07.24.26 - 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.

Dorothy Bennett* Eleanor Bramesco Lawrence Bress Philip Brinen Budd Bugatch Frances Carton* Evalyn Cohen* Robert Elbaz Lena Englander* Max Fortunoff* Benjamin Glass* Steven Grant Nell Kass Ida Lee Harold L. Leveen* Sylvia Levitsky Terri Miller Rebecca Mintz* Rose Hartzel Moyer* Hannah B. Person*

Philip Pollack* Nathaniel Reimer* Shirley London Reimer* Sidney Richman Steven Jay Robin Isadore Rosen Eugene Rosenbluth* Dorothy Rudd Abraham Rudderman Meyer Samuels* Louis C. Sherwin Isidore Silverberg* Lewis Silverboard Louis Siscovick* Bev Shapiro Sevilla Steiner* Joseph Turner Ida Weinberg* Fredrick Wescott

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 Va-et’chanan Deuteronomy 3:23 - 7:11

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

Rabbi Amy L. Morrison & Joyce Liu #tbestpete

July 24, 2026

A Special Message from

Rabbi Amy L. Morrison

As we arrive at the heart of summer and read Vaet’chanan, we encounter Moses standing at the edge et’chanan, of a dream he will never fully realize. He longs to enter the Promised Land, yet he is asked instead to look ahead with hope and to trust that his journey still matters. There is something deeply human in that moment. We all carry dreams that have been delayed, plans that have changed, or hopes that seem just out of reach.

Announcements Friday, July 31

5:30pm - Early Oneg 6pm - Erev Shabbat Services

The beauty of Va-et’chanan is that it reminds us every day offers another opportunity to begin again. Maybe it is finally signing up for a class you have always wanted to take, reaching out to repair a relationship, volunteering for a cause that speaks to your heart, or simply believing that your next chapter can still be filled with purpose and joy. It is never too late to grow, to learn, to love more deeply, or to discover a new calling.

Parashat Va-et’chanan: 3:23-7:11 Saturday, July 25, 2026 / 11 Av 5786

Moses Isra Moses pleads pleads with with God God to to let let him him enter enter the the Land Land of of Israel Israel el with with the the people, oonce people, but but God God once nce more more refuses refuses his his request. request. (3:23–28) (3:23–28) Mos Moses Moses es orders orders the the Children Children of of Israel Israel to to pay pay attention attention and and follow follow the the laws laws given wo given by

by God God in in order order to to be be worthy worthy rthy of of the the land land they they are are about about to to receive. receive. (4:1–40) (4:1–40) Sp Specific Specific ecific areas areas of of the the land land are are set set aside aside to to serve serve as as cities cities of of refuge. refuge.

(4:41–43) (4:41–43) The The covenant covenant at at Sinai Sinai and and the the Ten Ten Commandments Commandments are are recalled. recalled. Once Once again, the people are exhorted to heed God’s commandments.

(5:1–30) again, the people are exhorted to heed God’s commandments. (5:1–30) M Moses Moses oses speaks speaks the the words words of of the the Sh’ma, Sh’ma, the the credo credo of of Judaism, Judaism, and and commands commands Israel Israel to to show show their their love love for for Adonai Adonai and and keep keep God’s God’s laws laws and and ordinances. ordinances. (6:1–25) (6:1–25) Moses Moses warns warns the the people people not not to to commit commit idolatry idolatry by by worshiping worshiping the the gods gods of of the the nations nations they they will will conquer conquer in in Israel.

Israel. (7:1–11) (7:1–11)

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

As a community of many backgrounds, stories, and journeys, may we encourage one another to keep reaching toward possibility. Each sunrise is an invitation to set a new goal and take one faithful step forward.

This Shabbat, I invite each of us to name one hope for the future and commit to taking the very first step toward making it real.

Torah Portion

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.