Welcome Letter

Welcome to the year 5781 (2020-2021) at Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills.

On behalf of my dedicated clergy colleagues, Rabbi Sarah Bassin and Cantor Lizzie Weiss, Rabbi Adam Lutz and Rabbi Emerita Laura Geller, our Executive Director Matt Davidson and the entire staff, I’d like to welcome you to our programming, events, and information guide for the year.

On the pages of this booklet (digital and print) you will find our offerings for this year. From the special musical guests and Shabbat services, to our classes and conversation series, Temple Emanuel will be offering the same high-quality Jewish life experiences that we have been providing over the years. Of course, this year all of our programs and services will be virtual and accessible via Zoom, Facebook Live, and YouTube as they have been since the stay-at-home order began. We are constantly monitoring the state and county guidelines to determine when we again may gather safely in person. But, in the meantime, we want every congregant to stay connected to Temple Emanuel and Jewish life.

This year’s theme is an important one considering what’s happening in our world: P’tach Libi, “Open up my heart,” and comes from the prayer “Elohai N’tzor” in the siddur. The whole line is P’tach libi b’toratecha uv’mitzvotecha tirdof nafshi: “Open my heart with your Torah, let my soul pursue your mitzvot.” Over the course of the year we will explore ways in which we can open our hearts to meet the challenges of this particular time in our lives. Some of our hearts will open gently, some of us will need to break open our hearts, and still others may have to mend our hearts before we can even begin to open them. Our sermons, classes, school activities and writings will all engage in understanding what it means for all of us to open our hearts.

This past year has seen so many changes in the way we interact with the world and this unique moment in history amplifies the need for an open heart, where spiritual balance and resilience helps us endure the world we live in, for now. We will open our hearts through the teachings of our tradition, caring for the stranger, the orphan and the widow, those less fortunate, those without power, and those who are being treated unjustly. We will turn our souls towards goodness through the mitzvah to take more responsibility for the welfare of others: to visit the sick, comfort the mourner, and help fellow family members in need. This is the year for us to open our hearts to change, to open our hearts to a new way to view ourselves.

This year, let us discover ourselves and our world, as we open up our hearts through Jewish teachings and values and actions, to leave the world a better place than we found it.

L'Shalom,

COVID-19 INFO

At press time, due to COVID-19 restrictions, we are not yet able to gather in person for services and programs. Rest assured we are working hard behind the scenes and will be ready and prepared to safely open our doors again once restrictions are lifted. In the meantime, we will continue to gather virtually for inspiring services and meaningful and relevant programs, while we deepen our connections to our Judaism, our congregation, and each other. Thank you for opening your hearts and taking this journey together with your Temple Emanuel community.