Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island E-Letter
November 13, 2020
26 Cheshvan 5781
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A MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI
What I love about Parashat Chayei Sarah is the idea that its message is, in part, that no one, not even God, is an island. We all need, and should appreciate, the help of others.
God had promised Abraham that He would give the Promised Land to Abraham’s and Sarah’s Descendants. If God was going to give the land to the Children of Israel why, then, did Abraham need to purchase the Cave of Machpelah? Why not just accept it as a gift from the Hittites?
The answer seems to be that Abraham was not the type to simply wait until God took action. So, rather than wait for the gift to be delivered, Abraham takes steps to make sure that his descendants will have a stake in the land.
The same thing happens when Abraham sends his servant to get a bride for Isaac. God had already promised Abraham that he and Sarah’s descendants would be numerous. Since God made the promise, Abraham could have simply sat back and waited for a bride to show up. Instead, Abraham takes the initiative and sends his servant to get Isaac a bride.
By acquiring the cave, and by sending his servant to get a wife for Isaac, Abraham became an active partner with God to begin the process of making God’s prophecies come true.
There is a mutuality to the relationship. God is willing to delegate, or to cede control, and Abraham and Sarah are willing to take the initiative.
Abraham appears to have learned well the lesson of delegation. Aby could have traveled to get his son a bride. Instead he entrusts his servant with the task of schlepping to his hometown in search of a bride for Isaac. Just as Abraham succeeded in helping God, the servant succeeded in helping Abraham. Everybody is winning!
What is the message? Let others help you to achieve your goals. On the other hand, and of equal import, don’t wait for someone else (even God) to make your dream a reality.
Shabbat Shalom – Rabbi Michael S. Jay
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FRIDAY 11/13 @ 6:00 PM
Virtual Shabbat Dinner
SATURDAY 11/14 @ 9:00 AM
Torah Study with Rabbi Jay
SUNDAY 11/15 @ 1:00 PM
WAX visit from High Holiday Hazzan Sara Geller
MONDAY 11/16 @ 10:00 AM
Chumash Class (Family Dynamics) with Rabbi Jay
TUESDAY 11/17 @8:00 PM
Rabbi's Class at the Jersey Shore Jewish Virtual University (see article below on Virtual University to register)
WEDNESDAY 11/18 @ 4:00 PM
WAX Book Group . Discussion of book Rashi's Daughter Book I "Joheved" with author Maggie Anton.
THURSDAY 11/19
- NO CLASS THIS WEEK - Torah Study with Rabbi Jay at 11:00 AM
- Beginners Hebrew Class with Iran Morgenthal at 2:00 PM.
See details in Upcoming Events below
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HERE ARE THE LINKS FOR THE ACTIVITIES FOR THIS WEEK |
NOVEMBER WAX MEETING
Sunday, November 15, 2020 - 1:00 PM
Our High Holiday Hassan, Sara Geller, will be our guest speaker. She has graciously agreed to speak to us on her life experiences of becoming a cantor. Log-in information will be provided prior to event, and yes, all are invited.
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Candle Lighting Time
Friday evening,
November 13, 2020
4:24 PM
(So. Ocean County NJ)
JOIN US FOR SERVICES
ON ZOOM
SHABBAT DINNER AND SERVICE
Friday evening
November 13, 2020
6:00 PM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to
Join Zoom Services
Saturday morning
November 14, 2020
Torah Study
9:00 AM
Use the link below
for Shabbat
There is no obligation to stay for services.
Saturday morning
November 14, 2020
10:00 AM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to
Join Zoom Services
Torah Portion
Parashat Chayei Sara
Genesis 23:1-25:18
Here is the Parshah
Haftorah
I Kings 1:1 - 1:31
Here is the Haftorah:
Aaron Lombardi will be reading Torah this week.
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HAVDALLAH
Saturday, November 7, 2020
at 7:00 PM
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:
Sunday - Friday
Shacharit Service
8:15 AM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to
Join Zoom Services:
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We have a lot of exciting plans in the next few months
Please join us.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Sunday,December 13 at ll:00 AM
Direct from Israel
Joel Chasnoff "Jokes on Us"
8 Nites of Hannukah
12/10 -17, 2020
ONGOING PROGRAMS
Tuesday, 11/10, 17 and 24, 12/1, 8 and 15 at 8:00 PM
Rabbi's Class at the Jersey Shore Jewish Virtual University
Mondays at 10:00 AM
Chumash Class
Rabbi's deep dive into the Moses Story
Wednesday,12/16 at 4:00 PM
WAX Book Discussion of the second Book of Rashi's Daughters
IF IT'S THURSDAY, IT'S THE JCC
11:00 AM Torah Study with the Rabbi
2:00 PM Beginning Hebrew with Ira
12/3 - Thursday evening Movie Discussion after Maariv
Woody Allen's "Crimes and Misdemeanors"
See trailer below
Friday, 12/11 at 6:00 PM
December Virtual Shabbat Dinner
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An eye doctor (Martin Landau) and a documentary filmmaker (Woody Allen) are married men with different moral dilemmas in Manhattan. |
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SEE INFORMATION BELOW FOR DETAILS |
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.JCC WOMENS AUXILIARY: BOOK GROUP DISCUSSION
THE 3RD WEDNESDAY, AT 4:00 PM
Rashi's Daughters (3 book series) by
THE AUTHOR WILL BE JOINING US FOR THE NOV. 18
AND JANUARY 16 DISCUSSION
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In this novel, the year is 1068, and Rashi, a Jewish scholar is secretly teaching Talmud to his daughters. The oldest daughter, Joheved, has a passion for learning, but must keep it a secret in the medieval Jewish world. This story is based on the lives of real people.
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The second novel in a dramatic trilogy set in eleventh-century France about the lives and loves of three daughters of the great Talmud scholar
Rashi’s middle daughter, Miriam, is determined to bring new life safely into the Troyes Jewish community and becomes a midwife. As devoted as she is to her chosen path, she cannot foresee the ways in which she will be tested and how heavily she will need to rely on her faith. With Rashi's Daughters, author Maggie Anton brings the Talmud and eleventh-century France to vivid life and poignantly captures the struggles and triumphs of strong Jewish women.
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Wednesday, Jan. 20 at 4:00 PM
The dramatic final book in the epic historical trilogy about the lives and loves of the three daughters of the great Talmud scholar Rashi
Rachel is the youngest and most beautiful daughter of medieval Jewish scholar Salomon ben Isaac, or "Rashi." Her father's favorite and adored by her new husband, Eliezer, Rachel's life looks to be one of peaceful scholarship, laughter, and love. But events beyond her control will soon threaten everything she holds dear. Marauders of the First Crusade massacre nearly the entire Jewish population of Germany, and her beloved father suffers a stroke. Eliezer wants their family to move to the safety of Spain, but Rachel is determined to stay in France and help her family save the Troyes yeshiva, the only remnant of the great centers of Jewish learning in Europe.
ORDER YOUR BOOK NOW AND START READING TODAY!
Click here to purchase all 3 books in the series on Amazon. Click here to go to the Ocean County Library. A zoom link will be sent shortly before the event.
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Ocean County’s Jewish Virtual University!
As part of our efforts to connect members of the Jewish community with each other and with great Jewish opportunities, The Ocean County Jewish Federation is pleased to present this array of interesting, exciting, and meaningful learning opportunities from great Rabbis in our community, as well as some phenomenal educational resources from Israel.
Take a class, get connected, and support our Jewish community!
Here is the link for list of classes and to register.
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Rabbi Jay will be teaching a course entitled "Jewish Values in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict". Explore different attitudes towards the conflict through a study of Jewish narratives about Israel and the unpacking of the complex meanings of peace in Jewish tradition.
6 Tuesdays starting Nov. 10 at 8 PM.
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THIS WEEK'S YAHRZEITS
The following names will be read at Friday night services.
Nisson Ben-Avraham
Ida Koupf
Julius Rosenthal
Sidney Miller
Dave Rothenberg
Siegfried Brenman
Rebecca Josolowitz
Max Kincus
Ellis Levin*
Evelyn Smith
Wilbur Hait
Philip Josolowitz
Helen Pripstein*
Anne Reiser*
Arlene Britz*
Harriet Cohen
Julius Cohen
Fay Dreyfus*
Lenore Enteles
Florence Leistner
Ben Berkowitz
Joseph Kaplan
Philip Schrank
Ira Lee Herman*
Frank Mirrer*
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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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Steven Friedman
November 15
Eileen Feldgus
November 16
Carole Gomer
November 17
Mitchell Frumkin
November 18
Phyllis Dittrich
November 19
Stephen C. Gilbert
November 19
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CONGREGATION NEWS
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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We are pleased to report the wonderful response to the High Holiday Appeal 5781. Members and friends have already generously donated $60,000 to the Appeal. It is a reaffirmation of the work we have done during this pandemic to keep our congregation vital and current. If you have not made your appeal contribution yet, it is not too late. Make it a Thanksgiving gift. |
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LET'S PARTNER WITH OUR FRIENDS AT ST. FRANCIS
TO HELP THE COMMUNITY
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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
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
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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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PLEASE LET THE OFFICE KNOW YOUR "WINTER" MAILING ADDRESS.
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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 TEMPORARILY CLOSED.
PLEASE 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
Tony DeGregorio, Custodial Staff
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
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