02.06.26 - TBE Shabbat Spotlight

Hatikvah

National Anthem of the State of Israel Kol od ba’le’vav p’nima,Nefesh yehudi ho’miyah.

U’lefa-atei mizrach kadimah, Ayin le’Tziyyon tzofiyah.

Od lo avda tikva-teinu, Ha’tikvah bat sh’not al-payim Lih-yot am chofshi b’ar-tzeinu Eretz Tziyyon v’Yerushalayim.

Translation: As long as within our hearts The Jewish soul sings, As long as forward to the East To Zion, looks the eye – Our hope is not yet lost, It is two thousand years old, To be a free people in our land The land of Zion and Jerusalem.

Yahrzeits

We Remember...

May their memory be a blessing and a lesson for how we can live our lives.

Rose Sandler Anker Carole Kalish Sam Bennett Muriel Katz Lillian Van Baalen Blach* David Kichler Deborah Borsuk* Edwin Krassner Ronald Bramesco Eli Samuel Leff* Martin Byrd Michael Leveen* Shelby Chadwick Beedie Weiss Mendelsohn Arthur Cunningham Irwin Miller James Durham Blime Malka Orange* Adele Einstein Helen Pecharsky* Owen L. Falk Franklin I. Rose* Sidney Feinberg Louise S. Rosen* Lois Goldberg Seymour G. Rosenthal Ben Greenfield Hilda Samler* Joan Halperin Rabin Harry Simon* Dorothy Heller Shmuel Lazar Steur Mark Hershkowitz* Jeffrey Timmins Robert Hirsch Betty Weintraub Rhoda Jenkins

the

Shabbat

Spotlight

*Denotes plaque in Memorial Alcove

We’d love to hear from you!

Reach out to us with any questions.

Amy L. Morrison - Rabbi 727-347-6136 - RabbiMorrison@TempleBeth-El.com Tara O’Donnell - Director of Finance & Operations 727-347-6136 - Tara@TempleBeth-El.com Jennifer Hannon - Director of Early Childhood Center 727-350-5885 - JennHannon@TempleBeth-El.com Alexis Kelly - Raymund Family Religious School Principal 727-347-6136 - RaymundRS@TempleBeth-El.com Tracy Nash - Bookkeeper 727-347-6136 - Bookkeeper@TempleBeth-El.com Tovah Feld - Communications & Engagement Coordinator 727-347-6136 - Tovah@TempleBeth-El.com Allison Fowler - Office Administrative Assistant 727-347-6136 - Allison@TempleBeth-El.com Mike Shapiro - Temple President 727-347-6136 - President@TempleBeth-El.com

Parashat Yitro

Exodus 18:1-20:23 Rabbi Amy L. Morrison, Joyce Liu, & the z”l Cantor Pamela Siskin Memorial Choir

#tbestpete

February 6, 2026

A Special Message from

Rabbi Amy L. Morrison

Parashat Yitro teaches us a powerful lesson about asking for help—even when it’s hard. Moses is doing everything himself, judging disputes, and carrying the weight of the people alone.

Yitro, his father-in-law, sees this and gently says, “This is not good.” He encourages Moses to share leadership, to trust others, and to build a system where no one carries the burden alone. What’s striking is not just Yitro’s wisdom, but Moses’s willingness to listen. A great leader admits he cannot do it all.

Many of us struggle with that same challenge. Asking for help can feel uncomfortable, vulnerable, or even shameful. Our tradition reminds us that needing others is not a weakness—it’s part of being human, part of being in community. Judaism is built on relationship, responsibility, and mutual care.

This week, let Parashat Yitro challenge us: do one thing outside your comfort zone. Ask for help you’ve been avoiding, offer support to someone new, or share a burden you’ve been carrying alone. Together, we are stronger.

Announcements Saturday, Feb. 7 10am - 11:30am - Minyan “University” Music of Shabbat: Songs from the Diaspora with Joyce Liu Wednesday, Feb. 11 5pm - Hebrew School Thursday, Feb. 12 4pm - Nifty Over Fifty Shuffleboard

If you are new to Temple Beth-El, welcome!

OPEN COMMUNITY CREATES ENGAGING & DIVERSE JEWISH PATHWAYS Located in St. Petersburg on Florida's beautiful west coast, Temple Beth-El is a Reform Jewish congregation that has served this area since 1928 and is focused on strengthening relationships and making connections. We are a welcoming Reform community for Jewish and interfaith households to experience an uplifting and joyful sense of belonging as we seek to connect our members with each other and the greater community and world around us.

Enjoy and have a Shabbat Shalom!

Torah Portion

Parashat Yitro: Exodus 18:1-20:23 Saturday, February 7, 2026 / 20 Sh’vat 5786 Yitro brings his daughter Zipporah and her two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, to his son-in-law Moses.

(18:1-12) Moses follows Yitro's advice and appoints judges to help him lead the people. (18:13-27) The Children of Israel camp in front of Mount Sinai.

Upon hearing the covenant, the Israelites respond, "All that God has spoken we will do." (19:1-8) After three days of preparation, the Israelites encounter God at Mount Sinai. (19:9-25) God gives the Ten Commandments aloud directly to the people. (20:1-14) Frightened, the Children of Israel ask Moses to serve as an intermediary between God and them.

Moses tells the people not to be afraid. (20:15-18)