CENTER FOR PROGRESSIVE REFORM IN METROWEST

tebeVolumeam 65 / No. 4 / November 2020

TBA HONORS AN ICON

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A Word from President’s Photo taken December 2019 Rav Blumberg Message : CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT. GIVING THANKS CONTINUED SUPPORT. FOR ROUTINE CONTINUED TBA. With a High Holiday season like Dear Friends, no other now behind us, we find As the weeks and go by, I have developed a ourselves in the middle of the growing respect for the technology that we use to keep second of our Jewish year, our community together and to continue our . Cheshvan. As a stark contrast The High Holidays saw nearly 400 people at services for to the chock-full first month of and . We continue to see Rav Sam Blumberg the year, , the month of Carol Hanover attendance at on line and holiday services that is Cheshvan has no higher than average attendance when we were actually in (except, of course, for Shabbat). Sometimes the month is our beloved Sanctuary. When we live-streamed our services, we were able to reach referred to as Mar Cheshvan—bitter Cheshvan—because out to people who are not now or perhaps never were members of TBA, who wrote of its lack of holidays, but I would like to suggest that this letters of thanks that were often accompanied with donations. Family members month in fact offers us much sweetness! continued on page 3 continued on page 3 tebeam / November 2020 / 2 Fundraising

PLEASE NOTE @TBA ALL services will be livestreamed on Zoom. TEMPLE MEMBERS The link and password can be found in your TBA weekly email. WEBSITE DONATIONS TEMPLE GUESTS JUST A CLICK AWAY! Please send an email to [email protected] to obtain the Zoom link information. The TBA website can now accept credit card donations. Please take advantage of this new capability FRIDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2020 on our website to acknowledge the memory of, or to 20 CHESHVAN 5781 honor an accomplishment of a friend or a SHABBAT EVENING SERVICE...... 7:15 PM loved one. Go to: www.tempbetham.org SATURDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2020 20 CHESHVAN 5781 Weekly Portion VAYERA Genesis 18:1-22:24 FUNDRAISING DINNERS II Kings 4:1-4:37 During the year, there will be fundraising dinners at area SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN & STUDY...... 9:00 AM restaurants. The temple receives a portion of all the FRIDAY NOVEMBER 13, 2020 sales. Stay tuned for dates and times. 27 CHESHVAN 5781 WELCOMING SHABBAT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES...... 5:30 PM TREE OF LIFE EREV SHABBAT EVENING SERVICE...... 7:15 PM The TREE OF LIFE mounted on the wall of the of November Anniversary Blessing the temple lobby is a favorite way for members to SATURDAY NOVEMBER 14, 2020 27 CHESHVAN 5781 commemorate “simchas” and honor family members Weekly Portion CHAYE Genesis 23:1-25:18 and friends. Your gift of leaves ($300) and stones ($1000) Haftarah I Kings 1:1-1:31 will support continuing growth projects in the future. SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN Pledge cards are available in the temple office. & TORAH STUDY...... 9:00 AM FRIDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2020 5 5781 SMILE AMAZON SHABBAT HALL’LU SERVICE...... 7:15 PM You shop, Amazon donates 0.5% of the price SATURDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2020 5 KISLEV 5781 of your eligible Amazon Smile purchases to Weekly Portion TOLDOT Genesis 25:19-28:9 Temple Beth Am. Amazon Smile is the same Amazon Haftarah Malachi 1:1-2:7 that you know. Support TBA by starting your shopping SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN at smile.amazon.com. & TORAH STUDY...... 9:00 AM INTERFAITH THANKSGIVING SERVICE SPONSOR FUTURE ONEGS TUESDAY NOVEMBER 24, 2020 This is a great opportunity for your family to honor INTERFAITH THANKSGIVING SERVICE...... 7:00 PM Sponsored by F.I.C.A. any type of special occasion or kaddish. Sponsorship (Framingham Interfaith Clergy Association) is a $100 donation. For more information contact More Information to Follow Patti Frankel via the TBA Office. FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27, 2020 12 KISLEV 5781 SHABBAT EVENING SERVICE...... 7:15 PM For additional information regarding SATURDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2020 12 KISLEV 5781 our fundraising efforts please call the Weekly Portion VAYETZE Genesis 28:10-32:3 Haftarah 12:13-14:10 temple office at 508-872-8300. SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN & TORAH STUDY...... 9:00 AM 3 / November 2020 / tebeam A Word from Rav Blumberg continued from front page

Though devoid of holidays, Cheshvan grants us the opportunity to Lower and Upper School as well as our BATY teens are able to meet settle into the new routines brought on by a new Jewish year and a new more regularly and enjoy one another’s company (on Zoom), events are school year. We have completed the introspection, reflection, and work in the works for the coming months, and we of course continue to meet on our character that we are called to do before and during the High each Friday night to bring in Shabbat as a community. Holidays; we have rejoiced, prayed, and contemplated on the Holidays If one of your goals for the Jewish New Year was to get more involved themselves; we have hopefully come out the other side rejuvenated and with your Temple Beth Am community, now is the time! Perhaps you refreshed. After , we commenced reading the Torah over have been interested in attending Shabbat Morning Minyan and want again, this time from a new perspective with another year behind us. to learn about the Torah portion of the week? Maybe you are dedicated Cheshvan’s arrival allows us to begin to enjoy this new year in its full- to social justice and want to get more involved with TBA’s social justice ness and to work to embody the goals we set for ourselves during the committee? Whatever your passion, you can find an outlet for it here at High Holiday season. With the ongoing pandemic throwing routine Temple Beth Am. I am so excited to be in partnership with this vibrant out the window, Cheshvan is a respite that allows us to nurture our new community and look forward to the year ahead as we bring holiness selves and develop the new habits we hope to entrench. into the routine. The summer is over and gone, Meet and Greets and the High Holidays L’Shalom, are behind us, and now is the time that we can get to work in earnest — Rav Sam Blumberg with this wonderful Temple Beth Am community. Our students in the

President’s Message continued from front page from near and far and those limited by illness all could join with ease. We had a beautiful afternoon for ’s Shake and Schmooze in our sukkah, and being respectful of all rules concerning social distancing, staying entirely outdoors and with limited appointment slots, we were able to enjoy each other’s company for a brief time. Somehow the masks and sanitizer and gloves didn’t seem so onerous. Maybe we are getting accustomed to them, but I think we were just so happy to be together that those things didn’t matter.

Simchat Torah was amazing! I think ev- Nearly 400 members and non-members joined Temple Beth Am online for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. eryone who was present forgot about “the way we always did it” and really got into the new version. Although we couldn’t unroll a Torah scroll, Rav Blumberg did an 8 and a of the Torah Study, and don’t worry about Friedman Hall and preparing for a new roof, half minute version (Bob Clark timed it.) of your ability to read Hebrew or knowledge of thanks to the upcoming solar project. Leader- the entire Torah using the Illustrated Torah Torah. All are welcome and it’s a great time ship, clergy and staff are working hard, but we that was gifted to TBA by Ronna and Scott to schmooze, pray, and sing, even if you are still need your help to support our Operating Cohen. Cantor Wolff got everyone singing always just a bit off-key. No matter! Try it! I Budget. The Wall of Honor annual fundraiser but he also got everyone dancing, on screen, think you will like it! began on Yom Kippur and will conclude on at home! I have only touched upon some highlights, December 31, 2020. The numbers are good but they can always be better. If you have not Rav Blumberg gave a d’var recently that but as you can see, in spite of the ongoing Pandemic, Temple Beth Am is alive and donated yet, please do. Any amount will help, talked about how we are social beings and from $1 up to the limits of your generosity. need to be together, so I want to suggest well and providing services, programming and assistance to those who need it. Being When it comes time to replace last year’s another opportunity: Minyan Services. They donor list with the names of those who gave happen every Saturday morning at 9 am on a member of TBA makes you a part of the family! And as a family, we are working to get this year, please make sure that your name is Zoom. The leader is either Donald on the new list. It’s for our TBA family! Splansky or Rav Blumberg, on an alternating our home in order for when it’s safe to return schedule, but both present an opportunity to congregate activities. We are painting Todah, – for discussion and interaction. The service walls and fixing floors and ceilings, working Carol Hanover runs 60-90 minutes, depending on the length on replacing our ailing HVAC system over tebeam / November 2020 / 4 A Note from Cantor Wolff DEMYSTIFYING FRIDAY NIGHT PRAYER AND SONG

אבותינו ואמותינו) can be very confusing. The Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Velohei Avoteinu V’imoteinu or “Blessed are You, our God, and God ,(ברוך אתה יי אלהינו ואלהי order of our Friday night prayers can seem arbitrary. Thankfully, there is a clear struc- of our fathers and mothers”. The contains several blessings of ,(שלום רב) ture to our prayers, and you don’t need praise and thanks, concluding with our beloved Shalom Rav years of cantorial school to understand a blessing for peace. After the Amidah, we arrive at the fourth and that structure! In this TeBeAm article, I final section of our Friday night prayer, the concluding prayers. Here, in which we proclaim that it is our ,(עלינו) will attempt to demystify our Friday night we rise and recite Aleynu prayers. In general, our Erev Shabbat (Friday responsibility to pray together. Finally, we recite the mourner’s Kaddish .(קדיש יתום) ;Cantor David Wolff, night) prayers break down into four sections Lower School Education Director Kabbalat Shabbat, the Shema and its blessings, I hope that this article helps you to feel more comfortable with the Amidah, and concluding prayers. Friday night prayer. If you want to learn more, please call or e-mail. I Kabbalat Shabbat (literally the “welcoming of Shabbat”) is the first love talking about Jewish liturgy; I’m a cantor! section of our Friday night prayers. It is a preamble, and prepares us for the core of our prayers (the Shema and the Amidah). Among other things, the text of Kabbalat Shabbat contains several . The text of Hallelu, one of our favorite songs at TBA, comes from Psalm 150. The Psalms are ancient, holy poems, compiled perhaps 3000 years ago. After several Psalms, Kabbalat Shabbat closes with L’cha Dodi, when we rise and face the entrance of the sanctuary. L’cha Dodi is a Medieval TBA Jewish text, written during the 16th century, some 2500 years after the Psalms! It comes from the Medieval mystical tradition of the Kabbal- ists; they imagined the arrival of Shabbat as the coming of a beautiful RELIGIOUS bride, and the Jewish people as the groom. After Kabbalat Shabbat, we are prepared to pray, and so we begin the evening prayer). Friday night Maariv begins as all SCHOOL - מעריב) Maariv the call to prayer. Here, we ,(ברכו) Jewish prayer begins, with Barchu call out to God; “we are here, and we are ready to pray!” At TBA, we RegistrationZERO Fee often sing “Am I awake, am I prepared?” as an interpretation on Barchu. TEMPLE BETH AM RELIGIOUS SCHOOL Barchu leads us into the Shema. But, before we can say Shema, we recite two blessings. The first blessing is known asMa’ariv Aravim !This blessing thanks God for bringing evening on. LEARN. GROW. HAVE FUN .(מעריב ערבים) In its place, we often read about the way day fades into evening. Like Always bustling with activity… much of Jewish prayer, this blessing is tied to human wonder at the our religious school is an exciting mix of Jewish activities & experiences. processes of the natural world. The second blessing before Shema is in which we are thankful for ,(אהבת עולם) known as Ahavat Olam God’s love. in which we proclaim God’s ,(שמע) Finally, we recite Shema oneness, and affirm our Judaism. In many ways,Shema is the high point ,(ואהבת) of our Friday night prayer. Shema is followed by the V’ahavta which we chant together in Hebrew. The V’ahavta is unique in our Friday night prayers; it is a lengthy, direct quote from the , and we sing it using Torah trope. Essentially, in reciting V’ahavta, we are each reading Torah! A STARBURST OF READING ENTHUSIASM! Enjoying all that our library After Shema and V’ahavta, we recite two more blessings. The first offers, grade 3 students checked out great books and decorated stars for the .The bulletin board project .(מי כמכה) is a blessing for redemption, and contains Mi Chamocha archetypal story of Jewish redemption is the Exodus from Egypt; God redeems the from slavery and parts the Red Sea. Upon crossing through the Red Sea, the sing a joyous song. Mi Chamocha is Experienced and caring faculty • Inclusiveness • Family education • Parent engagement events an excerpt from that song. The second blessing after Shema is known as Diversity Family • Shabbat experiences • Community building • Music • Library in which we ask God to lay us down in peace; K-1 tuition includes ,(השכיבנו) Hashkiveinu essentially, it is a bedtime prayer. COMPLEMENTARY TEMPLE MEMBERSHIP for those new to TBA After Shema and its blessings, we arrive at the Amidah (the Contact our Lower School Education Director, Cantor David Wolff JOIN US. 508.872.8312 or [email protected] standing prayer). We rise, and begin with our familiar tune for Baruch Temple Beth Am // A Warm and Vibrant Reform Jewish Community 5 / November 2020 / tebeam SOCIAL JUSTICE FEATURE ARTICLE

TBA The Social Justice Committee (SJC) has been giving a of thought to our next HONORS social justice-themed virtual film night. An obvious choice is the documentary RBG, which explores Supreme Court AN ICON Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s unique journey to the nation’s highest court. By the time of her passing at the age of 87, Justice Ginsberg had developed a lengthy legal legacy, and had become a pop culture icon as well. This virtual screening and discussion is planned for Saturday evening, November 7 at 6:30. RBG is readily available on Netflix and other platforms. Jane Eisner, Director of Academic Affairs at Columbia School of Journal- ism and former editor of The Forward, has agreed to lead our discussion after the film. Ms. Eisner interviewed Justice Ginsberg about two years ago. The following is a link to her article describing that experience, along with a quote from it: https://forward.com/opinion/454776/ruth-bader-ginsburg-represent- ed-an-ideal-of-american-jewish-liberalism/ “I was privileged to have interviewed Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on a synagogue stage in February 2018 in Washington, D.C., before thousands of people, an experience that instantly soared to the top eche- lon of my professional life. I read countless books and articles to prepare, watched documentaries and videos, poured through transcripts and legal opinions....I was Editor-in-Chief of The Forward and interviewing her at a synagogue: I was interested....[also] in who she was as a Jew.” This SJC event is being co-sponsored with the Temple Beth Am Sister- hood and Brotherhood. If you are interested in joining us, please RSVP by emailing [email protected]. Stay tuned for further details and instructions.

“DO JUSTICE, LOVE MERCY, AND WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD.” — MICAH 6:8 The Temple Beth Am Social Justice Committee (SJC) embraces the responsibilities of our Jewish tradition to welcome the stranger, pursue justice for all, foster opportunities for social well-being, and celebrate the diversity of our community. Upholding these values established by Reform Judaism, the committee seeks to engage and join with congregants and communi- ty members as we identify and respond to the complex social issues of our time. Please let us know if you are interested in joining us on the TBA SJC, if you would like to be added to our email list, or if you have any questions: [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you! tebeam / November 2020 / 6 SISTERHOOD Calendar

2020 • Wednesday, November 4th at 7:15 PM: Zoom Make your checks payable to “Temple Beth Am”. Monthly Meeting If you are in Framingham, Florida or anywhere else, SEND YOUR LISTS AND MAIL YOUR CHECKS TO: • Sunday, November 22nd: Sisterhood Event for Post-College Susan Clark Students. Time and location to be determined. Planning to be 1662 Latta Court started and led by our recent post college members The Villages, FL 32162 OR Email the information to Sue: [email protected] or call Sue at 508.331.1470 • Wednesday, December 2nd at 7:15 PM: Monthly Meeting (location to be determined based on COVID situation at the time) • Sunday, December 13 at 11:00 AM: Sisterhood Sponsored Party for the temple. (Details to be determined based on COVID situation at the time) • Thursday, December 24: Christmas Dinner prep (Tentative based on COVID situation at the time) Due to the pandemic, the drop off of coats will be made at any Anton’s • Friday, December 24: Christmas Dinner Cooking and Cleaners location. Drop-offs are NOT accepted at Temple Beth Am. Delivering (Tentative based on COVID situation at the time) 2021 • Wednesday, January 6th at 7:15PM: Monthly Meeting (location to be determined based on COVID situation at the time) • Thursday, January 21st: Sisterhood Social Event. Time and location to be determined. • Wednesday, February 3rd at 7:15 PM: Monthly Meeting (location to be determined based on COVID situation at the time) • Saturday, February 6th: Sisterhood and Brotherhood Social Event. Time and location to be determined. • Sunday, February 28th at 11:00 AM: Sisterhood Sponsored Carnival • Wednesday, March 3rd at 7:15 PM: Monthly Meeting (location to be determined based on COVID situation at the time) • Wednesday, April 14th 7:15 PM: Monthly Meeting (location to be determined based on COVID situation at the time) • Thursday, April 29th: YES Fund Event (location to be determined based on COVID situation at the time) • Wednesday, May 5th at 7:15 PM: Monthly Meeting (location to be determined based on COVID situation at the time) • Wednesday, June 2nd at 7:15 PM: Monthly Meeting (location to be determined based on COVID situation at the time) • Thursday, June 17th: Year End Event. Time and location to be determined.

 It’s time to RENEW your membership or join  VOLUNTEERS and your inputs are welcome Sisterhood for the first time! Tell us what you want from Sisterhood and Bring a friend, renew friendships or meet a new friend. share your talents with us! Contact Sharon Silverman or Lisa Movitz @ [email protected] 7 / November 2020 / tebeam BROTHERHOOD Although Brotherhood has been quiet recently, it is busy planning for night meeting to wish everyone a happy, healthy New Year and share the next few months. Though we are unable to host our usual monthly a few laughs together. This past Sunday we discussed some promising breakfast series, TBA Brotherhood is hard at event ideas to replace our monthly breakfasts. work planning events that through zoom, will We are working on a couple of great ideas be able to bring our members together. and in the process of researching our speakers It has been a difficult 2020 for many of and how to best coordinate our events. We us and we are grateful to those members who are hoping to be able to have some type of have sent in their discounted membership event honoring our veterans, as we usually do. dues for the 2020-2021 year. The member- Brotherhood will communicate to the Temple ship funds help Brotherhood support the community and its membership once an event temple, the religious school, and the great- has been confirmed. er Framingham community with various Please know TBA Brotherhood is here for projects. you, as is the entire Temple community. We Our Brotherhood board has moved from recognize this can be a difficult and lonely time a zoom meeting forum to meeting in-person for many. Shabbat services, community events but socially distancing from each other. This and even a simple text to someone can help allows us the opportunity to meet up, catch make folks feel included and important. up and plan the future. It also allows us to TBA Brotherhood Board Meeting Our best to everyone for a happy and spend time together without the aid of a healthy New Year. laptop or computer screen, something now very necessary but also very — Steve Schneider and Bill Karger, TBA Brotherhood Co-Presidents secluding for so many. In September, the board had an impromptu pizza

TIKKUN OLAM @TBA The E-Team and Social Justice Committee organize donation efforts at TBA.

Non-perishable goods donations were made to A Place to Turn in Natick for the High Holiday Food Drive.

A truck-full of goods heads out to the community. tebeam / November 2020 / 8

JOIN OVER 68 TEMPLE BETH AM CONGREGANTS AND FRIENDS TO REACH OUR 2020 GOAL

Overwhelming thanks of gratitude to over 68 Temple Beth Am congregants and friends of Temple Beth Am who have made their donation to the Wall of Honor. We are 75% to our Wall of Honor goal of $40,000. Join our donors to surpass our goal! Wall of Honor Your donation helps Temple Beth Am to improve our programs and GOAL!!!GOAL!!! Achieving$40,000+ our services (albeit via Zoom), and modernize our appearance. Making your annual goal of annual contribution to the Wall of Honor, beyond dues, means Temple #VALUE!ALMOST#VALUE! THERE! ALMOST THERE! $40,000$30,000 is 75% Beth Am can zero-in on investing in our future as an influencer in the getting close. there Metro West Jewish Community. Join the Wall of KEEP GOING! All donations, regardless of level of giving, will be recognized, and KEEP GOING! Honor donors appreciated. Consider making donations to honor a special milestone to help Temple W E CAN DO IT! or “simcha” in your life or your family’s life, or perhaps to memorialize a W E CAN DO IT! Beth Am make a difference in loved one, or extended member of our Temple family. A ACCELERATE! ACCELERATE! our community. service, whether virtual or in-person, will dedicate and honor this year’s contributors. START! Goal Join Rav Blumberg, Cantor Wolff, the board of trustees, and com- #VALUE! #VALUE! START! 40000 and more mittees, as we are urging you to be part of Temple Beth Am’s high energy Achieved innovative ideas and “ru’ach” by sending your donation checks to Temple $30,000 Beth Am by December 31, and make your check payable to “Temple Beth Am.” DONATE Donations can be made on line by choosing “Wall of Honor” fund on NOW! the Temple website: https://tempbetham.org/make-donation-online/

Temple Beth Am Art Project A PREVIEW Andrea Geller and her daughter, , outdid themselves by organizing and rallying Temple Beth Am to participate in our community art project. As of this writing, we had over 30 entries. We will announce when this work of art will be presented to Rav Blumberg and Cantor Wolff as a welcome to TBA, and hopefully in person.

The final piece of art is not fully complete, but here’s a little preview of how it’s progressing. 9 / November 2020 / tebeam Levine Library EVENT RECAP

BOOK OF THE MONTH CHOCOLATE CHIP And Other Twists On The Jewish Holiday Table Written and illustrated by Lisa Rauchwerger

A SENSATIONAL SUCCESS! Our HaTikva program, presented by Roi Aloni on Sunday, October 25th, was a huge success. Attended by over 50 Temple Beth Am members and friends, the program was entertaining, engaging, humorous and educational. The subject was fascinating, and exploring the evolution of the Israeli national anthem was intriguing, moving and informative. Roi Aloni was a delight to learn from, and the 90 minutes just flew by. Thank you to all who joined us; we know you had a wonderful experience.

A delightful interactive family cookbook for parents and children to prepare culinary treats throughout the Jewish calendar. Includes fun illustrations, activity pages and information for all the Jewish holidays. A most creative cookbook for children ages 5 to 11. CYCLES LIBRARY NEWS Life PJ LIBRARY IN JOY Many know about the PJ Library and its amazing program of NOVEMBER SPECIAL ANNIVERSARIES providing monthly, free, age-appropriate books and music for Date Name Years families that have signed up. Just spreading the word for those not familiar with this great resource, especially at this time of 11/15/2015 CHRISTOPHER AMENITA 5 families having to hunker down. & MARSH All couples celebrating a November wedding anniversary will Please visit the website: www.pjlibrary.org to sign up to be blessed at the November 13th service at 7:15 PM. receive a monthly gift. Please call the Temple office if you are planning to attend. Stay safe and well ! IN SADNESS Marsha Massey, We record with deep sorrow the names of those who have died since TBA Librarian our last bulletin. May their memory be for a blessing. THE CONGREGATION MOURNS WITH Due to Covid 19 there are currently no regular library hours. Ronna Cohen, on the passing of her cousin, Paul Harris Please contact the Temple office for specific requests. tebeam / November 2020 / 10

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Temple Beth Am does not have any position on candidates or TBA CARES ballot questions Your temple is here for you whether in good times or bad. Please let How to vote for the 2020 US General Election Rav Blumberg know what is going on in your life. [email protected] This information is for the November 3rd general election. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2020. All Massachusetts voters are eligible to vote by mail upon application. Massachusetts also offers early voting in person before Election Day and on Election Day. Polling places will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. VOTE BY MAIL 1. Request your mail-in ballot with a mail ballot application. Click on https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elepdf/2020-Vote-by-Mail-Application.pdf to download application for your 2020 election ballot. Community Volunteer Opportunities: 2. When your ballot arrives, read it carefully and follow the instructions to complete it and return it. Response to Covid-19 3. The deadline to request a ballot by mail is (received by) 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28, 2020. Through Jewish Family Services of Metrowest, the community is working on WEBSITE TO TRACK YOUR MAIL-IN BALLOT a network-wide coordinated response for https://www.sec.state.ma.us/wheredoivotema/track/trackmyballot.aspx volunteerism. VOTE ON ELECTION DAY We are all figuring out not only immediate Voters registered in Massachusetts can look up where to vote on Massachusetts’s site. need but longer-term and forecasting need for volunteers. Many volunteers are needed.

VOTE EARLY Visit https://jfsmw.org/volunteer/ Massachusetts voters can also vote before Election Day. The early voting period runs from Saturday, October 17, 2020 to Friday, October 30, 2020, but dates and hours may vary To volunteer through Temple Beth Am, based on where you live. please email TBA President, Carol Hanover: [email protected]

WHAT TO BRING IF VOTING IN PERSON If you would like to speak to Rav Blumberg You may be asked to show identification. Acceptable forms include (must show your name in confidence at any time, please email him and address at which you are registered to vote): a MA driver’s license or MA-issued ID card. at: [email protected] For more information, visit the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s website.

Even though our Temple is officially closed to all scheduled activities, there are exceptions — like dropping off food for the food drive or returning a prayer book. Please be aware that if you ring our doorbell and enter, you must wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth, maintain 6-foot distancing, and be in good health, to your best knowledge. We are doing this because we care about each other, and hope for good health for all. 11 / November 2020 / tebeam

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Find out what sets us apart www.sharonmemorial.com 375 Worcester Road Framingham, MA 01701 781- 828-7216 508.879.3277 Fax 508.875.4232 [email protected] www.sirspeedy.com Temple Beth Am 300 Pleasant Street Framingham, MA 01701

Temple office 508-872-8300 Bookkeeper’s office 508-872-8300, ext. 106 e-mail [email protected] website www.tempbetham.org School office 508-872-8312 Rav Sam Blumberg 508-872-8300 x102 Cantor David Wolff 508-872-8312

Rav Sam Blumberg Upper School Education Director Cantor David Wolff Lower School Education Director Rabbi Donald M. Splansky Rabbi Emeritus Cantor Jodi Schechtman Cantor Emerita Carol Hanover President Ellen Jagher Office & Building Administrator; Contributing Editor to tebeam Mary Robinson Bookkeeper Sandra Levey School Administrator Sarah Rosenthal Youth Advisor Rob Levine tebeam Contributing Editor and Designer Dena Stetson tebeam Contributing Editor tebeam is published 9 times annually by Temple Beth Am

Volume 65 / No. 4 / November 2020 TBA Member FB Group TBA MEMBER GROUP Public Facebook Page tebeam Temple Beth Am of Framingham

Temple Beth Am is a warm and vibrant Reform Jewish community located in Framingham, MA, comprised of members from the greater Metro West area. Founded in 1956 and affiliated with the , members and visitors find a relaxed and informal atmosphere in which people of all ages, backgrounds and orientations come to worship, learn, CENTER FOR PROGRESSIVE enjoy music, explore Judaism, and find new friends. REFORM JUDAISM IN METROWEST