Game Day and Barbecue! Sun Jan 25 12:30 pm — CONFIRM ASAP

January 12, 2026 by • ,

Sunday January 25th, 2026 at 12:30 p.m.
Sponsored by the Brotherhood/Sisterhood
Enjoy a fun afternoon. All are invited!
Come dressed as your favorite western character
Catered by Sonny’s BBQ
Choice of Chicken $12.00
Brisket $15.00
Includes three sides
Please make out your check to Temple Beth Shalom Brotherhood
P.O.Box 313  Winter Haven, FL 33882
If you have any questions contact Polly Weinmann 
at 540-793-3543 or Mom2furkids1@gmail.com or
Sandi Grinker at
863-207-7440 or Sandigrinker@gmail.com
Please RSVP by Tuesday January 13th, 2026

Torah Study and Shabbat Service — Sat Jan 10, 9:15 am and 10:15 am

January 8, 2026 by •

Hello Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, we usually make some resolutions to develop ourselves further at the High Holidays, but if the secular new year is meaningful to you, now comes your opportunity!  This Saturday, January 10 brings our first Torah Study and Shabbat Service of 2026.  If you are committed to learn more about the Torah, to do the mitzvot, and to strengthen your connection to your Jewish community, if not now, when?

This Saturday’s Shabbat morning activities begin with Torah Study with Rabbi Guyster at 9:15, and is followed by a Shabbat service at 10:15.  We welcome you in our synagogue building or in our virtual synagogue through our Zoom link, please contact us for the link.

January 2026 Chai Lites!

January 1, 2026 by • , ,

Happy New Year Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends!  Our Editor Ethan Feldman along with support from Lorraine Mixter drew up a terrific issue of the Chai Lites to start your new month and year off right.  There is a fond review of events from last month, and lots of great plans coming up.

2026Jan Chai Lites-1

Todah Rabah al Hanukah!

December 22, 2025 by • ,

Dear Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, we couldn’t wait to thank many of you for the lovely Hanukah dinner and service we enjoyed on Friday night.  Special thanks to:

Krystal Rose, for staying late to help put everything away, clean up, and close the building
Lee Ann Martinez, for helping to set up and serve, as you so often do
Uriah Rose, for helping to set up and serve
Arlene Greenberg, for organizing and taking reservations, and for so much that you do
Sharon Johnson, for being a team player and serving with a smile 
Diana Kramer, for always being there to help until it’s done, and carrying away the trash after these events, you are an unsung heroine
Bobby Baum, for baking the challah and other delicious things
Rabbi Guyster, for being the serving rabbi
and Lorraine Mixter, for doing so much to prepare this dinner and make it beautiful, for investing so much of your talent, time, energy and we know your food too!
 
Everyone else, thank you so much for coming and continuing to make Temple Beth Shalom the home we want to return to again and again.  Wishing you blessings for the rest of the holiday and for 2026.

Chanukah Celebration and Shabbat Service — Fri Dec 19, 6 PM

December 17, 2025 by • , ,

Hello Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, Chag Sameach!  We eagerly anticipate this Friday’s Chanukah Dinner and Celebration, and Shabbat Service with you.  Dinner begins at 6 pm, when we will light our menorahs, and share in great food, songs, and fun.  There will be a traditional Shabbat Service following at about 7:00 pm.

We will have the activities and service available for viewing on Zoom, please contact us for the link.

Chanukah Dinner Volunteers needed

December 17, 2025 by • , ,

Hello Temple Beth Shalom Congregation, we need some volunteers to help set up our Chanukah Dinner, serve, and clean up afterward.  If you can come early this Friday to help out, please let Lorraine Mixter know at lorrainemixter@aol.com.

Hanukah Celebration and Shabbat Service — Fri Dec 19, 6 pm

December 8, 2025 by • , ,

Hello Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, we are in the season to celebrate!  There is still time to reserve a seat at our Hanukah celebration on Friday, December 19 at 6 pm.  Hanukah + Shabbat, what could be better?

Sat Dec 6 — Torah Study, Shabbat Service, and Baby Naming! — TIME ADJUSTED — 9 AM/10:15 AM

December 3, 2025 by •

Hello again Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, here is a minor time correction: Torah Study is moved up to 9:00 am and the service begins at 10:15 am to accommodate the additional activity we have planned.  Please note the correct times.

Hello Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, next time we meet is an especially joyous occasion!  We will begin at 9:00 in the morning on Saturday, December 6 with Torah Study, which we have been enjoying.  Following that and a brief break, at 10:15 am we are delighted to share in the naming of the Feldman family’s new infant daughter, granddaughter, and niece.  We hope you will join Ethan and Ventura with their family in welcoming Bexleigh into our Jewish community.  The morning’s activities will all be in our synagogue building and simultaneously available through the Zoom link, please contact us for the link.

December Chai Lites

November 30, 2025 by • ,

Shavua Tov, Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, another month of observance, celebration, and togetherness is approaching!  Thanks to your contributions and the talents of our co-editor, Lorraine Mixter, we have a lovely and informative December 2025 issue of the Chai Lites for you to enjoy and ready you for all your congregation has to offer.  Look inside for columns from Rabbi Guyster and our President, Uriah Rose.  We are looking forward with delight to the Feldman family’s baby naming on December 6 and our Chanukah dinner and celebration on December 19.  Check those out and look out for the announcements as those dates get closer.

2025Dec Chai Lites

The Chai Lites Needs Your Content

November 24, 2025 by •

Hello Temple Beth Shalom Congregation, our Chai Lites Editors are preparing our December issue and need your content.  Send in your monthly articles, columns, updates, photos, and messages.  If you have something special for Hanukah we’d love to see it!  Send these to Lorraine Mixter at lorrainemixter@aol.com.

1 2 3 4›»

From the Union For Reform Judaism / Reform Movement

When Antisemitism Comes to School

When Antisemitism Comes to School jemerman

Antisemitism and Hate Crimes
Photo of a girl at her locker, while other kids in the background are looking at a phone
This was not the first time a stranger or acquaintance asked for guidance or a listening ear. I've been approached with concerns about antisemitism in schools, at the grocery store, and even after exiting the bathroom at my temple.

Embracing Love at Any Age

Embracing Love at Any Age jemerman

Aging
Photo of an elderly couple embracing and walking down the sidewalk
One woman's story of embracing vulnerability and finding love after loss.

Launching Them

Launching Them jemerman

Lifecycle Rituals
Photo of a mother and daughter embracing as the daughter goes to college
A mother reflects on marking her daughter's departure for college and the solace rituals offer.

Addressing Antisemitism and Racism

Addressing Antisemitism and Racism urjadmin

Racial Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (REDI) Communities of Belonging
Masked protesters stand with a sign that says "Justice, Justice, You Shall Pursue" with the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter
Following the atrocities of October 7, 2023 in Israel, and amidst ongoing death and destruction in Gaza, we face surging antisemitism - indeed, the highest rates of documented antisemitism in at least 46 years.