4th, 5th, 6th Grade Retreat
This past weekend, we held an amazing 4th, 5th and 6th Grade Retreat at Camp Thunderbird. We gathered together fifty 4th-6th graders, along with teen madrichim, teachers, and a few brave parents. We centered the weekend around connection and community, with activities focused on building and strengthening friendships. Campers traversed the ropes course, climbed the […]
Welcome Rabbi Beth Nichols, Director of Lifelong Jewish Learning
We are excited to welcome Rabbi Beth Nichols as our new Director of Lifelong Jewish Learning. Rabbi Nichols will partner with TBE Clergy, staff, faculty, and lay leaders to create dynamic learning opportunities. Name Beth Nichols Job Title Director of Lifelong Jewish Learning Birthplace Lexington, Massachusetts What drew you to working at Temple Beth El and […]
Every Ending is a New Beginning
I spent the past week cleaning out my office. Twenty years of files, books, projects, and clutter. It took me such a long time to get through all the chaos, mostly because there were so many memories lurking in the drawers and shelves. As the garbage bags piled up and the boxes of things I […]
Judah P. Benjamin Monument Bearing the Names of Temple Beth El and Temple Israel
Dear Temple Beth El and Temple Israel, Over seventy years ago, our congregations were approached by the United Daughters of the Confederacy to support the placement of a monument dedicated to Judah P. Benjamin, a Southerner and a Jew, who played an important role in the Confederacy. While our respective Boards voted to participate, there […]
The Blessing of Transitions
The Mishnah’s Tractate Berakhot starts with a discussion about how and when we sing of the Shema, the foundational prayer of our faith. The rabbis ask a question about whether a person can interrupt one’s singing of the shema – a prayer to God – to acknowledge and greet another person. The tradition is clear […]
Going Beyond Thoughts and Prayers – Racial Justice
Dear Temple Beth El Family, The coronavirus pandemic has magnified and exacerbated the inequalities in our society. While we are in the same storm, we are not all in the same boat. The stark contrast between armed white militia safely protesting in a capitol building and unarmed black men and women being killed highlights the […]
Resources to Watch, Read, Listen, & Notice
Resources to Watch, Read, Listen, & Notice Watch This is Us – Dr. Eddie Glaude explains why blaming current racial tensions on Donald Trump misses the point. (3 minutes) Racism is Real – A split-screen video depicting the differential in the white and black lived experience. (3 minutes) Confronting ‘intergroup anxiety’: Can you try too […]
The Dance and the Dimmer Switch: Our Plan to Reopen the Building
Dear Temple Beth El Family, I write this letter to you having just visited the Blumenthal Sanctuary. I went to record a video, check-in on our building, and retrieve a few books from my office. It is in our sanctuary and sacred spaces at Temple where we pray, where b’nei mitzvah lead our congregation in […]
Caring for Our Communities and Neighbors Together
The Charlotte region has thousands of diverse faith communities impacted by the persistent and serious threats associated with COVID-19. Each faith community has found creative ways to express our core beliefs and spiritual practices under the social distancing guidelines. We yearn for connection and the chance to worship together. We understand and respect Governor Cooper’s […]
