My husband, son, and I moved to Winter Haven in 1989. Four months later, my husband became very ill. We had not had the chance to meet many people. We had already registered our son Gabe for Sunday School at Beth Shalom and I had become involved in the school library. That was how I got to know some of the people from the temple. On May 15, 1991, my husband died after eighteen months of illness. I was beside myself. The Jewish community came to my rescue. I will never forget their thoughtfulness and kindness. Everyone from Beth Shalom helped me get through a very tough time. Everyone was also there when Gabe had his Bar Mitzvah in 1994.
I thank all of you.
Susan Perlman
Something old, something new . . .
Our first Sunday School - some twenty kids and six teachers - met in a Garden Grove chandelier storefront owned by Peggy and Bruce Sadow. The floor space was empty and perfect for us. Within a few months, we purchased some bright blue folding chairs at a local fire sale and used them for a year and a half until we moved our Sunday School to the Masonic Temple. The chairs were sent to storage at Stan Kaplan’s warehouse, but one ended up in my house and slept in the hall closet for almost 19 years.
When our new building was completed, we heeded the call to BYOC (bring your own chair), and twenty-one bright blue chairs appeared on Bradbury Road. When our sanctuary chairs arrived, the bright blues found their way back to the classroom.
This time, though, the classrooms weren’t borrowed; they were ours!
Janis Koike
One of my delightful memories of Temple Beth Shalom is our very first T’Bishvat Seder.The place was full of people, and it was a meaningful occasion.
Billee Erde
Bob and I came to a gathering some twenty-one years ago at the home of Priscilla and Bruce Gerber. It was the fist time we connected with the Jewish Community of Winter Haven. It was the seed of our new creation. From that group came the spirit and inspiration for Temple Beth Shalom. The memories of gatherings and services, showing happiness and sadness, have kept our commitments growing for building our new home.
Debra and Bugsy Segal
My memories of this Temple go back to the birth of our grandson, Eliot Chayt. Rabbi Brad Boxmann, our student rabbi from Cincinnati officiated at the pidyon haben. He told me that this was his first pidyon haben and that he was very honored.Then came Eliot’s bar mitzvah.This Temple shall always be near and dear to my husband and me.
Bea and Jules Briklod (Meryl Chayt’s parents)
About ten years ago, Janis Koike and I along with an associate, Sonja Leander, decided to go to dinner at Red Lobster after our AITP business association meeting. During dinner, Sonja turned our conversation toward religion. She professed to be of the Catholic faith and then Janis Koike spoke and said that she was Jewish. My mouth dropped open and I said, ‘I am, too!’ Janis went on to say that she was the President of Temple Beth Shalom in Winter Haven. I was dumbfounded as I didn’t even realize there was a temple other than the one in Lakeland. That dinner meeting started my association with Temple Beth Shalom.
Meryl Crews
Since we’ve lived in Winter Haven for twenty years the creation of this wonderful edifice is a dream come true.
Our upcoming mitzvah, our daughter’s Bat Mitzvah, will be a glorious occasion and a joyous remembrance in our new synagogue.
Lindsay, Josh, Marsha and Randy Kramer
I remember many years ago I was approached by Barbara Brooks and Priscilla Gerber to consider starting our own Reform congregation.
My son Kevin had one of the first Bar Mitzvah a few months later. Rabbi Brad Boxmann officiated.
I was on the Housekeeping Committee and was even in charge of cleaning the restrooms.
How wonderful to see a dream come true!
Linda Small
What a happy day! I am so proud of our building and so pleased with its first formal service in the new building. Congratulations and many thanks to all who made it possible.Thanks to Rabbi Goodman for his appropriate message. Perfect!
Jean Parcel
The day we received and dedicated our Holocaust Torah was a momentous, memorable occasion. Seeing it held today in our new building and hearing the names of the towns it came from, was very moving and emotional for me. May we continue to perpetuate the Jewish religion here in Winter Haven, Florida.
Barbara Brooks
Remember the glory days of the Shabbatones when Jeanne, Meryl, Val, Eliot and I did backup for Paul?
He is my cantorial hero, you know, and the reason I am able to do what I’ve been doing on Friday nights. There is no way I’ll ever be able to thank him sufficiently for all that he has given me. His stories, his jokes, his memories, his advice, his explanation of what the songs and blessings mean, his Hebrew lessons. Those early Sunday morning rehearsals, when he would charm our yawns into music, remain my favorite times as a member of Temple Beth Shalom. Even when he would direct us with dog-training hand signals.
Joni L. Doddemeade
For Stanley . . .
The Grapefruit Code:
The upright.
The inverse.
The toss.
Joni L. Doddemeade
Thank you to Rabbi, Mary, and the entire congregation for begin so warm and welcoming since our arrival here three years ago.
Marilyn and Zeal Fisher
I claim responsibility for the extra throne in the ladies’ restroom – passed by unanimous vote at a special board meeting.
Henry M. Stern
(Oldest member of the congregation and still alive!)
As a Jewish child growing up in a non-Jewish community, it has always been difficult socially and spiritually. I think it was even harded for me to worship at the Masonic lodge. This is an amazing day for myself, my family and our Jewish community. I am filled with tears of hope and joy. I just bought a new condominium and on this day I feel that I have two new homes.
Maris Segal
Preparing lists (teachers, board members, congregants who died before we had our own building, bar/bat mitzvah celebrations, etc.) was one the many things we did to prepare for dedication day. I worried that I had forgotten someone. . . and I did. Maris Segal taught Sunday School with us the first year at the chandelier store on Cypress Gardens Road. She had returned to Winter Haven after a tour with Up With People, and came in to teach us songs, create holiday crafts, and share her Sunday School experience. My own favorite song was a rendition of the Shema. The verse is repeated four times, each time with a slightly different melody. Being musically challenged, I can only say the melody is somewhat monotone, but haunting. It grew on me immediately and I still find myself singing that song. I think we should all learn it as an alternative to Bim Bom. Joni, what do you think?
Janis Koike
Thoughts of coming from a Yeshiva in New Jersey and seeking a home and community as a young teen here in Winter Haven. . . Alas we had to go to Lakeland. Now with such price I watch and appreciate my father and mother’s role in instilling the importance ofour Jewish heritage and life in us.
Many years ago I recall being one of the first Sunday School teachers, sharing my young mind with those even younger. And today, I cherish that role that my family has played in building our new home and paving the way to a community for our youth. An enduring spiritual home of love.
Maris Segal
Congratulations and much happiness to our new building. All our love and thanks.