Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island E-Letter March 1, Adar 5773 JCC EVENTS 3/1-3/8 SATURDAY MORNINGS WITH RABBI JAY SHABBAT SHALOM

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1 Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island E-Letter March 1, Adar 5773 In This Issue Community Seder Message from Rabbi Jay The Week That Was... Upcoming Events New Programs Birthright This Week's Events Saturday Mornings with Rabbi Jay Service Schedule Yahrzeits Congregation News Attention Jewish Youth Sandy Counseling Service What's Open on LBI JCC EVENTS 3/1-3/8 YOUTH MEETING - Sunday 2/3 at 11:00 AM GUEST SPEAKER: CHLOE SNYDER, who grew up on LBI, and just returned from the Birthright Program to Israel* ALL ARE WELCOME *See information about Birthright below MAH JONGG Wednesdays 12:30-4:00 PM SATURDAY MORNINGS WITH RABBI JAY Rabbi Jay will be at the JCC from 10:00-12:00 Shabbat mornings to meet with folks who come in to either learn or daven. SHABBAT SHALOM "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." Documents & Links

2 COMMUNITY SEDER JCC OF LBI COMMUNITY SEDER at the JCC Social Hall, Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at 5:30 PM. Seder will be conducted by Rabbi Jay. Full traditional Kosher for Passover dinner. $35 for adults, $15 for children 6-12, children under 6 and under no charge (Non-member charge for adults: $40.00). Contact Vivian Fitts to make your reservation A TORAH MESSAGE FROM RABBI JAY CANDLE LIGHTING TIMES Friday, March 1, :30 PM (So. Ocean County) WHEREVER WE ARE, LET US LIGHT CANDLES TOGETHER. JOIN US FOR SERVICES Rabbi Michael S. Jay This week we have the distinct pleasure of reading Parashat Ki Tissa which, among other things recounts the story of the Ehgel Zahav, The golden calf. You will recall that this blotch on our record, this smear to our name and character as a people, happened because Moses was delayed up on Mount Sinai, perhaps having a few too many Chai latte's with the Kodesh Baruch Hu, the Holy One Blessed be He. The people became nervous that their fearless leader may have gone AWOL, and, in a panic, decided to take matters into their own hand. I would suggest that when faced with a challenge most of us would find self-initiative, the ability I hope you will forgive me to "take the bull by the horns", to be a good thing. But it seems in retrospect that the people of Israel would have been better off collectively lying in the fetal position and waiting for Moses to get back. As many of you know, my daughter, Sammi, is currently a freshman in college. This means that communication with her is often at a premium. Indeed, what little connection time we have is often limited to text messages sent in a shorthand that is often indecipherable to anyone over 20 years of age. Our texts will never be confused with Shakespeare, or F. Scott Fitzgerald, or even Dear Abby. Usually it amounts to: ME: "Where are you?" Rabbi Jay will be conducting services. SHABBAT PARAH Shabbat Parah (Sabbath of the red heifer) takes place on the Shabbat before Shabbat HaChodesh, in preparation for Passover. Numbers 19:1-22 describes the "red heifer" in the Jewish temple as part of the manner in which the kohanim and the Jewish people purified themselves so that they would be ready to sacrifice the Pascal lamb. Friday evening March 1, Adar 5773 TORAH PORTION

3 SAMMI: "I'm heading home from the library." ME: "Did you have a good day?" SAMMI: "It was okay, but I have a sore throat and I have 3 tests tomorrow and I need to go out with my friends now...so I really cannot talk." ME: "Great, Love you!" It is simple, to the point and, most importantly, in real time. What could texting possibly have to do with the Torah portion? As I was thinking of our Parsha an interesting notion dawned on me. My text exchange with Sammi, while truncated, really provided me with all the information that I needed at the moment. She was fine, if a bit tired, and she was going to be with her friends for the evening. In truth I did not need any more than that. I may have WANTED more, but I didn't NEED it. This understanding caused me to realize that, had Moses and Aaron had a Verizon family plan, the entire debacle of the golden calf could have been avoided. Moses could have texted Aaron: "Bro, the meeting's running a bit longer than I expected, the old man is just a tad long-winded LOL! Looks like I'll be delayed for about 40 days and nights." Aaron might have replied: "Thanks for the update; we were beginning to get concerned. I'd better go tell the people not to rip earrings out of anyone's ear. Ttyl". And just like that things would have been better.with that extra added "real time" exchange of information, there would have been no golden calf and no broken Ten Commandments.The story would have merely told of a people eagerly waiting for its leader to return with news of his meeting with God. Shabbat Shalom - Rabbi Michael S. Jay WE ARE IN THE NEWS... Rabbi Jay, who lives during the week in West Caldwell (North Jersey), was interviewed by the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest Jewish News. To read this article please click on this link: JEWISH NEWS THE WEEK THAT WAS... A fabulous SHABBAT DINNER to officially welcome Rabbi Jay Ki TIssa (Exodus 30:11-34:35; special maftir: Numbers 19:1-22 ) Haftorah: Ezekiel 36:16-36:38 YAHRZEITS FOR THE NEXT WEEK These names will be read at services on March 1, Stanley Karp Helen Applebaum *Joseph Friedman *Nathan Levison Herman Kleinfeld Marian Diamond *Abraham Pervin Paul Watling Milton Smith *Lillian Salander Betty Schleifer Henry Nagel Samuel Kolb Albert Kessler Morris Rebo

4 and his wife Sheri was held last Friday night with 65 people in attendance - a feat in itself in the middle of February on LBI. By the way, one year ago on February 17th, we held our first Friday night service in the new building. We marched the torahs from the rabbi's residence to the sanctuary under a chuppah. It was a thrilling experience! In his remarks at the dinner, Rabbi Jay recalled Sheri has had a long time connection with LBI having spent summers here and, along with her siblings, worked at the JCC tennis courts. When Rabbi Jay decided to to study for the rabbinate, they both joked how nice it would be if he would be the rabbi on LBI. Who knew... Many thanks to the Sisterhood gals who prepared the meal and set up the room for the dinner: Leader Vivian Fitts, Joanne Levine, Rochelle Spencer, Lynn Berkowitz, Bonnie Farin and Rose Valentine. Special thanks to the four young ladies from the Middle School who helped with the serving and cleanup and a special thanks for help with the cleanup to Lori & Danny Shomer, our most efficient dish washer. MEGILLAH READING We had a nice crowd on Saturday night for the Megillah Reading lead by Barnie Rubble aka Rabbi Jay (see below). Everyone wore a costume and enjoyed the frivolity along with the serious message of the Purim holiday. Seymour Tilbor Benjamin Katz Meir Cohen Eleanor Wichman Satir *Marjorie Ann Fisher Josephine Tucker Abe Rosenbaum *Perpetual Yahrzeit Plaque CONGREGATION NEWS... MILLIE & TIGER WOLPERT on the bar mitzvah of their grandson ZACHARY KATZ SHARE YOUR NEWS CONTACT: rvalen1963@aol.com Barnie takes us to Shushan CARING COMMITTEE This committee acts as a support system for congregation members facing illness and other personal situations that need to be addressed.

5 Mrs. B and Andy Schwing in costume UPCOMING EVENTS MAH JONGG - Wednesdays 12:30-4:00 PM SUNDAY Mah jongg - March 10th at 10:00 AM COMMUNITY SEDER - 2nd night of Passover - Tuesday, March 26. DETAILS TO FOLLOW A SNEAK PEEK AT OUR NEW PROGRAMS AT THE JCC Program Chairman Lori Shomer has been working very hard to develop some very exciting programming for the Spring and Summer. Here are just a few activities to put on your calendar. Please contact Lori with any questions: LORI The JCC will be offering a two part Boating Certification Class on May 19 & June 9. June 's Sock Hop, 6PM-10PM, Dinner, DJ & Dancing w/costume & Dance Contests. Start tuning you guitar, practicing your vocals or pulling out those old joke books now for Open Mic Night August 8! August 25 -The JCC will be proud to present the icon... Uncle Floyd! Yes, from the Uncle Floyd Show! More to come... TAGLIT BIRTHRIGHT Please contact Chairperson, Joy Kern, if you are in need of assistance or if you know of a JCC member that needs our help REACHING OUT TO THE JEWISH YOUTH OF OUR COMMUNITY GETTING IN TOUCH WITH YOUR JEWISH SIDE! The JCC is sending out an open invitation to all Jewish young people over the age of 13 that want to spend some time with other Jewish youth from the Southern Ocean County area. The group that meets every Sunday morning from 11 to 12 at the JCC. We discuss many topics anything from current events to Jewish history and holidays and planning of social events. We sometimes find ourselves in the kitchen or in the arts and crafts room but never bored. Our next meeting will take place on Sunday, March 3, 2013 at 11:00 am at the JCC of LBI. We are planning to have a Chloe Snyder, who grew up on LBI, as our speaker. She just returned from a "Birthright" trip and will give us her Birthright experience as the daughter of an interfaith marriage. Refreshments will be

6 Taglit-Birthright Israel (also Birthright Israel or Birthright) is a not-for-profit educational organization that sponsors free ten-day heritage trips to Israel for Jewish young adults. Its goals are to diminish the division between Israel and Jewish communities around the world and to strengthen participants' personal Jewish identity and connection to Jewish history and culture. Eligible individuals must be between the ages of 18-26, post high school. They must have at least one parent of recognized Jewish descent and have neither traveled to Israel before on a peer educational trip or study program nor have lived in Israel past the age of 12. A Taglit-Birthright Israel trip includes airfare from major cities, hotels, most meals, all transportation within Israel, and costs associated with touring the country for the ten-day trip. Trips are organized by different organizations and companies accredited by Taglit-Birthright Israel. For further information go to - BIRTHRIGHT JCC INFORMATION 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 Telephone: FAX: jccoflbi@gmail.com web site: WINTER OFFICE HOURS: served. Please bring a friend.the more the merrier. For more information contact, Lynn Berkowitz at PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS. POST SANDY COUNSELING SERVICE St. Francis is offering individual, family and group counseling services to anyone affected by Hurricane Sandy. For details, click on this link: SANDY WHAT IS OPEN ON LBI According to the LBI BUSINESS ALLIANCE, there are over 125 LBI businesses currently open and are listed on their web site: ALLIANCE. Please stop by and support them. DOCUMENTS AND LINKS JUST CLICK AND YOU'RE THERE!!! FEB/MARCH/APRIL BULLETIN: BULLETIN WEB SITE: JCC WEB SITE DUES RENEWAL FORM: RENEWAL WHAT'S OPEN: WHAT'S OPEN

7 MONDAY 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM WEDNESDAY 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM FRIDAY - 9:00 am - 1:00 PM SANDY SUPPORT GROUP: SUPPORT SANDY COUNSELING: COUNSELING Office Staff: M/W/T: Leslie Dinkfelt F: Jeri Riffle Data Entry: Marcie Deutsch Leslie, Jeri & Marcie CONTACT INFORMATION: Rabbi Michael S. Jay mjayrab@gmail.com Don Pripstein, JCC President djprip@gmail.com Judy Smith, JCC VP jsmith337@comcast.net VIEW THE FEB/MARCH/APRIL BULLETIN with this link BULLETIN

8 Editor: Rose Valentine