Jewish Community Center of

Long Beach Island

E-Letter

February 27, 20158 Adar 5775

PURIM PASTA & PIZZA, Wed. March 4 at 6:00 PM, followed by the reading of the Megillah. Call the office if you will joining us for supper. 609-492-4090.

Contents

A Torah Message from the Rabbi

Community Seder

Upcoming JCC Activities

Outreach Committee is Being Formed

Tree of Life

Kol Hakavod

Pavers

Plant a Tree

Celebrate a Milestone

This Week's Events

Service Schedule

Purim Schedule

Yahrzeits for Next Week

Minyanim

Congregation News

Connection Corner

Sisterhood

Gift Shop

Name Badges

JCC Caps & Polo Shirts

Shoprite Gift Cards

Infinity Program

Documents & Links

A TORAH MESSAGE FROM THE RABBI

With Purim coming this Wednesday evening, here is a quick review. The holiday has four main Mitzvot:

1) The reading of the Megillah (Mikra Megillah)2) The festive Purim meal (Seudat Purim) 3) Sending gifts (Mishloach Manot) 4) Gifts to the poor (Matanot l'Evyonim)

Luckily, all of these Mitzvot (and more) will be covered at our PPPP - Purim Pizza Pasta Party on Wednesday evening at 6:00 pm. If you dress in a costume you add to the fun. I will be dressed in a costume. This year I am thinking of dressing as a Rabbi. The Megillah reading will be fun and interactive. Memories are certain to be created.

A 5th Mitzvah for Purim is simply to be happy and have fun. Join us and you will be guaranteed to smile. We observe our holidays to "remember" and to create "memories".

In particular this Shabbat is called "Shabbat Zachor", the Shabbat of remembrance. Let's take on this obligation together!

Also, I will be fasting on Wednesday during the day. It is called the Fast of Esther and it is observed in order to recall the fast of Esther, Mordechai and all of the Jewish people in Shushan.

Below is a brief summary of the story of Purim that I reprinted from My Jewish Learning. As always, if you have questions or comments, please feel free to email me or to call me.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Purim Sameach - Rabbi Michael S. Jay

The Story of PurimThe plot and themes of "the whole Megillah."

By Rabbi Robert Goodman

The Purim story is the Book of Esther; which is a part of the Ketuvim or Writings (also called the Hagiographa), the third section of Tanakh [the Hebrew Bible]. An outline of the Purim story follows: King Ahasuerus dethrones Queen Vashti.

Esther is crowned queen after winning a beauty contest.

Mordecai uncovers a plot to kill the king and reports it.

King Ahasuerus promotes Haman, making him more powerful than all the other officials.

Mordecai refuses to bow before Haman (a close confidant of the king).

Haman seeks to destroy the Jews after his run-in with Mordecai.

Mordecai appeals to Esther to save her people. Esther approaches King Ahasuerus and invites him and Haman to a banquet.

Mordecai is honored for having saved the king's life. Esther entertains the king and Haman, and invites them to a second banquet.

Esther pleads for her people at the second banquet. She accuses Haman.

The king grants Esther's request and condemns Haman to die on the gallows that he built for the Jews.

The Jews defend themselves throughout Persia [against those following out the decree to destroy the Jews].

The holiday of Purim is established and Mordecai advances to a position of importance.

Esther 3:8 is a classic statement of anti-Semitism, perhaps the first such written anywhere. It reads: "Haman then said to King Ahasuerus, 'There is a certain people, scattered and dispersed among the other peoples in all the provinces of your realm, whose laws are different from those of any other people and who do not obey the king's laws; and it is not in Your Majesty's interest to tolerate them.'"

Haman tells the king that, because the Jews are different, they must be suspect. He then lies to compound the felony, for indeed the Jews did follow the laws of the land. Unfortunately, this type of reasoning has, again and again throughout Jewish history; been the unwarranted rationale for the persecution of Jews.

The word God is not mentioned in the entire Book of Esther. This omission exists in spite of the fact that throughout the Bible, God's intervention is ever present. Mordecai does, however, make an indirect reference to God when he speaks with Esther about intervening with the king: "...if you keep silent in this crisis, relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another quarter, while you and your father's house will perish. And who knows, perhaps you have attained to royal position for just such a crisis" (Esther 4:13-14).

In other words, not only does Mordecai suggest that God might indeed play an active role in resolving the crisis, but further suggests that Esther's becoming queen may have been the work of God, Who was preparing for the day when the Jewish people would face crisis. Another explanation for the absence of the name of God is that since the book was written in scroll form and sent to Jews throughout Persia, the name of God was omitted in case the scroll was desecrated in any way.

Whether the events related in the book are factual or not, the Book of Esther is more truthful than many so-called historical works. Unfortunately, the story has been repeated throughout Jewish history on many occasions, but without the benefit of a hero or heroine. The Book of Esther thus serves as an allegory describing the life and lot of the Jewish people in an alien and hostile world.

WANTED: If you have experience with grant writing, please contact the Rabbi at mjayrab@gmail.com or 973-865-9534

COMMUNITY SEDER

COMMUNITY SEDER

lead by Rabbi Michael S.Jay

Saturday, April 4 at 6:00 PM

$45 per person (for members)

$50 per person (for non-members)

$20 for children 6 - 12, under 6 no charge

Reservations after March 25th: members: $50, non-members: $55

Contact Vivian Fitts to make your reservations: 609-492-9412

UPCOMING JCC ACTIVITIES

MAH JONGG

Wednesdays 12:30 - 4:00 PM

NEW COMMITTEE BEING FORMED

We are forming a new committee to do OUTREACH programming within our congregation as well as in the community. The overall goal of this committee is two-fold: (1) to provide educational programming geared to intermarried couples and families in our congregation (and to those who are Jewish who would like to become more knowledgeable) and(2) to develop educational programs with the churches in our community. This committee will have the opportunity to set out more specific goals and programming.

Our first program has been set for the afternoon of Sunday, May 31st and is entitled "Jerusalem: City of Joy & Sorrow". It is being presented by Christopher M. Bellitto, Ph.D., Associate Professor of History at Kean University. This Power-Point program, which traces through maps and images the repeated rises and falls, twists and turns, of a city that sits at the intersection of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam,is sponsored by the NJ Council for the Humanities. We hope to include area churches in this event.

We encourage members of the congregation to step forward to become part of this very important effort. Please contact Chairperson Rose Valentine if you are interested:

973-632-0913 or rvalen1963@aol.com

JCC OF LBI TREE OF LIFE

We are so excited by the response to our beautiful new Tree of Life.You can commemorate a special occasion, honor or remember a loved one with a leaf on our new tree.

There are three donation opportunities:

Gold leaf (10 times chai) $180

Silver leaf (7 times chai) $126

Bronze leaf (5 times chai) $90

Here is the link to see theTree of Life Form:TREE

Please drop this form off at the Office or mail to JCC of LBI, 2411 Long Beach Blvd. Spray Beach NJ 08008 along with your check.

KOL HAKAVOD CAMPAIGN

Please considerbeing a part of this newly instituted campaign to supplement the clergy and facility 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 FORMKOL HAKAVOD

BRICK PAVERS

The paver fund raising program is ongoing. Pavers will be installed two times a year: spring and fall.

Todownload the paver order form, here is the link:PAVERS.

PLANT A TREE ON LBI

We have started the first phase of the landscaping of the JCC with the planting of crepe myrtles on Boulevard side of property.

If you would like to help underwrite the cost of these trees, a donation of $500 per tree would be greatly appreciated. We have planted 9 trees; we now have 7 that have been spoken for.

There will be appropriate recognition of the gift at the base of the tree.

CELEBRATE A MILESTONE AT THE JCC OF LBI

Celebrate a special occasion at the JCC of LBI. A wedding, baby naming, renewal of vows can have special meaning ourbeautiful sanctuary which seats 124 people (can be opened to more seating).

Your reception, special birthday or anniversary party can be accommodated in the large social hall which has a capacity for table seating for 200 and can be set up auditorium style for 280 persons. In addition there is a kosher restaurant-sized kitchen, two classrooms and a library.

Here is the link to view/download the following forms and information:JCC RENTAL

Rental Applicati