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.
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.
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.
