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Updated 4/17/12 kps

If you ride by 24th Street in Spray Beach, you will see our beautiful new synagogue. 

Thanks to the generosity of members and friends, we have raised $1.6 million towards the rebuilding of our Center.  It will be a a house of worship as well as a center of Jewish life and we look forward to welcoming members, residents and vistors to our new home.

Our campaign to raise money is far from over.  Please consider being a part of the rebuild by making a donation to the campaign.  We are also selling pavers to be engraved and placed in the front of our main entrance.  This is a wonderful way to become a permanent part of the building.

Please download the Contribution Form and List of Dedication Opportunities by clicking here Dedication Levels & Contribution Form .  You can also retrieve a form to order pavers as well: PaverformscongOct2011

Rose Valentine, Capital Campaign Chair rvalen1963@aol.com or 973-632-0913

YOM KIPPUR – 2011

The job of being President seems to always be about asking for money, or asking for volunteers. And that is so.  Because to keep our congregation going in a way that we like, it takes money, and it takes volunteers.  And this morning I will ask for both. The fastest growing congregations among our Christian friends seem to be Fundamentalists, and most require tithing of money, time, and talent.  I am just asking you for a LITTLE of each.

On Rosh Hashona I asked for your High Holiday Appeal contributions which are more important than ever. If you haven’t mailed in your blue card and pledge or check yet, PLEASE do so.  I received a lovely e-mail yesterday from one of our members who attended her congregation in Elkins Park. When she read my Rosh Hashona speech in our High Holiday Appeal mailing, she wrote that she was so moved by it that she changed the amount of her contribution. I hope some of you will do the same. I also spoke about the need to continue raising money for our New Building Capital Campaign.  In order to build our much needed new facility NOW, rather than wait a few years, we had to borrow money from some of our members and friends. These funds must be paid back, and while we are using these funds we are paying interest on them. I mentioned that we have had some sizable contributions from non- members who wanted to be a part of our project. This morning we have many guests and adult children of members worshipping with us.  We welcome you and hope you will continue joining us. Next year we will have even more seating capacity.  I hope some of you will also consider being a part of our effort to have a meaningful Jewish presence on the Island of which all Jews can be proud.  This can be done by becoming a member of the JCC, or by contributing to our Capital Campaign.  We need your help.

While many people who only visit the area for a week or two each year have participated, we have a significant number of our members who are here for the summer or the whole year, but have not been a part of this effort.  I ask you to re-consider. IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO STEP UP.  Remember, a cup of coffee a day for three years adds up to well over $1,000.  Our new building will have a permanent ROLL OF HONOR plaque recognizing contributors of $1,500 or more. This will be prepared over the winter, and I urge everyone to make a contribution or increase the one you have made, so that your names can be included on this plaque.  Here is an opportunity to make sure that your children or grandchildren will be able to point to it and proudly say  “MY family was a significant part of this project”.  Please contact Rose Valentine, our Campaign Chairman to MAKE or to INCREASE your pledge.   Pledge and give an amount of which YOU can be proud.

And by the way, in my Rosh Hashona message I mentioned that a non-member made a $10,000 pledge as a result of seeing our new building information at our Arts Festival. This week he increased that to $20,000.  So, in addition to other smaller amounts, we have now received a 30 and a 20 thousand dollar contribution from non members. Please join in this effort.

In our new building we will still need volunteers for such projects as mailings, Kitchen help, Bazaars, and other events. This morning I would like to talk about some other areas of volunteering which involves your working on a committee with others. We need a EVENTS committee to investigate and set rental prices for the use of all or part of our Social hall, or a room for group meetings, or our kosher kitchen. We will need a HOUSE Committee to supervise the maintenance and upkeep of our facility.  This doesn’t mean doing the fixing or cleaning, but working with people or companies that do the work.   In our larger building we have to do a total review of our insurance needs. We need a committee of people to evaluate what insurance coverage we have, look at what we need, and then get proposals and bids to cover this.   We need lots of help on identifying and planning future FUNDRAISING activities for next year and future ones. These can include raffles, auctions, dances, entertainers, cultural events, bingo, and other possible things we haven’t even thought of yet.   On Rosh Hashona, Rabbi Jack challenged us to have a CARING committee to check on older, single members, to visit shut-ins, and do some shopping or other errands when necessary. Step up and help perform this mitzvah.   And we need more committee people to plan and work on our gala DEDICATION WEEKEND. It will finish with a dinner event which is already scheduled for Sunday eve, June 24, 2012.  Mark your calendars now so that you will be able to participate, whether it is in working on this exciting event or just attending. So there will lots to do next year, and I hope all will be a part of it.

Harold Farin, our transition chairman, will need lots of help in getting everything back to our new facility.  These items will come from the 8 to 10 places the stuff is now being used or stored.  And ‘THANK YOU’ to those who have let us use their homes or garages to store these items for almost a year. When Harold calls, please say “YES” to help on this project. Once that is completed, we won’t need our ‘schleppers’ as often as we have these past 4 or 5 years.  But I promise, we will have other volunteer opportunities for you.

You have HEARD me speak.  Hopefully you LISTENED to me.  If you did, that means you will get your High Holiday Appeal gift in, and you will make or increase your Capital Campaign pledge. And that you will be generous in these.  That means you will continue, or begin, volunteering for the many things at the JCC that must be done.  That means you will attend services on occasion. That means you will say YES when asked to be part of one of our many activities.  In this Holy Day season of Repentance, Reflection, and Generosity, step up and do your part.  It means that you will pledge to be a significant part of our—  NO,  YOUR—  JCC of LBI.

Continue to check our web site to get your questions answered or learn what is happening. Please call the office to tell us what committees or events you can volunteer for.  I will ask our staff to have lists available on which you can sign up.  Don’t TELL me, because I will forget, but you can e-mail me,  or call the Office.   And 2 reminders — on your way out today, please check out the display of the Torah Cover  and Wimples in case you want to bid on one of them next spring,  and pick up your copy of our Membership Directory.

Thank you for listening,  and the best of everything good in the coming year for YOU and YOUR family from ME and MINE.    L’Shona Tova.

10/10/2011 kps

ROSH HASHONA —2011

LA SHONA TOVA.  You knew I would be back again this year to ask for your support and generous contributions to our annual High Holiday Appeal.  I am sure this comes as no surprise. Congregations throughout the country rely on the generosity of their members and guests at this time to help balance their budget.  We plan to be in our new building in early November.  It is almost 3 times the size of our old one, and that means a great increase in such expenses as utilities, insurance, and maintenance.  Such costs as salaries and postage continue to escalate, and we have the added expense next year of paying interest on the almost $500,000 we have had to borrow to complete and pay for the project.

Many donations that we normally receive throughout the year for the general upkeep and running of our JCC have instead been given by our members as contributions to the Building Fund.  Your Board of Trustees has worked diligently to curb as much of our expenses as possible, but as a congregation with a small religious school, our expenses for education on a per-student basis are higher than most.  And this is an area where we WILL NOT skimp.  One of our most important obligations as Jews and as a congregation is the education of our children.  And we have a talented and dedicated staff making sure this happens.

As New Jersey synagogues go, we are still considered small.  We don’t have as large a data base as others.  National Jewish and secular charities can reach out to millions. We must rely on the generosity of a limited number of members and friends.  So YOUR gift makes up a larger part of what we take in, and is therefore MORE IMPORTANT to us.  Give to other charities and congregations, but make your response to this High Holiday Appeal for the JCC of LBI a meaningful one.  The dues at most congregations are several times ours.  And many encourage an even higher dues level from those that can afford it so that services can be provided to all members regardless of income.  We do not have various levels in our dues structure, but your contributions to this Appeal provide the opportunity to do your part.

Gifts of all sizes are important.  Last year we had 23 gifts of less than $100, and 26 of $100. These are important, and they brought in about $3600.  For many this was a significant contribution, and I say “Thank you and G-d bless”.   I hope you can do the same this year, or perhaps raise a little.  And I hope some of you that did not pledge last year can join this group. There were also 35 gifts between $101 and $499, and 22 gifts of $500 or more, including 9 between  $1,000 and $2,500.  Obviously this is where the majority of the $29,400 came from.  If you can, please join this latter group.  Imagine how much more our congregation could do if the 22 gifts of $500 or more were increased to 30 or 40 people.

Do you remember the amount you pledged and gave to this appeal last year?   Please think of ways you can increase that amount by 25 or 50 per cent.  If $36, how about raising it to $50?  If $100 last year, can you raise it to $125 or $150?  For others, you can do the math.  We also had a dozen non-members give to this Appeal with several of $500 or more.  Those of you that are just visiting the Island or Mainland Area and are here as guests, we welcome you and are glad that we are able to provide a place and a service for you to worship with us. We ask you to also participate to do your share in maintaining a Jewish congregation on Long Beach Island serving all Jews on the Island and nearby Mainland. We can use your help.

You may have received a blue pledge card when you came in this morning, and they are also available near the door as you leave.  Also, our members should receive a letter and card in the mail next week.  Please respond.  We need your help.  In past years you may remember that I spoke about not only HEARING me, but more importantly – in LISTENING TO ME.   Don’t just hear my words, LISTEN to them,  and to their importance for our congregation.

Take a look at the Appeal Card.   If you can, consider the larger amounts on the card.   As I reminded you in past years, Jews learn how to read from right to left.  Please start the new Jewish Year with my premise that Charity should begin at HOME.  And follow with a very generous gift to the JCC of LBI as a response to this very important High Holiday Appeal.   Your contribution is very important to us.

My Rosh Hashona Appeal is usually confined to the request for additional funds to run our congregation, as you just heard.  But, with our new facility nearing completion, I would be remiss if I didn’t also take a few moments to talk about it.  We hope to occupy it by mid November.  Our old building was in bad shape and was totally inadequate.  In order to build now, before we raised all necessary funds, we had to borrow a significant amount from some of our members. This is costing us interest, and the dollars must be paid back. Our Capital Fund Drive continues.  I am still asking our members to make a pledge, or to increase their commitment.  But I am also appealing to non members.  Whether you live in the area and are not members of JCC,  or are frequent visitors to the area, we welcome your participation.

At our recent JCC Arts Festival held at the Surf City Firehouse, a non member saw our display on our new facility, asked some questions, and told us he wants to support it. He filled out paperwork to contribute $10,000 to our Campaign. The same thing happened last year, but the stranger pledged $30,000.  In both cases we were told that the donor has no interest in joining our congregation, wants to remain anonomous, and said that because he is on the Island he wanted to be a part of our project.  So non-members, we welcome your financial support. We hope you want to participate in having a Jewish presence on the Island of which we can all be proud.  Call Rose Valentine or check our website to learn how to make or increase your pledge.

Our new building will have a ROLL OF HONOR listing our major contributors.  We would like to include you–members and non members — on this.  We expect the plaque to be prepared over the winter, so it is important to contribute soon to be a part of it.  Join our efforts on behalf of Judaism on LBI.

Many of the charitable contributions you make are solicited through professional fund-raising companies who take a portion of your gift as their fee.  At our JCC of LBI, 100% of your pledge to the JCC, either to the High Holiday Appeal, or to the Capital Campaign, will be used by the JCC.

And one more area I have been asked to cover.  In the entrance way there is a display of original hand made needlepoint work. It consists of 3 wimpels –the sash that is wrapped around the Torah, and a larger Torah cloth, depicting The Tree of Life rising from the earth and sprouting the 10 Commandments.  These were created, stitched  and donated to the JCC by Judith Pripstein, and will be part of a silent auction conducted in the spring with all proceeds going to the building fund. The purchase of these items will include an “in honor of, or in memory of”  affirmation on the back.  The auction will culminate at our Gala Dedication dinner which will be held Sunday eve, June 24, 2012.  Mark your calendars, and save the date, and plan to attend.  On your way out of the building today, take a look at these, in case you may want to bid on any of them.    Thank you for Hearing and for Listening. And Shona Tova.

Updated 10/10/2011 kps

A ratio of 80/20 has been proven over and over again to be a factor in most activities.  It says that about 80% of the funds will come from about 20% of the participants.  Or that 20% of its members provide 80% of the volunteer hours of an organization.

Here is what this means for the JCC of LBI’s building fund capital campaign.  To get these results, I have used a membership base of 260 family units and a fundraising goal of $1.5 million.  For us it means that six to ten families will hopefully commit amounts between $50,000 and $250,000.  It means that 100 or so families must contribute between $500 and $5,000.  But, ESSENTIAL FOR OUR CAMPAIGN’S SUCCESS, it means that 35 to 50 families must contribute $15,000 to $25,000

Obviously these grouping estimates are not rigid.  Some families that might be considering a gift in the neighborhood of $5,000 will hopefully step up and pledge 8 or 10 thousand dollars.  And some monies will be raised by people who can only donate a few hundred dollars. Also, we still hope that some of the money for this project will come from grants and other sources outside our membership, but we can’t count on this.

The JCC membership consists of many retired or still working accountants, doctors, educators, engineers, lawyers, other professionals, and successful business persons.  I am sure that most of us, male and female, have been successful financially.  Many of us have homes valued at $ I million or more, and an even larger number live in homes valued between $300,000 and $500,000.   And how many of us over the age of 70 have really needed the mandatory distributions from our IRAs or 401Ks to live on?  If we reach down, extend ourselves a little, and give generously, I believe the goal of $1.5 million can be attained.  But it has to be new money.  It can’t be donations, High Holiday Appeal pledges, tributes, or other monies that you normally give to the JCC.  Those dollars are needed as they are– to operate our congregation.

Construction of our new facility which began with the demolition of our former building is now underway. In order to advance to this stage, we were able to secure commitments from about 10 members and friends who have agreed to lend us monies to complete our financing package. But we will be paying interest on these loans and they must eventually be paid back. We need additional pledges and gifts to do so .Please do your part, AND DO IT NOW.

Most of us have taken a financial hit in the last part of 2008, and for many this hit was huge.  But in times of adversity we Americans and we Jews pick ourselves up and move forward. And so we must for our Rebuild Project.  We must look at the big picture, the long range picture.  Our project, a new JCC home, is for us and for future generations.  It is for something that is necessary and that will make us all proud.  Your commitment is a gift to you and to future generations.

We have seen the financial market improve. Please review your current financial situation and , if possible, reconsider your contribution to our Rebuild Project.

Our Bible asks us to tithe. Jews don’t, but many Christians do.  There are many churches, mostly but not all fundamentalist, that require members to tithe.  Tithe not only 10% of their income, but also 10% of their time and talent.    And this seems to be a growing percentage of the population.   Think of all the Mega-churches you have seen or read about

Have you done all you can in making your Rebuild Campaign pledge? Or as our Rabbi said on Rosh Hashona   “All you can and a little bit more”    Estimate your total income over the next 3 years.  This is from wages, pensions, dividends, interest, withdrawals from IRAs, and disbursements from annuities, etc.   And don’t calculate 10% of that 3 year total; just do 5%, or even 3%.   For most of you, I’ll bet that number is a lot more than what you have pledged or plan to pledge to the Rebuild Campaign.  Even one dollar a day over 3 years is a pledge of $1100.

I am not asking you to make a pledge that you think I might want you to make.  I am asking you to make your initial pledge or increase your previous one to an amount that you and your family will be proud of.  Please don’t wait until later to do so.  DO IT NOW. Call Rose Valentine and take care of it right away.  Our building needed to be replaced, and we are making this happen.  NOW IS THE TIME TO HELP US COMPLETE THE FINANCIAL PACKAGE.

Rose Valentine has taken on the tremendous responsibility of chairing our Capital Campaign.   Please call her at (609) 361-0892 to discuss your pledge.          SHALOM,  Don Pripstein

Updated 3/6/11 kps

In response to Board member questions about future expansion of the building, it was pointed out that this new design enables, in some future project, the easy addition of two rooms (one perhaps a chapel) north of the sanctuary and two additional rooms west of the kitchen. This new design preserves the social hall size capable of seating 200 for dinner and dancing, catered receptions, banquets, concerts, and other forms of activities and functions, while the sanctuary, when closed, can still seat over 100 persons, and, when open to the social hall, can seat 400-500 for the High Holidays.

Jeff Shapiro, the new Rebuild Project chairman reported that demolition of the old facility began on Feb. 28, 2011. This was a delay of about 1 month due to mandated asbestos inspection in the old facility and the removal of gas lines. Because of these delays it is now doubtful that we will receive a Certificate of Occupancy in time for this year’s High Holidays. When completed, the JCC membership can enjoy the new building and plan for Bar/Bat mitzvahs, weddings, High Holidays, and other events in our own building.

Now that construction has begun, it is hoped that those JCC members who have not yet participated in the financing will make a pledge or gift so that we can report that all members are participating in this exciting project. This is also a good time for those members who are financially able to do so, to increase their support in order to help reduce the amount of money that must be borrowed to complete the project.

Update 3/6/11 kps

“Building the Future”

HISTORY

The JCC Board, in August, 2008, recognized that the present sanctuary building was nearly 50 years old and had serious problems, such as lack of sufficient capacity for High Holidays, social, and reception programs; a deteriorating Holy Ark; a deteriorating trailer for the Religious School; inadequate bathrooms and office space. In response to these growing concerns, the Board launched the JCC Rebuild project for developing and building a new sanctuary building designed to reflect our proud, growing, and active membership of 285 families.

PROGRESS

Many members and friends have already supported the project. Their generous donations, along with the funds realized from the condo unit sale and 50/50 raffle proceeds, have raised $1,131,708.00  toward the project.   

APPEAL

Will you join us in building a brand new synagogue? When will you have another opportunity to support a new synagogue construction project? For those of you who have made your  Building the Future donation, please consider adding to that gift and, for those who have not, please donate or pledge to support the rebuild.

Please click on the link below to see the various giving levels and dedication opportunities

Dedication LevelsREV

Feel free to call me with any questions 973-632-0913

Rose Valentine, Capital Campaign Chair

rgv 12/16/10

The Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island

Rebuild Committee

• Jeff Shapiro, Chairperson
• Ed Dreyfus, Advisor to Chair
• Sherry Fruchterman
• Eileen Levin
• Henry Medvin
• Carole Nunberg
• Stuart Snyder
• Lional Wolpert
• Harold Farin