Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island E-Letter. May 3, Iyar 5773 JCC EVENTS 5/3-5/10

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1 Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island E-Letter May 3, Iyar 5773 PLEASE LET THE OFFICE KNOW WHEN YOU WILL BE AT YOUR SUMMER ADDRESS. JCC INTERFAITH SERVICE AND RABBI JACOB FRIEDMAN MEMORIAL SERVICE This Friday evening, May 3 at 7:30 PM JCC EVENTS 5/3-5/10 MAH JONGG at the JCC Sunday, 10:00 AM Wed. 12:30-4:00 PM JEWISH HERITAGE NITE AT THE BLUE CLAWS Tues. at 6:35 PM. CALL THE JCC OFFICE FOR TICKETS Rabbi & Ali at a Shabbat at the Beach Service It could not be a more appropriate service to honor the memory of Rabbi Jack than the Interfaith Service which he held so dear. And it could not be more appropriate than to have Father Steve Kluge of St. Francis Parish, his pastoral colleague here on LBI as the guest speaker. Rabbi Jack enjoyed the Island Singers and they will also be part of the program. A fabulous oneg shabbat has been prepared by the Sisterhood. A special presentation of beautiful new torah covers honoring the rabbi will be made to his wife Ali and their family. Many thanks to Sherry Fruchterman and Bonnie Farin for creating SHABBAT SHALOM "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." CANDLE LIGHTING TIMES Friday, May 3, 2013

2 these special covers which will be part of our Shabbat and Holiday Services. We invite our members and friends to make every effort to attend this Friday evening. We anticipate members of the community and the St. Francis Parish to join us a well. A special thank you to Bonnie and Harold Farin for chairing this important event and to the Sisterhood working so hard last week to prepare the wonderful homemade refreshments. In This Issue A Torah Message from Rabbi Jay The Week That Was... Upcoming JCC Events This Week's Events Service Schedule Yahrzeits Congregation News New Programs Health Fairs Lighthouse Film Festival What's Open on LBI Pavers Shoprite Gift Cards Documents & Links 7:34 PM (So. Ocean County) WHEREVER WE ARE, LET US LIGHT CANDLES TOGETHER. JOIN US FOR SERVICES Friday evening May 3, Iyar :30 PM INTERFAITH & JACOB S. FRIEDMAN MEMORIAL SERVICE TORAH PORTION Behar-Bechukatai (Leviticus 25:1-27:34) Haftorah: Jeremiah 16:19-17:14 Saturday morning RABBI'S TORAH STUDY SESSION 10:00-12:00 NOON in the Library YAHRZEITS FOR THE NEXT WEEK These names will be read at services on May 3, Joseph Tomar *Milton Britz Elizabeth Piwosky

3 A TORAH MESSAGE FROM RABBI JAY PARSHAT BEHAR As I was reading Parashat Behar this week I became transfixed by the notion of the "Shmita" year, the requirement that every seventh year the land should be given a rest. Not just a rest, but a complete rest. No crops were to be planted and none were to be harvested. This notion of resting, of taking time to recharge the batteries, is so central to what God requires of the Jewish people that He highlights it by saying that even the land is entitled to a rest. In today's environmentally sensitive world this law can be seen as a nod to the fact that we need to be sensitive to the land that sustains us; we need to show it respect and to nurture it. However, I see another, equally important, lesson. God is telling us that everything needs a Shabbat; a self-imposed time out. If we don't rest the land, it would give and give until it was unable to give anymore. The land has no control over this, it only knows to sustain. It is therefore up to us to protect it. And God makes sure we know this. But if we are in charge of resting the land, who is in charge of making sure we rest? I ask this question because of my observations of people in today's world. My perception is that we do not know how to rest. We do not permit ourselves the luxury of sitting and doing nothing. Even when we go to a movie, or a concert, or sit for a cup of coffee, we rarely just sit and watch, or listen, or sip and enjoy. Instead, the whole time we are busy hyper-kinetically texting each other; or sending each other pictures. And, if we are not actually texting, or reading, a text we are thinking about reading or writing a text. This need to be in constant contact means that there is never real rest time; we never take time just for ourselves. For us humans, Shabbat rest is not intended only to recharge our physical bodies, though this is an important element. Rather, our weekly rest has another purpose. It provides us an opportunity to step back and review; to take Isidor Rothstein David Kaplan *Dr. Harry Herman *Jerome Stanley Katz Abraham Kates Vera Gellard Lipman *Harry Solomon Kate Alexander Lillian Herman Betty Lander Leona Adelman *Gussie Meyerson Esther Epstein * Yahrzeit Plaque A new Yarhrzeit Board has been ordered thanks to a gift from Mark & Marsha Chazin. The Board of Directors has determined that as of June 1, 2013 the price of individual plaques will be raised to $250 for the first plaque, a second plaque ordered at the same

4 stock and revise. It is part of an overall physical and mental health plan. Indeed, it is probably this recognition that enabled Asher Ginsberg (aka Ahad Ha'am), a poet and Zionist, to make his famous observation: "More than the Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat Has kept the Jews". When God says to rest the land I think the message is that every person, every animal, every thing, at some point needs a rest. God prescribed it for the Jewish people every week, and deemed that the land needed it every seven years. Whether for people or for land, the commanded rest is "rest" nonetheless. If God's notion of rest is so pervasive that it covers not only the living and breathing, but also the seemingly inanimate which sustains and grows, then perhaps it is time to re-evaluate the importance of Shabbat to our wellbeing and the well-being of the world. My prayer this week is that God gives each of us the strength to take a rest. time will be $225. $75 will reserve a plaque. CONGREGATION NEWS SHARE YOUR NEWS CONTACT: rvalen1963@aol.com Shabbat Shalom - Rabbi Michael S. Jay THE WEEK THAT WAS... RELIGIOUS SCHOOL CELEBRATES LAG B'OMER What a fantastic day! After regular classes from 9:30 to 11 parents and students gathered for a snack of bagel bites, bagels and toppings, juice and milk. By 11:30 we were heading out to the Miniature Golf course. What a caravan with Beth Gottesman, Sydney and Sam, Colette Bach with Alexia and Justin, Stacy Irwin with A.J., Emily, Andy Schwing, Michael Silvers, Jenna Powitz and the Doctor's; Stu, Dana, Kyle, Zack and Meghan. Moreh Iris and Mrs. "B" closed up the JCC and headed North to Hartland's. Karen and 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, Joy Kern, if you are in need of assistance or if you know of a JCC member that needs our help AN EXCITING YEAR OF PROGRAMS AT THE JCC

5 Jessica Schwing joined us after their duties at Fred's Diner were over. The weather was perfect and everyone had a great time. We all agreed that we are very lucky to be on LBI and be able to celebrate Lag B'Omer in this special way. Many thanks to our photographers Dana Doctor and Stacy Irwin. Notice that EVERYONE was a winner. Lynn Berkowitz, Religious School Chair BREAKFAST A FRED'S We filled up a good part of the dining room at Fred's Diner in Beach Haven last Sunday with 38 members and friends in attendance for our Breakfast Club. It was good to see how beautiful the newly restored diner looks and we all wish the Schwing Family a mazel tov on the reopening of their restaurant. To view the programs/classes we have in store for you this season, click on this link: PROGRAMS Click on the individual programs for details. HEALTH FAIRS AT THE OCEAN COUNTY MALL For all people over the age of 12 who might be affected by mold and mildew either in their homes or elsewhere from Hurricane Sandy: Ocean County Mall May 14, am to 4 pm It is for Pulmonary Function Testing, Pulse Oximetry, Blood Pressure, and Auscultation of the Lungs FREE OF CHARGE For further information, please call LIGHTHOUSE FILM FESTIVAL JUNE 6-9 SUPPORT THE LIGHTHOUSE

6 INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ON LBI BY VOLUNTEERING SEE MORE BY CLICKING ON THIS LINK: LIGHTHOUSE WHAT IS OPEN ON LBI UPCOMING JCC EVENTS According to the LBI BUSINESS ALLIANCE, there are over 195 LBI businesses currently open and are listed on their web site: ALLIANCE. Please stop by and support them. BRICK PAVERS MAH JONGG Every Wed. at the Center from 12:30-4:00 PM Sunday, May 5 at 10:00 AM HOLD THE DATE OF JUNE 12TH FOR OUR MAH JONGG TOURNAMENT WITH ST. FRANCIS TO BE HELD AT THE JCC. SEE THE ATTACHED FLYER: MAH JONGG PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VIEW THE ENTIRE JCC CALENDAR: CALENDAR The paver fund raising program is ongoing. Pavers will be installed two times a year: spring and fall. If you would like to order a paver to be installed in front of the JCC building for this summer, your order must be in the office by June 1. To download the paver order form, click on this link: PAVERS. Proceeds of this program will go towards the "burning of our mortgage." JCC INFORMATION SHOPRITE GIFT CARDS

7 THE OFFICE IS LOCATED AT 2411 Long Beach Boulevard (24th Street) Spray Beach, NJ ENTER THE BUILDING DURING OFFICE HOURS THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR. Mailing Address: 2411 Long Beach Blvd. Spray Beach, NJ Shoprite gift cards are available at the office. Use them to buy your Passover and other groceries and the JCC of LBI will receive a portion the purchase. DOCUMENTS AND LINKS JUST CLICK AND YOU'RE THERE!!! MAY/JUNE BULLETIN: BULLETIN Telephone: FAX: jccoflbi@gmail.com web site: WINTER OFFICE HOURS: MONDAY 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM WEDNESDAY 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM FRIDAY - 9:00 am - 1:00 PM Office Staff: M/W/T: Leslie Dinkfelt F: Jeri Riffle Data Entry: Marcie Deutsch WEB SITE: JCC WEB SITE DUES RENEWAL FORM: RENEWAL WHAT'S OPEN: WHAT'S OPEN SUMMER 2013 PROGRAMS PROGRAMS PAVERS PAVERS

8 Leslie, Jeri & Marcie CONTACT INFORMATION: Rabbi Michael S. Jay Don Pripstein, JCC President Judy Smith, JCC VP VIEW THE MAY/JUNE BULLETIN with this link BULLETIN Editor: Rose Valentine