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.
Unpacking Audacious Hospitality by Ginny Rosenberg, President
Temple Beth El
12/27/2017
It has been my privilege to receive congregants’ feedback about Temple life during my term. While most people are full of praise for our services, ...
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New Year’s Resolutions and Revelations by Susan Jacobs, Director of Education
Susan Jacobs
12/27/2017
As Jews, we have two New Years, Rosh Hashanah and January 1st. When I was younger, I used to see Rosh Hashanah as the reset ...
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Olam Chesed Yibaneh by Candace Naliboff
Candace Naliboff
12/21/2017
Growing up, one of my favorite singing groups was Peter, Paul, and Mary. Their harmonies were beautiful, but even more poignant were the words of ...
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At URJ Biennial, We Are Reminded That We Are Not Alone by Rachel Campbell
Temple Beth El
12/14/2017
It would be an understatement to say that it has been a challenging time in our country these last several years. I don’t need to go ...
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From My Seat at URJ’s Biennial Convention by Cantor Mary Rebecca Thomas
Cantor Mary Thomas
12/07/2017
For five days every two years, thousands of Jewish professionals serving reform congregations and organizations, lay leaders, and congregants come together to learn, to pray, ...
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Chanukah, Hope, and Hosting: The Youth Are Our Present by Rabbi Dusty Klass
Rabbi Dusty Klass
11/20/2017
Chanukah celebrates the proverbial light in the darkness, the hope that comes from flickering flames in the midst of a cold winter night, the story ...
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A Prayer for Thanksgiving by Temple Beth El Clergy
Rabbi Asher Knight
11/20/2017
The Torah describes the harvest festival of Sukkot as a time to give thanks to God for the bounty and beauty of the world. Our ...
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Home by Andy Harkavy, Director of Congregational Engagement
Madeline White
11/15/2017
Many people have numerous definitions for the word home. Over the years, I often asked myself, “Is home where I live or is it where ...
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Do A Mitzvah – Turn the World Around by Susan Jacobs, Director of Education
Susan Jacobs
11/09/2017
This Shabbat we will read the parsha, Chayei Sarah, the life of Sarah. The portion begins with Sarah’s life but focuses on her death and ...
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Democracy is Not a Spectator Sport by Rabbi Judy Schindler
Rabbi Schindler
11/01/2017
When Jeremiah the prophet preached 2600 years ago, he enjoined his fellow Jews who were exiled to Babylon to get engaged with their community, “Seek the ...
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Words of Gratitude by Cantor Mary Rebecca Thomas
Cantor Mary Thomas
10/30/2017
“I offer thanks to You, ever-living Sovereign, that You have restored my soul to me in mercy: How great is Your trust.” This translation of ...
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Family – There are All Kinds and I Seem to Need Them All by Candace Naliboff, Director of Member Services
Candace Naliboff
10/24/2017
When my husband and I moved to Charlotte over five years ago, we knew only our daughter…we were so happy because our little family was ...
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WE CAN ALL BE SHEPHERDS: WHAT MAKES A JEWISH LEADER? BY DR. LAURA BERNSTEIN
Temple Beth El
10/19/2017
WE CAN ALL BE SHEPHERDS: WHAT MAKES A JEWISH LEADER? The Torah offers abundant lessons for leadership for today. As we turn the scroll through ...
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Turn It and Turn It Again by Cantor Mary Rebecca Thomas
Cantor Mary Thomas
10/11/2017
Chag Samei’ach and welcome to the last official day of the holiday season of 5778! We have made it up the mountain of Jewish time ...
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Sukkot is a Time for Rebuilding by Rabbi Dusty Klass
Rabbi Dusty Klass
10/03/2017
There’s a Grey’s Anatomy episode in which the main character Meredith says something along the lines of, “when the world gets really terrible, I go ...
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