Whats NU?
news & updates from Temple Beth El
Temple Beth El is affiliated with the URJ
(Union of Reform Judaism)
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September, 2021 Elul - Tishrei 5781-5782 |
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Services for High Holy Days will not be held in person this year. Florida has had one of the highest infection rates in the country of COVID19 and transmission of the Delta variant. Please see additional information from our president, Ron Eiseman, in this newsletter.
Erev Rosh Hashanah, Monday, Sept 6th at 7:00 pm.
Rosh Hashanah Day, Tuesday, Sept. 7th at 10:00 am.
Erev Yom Kippur/Kol Nidre, Wednesday, Sept 15th at 7:00 pm,
Yom Kippur Morning/Yizkor, Thursday, September 16th at 10:00 am
Yom Kippur Afternoon at 4:30 pm.
5 high-quality video services will be prepared by our clergy and Joel Auerbach, videographer. All videos will be available for viewing on our website as well as on YouTube, starting at the originally scheduled service times stated above.
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With optimism and enthusiasm Rabbi Sternfield and
Cantor Deborah Bard wish each and every one of you a
SHANA TOVA! May you be inscribed in the Book of Life, and may this New Year. 5782 be filled with Peace, Good Health, Acts of Lovingkindness, and Blessings for all.
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Tzedukah - Haiti Needs your Help! Here is Where You Can Donate
The need is urgent. Now when we are called upon to give tzedukah, here are some places where your help will go directly to those who need it most:
Unicef is working with its partners in Haiti to assist children and families in need. The organization says it has sent more than 30,000 medical kits with more health, water, and sanitation supplies on the way.
Health Equity International helps run Saint Boniface Hospital, which is a full-service hospital that’s within an hour or so of the epicenter. The organization says it’s using donations to keep the hospital fully operational to help care for earthquake survivors and COVID-19 patients. Saint Boniface is a mostly Haitian-staffed hospital serving the regions devastated by the quake.
Hope For Haiti works to reduce poverty in the country, emphasizing education, health care, and economic opportunities to help its mission. Through donations, the organization is hoping to support short-term and long-term relief efforts, including supplying medical supplies and distributing home water-filtration systems.
CARE works towards achieving social justice, ending poverty, and fighting for women and girls throughout the world. CARE’s Humanitarian Surge Fund is designed to help its Rapid Response Team provide shelter, health services, and hygiene kits. It will be matching donations as well. CARE is also matching donations for emergency aid to Afghanistan.
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Eighteen is considered a special number in Jewish culture because it is the numerical value of the Hebrew word chai, meaning “life.” In Hebrew, each letter has a numerical equivalent. For example, the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, aleph, is equal to one. The second letter, bet, has the value of two, and so on until we reach 10, 20…100, 200 and so on. The Hebrew word chai comprises the letter chet, which has a numerical value of eight, and the letter yud, which has a value of 10. As a result, it is common for Jews to give gifts in multiples of 18, especially for a Jewish lifecycle event such as a bar or bat mitzvah or a wedding, or when donating to charitable organizations, especially to Jewish charities.
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Following is a thank you letter from Manatee Habitat for Humanity that recognizes one of Temple Beth El's good works in the community. Our members give generously of their time and energy. |
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All Shabbat Services are now Live and In Person.
Friday Evening Shabbat Services at 7:00 pm and Saturdays 11:00 am for Torah study, continuing throughout the summer. Conducted by Rabbi Michael Sternfield and Cantor Deborah Bard.
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Aleph Bet - Thursdays at 1 pm
Basic Hebrew class ongoing. Taught by Cantor Deborah Bard. This class will continue for the near future. You can still join if you have advanced beginning Hebrew reading skills. Brush up your reading and learn translation. Please RSVP for Zoom link
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Women of Beth El/ Sisterhood - Thursday, September 23 at 6:30 pm. Plan for the new year and new programs (including popular Rosh Chodesh events). Bring your enthusiasm, fresh ideas and creativity as we explore ideas for camaraderie, learning, worship and mitzvah. Via Zoom. Watch for Zoom connection information.
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Religious School Opening - Sunday, August 29
Classes will be held outdoors under the trees and when we go inside for a special project (art, music cooking...) masks are mandatory. We will provide masks, sanitizer, bottled waters, a packaged snack and a "machberet" (hebrew notebook), as per last year. all your classes will begin with a review session.
If you are interested in information about our religious school, please contact The Temple Beth El office at 941-755-4900 or contact Deena Kanoff TBE administrator dkofficetbe@gmail.com . by August 23 to confirm your attendance and participation on August 29th.
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Sukkot this year begins the evening of Monday, September 20 |
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A New Year Blessing
from Cantor Deborah Bard
Dear God, God of our mothers and fathers,
Renew us this month and this year.
Direct us
Toward goodness and blessing
Toward joy
Toward liberation and challenge, as well as
Toward patience and consolation
Toward becoming ever more human beings,
Let us become capable of supporting ourselves, our families andsfriends.
Let us servie our community in dignity.
Direct us
Toward life and peace
Toward observing our blindness
Toward struggling with our goals,
Toward forgiving ourselves and each other.
And let us say: Amen.
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News and Views
By Rabbi Michael Sternfield
Dear Friends,
I write this month’s News and Views following the news story that received national attention regarding the outbreak of COVID 19 in the Manatee County building and the ensuing death of two. All the stricken were unvaccinated. It is not often that Bradenton makes the national news. I can only hope that this tragic story does some good. I am reminded of a very old story often told by rabbis.
A deeply religious person falls from a ship and is alone at sea on a piece of floating debris.
He prays fervently that God will help. Before long, a ship passes by. The sailors spot him and offer to take him aboard. He says: “Thank you very much but God will save me.” A helicopter flies overhead and the pilot, speaking through a loudspeaker, says: “Can we bring you up to the helicopter?” To which he responds: “Thank you very much but God will save me.” Then a submarine surfaces and the captain offers to take him aboard. You guessed it. “Thank you very much but God will save me.”
Of course, the true believer perishes and finds himself on high in God’s presence. And he says to God: “I’ve prayed to you every single day and you still allowed me to perish?” To which God replies: “I sent a ship, a helicopter and a submarine to rescue you. What more could you ask for?”
You get the point, I’m sure. I am saddened that these Manatee County employees unnecessarily lost their lives. But speaking bluntly, for many weeks now, the vaccines have been available to any adult who wants it. Vaccine centers have been in operation, supermarkets and drugstores have ample supplies of vaccines to be administered, even extending their hours to make it convenient for just about everyone. And still, here in our county, the percentage of vaccinated people stands at merely 40%. Now, apparently a new and even more contagious variant is spreading rapidly, but the current vaccine is believed to be effective.
Dr. Fauci describes this absurdity as an American tragedy. Millions of people in underdeveloped countries would do anything if they could receive the vaccine. Yet here in America, we are pleading with people to take it. Some states are even offering incentives such as lottery tickets. And still, the nation is showing irrational resistance.
The evidence could not be clearer. Virtually every person who has contacted the COVID disease has been unvaccinated. There is no evidence whatsoever that the vaccine is dangerous. The resistance is inexplicable and tragic, right here in our own community. None of the objections make any sense whatsoever. It is as if the unvaccinated are saying: “Thank you very much but God will save me.”
We should thank God every day for having given scientists and physicians the will and the skill to be God’s partners in repairing our sick world. In Hebrew, we call this Tikkun Olam. What a mitzvah this is for all of humanity. We should be especially thankful that we are blessed to live in an advanced nation with the ability and the desire to distribute the vaccine to every resident. What more could we possibly ask for? asks God.
Shalom,
Rabbi Michael P. Sternfield
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Sandwich Mitzvah Project Continues During the Summer
Ken Handelman and the Temple Beth El Men’s Club, mitzvah organizer of the peanut butter sandwich project announced that we will continue to deliver peanut butter sandwiches to the Bradenton Salvation Army's 14th Street location. This will be an ongoing Mitzvah Project delivering sandwiches made by our congregants every other Thursday.
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
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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.
August Simcha Grams
Jean Ellis
Marlena Johnsky
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Donations Made in July/August |
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General Fund
July Moser
Kate Richmond
Beverly Safron
Bill Oser
David Klain
Joel Auerbach
Ryan Hoffman
Deena Kanoff
Barry Schneider
Marsha Fishman
Kol Nidre (as of 8/17)
Craig and Linda Hoffman
Caroline Zucker
Ellen Marks
Marcia Blacksin and Mitch Rubenstein
Randi Brooks
Ron Eiseman
Susie Konicov
Susan and William Spielberg
Sandra Williams
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Kol Nidre (continued)
David Meier
Andrea Kutcher
Anna Bever
Carol and Erwin Segal
David Meier
Estelle Spandorf
Marcia Dubrin
Marshall Goldstein
Michael Zucker
Phyllis Bowling
Sandra Gardner
Sharon and Raymond Carlson
Sheri Weiss
Estelle Spandorf
Deborah Farber
Helen and Howard Hammerman
Robert Sokol
Stefi Gerin
Lawrence and Betsy Lieberman
Deena Wegner
Michael Loewy and Susan Kurtin
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Thank you to all of our generous donors. Your gift helps keep Reform Judaism alive in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. |
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August Birthdays
1 Nora Nelson
2 Diana Tully
3 Deena Wegner
4 Judy Rothauser
8 Seth Muraskin (son of Susan and Bill Speilberg)
13 Barry Schneider
21 Brian Hirshman
25 Inez Gutman
26 Harold Millstein
September Birthdays
1 Hazel Hirshman
14 Diane Hart
15 Maggie Ozner
16 Craig Hoffman
17 Mimi Givarz
17 Lev Klempner
18 Cathy Auerbach
24 Bill Gregory
25 Sofia Sokol
25 Susan Kurtin
25 Mitch Rubinstein
27 Katherine Richmond
30 Paul Stahl
August Anniversaries
17 Joel & Cathy Auerbach
31 Becky & Bob Hadesman
September Anniversaries
2 Pearl & Lionel Friedman
3 Jean & Barry Steiger
September Yahrzeits
Yarzheits for September 3rd & 4th
David Meier remembers Ameliese Mae
Bayla Kolton remembers Theodore Halasz
Susan Koff remembers Roberta Gordon
Lisa Leuchter remembers Elaine Roberts
Beverly Safron remembers Hugo Sohn
Lawrence Lieberman remembers Samuel Lieberman
tay Seith remembers Leone Sherrod Taylor Rumph
Julie Moser remembers Evie Wolfe
Barry Schneider remembers Brenda Schneider
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(Continued)
TBE family remembers
Ida Krell
Celia Cohen
Rose Hare
Oscar Kraus
Edward Clark
September 10th & 11th
Jean Ellis remembers Jonas Ellis
Sandy Clark remembers Jacob Kleinman
Barry Steiger remembers Sue Steiger
September 17th & 18th
Brian Weiss remembers Pearl Weiss
Paul Stahl remembers Rita Lewandoski
TBE family remembers
Dr. Myrtle Grey
Ronald Cohen
September 24th & 25th
Jean Shames remembers James W. Dunn
Craig & Linda Hoffman remembers Lillian Hoffman
Lisa Leuchter remembers Richard Roberts
TBE family remembers
Harold Schaffner
Joseph Heller
Gerald Strassman
Edward Goldman
Sarah Horowitz
It is traditional to light a Yahrzeit candle on the evening of observance. In addition, we urge you to attend services to honor the memory of your beloved and of course to recite Mourner’s Kaddish on the Yahrzeit. If you are staying safe at home, please observe through our YouTube service. May your memories of the departed always be a blessing.
To commemorate your beloved, it is also customary to memorialize the departed by making a donation to the synagogue. You can donate below or mail your check to the Temple at 5150 Peridia Blvd East, Bradenton 34203
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