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President's Message

December 2025 President’s Message

It’s hard to believe that Hanukkah is right around the corner! I am writing this message at the beginning of November and I feel like we just finished celebrating Sukkot and Simchat Torah.  If you are like me and my family, you are looking forward to December and celebrating Hanukkah – lighting candles, eating latkes, playing dreidel, and opening presents (my girls’ favorite part!).  But as it is still early in November, any events are still in the planning stages. (more…)

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President's Message

November 2025 President’s Message

When I spoke last Yom Kippur I talked about how everyone has their part at Temple Beth Sholom and asked what your part would be and how maybe you or a group could do something for the first time. (more…)

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Rabbi's Corner

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

My grandfather, Dr. Ben M. Edidin, was a Jewish educator in New York who wrote books about Judaism and Israel. By the way, one of his books, written in 1940, was called Rebuilding Palestine, because at that time, there was no such thing as a Palestinian, but if there were, that person was Jewish. But that’s a different (though very relevant) topic. (more…)

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Rabbi's Corner

The Meaning of Sukkot

Every fall, our synagogue builds its Sukkah before the holiday of Sukkot. Since the holiday comes just days after Yom Kippur, it often gets lost in the drama and excitement of the High Holidays. (more…)

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President's Message

October 2025 President’s Message

As you read this message, we are either between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur or we just concluded these holidays.  However, as said on infomercials…”But wait, there’s more.”  Starting on Monday evening, October 6th Sukkot will begin and then conclude with Simchat Torah on Tuesday evening, October 14th and Wednesday morning, October 15th. (more…)

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Rabbi's Corner

To Bless What We Sometimes Cannot See

To Bless What We Sometimes Cannot See

This is the time of year when we all draw up a memory balance sheet. We think about our priorities. We think about the way we use our time. And even though we say we are not judgmental, we are. We judge each one of our relationships. We think about everyone else’s shortcomings, often with disappointment and anger. But then we catch ourselves doing this, and we try to counter those feelings with generosity and kindness. We ask ourselves about what we give. Do we give comfort when we should? Do we show love inconsistently? Do we make the sacrifices we should,or are we self-consumed? (more…)

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