06.26.26 - TBE Shabbat Spotlight

2026 TBE Pride

Yahrzeits

We Remember...

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

Jacob Apter* Elizabeth Berger* Margaret Berko* Rose Bernstein Eugenio Blumberg Alexander Brien Bruce Joel Celis Lena Cooperman* Shirley Dissin Bruce Dworsky Jennie Friedman* Gizella Gann* Jacob M. Getz*

True Colors

Sallie Goldwater* Leon Haliczer* Ruth Hill* Esther LaHav Klasmer Allen C. Marmon Marcos J. Nahon* Dorothy Nash Jacob Plotkin Jill Alison Rosenbluth* Robert R. Rosenfeld Emanuel Schuman* Harry Ullman Mildred Weinstein*

the

Shabbat

Spotlight

By Cyndi Lauper

You with the sad eyes Don't be discouraged Oh, I realize It's hard to take courage courage In a world full of people You can lose sight of it all And the darkness inside you Can make you feel so small

[Chorus] But I see your true colors Shining through I see your true colors And that's why I love you So don't be afraid to let them show Your true colors True colors Are beautiful like a rainbow Show me a smile then Don't be unhappy Can't remember when I last saw you laughing If this world makes you crazy And you've taken all you can bear You call me up Because you know I'll be there

*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

Parashat Chukat - Balak

Alexis Kelly - Raymund Family Religious School Principal 727-347-6136 - RaymundRS@TempleBeth-El.com

Numbers 19:1 - 22:1, 22:2-25:9

Tracy Nash - Bookkeeper 727-347-6136 - Bookkeeper@TempleBeth-El.com Tovah Feld - Communications & Engagement Coordinator 727-347-6136 - Tovah@TempleBeth-El.com Jay Miller - Temple President 727-347-6136 - President@TempleBeth-El.com

Rabbi Amy L. Morrison & Joyce Liu #tbestpete

June 26, 2026

A Special Message from

Rabbi Amy L. Morrison

As we enter the double portion of Chukat-Balak during Pride Month, we encounter a powerful reminder that holiness often emerges from unexpected places and voices. In these parshiyot, parshiyot, outsiders become insiders. The prophet Balaam, who stands beyond the Israelite camp, is nevertheless able to see blessing where others see threat, proclaiming the enduring words, "Mah "Mah tovu ohalecha Ya'akov" "How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob" (Numbers 24:5).

Ya'akov" Jewish tradition teaches that every human being is created b'tzelem Elohim, Elohim, in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). This sacred truth is not conditional. conditional. It does not depend on whom we love, how we identify, or whether we fit neatly into society's expectations.

Pride Month invites us to celebrate the dignity, courage, and holiness of LGBTQ+ individuals and to recommit ourselves to building communities where everyone is seen, valued, and embraced.

Allyship Allys hip is a Jewish value because solidarity is a human value. We know from our own history that belonging matters. Sometimes allyship means speaking out against injustice. Sometimes it means advocating for those whose voices are marginalized. And sometimes the most meaningful act is simply showing up, standing beside one another, bearing witness, and declaring through our presence: you belong here.

Announcements Saturday, June 27

5:15pm - St. Pete Pride Parade

Sunday, June 28 12pm - 5pm - TBE Pride Booth @ Grand Central Street Fair

Thursday, July 2 7pm - 10pm - Nifty Over Fifty Sunset Dining Cruise

Friday, July 3 5:30pm - Early Oneg 6pm - Erev Shabbat Services

Torah Portion

Parashat Chukat-Balak: 19:1 - 22:1, 22:2 -25:9 Saturday, June 27, 2026 / 12 Tammuz 5786 The The laws laws of of the the red red heifer heifer to to purify purify aa person person who who has has had had contact contact with with aa corpse are given.

(19:1-22) corpse are given. (19:1-22) The The people people arrive arrive at at the the wilderness wilderness of of Zin. Zin. Miriam Miriam dies dies and and isis buried buried there. there.

(20:1) (20:1) The The people people complain complain that that they they have have no no water. water. Moses Moses strikes strikes the the rock rock to to get get water for them.

God tells Moses and Aaron they will not enter the Land of water for them. God tells Moses and Aaron they will not enter the Land of Israel.

Israel. (20:2-13) (20:2-13) TThe The la he king king of of Edom Edom refuses refuses to to let let the the Children Children of of Israel Israel pass pass through through his his land. land. nd.

After ppriestly ar After Aaron's Aaron's priestly riestly garments garments are aree given given to to his his son son Eleazer, Eleazer, Aaron Aaron dies. dies.

(20:14-29) (20:14-29) After tthey After they hey are are punished punished for for complaining complaining about about the the lack lack of of bread bread and and water, water, the the Israelites Israelites repent repent and and are are victorious victorious in in battle battle against against the the Amorites Amorites and and the the people people of of Bashan, Bashan, whose whose lands lands they they capture. capture. (21:4-22:1) (21:4-22:1) Balak, Balak, the the king king of of Moab, Moab, persuades persuades the the prophet prophet Balaam Balaam to to curse curse the the Israelites Israelites so so that that he he can can defeat defeat them them and and drive drive them them out out of of the the region. region.

However, However, Balaam Balaam blesses blesses the the Children Children of of Israel Israel instead instead and and prophesies prophesies that that Israel's Israel's enemies enemies will will be be defeated. defeated. (22:2-24:25) (22:2-24:25) God punishes the Israelites with a God punishes the Israelites with a plague plague for for consorting consorting with with the the Moabite Moabite women and their god.

The plague is stayed after Pinchas kills an Israelite women and their god. The plague is stayed after Pinchas kills an Israelite man man and and his his Midianite Midianite woman. woman. (25:1-9) (25:1-9)

This coming weekend, weekend, our congregation will gather for Pride events as an expression of our deepest Jewish commitments. We hope you will join us in celebration, support, and community.

As we gather this Shabbat, may we hear Balaam's blessing anew and recognize the beauty that emerges when every person is welcomed into the tent. Let us go forward with pride, compassion, and courage, remembering that God created all human beings in God's image, and here, in our congregation, we strive to live that value every day.

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!

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