Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island E-Letter


July 15, 2022
16 Tamuz 5782


Israel
A TORAH MESSAGE FROM
THE RABBI
In this week’s Parasha, Balak, the non-Israelite prophet, Balaam, is hired to curse the Israelites. (Yes, before there was “This Gun For Hire”, there apparently was “This Prophet For Hire”). Instead of cursing the Israelites, with some “guidance” from God, Balaam blesses them 3 times. Here is one of the blessings:

How can I curse whom God has not cursed?
How can I denounce the Lord has not denounced?
From the tops of crags I see them,
From the hills I gaze down:
A people that dwells alone,
Not reckoning itself among nations.
Num. 23:8-9

If you read the prophecy closely, it is not 100 percent correct. In fact, sometimes in our history it has felt as if we have been cursed. And we Jews certainly are not above being denounced. In fact, denouncing Jews could be an Olympic competition in some parts of this world. 
The blessing is irrefutably correct in one respect. We are, indeed, a people and a nation that often “dwells alone”.

We are unique.
We are a people. We are a nation.
We are wanderers. We have a homeland.
We are a treasured people. We are a Kingdom of priests (Mamlekhet Kohanim).
We are a holy nation (Goy kadosh).*
We are stiff-necked.

Our uniqueness helps us, perhaps even requires us, to create strong communities. A strong community is one that works together, learns together, and prays together.

This week we have certainly been showing all of these qualities. 

We had our July Bazaar this past Wednesday. The number of congregants who labored before, during, and after the bazaar is a wonder to behold. The bazaar happens because our JCC community WORKS together.

Tomorrow, Friday, July 15th, at 7:00 PM we will be welcoming Dr. Eric Mandel, in person or on Zoom. Dr. Mandel will be giving a detailed (PowerPoint) update on Israel and the Middle East. Dr. Mandel just returned from a mission to Israel and has much new information to provide to us. This talk is made all the more interesting as a result of the President's trip to the Middle East this week. 
Click here for Dr. Mandel’s latest interview and article:
 
With programming like this (with thanks to David Schatz), we are a community that LEARNS together.
 
At 8:00, right after Dr. Mandel’s presentation, we will have the blessing of a special Kabbalat Shabbat service with Cantor Sara Geller. Cantor Geller adds joy, meaning, and connection to our services. She helps us to be a community that PRAYS together.
 
If you are in-person, an Oneg Shabbat will follow services. Perhaps our most unique and unifying quality is that we are a community that loves to EAT together.
 
If you are joining us on Zoom, here is the link:

Meeting ID: 869 2444 0977
Passcode: 610287
 
Let the JCC be your home to “Dwell alone together”.
 
Shabbat Shalom – Rabbi Michael S. Jay *With thanks to Marlene Herman
NEXT SHABBAT ON THE BEACH
JULY 22ND
6:00 PM
24TH STREET, SPRAY BEACH
SHABBAT
SHALOM
Candle Lighting time
Friday evening
July 15, 2022
8:05 PM
(So. Ocean County)

JOIN US FOR
SERVICES
Friday Evening
July 15, 2022
8:00 PM
IN PERSON
AND
ON ZOOM

Here is 
your invitation from 
Rabbi Jay to join
Zoom services

HAZZAN
SARA GELLER
WILL BE JOINING US FOR SERVICES
Saturday Morning
July 16 2022
9:00 AM

IN PERSON
AND
ON ZOOM

Here is
your invitation from 
Rabbi Jay to join
Zoom services

Torah Reading:
Parashat Balak
Numbers 22:2-25:9
Here Reading

Balak tells the story of the Moabite king Balak, who hires Balaam to curse the Israelites. Balaam’s donkey speaks along the way, and Balaam ends up blessing the Israelites. The portion ends with a story about Israelite men sinning with Moabite women and the stabbing of an Israelite and a Midianite.

Haftorah
Micah 5:6-6:8
Here is the Haftorah

Havdallah
9:00 PM

Here is 
your invitation from 
Rabbi Jay to
join Zoom services:

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:
The first of our Sunday night MUSIC CONCERT was so enjoyable. Joe Ciotta not only regaled us with his songs but charmed us with this family stories and jokes. Thanks to David Shatz and his committee for putting it all together.
Music to Dance To
Listen to the Beat of
the Drums
JCC Rockettes
Thanks to everyone who helped with the BAZAAR. Chairperson Jill Denker did a fabulous job aided by staff members Mary Beth Kreiger and Diane Parzych. It takes a village... Bazaar Volunteers: Don Pripstein, Ron Marr, Cliff Denker, Paul Levine, Marlene Matz, David Shatz, Renee Ward. Beverly Miller, Howard Babbitt, Joanne Babbitt and Stan Berman. Special shout out to Don and Ron for their help with the vendor setup. Our Kitchen Crew: Noralyn Carroll, Chairperson, David Carroll, Irene Babst, Michael Babst, Stu Lehrer, Eve Lehrer, Jill Denker, Marlene Matz, Jon Geier, Suzy Geier, Robin Kanis. Our JCC Table Volunteers under the leadership of Diane Hoffman: Arlene Schragger, Art Davis, Karen Shatz and Ken Abend. AND Thank you to all the members who came down to browse and buy.

Wednesday afternoon the WAX BOOK GROUP met and enjoyed the discussion of the book Concealed by By Esther Amini. Thank you to Deb Schweighardt to leading the review.
THIS WEEK'S ACTIVITIES

FRIDAY 7/15 7:00 PM

ISRAEL UPDATE WITH
DR. ERIC MANDEL

.


WEDNESDAY 7/20/22


OPEN Mah jongg/Canasta
12:30 - 4:00 PM

4 WEEK CANASTA CLASS BEGINS
12:00 - 2:00 PM


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 7/21

11:00 AM Torah Study with the Rabbi
2:00 PM Beginning Hebrew with Ira

HERE ARE THE LINKS:

JULY 15 - Israel Update with Eric Mandel

JULY 22 - Shabbat on the Beach - Spray Beach

JULY 29 - Shabbat on the Beach - Loveladies

JULY 31 - 10TH Anniversary Gala
AUGUST 2 - WAX Clam Shell Craft Project

AUGUST 10 - Bazaar

AUGUST 12 -Shabbat on the Beach - Spray Beach

AUGUST 14 - Annual Meeting

AUGUST 17 - WAX Book Club

AUGUST 22 - CPR Training

AUGUST 26 - Shabbat on the Beach - Loveladies

AUGUST 28 - Rave-Ons Concert
JCC WOMENS AUXILIARY: BOOK GROUP DISCUSSION
 WEDNESDAYS AT 4:00 PM
AUGUST BOOK
Wednesday, August 17 at 4:00 PM
by Maggie Anton

Hisdadukh, blessed to be beautiful and learned, is the youngest child of Talmudic sage Rav Hisda. The world around her is full of conflict. Rome, fast becoming Christian, battles Zoroastrian Persia for dominance while Rav Hisda and his colleagues struggle to establish new Jewish traditions after the destruction of Jerusalem's Holy Temple. Against this backdrop Hisdadukh embarks on the tortuous path to become an enchantress in the very land where the word 'magic' originated.

RSVP to Debby Schweighardt, Book Group Coordinator at: dschweig19@gmail.com

A Zoom link will be sent shortly before the event.

FUTURE BOOKS:
September 14 - Rav Hisda’s Daughter Book II Enchantress: By Maggie Anton
The following names will be read by the Rabbi on Friday evening

Jon Elayne Churgin
Sanford Cohen*
Herman Kaufman
David Resnek
Lillian Zalkind*
Beatrice BaderIsaac Cohen
Frances Ganek Gendel
Reuben Gerber*
Dorothy Gordon
Marlene Kaufman*
Irwin J. Pripstein*
Joseph Goldstein
Gertrude Gondelman
Irving Hirschfeld
Harry Jacobson*
David Srager
Jacob Weiner
Henry Zlotkin*
Tracy Gardner
Ada Weiner Lepene*
Esther London
Joseph Notterman
David Silverman
Tillie Balbresky
Theodore Freedland
Simon Greenberg
Dorothy Petchenik
Milton Weinstein*
Charlotte Falkowsky
Dr. Mark Farin*
John Gottlieb*
Sidney Holtzman*
Earl Levitt
Alan J. Rubinfeld*
Max Silverman
Harry Weiner*
 
 *Memorial plaque will be lit this week.

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 COalso welcome to share with the minyan some special memories of your loved one.
Melvin Benjamin
July 16th
Jerry Greenspan
July 16th
Barbara Epstein
July 17th
Irving Gross
July 18th
Robin Kanis
July 18th
Barry Lewisohn
July 18th
Paula Lieber
July 19th
Jamie Wasserman
July 19th
Susanna Lachs Adler
July 20th
Jill Grunewald
July 20th
Norman Shapiro
July 21st
Robert Simandl
July 21st
Martin Flumenbaum
July 22nd
Robert B. Grossman
July 22nd

SHARE YOUR NEWS
AND PICTURES

CONTACT: 


Caring
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 


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.
See Order form here: Prayer Book


TRIBUTES
SEND ONE OF OUR TRIBUTES IN HONOR OR IN MEMORY OF
See order form here: TRIBUTES


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

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.

Since then, three additional individual Endowment Funds have been established. Other members are encouraged to also provide for the future of our JCC by establishing similar funds. Please consider adding to this number.

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

2022 MEMBERSHIP FORMS

Your support is so important to the continued success of the JCC.
Here is form for renewal:

And if you have been reading our Shabbat Reminder and other communications and have not yet joined our congregation, here is the new member form:

To pay on line
Click on PAY ON LINE
Fill in your information and then
go to Donation Details - then
Other and type in 2022 Membership

JCC FUNDS

Your gift to the JCC supports 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.
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
web site: www.jccoflbi.org  
  
THE OFFICE IS OPEN
TUESDAY - FRIDAY
FROM 10 - 2
 Staff:
 Leslie Dinkfelt, Office Manager
  Mary Beth Krieger
 Diane Parzych
Deb Schweighardt
Susan Berube, Kitchen Manager
MARY BETH & LESLIE
DIANE
DEB
LATEST
BULLETIN:

PRAYER BOOK:
 
WEB SITE:

PAVERS:

TREE OF LIFE
  
YAHRZEIT PLAQUE FORM:

KOL HAKAVOD DONATION FORM

TRIBUTES:


CONTACT INFORMATION:
  Rabbi Michael S. Jay

Michael Babst, President

 
E-mail Editor: Rose Valentine 
rvalen1963@aol.com 
Graphics by
Irene Babst