Services

Shabbat Jan 17-18

January 15, 2025 by •

Hello Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, it is still cool outside, but the light and friendship of our synagogue are always warm!  We meet again for Shabbat services with Rabbi Herzfeld on Friday, January 17 at 7:30 pm.  We will enjoy our traditional Shabbat service with Meryl Crews’ vocal accompaniment.  You can attend with us in the building, and the service will be available via the Zoom link. Please contact us for the Zoom link. Remember if there are names you wish to have added to the Mi Shebeirach list, send them to Secretary Margo Fleisher at margosfb@hotmail.com, or 863-873-8969. 

 
Torah Study follows on Saturday, January 18 at its later time, 10:00 am.  We will again meet in the synagogue building, but will also be available through the same Zoom link. Please contact us for the Zoom link.

Shabbat/Chanukah — Dec 27-28

December 25, 2024 by • , , ,

Chag Chanukah Sameach Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends!  We light the first candle in our homes tonight at sundown.  It will be the third night of Chanukah when we meet this Friday, December 27, and we will light the three candles together.  Our Board members and their helpers have a lovely dinner planned to start at 6:00 pm.  If you plan to come to dinner but have not advised the planners, let Lorraine Mixter at lorrainemixter@aol.com know ASAP.

 
Along with delicious food and friendship, we will have songs and an entertaining skit Beverly Lerner authored to share with you.  After dinner and singing, we will have a short, traditional Shabbat service.  The service will be on Zoom as well as in the sanctuary, for anyone unable to make it in for the on-site festivities.
 
Your Secretary, Margo Fleisher, took over the Mi Shebeirach list so you can send any additions to her at margosfb@hotmail.com or 863-873-8969.
 
We are trying a later time for our hybrid on-site/Zoom Torah Study session.  Torah Study will meet on Saturday, December 28 at 10:00 am.  The Zoom link will work for both the service and the Torah Study. Contact us for the link. 

Member-Led Service — Sat Dec 14, 11:00 am

December 12, 2024 by •

Hello Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, you can keep your congregational spirit warm this season by attending this Saturday’s Member-Led Shabbat Service with our esteemed President, Lorraine Mixter on December 14 at 11:00 am.  This service will be in-person only (no Zoom).  It is sure to be another lovely and meaningful experience.  The group plans to meet for lunch after the service at Azteca in Winter Haven for all who are interested.

Shabbat Nov 22-23

November 20, 2024 by •

Hello Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends!  Shabbat always comes, and we have another opportunity to worship, learn, talk, and of course eat together!  Shabbat begins this Friday, November 22 at 7:30 pm with a traditional service led by Rabbi Herzfeld and with Meryl Crews cantorial accompaniment.  The service will be held at our synagogue and simultaneously on Zoom.  The next morning, Saturday November 23 at 9:30 we have Torah Study, which is always fun and illuminating.  Rabbi Herzfeld will teach us on Zoom to a group at the synagogue building, where we will enjoy a light brunch.  If you’re unable to come to our site in Winter Haven for either event, contact us for the Zoom link.

Member-Led Service — Sat Nov 9, 11:00 am

November 8, 2024 by •

Hello Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, in continuing to meet our goals of a varied schedule and engaging activities for our Congregation and Guests, we have a Saturday Morning Shabbat service for you this weekend on November 9 at 11:00 am.  Our Past President, Joseph Rodriguez will lead the service.

Shabbat Oct 25-26

October 23, 2024 by •

Hello Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, this week we celebrate THREE holidays: this week we observe the end of Sukkot, the beginning of Simchat Torah, and of course it will be Shabbat!  This Friday, October 25 at 7:30 pm we will have a traditional Shabbat service along with celebration of the Torah, and conclude with shaking the lulav and etrog and kiddush in the sukkah, weather permitting.  All of those are certainly best in person at the synagogue, but the Zoom option as always will be available. Please contact us for the link.

We will begin a trial of Torah Study in a hybrid format as well, to give our congregation and guests the best of both worlds!  So if you prefer to learn with us in person, we will be meeting and broadcasting from the synagogue on Saturday, October 26 at 9:30 am.  Come on down and have a coffee and nosh with us while we get our study on!  And again, if Zoom works better for you at this time, it will be available, just contact us for the link.

Yom Kippur Services Update — Sat Oct 12, 10:30 am

October 11, 2024 by •

Hello Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, it was delightful to see so many of you on tonight’s Zoom Kol Nidre service.  These times show what strength and love we have among us.  We are pleased to report that minutes before the start of tonight’s service we saw that power was restored to our synagogue building, so in-person services will be onstarting with the Yom Kippur Morning Service at 10:30 am.  There will be a break after the Morning Service, and at 3:00 pm we will return for our customary discussion period — Rabbi Herzfeld will lead a viewing of the October 7 Memorial program, In Memory and Hope.  The afternoon services follows immediately at 4:00 pm, then the Stone Service, Yizkor, Neilah, and finally the Break the Fast prepared by Trish Safer (thank you Trish!).  These activities will also be viewable live on Zoom if you are unable to come to the building for whatever reason, please contact us for the link.

Yom Kippur Services — Status Update

October 10, 2024 by •

Hello Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, here is an update to our plans for this Friday and Saturday:
 
  • Dinner with the Rabbi tomorrow, October 11 is unfortunately cancelled due to post-hurricane travel and business closing issues.
  • Kol Nidre/Erev Yom Kippur services on Friday, October 11 at 7:30 pm will be on ZOOM ONLY for similar reasons.  We hope you have sufficient electricity and internet access to be able to join us.
  • We will update as soon as possible on the status of the Saturday, October 12 Yom Kippur schedule of services as information becomes available.
Please contact us for the link. Please take care of yourself and your loved ones and we will keep you up-to-date, and hope to see you again soon.

Kol Nidre Service — Friday Oct 11, 7:30 pm

October 10, 2024 by •

Hello Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, we hope you are safe and well!  Some of our members are still at their evacuation sites, and hopefully will return by tomorrow morning.  We are looking at power outage maps to see what the status is for our services, and cannot advise yet if we will have in-person services tomorrow and/or Saturday.  We have Zoom links prepared which we would use for at-home attendees, so will provide those. Please contact us for the link.

Hurricane Milton

October 8, 2024 by • ,

Dear Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, after the first year of remembrance of October 7, now our minds are on Hurricane Milton advancing toward our community.  Our love and concern is with you as you evacuate to a safer area or prepare your home to wait out the storm.  With Yom Kippur approaching, the Jewish principle of pikuach nefesh applies — the priority is for your safety and well-being and that of your loved ones.  We wish for you:

 
  • That all of us come through the storm safe and well,
  • That any damage to your homes and our synagogue building is minimal,
  • That you do not lose electricity and other essentials, and if you do; it is only for a short time,
  • And that we can come together again soon.

 Be on the lookout for any updates about Yom Kippur services in the next 24 hours.  Wishing you shalom.

1 2 3 4