URJ AFFILIATED SEP 2021 | ELUL-TISHREI 5781/5782 | VOLUME 331 Temple Times TEMPLE EMANU-EL | SARASOTA , FLORIDA | FOUNDED 1956 Rabbi’s Message: Family Social Hall. There is nothing Elementary. He even gave the students cuter than Tot Shabbat kiddos singing recorders as gifts so they could create A Gift of Music “Bim Bam, Shabbat Shalom, Hey!” their own music. Alvan and music The music in our community were a duet until his final days. Music is a beloved artform. A great brings us together. Before he died, Alvan, and his dear song evokes emotion or memory. A Music was a great love of Dr. Alvan wife Suzy, chose to secure his legacy at beautiful performance can bring us a Morris, who died this July. “Dr. Al” the temple by establishing the Alvan state of calm or ecstasy. The right mel- was imbued with the spirit of music Morris Music Fund. This generous ody inspires us to dance or sing into a since his earliest years. A musician act of tzedakah will ensure live perfor- state of elevation. When music fills our from the age of 3, one of his great joys mances and sacred melodies for years ears, it opens our hearts. was sharing his knowledge and passion to come. This fund continues Alvan’s The Hebrew word sulam translates for music with others. He taught our sacred work of offering music education to both “musical scale” and “ladder”. temple family about Jewish entertain- for the next generation. This gift helps This helps us understand how it can ers and composers. As part of our Star- to keep music central at the temple. link the earth and the heavens. Music fish Initiative, he used his keyboard to If you are so moved and would like to can be a connector to the Divine. generate gigantic smiles on the faces donate to the Alvan Morris Music Fund, Music is central at Temple Emanu-El. of the young children at Wilkinson please call the office or visit our website. During this High Holiday season, The Talmud teaches “where there we will again experience the majes- is song, there is prayer” (BT Berakhot tic tones of our full choir and organ. COVID RELIEF FUND IS AVAILABLE 6a). Thank you to Alvan z”l and Suzy During recent days, we have been When Covid-19 initially started, several temple members contacted temple for the gift of song. On behalf of the moved by the transcendent voices leadership to inquire about how they temple, I offer a prayer of gratitude. of our soloists as we prayed together could help. Due to the caring and virtually on Shabbat and holidays. generous nature of our members, the Rabbi Michael Shefrin In recent years, we have been wowed Covid Relief Fund was established. by jazz and classical musicians filling Members gave to the fund and gave IN THIS ISSUE the air with melody in the Benderson generously. For well over a year, money has been given to members who were President’s Message ......................... 2 financially impacted by Covid-19. The Executive Director’s Message ......... 3 fund has provided payments for rent, New Temple Times Committee ....... 3 utilities, car loans, mortgages, medical Brotherhood .................................. 4-5 care, food, and more. Funds are still Sisterhood .......................................... 6 available! Please contact me so your Endowment Fund Message ...............7 temple family can help you during Celebrating 65 Years ........................ 8 these challenging times. A Chat w/Liana Sheintal Bryant ....... 9 This amazing support was made New Members Host Gathering ......10 possible by every person who donated! Sisterhood Gift Shop .......................10 Thank you. What a beautiful display High Holiday Food Drive ..................11 of tikkun olam! Adult Education Update .................. 12 PS-Since there are remaining dollars What’s New with the Israel Comm. 13 in the Covid Relief Fund, if you are Library ............................................... 13 inclined to donate, please consider Summer Camp ..................................14 donating to another area of temple Under 55-ish .....................................16 that is more in need. Time to Rejoice................................. 17 Most sincerely, Tragedy in Surfside ........................... 17 Christine Elliott / Executive Director Photo Galleries ...........................18-25 Rabbi Michael Shefrin President’s Message: Welcome Back Temple Friends Bringing you this September message are stronger together. is ever so special. Many of us will be Rabbi Glickman in July officiat- together celebrating Rosh Hashanah ed with the installation of our new and Yom Kippur by either Lives- board for the years 2021-2022. I’m tream or in person. To my temple pleased to present two of our newest family I wish you a L’ShanaTova. trustees and they are Joanne Haiby May you be inscribed and sealed for and Dennis Reens: a good and sweet year. Joanne Haiby has been a member When I assumed the role of at TEE for over six years. She has president in July 2020, Covid was been very active with FRAC, Adult in full force. By July, the temple Education and the Membership had already pivoted, and all reli- committees. She grew up in Long gious services and events were being Island, married, and has a daughter. held by either Zoom or livestream. She worked in her husband Bill’s pe- During my first meeting of the board diatric practice for 25 years. She did of trustees, I presented the following find time to belong to a reform tem- Barry Gerber question to the board: What will ple on Long Island where she served Product Services. Before joining the be our congregation’s narrative after in the capacity of a board member board, Dennis was the chair of the this time? How will we tell the story and president. That experience will Financial Review Committee. When of our congregation and the time of serve her well and benefit us at TEE. asked why you would like to join Covid-19? What will be our story? When asked why you would like to the board Dennis said, “I have been Well, 18 months later Covid is still join the board she said, “Because I a member of the temple for nearly here and Temple Emanu-El is stron- think I have something to offer”. Yes, 10 years, and it is time to give back ger and more connected than ever the nominating committee felt the to the temple. With my financial before. Remarkably, we finished the same way. Welcome aboard! acumen, I can assist in the long-term year in great financial shape with Dennis Reens grew up in financial planning of the temple”. a surplus due to the generosity of Queens, N.Y. He is married to Karla Mazel Tov to both Joanne and many of our temple members and and has two boys and five grand- Dennis and on behalf of the Board good financial management by our children. Dennis went to The State of Trustees we look forward to your treasurer and professional staff. Our University of NY-New Paltz. His participation in board decisions. rabbis and committees continued to professional career lasted 32 years It is with sadness that I announce produce and hold great programs via before retiring to Sarasota in 2011. that Fae Beloff, temple’s Financial livestream and Zoom. While temples The last 20 years he worked for Secretary will be relocating to the across the country were seeing mem- Merrill Lynch Investment Manager Denver area to be closer to family in berships drop anywhere from 5-25% (MLAM) where he held numerous the very near future. Fae has served we at TEE only saw a 2% drop in management positions. His last posi- admirably in that role for the past membership from year to year. Todah tion was Vice President of Sales and three years. Fae and her Financial Rabah to all those who helped us Advisory Committee assists current during these unprecedented times. and prospective members to meet Temple Emanu-El’s story is one of their financial obligations. Fae will be perseverance, connectivity and com- missed for both her leadership and mitment to its mission, vision and commitment to the job. On behalf values. With the help of our three of the board, I wish Fae the best of rabbis, board of trustees, executive luck and good health in the future. director, volunteers, and the entire You will be missed. professional staff we have weathered Barry Gerber the storm and have proved that we Dennis Reens & Joanne Haiby Temple President 2 SEP 2021 | ELUL-TISHREI 5781/5782 | VOLUME 331 WWW.SARASOTATEMPLE.ORG 3 Executive Welcome to Our Director’s Message New Temple Times Do Overs and Committee New Beginnings After many years, Alan Zuckerman The Jewish faith has so many inge- decided to step down as the editor nious elements to it. When members of the Temple Times. If you read share stories with me about how the Temple Times, you have Alan to Judaism has inspired, comforted, en- thank for organizing the volunteer tertained, and even confused them, staff, setting standards, editing the it makes me stop and take notice. articles, dealing with advertisers, I find these personal moments are communicating with our temple shared with me at just the right time. staff, and having our Temple Ema- Recently, when I was worried about nu-El newsletter be one of the best in one of my children, poof, Phyllis Christine Elliott the country. shows up and tells me a story about excitement is what we need, right If you live in the greater Saraso- one of her children that sets me back now, in this moment. Life may look ta area, or are a member who lives on course knowing everything is different, but life has continued on outside of the area, we know that the okay.