Michele Archambault-Lahav
George Dikman
Shirley Dissin
Carole Drattell
Michael Goldner*
Toby Greenberg*
Florence Handler*
Jack Herman
Saniel Kirschner*
Yahrzeits Shabbat Spotlight the
Hannah Krassner
Mickey Kurtz*
Phillip Lerner
Lewis Levinson
Max Mazer
Charlotte Mount*
Benjamin Newman
Elias Papert*
Jill Alison Rosenbluth*
Alvin Silverman*
Anne Simmons
Michael Simon
Jacob Siscovick*
Frank Will
Betty Winkel*
*Denotes plaque in Memorial Alcove
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
Tracy Nash - Bookkeeper
727-347-6136 - Bookkeeper@TempleBeth-El.com
Tovah Feld - Communications & Engagement Coordinator 727-347-6136 - Tovah@TempleBeth-El.com
Allison Fowler - Executive Assistant to Rabbi 727-347-6136 - Allison@TempleBeth-El.com
Mike Shapiro - Temple President
727-347-6136 - President@TempleBeth-El com
Rabbi Amy L. Morrison
Parshat Sh' ach L cha and Juneteenth both speak to the deep, often painful journey from bondage to true freedom not just physica re ease, but emotional, spiritua , and collective liberat on In Sh'lach, the Israelites stand on the edge of promise They’ve been freed from slavery but when the spies return with fearful reports, the people crumble. They cry out to go back to Egypt. Back to chains. Back to what they knew. Because sometimes, the weight of freedom the unknown the responsib lity, the faith it demands feels heavier than the chains we ’ ve left behind
Juneteenth te ls a similarly heart-wrench ng story. On June 19 1865, two years after the Emancipat on Proclamation, the last ens aved people in Texas finally learned they were free Imagine living in bondage, unaware that freedom had already been declared And even then, freedom d d not bring equality or safety It brought struggle It brought the ong road t brought hope, yes but also heartbreak Because freedom delayed is painful And freedom denied even more so.
Both Sh lach and Juneteenth rem nd us that emancipation is not a sing e moment t’s a journey It’s the courage to walk forward when the road is uncertain It’s the faith to believe in a better future even when the world says no t’s the f ght to claim dignity, justice, and belong ng.
Th s Shabbat, let us not ust remember Let us feel Let us ache for the courage our ancestors lacked, and summon it in ourse ves Let us be the generation that doesn’t turn back in fear but marches forward n faith, determined to make freedom real for everyone.
Twilight Twilight People People
FFrom rom
Mishkan Ga’avah Mishkan Ga’avah:: Where Pride Dwells Where Pride Dwells
Announcements
Monday , June 23
2pm - Women’s Spirituality Circle
Wednesday , June 25
10:45am - Book Club
Thursday, June 26
5:30pm - Pride Float Decorating at TBE
Friday, June 27
5:30pm - Early Oneg 6pm - Erev Shabbat Service
Saturday, June 28
5:30pm - Pride Parade with TBE in Downtown St. Pete
Sunday, June 29
12pm - TBE Booth at Pride Street Fair on Central Ave
Upcoming Events
Torah Portion
Parashat Sh'lach L'cha: Numbers 13:1-15:41
Saturday, June 21, 2025 / 25 Sivan 5785
Moses sends twelve spies to the Land of Israel to report on the inhabitants and the country. Despite the positive report of Joshua and Caleb, the people are frightened. (13:1–14:10) God threatens to wipe out the Children of Israel but relents when Moses intercedes on their behalf. To punish the people, God announces that all those who left Egypt would not enter the Land of Israel except for Joshua and Caleb. (14:11–45) Moses instructs the Israelites regarding setting aside challah, the observance of the Sabbath, how to treat strangers, and the laws of tzitzit. (15:1–41)
As the sun sinks and the colors of the day turn, we offer a blessing for the
As the sun sinks and the colors of the day turn, we offer a blessing for the ttwilight, wilight, for twilight is neither day nor night, but in-between. for twilight is neither day nor night, but in-between.
AAll ll of us are all twilight people. We can never be fully labeled or defined. of us are all twilight people. We can never be fully labeled or defined.
All of us have many identities and loves, many genders and none.
All of us have many identities and loves, many genders and none.
All of us are in between roles, at the intersection of histories. All of us are in between roles, at the intersection of histories. All of us are crisscrossed paths of memory and destination, streaks of light
All of us are crisscrossed paths of memory and destination, streaks of light swirled together. swirled together.
We are neither day nor night. We are both, neither, and all. We are neither day nor night. We are both, neither, and all. May the sacred in-between of this evening suspend our certainties, May the sacred in-between of this evening suspend our certainties, soften our judgments, and widen our vision. soften our judgments, and widen our vision.
May this in-between light illuminate our way to the God who transcends all May this in-between light illuminate our way to the God who transcends all categories and definitions. categories and definitions.
May the in-between people who have come to pray be lifted up into this May the in-between people who have come to pray be lifted up into this ttwilight. wilight.
We cannot always define; we can always say a blessing. We cannot always define; we can always say a blessing.
IfyouarenewtoTempleBeth-El, welcome!
OPENCOMMUNITYCREATESENGAGING&DIVERSEJEWISHPATHWAYS
Located nSt.PetersburgonFlorida'sbeautfulwestcoast,TempleBeth-El sa ReformJewishcongregationthathasservedthisareasnce1928andis focusedonstrengthenngrelationshpsandmakingconnections Wearea welcomingReformcommunityforJewishandinterfaithhouseholdsto experienceanupliftingandjoyfulsenseofbelongingasweseektoconnect ourmemberswitheachotherandthegreatercommunityandworldaroundus. Enjoyandhavea ShabbatShalom!
Relax! God put the wiggle in children. Don’t feel you have to suppress it in our sanctuary or chapel.
Sit towards the front where it is easier for your little ones to see and hear what is happening on the Bima. They tire of seeing the backs of other’s heads.
events
Quietly explain our rituals and sing or clap when appropriate. Children learn liturgical behavior by copying you. If you need to leave services with your child, do so, but please come back. Remember that the way we welcome children in synagogue directly affects the way they respond to coming to synagogue, to God, to one another. Let them know that they are welcome in this house of worship, here, at Temple Beth-El.
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha olam, hayotzeir et hadimdumim
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha'olam, hayotzeir et hadimdumim