CENTER FOR PROGRESSIVE REFORM JUDAISM IN METROWEST
tebeVolume 65 am/ No. 6 / January-Febraury 2021
INVISIBLE STRINGS
A Word from Rav Blumberg President’s MessagePhoto taken December 2019 COMFORT AND TBA BOARD OF CONNECTION TRUSTEES — WITH TBA THE INSIDE SCOOP One of my favorite books on my son Zamir’s Have you ever wondered how Temple Beth bookshelf is called The Invisible String by Am’s Board of Trustees functions? Positions Patrice Karst. In the story, a mother reassures are all two-years in length. (Since this is the her children that even when their loved ones second year of my two-year term as your aren’t nearby, there is always an “invisible President, for example, I am very aware of string” that binds them together and can keep the passing days!) Howard Schwartz, who Rav Sam Blumberg them feeling connected to each other. We Carol Hanover is our temple’s Immediate Past-President, is purchased the book at the beginning of the also Chair of the Nominating Committee. pandemic when my son could no longer attend preschool in person; as The Nominating Committee will be convened soon and will create a the pandemic has lingered on we consistently refer back to this “invisi- new slate to be voted on at our June Congregation Meeting. ble string” when we lament how long it’s been since we have seen some YOU can be one of those officers or committee chairs on our of our friends and family. Board of Trustees. YOU can help chart the path forward for Temple Connection is paramount, especially during these unprecedented Beth Am. All you need is a willingness to help, and availability to times. During the month of January, Temple volunteers will be making attend monthly Board of Trustees’ meetings that begin on Thursday calls to our entire Temple Beth Am community to check in and learn nights at 7:30 PM, and usually run no later than 9:00 PM. continued on page 3 continued on page 7 tebeam / January-February 2021 / 2
FEBRUARY 12, 2021 / 1 ADAR 5781 ALL services will be livestreamed on Zoom. EREV SHABBBAT HALL’LU SERVICE...... 7:15 PM TEMPLE MEMBERS: The link and password can be found in your TBA weekly email. SATURDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2021 / 1 ADAR 5781 TEMPLE GUESTS: Please send an email to [email protected] SHABBAT SHEKALIM to obtain the Zoom link information. ROSH CHODESH ADAR Weekly Portion MISHPATIM Exodus 20:11-16 FRIDAY JANUARY 1, 2021 / 18 TEVET 5781 Haftarah II Kings 12:1-12:17 EREV SHABBBAT EVENING SERVICE...... 7:15 PM SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN & TORAH STUDY...... 9:00 AM SATURDAY JANUARY 2, 2021 / 18 TEVET 5781 Weekly Portion VAYECHI Genesis 47:28-50:26 FEBRUARY 19, 2021 / 8 ADAR 5781 Haftarah I Kings 2:1-2:12 EREV SHABBBAT EVENING SERVICE...... 7:15 PM SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN SATURDAY FEBRUARY 20, 2021 / 8 ADAR 5781 & TORAH STUDY...... 9:00 AM SHABBAT ZACHOR FRIDAY JANUARY 8, 2020 / 25 TEVET 5781 Weekly Portion TERUMAH Exodus 25:37-40 EREV SHABBAT EVENING SERVICE...... 6:30 PM Haftarah I Samuel 15:2-15:34 The service will feature Grade 4 students SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN & TORAH STUDY...... 9:00 AM SATURDAY JANUARY 9, 2021 / 25 TEVET 5781 Weekly Portion SHEMOT Exodus 1:1-6:1 Haftarah Isaiah 27:6-28:13; 29:22-29:23 PURIM SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN THURSDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2021 / 14 ADAR 5781 & TORAH STUDY...... 9:00 AM MEGILLAH READING AND PURIM SPIEL...... 6:00 PM FRIDAY JANUARY 15, 2021 / 3 SHEVAT 5781 FRIDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2021 / 15 ADAR 5781 EREV SHABBBAT HALL’LU SERVICE...... 7:15 PM EREV SHABBBAT EVENING SERVICE...... 7:15 PM SATURDAY JANUARY 16, 2021 / 3 SHEVAT 5781 SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2021 / 15 ADAR 5781 Weekly Portion VA’ERA Exodus 6:2-9:35 Weekly Portion TETZAVEH Exodus 27:20-30:10 Haftarah Ezekiel 28:25-29:21 Haftarah Ezekiel 43:10-43:27 SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN & TORAH STUDY...... 9:00 AM & TORAH STUDY...... 9:00 AM FRIDAY JANUARY 22, 2021 / 10 SHEVAT 5781 EREV SHABBBAT EVENING SERVICE...... 7:15 PM January Anniversary Blessing TEMPLE BETH AM’S E-TEVENTEAM INV RECAPITES ALL ADULTS TO TEMPLE BETH AM’S E-TEAM INVITES ALL ADULTS: TO: SATURDAY JANUARY 23, 2021 / 10 SHEVAT 5781 Weekly Portion BO Exodus 10:1-13:16 Haftarah Jeremiah 46:13-46:28 TBA plays SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN & TORAH STUDY...... 9:00 AM HAVDALAH & HEALING SERVICE...... 6:00 PM FRIDAY JANUARY 29, 2021 / 17 SHEVAT 5781 EREV SHABBBAT EVENING SERVICE...... 6:30 PM The service will feature Grade 3 students Simchat Siddur SATURDAY JANUARY 30, 2021 / 17 SHEVAT 5781 Weekly Portion BESHALACH Exodus 13:17-17:16 Haftarah Judges 4:4-5:31 Adult SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN “B-1“”Bo-f1 t”heo ff itrhset tfoir rset gtios treerg ifsotre rT efmorp lTee Bmeptlhe ABemt’hs VAimrt’su aVl ir tual A d ult & TORAH STUDY...... 9:00 AM B I N G BOI NevGeOni negv!e! ning!! FRIDAY FEBRUARY 5, 2021 / 24 SHEVAT 5781 EREV SHABBBAT EVENING SERVICE...... 7:15 PM February Anniversary Blessing OurSat uTBArdSa tcommunityyu, rDdeacye, mDeb gotceer m 5together,b 2e0r2 50, 2 online020 twice SATURDAY FEBRUARY 6, 2021 / 24 SHEVAT 5781 in the month of December for some friendly Weekly Portion YITRO Exodus 18:1-20:23 BINGO and8:0 0socializing. –8 :90:03 0– p9m:3 0 pm Haftarah Isaiah 6:1-7:6; 9:5-9:6 FREE!F REE! SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN Thank you the E-Team for coordinating
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ContactContact Ellen Felcher: Ellen Felcher: [email protected] [email protected] with questions with questions 3 / January-February 2021 / tebeam
FEATURE Invisible Strings Finding comfort and connection in these unprecedented times continued from front page
how congregants are holding up in light of the ongoing pandemic. Meditation and Celebration of Tu B’Shvat” with Hebrew We encourage you to pick up your phone if there’s a local number College: a contemplative evening of song, food, and learning that’s unfamiliar to you or call our volunteers back at a time that’s about the New Year for the Trees. convenient for you, so that we can know how you are doing and Your TBA clergy and community are always here for you, to if there’s anything we can do to support you, as we eagerly await lend a compassionate ear and to offer support as we begin to see a the time where we can gather safely together again in our TBA glint of light at the end of this tunnel. We encourage you to think building. about what you need to make January a month of comfort and Additionally, we will be offering several events throughout connection for yourself, and we hope that you’ll join us throughout the month as we double down on our commitment to community the month as we show solidarity to one another and find solace and our congregants’ holistic health. On January 10th at 4:00 PM, in this warm, vibrant, and resilient community. Let us make our you are invited to join as the Religious School sponsors Nissa “invisible strings” that much more visible as we accompany one Diantina who will be leading yoga for the school committee’s next another through the winter. parent engagement event. Also on January 10th at 7:45 PM, I will In comfort and connection, facilitate the next session of my Lifelong Learning class, titled “Comfort and Connection in Jewish Text.” On January 17th at — Rav Sam Blumberg 7 PM, join TBA congregant Scott Cohen, LICSW, LMFT, who will be facilitating a discussion on “Managing Yourself and Your Lifelong Learning Series Family During this Extended Time of COVID,” giving us skills to with Rav Blumberg manage through the winter. On January 23rd at 6:00 PM, Cantor JANUARY 10, 2021 Wolff and myself invite you to join us for an evening of soothing Havdalah, music, and poetry as we come together to find comfort Comfort and Connection in one another’s presence at the end of Shabbat. And on January in Jewish Text 27th at 7:00 PM, we invite you to join as we cosponsor “A Musical See details later in this issue TBA IS HERE FOR YOU.
ZOOM EVENT: January 17, 2021 at 7:00 PM Havdallah Service January 23rd at 6:00 PM MANAGING YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY Join us for an evening of soothing Havdalah, music, and poetry as we come together to DURING THIS EXTENDED TIME OF COVID find comfort in one another’s presence at the end of Shabbat So there is a vaccine, but we can’t get it yet…
TBA member, Scott Cohen, LMFT, LICSW will be the speaker for a Zoom session on Sunday evening January 17, 2021 at 7:00 PM. Scott will be speaking about how to manage yourself and your family during this extended time of COVID. Scott and his wife Ronna have been members of Temple Beth Am for over 35 years. Scott is a marriage and family therapist who specializes in couples therapy, adolescents and their family, traumat- FREE ic loss and grief and addictions. Scott retired in 2017 and divides his time between FL EVENT and Massachusetts. More information will be part of the weekly email for this lifelong Donations learning session. Welcome
Scott Cohen, LMFT, LICSW is a retired Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in couples therapy, adolescents and their family, addictions and traumatic loss and grief. Prior to his retirement in 2017, he practiced for 41 years, 35 of which were in Framingham. He is a nationally known speaker and trainer. He and his wife, Ronna, have been members of Temple Beth Am for 38 years. He currently splits his time between Ashland and Delray Beach, Florida. Register at https://hebrewcollege.edu/tu-bshevat/ tebeam / January-February 2021 / 4
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL A huge DESPITE ALL OF THE CHALLENGES IN OUR WORLD, THANK YOU OUR STUDENTS ARE LEARNING AND ENGAGING to WITH JUDAISM TBA Sisterhood, Brotherhood,
I am so proud of our TBA community. Among many Jewish topics, our students have been learning and School Committee Students, teachers, and parents have all about Hebrew letters, the central prayers of our Siddur (prayer- adapted to an entirely new way of learn- book), the modern state of Israel, the Jewish holidays, Shabbat, ing. Despite our inability to learn in the and the stories of Genesis. Our Kindergarten-2nd grade class has same room, or to be physically together been focusing on the first stories in Genesis: the dual narratives of Cantor David Wolff, in our religious school, our students are creation (the seven days of creation, and the garden of Eden), and Lower School Education Director engaging meaningfully with Judaism, Noah’s ark. Our young students pondered, “what would you have with each other, and with their teachers. brought on the ark?” Our 3rd graders have been learning about After long days of remote learning in secular school, our commu- the modern state of Israel; they were excited by the Dead Sea, nity of young students gathers on Zoom for religious school. Every and created their own therapeutic products using Dead Sea mud Wednesday and Sunday, I see an enthusiastic, motivated, focused (coming to stores near you). Our 4th graders are studying the 1st community of learners and teachers. Our young families face huge blessing of the Amidah, Avot v’Imahot, the central prayer recalling challenges during this pandemic; so many activities and routines are the patriarchs and matriarchs of the Torah. Our 5th graders created impossible in the age of Covid. Yet, our young families continue to their own original Chanukah games, and, over Zoom, taught each support their children’s Jewish education, creating the space, time, and technology in their homes for remote religious school. Truly, other how to play. Our 6th and 7th grade class has been studying I am verklempt every day of religious school — overcome with emo- the Friday night Kiddush, learning about the importance of holiness tion, gratitude, and pride for our community. in Jewish text, and the centrality of the Exodus narrative in Jewish liturgy. Despite all of the challenges in our world, our students are learning and engaging with Judaism! RegistrationZERO Fee Chanukah was an especially exciting time for our religious TEMPLE BETH AM RELIGIOUS SCHOOL school. Members of our Sisterhood and Education committees worked hard to create and deliver Chanukah bags to each child LEARN. GROW. HAVE FUN! in our lower school. If our children could not come to TBA for Chanukah, we decided, we would bring Chanukah to our children! Always bustling with activity… our religious school is an exciting mix of Bags included make-your-own-Chanukiah kits and Chanukah-sug- Jewish activities & experiences. ar-cookie-baking kits. Students and parents reported that the cook- ies were delicious. Bags also included dreidls, Chanukah sing-along packets, and, of course, chocolate Gelt. Instead of our yearly Chanukah party in the building, we had an exciting Zoom Chanukah party. I led a Chanukah sing- along with all of our students and families, and our wonderful TBA teachers led Zoom break-out rooms, featuring a variety of fun activities. Leah Kapiloff led a very popular Kahoot session (an online quiz-game). Sam Frydman led a crafting session, creating Chanukiot from potatoes, oil, and string. Elyse Blau led a story A STARBURST OF READING ENTHUSIASM! session, where students reenacted the Chanukah story, pretending Enjoying all that our library offers, grade 3 students to be newscasters in ancient Israel. Illona Roll led a silly Chanukah checked out great books and decorated stars for the bulletin board project. madlib session, creating not-quite-right Chanukah stories with students and families; I heard about an unusual Chanukah gift from a madlib — a sweater made of Ramen noodles! And Rav Blumberg
Experienced and caring faculty • Inclusiveness • Family education • Parent engagement events joined in the fun, leading a Zoom dreidl session, using the dreidl in Diversity Family • Shabbat experiences • Community building • Music • Library new and creative ways. Closer to the end of Chanukah, our TBA K-1 tuition includes religious school helped to lead Zoom Chanukah candle-lighting, COMPLEMENTARY TEMPLE MEMBERSHIP for those new to TBA and we pondered the beauty of the Chanukah flames, flickering in Contact our Lower School Education Director, Cantor David Wolff the window. As 2021 begins, we are excited continue our Jewish JOIN US. 508.872.8312 or [email protected] learning together, as we wait and hope for the day when we can Temple Beth Am // A Warm and Vibrant Reform Jewish Community safely be together physically, in our TBA classrooms. 5 / January-February 2021 / tebeam
A huge Temple Beth Am’s Sisterhood, Brotherhood and School Committee created Chanukah gift bags and delivered THANK YOU them to all students in the religious school. The bags contained: to • Menorah making kit TBA Sisterhood, Brotherhood, • Stuffed menorah for the younger children and School Committee (thank you to Fern Vona) • Sugar cookie kit • Candles, dreidels and gelt • Blessing sheets and music Thank you to Sisterhood and Brotherhood for funding this fun project. Thank you to Rav Blumberg and Cantor Wolff for their thoughtful input, and for creating the blessing and music sheets. A Special thank you to all the volunteers who organized, stuffed bags, and delivered these bags to all of the religious school children:
Andrea Geller Sandra Levey Patty Frankel Judy Swartz Ellen Jagher Jessica King Julie Wolff Sharon Silverman Sue Siegel Jami Stein Ellen Felcher Lori Weiner
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3171519649 tebeam / January-February 2021 / 6 SISTERHOOD
SISTERHOOD TEMPLE BETH AM Due to the pandemic, the drop off of coats will be made at any Anton’s WINTER COOKING CLASSES via ZOOM! Cleaners location. Drop-offs are NOT accepted at Temple Beth Am.
Four 90-minute cooking classes will be offered monthly, December through March via Zoom by local professional chef/instructor, Robin Kalis.
Each month will have a different theme: Wed. Dec. 9, 2020: 3 Appetizers & a Cocktail Wed. Jan. 13, 2021: Soups & Stews Wed. Feb. 10, 2021: Greek Dinner Wed. Mar. 10, 2021: Passover
Classes will run from 6:30-8:00 pm Classes are open to all! Invite your friends & family. Zoom makes it easy!
Robin Kalis Price: Robin has worked for 20+ years in restaurants, hotels, Sisterhood Members Special Pricing: $15 per class catering & teaching classes. She has experience in Non-members: $20 per class event planning & management of social & corporate Register for one class, all four, one at a time, or all at events. Robin has taught hundreds of cooking classes once—up to you! at Sur La Table, Create-a-Cook, Temple Beth Elohim & Newton Community Adult Education. Robin’s true pas- Email— [email protected] sion is sharing her knowledge for cooking by teaching Register: people how to provide healthy home cooked meals. She believes that whether you are cooking for one or 100, To Pay: your meal should look, taste and feel like it was made February 28th! with love. 1. Mail check made payable to: Sisterhood Temple Beth Am 300 Pleasant Street Temple Beth Am Sisterhood Framingham, MA 01701
2. Venmo: Laurie-Schneider-7
3. Paypal: https://paypal.me/TempleBethAm?locale.x=en_US
Questions? Contact: Wendy Schwartz: [email protected] Lyn Cron: [email protected]
Make your checks payable to “Temple Beth Am”. If you are in Framingham, Florida or anywhere else, Sisterhood Christmas Mitzvah 2020 SEND YOUR LISTS AND MAIL YOUR CHECKS TO: Susan Clark Sisterhood continued their longstanding tradition of cooking and 1662 Latta Court delivering Christmas dinners for those less fortunate. There were The Villages, FL 32162 OR some different rules for safety, but everyone did their part and had Email the information to Sue: [email protected] or call Sue at 508.331.1470 fun and did a mitzvah. Thanks to Wendy Schwartz for organizing, shopping, preparing and overseeing the event CALENDAR • Wednesday, January 6th at 7:15 PM: Monthly Meeting (location to be determined) • Wednesday January 13th at 6:30 PM: Sisterhood Cooking Class; Zoom event; Chef Robin Kalis on soups and stew; Reservations required. • Wednesday, February 3rd at 7:15 PM: Monthly Meeting (location to be determined) • Wednesday February 10th at 6:30 PM: Sisterhood Cooking Class; Zoom Event; Chef Robin Kails; Greek Dinner; reservations required The other volunteers for this day were: • Sunday, February 28th: Sisterhood Sponsored Purim Carnival Zoom event during religious school Ellen Jagher Joyce Green Lisa Nasch • Wednesday, March 3rd at 7:15 PM: Monthly Meeting (location to be determined) Sharon Silverman Caroline Greenblatt Fern Vona • Wednesday March 10th at 6:30 PM: Sisterhood Cooking Class; Zoom Event; Emily Manders Patty Frankel Susan Rakusin Chef Robin Kalis; Passover; reservations required Julie Wolf (and family Melissa Noah (and kids Andrea Geller • Wednesday, April 14th 7:15 PM: Monthly Meeting (location to be determined) helped deliver) helped deliver) Sheila Statlender • Thursday, April 29th: YES Fund Event (location to be determined) Laurie Schneider Alisa Zaref (and family Louise Levine • Wednesday, May 5th at 7:15 PM: Monthly Meeting (location to be determined) Ellen Miller helped deliver) Jennifer Murga • Wednesday, June 2nd at 7:15 PM: Monthly Meeting (location to be determined) Merle Kushner Barbara & Steve Marder Abby Wolf Sue Siegel • Thursday, June 17th: Year End Event. (time and location to be determined) 7 / January-February 2021 / tebeam BROTHERHOOD Brotherhood welcomes Dr. Jonathan Gruber as During the 1997-1998 academic year, Dr. Gruber was on leave as its guest speaker on January 31st at 10:00 AM. Dr. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy at the Treasury Depart- Gruber will discuss his book, Jump-Starting America. ment. From 2003-2006 he was a key architect of Massachusetts’ am- He will review the history of how public spending on bitious health reform effort, and in 2006 became an inaugural member science made America “great”, how it is necessary to of the Health Connector Board, the main implementing keep doing so, and how it can revitalize spending in body for that effort. During 2009-2010 he served as a a way which broadly benefits all parts of our country. technical consultant to the Obama Administration and Brotherhood will be sending out announcements to this worked with both the Administration and Congress to Zoom lecture, so be sure to RSVP. help craft the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. In 2011 he was named “One of the Top 25 Most Dr. Jonathan Gruber is the Ford Professor of Economics at the Massa- Innovative and Practical Thinkers of Our Time” by Slate chusetts Institute of Technology, where he has taught since 1992. He is Magazine. In both 2006 and 2012 he was rated as one also the Director of the Health Care Program at the National Bureau of the top 100 most powerful people in health care in the of Economic Research, and the former President of the American Society United States by Modern Healthcare Magazine. of Health Economists. He is a member of the Institute of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Brotherhood continues to look for ways to entertain the Brotherhood Social Insurance, and the Econometric Society. He has published more membership during these challenging times with various types of than 175 research articles, has edited six research volumes, and is the programs. We always welcome any thoughts or suggestions from our author of Public Finance and Public Policy, a leading undergraduate members. Please keep an eye out for communications from Broth- text, Health Care Reform, a graphic novel, and Jump-Starting America: erhood on upcoming speaker presentations by visiting the Temple How Breakthrough Science Can Revive Economic Growth and the website at www.tempbetham.org. American Dream (with Simon Johnson). In 2006 he received the Amer- Stay safe and healthy, and Happy New Year! ican Society of Health Economists Inaugural Medal for the best health economist in the nation aged 40 and under. Bill Karger and Steve Schneider, Co-Presidents, TBA Brotherhood
TBA Board of Trustees — The Inside Scoop continued from front page
What has the current Board of Trustees accomplished? • Our Wall of Honor, managed by our Finance committee, is Here are some highlights, but by no means everything that the our annual campaign and once again, exceeded the pre-set goal Board has been doing: of $40,000. When I wrote this message, we were about to reach • The Rabbinic Search Committee found and engaged both $60,000. These funds support our operating budget when dues Rav Samuel Blumberg and Cantor David Wolff, and re-imagined are not enough. Thank you! our clergy model to allow them to co-direct our school. • Sisterhood, Brotherhood and Youth are represented on our • The Worship Committee, along with our clergy, worked hard to Board, so that we can keep up with what they are doing, and keep it “business almost as usual” at TBA for the current pandem- support their efforts. ic, so that Shabbat and holidays continued to be celebrated. • Since our building has been closed, allowing only limited entry • Our Caring Committee has helped those in need in a variety of since last March, we have put a tremendous amount of effort into ways, from simple calls to chat, to meal deliveries – true gifts of remodeling. A huge thank you must go to Building & Grounds love and support through tough times. Chair Vivo Moshe, whose personal donation and supervision have made amazing changes possible. • Membership, Marketing and Communications produces our web site and Tebeam, and most of our advertising so that we can We still have two construction projects yet to begin, both super- get the word out that there is a renaissance at TBA. Their success vised by Board members. We must replace the HVAC system can be counted by the excellent attendance we have seen this year. over Friedman Hall and we are awaiting final approvals for a new roof that will be followed by the promised solar project. • Our technical experts have helped us to become proficient in Zoom, allowing us to reach out to non-members wanting to find • And finally, the Pandemic Task Force has begun its work – a Jewish community, to those too ill or infirm to travel to TBA, getting the building as safe as we possibly can for the day that we to family members living at a distance, and to our local members, can freely open our doors. and even to former members, who all remark that it’s nice to join To get all of these things accomplished, and to continue to guide our uplifting and very enjoyable services, socially distanced, from and improve Temple Beth Am, we need YOU. Now is the time to step the comfort of home. up and volunteer to join the Board of Trustees. You can help with any of Zoom has also allowed our teachers to continue on their mission these committees, and more. Why not offer to help our congregation be of educating our children, without interruption. Zoom has hosted the best it can be? Please reach out to me ([email protected]) life cycle events like bnei mitzvah and shiva, and everything in to discuss your interests and perhaps to volunteer. Temple Beth Am will between. reap the benefit of your participation, and so will you! • The School Committee, working with our Clergy, has helped us L’shalom, to adjust to the new situation and fulfill the needs of our children. – Carol Hanover tebeam / January-February 2021 / 8 LIFELONG LEARNING
Lifelong Learning Series UPCOMING CLASSES: with Rav Blumberg January 10, 2021 Comfort and Connection in Jewish Text Sunday evenings February 21, 2021 Esther the Heroine in Jewish Tradition 7:45 PM on Zoom March 21, 2021 Preparing for Passover! The Origins of Customs & Rituals April 11, 2021 TBD (Related to Yom HaZikaron/Yom Ha’atzmaut) Preregistration is not required. If you plan to attend a class, please contact May 23, 2021 Making the Most of Personal Prayer [email protected] for login information. June 27, 2021 The Destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem PROGRAMS & EVENTS The Event Committee has run two very well-attended Virtual Bingo by Mark Stetson of Craft Beer Cellar in Newton, Steph Levine won events in December. What a great way to spend Saturday evenings a gift certificate to theFierce Baker, donated by Rachel Fier, and when all of us are at home looking for some light-hearted entertain- Barbara Marder received the gift certificate to theBagel Table donat- ment. There were lots of laughs and excitement, and everyone enjoyed ed by Ed Eglitis. We are confident that these winners will enjoy the reconnecting with TBA members who they had not seen in a while. delicious cookies, bagels and other treats, and the collection of holiday Howard Schwartz was our “Guest Caller,” although we think that his beers. We hope that our members will continue to support these local identity may have leaked out prior to the event! He kept the mood businesses who made our Virtual Bingo night even more fun through light and amazed many of us with his vast trivia knowledge. Thanks, their donations. Howard, for taking on this position — you certainly “upped” the fun We are very excited to see so many of our members at our events quotient! Thank you also goes to Dan Kessler, who once again skillfully so far this year, and look forward to seeing many more of you at our up- managed the “waiting room” for the Bingo Zoom. We couldn’t run an coming events, to be announced soon. Anyone interested in joining us event without assistance from Ellen Jagher, who did a superb job of to plan future events, or wanting to suggest ideas for events is welcome! managing the sign-ups and publicity. Please contact Ellen Felcher at [email protected]; we would love to The committee thanks Rachel Fier, Ed Eglitis, and Mark Stetson have your participation. for their generous donation of the prizes for our three winners that Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy and safe New Year, night. Emily Manders won the assortment of Chanukah beers donated Ellen Felcher and the Event Committee
We’re excited to soon have this Temple Beth Am artwork prominently displayed Art Project at Temple Beth Am! The estimated cost to complete this artwork was $400.00, and we already have secured donations from five Temple Beth Am congregants. To help defer the cost, we are looking for an additional $200.00. To help us out at any amount, please contact Andrea Geller by email, [email protected]. 9 / January-February 2021 / tebeam Levine Library
THE MITTEN STRING by Jennifer Rosner A heart warming modern Jewish folktale, that will resonate with young readers as well as adults, about a young girl who knits a mitten to help a deaf visitor.
BOOK OF THE MONTH THE WEIGHT OF INK by Rachel Kadish An intriguing, 576 page, historical fiction novel, set both in the 1990s and 1660s. The story centers around ancient documents unearthed during a house renovation in London, and an aging female historian who becomes involved in the mystery of the documents. Winner of the National Jewish Book Awards, published in 2017.
Marsha Massey, TBA Librarian
CYCLES Due to Covid 19 there are currently no regular library hours. Life Please contact the Temple office for specific requests. IN JOY SPECIAL ANNIVERSARIES IN SADNESS Please call the Temple office if you are an anniversary couple We record with deep sorrow the names of those who have died since planning on attending. our last bulletin. May their memory be for a blessing. Date Name Years 1/1/2006 DANIEL AND BETSY FISHMAN 15 THE CONGREGATION MOURNS WITH All couples celebrating a January wedding anniversary will be Ellie Anbinder, on the loss of her dear friend, Carol Kur blessed at the January 22nd service at 7:15 PM. Michael Williams, on the loss of his uncle, Bill Johnson
Date Name Years MEMORIAL PLAQUE 2/18/1961 ARTHUR AND 60 William X. Krisel, father of Lyn Cron, MARLENE SWOTINSKY December 31, 1984-5 Tevet 5745 2/19/1981 LARRY AND MILLIE LAUENGER 40 Alice E. Krisel, mother of Lyn Cron, January 11, 1970-4 Shevat 5730 All couples celebrating a February wedding anniversary will be blessed at the February 5th service at 7:15 PM. tebeam / January-February 2021 / 10
We have exceeded our goal, over 100 Fundraising donors gave generously!
As Temple Beth Am President commented, “It’s amazing! In the current climate, it’s a real accomplishment.” We are so grateful to over 100 Temple Beth Am congregants and friends, who donated to our annual Wall of Honor campaign. We have exceeded our goal and raised $59,200.00, and welcomed 14 first time donors. A special Shabbat service, whether virtual or in-person, will @TBA dedicate and honor this year’s donors. Join Rav Blumberg, Cantor Wolff, the board of trustees, and committees, as we are urging you to be part of Temple Beth Am’s high energy community and “ru’ach.” To be part of this WEBSITE DONATIONS positive momentum for Temple Beth Am’s future, join one of our Temple committees. JUST A CLICK AWAY! Woohoo! We did it, The TBA website can now accept credit card thanks to you donations. Please take advantage of this new capability and all on our website to acknowledge the memory of, or to new donors honor an accomplishment of a friend or a we raised loved one. Go to: www.tempbetham.org $59,200! FUNDRAISING DINNERS Please join our Zoom During the year, there will be fundraising dinners at area programs to stay connected until we can restaurants. The temple receives a portion of all the meet in person. sales. Stay tuned for dates and times.
TREE OF LIFE Your temple is here for you whether in good times or bad. The TREE OF LIFE mounted on the wall of the of Please let Rav Blumberg know what the temple lobby is a favorite way for members to TBA is going on in your life. commemorate “simchas” and honor family members CARES [email protected] and friends. Your gift of leaves ($300) and stones ($1000) will support continuing growth projects in the future. Pledge cards are available in the temple office. Community Volunteer Opportunities: SMILE AMAZON Response to Covid-19 You shop, Amazon donates 0.5% of the price Through Jewish Family Services of of your eligible Amazon Smile purchases to Metrowest, the community is working on a network-wide Temple Beth Am. Amazon Smile is the same Amazon coordinated response for volunteerism. that you know. Support TBA by starting your shopping Visit https://jfsmw.org/volunteer/ at smile.amazon.com. To volunteer through Temple Beth Am, please email TBA President, Carol Hanover: [email protected] SPONSOR FUTURE ONEGS This is a great opportunity for your family to honor Even though our Temple is any type of special occasion or kaddish. Sponsorship officially closed to all scheduled is a $100 donation. For more information contact activities, there are exceptions Patti Frankel via the TBA Office. — 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 For additional information regarding must wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth, maintain 6-foot our fundraising efforts please call the distancing, and be in good health, to your best knowledge. We are doing this because we care about each other, and hope for good temple office at 508-872-8300. health for all. 11 / January-February 2021 / tebeam
Sharon Memorial Park The Premier Jewish Cemetery in New England Heritage – Tradition – Community since 1948
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. 6 / Jan-Feb 2021 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 Union for Reform Judaism, 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 GIFTS TO TEMPLE FUNDS Temple Beth Am gratefully acknowledges the following thoughtful donations received from December 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020
GERALD P. BONDER MEMORIAL FUND DONOR IN MEMORY OF Susan Bonder Nina Abdunabi, daughter of Zaki and Maguerite Abdunabi
MUSIC ENRICHMENT FUND DONOR IN HONOR OF Howard and Wendy Schwartz wishing Lisa Movitz an easy recovery Carol B. Chan the beautiful High Holiday service
DAVID MINDESS SCHOLARSHIP FUND DONOR IN HONOR OF Susan Siegel the Bat Mitzvah of Melanie Cohen, granddaughter of Jeff and Barbara Sands
GENERAL FUND DONOR IN HONOR OF The Schneider Family and in appreciation of the E-Team for a great BINGO night DONOR IN MEMORY OF George and Sheryl Gochros Martin Steltzer Irene Gunner the yahrzeit of my beloved husband, Bernard Gunner Susan, Abie and David Siegel the yahrzeit of our uncle, Samuel Miller John Cook the yahrzeit of Elaine Cook, beloved wife and mother of Sarah Steinberg and Jamie Patterson; grandmother of Will Steinberg, Andrew Steinberg, Ellie Patterson, CJ Patterson, Bram Patterson, Lily Patterson, Bohdi Patterson & Augie Patterson; mother-in-law of Kurt Steinberg & Jim Patterson
LEVINE LIBRARY FUND DONOR IN HONOR OF Michael Form and Jane Karp and in appreciation of Levine Library at Temple Beth Am DONOR IN MEMORY OF Phil and Marsha Massey Fred Pike, beloved husband, father and grandfather of Joanne Pike and family
RABBI EMERITUS GOOD WORKS FUND DONOR IN MEMORY OF Michael Form and Jane Karp and in appreciation of Rabbi Don Splansky
MINDY J. STEINBERG MEMORIAL FUND DONOR IN HONOR OF Norm and Toni Steinberg wishing Bob Goldschmidt a speedy recovery DONOR IN MEMORY OF Norm and Toni Steinberg Donald Frank, beloved husband, father and grandfather Norm and Toni Steinberg Bruce Cohen
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL FUND DONOR IN MEMORY OF Susan Siegel the yahrzeit of my dear friend, Leslie Brenner
TEMPLE BETH AM BUILDING FUND DONOR IN HONOR OF Alain and Carol Hanover the Bat Mitzvah of Melanie Cohen, granddaughter of Jeff and Barbara Sands Alain and Carol Hanover Vivo and Jennifer Moshe and Family for their generosity and beautiful renovations of the temple and school offices