Whats NU?
news & updates from Temple Beth El
Temple Beth El is affiliated with the URJ (Union of Reform Judaism)
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April, 2021 | Nisan/Iyar, 5781
Upcoming Events

Tuesdays at Noon: Lunch and Learn

Torah Study: Saturdays at 11:00 am

Authentic Jewish Folk Music: April 5 and 12 at 6:30 pm

April 8 - Next date for Salvation Army P&J Sandwich Donations

April 9: Shabbat - Yom HaShoah - Holocaust Remembrance 

Shabbat - Friday April 17 Yom Haatzmaut- Happy Birthday Israel!

Rosh Chodesh -  Monday, April 20. 6:30 pm.

April 23 - 7pm. Our first In person Shabbat Service in more than a year!

April 25 - 3 pm Annual Meeting

(See event details below)
Shalom Temple family and friends,

I am excited to announce that Temple Beth El’s Board of Directors recently approved the re-opening of our shul effective April 23rd, 2021. We will continue to follow all recommended CDC guidelines including wearing masks, social distancing, and sanitizing at all Temple functions. We will start back by taking reservations and limiting the number of participants for our members only. We will not serve any food or drink upon re-opening TBE but plan to do so as soon as possible. More information to follow.

Temple Beth El will hold our Annual Membership Meeting on April 25th at 3:00 pm. Our Board of Directors will have our monthly meeting during that time and our members will vote to approve the new slate of officers and the new fiscal budget. You will receive more information about the meeting and voting requirements in both email and regular mail shortly. 

Just a reminder that the Manatee County Food Bank needs our help! Many unfortunate people find themselves struggling to buy food during the COVID 19 pandemic. If you can drop off some can goods at the Temple and leave them in the lobby, we will deliver the food items directly to them. If you would prefer to donate money, I am attaching the link here for your convenience. We certainly appreciate your help with our mitzvah projects. 

Thank you all for your continued support during these difficult times. If anyone needs help, please let us know. 

Wishing you happiness, peace, prosperity and all the joys of Passover!

Ron Eiseman
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News and Views
By Rabbi Michael Sternfield
By the time you receive this message, Pesach will just about be over. I hope that, in your own way, you found a way to make the most of the holiday, whether by eating the traditional foods, watching the Temple’s YouTube seder, or perhaps just by connecting with family and friends. This has been our second Passover overshadowed by the pandemic. We all hope that it will be the last, that things will have returned to normal, or close to normal. 

The rapid development of safe vaccines is a modern miracle. The pace at which our population is getting vaccinated is remarkable. All of us owe a debt of deepest gratitude to all those who have brought us to this point; and especially to the many physicians, nurses and caregivers who have saved thousands of lives at great personal peril. In spite of the irrational resistance by some to social distancing and the wearing of masks, the nation has learned to deal with this most unexpected and unwelcome turn of events. It appears to me that “the angels of our better selves” finally are prevailing, along with just plain common sense. We are still some distance away from unanimity, but we are turning the tide. There is less anger, less consternation, and this is a very good sign. But this realization hasn’t come easily and we still have a long way to go. I do sense that our nation finally is grasping the reality that our enemy is the Coronavirus, not our fellow Americans. Our best hope for a nation restored to health and economic wellbeing depends heavily upon a renewed sense of national purpose, a quality that has been sorely lacking for far too long. 

I especially long for the days when television provided straightforward unbiased news rather than propaganda. I yearn for a return to professionalism of Walter Cronkite, John Chancellor, and many others whose first duty was to report the day’s events rather than for the purpose of generating ratings. Our nation would benefit immensely, but I suppose this is too much to expect. The news media could play a significant and utterly patriotic role, if only they too would listen to those angels of our better selves.

Perhaps, just perhaps our nation’s desperately needed victory over COVID-19 will validate what we love to think of as American Exceptionalism. America accomplishes miracles when we work together rather than remaining entrenched in are self-defeating. hardened positions. I express this fervent hope particularly in light of severe challenges we face as a nation: 
racism having come out of the shadows even uglier than ever, 
the plague of gun violence that seems intractable in spite of tragedy after tragedy, 
the ever-widening gap between haves and have nots.
In spite of all these seemingly intractable problems, I remain an optimist and a patriotic American Jew. I hope you feel the same. Let us ever be mindful that Aamerica is the safest and most hospitable home our people have ever known in our 4000 years history. We must keep this in the forefront of our minds as we support all worthy endeavors to renew the spirit of one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw, 
Confirm thy soul in self-control, 
Thy liberty in law! 
O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country love 
And mercy more than life! America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness, And every gain divine! 
O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years,
 Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! 
America! America! 
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood 
From sea to shining sea! 

Shalom,
Rabbi Michael Sternfield
Meet Deena Kanoff, our new administrative assistant. Deena recently moved here from California with her two daughters who will attend college in Sarasota. Deena has a strong business background, and we look forward to having her as an important part of our Beth El team. Please welcome her when you see her. If you want to send her a message, here is her email.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Lunch and Learn - Tuesdays at noon. Join Rabbi Sternfield for some stimulating conversation via Zoom. The current theme for discussion is medical ethics and the Jewish perspective. Zoom link:
Meeting ID: 225 773 9491
Passcode: 2VhLtE
Torah Study with Rabbi Sternfield and Cantor Bard - Saturdays at 10:45 am.
Send a message to Rabbi Sternfield if you would like to be put on the study list. You will then get the Zoom link for the session.
Aleph Bet - Thursdays at 1 pm

Basic Hebrew class ongoing. Taught by Cantor Deborah Bard. This class will continue through April. You can still join if you have advanced beginning Hebrew reading skills. Brush up your reading and learn translation. Please RSVP for Zoom link
Rise Up and Sing! Exploring Authentic Jewish Folk Music - Mondays, April 5th and 12th at 6:30 pm

A two sessiion interactive workshop led by Cantor Deborah Bard, we will listen and learn about the wonderful folk music from the three major Jewish cultures: Ashkenazi (Europe), Sephardic (Spain and Africa), and Mizrahi (Middle East). RSVP here.
Shabbat Service - Friday April 9 Yom HaShoah - Holocaust Remembrance “ Am Yisrael Chai: Poems, Memoir and Songs of Resistance and Hope and Resilience” lead by Cantor DB & Rabbi MPS with pianist Lisa Frank and cellist Diego Valdez. You will receive the YouTube link.
Shabbat - Friday April 17 Yom Haatzmaut- Happy Birthday Israel!
Title of program: “Kadimah Chalutzim! Israeli Folk Music of the Early Pioneers.” Lead by Cantor Deborah Bard and Rabbi Michael Sternfield with pianist Lise Frank and members of our Congregational Choir (singing outdoors in nature).
Rosh Chodesh -  Monday, April 20. 6:30  “Iyyar “ and citrus -tree -planting for Earth Day. The month of Iyar falls within the counting of the Omer from Passover to Shavuot. You are encouraged to bring a reading, prayer or poem to share, perhaps from the Book of Ruth or about the stages of a woman's life. Sponsored by the Women of Beth El. Readings, poetry, prayers. Please RSVP.
Live and In Person - Shabbat: Friday April 23 7 pm. The doors will open once again and we will welcome Shabbat together. You must wear a mask and social distancing will be observed. Watch for more announcements about this special Shabbat celebration!
Annual Meeting - April 25. Sunday, 3 pm. The Temple will be open for this annual meeting where you will hear reports from all standing committees, receive a copy of next years's budget, and vote on the slate of the Board of Directors. You must be a member in good standing to vote.
Simcha Grams

TBE sends Birthday, Anniversary, Bar/Bat Mitzvah and other celebration "Simcha Grams" to members in honor of their special day. This is a great way to contribute to your Synagogue and to send your TBE family good wishes.

Names must be received at the office by the 20th of the month prior to the birthday, anniversary or special event. Include a note with your name(s), the name(s) of whom and what you are honoring and how you would like your signature on the card they will receive. The donation is $2.00 per name. In the memo area of your check write "simcha gram and mail to: Temple Beth El, Attention: Simcha Gram. 5150 Peridia Blvd. East, Bradenton, FL 34203.
If you wish to pay by credit card use the "DONATE" button below.

The card will be mailed to those individuals prior to their special day and your donation will be acknowledged in the newsletter. If we have somehow overlooked your Simcha or made an error in printing the date, please accept our apologies and call the temple office at 941-755-4900 or send an email so that we may update our records.
Religious School Seder
Religious School News from March
Submitted by Susie Konokov, Religious School Director

Emily Mulholland (one of our teachers) wrote a script for a Purim play. The parts were given out and the kids rehearsed outside, with masks and distancing. Cantor DB brought a big bag full of scarves and hats for costumes.

The following week, the kids practiced their parts again, and later on, parents and grandparents and friends arrived to watch the actual performance. The students' voices didn't carry due to wind and outside conditions. So we moved inside and had the stage, with a mic, and that improved the production. The costumes added a colorful flair and a sense of fun. We still had masks and kept distances. It was nice to see the parents in person again.

We're continuing to learn Hebrew in the 3 classes and to listen to and participate with Rabbi in his timely discussions with the students. Cantor DB adds the musical touch to our classes and leads all in the Motzi for our small snack time.

The 10 Commandments was a lesson this month too, and the children each picked a particular commandment of their choice. They cut it out from a list, and pasted it on a larger poster board with decorations, and then shared their thoughts with the rest of us about why they had picked that one.

In one of our Art times, the students began making Kiddish cups for Elijah to put on our Seder tables for our Seder.
Mitzvah Mavens

Children's Book Drive

The Women of Beth EL, along with the Men's Club, are asking for donations of new books for Pre K thru 5th grade.as part of the IFC Book Drive. Our students are helping to sort each book based on the grade level, and wrapping each book for sending. Your generous donation will help benefit these children who need our help.

Sandwiches for the Salvation Army

Temple Beth El Men’s Club working with the Salvation Army has been engaged in an ongoing Mitzvah Project. They deliver peanut butter sandwiches every other Thursday to the Salvation Army's 14th Street location. Kelly French our contact at the Salvation Army explains what they do with the sandwiches:

“Each evening, we serve dinner to about 200 individuals in the community, as well as clients who are in our shelter programs. While we always provide a hot meal, on the nights that we have your sandwiches, we are able to pass those out so people have either a late night snack or lunch the next day. When there are some left, we’ve been handing those out to clients before they head out to work in the morning so they have something for lunch.”

By taking the sandwiches to the Salvation Army, we are able to get the food where it is needed. If you are interested in participating in this program, send a message to Ken Handelman or text at 941-840-4132.

Donations to the Salvation Army can be made here
April Birthdays
1 Randi Brooks
2 Jean Shames
3 Ruth Gotthelf
4 Lolli Zarlin
10 Judith Littell
11 Roger Danziger
22 Robert Hadesman
24 Mallory Rosenstein
26 Brian Weiss

April Anniversaries
1 Diana and Joseph Tully
17 Sharon and Ray Carlson
22 Irv and Cindi Zamikoff

April Yahrzeits

SERVICES April 2nd & 3rd
Jean Ellis remembers Eve Pesk
David Morgen remembers Aaron B. Cohen
Neil & Sandy Clark remember Aaron Milch
Beverly Hurowitz remembers Harold Breitstein

SERVICES April 9th & 10th
Jean Ellis remembers Rebecca Levy
Judie Littell remembers Fannie Rabinowitz
Marlena Johnsky remembers Max Johnsky
Joe & Iras Roback remember Phyllis Lavine
Lois Gerber remembers Eli Gerber

SERVICES April 16th & 17th
Beverly Safron remembers William Safron
Lois Gerber remembers Rebecca Gerber
Pearl Friedman remembers David Scharfman
Craig & Linda Hoffman remembers Bessie Slavin
Helen Hammerman remembers Ruth Pollinger
(Continued next column)
(Continued)
SERVICES April 23rd & 24th
Neil & Sandy Clark remember Jennie Clark
Dottie Mizzi remembers Rebecca Abo
Beverly Safron remembers Thea Lehmann
Alan Cohn remembers Jack Cohn
Anna Bever remembers Sarah Berlin
SERVICES April 30th & May 1st
Maggie Ozner remembers David Ozner
Joe & Iras Roback remember Lewis Lavine

This is the only notification you will get for the yarzheit of your loved ones so please save these dates.

It is traditional to light a Yahrzeit candle on the evening of observance. In addition, we urge you to attend services (while we are staying safe at home please observe through our YouTube service) to honor the memory of your beloved and of course to recite Mourner’s Kaddish on the Yahrzeit. May your memories of the departed always be a blessing.
We hope you will attend the service.

To commemorate your beloved, it is also customary to memorialize the departed by making a donation to the synagogue below or mail your check to the temple at 5150 Peridia Blvd East, Bradenton 34203
Income Tax Returns
Florida and Other States
Call Howard Hammerman
410-726-4980
hmhtaxes@gmail.com