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Dear Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, Happy Valentines’ Day!  We care for you and want you in our lives today and every day,    On that note, we hope you are well and will be with us this Shabbat starting with services in our building or on Zoom on Friday, February 16 at 7:30 pm.  This will be our New Member Service, honoring individuals and families who joined our congregation in the last year.  Help us to show how much we appreciate them and all of our members, and if you have not formally joined yet, see how wonderful and easy it is!  If you have questions about membership, feel free to ask President Lorraine Mixter or any of our other Board officers or trustees, as listed in the Chai Lites.

Hello Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, please enjoy the attached, new issue of the Chai Lites, just in time for February 2024.  We appreciate the efforts of our columnists and contributors, and especially our President and Editor, Lorraine Mixter.  Look for links for this Shabbat’s activities, coming soon!

Speaker: Professor Emeritus Howard Kerner

Subject:  HEROES OF THE HOLOCAUST: WHY DON’T WE KNOW THE NAMES OF THE GOOD?

Date:  Saturday, January 27, 2024,10 – 11:30 am,

Legacy Christian Church, Classrooms 7 & 8,

901 West Beacon Road, Lakeland, FL

During the Holocaust, a time when doing good was illegal and punishable by death, there were still men and women of all ages, countries, religions and political affiliations who listened to a “higher law” than the law of the land and chose goodness by risking their lives to rescue persecuted people. These mostly unknown “lawbreakers” displayed extraordinary courage and creativity to save mostly total strangers from certain death.  In this uplifting presentation, we will learn not only about inspiring human goodness in the past but also some vital life lessons for the present and future.

Howard Kerner, Professor Emeritus of English and Speech at Polk State College, has published numerous articles on literature and drama. In recent years, his research has focused on Rescuers of the Holocaust, the subject of a variety of courses he has taught for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at USF and at Eckerd College.

The lecture is free and open to the public. Polk County Archaeology Club leaders Richard Geringswald (863-859-2984) and Kathleen Riley (863-299-8430) invite all interested adults to attend.

Good evening Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, in a week of endings and beginnings we have a new issue of the Chai Lites for you, for January 2024.  Many thanks to our columnists and regular content contributors, especially to our Editor and President, Lorraine Mixter.  It was a busy time of holidays and transitions.

Dear Temple Beth Shalom Congregation, we received the sad news this morning that our friend Philip Grinker passed last night.  Our hearts are with Sandi, Rick, Debbie, and their extended family as they prepare to lay Phil to rest.  As many of you know, Phil had a long illness and he expressed gratitude daily for the time he had to continue serving his synagogue and the community.  Phil was a mensch, warm and kind, a model of what it is to do tikkun olam; and we are grateful for the time he gave to us as well.