Community

September Chai Lites!

September 1, 2025 by • ,

Hello Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, the September Chai Lites are here to bring you all the way into 5786!  Our Past President and Past Editor, Lorraine Mixter, once again did a beautiful job in just a little time.  Arlene Greenberg is our behind-the-scenes photojournalist who submitted all of the lovely pictures from the Meet and Greet with Rabbi Guyster last month.  

 
This issue is your opportunity to respond to all that is calling in these significant times — to support your synagogue,  congregation, and community with your time, resources, and acts.  Don’t wait to:
  • Confirm your attendance at the September 13 Selichot Dinner and Service
  • Confirm your attendance on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and tell us how you will help us bring in the New Year and make our Day of Atonement its most meaningful.  Rabbi Guyster calls you to the bimah to contribute to the services however you can.  
  • Join our congregation and one or more committees!
We are inspired by how so many on our Board and in our congregation and community have stepped forward in the last challenging year and can’t wait to share the holidays with you.

Selichot Dinner and Service — Sat Sept 13, 6 PM

August 22, 2025 by • ,

Hello Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, a correction on the flyer for our Selichot Dinner and Service with Rabbi Guyster on Saturday, September 13 at 6:00 pm — the dinner prices are corrected ($12 for Members, $15 for Non–Members).  Looking forward to this event with you!

Selichot Dinner 5786 with Rabbi Guyster

September 13, 2025

6 pm

Pasta Dinner

Variety of pastas and sauces

Salad

Bread

Dessert

$12 members

$15 non-members

Please RSVP by September 5th to:

Lorraine Mixter at: 863-409-8509 or lorrainemixter@aol.com

Please send your check to;

P.O. Box 313, Winter Haven Florida 33882-0313

OR thru Zelle to: web@templebethshalompolk.org

Meet Rabbi Will Guyster — Sun Aug 24, 11:00 am

August 13, 2025 by • ,

Dear Members and Friends, Temple Beth Shalom has a new Rabbi!  Please join us on Sunday, August 24 at 10:45 am.  There will be a presentation by the Board and Rabbi Guyster at 11:00 am, with light lunch to follow.

August 2025 Chai Lites

July 31, 2025 by • ,

Hello Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, there’s so much for you to see in the August Chai Lites!  You just have to look inside for information on the upcoming Brotherhood/Sisterhood meeting and bagels (Sunday, August 3 at 10 am), the new picture of Bexleigh Feldman (she is a cutie!), announcement about our Meet and Greet with Rabbi Guyster on August 24, lay services, and more!  Thanks once again to Past President and Past Editor Lorraine Mixter for preparing another fantastic newsletter, and for all your contributions.

2025AugChai Lites

Request for Chai Lites Content

July 25, 2025 by •

Hello Temple Beth Shalom Congregation, Past President and Editor Lorraine Mixter is kindly continuing the Chai Lites production for the coming month.  Please send articles, columns, photos, messages, and updates to her at lorrainemixter@aol.com by Monday, July 28.

July 2025 Chai Lites

July 1, 2025 by • ,

Hello Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, the July 2025 issue of the Chai Lites is here!  The last month was a difficult one with more sadness than we wanted for the start of our Summer, but because of all of you we also had much sweetness.  We so appreciate Lorraine Mixter for jumping in to prepare this issue while Ethan took time with his family, and we thank her and all of you for filling the newsletter with the things that make us smile and keep us together.

2025JulyChai Lites

Baruch Dayan haEmet: Sandra Gasson

June 20, 2025 by •

Dear Temple Beth Shalom Members, please receive this notice and join in giving comfort to the family and friends of Sandra Gasson, who recently departed us.  Sandy was a longtime member of both our and Temple Emanuel’s congregations, an important source of support to our Jewish community, and a delightful participant in our Mah Jongg club.  She faithfully attended almost every service and social occasion, and was lovely to see and talk with.

 
Funeral services will be on Tuesday, June 24 at 10 am in the Temple Emanuel section of Oak Hill Cemetery at 4620 US 98 South in Lakeland, 33812.  Rabbi Will Guyster will officiate.  
 
Shiva will be at the home of Debra and Jay Adelman, daughter-in-law/son of Sandy Gasson on the same day, June 24 at 6 pm. The address is 905 Flag Court in Auburndale, 33823.  Please attend if you can to bring the sacredness and Mourner’s Kaddish, and to honor Sandy’s memory.
HaMamkom yenachem etchem b’toch sh’ar avelai Tziyon v’Yerushalayim.
May God comfort you among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

Joseph Rodriguez Celebration of Life — Sun Jun 22, 4:30 pm

June 19, 2025 by •

Dear Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, please join us to celebrate the memory of our recently departed president and friend, Mr. Joseph Rodriguez.  We will gather at our synagogue building on Sunday, June 22 at 4:30 pm to share in Joseph’s legacy, all that he built with us as a Temple Beth Shalom and Brotherhood/Sisterhood member and leader.  Joseph often said how much the friendship in these organizations meant to him, and we enjoyed his good humor and the activities he planned.  We will commit to carrying these things on with him in our hearts and minds.

 
If you have any questions, please contact organizer Sandi Grinker at sandigrinker@gmail.com.  If you are unable to travel to the synagogue for any reason, you may join us through Zoom, please contact us for the link.

June 2025 Chai Lites

June 3, 2025 by • ,

Dear Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, join us in thanking Ethan Feldman for preparing this significant issue of the Chai Lites, and his first one as our new Editor.  He did a great job in organizing and sharing our memories of Rabbi Herzfeld upon his retirement.  He also had to make edits upon our receiving the news we never wanted, the unfortunate and sudden passing of our president and friend, Joseph Rodriguez.  Please see Joseph’s last column.

2025JuneChaiLites

Dinner with the Rabbi — Fri May 30, 6 PM

May 7, 2025 by • ,

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