Introducing our
jammin’ jews! Junior
Junior
Sarah Cowart
Child of Hana & Lyle Cowart Playing Clarinet 6th Grade Sarah has played the clarinet for three years.
Noah Gaunce
Child of Andy & Meredith Gaunce Playing Piano 4th Grade Noah is a huge fan of anime, his dog Kobe, and is often dancing his way through life.
Yahrzeits
We Remember...
May their memory be a blessing and a lesson for how we can live our lives.
Chuck Barancik* Margie Barancik* Philip Borish* Claire Brady Julius Fishman* Cecelia Haveson* Sarah Holtzman* Connie Lawson Roy Lawson Rose Leveen* Laura Levine Rachel Levinson Milton Meckler Sonya Haliczer Miller Arthur Mintz* David Reader*
Colette Reich Pearl Reznick* Isabella Rosenbaum* Jennie Rudderman Helen Russon Jacob Schindler* Ruth Scully Harold Shafer Eli Shapiro* Louis Silverstein Abigail Siscovick* Jack Steiner Paula Steiner Lawrence Stern* Bianca Teltsch* Alice Wyner
the
Shabbat
Spotlight
*Denotes plaque in Memorial Alcove
We’d love to hear from you! Reach out to us with any questions.
Tovah Johnston
Child of Haley & Chris Johnston Playing Bass 7th Grade Tovah’s bass is named Billy-Ham.
Nora Koenig
Child of Vicki & Lee Koenig Playing Clarinet 4th Grade Nora likes to write stories and plays on her typewriter from the 1950s.
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
Parashat Mikeitz Genesis 41:1-44:17
Rabbi Amy L. Morrison Barbara Marin & the Jammin’ Jews & the Junior Jammin’ Jews #tbestpete
December 19, 2025
Introducing our
A Special Message from
jammin’ jews! Junior
Junior
Rabbi Amy L. Morrison
Parashat Mikeitz begins in silence and uncertainty. Joseph sits in prison, far from home, carrying the weight of betrayal and forgotten promises. Time passes with no answers. It is a moment many of us recognize—when hope feels distant and the future unclear. Yet it is from this deep darkness that an unexpected light begins to emerge. Pharaoh’s disturbing dreams awaken a turning point, and Joseph is lifted from confinement into purpose. What felt like abandonment becomes the doorway to transformation.
Owen Koenig
Child of Vicki & Lee Koenig Playing Piano 4th Grade Owen named our dog after his favorite Beatle, Ringo.
Chanukah speaks to this same human experience. It commemorates a time when a small, oppressed community faced forces determined to erase its identity. The miracle is not only military victory, but the quiet persistence of light itself. One small flame, fragile and insufficient, is kindled anyway. And somehow, it endures. Both Mikeitz and Chanukah remind us that light does not always arrive all at once. Healing, clarity, and justice often unfold slowly. On Chanukah, we add one candle each night, teaching that even a single act of courage or kindness can push back great darkness.
Ezra Morrison
Child of Rabbi Amy L. Morrison Playing Piano 6th Grade Ezra’s favorite bands are Black Sabbath, ACDC, & KISS.
For people of all faiths, these stories offer a shared truth: despair is never the final chapter. Even when we cannot see it, meaning can emerge from struggle, and hope can be rekindled—one small flame at a time.
Torah Portion Parashat Mikeitz: Genesis 41:1−44:17 Saturday, December 20, 2025 / 30 Kislev 5786
If you are new to Temple Beth-El, welcome!
OPEN COMMUNITY CREATES ENGAGING & DIVERSE JEWISH PATHWAYS Joseph interprets Pharaoh's two dreams and predicts seven years of prosperity followed by seven years of famine. (41:1-32) Located in St. Petersburg on Florida's beautiful west coast, Pharaoh places Joseph in charge of food collection and distribution. Temple Beth-El is a Reform Jewish congregation that has (41:37-49) served this area since 1928 and is focused on strengthening Joseph marries Asenath, and they have two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. relationships and making connections. We are a welcoming (41:50-52) Reform community for Jewish and interfaith households to When Joseph's brothers come to Egypt to buy food during the famine, Joseph accuses them of spying. He holds Simeon hostage while the rest of experience an uplifting and joyful sense of belonging as we the brothers return to Canaan to retrieve Benjamin for him. (42:3-42:38) seek to connect our members with each other and the greater The brothers return to Egypt with Benjamin and for more food. Joseph community and world around us. continues the test, this time falsely accusing Benjamin of stealing and Enjoy and have a Shabbat Shalom! declaring that Benjamin must remain his slave. (43:1-44:17)
Nina Zamoff Child of Virginia Chacon & Bennett Zamoff Playing Violin 7th Grade Nina will be going to Camp Coleman for the second time this summer.