Religious Life
Temple Beth El - North Port Jewish Center
H
ow it all began in North Port… In the early ’70s a number of Jewish families from the colder northern regions would come to Warm Mineral Springs in the North Port area to spend the winter season. Upon the notification of the death of a brother of one of these visitors, the man gathered a group of 10 men to say Kaddish. More people started to stay in the warmer climate year-round, and these founding families went about building a home for their congregation. As time passed, the decision to follow the practices of the Conservative movement and adopt the name Temple Beth El was a natural progression. Today, this small, but effective congregation observes the High Holy Days and
festivals throughout the year. The standing committees (Ritual, Membership, Fundraising and House) are made up of dedicated and vibrant volunteers. They pride themselves on being warm, welcoming, inclusive, egalitarian, nurturing and supportive. Congregants come from all parts of the world and have various backgrounds in Judaism. New residents of South Sarasota and North Charlotte counties find Temple Beth El – North Port Jewish Center an affordable and friendly congregation that values the experience that each person brings. The synergy of new residents and existing members will carry the founders’ dreams for the temple well into the 21st century.
TEMPLE BETH EL NORTH PORT JEWISH CENTER 12711 Tamiami Trail, South North Port, FL 34287 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 7068, North Port, FL 34290 • Telephone: 941.423.0300 • Email: admin@templebethel northport.org AND president@templebethel-np.org • Website: www.templebethelnorthport.org • Movement/Affiliation: Conservative/United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism • Services: Saturday at 9:30 a.m. • Special Programs/Features: Adult Education, Holiday Programs, Shabbat Dinners
Synagogue Council of Sarasota-Manatee
S
ynagogue Council is a consortium of eleven area congregations that work together to develop and maintain relationships, foster communication, and coordinate programs and events among themselves and within the Jewish community. Their efforts strive to strengthen the Jewish community
and encourage affiliation. The participating members of the Synagogue Council of Sarasota-Manatee represent various denominations and sizes. They are (in alphabetical order) Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, Congregation Kol HaNeshama, Congregation Ner Tamid, Jewish Congregation of Venice, Kehillah of Lakewood Ranch, Temple Beth El (Bradenton), Temple Beth El (North Port), Temple Beth Israel, Temple Beth Sholom, Temple Emanu-El and Temple Sinai. For many years, Synagogue Council had sponsored an annual Community-Wide Open House that traditionSynagogue Council Board: Steven Leavitt, Treasurer; ally took place prior to Brenda Schimmel, Secretary; Kathy Brooks, President; David Weiss, Vice President the High Holidays. The
Council has hosted nationally-recognized speakers as well as a successful Leadership Workshop for synagogue board members. Last year, the Council coordinated the area’s first CommunityWide Mitzvah Day. Ten area agencies and organizations in the two-county area had helping hands from over 230 volunteers of all ages participating in a variety of projects. The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee supported this day to help ensure its success. For more information about the Council, please contact Kathy Brooks at 941.383.0975 or kbrks@comcast. net. For the addresses of the congregations, visit www.synagoguessarasota manatee.org.
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See page 129 for a list of 2017 dates for the Jewish holidays. 58
Connections2017
A Guide to Jewish Living in Sarasota-Manatee