AM
IN PERSON AND ON ZOOM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to Join
Zoom Services
Torah Reading:
Parashat Chayei Sara
Genesis 23:1-25:18
Here is the Reading
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Haftorah
I Kings 1:1 - 1:31
Here is the Haftorah
Saturday evening
7:00 PM
Havdallah
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to
Join Zoom Services
Sunday - Thursday
Ma'ariv Service
7:30 PM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to
Join Zoom Services:
Monday- Friday
Shacharit Service
8:15 AM
Sunday at 9:00 AM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to
Join Zoom Services:
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THURSDAY AFTERNOON MATINEE AT THE JCC
Thanks to thoe who traveled the flood waters to watch the provocative movie "Kiss Me Kosher," part of the Ocean County Federation's Film Festival.
WAX BOOK CLUB
Thanks to a thoughtful start to our discussion by facilitator, Jill Ratner, a most interesting discussion of the novel "Eternal" by Lisa Scottoline took place Wednesday afternoon. A love story, it brought to light the war years in Italy and the fate of the Jews of Rome.
If you have not read the book, put it on your to read list. For more insight into that time and place in history, we recommend the following: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/italy, an excellent overview from the US Holocaust Memorial Museum and the documentrary Syndrome K: how Italian doctors saved Jews from the Nazis
Click below to see the documentary.
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THIS WEEK'S ACTIVITIES
MONDAY 11/1
10:00 AM
Hartman Institute Seminar
"Foundations for a Thoughtful Judaism'
with Rabbi Jay
TUESDAY 11/2
Open Mah jongg/Canasta
12:30 - 4 PM
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WEDNESDAY 11/3
following Ma'ariv
7:45 PM
Studying the weekly portions
with Rabbi Jay based on the book
"Judaism’s Life-Changing Ideas"
by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks.
THURSDAY 11/4
11:00 AM Torah Study with the Rabbi
2:00 PM Beginning Hebrew with Ira
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Do you know how much of our freedom we owe to Judeo-Christian principles? Though they weren't Jews themselves, the founders of the United States were heavily influenced by Judeo-Christian principles and the ideas of the Hebrew Bible. Join Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik for his free online course, "Jewish Ideas and the American Founders" and explore the history of our country, from the perspectives of our founders as well as early Jewish Americans.
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WAX BOOK CLUB
Wednesday, November 17th at 4:00 PM
Discussion Leader: Debby Schweighardt
An Observant Wife by Naomi Ragen
Naomi Ragen continues the love story between newly observant California-girl Leah and ultra-Orthodox widower Yaakov from An Unorthodox Match.
In the midst of their heartfelt attempts to reach a balance between their human needs and their spiritual obligations, the discovery of a secret, forbidden relationship between troubled teenage daughter Shaindele and a local boy precipitates a maelstrom of life-changing consequences for all.
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Rhea Britz*
Gladys Krechovitz*
Abraham Lazar
Evelyn B. Sholin
Paul Starr
Jerome Szanger*
Harold Eiser
Mildred Greenwald*
Ernst Halpern
Yetta Houzman
Isadore Isaac Levy
Glen Medvin*
Claire Seavey
Irving Shapiro
Eli Starr, MD
Sophie Ehrlich
Nisson Ben-Avraham
Ida Koupf
Julius Rosenthal
Sidney Miller
Dave Rothenberg
Siegfried Brenman
Rebecca Josolowitz
Sol Karpman
Max Kincus
Ellis Levin*
Evelyn Smith
Wilbur Hait
Philip Josolowitz
Helen Pripstein*
Anne Reiser*
In this Zoom era, we have been able to have a daily minyan at 8:15 AM and at 7:30 PM and on Shabbat. We encourage you to join us on the day of your loved one’s yahrzeit. In the morning, the service is about ½ hour beginning at 8:15 and in the evening at 7:30 until about 7:45. Rabbi will be glad to say the traditional El Malei Rachamim prayer for you, which is recited during the funeral, going up to the grave of the departed, Yizkor remembrance day and other occasions on which the memory of the dead is recalled. You are also welcome to share with the minyan some special memories of your loved one.
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SHARE YOUR NEWS
AND PICTURES
CONTACT:
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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Ina Morgenthal
November 1
David Page
November 2
Dale Hartman
November 4
Dana Ranani
November 4
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GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
PAVERS
Inscribe a paver at the front entrance to the building
8" X 4", 8" X 8" and 12" X 12"
SEE UPDATED ORDER FORM:
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.
Please contact Diane Hoffman
with your order or with any questions:
PRAYER BOOKS
There are still High Holiday Prayer Books and Chumashim available to be purchased in memory or honor of someone or something. The cost of a Prayer Book is $72 each and $120 for an Eitz Hayim Chumash. The donation includes an affirmation sticker in the book and an acknowledgement letter or letters.
TRIBUTES
SEND ONE OF OUR TRIBUTES IN HONOR OR IN MEMORY OF
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 - NEW INFORMATION !!!!!!!
Herb and Selma z”l Shapiro established the first individual Endowment Fund in memory of his father, as part of the JCC’s Endowment Fund portfolio. Judith z”l & Donald Pripstein joined the Shapiros and established The Pripstein Family Endowment Fund.
As recently reported, Don Pripstein pledged another $50,000 to establish The Judith & Donald Pripstein Endowment Fund.
As a result of Don’s letter, Harold Farin has stepped forward and has established “The Farin Family Endowment Fund”. This Fund will join with the three others as part of the JCC Endowment Fund portfolio. Other members are encouraged to also provide for the future of our JCC by establishing similar funds.
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 named funds will be joined together to be part of the Endowment Fund portfolio.
Endowment funds are necessary to ensure the continuation and well being of our congregation. All members are encouraged to help this important effort by contributing to this portfolio, whether as a specific named individual fund, or as a general donation. The donation can be spread over one, two, or three years, and can be paid via check, donation of appreciated stock, wills, or from the RMD of your IRA or 401K account. 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:
KOL HAKAVOD
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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JCC FUNDS
Your gift to the JCC support our Clergy, our Congregation and the Community.
ENDOWMENT FUND
This fund was established to assure the continuity of our JCC, and our ability to continue providing a full-service congregation to serve the Jewish people of the area. While a donation of any amount is encouraged, a donation of at least $50,000 allows the donor to name a special or specific Endowment Fund in memory or honor of a specific person event, or family.
GENERAL FUND
Donations to this fund are not earmarked but placed in the general administrative account. Donations to this fund can be in honor or memory of a person, event, or family.
KOL HAKAVOD FUND
Donations to this campaign supplement the clergy needs of our congregation.
RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND
This fund, managed by the rabbi, allows donors to enable the rabbi to do the work of tzedakah in response to the needs of individuals, organizations and the community.
ZENA & JERRY JAY KIDDISH FUND
The Zena and Jerry Jay Kiddush Fund was established in memory of Rabbi Jay's parents to help provide funds for our Saturday morning kiddushes.
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JCC INFORMATION
THE JCC OF LBI IS LOCATED AT
2411 Long Beach Boulevard (24th Street)
Spray Beach, NJ 08008
Telephone: 609-492-4090 FAX: 609-492-7550
THE OFFICE IS OPEN TUESDAY AD THURSDAYS
FROM 10 - 2
CONTINUE TO USE THE PHONE OR EMAIL WITH REQUESTS.
OUR OFFICE STAFF WILL BE CHECKING IN REGULARLY.
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Staff:
Leslie Dinkfelt, Office Manager
Mary Beth Krieger, Staff Member
Kitchen Manager: Susan Berube
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LATEST
BULLETIN:
PRAYER BOOK:
WEB SITE:
PAVERS:
TREE OF LIFE
YAHRZEIT PLAQUE FORM:
KOL HAKAVOD DONATION FORM
KOL HAKAVOD
TRIBUTES:
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Rabbi Michael S. Jay
Michael Babst, President
E-mail Editor: Rose Valentine
Graphics by
Irene Babst
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