From the Presidents – January 19, 2023

Hello Everyone!

We hope all of you had a relaxing and/or fulfilling long weekend honoring Martin Luther King Jr.  As a tribute to the legacy of Dr. King, we can acknowledge not only what he accomplished for civil rights in the United States but also his promotion of Jewish values.  Along with working with several prominent Jewish religious figures in his campaigns and marches on behalf of civil rights (Rabbi Abraham Heschel, Jack Greenberg, nearly half of the civil rights attorneys in the South, etc), Dr. King also spoke about community service, assisting the poor, promoting non-violence to achieve goals, and displaying an optimism about the future in the face of injustice.  All of these endeavors relate to Jewish values as well, including Tzedakah, Tikun Olam, Tu’Bshvat, etc.  Jewish communities around the world constantly strive to live up to the promise of a better life in the future, to fulfill our obligations to the earth, to improve the world for those who live in it, and to nurture harmony and cooperation among communities across the world.  In order to fully honor the legacy of Dr. King, we must remember the values he espoused and how closely they are related to what we wish to achieve for Jewish values and communities for a long time to come.   

And as we head toward the middle of winter, plenty of other major holidays are coming up, including Tu B’shvat, Purim and Passover.  We will also be hosting a special Shabbat Service for the new members of our community next month on Friday, February 16.  We encourage all of our new families to attend as the future of our congregation.  You can also help make a difference by volunteering to help with the Purim Carnival and Passover Seder.  Assisting with any of these events allows us to connect with the community, perform a mitzvah, and make the Temple Beth Hillel experience even better.  We will be sending out dates and opportunities for volunteering shortly.  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, our next regular Shabbat Service will take place this Friday, January 19, at 7:30 p.m.   Our co-president David Zimring and his family will be hosting Oneg so please come and join us.  Earlier in the evening, we will also have Family Shabbat at 6:15 p.m., with our theme of Tu B’shvat.  Torah Study will take place Saturdays at 10:15 a.m. on Zoom, and the Adult Education class will be hosted by Rabbi Dean on Sundays (see calendar for dates).  And of course, we encourage everyone to come to our wonderful Tefillah services at Religious School each Sunday at 9:30 a.m.  Thank you everyone!  

If I am not for myself, who will be for me?

If I am not for others, what am I?

And if not now, when? -Rabbi Hillel

~ Anna B Stein and David Zimring, Co-Presidents, Temple Beth Hillel