Upcoming Upcoming Events Events
Yahrzeits
We Remember...
May their memory be a blessing and a lesson for how we can live our lives. Angelina Belluardo Charles Karman Anne Bennett Isaac Kurtz Donna Berman Myer Layton* Adam Ciurczak Janice Leibowitz* Thomas Cons* Charles Lubeck* Ceil Lee DeGennaro Fred Pearlman Lee DeGennaro Augusta Peck Norman Dissin Joseph Reader* Terri Durkee Bress Stuart Reimer Rick Edmonds Rose Rosenzweig* Max Englander* Thelma P. Rothman* Don Erwin Rosa Rothstein* Pauline Esrick Harry Schnabel* Leanora Feder Isidor Schulhof* Joseph Feuer Nathan Schulhof* Charles Gamson Robert Schwartz* Florence H. Ganz* Hilda Silverstein Selma Getz Philip Wollock* Rebecca Jacobus* Esther Zumberg*
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 Nancy Stein - Membership & Community Engagement Coordinator 727-347-6136 - Nancy@TempleBeth-El.com Jay Miller - Temple President 727-347-6136
Sh'mini Atzeret Simchat Torah Deuteronomy 33:1–34:12, Genesis 1:1–2:3, Numbers 29:35-30:1
Rabbi Rabbi Amy Amy L. L. Morrison, Morrison, Barbara Barbara Marin Marin & & the the Jammin’ Jammin’ Jews Jews #tbestpete
October 2, 2026
A Special Message from
Rabbi Amy L. Morrison
We have spent a lot of time being Jewish this past month. We’ve blown the shofar, eaten apples and honey, confessed our sins, asked for forgiveness, built sukkahs, shaken lulavim, and now, finally, we have reached Simchat Torah — the holiday where we finish the Torah… and then immediately roll it back to the beginning. Because apparently, even Judaism has trouble knowing when to stop. But there is something beautiful about that. Simchat Torah reminds us that that an ending is not really an ending. We reach the final words of the Torah, and instead of putting it away and saying, “Well, that’s done,” we begin again. We return to the beginning with with new eyes, carrying everything we have learned along the way. And that is what Shabbat can offer us every single week. Shabbat is a small reset button. A chance to pause, breathe, notice where we are, and begin again. And here is the challenge for this Shabbat: take one thing from this month of being Jewish and bring it with you into ordinary life. Maybe it is gratitude. Maybe forgiveness. Maybe a commitment to be kinder, more curious, more present, or more willing to begin again. Because we don’t need a holiday to remind us who we are. Judaism is not something we finish. It is something we keep beginning.
Announcements Sat., Oct. 3
10am - Sh’mini Atzeret Yizkor Service reception to follow
Sun., Oct. 4 8:45am - Brotherhood Schmooze 9:30am - Sunday School 10am - Sisterhood Meeting 10am - Sisterhood Mah Jongg (RSVP - All are welcome!)
Wed., Oct. 7 4pm - Sisterhood Mah Jongg (RSVP - All are welcome!) 5pm - Hebrew School
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
Sh'mini Atzeret - Simchat Torah Saturday, October 3, 2026 / 22 Tishrei 5787
On On Simchat Simchat Torah, Torah, the the day day on on which which we we literally literally celebrate celebrate the the Torah, Torah, we we read read the the very very end end of of Deuteronomy Deuteronomy and and the the very very beginning beginning of of Genesis. re Genesis. In In the the final final verses verses of of Torah, Torah, we we read read ad Moses’ Moses’ blessing blessing of of the the Israelites, Israelites, offered offered before before the the prophet prophet dies. dies. Moses Moses then then ascends ascends Mount Mount Nebo, tthe Nebo, from from which which he he sees sees the he Promised Promised Land Land and and takes takes his his final final breath. breath. God God buries buries Moses Moses and and we we are are told told there there will will never never be be another another prophet prophet like like him. him. From From this this passage, passage, we we immediately immediately begin begin our our new new cycle cycle of of Torah Torah reading reading with with the the story story of of creation creation from from the the beginning beginning of of Genesis. Genesis. And And we we create create aa new new year year of of studying studying Torah. Torah. While While each each year year we we return return to to the the same same verses, verses, itit isis we we who who are are different. different. With With each each passing passing year, year, we we grow grow and and change, change, celebrate celebrate and and mourn. mourn. And And itit isis as as ifif we we are are reading reading these these sacred sacred words words for for the the very very first first time. time.
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 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.