The TBE Blog is the space where Temple Beth El’s Leadership Team members reflect on relevant topics that are most meaningful to us. Here you will find musings on everything from prayer to politics, music to mysticism and history to current day life. From our iPads, smartphones, and laptops to yours, these are the things that inspire us, keep us up at night, and fuel our own Jewish journeys.
Singing for Joy, Singing to Celebrate
Cantor Mary Thomas
February 1, 2020
Like many in the early 90s, I learned the section of Torah that I read at my Bat Mitzvah from a tape that my childhood ...
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On Our Way to Liberation, With a Little Help From our Friends
Rabbi Dusty Klass
January 4, 2020
Each time I get to lead t’filah with our 6th and 7th graders, I pause when we arrive at Mi Chamocha and ask: what does ...
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Navigating the December Dilemma
Rabbi Asher Knight
December 4, 2019
Nothing stirs up feelings quite like the winter holiday season. Celebrations that should be joyful can become a source of conflict. Someone recently reflected to ...
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TBE Bends Toward Justice Recap
Temple Beth El
November 15, 2019
It was cold on the evening of Wednesday, November 13, but the Temple Beth El congregants who showed up for the “TBE Bends Toward Justice: ...
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Standing at the Door
Susan Jacobs
November 4, 2019
For the past 20 years I have stood at the door of Temple Beth El Religious School to welcome our students as they enter. Admittedly, ...
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Take The Long Way ‘Round: Yom Kippur 5780 Sermon by Rabbi Dusty Klass
Rabbi Dusty Klass
October 9, 2019
Co-written with Rabbi Leah Citrin With thanks to Rabbis Asher Knight, Susan Landau, and Miriam Farber Wajnberg for their edits and suggestions, and to Jeff ...
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I Do Not Sew – A Yizkor (Memorial) Drash
Rabbi Schindler
October 9, 2019
I do not sew. Sewing and cooking – some of the traditional aspects of being a homemaker – are not my forte. I am envious ...
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Shavat Vayinafash: Be Still and Breathe Again: Kol Nidre 5780 Sermon by Rabbi Asher Knight
Rabbi Asher Knight
October 8, 2019
This summer, after an intense eight months, Ana and I took Micah and Jonas to the Grand Tetons in Wyoming. We stayed in a rustic ...
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The Values We Express When We Disagree: Rosh Hashanah 5780 Sermon by Rabbi Asher Knight
Rabbi Asher Knight
September 30, 2019
Two thousand years ago, Jewish leaders were engaged in a serious debate. According to the book of Deuteronomy, financial debts were forgiven every seven years. ...
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Strengthening the Fabric of Our Community: Erev Rosh Hashanah 5780 Sermon by Rabbi Dusty Klass
Rabbi Dusty Klass
September 29, 2019
With gratitude to Rabbi Leah Citrin for her thought partnership, Rabbis Asher Knight and Susan Landau for their editing, and Rabbi Judy Schindler and Cantor ...
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A Lesson in Ritual from My Five-Year-Old Grandson by Joy Miller
Temple Beth El
September 20, 2019
My journey into Judaism started 40 years ago through marriage to my husband, Fred. I had no idea when I decided to convert how much the ...
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Finding Spirituality Every Single Day by Alan Kronovet
Temple Beth El
September 20, 2019
Although my Jewish identity has always been strong, I never thought of myself as an observant, learned or spiritual Jew. Like most I wondered – ...
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Creating My Spiritual Nest by Amanda Innerfield
Temple Beth El
September 20, 2019
In 2018, I completed my conversion to Judaism. Much of my 2017 and 2018 was spent researching and attending Jewish events, attempting to fill my ...
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Growing Up, Changing Spiritually by Max Malter
Temple Beth El
September 20, 2019
In the midst of the chaos of moving to a new city with my partner, I recently attended Friday evening services for the first time ...
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Ritual and Re-Connection, or, How My Daughter Prompted the Rebuilding of My Jewish Practice by Keith Rosenthal
Temple Beth El
September 20, 2019
I was born, raised, and have lived in the South my entire life. Growing up Southern Jewish in the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s was an ...
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