In the cavalcade of six Bat/Bar Mitzvahs that dot the calendar over the next eight weeks, we begin with the Fishelbergs, one of the finest families to come out of Middlesex County, New Jersey. While the Jewish history of the Garden State could fill several volumes, our tribesmen’s relationship to the Fishelberg Family favorite, the New York Jets, is thankfully a bit more digestible.
Founded in its current iteration by Jewish entertainment mogul Sonny Werblin, the Jets were named for their original home Shea Stadium’s proximity to LaGuardia Airport in Queens. In 1984, new owner (same faith) Leon Hess brought the team across the East and Hudson Rivers to the Meadowlands making the Jets the second football team whose name begins with New York to play in New Jersey.
More than the ownership, the fan base is renowned for its association with Judaism. In 2009, a successful protest by the soon-to-be-fasting convinced the NFL to move the start time of a game scheduled for 4:15pm on Yom Kippur Eve up to 1pm so that season ticket holders could be at synagogue in time for Kol Nidre. When the last Jets home playoff game was scheduled in 2003 on a Saturday evening, Sabbath-observant Jews (your rabbi included) congregated at the 3-Star Hilton Meadowlands complete with kosher catering, a Torah scroll and minyan that ended with the famous Fireman Ed chant. The result? A 41-0 trouncing of Peyton Manning’s Indianapolis Colts no doubt with the help of the Almighty.
To quote journalist Matthew Hiltzik “The Jewish psyche serves as a perfect fit for the Jets, from the fan base and the tradition of loss to the psychological syndromes and the community infighting.” Jets fans are no different than Moses, peering into the Promised Land without quite crossing over the Jordan, at least not since Joe Namath’s heroics in Super Bowl III.
Unlike that masterful 1969 performance, the goal of Bat/Bar Mitzvah training is not to achieve some type of cantorial perfection at the age of 13 but to push through the pain of life’s inevitable slipups. Nobody understands this better than long-suffering Jets fans, including the Fishelbergs who proudly fly the green and white on shirts and hats all over Minato-ku in hopes that this year, maybe with Aaron Rodgers, things will be different.
Loyalty to both faith and sport demand commitment to an ideal that is often less than ideal in the form of 2-14 seasons and difficult periods of history. But as diehard Swallows fans, the Fishelbergs also recently learned that enduring a few lost decades makes hoisting the championship trophy that much sweeter. May the candy flung at Jessie’s head this Saturday hurt that much less knowing how hard she has worked in preparing for what promises to be a memorable Shabbat at the JCC. Mazal Tov!
Services
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, April 28th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner by Reservation: 7:00pm
Shabbat Parshat Acharei Mot-Kedoshim
Bat Mitzvah of Jessie Fishelberg
Saturday, April 29th
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:15pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, May 12th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner by Reservation: 7:00pm
Shabbat Parshat Behar-Bechukotai
Bar Mitzvah of Jonathan Greenberg
Saturday, May 13th
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:15pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, May 19th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner by Reservation: 7:00pm
Shabbat Parshat Bamidbar
Bar Mitzvah of Oliver Roth
Saturday, May 20th
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:15pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, May 26th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner by Reservation: 7:00pm
Shabbat – Shavuot Second Day
Bat Mitzvah of Kayla Kleiman
Saturday, May 27th
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:30pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, June 2nd
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner by Reservation: 7:00pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, June 9th
Services: 6:00pm
Shabbat Parashat Beha’alotcha
Bat Mitzvah of Emma Brownstein
Saturday, June 10th
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:15pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, June 16th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner by Reservation: 7:00pm
Shabbat Parshat Shlach
Bar Mitzvah of Theo Daquin
Saturday, June 17th
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:15pm
Art Show at the JCC
Sunday, May 28th
6:00pm – 8:00pm
Admission Fee: 1,000 JPY for adults and 500 JPY for kids
Registration Details
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Announcements
In partnership with the Israeli Embassy, the JCC was honored to host Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terror. The Community Room was completely full as Israeli Ambassador Gilad Cohen and Defense Attache Alon Yehoshua shared reflections on the significance of sacrifice.
Condolences to the Belafonte Family on the loss of Harry at the age of 96. Of Sephardic heritage via his Dutch grandfather, Harry Belafonte was married for 47 years to Julie Robinson who brought him close to her Jewish faith. In 1960, Julie, Harry and their young son David arrived at Lod Airport to tour the Holy Land as can be seen in archival footage. Describing himself as the ‘the most popular Jew in America’ for popularizing Hava Nagila, Harry Belafonte’s was never far from Jewish causes. May his memory be a blessing.
The JCC office will be closed during Golden Week from 4/30-5/8. For better or worse, that likely means no newsletter as well.
Yiddish Club with Jack Halpern: Monthly meetings have been taking place for quite some time in-person at the JCJ. Please contact Jack at jack@cjki.org if you are interested. All levels are welcome, from beginner to advanced. Much more than just language, the club enjoys exploring Yiddish culture as well.
Shabbat Parshat Acharei Mot-Kedoshim
Candle Lighting: 6:06pm
Havdala: 7:06pm