You are not alone!
We are still living Judaism together.
Last Friday night we experienced an intimate and joyful celebration of Simchat Torah!
We Hope to See You This Shabbat:
Torah portion:
B'reishit
Genesis 1:1-6:8
Haftarah portion:
Isaiah 42:5-43:10
Candle lighting:
5:42 p.m.
Friday, October 16
5:00 p.m. Tot Rock Shabbat Join us on Zoom here.

6:00 p.m. Join us for Qabbalat Shabbat! Julia Helen Romanow Zelermyer will chant Qiddush. Join on Zoom here, Facebook Live here, or stream on our website here.

7:15 p.m. Shabbat Dinner Groups
Saturday, October 17
9:00 a.m. Shabbat Morning Service and Torah Study. Join us on Zoom here, Facebook Live here. or stream on our website here.

10:00 a.m. Thank Goodness It's Shabbat. Join us on Zoom here.

8:00 p.m. Havdalah Join on Zoom here, Facebook Live here, or stream on our website here. Stay after Havdalah is over for Post-Havdalah Meditation and Intention Setting with Rabbinic Intern, Andrew Oberstein!
Life Cycle Events in our Community
May their memory be a blessing. We mourn the loss of:
Herbert Hodess
October 12, 2020
Brother of Paul Hodess, uncle of Mike Hodess, and father of Robin and David Hodess
Let us know:
Are you or is someone you know celebrating a wedding, engagement, or new baby? Is someone in our community in need of pastoral support? For funeral needs, call Temple Israel 24/7 at 617-566-3960. Amy Sherr, Executive Coordinator to Rabbi Zecher, wants to know and can help you!

Being in quarantine can be isolating, frightening, and lonely. If you or anyone you know are sick with COVID-19, please let Amy Sherr know so we can reach out. We are here for you! Please let us know if you need immediate assistance by contacting Amy Sherr.
Cantor Stillman's Installation
A Night of Musical Celebration and Welcome
October 23 at 6:00 p.m. Qabbalat Shabbat

We have already been entranced by her voice on the High Holy Days. Some have shared virtual cocktail gatherings. A number of our students have become Bar or Bat Mitzvah with her. Others have experienced her warmth and comfort in healing conversations. Each Friday night at Qabbalat Shabbat, we have sung along to new and favorite songs and prayers. And yet, we still look forward to a full virtual celebration to welcome and install our new, wonderful, and talented cantor to our congregation.

Qabbalat Shabbat on October 23 will be filled with beautiful music with some surprise guests. Cantor Alicia Stillman's beloved teacher and friend, Dr. Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman, The Barbara and Stephen Friedman Professor Emeritus of Liturgy, Worship and Ritual at Hebrew Union College in New York will deliver the D'var Torah in her honor. The entire congregation is invited to install Cantor Stillman as the culmination of the evening service! Please join us for this historic and momentous occasion in the life of the congregation.  

Following the service we will break up into small virtual Oneg group gatherings to meet Cantor Stillman as she virtually roams from room to room. All you will need to do is stay on after the service on Zoom and we will do the rest. (BYOOF-Bring Your Own Oneg Food!)
Friends Annual Fund
Please join us in support of the Friends Annual Fund with a meaningful gift this year. Your annual gift is crucial to guaranteeing that our membership is accessible to all, and in keeping our doors (virtual or otherwise) open, no matter what. Your generosity will allow us to continue to inspire all who gather with us, whether in-person or online, and secure our place as the center of Jewish life in Boston and beyond. If you have any questions about the Friends Annual Fund, or to make a contribution, please contact our Director of Development, Shoshanna Goldberg.
Prayer Book Return & Yizkor Memorial Book
Book Return & Food Donation
If you have borrowed a prayer book from Temple Israel, we ask that you return your prayer books to the building during designated drop-off times: October 5-9, 13-16, & 19-23, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Temple Israel will also be collecting non-perishable food donations for the Greater Boston Food Bank during this time as well. Please feel free to stop by the building to leave a donation.
Yizkor Memorial Book
Yizkor Memorial Books are a treasured tradition at Temple Israel. The Memorial Book includes the names of Temple Israel members who have passed away since last Yom Kippur and those who have memorial plaques in the Memorial Alcove or Memorial Menorah. Click here to view the 5781 Yizkor Memorial Book.
Upcoming Classes
Join Us This Weekend:
Post-Havdalah Meditation and Intention Setting
October 17, November 21, and December 19 after Havdalah
Join us at 8:00 p.m. for Havdalah, then stick around as we begin our new week together with mindfulness meditation. Led by Rabbinic Intern Andrew Oberstein, we will also have an opportunity to express gratitude and set positive intentions for the coming week. No registration necessary. Join us on Zoom here.
Making Prayer Meaningful: A 3-Part Workshop
October 18, November 22, and December 20, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Have you ever struggled with prayer or wondered why we do it at all? Join Rabbinic Intern Andrew Oberstein for an exploration of the role of prayer in our contemporary lives. Together, we will learn tools for making prayer more meaningful and for cultivating your own personal prayer practice. Learn more and register here.
Baking and Breaking Bread Across the Diaspora: A Virtual Cooking Class
with Culinary Historian Sara Gardner
Sundays, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.
October 18 - November 15
Join as we explore the diverse culinary traditions that comprise the global Jewish diaspora and hone our technical baking skills. In each class of this 5-class series, we’ll learn a different baked good and the corresponding baking technique that makes it so delicious! Learn more and register here.
Starting Soon:
with Breath Lab
Wednesdays, 4:00 - 5:45 p.m.
4 sessions, Starting Oct 21
with Dr. Lisa Fagin Davis
Thursdays, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
4 Sessions, Starting Oct 29
with Tour Guide Dani Rotstein
Wednesdays, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
3 Sessions, Starting Nov 4
with Kavod
Mondays, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
5 Sessions, Starting Nov 9
Dr. Arnold L. Segel Library Center
Library Book Group
Tuesday, October 27 at 12:00 p.m.
All book-lovers are welcome to come, bring lunch, and join the conversation! On October 27, we will discuss the novel, Girl, Woman, Other, by Bernadine Evaristo. Discussion led by Library Committee member, Rosalie Bookston. RSVP to Ann Abrams.
Contact-less Curbside Pick Up from TI Library
Missing the Temple Israel library? Bring it home with you! We are not offering contact-less pick up from the building. Visit our website here to learn what books, DVDs, and CDs we have in-stock. You can review the reservation and pick up process here or email Ann Abrams for more information.
Riverway Project
The Riverway Project is gathering virtually to phone bank for the upcoming election as part of Temple Israel's Reclaim Our Vote campaign! We will work to ensure that every voice is heard and every vote is counted. Register here.
TIkkun Central's JustNews
Stay Up-To-Date with Social Justice at Temple Israel! Sign up here to receive JustNews, Temple Israel's weekly newsletter with important and timely information about how YOU can make an impact in our community and beyond. 
Helpful Resources
In this unique moment in the history of Temple Israel, we recognize the many different needs that our community members face. To that end, we have gathered the below list of resources in an effort to ensure that you, our beloved congregation, are able to access the support you need in these difficult times
Feedback
Share with us!
Are you participating in our virtual opportunities? This is part of our communal story! Send photos of you and your family at participating from home, and let us know where you're participating from! All photos and stories can be sent to Noa Rosen.
How are we doing? As we move into a temporary virtual community, we want to make sure we are meeting your needs for community connection. Please email your communications feedback to Emma Koblick, Director of Communications.