08.28.26 - TBE Shabbat Spotlight

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Yahrzeits

We Remember...

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

Renee Appelbaum Elizabeth Becker* Rebecca Braunstein* Isaac Cassel* Bebe Cohen Jerry DeGennaro Harold Englander* Mae S. Falk Emily Fishman* Matthew Fleece* Charles Fortunoff* Marvin Fortunoff* Anton Friedman* Herbert Goldstein* Helen G. Heller Diane Horwitz Sylvia P. Howard Irving Kanat Janalee Katz Harry Kaufman* Annie Kranzel*

Edward Levy Gerald Minkow Milton Newman* Joe Perez Harvey Rosen Leo Rosenbluth Edith Rothman* Sally Rothstein Laura Rubin Sarah Schniderman* Pauline Schwartz* Anton Sekeres Mikhail Shmuylovich Marjorie Shulman Joseph Siscovick* Saul Tobman Leonard Waitsman Kenneth Wax* Gladys Wides* Wallace Young

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

Parashat Ki Tavo

Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8

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

August 28, 2026

A Special Message from

Rabbi Amy L. Morrison

As we read Parshat Ki Tavo, Tavo, we encounter one of the Torah's most beautiful rituals: the offering of the first fruits. After months of planting, tending, and waiting, the Israelites brought the very first harvest to the community with words of gratitude, remembering not only where they had come from, but all they had been given along the way. Their joy was never meant to be private. It was something to be shared.

That spirit of gratitude and discovery feels especially meaningful as we gather for “Temple Day” this Sunday.

It is easy to think we already know our synagogue. We know where we sit in the sanctuary, the people we greet on Shabbat, the programs we attend, and the the traditions we cherish. But like the fields in Ki Tavo, Tavo, our community is always growing. New opportunities take root. New friendships are formed. New ways to learn, serve, celebrate, and care for one another continue to flourish.

“Temple Day” is an invitation to see Temple Beth-El with fresh eyes. It is a chance to meet the dedicated volunteers, clergy, staff, community partners, and lay leaders who help make our congregation such a vibrant home. Whether you have been part of Temple Beth-El for decades or have only recently walked through our doors, there is always something new to discover and someone new to meet.

This Shabbat, I invite you to come with curiosity and an open heart. Join us on Sunday, not because you don't know Temple Beth-El, but because there is always more to experience, more to celebrate, and more ways to belong. Together, may we give thanks for the blessings of this community and continue to help it grow for generations to come.

Announcements Sat., Aug. 29

10am - Torah Study & Brunch

Sun., Aug. 30

8:45am - Brotherhood Schmooze 9:30am - T’fillah followed by Religious School Open House & Temple Day

Thurs., Sept. 3

7pm - Choir Rehearsal

Fri. Sept. 4

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

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 Tavo: 26:1-29:8 Saturday, August 29, 2026 / 16 Elul 5786

The The Israelites Israelites are are instructed instructed to to express express their their gratitude gratitude to to God God for for their their bountiful bountiful harvests harvests and and freedom freedom from from slavery slavery by by tithing tithing ten ten percent percent of of their their crops crops for for the the Levite, Levite, the the stranger, stranger, the the orphan, orphan, and and the w the widow. widow. idow. (26) (26) The The people people are are told told to to display display on on large large stones stones God's God's commandments commandments for for all all to to see. see. (27:1-8) (27:1-8) Th The thos Thee Levites Levites are are to to proclaim proclaim curses curses upon upon those thosee who who violate violate God's God's commandments. commandments. (27:15-26) (27:15-26) The ttold The Israelites Israelites are are told old that that ifif they they obey obey God's God's mitzvot mitzvot faithfully, faithfully, they they will will receive receive every every blessing blessing imaginable. imaginable. They They are are also also told told that that ifif they they do do not not fulfill fulfill their their brit brit with with God, God, many many curses curses will will descend descend upon upon them. them. (28:1-69) (28:1-69) Moses Moses reminds reminds the the Israelites Israelites of of the the miracles miracles they they witnessed witnessed in in the the wilderness wilderness and and commands commands them them to to observe observe the the terms terms of of the the covenant covenant so so that that they they may may succeed succeed in in all all that that they they undertake. undertake.

(29:1-8) (29:1-8)