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.
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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The Journey Through Grief – A Yom Kippur Yizkor Reflection by Rabbi Judy Schindler
Rabbi Schindler
10/02/2017
Gmar chatimah tovah – may you each be sealed for a good year. It is great to come home to Temple Beth El. You are ...
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Israel’s Complexity: Climbing Down the Ladders of Inference by Rabbi Asher Knight – Yom Kippur 5778
Rabbi Asher Knight
09/30/2017
In June, I met a recent college graduate named Brooke Davies. Brooke grew up here in Charlotte, graduated from Hebrew High, was a leader in ...
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Shmirat Hanefesh and Tikkun HaGuf: Cultivating Mental Health by Rabbi Dusty Klass – Erev Yom Kippur 5778
Rabbi Dusty Klass
09/30/2017
Shmirat Hanefesh and Tikkun HaGuf: Cultivating Mental Health Erev Yom Kippur 5778 Co-writers: Rabbi Dusty Klass, Rabbi Leah Citrin Editing Team: Rabbi Asher Knight, Rabbi ...
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Sh’ma Koleinu: Hear Our Voice by Rabbi Asher Knight – Rosh Hashanah Sermon 5778
Rabbi Asher Knight
09/22/2017
We Do Not Need To Face This World Alone Rosh HaShanah Sermon – 5778 Something crumbled inside of me as I watched Charlottesville’s beautiful streets ...
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