may 2025
From the President
By Mike Shapiro, President
May 2025
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Does 3+2=2?
Is there really a President Elect?
Brief history: I became President Elect for the first time in 2003, when Rabbi Torop began his third year at Temple Beth-El. I then became President Elect for a second time when he announced his retirement two decades later. I was then elected Temple President once again two months before Rabbi Mangold's arrival. At TBE, Temple Presidents typically serve a two year term. My two year term has covered three years with Rabbi Mangold and will include two years with Rabbi Morrison. Apparently, 3+2 = 2 using TBE math. It has been and will continue to be an honor to be President of this Congregation until my term ends one yer from now at the end of May 2026. I am pleased (you have no idea how pleased!) to share that Jay Miller will be President Elect after our Annual Meeting this month and become President of TBE 12 months later. I look forward to a successful transition this year and know Jay and our new board will continue to make TBE shine brighter and brighter.
Congratulations, Tara O'Donnell
After searching for many many months, reviewing résumés and interviewing candidates, we are excited to announce that Tara O'Donell is our new Director of Finance and Operations. Tara's focus as our new DFO will be overseeing the temple budget and coordinating the many aspects of temple administration including security, facility, program calendar, building maintenance, human resources, insurance needs, and coordinating the day to day operation of our temple.
Tara previously was the Director of our Early Childhood Center for the past three years. Tara's commitment to our congregation is clearly evident and her knowledge of our culture and place in the community is invaluable. Please congratulate Tara on her new position.
Annual Meeting
Please join us on May 21 at 6:00pm for dinner catered by the Boyz followed by the Annual Meeting. Each year, we gather as a congregation to celebrate the past year, look forward to what lies ahead, vote to approve the temple budget, elect the Board of Trustees, and celebrate the accomplishments of our Annual Congregational Awards recipients. This year's honorees are Evan Berner and Steve Jenkins. We also will be saying thank you to our outgoing board members and welcoming the new members to the temple board. Please register on line so we can get an accurate count for dinner and ensure we have a quorum. See you at the Annual Meeting.
Membership Renewal
Just a reminder that annual Temple Membership renewal begins in July. Please check your inboxes and/or mailbox for renewal information beginning in June. Our goal is to make the renewal process as simple and user friendly as possible. Also, if you still have a balance from this year's membership, please help us by completing your dues payment before June 30.
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To see the entire May 2025 edition of Temple Beth-El's Scroll newsletter, click here
march 2025
This and that
By Mike Shapiro, President
March 2025
Art Festival Beth-El
Thank you to the Festival Co-Chairs, volunteers, The Boyz, artists, patrons
friends, supporters, art lovers, art buyers, temple members, our friends and guests, temple staff and the St. Petersburg Police Department for helping create another amazing community event. As you may know, Art Festival Beth-El is the most significant annual fundraiser at TBE. Our ability to remain a vital congregation is dependent on its success. Thank you again to everyone who contributed this year.
Hannukah Fundraiser a Success!
At our 101 Menorahs Hannukah Celebration in December, I asked those present to consider giving a Hannukah gift to the temple. The goal was $8,000 - $1,000 for each night of the holiday. A few days later, I sent a video about the Fundraiser to the entire congregation. I am pleased to announce that we exceeded the goal in just one week. I was inspired by one of our younger congregants who answered the call and made a $10 donation.
I apologize if the “Don't Let The Lights Go Out” theme for the fundraiser made you think Duke Energy was going to pull the plug. Our temple finances are solid. “Don't Let The Lights Go Out” is a line from a Peter, Paul and Mary song called “Light One Candle”. It is a song about hope and encourages you to be the candle or the energy. In hindsight, choosing “Don't Let The Lights Go Out” as the theme was misleading. I should have called it “Light One Candle.” Always better to approach from a positive. Lesson learned. By the way, we lit 13,000 candles! Thank you!
Annual Meeting
This year, our Annual Meeting is May 21. Please join us as we elect the Board of Trustees, approve an Annual Budget, celebrate the past year and present Congregational Awards.
Membership Renewal
Temple membership renews each year on July 1. We are working on ways to
simplify your renewal and make the process more user friendly.
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To see the entire March 2025 edition of Temple Beth-El's Scroll newsletter, click here
november 2024
Well, that was a month!
By Mike Shapiro, President
November 2024
Helene & Milton
If you had told me that I would be writing a monthly article about Helene and Milton, I would have assumed one of two things:
First, that Helene and Milton Cohen were an extremely generous and philanthropic couple who have made a sizable donation to the temple endowment, and I wanted to publicly thank them for their amazing gift. Or...
On the other hand, I could also imagine that Helene and Milton were long time congregants who took issue with something I did or said, and I needed to publicly apologize. Either one of those options could be plausible.
Honestly, never in a million years would I have guessed that Helene and Milton would be back-to-back storms responsible for the evacuations, cancellations, destruction and unbelievable hardship for so many. However, along with all the damage and sadness, I have witnessed much caring, concern and assistance from our community. The outpouring of support, physical, emotional, and financial has reinforced to me just how amazing this congregation is. I have no doubt we will recover. Many in our community just need a little time, a helping hand, some good luck, a qualified and honest contractor, some drywall, maybe a new vehicle, appliances, some carpeting, ongoing support and perhaps even a kugel.
Congregation B’nai Israel
Please know our friends at Congregation B'nai Israel were not as fortunate following the two storms. Their building sustained significant damage due to flooding associated with Milton. We have made our facility available for many of their needs. Rabbi Morrison and Rabbi Weintraub are coordinating schedules. There will be opportunities for us to join as a united Jewish community over the next few months. I hope we take advantage.
Please renew your Temple membership
If you have yet to renew your temple membership by completing and updating the membership packet, please do so now. Payment is not due, but the renewal paperwork is. You can update on our website or over the phone. Thank you for your cooperation.
The Tekiah Fund
If you have yet to donate to the Tekiah Fund, please do so if you are able. Remember, we no longer have a Kol Nidre or High Holiday Appeal. We depend on your generosity so if you are able, please consider a donation.
...and may November be a kinder and gentler month
september 2024
See you in September
By Mike Shapiro, President
September 2024
A 1966 song by The Happenings has the lyric “See you in September, see you when the summer's through.” Clearly, the songwriter was not a Floridian. And while clearly it is still summer here in St. Petersburg, it also is Elul, which means we we are busy preparing for the new year ahead, High Holidays are just around the corner, and the activity level at the Temple is as high as the humidity.
I want to share with you that our Executive Director, Gerri Madenberg, resigned last month. We wish her good luck in her new endeavor. We are pleased to announce that vice-president Jason Palmer is serving as Search Committee Chair, and we are looking forward to hiring a new Executive Director in the coming months.
We also are excited for you to meet our new Director of Youth and Teen Engagement, Josh Gamson. Josh and Rabbi Morrison have exciting plans for our Religious School and Youth & Teen programming, including reviving and infusing new life into Youth Groups. Parents and Grandparents, we need your support and involvement.
If you have been away for the summer, I want to encourage you to join us on Friday evenings at 6:00pm as we welcome Shabbat. Rabbi Morrison is engaging, she is an excellent teacher, and our services are inspiring. Arrive early at 5:30pm to meet and greet. The service usually concludes by 7:15pm, allowing us plenty of time to catch dinner with new or old friends.
Lastly, a reminder that High Holidays do not conclude after Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Please join us for Sukkot and Simchat Torah, too. There are a lot of exciting events, happenings and services during the next few months: indoors, outdoors, and under the Sukkah, including events with food, movies, gatherings, services, and classes.
Take advantage, take a risk, join us.
...And see you soon.
august 2024
About that kugel...
By Mike Shapiro, President
August 2024
You may recall that last year on Rosh Hashanah morning, I shared a story about receiving a phone call from a congregant upon learning of the death of a member of our congregation. The caller did not personally know the deceased yet shared with me that she had a kugel in her freezer and wanted to deliver it to the family. I was moved by her compassion and how, through the kugel, she wanted to demonstrate her care, concern, and support for a family in their time of need, even if they were relative strangers.
I went on to explain that I thought that should be our unofficial slogan: “Temple Beth-El, where we always have a kugel in our freezer.” That morning, I challenged everyone present at the service to place an actual or metaphorical kugel in their freezer. My hope was more folks would further engage with our community and create meaningful relationships by reaching out and being supportive of one another, especially in times of need.
I want to share that in the past 9 months, I have heard many stories of members reaching out to each other and getting more involved. They have discovered the added value and benefits of our community. Whether being a part of Earth Angels, a temple committee, attending services and programs or going to a shiva minyan at the home of a stranger, more folks are embracing our community.
Last year, I told you that I was going to ask you at the next Rosh Hashanah service if you had placed a kugel in your freezer. There is still time to “Kugel Up.” Rabbi Morrison has arrived, and high holidays will be here before you know it. This is a great time to further embrace and share yourself (and your kugel) with our community.
Please Share Your Kugel Story.
I would love to fill next month's Scroll (and the one after!) with both your Kugel Story as well as your favorite Kugel recipe. A “kugel story” is a short story of how you shared or received either a real or metaphorical kugel and how you have embraced or been embraced by our community.
Please email your kugel story to Tovah by August 15.
july 2024
Welcome, Rabbi Morrison!
By Mike Shapiro, President
July 2024
After 8 months, the wait is over. On July 1, 2024, another new era in our long history begins. I hope you will share my excitement as we welcome Rabbi Amy Morrison and her son Ezra to our community. Rabbi Morrison brings rabbinic experience as well as life experiences which I am certain will enhance our congregation in ways we have yet to realize.
Although she now officially begins her tenure as our rabbi, Rabbi Morrison has already been actively involved and focused on Temple Beth-El for many months. She has met with staff and congregants, begun High Holiday preparation, and relocated from Miami to St. Petersburg.
Rabbi Morrison also is intimately involved with the search process for a new Director of Education and Youth Programs. utilizing her network and connections throughout the Union for Reform Judaism community to find quality candidates. Several applicants have expressed a desire to work with Rabbi Morrison, which speaks highly of her reputation.
Not only am I excited to see what Rabbi Morrison brings to our congregation, I am equally excited about new staff, programs, and opportunities that will be made available to all of us.
I have said it before, but it is worth repeating. These are indeed exciting times at TBE. I have had the privilege of getting to know Rabbi Morrison over the past 8 months and am extremely hopeful and optimistic that Rabbi Morrison will help our congregation get closer and closer to realizing our potential as a caring, compassionate, inclusive, warm, welcoming, and spiritual community.
Rabbi's first Friday Night service is July 5. I hope to see you there.
