Teachers Teachers
Yahrzeits
Max Abeles*
Louis Auerbach*
Chuck Barancik*
3rd Grade Religious School Teacher
Raida Goldman Raida Goldman
4th Grade Religious School Teacher Kelsey Balchen Kelsey Balchen
5th Grade Religious School Teacher Our 3rd-5th Grade
Margie Barancik*
Earle Bennett
Harris Berger*
Susan Berman
Marcus Bernstein*
Norman Brock*
Ida Dworkin*
Marjory Fab Frieman
Max Goldberg*
Robert Golden*
Myles Patrisha Goldin
Jack Greenberg
Jonathan Halle*
Alice Herman
Beverly Herman
Jane G. Hughes*
Florence Hunter*
Irwin Kaplan*
Richard Kimmel*
Jenny Lazar*
Edward Lurie
Sandra Rosalyn Moss
Marvin Needles*
Jodi-Lynn Negretti
Maurice Patrick O Connell
Bill Oxman*
Gonna Mae Peltz*
Bryan Petersen
Morris Petrillo*
Helene Platt
Shyfra Rapoport*
Elsie Rickman*
Suzan K. Saperstein
Molly Serota
Anne Silver*
Joseph Skalka
Nat Zamoff
*Denotes plaque in Memorial Alcove
Reach out to us with any questions.
Amy L. Morrison - Rabbi 727-347-6136 - RabbiMorrison@TempleBeth-El com
Tara O’Donnell - Director of Finance & Operations 727-347-6136 - Tara@TempleBeth-El.com
Jennifer Hannon - Director of Early Childhood Center 727-350-5885 - JennHannon@TempleBeth-El.com
Alexis Kelly - Raymund Family Religious School Principal 727-347-6136 - RaymundRS@TempleBeth-El.com
Tracy Nash - Bookkeeper 727-347-6136 - Bookkeeper@TempleBeth-El.com
Tovah Feld - Communications & Engagement Coordinator 727-347-6136 - Tovah@TempleBeth-El.com
Allison Fowler - Office Administrative Assistant 727-347-6136 - Allison@TempleBeth-El.com
Mike Shapiro - Temple President 727-347-6136 - President@TempleBeth-El.com
Rabbi Amy L. Morrison
Parashat Vayeishev arrives just as Chanukah begins, and the timing is no accident. In Vayeishev, Joseph is cast into darkness literally a pit, figuratively a place of betrayal and uncertainty Yet even there, the Torah insists that “God was with Joseph,” planting the seeds of future light. Chanukah tells a similar story: in a time of oppression and spiritual confusion, a small flame is kindled, and from that single spark grows a radiance that transforms an entire people. Both Joseph’s journey and the Maccabees’ struggle remind us that light is rarely born in moments of comfort; it emerges precisely when shadows seem longest.
As we move through this coming week of Chanukah, I charge you to bring one conscious act of light into someone ’ s darkness each day a kindness, a call, a gesture of support so that together we may expand the glow that begins with just one flame.
Torah Portion Announcements
Saturday, December 13
10am - Torah Service Bootcamp (Part I)
Sunday, December 14
8:45am - Brotherhood Schmooze
9:30am - Sunday School
10:30am - B’Mitzvah Family Day
6pm - First Night Menorah Lighting on Zoom
Tuesday, December 16
6:30pm - LaLa Latkes @ LaLa St. Pete in DTSP
Thursday, December 18
4pm - Nifty Over Fifty Shuffleboard @ the St. Pete Shufflebaord Club
Parashat Vayeishev: Genesis 37:1-40:23
Saturday, December 13, 2025 / 23 Kislev 5786
Jacob is shown to favor his son Joseph, whom the other brothers resent Joseph has dreams of grandeur (Genesis 37:1-11)
After Joseph s brothers had gone to tend the flocks in Shechem, Jacob sends Joseph to report on them. The brothers decide against murdering Joseph but instead sell him into slavery. After he is shown Joseph s coat of many colors, which had been dipped in the blood of a kid, Jacob is led to believe that Joseph has been killed by a beast (Genesis 37:12-35)
Tamar successively marries two of Judah s sons, each of whom dies Judah does not permit her levirate marriage to his youngest son. She deceives Judah into impregnating her. (Genesis 38:1-30)
God is with Joseph in Egypt until the wife of his master, Potiphar, accuses him of rape, whereupon Joseph is imprisoned. (Genesis 39:1-40:23)
Suggestions for parents of our youngest congregants
Relax! God put the wiggle in children. Don’t feel you have to suppress it in our sanctuary or chapel
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!
Sit towards the front where it is easier for your little ones to see and hear what is happening on the Bima. They tire of seeing the backs of other’s heads.
Quietly explain our rituals and sing or clap when appropriate. Children learn liturgical behavior by copying you.
If you need to leave services with your child, do so, but please come back.
Remember that the way we welcome children in synagogue directly affects the way they respond to coming to synagogue, to God, to one another Let them know that they are welcome in this house of worship, here, at Temple Beth-El.
