Saturday AM, Member-Led Shabbat Service — Feb 24, 10:30 am
Affiliated with the Union of Reform Jewish Congregations
Lay Services
You asked for daytime services, we responded:
February has an expanded in-person worship opportunity.
A morning lay-led Sabbath service is now scheduled for:
Saturday, February 24th at 10:30 AM.
It will be led by our own Vice President, Bert Devorsetz.
There will not be any oneg, but we plan on having a ‘brown bag’ lunch following the service.
Hopefully many will take advantage and attend.
No Zoom access as this service is in-person only.
Invitation from Temple Emanuel: Looking through the Camera Lens with a Wildlife Photographer — Feb 25, 7 pm
Temple Emanuel writes:
We would like to invite your members and friends to join us for this exciting wildlife and nature program.
We will be holding an exciting program coming up on Sunday, 2/25 at 7pm to approx. 8:30 pm in the Temple Emanuel Social Hall (see attached flyer). Please join us as we enjoy a beautiful wildlife and nature presentation by our very own friend and book club member, Amy-Jo, and her husband, Steve Silverman!!!
We will have light refreshments that you can enjoy during the slides. There is no charge for the program.
Following the presentation, there will be time for questions and to purchase Amy’s note cards that reflect the wildlife and nature on her slides.
The cost of the note cards will be $4 each or 3 cards for $10, with Amy generously donating all proceeds to the Temple!
Enlargements of her photos will also be offered.
Please RSVP to the Temple office (863-682-8616) no later than 2/21 so we can set up appropriately!
Allen Shane
Past President
Temple Emanuel
Email: ashane2000@aol.com
Cell: (863) 604-0767
Shabbat Feb 16-17
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.
Also remember Torah Study follows this Saturday, February 17 at 9:30 am on Zoom, using the same link below. If you have yet to experience Torah Study with Rabbi Herzfeld and the class, drop by and see what has us coming back for each session, it is very informative and a lot of fun!
Bye Bye Birdie — March 17 2:30 pm
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.
February 2024 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!
2024FebChai LitesHeroes of the Holocaust — Presentation by Prof. Howard Kerner, Sat 1/27
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.
January 2024 Chai Lites
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.
This was a bittersweet time of ending a year with some events we would definitely be glad to say goodbye to, along with memories we want to hold close for as long as we can. At almost the very end of 2023 we lost our dear friend, Phil Grinker. Thank you so much, Sandi and Debbie, for sharing Phil with us all these years and letting us share his memory along with you. We were comforted to see the rest of your family and so many friends at Phil’s service and Celebration of Life today — a full room at our synagogue along with dozens on Zoom also taking part. It was healing to see, and we hope a comfort to you in this time. This Phil and all of you created. We are grateful to those of you who jumped into action in the last week to make the arrangements so we could be together.
Baruch Dayan Ha’emet: Philip Grinker
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.
Shabbat March 1-2
February 28, 2024 by urjtbs • Community, Shabbat
Hello Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, a new month and a new season is approaching, as is an opportunity for us to join together in the warmth of our congregation! In-person Shabbat Services are again this Friday, March 1 at 7:30 at both our physical and virtual synagogues. Please join us to see and hear Rabbi Herzfeld, and also to see and hear our cantorial soloist, Meryl Crews. Torah Study meets the next morning on Saturday, March 2 at 9:30 am on Zoom.