Skee Ball

July 3, 2019 in Rabbi Greg Harris

skee ball gameI love skee ball. My family and I have made this frivolous summer activity into a competitive, ticket hording sport. Rehoboth’s Funland costs .25 cents per game for 8 balls and a long runway before the jump to the targets. Zinky’s, also on the boardwalk, is .10 cents per game with 6 balls and a shorter runway. We have examined the pros, the cons, the prizes and the techniques of the game and the arcades. My younger sister has a t-shirt with Joseph Fourestier Simpson’s 1908 patent for this classic boardwalk game.

While competing for the family Skee Ball Championship title is certainly motivating, the laughter, ice cream cone(s), walks along the beach and afternoon naps makes this summer ritual truly special. It is a chance to reconnect with each other and reground ourselves.

Each of us squirrel away for a bit to check our phones and laptops but we spend far more time talking, reading and listening to each other. For us, skee ball is simply the symbol for the rest of what happens.

Do you have an activity that epitomizes summer for you?  Is there a food or place that helps you pivot into summer?  If so, post a picture on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram with the hashtag #BethElFamily. On Twitter and Instagram, make sure you tag @bethelmoco, too!

Closer to home, at 6:15 pm on July 12 will be Kabbalat Shabbat in the Park. Bring a blanket and picnic to Greenwich Park, behind BUMC and the tennis courts. A service will be at 7:00 pm. Click here for information on Kabbalat Shabbat in the Park. On July 25, join us for our annual Sweet Summer Series with PJ Library. We’ll meet at 5:30 pm at Haagen Dazs for ice cream, crafts, and a story. Click here to register. Also, August 9 will be Splash into Shabbat at the Bender JCC. All Beth El members are welcome and you do not need to be a member of the JCC to attend. From 4:30 pm on, enjoy the pool and meet new people. We will gather for Kabbalat Shabbat poolside and stay into the evening. Click here to register for Splash into Shabbat.

I look forward to hearing about your summer and maybe even running into you on the boardwalk.