History

Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island

photo of the current JCC of LBI building

HISTORY

The Early Years

       The Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island originated in the early 1950′s as a summer resort congregation. A handful of families opened their homes to the needs of the congregation holding services in their living rooms and dedicating themselves to building a Jewish presence in this island community.
In 1957, there was a groundbreaking ceremony held for what was anticipated to be the site of the synagogue on 11th Street between Bay and Beach Avenue in Beach Haven. Soon after it was determined that this location was not appropriate for the needs of the congregation and another site was sought out. In the interim the growing congregation utilized facilities in the Baldwin Hotel for its services and other activities including Youth Groups, Adult Education, etc.

Summer of 1960

      The summer of 1960 was intended to be another great year for the Jewish Community Center. Activities were planned at a reunion, prior to the start of the season, in the Brunswick Hotel in Lakewood. These activities included regular Shabbat services each Friday evening and Saturday morning, a women’s service conducted by the Sisterhood, a young people’s service conducted by the Center’s Youth Groups, and High Holiday Services for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. In addition to services other activities included a card party and fashion show, discussion meetings with guest speakers, a carnival and an end-of-season supper party.
Unfortunately the summer of 1960 did not commence quite as planned, as there was a fire which completely destroyed the Baldwin Hotel between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Despite this tragedy, the congregation had much to be thankful for, the Safer Torah, siddurs, and tallit were saved undamaged. Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Shapiro, once again demonstrated the strength within this small Jewish community by opening their home to the congregation for Yom Kippur services. Through all of this unexpected misfortune, the congregation on the shore was still surviving.

Center Finds a Permanent Home

For the next few summer seasons the congregation continued by meeting in the homes of members until a permanent building was built in 1961. Finally, the Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island had a permanent home on 24th Street in Spray Beach. In 1974, the tennis courts were completed and opened to center members and the center continued to grow and thrive. The first Bar Mitzvah was held in the new facility in 1967, and the first Bat Mitzvah in 1980. Many simchot, including other Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, weddings, baby namings and other joyous celebrations have been and continue to be celebrated in the JCC facility.

The Windows in Our Center

      One of the most remarkable characteristics of the new building was the stained glass windows. Symbolically the twelve secular tribes of Israel, with the descendants of Levi who were appointed especially for religious office, together comprising the whole of the Community of Israel, are represented by their traditional emblems on the windows of this edifice.
The emblems of the Priests and of the Levites are placed near the Holy Ark on each side of the Bema. The other emblems are placed in the order in which the tribes were encamped in the wilderness around the Tent of Meeting, as stated in the Book of Numbers, Chapter II.
Although the windows of the synagogue have been enhanced in recent years, these original windows still remain in the center with as much symbolic meaning today as they had yesterday.

Center Opens its Doors Year Round

      The year 1979 was a very important year for the Jewish Community Center as it finally opened it doors year round and was no longer considered to be just a summer congregation. A search for a permanent Rabbi was initiated, plans for celebrating all the holidays were made as well as ideas for social activities throughout the year

The Center Today

In the past 20 years the Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island has continued to grow and thrive. . The congregation has grown from a handful of families to a membership of approximately 270 families, 60 of which are involved year round. Our Hebrew School continues to thrive with several different classes for different age groups. We have such other activities as Adult Education, Mah-Jongg, and many educational, fundraising, social, and cultural programs throughout the year. Religious Services are held every Friday evening, on Saturday mornings throughout the five summer months, and for most Jewish Holidays. The growth of our congregation necessitated the demolition of our building and the construction of a new facility approximately three times the size of the old one. This project took most of the 2011 year, during which our services and other activities were held in various locations on Long Beach Island. See other sections of our web-site for a more complete story of this project.

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Our Founders

      The Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island is productive part of the overall Jewish Community. We would be remiss not to acknowledge the founders of our congregation, for without them, we would never have grown into what we are today.