B’NAI B’RITH Returns
B’nai B’rith Breakfast October 16th @ 10:00am at Temple Beth Shalom.
News
JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
Jewish American Month is an annual recognition and celebration of American Jews’ achievements and contributions to the United States of America during the month of May. President George W. Bush first proclaimed the month on April 20, 2006, as a result of cooperation with Senator Arlan Spector (R-PA), as well as the Jewish Museam of Florida and the South Florida Jewish Community. Since then, annual proc;amations have been made by Presidents Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden.
In 2020, the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia repositioned Jewish American Heritage Month to empower communities across the country to celebrate the inspiring history of Jewish people in America; educate diverse public audiences about Jewish culture; and spark crucial conversations about the American Jewish present and future.
President Bush wanted to proclaim a month that recohnize the more than 350-year history of Jewish contributions to American culture. On February 14, 2006, Congress issued House Concurrent Resolution 315 which stated:
“Resolved…that Congress urges the President to issue each year a proclamation calling on State and local governments and the people of the United States to observe an American Jewish History Month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.”
JAHM enables the exploration of the meaning of religious pluralism, cultural diversity, and particpation in American civic culture.
A similar month exists in Florida as Florida Jewish History Month but it occurs in January.
I remember when Sandy Koufax refused to pitch on Yom Kippur.
B’NAI B’RITH Lodge #1515
Welcome to B’NAI B’RITH Lakeland Lodge #1515.
Effective March 20, 2022, Lakeland Lodge will be using the facilities of Temple Beth Shalom in Winter Haven.
They meet on the third Sunday of the month September to June.
Come for Bagels & Lox Breakfast Meeting at 10:00am. $10.00
Contact Robert Baum: rbaum428@gmail.com
SUNDAY MORNING HEBREW CLASSES
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
Polk County History Center
Join us on January 12, 2022 at 1:00pm located at 100 E. Main St, Bartow, Fla.
Admission is FREE!
The History Center Museum, located in the historic Old Polk County Courthouse, includes natural and cultural objects related to Polk County from pre-Columbian to present day eras, The artifacts on display at the museum represent individuals, cultural groups, and events significant to the region.
Contact Beverly Lerner if you wish to attend. Limited to twenty people for the tour.
CANCELLED Cantor Victor Geigner – CANCELLED
Cantor Victor Geigner is a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina. His grandparents
came from Poland and Russia and his parents were born in Argentina. Since he
was very young, he loved music specially singing. At the age of 16 he was hired by
a congregation in Buenos Aires, Temple Bet-Jai, to be their cantor and at the end
of his high school he became a full clergy. From then on, he began a career that
started in Argentina, then continued in Bolivia and later in the United States. In
his beginnings he learned the art of the Jazanut (liturgical song) with the most
prestigious cantors in Argentina. Later he continued his studies at the Latin
American Rabbinical Seminary in the city of Buenos Aires.
In this area, Victor was the spiritual leader of Temple Emanuel of Lakeland for 5
years. Victor has experience in Conservative as well as in Reform Congregations.
After Temple Emanuel, Victor was the cantor at Temple Beth El, a Reform
Congregation in Fort Myers, Florida and later at Temple Beth Am in Seattle where
he remained for almost 5 years.
Victor has participated in countless concerts thorough several Latin American
countries and the United States and Canada, singing in Spanish, Hebrew, Yiddish,
Ladino, English, and Italian.
During his career, Victor realized that being a cantor was not his only love in the
Jewish world. He was always drawn towards different spiritual paths.
Victor has been a teacher of different Judaism topics. However, what always
made him more enthusiastic and gave him a feeling of deep love was teaching
Kabbalah and being a counselor and coach of the many congregants who came to
him for spiritual help and guidance. Victor has some kabbalah groups of studies in
a few congregations throughout the country. The teachings are usually on Zoom
and sometimes in person as well.
Another area where Victor enjoys teaching is training children to become Bar and
Bat Mitzvah. He has some students that learn with him sometimes on Zoom and
sometimes in person.
Tu BiShvat – Plant a Tree
Tu BiShvat is the day that each tree ages a year for the purpose of determining if one can eat from it.
The day is celebrated as an ecological awareness day, and trees are planted in celebration.
We will plant on January 16th @ 1pm. Come and join us. Bring a plant or a tree.
Remember that we do not have an irrigation system. Donate plants or trees that do not need much water.
Jewishpresstampa.com
Get the latest info of Jewish happenings and events in the Tampa Bay area.
Lakeland Jewish History
Google: isjl.org/florida-lakeland-encyclopedia
First result: ISJL – Florida Lakeland Encyclopedia
History of Jews in Lakeland and Winter Haven.
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