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President's Message

April 2026 President’s Message

As you are reading this month’s bulletin, maybe you are in the process of preparing for a Passover Seder or maybe you just finished the Seder.  While many of you may find the process of preparing for Passover a very hectic time, in a way I find cooking and preparing for the Seder enjoyable and a little relaxing. (more…)

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President's Message

March 2026 President’s Message

As I always do before each Friday night service, I picked up the list of announcements, and, to my surprise, it was much thicker than usual. I counted the pages and there were 5 full pages of announcements.  Meetings and events all the way through April were listed.  I would like to highlight just a few that will be occurring in March and April. I will confess that I didn’t actually read all 5 pages; I left out some of the recurring announcements because the attendees were getting restless.

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Rabbi's Corner

Tu Bishvat

Tu Bishvat
Tu Bishvat is a minor Jewish holiday that makes focus on a major theme, care for the environment. Known as the “New Year for Trees,” this holiday celebrates nature and promotes tree planting, environmental awareness, and ecological education. Thousands of years before anyone talked about “ecology”, Jewish law and tradition commanded us to care for nature.

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President's Message

February 2026 President’s Message

In February, we will once again establish the Nominating Committee. This committee plays a crucial role in ensuring the future direction of our community by identifying candidates for the Board of Directors and new officers for the Temple. Over the months following its formation, the Nominating Committee will be actively reaching out to our dedicated members. This outreach is an open invitation to explore the possibility of serving on the Board. I understand that a full commitment may seem daunting, and I would like to emphasize that participation can be gradual. You are welcome to "dip a toe in the water" initially, exploring what the role entails. While some individuals may feel ready and eager to "jump in" with both feet right away, that immediate, full level of commitment is absolutely not a prerequisite for engaging with the committee. Our goal is to encourage thoughtful consideration and open dialogue. The…

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President's Message

January 2026 President’s Message

As the crisp air of January settles in and we head into the cold of winter, I’m happy to report that Temple Beth Sholom is open, warm, and bustling with programs and activities. (And unlike this time last year, I’m delighted to share that the building has heat!) (more…)

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Rabbi's Corner

Hanukkah

Hanukkah

I’ve been teaching a class about Judaism at Southern Connecticut State University for twenty years. At the beginning of every semester, I ask the students what they know about Judaism. And every semester, several respond that the only thing they know about the religion is a little about Hanukah. They say that they’re not sure how to spell it (Chanukah, Hanukkah, etc.) and that they know while it comes at the same time of the year, it is not a Jewish Christmas but also does feature lights and presents. And how do they know this? One of the Jewish parents visited their elementary school class and talked about the holiday and brought “some really good pancakes.” Some even remember who that nice mother was. (more…)

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