Community

November Chai Lites

November 1, 2025 by • ,

Shavua Tov Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends!  Thank you to all who contributed to this month’s issue of the Chai Lites, and many thanks for Co-Editor Lorraine Mixter’s diligent work and improvements.  Look inside to see about upcoming events in your Jewish community.

2025Nov Chai Lites

Baruch Dayan haEmet: Joseph Rodriguez

June 1, 2025 by •

Dear Temple Beth Shalom Congregation, it is with great sadness we report to you the sudden passing of our friend and congregational leader, Joseph Rodriguez.  Joseph had just resumed the role of temple President at the beginning of May and did a great deal of work in just the last few months on the future of Temple Beth Shalom.  Joseph was also an important part of leadership for the Brotherhood/Sisterhood and planned a number of enjoyable and meaningful events to give additional life to that group.  His humor and camaraderie will be dearly missed.  

i thank You God for most this amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun’s birthday; this is the birth
day of life and of love and wings: and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any–lifted from the no
of all nothing–human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)
e.e. cummings

 

In Recognition of Rabbi Herzfeld’s Service to TBS

April 30, 2025 by • ,

Dear Temple Beth Shalom Congregation, by now you would have heard of the retirement of our longest-serving rabbi, Garson Herzfeld.  Rabbi Herzfeld had the longest term, consecutively or not, with Temple Beth Shalom of any rabbi since our congregation formed 40 years ago.  By a lot.  If you ask Rabbi Herzfeld why or how he came to be with us this length of time when so many others found better opportunities or more convenience, or something else to do; when there were so many stressors (economic challenges, hurricanes, personal illnesses, miles to travel, problems to solve, family changes, Covid)…he might say because he valued our little, warm Jewish community and our relationships.  We might say the same.

 
Rabbi Herzfeld’s last service with us will be on Friday, May 30, and we will have dinner in his honor.  We hope you will join us then.  
 
We would like to prepare a meaningful gift for Rabbi Herzfeld, with a contribution from each of you to remember us.  We’ll compile a booklet of any of the stories, photos, messages, acknowledgements, anything you will share about Rabbi’s time with us.  What did he teach you?  What was unique about his services, Torah Study, holidays?  What is a fond memory?  Please collect and email as much as you can to us by Friday, May 16 so we can prepare the gift for the end of the month.

Hanukah Celebration Friday Dec 27, 6 pm

December 15, 2024 by • ,

Get Ready To Light The Candles! 

  Hanukah Celebration

Learn about Jewish resistance and survival.

Gather at the table with friends, songs, a Chanukah play and lots of food to eat.

Bring your menorah for the candle lighting. We will provide the candles.

Dinner is followed by a play written by

 our resident author, Beverly Lerner.

Friday evening, December 27th at 6:00 pm

 Dinner will be catered by Love Bird Almost Famous

Fried or Grilled Chicken, Vegetables, Potato Latkes, Drinks and Dessert.

Hanukah Gelt and Dreidels included!

Members $12.00. Non-Members and Guests $15.00.

No cost for children five and under.

Please RSVP no later than December 22th.

Your check is your reservation. Send your check to Temple Beth Shalom

P.O. Box 313, Winter Haven, FL 33882

For more information or for reservations: lorrainemixter@aol.com

863-409-8509

October 2024 Chai Lites

October 2, 2024 by • ,

L’Shana Tovah, Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends!  Somehow through waiting out a hurricane, preparing for the High Holidays, and carrying on all of our usual synagogue business, our Editor and team managed to prepare a lovely issue of the Chai Lites for you!  There are lovely updates and valuable information about our High Holiday schedule of services.  We look forward to seeing you this week for Rosh Hashanah and later this month for Yom Kippur.  This is an important time for us to come together with all that is happening in the country and in the world, so many thanks to all whom contributed to these activities and this newsletter.

2024OctChai Lites

Rath Senior ConNEXTion Summit April 16

March 25, 2024 by •

Hello Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, see the attached opportunity for the Rath Senior ConNEXTion Center Healthy Aging Summit on April 16.

Bye Bye Birdie — March 17 2:30 pm

February 10, 2024 by •

Join the Temple Beth Shalom Brotherhood/Sisterhood 

Bye Bye Birdie

March 17th, 2024

2:30 pm

Haines City Cultural Arts Center
in beautiful Lake Eva Park. 
303 Ledwith Ave
Haines City, FL 33844

Cost is $20.00 For Brotherhood/Sisterhood Members

$22 for non Brotherhood/Sisterhood members

Parking:

There is a small parking lot in the front of the cultural arts center as well as a parking lot around the backside of the building off of 3rd street. Street parking is also available.

Accessibility: please let Beverly know if you need special accommodation as there are few wheelchair accessible seats.

Make payment to:

Beverly Lerner, 65 Pilot Place, Winter Haven, 33881

bevlerner@aol.com  863-294-6042

Payment must be received by March 10th, 2024.

SUNDAY MORNING HEBREW CLASSES

February 21, 2022 by • , , ,

Hello Temple Beth Shalom Members and Freinds, Hebrew Class is coming back by popular demand!

We are proposing to resume on Sunday, February 27 at 10:oo am. 

All who are interested in Hebrew are welcome. We meet in the temple library, but there is plenty of space to allow proper social distancing and two  or more levels of learning! Reply to this message to let us know if you’re coming so we can plan.

web@templebethshalompolk.org