Be Brave and Connect
Thanks to Andrew McFadyen Ketchum for this photo
Read MoreReasonable, spiritual, authentic Judaism
Exploring a reasonable and relevant Judaism - authentic and current, inclusive and welcoming - Rabbi Jonathan opens and develops discussions delving into Jewish life, learning, and meaning. “Jewish and...” means Judaism enhanced because today's Judaism is: multi-faith, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, pluralist, pro-LGBTQ+, feminist, and multi-generational. “Jewish and…” starts with Jewish sources: Torah, Midrash, Talmud, Commentaries, Israel, Yiddish, Hebrew, Food, Klezmer, and anything else that connects us to our Jewish selves.
Thanks to Andrew McFadyen Ketchum for this photo
Read MoreA quick look back on the last week at Temple Beth El tells you just how vibrant our Jewish community is:
- We had our weekly events - Shabbat evening and morning - including two B’nei Mitzvah, Anniversary Blessings, Torah Study, FIJI Class, and Tot Shabbat too!
- We celebrated: two baby-namings and a same-sex marriage ceremony.
- We mourned our losses and comforted our mourners with two shiva minyanim and a memorial service.
- We had some intriguing conversations about tattoos, organ donation, marijuana, the novel The Golem and the Jinni, Taste of Judaism, The Porch Torah, and even Talmud, in a myriad of locales including the Temple Beth El building, at The Village Tavern, Whole Foods, and at the Bechtler Museum Cafe.
- We ate together at a SPICE Potluck on Shabbat, and shopped together at our Attic Sale.
- Our Annual Congregational Trip to Israel returned with Rabbi Judy - everyone had an amazing and meaningful adventure, and four kids became Bar or Bat Mitzvah.
- And even though it is summer, B’nei Mitzvah preparations continue with a full schedule of training for our soon to be Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies.
I hear that other Jewish communities slow down in the summer.
I feel so honored and blessed to be part of our Temple Beth El family, to be all together so often for important times and moments of thoughtful discussion.
Looking forward to a great summer!
Check out the next book we will read for our August Book Club, or enjoy the last - links below:
Next book for August 3, 11:00 AM:
Last book, a fun summer read:
Download and print Temple Beth El's Passover Seder Supplement with reflections from Rabbi Judy Schindler, Cantor Mary Thomas, and yours truly.
Download the file here:
TBE Passover Seder Supplement 5773
Temple Beth El women stand with Torah scrolls wearing Tallitot to show solidarity with Anat Hoffman and the Women of the Wall who peacefully and justifiably demand equal rights to pray at Judaism's holiest site, the Kotel (the Wall), in Jerusalem.