May 2021 Bulletin
May 2021 Bulletin
May 2021 Bulletin
SATURDAYS | 10:00AM
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED
MAY 2021
IYAR / SIVAN 5781
1 BULLETIN
A MESSAGE FROM RABBI JOSHUA FRANKLIN / MAZEL TOV
Gratitude is not being thankful when we have abundance, it’s being satisfied with whatever it is
that we have. Gratitude is less a feeling, and more of a state of mind that we practice. The Hebrew
term for gratitude is “ הכרת הטובhakarat hatov,” which literally translates into, “recognizing the good
in things.” The implication is that the good is already there, yet practicing gratitude is merely about
uncovering it and being able to see it. Rabbi Bachya ibn Pakuda, an 11th Century Jewish philosopher
and ethicist, teaches that there isn’t a person alive who hasn’t been given gifts, if only the gifts of
life and hope. But we tend to suffer a kind of blindness that keeps us from seeing and appreciating
what we have. If you find yourself in such a place where you can’t seem to see anything for which
you might be grateful, it is taught that one should say: “ מודים אנחנו לך ה’ אלהינו על שאנו מודים לךWe give
thanks to you God, for the mere ability to offer you thanks.”
Practicing gratitude isn’t easy, but it’s surely worth it. “Who is rich?” asks the rabbinic sage Ben Azzai,
“The person who has joy in what they have.” There is no better time than a crisis or a pandemic to be
reminded that there is still blessing and good in so many places in this world. We just have to work
on being able to see it.
1. Before you go to bed, vocalize out loud one thing for which you are grateful, and try to say
something new and different each and every night.
2. Take a photo each day of something that you are grateful for. Put the photos in an album and
review them each Shabbat.
3. Judaism prescribes saying the words “Modeh (m) /Modah (f) ani l’fanecha (I give thanks before
you) each morning when you wake up. There are many melodies to this prayer that composers
have written. Try downloading the app “Flavors of Gratefulness” from the Apple App Store,
which offers 36 different Jewish melodies for singing these words.
MAZEL TOV
• Parents Steven & Randi Ball, on the Bar Mitzvah of their son
Theo Ball on Saturday, April 24, 2021.
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SHABBAT SERVICES / SINGING AND STORY WITH THE RABBI
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SHABBAT ON THE BEACH
28!
Y
G MA
N
R NI
U
R ET
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SPONSOR SHABBAT ON THE BEACH
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A MESSAGE FROM RABBI DEBRA STEIN, CANTOR
My life has changed forever. I have been blessed with a miracle, the birth
of a grandchild. When my daughter told me that she was pregnant, my joy
overflowed for her. I had little to no idea how this would change me. Many who
became grandparents before me said those wise, sage words, “Wait, you’ll see.”
I couldn’t ever have imagined what they were talking about.
I was lucky to have my daughter and her husband with me during most of the
pregnancy, and I began to count blessings during a pandemic.
Who has allowed me to spend time with my son-in-law and see all that my
daughter fell in love with
Who has blessed my daughter and her husband with fertility and the ability to conceive
Who has allowed me to experience the months of pregnancy through the eyes of my daughter
Who has given me a home where I can find space for my children to live
Who gave my dog patience to learn how to live with this new kitten
And the blessings just kept making me aware of how even through a pandemic, having faith in a power
greater than me could allow me to see the smallest gifts as blessings.
We have all lived through so much. So much isolation and so much fear. So much confusion and so
much uncertainty. Now we are seeing the possibility of the silver lining. Now we are able to see family
and friends without tremendous fears. Yes, I still have my reservations, but I don’t live in constant fear.
I’m still very cautious, but again, I don’t live in constant fear.
I digress, let me go back to my blessing. It was the second night Seder, when I received a call that my
daughter had gone into labor. The arrangement was that I would go immediately to their house so
that I could take care of the aforementioned kitten. My intention was to take part in the JCOH Zoom
second night Seder from their apartment. However, my brain could not wrap itself around anything
other than my daughter and everything she and her husband were going through.
So, I packed up everything I needed, and drove to their home. Much of everything after that was a
blur of emotions, expectations, anxiety and hope, as I waited for news that the baby had been born.
I told very few people because I didn’t want to be inundated with emails and calls and texts asking
what was happening, since I had no idea. I only knew that they were in the hospital receiving the best
care possible. I found out on Monday, the 28th that I had a grandson. A few days later, when they came
home, I got to see this newborn miracle and that is when my heart melted. Wait, you’ll see!
Let me say this. My heart if filled with Love as it has never been before. To see my child with her child
in her arms is pure joy. To be able to love him and see him has been the miracle I always prayed for. To
you, my congregational family, I thank you for all of your well wishes, all of your calls and your gifts.
Our JCOH family has grown by one more. Chazak Chazak V’nitchazek... may we be strong and
strengthen one another.
To all of you who tried to tell me about the joys of being a grandmother, I will admit, you were all right.
SHAVUOT
It’s time to receive Torah! Shavuot is the celebration of the moment when the Torah
was given to Moses and the Israelites at Mount Sinai. Each year, we reenact the
moment by reading the 10 commandments, studying all night long (our community
study won’t go that long), and eating dairy food, like cheese cake. Because Israel is
called the “land of milk and honey,” we nosh on dairy food. Perhaps, it’s not as ritually
distinct as eating latkes or matzah, but who doesn’t like good cheesecake and blintzes?
MUSSAR
A PRACTICE OF SHAPING OUR HOLY VIRTUES
WITH RABBI JOSHUA FRANKLIN
MONDAYS | 5:00pm | EXTENDED THROUGH MAY 17!
The word “Mussar” translates into “correction” “instruction,” or “ethics;” but Mussar as a practice
describes a movement of self betterment through the development of holy Jewish virtues. Come
explore one value (middah) at a time with Rabbi Josh Franklin, as we unpack ideas such as humility
(anavah), wisdom (chochmah), generosity (n’divut), compassion (rachamim), and trust (bitachon).
Mussar is not Jewish self-help. Its purpose rather is to elevate holiness in each individual.
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GRACIOUS GIVING / SOCIAL MEDIA
Join us at jcoh.org/peloton
or search the #JCOH tag!
LIKE JCOH ON
/JewishCenterOfTheHamptons
FOLLOW JCOH ON
@JewishCenterOfTheHamptons
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LIVESTREAMING SERVICES
ZOOM SHABBAT
FRIDAYS | 6:00pm
SATURDAYS | 10:00am
Connect with your JCOH
community, wherever
you may be, by joining us
for Zoom Shabbat. Zoom
allows us to see each other
virtually as we pray, creating
community even when
we may be at a distance.
Together, we will light
Shabbat candles, sing and
pray in community.
TORAH STUDY
SATURDAYS | 12:00pm
Dive deep into the weekly
Torah portion with Rabbi
Joshua Franklin. Come for just
one or come for every one.
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LIVESTREAMING SERVICES/ MORNING MINYAN
MORNING MINYAN
THURSDAYS | 8:00am
Join your fellow JCOH Congregants for a lay-led morning minyan every Thursday morning.
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LIFECYCLE EVENTS / HEALING WISHES / ALL IN THE FAMILY / PRAYER FOR THE SICK
Howard Kurz Morris Kramer Richard Solomon Michael & Gayle Kalisman
Mildred Glimcher Allen Fein Marc Matza Michael & Giulia Frank
Warren Heller Gladys Gottlieb Morton Olshan Wayne & Suzanne Maggin
If you would like the name of your loved one on our list, please email office@jcoh.org or call 631-324-9858.
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YAHRZEITS / IN MEMORIAM
THE DEPARTED LIVE ON IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO CHERISH THEIR MEMORY.
IN MEMORIAM…
Maria Purpora Joseffer
Rita Katz
Glenn Sherman
John Harrison
Isobel Konecky
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JCOH CALENDAR
MAY 2021 — IYAR / SIVAN 5781
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
19 Iyar 1
Shabbat Service
10:00am
DATE KEY
Torah Study
Services streamed online. Visit jcoh.org/live for more information. 12:00pm
Shtisel Season 3
Discussion Group
5:30pm
Shtisel Season 3
Discussion Group
5:30pm
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WAYS TO GIVE
We have refurbished the Donald and Barbara Zucker Patio with stones designed
in the shape of the Star of David. These stones can be engraved in honor of a
special person or moment in our lives, or in memory of a loved one.
Help us raise needed funds to support our yearly operating budget. This project
will be ongoing for years to come, allowing future generations the opportunity
to participate.
Contact our Executive Director, Matthew Oates, for details at 631-324-9858
or by email at moates@jcoh.org.