URJ AFFILIATED JAN 2021 | TEVET-SHEVAT 5781 | VOLUME 325 Temple Times TEMPLE EMANU-EL | SARASOTA , F LORIDA | FOUNDED 1956 Rabbi’s Message: Our Prayers EDITOR’S NOTE REGARDING Jews are supposed to pray. 2020 gave THE CORONAVIRUS us a lot to pray for and about. We asked All services and events are currently God for safety and peace. We thanked being held virtually or outdoors with God for health and abundance. Yet, safety guidelines in place. Please look something felt different for me this past for news and updates on the temple year. The words of devotion and appeal website and in our Eblasts. felt more global. Perhaps because we are Shabbat Services will be livestreamed all impacted by the pandemic, I found at: WWW.SARASOTATEMPLE.ORG that more often, my prayers included others. Our tradition says this is good. Stay healthy and well. In the Torah, Moses’ Midianite father-in-law, Jethro, offers beautiful words in praise of God. After Moses tells him all that God had done for the Rabbi Michael Shefrin God, help us in 2021 to be like Jethro. Israelites, Jethro offers: “Blessed is the Let us praise You for all that You do and Lord, who rescued you from Egypt and These are good and right ways to pray. offer more prayers with others in mind. the hand of Pharaoh, who delivered We should also make sure to pray Amen. the people from under the hand of the for others. Rabbi Michael Shefrin Egyptians.” (Ex. 18:10) There are so many who need our Do you see what is so special about prayers. Those who are ill, those we his prayer? He offered praise to God, worry about, those who have no one to IN THIS ISSUE not for what had been done for him, pray for them. Even those whose way rather, for what had been done for Mo- of being in the world bothers us can be President’s Message ......................... 2 ses and the people. His worship was on prayed for. Offering prayers with others Brotherhood ...................................... 3 behalf of others. in mind is an act of humility. Sisterhood .......................................... 4 It is good to give thanks for what we I’d like to share something person- Executive Director’s Message ..... 4-5 have in our lives. It is right to ask God al with you. When we offer our silent Member Spotlight ..............................7 for what we need. Jethro receives extra prayers as a community during services, Caring for Our Seniors ..................... 8 praise in the Talmud because his prayer my prayers are focused on others. They Kaplan Scholar-in-Residence Announced ... 8 to God is focused on others. are focused specifically on you. I ask Virtual Veterans Shabbat ................. 9 Much of our liturgy is written in God to look after you, to answer your Starfish Programs Continue.............11 the plural. Many Jewish prayers are for prayers, to give you everything that you Learning About “Empires of Israel” ... 12 the community, which includes each want and need. Jethro taught me to do Special Temple Livestream Moments ... 15 one of us. Our ancient sages brilliantly this. Perhaps you will do the same. Social Action News ..........................16 structured our prayers this way. As well, As we enter this new year, still phys- TEEM Plugged In .............................. 17 each of us, in our own words of prayer, ically distant from others, let us seek to Jacob Maggard Bar Mitzvah ............18 make requests on behalf of our families be closer to God and to others through Adult Education Update ..................19 and our world, which again, includes us. our prayer. Photo Galleries ........................... 21-23 support our hospitalized temple mem- President’s Message bers and those in short term rehab cen- Hanukkah Sameach to my temple fami- ters with phone calls and on-site visits ly. I hope your festival lights during this whenever feasible. holiday have brought you a sense of re- Long time chair and former temple flection and appreciation of the life and president Michael Richker, has an- liberties we all enjoy. Throughout this nounced he is stepping down as chair pandemic the rabbis continue to lead of the Philanthropy Committee after services with occasional guest speakers serving in that capacity since 2007. In and musical soloists. In addition, com- that year, the committee was formed Jeff Kessler mittees are bringing forward innovative and Michael stepped up to be its leader. and interesting programs for all to enjoy. Through a majority of his efforts, the As Immediate Past President he will re- Going into 2021, we can look for- Cornerstone Society has grown to main on the board through June, 2021 ward to more interesting programs via approximately 103 families. Michael’s and plans to attend board meetings via livestream, zoom and in-person outdoor business background enabled him to zoom although the 7hr time difference events. Stay tuned for those outdoor in look at the temple as a business and will make it a late night. On behalf of person events. every temple member as a customer that the board we wish them both safe travels As many things stay the course, we needed to be treated with courtesy and and safe keeping. Ken’s presence on the also have exciting announcements and respect. Michael walked the talk and board will be missed but not forgotten. changes that make our temple stronger that was evident with every role he took Thanks Ken and Tanice for all you have and create greater value for our mem- on over the last 13 years. Michael served done for Temple Emanu-El over the past bers. At the November Board of Trustees on the temple board from 2006-2016 number of years. meeting I announced that Jeff Kessler as 1st vice president, president and As this is my last message of the has accepted the position of Chair of the trustee. In addition, he chaired galas, 2020 year I wish all of you a Happy and Technology Committee. During the past participated in our three renovation Healthy New Year, and let’s all hope that projects and was a member of numerous year, temple members, Ronni Loundy we will be together in person praying, other committees. Michael’s interest and Dr. Gayle Yaverbaum have assisted and socializing real soon. many members with accessing zoom and is in insuring that the temples finan- dealing with a variety of smartphone cial integrity is first and foremost. His Barry Gerber, issues. Thanks to both Ronni and Gayle presence at monthly board meetings is President for their dedication and efforts particu- his way to stay informed. Michael may larly during the high holidays. Jeff will have stepped away from be initially working on establishing goals the responsibilities of the for the committee and reaching out for Philanthropy Committee Sisterhood Presents members wishing to join. but I’m sure he will main- Jeff has worked in the information tain a certain presence A Virtual Tour of technology field his entire career, after here at the temple. We graduating from New York University need more Michael Rich- with a MBA in Information Systems. ker’s!! Thank you Michael He started his career as a programmer/ on behalf of the board analyst and held a number of jobs in the and the entire temple for industry, both as an individual contrib- what you have done to utor and in management. Eventually, he make Temple Emanu-El focused on the healthcare industry, serv- the vibrant and successful ing in senior management positions for temple it is today. Save the Date several hospitals. He finished his career, Other news to report retiring in 2017, as the Chief Infor- is bittersweet. Ken Marsh Tuesday, February 16 mation Officer of Dana Farber Cancer and Tanice Knopp have Institute in Boston after 16 years as the informed us of their deci- at 1:30 pm CIO. Please join me in welcoming Jeff as sion to relocate to Israel. the new Technology Committee Chair. They have been accepted A Zoom Event Barbara Gerber has accepted the role to become Israeli citizens and the process will begin as chair of Hospital Visitations with the Register at recent passing of our special friend and in late January for Ken www.sarasotatemple.org former temple president, Renee Gold. and then Tanice will fol- Barbara and the committee members low him sometime later. 2 JAN 2021 | TEVET-SHEVAT 5781 | VOLUME 325 WWW.SARASOTATEMPLE.ORG 3 by invitation, so if you’re interested send an email to Burgess Temple Emanu-El Levin at [email protected]. The Sports interest group Brotherhood is exploring four options: a sports trivia night, fantasy foot- ball, a college basketball March Madness pool (with play $$), and, when conditions permit, outdoor softball. Your feedback If you haven’t already and suggestions are welcome. Please contact Ken Simon at seen it, let me call your [email protected]. The Theater group for the foreseeable attention to our new future will focus on play-readings, having recently read and emergency exit system, enjoyed sketches from the show “Oy”. If you are interested recently completed with in participating, or being in our audience, please contact me guard rails (see photo, at [email protected]. We meet monthly on Thursday right). When you’re in afternoons from 2:30-4:30 pm. the neighborhood, stop Rich Fine, by the campus, and Brotherhood President admire. Brotherhood is proud to have helped make this a reality. As we head into 2021, Brotherhood sends to you, your family, and loved ones our wishes for a happy, healthy and New exit ramp at Temple Emanu-El Covid-free new year, and our hopes for a less stressful year WELCOME! ahead.