Member-Led Shabbat Service — Sat Jan 25, 10:30 am

January 23, 2025 by •

Hello Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, it’s cold outside, but Member-Led Shabbat services make it feel like Summer!  Our Board Vice President, Bert Devorsetz, kindly offered to lead a Shabbat service in our building on this coming Saturday, January 25 at 10:30 am.  Come on out and enjoy the service, and say hello to Bert.

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.

Dinner with the Rabbi — Fri Jan 17, 5:30 pm

January 11, 2025 by • ,

Dinner with the Rabbi 

Enjoy a meal with Rabbi Herzfeld, and the Hosts Arlene Greenberg & LeeAnn Martinez

Take this opportunity to chat with the Rabbi and his host.

Friday, January 17th at 5:30 pm

   Carrabba’s Italian Grill

  910 3rd St SW, Winter Haven, FL 33880

R.S.V.P. by Thursday, January 16th to:  lorrainemixter@aol.com

or text or call: 863-409-8509

Arlene, Lee Ann and the Rabbi look forward to dining with you.

January 2025 Chai Lites

January 3, 2025 by • ,

Happy New Year Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends!  In between cooking latkes, working with our Board and membership event planners, celebrating Chanukah, and among many other things, our Editor and President, Lorraine Mixter prepared a lovely issue of the Chai Lites!  We are thankful to her and grateful also to our many talented contributors.

2025JanChai Lites

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. 

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

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.

December 2024 Chai Lites

December 1, 2024 by • ,

Hello Temple Beth Shalom Members and Friends, we hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving!  We have attached for you the December Chai Lites, the last issue of the secular year.  Thank you everyone for getting your pieces in so quickly, and many thanks to our Editor and President, Lorraine Mixter, for preparing another informative and engaging issue at this busy holiday time.  We look forward to seeing you at some of our many activities in December, and of course at Chanukah!  Look inside for details about the Chanukah dinner and service on December 27.

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.

Dinner with the Rabbi — Fri Nov 22, 5 pm

November 17, 2024 by • ,

Dinner with the Rabbi 

Enjoy your Shabbat meal with Rabbi Herzfeld, take the opportunity to chat with the Host and the Rabbi.

November 22nd at 5:00 pm

Host: Bert Devorsetz

Outback Steakhouse

170 Cypress Gardens Blvd,

Winter Haven, FL 33880

R.S.V.P. by November 20th to:  lorrainemixter@aol.com

Or text or call: 863-409-8509

Bert & Dottie and the Rabbi look forward to dining with you.

«‹ 6 7 8 9›»

From the Union For Reform Judaism / Reform Movement

From Scared to Sacred: Healing Our Collective Trauma in the New Year

From Scared to Sacred: Healing Our Collective Trauma in the New Year jemerman

Israel Peace and Security
Photo of six hands making the shape of a heart
Rabbi Rick Schechter reflects on the effects of prolonged, ongoing trauma and how the values of compassion and gratitude offer a path to communal and individual healing.

Two Years Later: Memory and Meaning on October 7th

Two Years Later: Memory and Meaning on October 7th jemerman

Israel
Photo of people in Israel holding candles
Two years after the October 7th attacks, Rabbi Josh Weinberg shares five lessons drawn from Jewish wisdom and challenges us to transform collective grief into purpose.

Resources for Marking the Anniversary of October 7th

Resources for Marking the Anniversary of October 7th jemerman

Israel Peace and Security
Photo of two hands holding a memorial candle, with white label and a blue star of david on it
These materials include readings, interviews, and more that reflect on the year that has passed since the October 7th attacks.

Discovering Israel, Adventure, and Growth at Heller High

Discovering Israel, Adventure, and Growth at Heller High jemerman

URJ Heller High
Photo of students posing with the AHAVA sign in Israel
As the leaves begin to turn in North America and young people return to school, some teens in grades 10-12 have embarked on a back-to-school trek that spans oceans and time zones. These teens have elected to spend a semester in the URJ Heller High program at Alexander Muss High School in Hod HaSharon, Israel.