07.17.26 - TBE Shabbat Spotlight

Don’t Don’t Miss...

Miss...

Yahrzeits

We Remember...

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

Eric Ahronheim Nobuichi Arakaki Sheila Berner Sam B. Cohen Henry Dlugopiat Pauline Dlugopiat Abdul Duke Fakir George Erenbaum Stanley Green* Janet D. Gross Yona Henshell Rick Jenkins Phyllis Kahn Rose Kerekes* Dorothy Knobler* Jacob Kramarz

Lewis Krosner* Huguette Levy Evan Lieberman Sid Lieberman Jaime Mendel David Milchan Nell Mendlovitz Portnow Benjamin Robinson* Ronald Russon David Scheibel Bev Shapiro Ezra Silver Joseph Spero* Philip Stichler* Bud Studna Alvin Zeimer*

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 - Executive Director 727-347-6136 - Tara@TempleBeth-El.com Jennifer Hannon - Director of Early Childhood Center 727-350-5885 - JennHannon@TempleBeth-El.com Alexis Kelly - Director of Raymund Family Religious School 727-347-6136 - RaymundRS@TempleBeth-El.com

Parashat D’varim Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22

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

Rebecca Barancik & Joyce Liu #tbestpete

July 17, 2026

A Special Message from

Rabbi Amy L. Morrison

As we begin D'varim, D'varim, we also begin again. Moshe stands before the people, looking back on their journey while preparing them for a future he will never enter. His words remind us that every ending holds the possibility of a new beginning and that reflection is not about dwelling dwelling on the past but about shaping what comes next.

This feels especially meaningful today. Many of us carry both gratitude and worry. We celebrate milestones while wondering what tomorrow will bring. We balance work, family, relationships, and the hope of building lives rooted in kindness and purpose. D'varim invites us to pause long enough to ask what kind of people we want to become and what kind of community we want to create together.

Announcements Wednesday, July 22 10:45am - Book Club

Friday, July 24 5:30pm - Early Oneg 6pm - Erev Shabbat Services

Perhaps this new book of Torah is an opportunity to set a simple intention. We can greet someone new at services.

We can check on a neighbor who has been lonely. We can listen with curiosity to someone whose experience differs from our own. We can teach our children that every act of compassion strengthens the world we share. These small choices become sacred when they are made with intention.

As an interfaith and liberal Jewish community, our greatest strength is the way we make room for one another with open hearts and open minds. This Shabbat, may each of us choose one meaningful act that brings more hope, more connection, and more blessing into our congregation and into the world.

Torah Portion

Parashat D’varim: 1:1-3:22 Saturday, July 18, 2026 / 4 Av 5786

Moses Moses begins begins his his final final words words of of instruction instruction to to the the Children Children of of Isra Israel, recounti Israel, el, focusing focusing first first on on recounting recounting ng their their physical physical journey. journey. (1:1– (1:1– 21) 21) Mos Moses repo Moses es reviews reviews the the people’s people’s reactions reactions to to the the negative negative reports reports rts of of the the spies spies and and the the appointment appointment of of Joshua Joshua to to succeed succeed him. him.

(1:22–45) (1:22–45) Moses Moses recounts recounts that that all all of of the the Israelite Israelite warriors warriors who who left left Egypt Egypt died, died, as as God God had had intended, intended, and and the the people people continued continued their their wanderings wanderings and and defeated defeated their their enemies. enemies. (2:14–3:11) (2:14–3:11) M Moses Moses oses reiterates reiterates that that the the Land Land of of Israel Israel was was allocated allocated to to the the Israelite Israelite tribes. tribes. (3:12–22) (3:12–22)

Suggestions Suggestions for for parents parents of of our our youngest youngest congregants congregants Relax!

Relax! God God gave gave children children their their wiggle—there’s wiggle—there’s no no need need to to stifle stifle itit in in our our sanctuary sanctuary or or chapel. chapel.

Sit Sit near near the the front front so so your your little little ones ones can can better better

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!

see see and and hear hear what’s what’s happening happening on on the the Bima.

Bima.

They They lose lose interest interest staring staring at at the the backs backs of of others’ others’ heads. heads.

Gently G Gently ently explain explain our our rituals rituals and and join join in in singing singing or or clapping clapping when when itit fits. fits. Children Children learn learn how how to to participate participate by by watching watching you. you.

IfIf you you need need to to step step out out with with your your child, child, that’s that’s okay—but okay—but please please return return when when you you can. can.

Remember, Remember, how how we we welcome welcome children children in in synagogue synagogue shapes shapes how how they they feel feel about about being being here, here, about about God, God, and and about about each each other. other. Let Let them them know know they they truly truly belong belong in in this this house house of of worship, worship, here here at at Temple Temple Beth-El. Beth-El.