Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island E-Letter



January 29, 2021
16 Shevet 5781



A MESSAGE FROM
RABBI JAY


Now when Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, ALTHOUGH IT WAS NEARER; for God said, “The people may have a change of heart when they see war, and return to Egypt. ”SO GOD LED THE PEOPLE ROUNDABOUT, by way of the wilderness at the Sea of Reeds.

The question is posed, why would God, who has already performed so many wondrous miracles, need to send the Israelites the long way around? The “pshat” (plain meaning) of the Text provides an answer. If they go the short way, it is likely they will meet the Philistine army.  Having spent 400 years as slaves, the Israelites are not going to be ready for war and God is certain that they will seek to go back to Egypt. God decides is to keep the Israelites away from the Philistines. Thus, the long way is necessary.

The great commentators mostly agree with the plain meaning as explained above. However, I think God had another lesson in store for the fledgling Chosen People.
I think that God’s message is that there are no shortcuts. In one’s life, in school, in business, in relationships, in congregations, in communities, and in creating young nations, the only way to proceed is to take the long route on the journey.  Minute Rice will never be confused with risotto; Eggs in the microwave, simply do not compare favorably to a quiche; A not yet ripened mango is too tart to be enjoyed.

If we examine our own lives, we will realize that the things that have mattered most to us were not achieved by seeking the short path. A spouse, a child, a home, an education, and a career, each require time. Each needs to be nurtured. Indeed, many an article has been written about the fact that what the public sees as an overnight success story, usually turns out to be someone, or some group, that worked for years and years before the “overnight” success.

Over time, the Israelites will travel, learn, and grow.  By the time they reach Mount Sinai, they will have learned enough, and grown enough, and put enough distance between themselves and slavery, that they will be able to accept the responsibilities that will accompany receipt of the Torah.  If they had taken a shortcut, they would not have been ready to fully receive God’s gift, and certainly they would not have been able to appreciate it. 

The Torah’s lesson is that, in life, if it is worth having, it is worth working, preparing, and waiting for. 

Shabbat Shalom – Rabbi Michael S. Jay



RABBI'S OFFICE HOURS

Rabbi will have the Zoom link open Wednesdays
Noon to 1.
Zoom meetings can always be made by appointment
973-865-9534
SERVICES THIS WEEK

Candle Lighting Time
Friday evening,
January 29, 2021
4:43 PM
(So. Ocean County NJ)

JOIN US FOR SERVICES
ON ZOOM

Friday evening
January 29, 2021
6:00 PM
Here is 
your invitation from 
Rabbi Jay to
Join Zoom Services

Saturday morning
January 30, 2021
Torah Study
9:00 AM
Services
10:00 AM
Here is 
your invitation from 
Rabbi Jay to
Join Zoom Services

Torah Portion
Parashat Beshalach 
Exodus 13:17-17:16 
Here is the Parshah

Haftorah
Judges 4:4 - 5:31
 Here is the Haftorah


Havdallah
Saturday
January 30, 2021
6:00 PM

Sunday - Thursday
Ma'ariv Service
7:30 PM
Here is 
your invitation from 
Rabbi Jay to
Join Zoom Services:

Sunday - Friday
Shacharit Service
8:15 AM
Here is 
your invitation from 
Rabbi Jay to
Join Zoom Services:

TORAH PORTION

We will be reading in Torah this week of the Exodus from Egypt and the crossing of the Yam Suph.
As Aaron Lombardi chants this part of the portion, we will be repeating the words after him.

YOU will feel a part of the flight from Egypt towards the sea.

YOU will sense Pharaoh and his chariots closing in.

YOU will see Moses raise his staff and watch the waters part so YOU and your family can cross the Sea of Reeds to safety.

And YOU will sing along with Miriam in praise of G-d for taking YOU from slavery to freedom.

Join us on Zoom to be part of this spiritual experience or watch the service on the live stream on our web site.
See the web site for links
www.jccoflbi.org

CLICK BELOW TO HEAR THE SHIRAT HAYAM. THE SONG OF THE SEA
The Song of Moses and Miriam

15 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord:
“I will sing to the Lord,
    for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver
    he has hurled into the sea.
“The Lord is my strength and my defense[a];
    he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
    my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
The Lord is a warrior;
    the Lord is his name.
Pharaoh’s chariots and his army
    he has hurled into the sea.
The best of Pharaoh’s officers
    are drowned in the Red Sea.[b]
The deep waters have covered them;
    they sank to the depths like a stone.
Your right hand, Lord,
    was majestic in power.
Your right hand, Lord,
    shattered the enemy.
“In the greatness of your majesty
    you threw down those who opposed you.
You unleashed your burning anger;
    it consumed them like stubble.
By the blast of your nostrils
    the waters piled up.
The surging waters stood up like a wall;
    the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.
The enemy boasted,
    ‘I will pursue, I will overtake them.
I will divide the spoils;
    I will gorge myself on them.
I will draw my sword
    and my hand will destroy them.’
10 But you blew with your breath,
    and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
    in the mighty waters.
11 Who among the gods
    is like you, Lord?
Who is like you—
    majestic in holiness,
awesome in glory,
    working wonders?
12 “You stretch out your right hand,
    and the earth swallows your enemies.
13 In your unfailing love you will lead
    the people you have redeemed.
In your strength you will guide them
    to your holy dwelling.
14 The nations will hear and tremble;
    anguish will grip the people of Philistia.
15 The chiefs of Edom will be terrified,
    the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,
the people[c] of Canaan will melt away;
16     terror and dread will fall on them.
By the power of your arm
    they will be as still as a stone—
until your people pass by, Lord,
    until the people you bought[d] pass by.
17 You will bring them in and plant them
    on the mountain of your inheritance—
the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling,
    the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.
18 “The Lord reigns
    for ever and ever.”
 

NEXT WEEK'S SCHEDULE
MONDAY 2/1 @ 10:00 AM
Chumash Class (Peoplehood) with Rabbi Jay

WEDNESDAY 2/3 @ 8:00 PM
Rabbi's University Class

THURSDAY 2/4
11:00 AM Torah Study with the Rabbi
2:00 PM Beginning Hebrew with Ira


HERE ARE THE LINKS FOR THE ACTIVITIES FOR THIS WEEK

Valentine's Day

AN EVENING OF 0PERA, BROADWAY & GREAT JEWISH CLASSICS
And Wine Tasting
Featuring
CANTOR DAVID BABINET
WITH PIANIST YISROEL EDELSON

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH
7:30 PM - ZOOM EVENT
$50.00 Per Link
Wine sold Separately
This event is a collaboration between JCC and the Women’s Auxiliary (WAX) of Long Beach Island. Thank you to our sponsors for their support!

for the details of our newest event planned for Sunday, February 14, 2021. There are clickable links in the document that will allow you to register, pay for event and order your wine. Wine purchase not necessary.
Hope to see you there!!
If you are a member and have registered to pay on line through our website, click on the link below and put your ticket order under CONCERT EVENTS and in the comment box put VALENTINE. This link will take you to membership and just scroll down for Membership Account Log In.
Dear Congregants:
 
You are invited to attend our fifth Shabbat dinner on Friday, February 5, 2021 at 6:00 PM. Please plan on joining us for a Shabbat filled with friendship and community.
 
We will start our evening with the blessings and services, followed by a period of sharing your Shabbat dinner with family and friends in a breakout room. If you have no specific request and are open to making new friends, please respond to this email and we will arrange for you to be seated with a fabulous group of people. 
 
Please click on this link and fill in the form by Friday, February 5 at 3:00 PM. List your name(s), (couple(s) or single(s), and include the names of friends and family to be included in your private breakout room or send an email to: JCCOFLBIShabbatDinner

Or join at the last minute, all are welcome!
 
This is our fifth celebration of this type of event this year, hoping to see you then!!! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Rabbi Jay (973) 865-9534 or Irene B. at (856) 904-5145 for dining arrangements.
A great way to make a difference In Israel's future from the comfort of your home. 
In Israel, access to the English language is really dependent on your economic status, and is English proficiency is the largest barrier to University entry for underprivileged students. Some of the members of our Synagogue have been mentoring a student through an organization called Israel Connect. This organization works with Israel's Ministry of Education to identify regions most in need, and works with the teachers to provide access to all students. Using Zoom, you can tutor a high school student in Israel from the comfort of your home. The whole interaction is enjoyable and simple, and it makes all the difference for the student. You can see a little more from the video below, or from their website www.IsraelConnect.Today


CONTACT SARAH GORDON AT ISRAEL CONNECT @ sarah@israelconnect.today
OR
ARLENE SCHRAGGER @ 609-240-1306

FEBRUARY

Shabbat Dinner
Friday, 2/5
6:00 PM

Women's Shabbat Service
Saturday, 2/13
10:00 AM
Be a part of this special Shabbat.
Respond to this email if you want to do a Reading in English, Aliyah or Torah Portion


WAX Valentine's Day Wine & Song
Sunday, 2/14
7:30 PM
."Leonard Bernstein -
The Musician, The Man"
A Talk by Larry Rosendorf
Thursday, 2/18
7:15 PM

WAX Hamantashen Bake
Sunday, 2/21
10:30 AM

MARCH

Discussion of Award Winning Short Films with
Larry Rosendorf
Thursday, 3/4
7:15 PM

Shabbat Dinner
Friday, 3/5
6:00 PM

Movie Nite
"Yentl"
Thursday, 3/18

Women's Seder
Sunday, 3/21
11:00 AM
WAX Book Club
Wednesday, 3/24
An Unorthodox Match
by Naomi Ragen


Community Seder
Sunday, 3/28
6:00 PM

UPCOMING FEDERATION PROGRAM

Oy Corona II A Night of Comedy:
The Sequel Purim Edition
Tuesday, February 23rd 7:30PM


Join Ocean County Jewish Federation for a fun joke-telling competition: tell a joke or help decide the winner. Jokesters get to choose the local non-profit they are competing for to win prize money!
Want to try your hand at telling a joke, email Sharron@ocjf.org.
Want to register to watch, sign up below!

WAX HAPPENINGS
click on the link below to review all the upcoming WAX events
THIS WEEK'S YAHRZEITS

The following names will be read at Friday night services.

Irvin Cohen
Julius Marmon
Rose Glickman*
Nathan Israel Printz*
Sam Zavelson
Anna Herman
Gene Klein
Selma Shapiro
William Silver
Edwin Greenfield
Shaindel Hupert
Nettie Rosenthal
Ethel Sharken
Anna Weill*
Rose Diane Segal
Sidney Berkowitz
Robyn Lynn Caspento
Nette Ehrlich
Daniel Glassman*
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. 
Don Paris

Mary Pleeter


Stanley Berman
January 31
Arlene Schragger
February 1
Herbert Feinberg
February 2
Jeffrey Greenbaum
February 2
Paul Levine
February 4
Stephen Scharf
February 4
Stacey Chazin
February 5
Steven Gondelman
February 5
Stephan Lang
February 5
Stephen Pyles
February 5
 

SHARE YOUR NEWS
AND PICTURES

CONTACT: rvalen1963@aol.com

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 
MATCHING GIFT CAMPAIGN
A LONG TIME AND MOST GENEROUS MEMBER HAS CHALLENGED US TO RAISE $50,000 BY MARCH 15 AND IF WE DO—HE WILL MATCH OUR FUNDRAISING WITH HIS OWN NEW $50,000 GIFT TO THE JCC!!
  
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
 Phil Rosenzweig, JCC First Vice President
Chair of Fundraising Committee

610-263-0124 (direct)
610-263-0115 (main)
215-754-4139 (efax)

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
Join Herb and Selma Shapiro z"l to help assure the continuity of our JCC, and our ability to continue providing a full- congregation to serve the Jewish people of the area. Judith z"l & Donald Pripstein have joined the Shapiros with a $50,000 donation and have established The Pripstein Family Endowment Fund.

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.

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: 


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

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.
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 TEMPORARILY CLOSED.
PLEASE USE THE PHONE OR EMAIL WITH REQUESTS.
OUR OFFICE STAFF WILL BE CHECKING IN REGULARLY.
  Staff:
 Leslie Dinkfelt, Office Manager
  Mary Beth Krieger, Staff Member
Tony DeGregorio, Custodial Staff
Kitchen Manager: Susan Berube

USEFUL LINKS
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 
rvalen1963@aol.com