Happy 2025! I have enjoyed my first six months at Temple Beth Shalom, and I
look forward to the months and years ahead. Susan and I are relishing the
warmer winter weather here in the Panhandle, without any sightings of ice or
snow. What a gift it is to be able to take a walk on the beach in December. Many
of you had the chance to meet our daughter Shira at Hanukkah. We thank
everyone for the warm welcome extended to her. I am hoping that my mom will
be able to come down and visit during Passover.
With the cooler temperatures and the shortened daylight, I know that joining us
for Friday night services can be challenging. We have been blessed with at least a
minyan every single Shabbat since my arrival, but there have been a few that we
have just squeaked by. If you are able to come and join us to welcome in the
Sabbath, please know what a mitzvah you are doing helping us reach the
traditional requisite number.
I am committed to Shabbat morning worship once a month. We will be gathering
on Saturday, January 25 th at 10:00 am, and not holding a Friday evening service on
the 24 th . Following services, we will have a “Souper Lunch”. I will make a pot of
soup, and I invite others to come with a pot of their favorite homemade soup to
share. I think it is wonderful to be able to share Shabbat lunch together, and no
driving home in the dark to worry about.
Susan and I recently posted pictures on Facebook of the new house we are
building in Navarre. Our builder has told us that it will be completed in early
spring, though to be honest I feel like it will be ready for us sooner as I watch the
progress. We look forward to welcoming everyone over this Spring or early
Summer for a Shabbat afternoon Open House.
Please pencil in Sunday morning, February 16th, at 10:00 am, on your calendar to
come to Temple for a Tu B’Shevat Seder and Bagel Brunch. Celebrating this
occasion is a great way to connect to Israel and to fruitfully express our thanks to
God for the blessings of so much of what we eat eating. I would love to see us
collect some tzedakah in the coming weeks to purchase trees in Israel for this
exact occasion. I am going to use the funds collected at Sunday school all fall for
this exact purpose.
With all my best,
Rabbi
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