08.21.26 - TBE Shabbat Spotlight

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We Remember...

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

Sheila P. Aghassi Diane Berni Jack Brevda* Sam Cohan* Arthur Collins* Esther Cons* William Dimenstein Diane Dimenstein Harris* Helen DuBov Melvin Barkin Estroff Irving Finkelstein Max N. Fuldauer Marjorie Gillert Jenny Gladstone* Betty Gleicer* Sanford Goldman Max Goodkind* Lloyd Gottesman Henry Lewis Halperin Isaac Holtzman* Pearl Kahn* Sol Lane

Emma Lebensburger* Chaileya Levine Louis Lobovits Ida Frankel Lowengard* Joseph N. Marco Jeffrey Mossoff Lewis Moyer* Yelena Rabinovich George D. Reingold* Fay Robbins* Anna Roffenbender Ted Roseman Mel Rosenberg Milton Rosenberg Reba Salzer Sarah Samuels David Schleifer* Mabelle Silver Max Stern* Howard Squires Milton Ullman Robert Joseph Waxman

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

Parashat Ki Teitzei

Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19

Rabbi Amy L. Morrison, Barbara Marin & the Jammin’ Jews #tbestpete

August 21, 2026

A Special Message from

Rabbi Amy L. Morrison

As summer begins to give way to autumn, many of us find ourselves returning to familiar rhythms. School backpacks are packed once again. Calendars begin to fill. Vacations become memories, and the routines of work, learning, and daily responsibilities quietly return. It is fitting that Parshat Ki Teitzei meets us at this very moment.

Unlike dramatic stories of miracles or mountaintop revelations, Ki Teitzei is filled with the details of ordinary life. It teaches us how to care for our neighbors, protect protect the vulnerable, act with honesty, and treat one another with dignity. Through its many laws, the Torah offers a simple but enduring truth: holiness is not reserved reserved for extraordinary moments. It is created in the choices we make every single day.

As we continue through the month of Elul, Elul, this message takes on even greater meaning. Elul invites us to prepare our hearts for the High Holidays, not by escaping our everyday lives, but by living them more intentionally. Every conversation, every decision, every act of patience or generosity becomes an opportunity to practice the people we hope to become.

Announcements Sat., Aug. 22

10am - Shofar Sounding Workshop

Mon., Aug. 24 & Wed., Aug. 26

7pm - Torah Cantillation Class on Zoom

Wed., Aug. 26

10:45am - Book Club

Fri. Aug. 28

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

Whether you are beginning a new school year, returning to the workplace, or simply settling back into life's familiar routines, this season offers the gift of a fresh beginning. Judaism reminds us that renewal does not require a new destination. Sometimes it simply asks us to walk the same path with greater purpose, deeper gratitude, and more open hearts.

This Shabbat, may we carry the spirit of Ki Teitzei into the ordinary moments waiting for us this week. May we choose kindness over convenience, presence over distraction, and compassion over assumption. In doing so, may we discover that the holiest moments are often the ones hidden in the beautiful routine of everyday life.

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 Ki Teitzei: 21:10-25:19 Saturday, August 22, 2026 / 9 Elul 5786 Moses Moses reviews reviews aa wide wide variety variety of of laws laws regarding regarding family, family, animals, animals, and and property. property. (21:10–22:12) (21:10–22:12) Various Various civil civil and and criminal criminal laws laws are are delineated, delineated, including including those those regarding w regarding sexual sexual relationships, relationships, interaction interaction with with ith non-Israelites, non-Israelites, loans, loans, vows, vows, and and divorce. divorce. (22:13–24:5) (22:13–24:5) Laws Laws of of commerce commerce pertaining pertaining to to loans, loans, fair fair wages, wages, and and prop proper propeerr weights weights and and measures measures are are given. given. (24:10–25:16) (24:10–25:16) The cconcludes The parashah parashah concludes oncludes with with the the commandment commandment to to remember remember for for all all time time the the most most heinous heinous act act committed committed against against the the Israelites—Amalek’s Israelites—Amalek’s killing killing of of the the old, old, weak, weak, and and infirm infirm after after the the Israelites Israelites left left Egypt.

Egypt. (25:17–19) (25:17–19)