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A SHABBAT MESSAGE FROM RABBI JAY

At the beginning of Parashat Bechukotai, the Torah tells us that if we do good, by following the commandments in the Torah, we will be blessed. But, if we fail to follow its rules, then we will be cursed. As if to highlight the negative aspect, the listing of curses is much longer than the listing of blessings. Indeed, the curses become increasingly grotesque.

With the pronouncement of blessings and curses, there is an underlying message that is easily missed because of its subtlety. Ultimately, the ability to receive a blessing or a curse resides within us. Through Free Will we determine whether to do God’s bidding, or not. The message? Our destiny, at least where God and good deeds are concerned, is within our control.

Free will permits us to make decisions, but it does not protect us from the consequences of those decisions. This is where things become complicated. Why are we given a choice? Why doesn’t God snap God’s Godly fingers and pronounce: “From now on people will only do the right things!”

I think God places the onus on us because God wants to be in relationship with us, and a relationship is only “real” if both parties to it make choices about that relationship.

God is literally saying: “Make the correct choices and, together, We will be happy and prosper. But if you make the wrong choice, together, We are all going to suffer.” The “We” is God, the Israelites, the land, and everything in and on the land.

The Israelites are given two distinct visions of their future. They are given a choice about which to follow. To us, as readers, the choice seems to be a “no-brainer”. But as we continue reading the Torah, and as we study Jewish history, even recent Jewish history, we know that, even given the best of information, the correct choices are not always made. We are an interesting people.

What are we to learn from this? In our lives we always have choices. Some are near epic and some are mundane; but we are presented with options just the same. The choices we make do not only impact us. Our decisions impact the lives of individuals and our community as a whole. Your Free Will is not a gift for you to use to serve your singular purpose. Exercise it in such a way that the community around you will benefit. Make God proud of our relationship.

And so concludes the Book of Leviticus. The beauty of Torah is that there are no endings; the story continues; it moves in nuanced words that shift in meaning from person to person, place to place, and era to era. Choice, alternative, option; use them to better yourself, strengthen community, and to enhance your relationship with the Holy One.

Chazak, Chazak, V’Nitchazeik – Be Strong, Be strong, and may we be Strengthened.

Shabbat Shalom – Rabbi Michael S. Jay

YOM YERUSHALAYIM

June 4, 2024

28 Iyar 5784

After Israel declared its independence in 1948, it was attacked by the neighboring Arab countries, resulting in the Arab-Israeli War. At the end of this war, the city of Jerusalem was divided. Israeli forces controlled most of the city and East Jerusalem, including the Old City, was controlled by Jordanian forces.

On June 7, 1967 Israeli forces captured the old city of Jerusalem. This resulted in the reunification of Jerusalem as part of Israel. According to the Hebrew calendar, it was the 28th day of the month of Iyar in the year 5727 and the anniversary of this date is known as Yom Yerushalayim or Jerusalem Day.

Yom Yerushalayim is a national and Hebrew holiday in Israel and is marked with a range of events in many Jewish communities. These include: recitations of the Hallel prayer for praise and thanksgiving in synagogues; street parades, parties, singing and dancing; special meals; and lectures on the history and future of Jerusalem. 

TAKE THE TIME TO CLICK ON THE BEAUTIFUL VIDEO BELOW.

REMEMBERING THE JCC TRIP TO ISRAEL....Ira Morgenthal

Yom Yerushalaim

When I heard someone mention that Yom Yersualaim, Jerusalem Day, would be observed next week, it brought back memories of the JCC trip to Israel in 2018. One of the highlights of the trip was a visit to Ammunition Hill, which commemorates Israel’s victory in the battle of Jerusalem during the Six Day War (1967). The victory marked the reunification of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, which it has been, since 1010BCE.

Ammunition Hill got its name from its use by Britain as a storehouse for weapons during the period of the Mandate (1919-1948). In the museum are two special artifacts: an Israeli flag and a worn siddur. These were the property of an elderly widow who kept them after she and all the Jews were evicted from the Jewish Quarter of the old city in 1949, after which Jordan destroyed the Jewish Quarter.

After the Six Day war began, the elderly woman went to one of her neighbors, Major (later General) Mordechai Gur, the commander of the Paratroop battalion charged with liberating the old city. She asked him to take her flag and her late husband’s siddur with him into battle. Major Gur accepted the items and left to join his troops. When the soldiers reached the Kotel (western wall) of the temple, they stormed the temple mount bringing Judaism’s holiest site back under Jewish control for the first time in nearly 2,000 years.

Major Gur remembered the flag and gave it to his troops to drape over the top of the wall (a very famous photograph of this moment was then taken). Realizing that a service was called for, Major Gur called for the Chief Rabbi of the IDF to come to the site. The Rabbi came so quickly he forgot to bring a prayer book. Major Gur then remembered the book his neighbor had given him, and he handed it to the Rabbi. After the service, the Rabbi hand signed the book in honor of the occasion. Both the book and flag are on display at the Ammunition Hill Museum. Ammunition Hill was the site of the final battle for Jerusalem, in which IDF soldiers fought uphill against entrenched Jordanian troops, and defeated them, to end the battle of Jerusalem with a final victory.

After a morning visit to Yad Vashem, it was a truly memorable day.

JUNE SHABBAT DINNER

Friday, June 7th

6:30 PM followed by services at 7:30

MENU

Smokey Joes

Whitefish Salad, Nova Lox, Lettuce, Tomato & Cream Cheese

Veggie Joes

Eggpant, Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Roasted Peppers, Portobello Mushrooms,

w/ Lettuce, Tomato & Red Onions, Topped with Balsamic Vinegrette, 

Salad

Special Dessert

$25 per person

Contact the JCC office to make your reservation

609-492-4090

SHABBAT ON THE BEACH SERVICES

JUNE DATES

Friday, June 14 @ 6:00 PM

Shabbat on the Beach

Loveladies

Friday, June 21 @ 6:00 PM

Shabbat on the Beach

Spray Beach

Friday, June 28 @ 6:00 PM

Shabbat on the Beach

 Loveladies

CLICK HERE FOR BULLETIN WITH ALL THE SUMMER DATES

PAGE 8

Sunday, June 9 @ 11-1 PM

WAX Welcome to Summer Brunch at the JCC

Friday, June 14 @ 5:30 PM

Blessing of Fleet at Viking Village

Wednesday, June 19 @ 4:00 PM

WAX Book Review

Friday, June 21 @ 6:00 PM

Shabbat on the Beach

Spray Beach

Sunday, June 23

JCC Membership Brunch at the JCC

Friday, June 28 @ 6:00 PM

Shabbat on the Beach in Loveladies

Sunday, June 30 @ 4 - 6 PM

Interfaith Concert with

The Island Singers

WAX HONEY FROM THE HEART SALE BEGINS JUNE 3

This distinctive 8-ounce jar of kosher honey arrives in time for Rosh Hashanah, decorated with a festive label, and includes a personalized card reading “Shana Tova—Wishing you a Healthy and Happy New Year.” A card also lets the recipients know that a donation has been made in their honor to the Women’s Auxiliary of the JCC of LBI. Details to follow.

PAID UP WAX MEMBERSHIP BRUNCH

PAID UP WAX MEMBERSHIP BRUNCH

Sunday, June 9 at 11:00 AM

PAID WAX MEMBERS ONLY

BRUNCH WILL BE SERVED

Guest Speaker: Phyllis Sisenwine, Certified Personal Coach

RSVP Diane Buskirk by June 5 (856-952-5940)



JCC WOMEN’S AUXILIARY: BOOK GROUP DISCUSSION

 WEDNESDAYS AT 4:00 PM

NEXT BOOK REVIEW MEETING

NEXT BOOK REVIEW MEETING

Wednesday, June 19th at 4:00 PM

Discussion Leader: TBA

A Castle in Brooklyn By: Shirley Russak Wachtel

1944, Poland. Jacob Stein and Zalman Mendelson meet as boys under terrifying circumstances. They survive by miraculously escaping, but their shared past haunts and shapes their lives forever. Years later, Zalman plows a future on a Minnesota farm. In Brooklyn, Jacob has a new life with his wife, Esther. When Zalman travels to New York City to reconnect, Jacob’s hopes for the future are becoming a reality. With Zalman’s help, they build a house for Jacob’s family and for Zalman, who decides to stay. Modest and light filled, inviting and warm with acceptance—for all of them, it’s a castle to call home. Then an unforeseeable tragedy—and the grief, betrayals, and revelations in its wake—threatens to destroy what was once an unbreakable bond, and Esther finds herself at a crossroads. A Castle in Brooklyn is a moving and heartfelt immigration story about finding love and building a home and family while being haunted by a traumatic past.

Cost is $25 per adult and Children under 18 is $18. 

Please RSVP to Jill Denker at Jill.Denker@hotmail.com by 7/1/24

CONGREGATION NEWS

SEND ANNOUNCEMENTS OF YOUR GRADUATES TO rvalen1963@aol.com.

PICTURES ARE WELCOME

JCC Member Carl Steinberg is looking for a

tennis partner this summer.

Give him a call if you are interested. 215-530-6352

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:

PAVER 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:

dihoff1@aol.com

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

Herb z"l and Selma z”l Shapiro established the first individual Endowment Fund in memory of his father, as part of the JCC’s Endowment Fund portfolio.

Since then, three additional individual Endowment Funds have been established. Other members are encouraged to also provide for the future of our JCC by establishing similar funds. Please consider adding to this number.

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 named funds will be joined together to be part of the Endowment Fund portfolio.

Endowment funds are necessary to ensure the continuation and well being of our congregation. All members are encouraged to help this important effort by contributing to this portfolio, whether as a specific named individual fund, or as a general donation. The donation can be spread over one, two, or three years, and can be paid via check, donation of appreciated stock, wills, or from the RMD of your IRA or 401K account. 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: 

YAHRZEIT

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

2023 MEMBERSHIP FORMS

Your support is so important to the continued success of the JCC.

Here is form for renewal:

RENEW NOW

And if you have been reading our Shabbat Reminder and other communications and have not yet joined our congregation, here is the new member form:

JOIN NOW