Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island E-Letter

July 10, 2020
18 Tammuz 5780


NEW ON THE WEB SITE

JCC Calendar

Addition to History - a tribute to George Katz

LINK FOR WEB SITE: WEB SITE

(On the right) The Shabbat Bandit (AKA President Michael Babst) delivering Shabbat gifts to our virtual diners.
The

SUMMER FUND RAISERS
The summer months are a busy time for raising funds for the JCC of LBI. This year our most profitable events have had to be cancelled - our July and August bazaars and concerts, for example. We have, however, planned some fun Zoom fund raisers and we hope you will support our efforts.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Sunday, July 19 @7 PM
Dim the lights, pour the wine and put on your dancing shoes. Our favorite song stylist, Michael D'Amore , will be returning to the JCC via Zoom.
Consider inviting some friends to your back yard and enjoy the music together - social distancing of course and wearing your favorite masks. $18 per computer/electronic devise.
FOR TICKETS CALL THE OFFICE
609-492-4090
OR EMAIL jccoflbievents@gmail.com

Sunday, August 16th @ 6:00 PM
magician Jay Mattioli will be bringing his Virtual interactive Magic Show to the JCC. Jay recently appeared on America's Got Talent. Fun for the whole family! $18 per computer/electronic devise.

A MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI

There is no way to water down the scene that crosses over from last week’s Torah portion to this week’s. Last week, the Israelite men are enticed, by Moabite women, to participate in idol worship. God is not happy and tells Moses to kill the idolaters.  Before Moses can take action, an Israelite man and a Midianite woman openly have sex in front of the gathered assembly, near the sanctuary. Without hesitation, Pinchas, the grandson of Aaron takes a spear and impales the two, inflagranti delicto. (And who says the Torah is boring?)

The Torah devotes much time to setting up courts and a legal system. And yet, in this week’s Parasha, Pinchas, literally taking matters into his own hands, works outside of the court system that God has set up. Pinchas’ extra-legal action pays off. He gets a gift of peace from God, and a plague that God had sent against the Israelites is stopped. 

One would think that the message is that vigilantism and zealotry is a good thing. However, when we look at the rest of the Torah portion, we find that the message is much more nuanced.

The very next thing that happens in the Torah, is that Moses takes another census of the Israelites. On one level, the census acts as a momentary pause for the Israelites to take stock of themselves. It is not just about the numbers, it is about finding out where they are physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

We then find, through the story of the daughters of Zelophehad, whose father dies without a male heir, that the law is amendable. Whereas the Torah had initially only provided inheritance through the sons, God shifts the law to enable inheritance through daughters when there is no son. (To our egalitarian and equal rights centered world this sounds ridiculous. But at the time, it was a sea-change in the way the world worked.)

Moses is next told that he will die shortly and, rather than lament his fate, he wants to make sure that God has a successor in place. (Moses understood the need to turn over leadership peacefully and in an orderly fashion.) The result is that God tells Moses that Joshua will be the next leader and Moses appoints him publicly.

The Torah portion ends with God establishing the calendar of public sacrifices, the festivals, and the holy days of biblical Israel that serve as the foundation for contemporary Judaism. It lists the basic daily and annual cycle of observance: the daily offering, Shabbat, Rosh Hodesh, Pesach, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Sh’mini Atzereth.

I don’t often give a summary of the weekly Torah portion, so why am I doing it here? There is a thread of understanding that I want to point out.

1) The Israelites exist, the Torah exists, God exists.  Sometimes others (and even we) ignore these truths. Others seek to harm us and we, sometimes, even take steps to harm ourselves.  When this happens, someone needs to step up and defend us. Here it is Pinchas. 

2) When there is trouble, within or without, we must self-assess. Here the census illustrates this need.

3) Everything is subject to change and change is best achieved through conversation and thoughtful consideration. This is illustrated by the story of the daughters of Zelophehad.

4) When you come to what you think is an ending, whether it be of a relationship, a business, or a life, always consider what will happen going forward. Moses' concern that a successor be named before he dies expresses the importance of this.

5) Finally, Setting forth daily, weekly, monthly, and annual ritual helps to create community and to keep us centered in a world that often spins out of control. The Shabbat and holiday cycle provides this continual stabilizing connection for us. (These are not senseless attachments to a meaningless past. They are a glue that binds our past and future together)

Our world is in a state of, seemingly, perpetual flux. The truths that we understood yesterday, are not necessarily the truths that exist today. The Torah provides tools that can help us to navigate the shifting complexities that confront us.

Open the tool box, pull out the appropriate tool, and repair what needs repairing.

Shabbat Shalom – Rabbi Michael S. Jay
KOL HAKAVOD CAMPAIGN
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
WOMEN'S AUXILIARY

We are excited to announce the establishment of the
SUSAN & FRIENDS SUMMER SERIES, following the success of our first meeting with a lively discussion led by our own Susan Shapiro Barash. Susan has graciously reached out to some of her literary friends to join the Women's Auxiliary on Zoom this summer.

The first program in this series will be held on Thursday, August 6 @ 7:45 PM. Our guest author is Leslie Bennetts. She will be sharing insights from her book: "Last Girl Before the Freeway: The Life, Loves, Losses, and Liberation of Joan Rivers." Copies of the book will be available for pick up at the office shortly ($9.00).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leslie Bennetts is a veteran journalist who began her newspaper career at The Philadelphia Bulletin, where she won many awards for writing and reporting, and then spent ten years as a reporter at The New York Times. Bennetts left The Times for Vanity Fair, where she spent 24 years as a contributing editor and wrote many of the magazine’s best-known movie star cover stories as well as investigative articles on subjects ranging from priest pedophilia to the nation’s war against drugs. Bennetts started covering so-called “women’s issues” in the 1970s and has continued to write about women, marriage, and families ever since.

Our next author is scheduled for Thursday, August 13 at 7:45 PM. We look forward to Sally Koslow, in conversation with
Susan, about her novel, "The Other Side of Paradise", the story Sheila Graham and F. Scott Fitzgerald. 


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. For more information contact Diane Buskirk at 856-952-5940 or  diane.buskirk@yahoo.com  or Suzy Geier at 703-629-8654 or  suzy.geier@gmail.com
  

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

BOOK CLUB - Monday, July 20 @ 12:00 Noon
Our book selection is" One Hundred Philistine Foreskins” by Tova Reich . The book centers on the life of Temima Ba’alatOv, known also as Ima Temima, or Mother Temima, a charismatic woman rabbi of extraordinary spiritual power and learning, and an utterly original interpreter of the Hebrew Bible. 

HERE IS THE WAX'S FIRST NEWSLETTER

UPCOMING JULY EVENTS
SHABBAT DINNER -
JULY 10
You are invited to attend our second Zoom Shabbat dinner on Friday, July 10, 2020 at 6:00 PM. Please plan on joining us for a Shabbat filled with friendship and community. Last minute guests are always welcome.
HERE IS THE LINK TO JOIN US FOR DINNER:


MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR ROSH CHODESH with Sheri Horowitz Jay on Tuesday, July 21st at 7:45 PM

WE WILL BE HAVING A YOGA ROSH CHODESH CLASS VIA ZOOM

Please RSVP to sherihorowitzjay@gmail.com or
Call the synagogue office at 609-492-4090

FOR MORE DETAILS SEE:

HAVDALLAH WITH SUE HOROWITZ

Join us for Havdallah, Saturday evening, July 25th, as Sue Horowitz,  singer-songwriter from the rocky coast of Maine, joins Rabbi Jay for a special musical service. Sue has traveled all over North America to share her music and teach at congregations, homes, concert venues and conferences. We look forward to her adding to our Havdallah program. 
 
The Chaverah group is inviting everyone to a night of  Trivia - Zoom Style. Hosted by the professional “Text Breakers”, we will start our night of challenge on July 30 at 8:00 PM. Cost is $15.00. Call the office to purchase tickets to this event.   Zoom log-in sent prior to event. 

ZOOM CLASSES NEXT THIS WEEK

Family Dynamics in Chumash Class (The Joseph Story) 
Monday, 7/13 @ 10:00 AM Click on
Click on CHUMASH

"Psalm Day - Psalm Where - Some How" 
Tuesday, 7/14 @ 1:00 PM Click PSALMS

Ask the Rabbi 
Wednesday, 7/15 @ 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
Thursday, 7/16 @ 11:00 AM Click TORAH STUDY
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: 

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

CONTACT INFORMATION:
  Rabbi Michael S. Jay

Michael Babst, President

 VIEW THE JULY/AUGUST
with this link

E-mail Editor: Rose Valentine 
rvalen 1963@aol.com  


NEXT WEEK'S SPECIAL
ZOOM
EVENTS

Friday 6:00 PM 7/10
Kabbalat Service and Virtual Friday Night Dinner
Zoom link: KABBALAT


SHABBAT SHALOM

Candle Lighting Time
Friday evening,
July 10, 2020
8:09 PM
(So. Ocean County NJ)

JOIN US FOR INTERNET
SERVICES

Friday evening,
July 10, 2020
 6:00 PM

VIRTUAL SHABBAT DINNER AND
KABALLAT SERVICE

Here is 
your invitation from 
Rabbi Jay to
Join Zoom Services


Saturday Morning
Service
Saturday, 
July 11, 2020
10:00 AM - 12:00 NOON








Rabbi Jay will be conducting services from the sanctuary
this Saturday morning.

To view the service go to the JCC website:

1. Go to website
2. Go across top to Religious Community
3. Go to Live Streaming in the pull down menu
4. Hit the play arrow on the screen to get into the live streaming for Shabbat Services starting at 10:00 am




Torah Portion
Numbers 25:10 - 30:1
 Here is the portion: 

Haftorah
 Jeremiah 1:1 - 2:3
Here is the Haftorah:

Saturday,
July 11, 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:


THE WEEK THAT WAS...

Thursday night Rabbi Jay led a thoughtful discussion of the film "A Plot Against America". We analyzed the various characters and themes in the HBO presentation based on the book by Philip Roth

YAHRZEITS FOR NEXT WEEK

Irwin J. Pripstein*
Betty Goldstein
Gertrude Gondelman
Irving Hirschfeld
Harry Jacobson*
David Srager
Jacob Weiner
Henry Zlotkin*
Tracy Gardner
Ada Weiner Lepene*
Esther London
Joseph Notterman
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*
Elizabeth Bat Joseph
Pauline Cohn
Roy H. Entin
Frances Indzel
Frank D. Levi*
Rose Albert*
Rose Freeman
Samuel Hochberger
Anne Frances Rubenstein*
 


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.
CONGREGATION NEWS







DON PARIS
recovering from surgery



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 
   
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Korey Lind
July 11
Jane Taffet
July 11
Carolyn Fleischer
July 12
Judith Sara Landis
July 12
Phillip Belena
July 14
Lois Fox
July 14
Renison Gonsalves
July 14
Lenore Lox
July 15
Martha Schleifer
July 15
Melvin Benjamin
July 16
Jerry Greenspan
July 16









LATEST BULLETIN:

PRAYER BOOK:
 
WEB SITE:

PAVERS:

TREE OF LIFE
   
YAHRZEIT PLAQUE FORM:

KOL HAKAVOD DONATION FORM

TRIBUTES:






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 fami ly.
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.