We hope everyone had a wonderful Hanukkah season. We are now coming to the end of the secular year, which means it is also one of the most significant times of the year. Ever since September we have watched the days get shorter and shorter until sunset started happening before 5:00 p.m. On the 21st, we will witness the final day of reduced daylight with the Winter Solstice before the days once again start to get longer. Ancient cultures used to hold massive festivals celebrating this change as a kind of conquest of the night. The ancient Romans even labeled the ceremony the “Feast of the Unconquered Sun” because the sun itself seemed to gain new life. Although Judaism does not have any celebration related to this event, mainly because the Jewish calendar is based off of the moon rather than the sun, it still symbolizes the Jewish custom of renewal that we see so often throughout the year, including on the High Holy Days and Pesach. Therefore, let us all watch the sunset later this week to mark not only the renewal of the sun but also a renewal of our own commitments and passions. Here’s to longer days ahead!
Also, we wanted to express our deepest gratitude for all our members who volunteered to serve on the newly created search committee to look for TBH’s next rabbi. We will all miss Dean very much after his retirement next year but this also marks the next chapter in the story of TBH. We and the members of the committee will be working hard to find a worthy successor for our beloved Rabbi Dean. As part of this effort, the committee recently sent out a survey for members to fill out indicating what qualities you would like to see in our future Rabbi. We look forward to hearing from all of you and welcome your input.
And for those who wish to make a difference in our community, we highly encourage you to consider joining the Temple Beth Hillel Board of Directors next year. Our Board is always on the lookout for members who have ideas for the future of the temple and the ability to carry out that vision. Serving on the Board makes us appreciate how much Temple Beth Hillel means to us and our children.
Finally, we recently had our final Shabbat service of the year along with the successful conclusion of the Second Annual Dreidel Olympics. Next year we’ll make it an even bigger event. Our next regular Shabbat Service will take place on Friday, January 5, at 7:30 p.m. And for our new members, we will be holding a special Shabbat service for all of you in January. Torah Study will take place Saturday at 10:15 a.m. on Zoom, and the Adult Education class will be hosted by Rabbi Dean (see calendar for dates). And of course, we encourage everyone to come to our wonderful Tefillah services at Religious School when we return on Sunday, January 7, at 9:30 a.m.
From the Presidents – Dec. 22, 2023
December 22, 2023 by tbhrich • president