Dear friends, Chag Pesach Sameach! We launched the festival with a beautiful well attended community seder thanks to much hard work from those that organized and implemented it and to the Federation of Florida's Gulf Coast whose funding helped us to greatly augment it. Now we have reached the intermediate days of the holiday which I look forward to sharing with you beginning with our Shabbat religious services which include the reading of Shir HaShirim (Song of Songs) and

Parashat Tsav (command) Leviticus 6:1 - 8:36 Haf Torah Jeremiah 7:21 - 28, Jeremiah 9:22 - 23 Moses Dressing Aaron in the Priestly Garments Dear friends, As we approach Shabbat Hagadol , the "great" Sabbath immediately preceding the festival of Passover , we are completing an entire season of preparation for the holiday. And in the meantime, we were able to enjoy Sunday's flea market/craft show thanks to the efforts of Debbi Robinson and many others. It was great to me

Parashat Vayikra (and He called) Exodus Leviticus 1:1 - 5:26 Haf Torah Isaiah 43:21 - 44:23 VAYIKRA Dear friends, Thanks to all who have assisted in and attended our variety of spring programs, the last of which was our Havdalah Game Night last Saturday night as we met to bid adieu to Shabbat and welcome the new week with Havdalah and an evening of socializing with our shul community friends while enjoying board games, all of which were new to me! Thanks to Wendy Seldin an

Parashat Vayakhel (and he gathered) Pekudei (amounts of) Exodus 35:1 - 40:38 2nd Torah Parashat Hachodesh - Exodus 12:1-20 20 Mishkan Dear friends, Thanks to all who made last Sunday's informative and inspirational presentation by Professor Nancy Sinkoff, Academic Director at the Rutgers University Bildner Center for the Study of Jewish Life and the reception that followed.  We were not only able to delve deeply into the centuries old debate on a Jewish state (thus fulfilling

Parashat KiTisa ( When you take) Exodus 30:11 - 34:25 2nd Torah (Parah) Numbers 19:1-22 Haf Torah Ezekiel 36:16-36 Dear friends, What a wonderful week we have just had the opportunity to experience this past week. On Sunday, we attended an inspirational interfaith dinner sponsored by the Islamic community and included a delicious dinner to break the daily Ramadan fast and presentations from religious leaders of many faiths including ours. We came away convinced more than

Parashat Tetzaveh (Command) Exodus 27:20 - 30:10 2nd Torah Parashat Zachor - Deuteronomy 25:17 - 19 Haf Torah Samuel I 15:2 - 34 Garments of the Kohen HaGadol Dear friends, Thanks to all who made the last Shabbat special for Chris and me as we celebrated her birthday and my Bar Mitzvah anniversary with a wonderful cholent lunch and special thanks to Eileen for preparing the feast! I encourage all to celebrate and share happy life cycle events by sponsoring a Kiddish lunc

Parashah Terumah (Offering) Exodus 25:1 - 27:19 Haf Torah Kings I 5:26 - 6:13 Ark of the Covenant Dear friends, This week we began the Hebrew month of Adar , the month in which we are commanded to "increase our joy" as we will soon to celebrating the holiday of Purim and the festival of Passover . And to help us "increase our joy" Chris and I are celebrating her birthday and my Bar Mitzvah anniversary with a cholent lunch tomorrow (Saturday, February 21) after Shabbat mo

Parashat Miishpatim (Ordinances) Exodus 21:1 - 24:18 2nd Torah - Shekalim Exodus 30:11 - 16 Haf Torah - Kings II 11:17 - 12:17 MISHPATIM Dear friends, This Shabbat we begin a series of four special ones before Passover all intended (in addition to our continuous readings from the Book of Exodus ) to help prepare us for the festival. On this Shabbat Shekalim , we read from two Torahs , the second of which describes the obligation of every Israelite to contribute a half

Parashat Yitro (Moses' father-in-law Jethro) Exodus 18:1 - 20:23 Haf Torah Isaiah - 6:1-13 Dear friends, Thanks to all who made our Shabbat dinner and Tu B'Shevat day so special. Last Sunday we were faced with inclement weather, so we decided to forego the outdoor cleanup "Mitzvah Day" morning and instead, had a wonderful study session where we located references to the environment throughout the Torah. With the knowledge gained from the session, we embarked on a Tu B

Parashat Beshalach (Wnen he sent) Exodus 13:17 - 17:16 HafTorah Judges 4:4 - 5:31 BESHLACH Dear friends, we are about to embark on a special Shabbat weekend celebrating Shabbat Shirah "Shabbat of Song," named for the Shirat HaYam (Song of the Sea), which is the song of gratitude sung by Moses , Miriam , and the Israelites after the miracle of the successful crossing of the sea while being pursued by Pharoah's army after the exodus from Egypt . We chant this beautiful song

Parashat Bo (come to Pharoah) Exodus 10:1 - 13:16 Haf Torah Jeremiah 46:13-28 Locusts filled the land of Egypt Dear friends, Thanks to all who attended the Martin Luther King Day's march and program and continuing our strong and enduring partnership with the African American Club fostering interfaith and cross-cultural activities for children and adults of all backgrounds and scholarships for the youths in our region. Mark your calendars for their annual scholarship fundra

Parashat Va'eira (and I appeared) Exodus 6:2 - 9:35 HafTorah Ezekiel 28:25 - 29:21 Moses and Aaron approach Pharoah Dear friends, Thanks to all who prepared and participated in the wonderful Shabbat luncheon honoring the birthdays of Eileen and Natalie, and Chris and my wedding anniversary. It is great to share not only our prayers and studies, but also a communal get together. Please consider sponsoring a Shabbat luncheon to honor any of your upcoming lifecycle milestone

Parashat Shemot (Names) Exodus 1:1 - 6:1 Haf Torah Isaiah 27:6 - 28:13; Isaiah 29:22-23 Pharaohs Daughter finds the Hebrew baby and names him Moses Dear friends, I begin this week's message on a sad note informing you of the death of Norman Perlmutter, father of David Perlmutter, father in-law of Patty Perlmutter and grandfather of Jared, Bryan, and Megan. He was an active member of Temple Israel in Springfield, Illinois and very devoted to faith and family. You can read h

Parashat Vayigash (and he approached) Genesis 44:18 - 47:27 Haf Torah Ezekiel 37:15-28 Joseph Reunites with his Brothers Dear friends, What a wonderful Hanukkah week this has been. We were blessed to share the celebration with our JCC family as we prayed, partied, and served the community together. Now as we begin our winter season, please continue to join in with your synagogue family as we continue our mission. See the schedule of upcoming events at the end of this

Parashat Miketz (at the end) Genesis 41:1 -44:17 2nd Torah Chanukah 6 Rosh Chodesh Numbers 28:9-15 3rd Torah Chanukah 6 Rosh Chodesh Numbers 7:42-47 HafTorah Zech 2:14-4:7; Miketz Dear friends, What a wonderful week to be celebrating the ongoing holiday of Hanukkah ! We had record attendance at our pre-Hanukkah Shabbat dinner last Friday and a beautiful and emotional experience bringing Hanukkah ritual and joy to the residents of the Trinity Place assisted living center on

Parashat Vayishlach (and he sent) Genesis 32:4-36:43 Haf Torah Obadiah 1:1-21 JACOB AND ESAU Dear friends, I am sorry to begin this week's message on a sad note. We have just learned that our member Debra Michaud passed away on Thanksgiving Day. May we all together with her family and friends be blessed by her memory. Thanks to Carl Vengel who sponsored the wonderful Kiddush luncheon last Shabbat afternoon. Spending time while sharing a meal with congregants and friends i

Parashat Vayetzei (and he left) Genesis 28:10 - 32:3 HafTorah Hosea 11:7 - 12:14 Vayetzei Dear friends, I hope you had a very happy and meaningful Thanksgiving Day celebration and look forward to continuing in the holiday spirit this Shabbat as we welcome and appreciate our newest Carl Vengel who has been a regular Shabbat morning worshipper and who will be sponsoring a special Kiddush luncheon tomorrow (Saturday) morning following our service at 9:30 am . Please join us

Parashat Toldot (Generations) Genesis 25:19 - 28:9 HafTorah Malachi 1:1 - 2:7 JACOB AND ESAU Dear Friends, This Shabbat , as we enter the Thanksgiving holiday week, we are reminded to be thankful for all we have; the love of family and friends, the comfort of our homes, and the ability to provide sustenance for ourselves and those we care for. We are also reminded that more people than ever are suffering from hunger and lack of hous

Parashat Chayei Sarah (The Life of Sarah) Genesis 23:1 - 25:18 Haf Torah Kings I 1-31 Cave of Machpelah Dear friends, Thanks to Rabbi Gedan and the congregants at Neve Shalom in Metuchen, NJ, seven of us (I only wish there would have been more!) were able to fully participate on Zoom in the Global Day of Jewish Learning. As we studied the debates of Hillel and Shammai on almost every level of religious and moral belief, we more fully realized how important it is for all o

Parashat Vayeira (And He Appeared) Genesis 18:1 - 22:24 Haf Torah Kings II 4:1 - 37 Vayeira Dear friends, Thanks to all who made last Sunday's wonderful and nostalgic car show such a great success! It is one of the many cultural and social events and volunteering opportunities that your synagogue is sponsoring this fall season. See below for a full schedule and try to attend as many as you can to support these efforts. This Shabbat , our triennial Torah reading will be Ch