Message from David Sable on being honored at JCAB Summer Breeze
The BCC list I use to send out my occasional notes, to you, is called SHABBOS KOIDESH. Years ago I named it thus, because, truthfully, it is all of you...JCAB....KCAB....AB...that makes my Shabbat Holy and I sorely miss it when we are away.
Many of you have heard me soapbox on this before....we are a unique community and over the past few years have become even more so.
When we first arrived, our virtual nature made us stand out. Yes, most of us were summer residents and occasional winter "guests" and yet the network...the deep connection to JCAB kept us all together.
Then Covid came and changed the world. We, like many moved out here. The early days were rough...passing each other on walks, faces covered, staying far apart, not always sure who you were passing.....davening outside...freezing and sometimes soaked.....but somehow we manged to connect....I know you all helped us keep our sanity and KCAB was born....talk about sanity!!!!
Now we are less virtual, although there is still that aspect....so many stayed...more moved in....there is scale 365 days a year.....and JCAB is still at the center of it all...and still unique.
Our Tent....and we have a real one too...is big. There is room for all who want it...who understand that community surpases all.....that unity is what the Torah teaches us...with humilty to make space for eveyone.
We are not a shul that sells Martini Bars for kiddush or announces big donors and their dollars from the pulpit....on the contrary...we are a shul that respects everyone and everyones contributions...be it just showing up to be counted in the minyan or just as importantly, the kiddush.
We have options for davening....some based on time....practice....comfort and even for the adventurous The Beach Minyan...everyone welcome at all....no questions asked.
As a Rabbi's son I have always wondered why and how people could make a shul a center of contention. A place to pick a fight. Create politics and bad feelings. IVDU ET HASHEM B"SIMCAH (sorry....this version doesnt allow my Hebrew type) Worship God With Joy...not with Farbissiner Punim....if you get my drift...and it makes me happy that we seem to be well on the way......look we all slip sometimes.....
We are blessed with a Morah D'Atra who gets it...who cares...who doesnt stop.......Rabbi Weinstock....Rabbi Willig who leads the cheering section 365 days a year and Rabbi Haimoff who is like the Pied Piper. And I point out that they all show up at Pre-Shabbat tailgates....teh BEach Minayn and Kiddush....appropriatky attired.
We have a Chazzan...Chuck ...who can move from the Main Shul to the beach and keep us all singing and Hersh who can lein in as many minyanim as we have on any Shabbat or Chag. And an office that keeps us all on track...thank you Barrie!!
All of which leads me to Summer Breeze.
While our name appears on the Marquee (Im placeholding for both of us) we are placeholding for all of you.....the Rabbis and all who care about JCAB.
Rav Amital z'l said that one had to accept an honor from a place you were actually affiliated with..not to do so was "GAIVA" not humility ...vs a place that you had no connection with that was looking to flatter to make money.
Make no mistake....and years of being a shul professional (one of the outrcomes of being PK...Preacehers Kid) has taught me that honors are never about you....when its an in-close group....a tightknight community someone has to take the bullet....every year....in order to actaully honor the community at its largest...and this year.....here....is no different.
Bottom line....we are honored to take the bullet.....and we are taking it for all of you....for the whole community and we are honored to do so because the Summer Breeze is our way of paying you all back....each of you for the friendships and support....JCAB for providing us all with a powerful happy and inclusive center.....our Rabbis for always being there....whenever....in total for giving us...all of us...the most incredible happy place.....
So....hope to see you all Thursday Night and congratulate each and everyone for being honored.......
And its almost SHABBOS KOIDESH.......
David (and Debbie)