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.

Member-Led Shabbat Service — Sat Jun 14, 11 AM

June 12, 2025 by •

Hello Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, this Shabbat we have the first in our series of Summer Member-Led services coming up for you to enjoy.  This Saturday, June 14 at 11:00 am our Past President and Past Editor Who is Excellent in So Many Things, Lorraine Mixter, will lead us in a relaxed and pleasant Shabbat morning service and give a talk on the day’s parsha.  Lorraine and the rest of us would love to see you.  🙂

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

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

 

Shabbat May 30-31

May 28, 2025 by •

Dear Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, please join us for the last Shabbat of the “school year” and our last Shabbat officiated by Rabbi Herzfeld with us.  The journey does not end, but it changes direction!  As has been our custom in the Zoom era, the Shabbat and pre-Shavuot service begins on Friday, May 30 at 7:30 both in the synagogue and on Zoom accessible via contacting us.

Torah Study has been one of Rabbi Herzfeld’s favorite activities with us, and ours too.  We will be in the synagogue building together on Saturday, May 31 at 10:00 am to meet with Rabbi Herzfeld via Zoom, or you can again join us on Zoom as well from your home.

Member-Led Shabbat Service — Sat May 10, 11:00 am

May 9, 2025 by •

Hello Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, after the Spring holidays and the snowbirds go home, and the school year is coming to a close, things are just getting started at our synagogue!  We have a first lay Shabbat service of our 2025-2026 year led by our returning Congregational President, Joseph Rodriguez on Saturday, May 10 at 11:00 am.  Come and help Joseph kick Shabbat and this calendar year off this Saturday.

Dinner with the Rabbi — Fri May 30, 6 PM

May 7, 2025 by • ,

May 2025 Chai Lites

May 1, 2025 by • ,

Hello Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, the May 2025 Chai Lites issue is here!  Thank you everyone for getting that content in so quickly.  Lorraine Mixter did a lovely job with our newsletter as Editor these last many years, and consistently got us the news we needed and the updates from our friends.  She is passing on the Editor duties to one of our new Board Trustees, Ethan Feldman, and with his talents it is sure to continue to be a pleasure to read.

2025MayChai Lites

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.
‹ 1 2 3 4›»

From the Union For Reform Judaism / Reform Movement

Elul is Calling

Elul is Calling jemerman

Elul
Photo of a man blowing the shofar
During the month of Elul, we are invited to listen deeply. Each weekday morning, we are invited to hear the cry of the shofar, marking the beginning of our spiritual journey toward the High Holy Days.

D’varim Haikus 5785

D’varim Haikus 5785 jemerman

Torah Study
Photo of a road with hills on one side, the ocean on the other and the sut setting in the background
Haikus about the weekly Torah portions.

Where Have All the Jewish Movies Gone?

Where Have All the Jewish Movies Gone? jemerman

Film
Photo of a woman holding a movie slate in front of her face
I’ve been reviewing film and TV here at URJ for nearly a decade and have never seemed to lack for Jewish cinema to cover. Recently, I had the realization that the year was nearly half over, yet I hadn’t written a single movie review.

Superman Can Inspire Us to be Jewish Heroes

Superman Can Inspire Us to be Jewish Heroes jemerman

Film
Photo of a man ripping his shirt off like Superman
Superman embodies aspects that many of us strive to emulate: strength, compassion, honesty, and doing the right thing under all circumstances. So when James Gunn, the co-CEO of DC Studios, was announced as the writer and director of "Superman," the first movie set in the new DC Cinematic Universe (DCU), I was intrigued.