A MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI
Spying Conversation
In Parashat Shelakh-Lekha, the Israelites are about to enter into the Promised Land and God tells Moses to send one leader, from each of the 12 tribes, to spy out the land. The leaders reconnoitered for 40 days. Upon their return, they reported positively that the land “flowed with milk and honey”, and that it had incredible fruit. But their report took a decidedly negative turn when they said that the inhabitants were fierce, the cities were impregnable, and that the land was teaming with Israel’s enemies.
There were, however, 2 spies, Caleb and Joshua, who reasoned that the land could be conquered. Rather than be calmed down by this, less dire, report, the other spies loudly embellished their negative rhetoric by asserting that the land was filled with giants. Indeed, the 10 spies cried out that the Israelites were like grasshoppers to the native inhabitants. The increasingly emphatic bad report of the 10 escalated the tension and, ultimately, the Israelites cried out that they would rather have died in Egypt then be brought to the new land. (Which was not unreasonable considering the fact that God had taken them out of Egypt).
Caleb and Joshua tried once more to cajole the people. They explained that the land was not only beautiful, but that God was on the side of the Israelites and that God’s presence would ensure that victory was theirs.
Unfortunately the people were nit swayed by Joshua’s and Caleb’s attempt to quell their nerves. The Israelites were so convinced that they were correct, and so blinded by there own point of view, and so unwilling to hear a differing opinion, that they refuse to hear the reasonable arguments provided by Caleb and Joshua. Indeed, the Israelites sought to kill Caleb and Joshua for their failure to tow the line with the naysayers.
God became so infuriated that God punished the people and forbade them to enter the Promised Land. Instead they would wander in the desert for 40 years, one year for each day that the spies were in the land.
This is not to say that the Israelites serious concern was without merit. In fact, the inhabitants of Canaan were tough, and there would have needed to be harsh battles. Perhaps there should have been a conversation about this. The problem is that the Israelites completely shut down that conversation and silenced the voice and thought of Caleb and Joshua.
Despite the fact that the Israelites were destined to receive a gift from God, despite all of the miracles that surrounded them when God took them out of Egypt, and despite the promise of a glorious future, the Israelites latched on to the illogically negative (but loud) words spewed by some of their leaders. And they refused to see other possibilities.
I believe that it was this refusal to have the conversation, the purposeful silencing of another's thought, that angered God. At the very least, Caleb and Joshua were providing the starting point for a conversation, but the people were so consumed by negativity, and so willing to see the worst in everybody, and everything (including God), that they were unable to engage in reasoned discourse. Again, humans are like this.
The Israelites were caught up in an angst-filled time of anger, fear, and passionate uncertainty. The lesson to be learned this year from Parashat Shelakh-Lekha is that answers can be right or wrong, but the conversation, that is where the holiness is. So, don’t yell, don’t preach, and don’t blindly follow someone else’s version of the truth (nor should you expect them to follow yours). Find the strength talk.
Shabbat Shalom - Rabbi Michael S. Jay
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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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We are beginning our Rosh Hashanah fundraiser. Start the New Year with some delicious honey. Buy some for yourself and give them as gifts to family and friends. Click
here
:
FLYER
for the full-size flyer.
Just in time for Rosh Hashanah, we will ship an 8 oz jar of Kosher clover honey with a personalized card reading: “Shana Tova – Wishing you a Healthy and Happy New Year.” – signed with your name.
Cost is $12.50 per jar. Order by July 22nd for free shipping within the U.S. Additional fees apply for international orders. Ordering is quick and easy! Go to this link to:
ORDER NOW
.
NEW!!!!
Mystic Meat and Seafood in Ship Bottom will give the Women's Auxiliary at 5% donation on any individual orders. Orders can be placed with Renee and Phil. Let them know this order is to be recorded in the donation book for the JCC of LBI. Orders are curbside pick up only. Make your request over the phone with a credit card: 609-324-1194. For more information, visit their web site:
MYSTIC
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Virtual Welcome Back Brunch
Let's welcome everyone back with brunch together, Sunday, June 28 at 10:30 via Zoom
Israel Update with
Dr. Eric Mandel
, founder and Director of MEPIN™, the Middle East Political and Information Network™. MEPIN is a private Middle East research analysis read by members of Congress, their foreign policy advisors, members of the Knesset, journalists, and organizational leaders.
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Dim the lights, pour the wine and put on your dancing shoes. Our favorite song stylist
Michael D'Amore
will be joining us via Zoom on Sunday evening, July 19th. Details to follow.
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Please join us at the first
Women’s Auxiliary Meeting
on Wednesday, July 1, 2020 at 7:30 PM.
More information on Zoom meeting
invite to follow.
"The Secrets Women Keep and Why"
Susan Shapiro Barash/ pen name Susannah Marren
Weren't we raised to be good girls? Weren’t we taught by our mothers and grandmothers that a good girl wouldn't have a secret, let alone lie for the cause
? Yet in truth, the reasons that women are deceptive, at any age or stage of life, are intriguing, understandable and societally driven. And so as wives (including second and third), mothers, friends, daughters, colleagues, daughters in law, and sisters, women have their secrets. Those worth guarding, those worth lying for. Based on my research, interviewing a diverse group of women across the country, I have found that virtually all women guard a secret, big or small, at some point in their lives. The trick is to know
when to lie and how to lie
to protect oneself, to maintain the status quo.
For many women, this balance is a form of survival. I will take a look at the kinds of secrets women keep, how this manifests, and how it plays out in terms of pros and cons.
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We have lots of exciting plans for this summer. On Sunday, August 9th, magican
Jay Mattioli
will be bringing his Virtual Magic Show to the JCC. Recently, Jay appeared on America's Got Talent. The show begins at 6:00 - fun for the whole family!
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ZOOM CLASSES NEXT THIS WEEK
Family Dynamics in Chumash Class (The Joseph Story)
Monday, 6/22 @ 10:00 AM Click on
"Psalm Day - Psalm Where - Some How"
Tuesday, 6/23 @ 1:00 PM Click
PSALMS
Ask the Rabbi
Wednesday, 6/24 @ 3:00 PM
Have a cup of tea or a cocktail with the Rabbi Wed. afternoon. Click
ASK THE RABBI
Weekly Torah Study - Pirkei Avot
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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:
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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
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Rabbi Michael S. Jay
Michael Babst, President
VIEW THE May/June
with this link
E-mail Editor: Rose Valentine
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Here is the message our President sent out last week. We need your support with your dues and donations as we navigate through this most unusual summer.
See Mike's letter here:
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SHABBAT SHALOM
Candle Lighting Time
Friday evening,
June 19, 2020
8:10 PM
(So. Ocean County NJ)
JOIN US FOR INTERNET
SERVICES
Friday evening,
June 19, 2020
6:00 PM
Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to
Join Zoom Shabbat Services:
Saturday Morning
Service
Saturday,
June 20, 2020
10:00 AM
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Join us for the Bar Mitzvah
of
Tyler Brahe
Tyler just completed the 7th grade at Columbia Grammar Prep School in New York City. He is looking forward to becoming Bar Mitzvah at the JCC of LBI where is grandparents, Diane and Barnett Hoffman, are members.
Tyler is passionate about many things, one being basketball and he plays in several rec, school and travel leagues.
Tyler and his family sheltered in place in Long Beach Island during the Corona pandemic. Since all the basketball courts were closed, Tyler honed his XBox NBA 2K skills which lead him to create a charity tournament to raise money for the Black Lives Matter efforts for his Bar Mitzvah project.
Tyler loves visiting Long Beach Island where his mother grew up spending every summer. Living here through this historic season has only strengthened Tyler’s connection to LBI.
Mazel tov to the parents
Patty & Chris Brahe
and to the grandparents
Diane & Judge Bernard Hoffman
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Here is
your invitation from
Rabbi Jay to
Join Zoom Services:
Torah Portion
Parashat Sh'lach
Here is the portion:
Haftorah
Here is the Haftorah:
Saturday,
June 20, 2020
9:00 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:
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YAHRZEITS FOR NEXT WEEK
Meyer Dobrow
Patricia Husak
Helen Muscente
Charlotte Rosenberg
Howard Seidler
George Wolpert
Harold Berson
Chester Goldberg
Minnie Lipsitz
Betty Sampson
Malcom Zlotkin*
Albert Alexander*
Benjamin Einhorn*
Dr. H. Robert Freed*
Joseph Goldstein
Lillain Goodman
Lori-Ann Keating
Milka Meshulam
George Cofsky
William Ginsburg
Jesse Halpern
Elayne Leventhal
Mary Levin
Rose Sherwin
Joseph Dicicco Sr.
Albert Jaffe
*Isadore Shrensel*
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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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MAZEL TOV
SHEILA & HARRIS
WEISEL
on the graduation of their grandson
Matthew Goodman
from high school. Matthew will be attending SUNY College at Oneonta
&
the graduation of
their granddaughter
Samantha Weisel
from Middle School.
Samantha will be attending Marlboro High School next year
&
the graduation of their grandson Eric Reilly from Hebew School. Eric was inducted into his Middle School
Honor Society
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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David Pashman
June 21
Karlene Turtz
June 22
Roni Denholtz
June 23
Burt Naidoff
June 23
Phyllis Sisenwine
June 24
Carole Zemble
June 24
Elliot Greene
June 25
Stuart Pepose
June 25
Alan Kanis
June 26
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DOCUMENTS AND LINKS
JUST CLICK AND YOU'RE THERE!!!
LATEST BULLETIN:
PRAYER BOOK:
WEB SITE:
PAVERS:
TREE OF LIFE
YAHRZEIT PLAQUE FORM:
KOL HAKAVOD DONATION FORM
TRIBUTES:
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