August 10, 2010

Dear TBS Family and Friends,

Although there’s no way to tell by the thermometer, our summer is drawing to a close and the Holy Days are less than a month away.

Those who have had the good fortune to attend our lay services this summer will tell you that each one has been wonderful in its own unique way. Phil Grinker led us on a personal journey through the Diaspora. Varda Rotenberg took us on an archaeological adventure in Israel. Bob and Brenda Poller transported us to a spiritual awakening in Eretz Yisrael. Bert Devorsetz brought us home again to the Classical roots of Reform Judaism. We thank each and every one of these lay leaders for the time and thought and love they put into their services.

As you know from all the email notices, Rabbi Sundheim returns from his vacation on Friday, August 20, and we will welcome him (and Adrianne—in absentia) back with a special dinner in their honor at 6:00 in the temple, prior to services. If you haven’t made your reservations yet, please do so by mailing your check for $12 per person to Temple Beth Shalom, P.O. Box 313, Winter Haven, FL 33882-0313.

The evening of Friday, August 20 will be a very special one for another reason. In the Torah service, Rabbi will be consecrating the new High Holy Days mantle for our new Torah, and dedicating it to the memory of our beloved Ruth Weitzenkorn, z”l. This will be a significant moment none of us will want to miss.

I am enclosing with this letter a copy of the schedule of services for our High Holy Days services for you to use for your convenience or to share with friends who may not have a temple to call home.

Finally, there are two more wonderful enclosures, letters from Rabbi Sundheim and Rabbi Emeritus Arfa. What gifts we have been given in the form of these two men of faith and friendship, these wise teachers, for whom we thank the One who made them.

May the New Year be a sweet and good one for us all.

Joni L. Doddemeade, President