2025 Voice High Holy Days Issue

TEMPLE ISRAEL

H I G H H O LY D AY S I S S U E VOLUME. 80; NO. 1

2025

5786

CONTENTS 03

By Rabbi Micah D. Greenstein

04

September 27 - October 12

15 16 18 22 25 27 28 31 33

REFLECTION

HIGH HOLY DAYS

SUKKOT EVENTS

October 05 - 18

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

High Holy Days Information

A JOURNEY OF RENEWAL

Temple Israel’s Vision 2026 Renovation

A COMMON ROAD TO FREEDOM

Welcoming Reverend Dr. Raphael G. Warnock for Yom Kippur

SPECIAL SWEETNESS

The Fabers bring a special sweetness to our community and the High Holy Days

BRINGING THE HIGH HOLY DAYS TO LIFE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

Barbara K. Lipman Early Learning Center

STAFF FOCUS

Eleanor Tallie Steinberg and Karleigh Ring

MAZEL TOV!

B’nai Mitzvah, New Members, Engagements, Marriages,and Births

Temple Israel is a sanctuary for prayer and inspiration, a vibrant center for Jewish learning, and a congregational home for living Torah. We are a source of strength and a force for good for Reform Jews, the greater community, and the world.

RABBI MICAH D. GREENSTEIN Senior Rabbi RABBI ROSS Z. LEVY Associate Rabbi RABBI LEAH H. STERNBERG Associate Rabbi RABBI HARRY K. DANZIGER Rabbi Emeritus JOHN M. KAPLAN Cantor Emeritus WENDY T. ROTTER President HELEN SCHEIDT Senior Vice President BRUCE LANDAU Vice President SAM FARGOTSTEIN Vice President BENJAMIN ORGEL Secretary ELISE JORDAN Treasurer PETER BLUMBERG Counsel LEIGH BAIM MANSBERG Immediate Past President JENNIFER ROSS Sisterhood President ERIC EFRON Brotherhood President MARK GULNER Executive Director

DONATIONS

April through June, 2025

TEMPLE ISRAEL

1376 East Massey Road Memphis, TN 38120 @templeisrael @templeisrael (L to R) Back: Rabbi Micah Greenstein, Rabbi Leah Sternberg and Rabbi Ross Levy. Front: Director of Music Education & Family Worship

2 • V O IGroff C E • 2Heilborn 025 Emily and Cantorial Soloist Eleanor Tallie Steinberg. Photo by Jason Terrell

Temple Israel is a member of the Union for Reform Judaism. reformjudaism.org • urj.org

braham Issac Kook, the first Ashkenazi chief rabbi of Palestine, summed up our renewed synagogue in his famous dictum, “What is old, make new; what is new, make holy.”

For the first time in 50 years, Temple Israel has renewed the old and sanctified the new. Our worship spaces have been enhanced, and our new atrium welcomes all who enter with a tapestry of wall-to-wall Jerusalem stone.

If we are being honest, no matter the level of A/V and technology now streaming from our renewed sanctuary and state-of-the-art sound booth, nothing beats the feeling of experiencing this new space in person together — A full house filled in prayer, harmony, and hope for the year ahead.

REFLECTION

Whether you were born into Temple or joined our family in recent years, please invite friends to join us for the first time on Erev Rosh Hashanah, when we will consecrate the new sanctuary with Shehecheyanu, and come in person throughout the High Holy Days. We strive to and are ready to deliver the highest caliber musically, spiritually, communally, and sermonically.

Happie Hoffman returns as our High Holy Days Cantori-

What is old, make new; what is new, make holy.

al Soloist for the sixth consecutive year; our new rabbinic team of Rabbi Leah Sternberg and Rabbi Ross Levy, alongside me, is so promising for Memphis, as is Eleanor Tallie Steinberg, who has just been named our full-time Cantorial Soloist this year. An engaging family-focused High Holy Days track led by Sophie Weiss-Wiliams and Director of Music Education & Family Worship Emily Groff Heilborn will be meaningful and memorable for all ages.

As the world turns unstable and unpredictable, Temple remains our shared spiritual anchor through life’s storms— the constant force for communal good and best hope for a vibrant Jewish future for Memphis and the Mid-South.

We can’t wait to welcome you soon.

Faithfully yours,

RABBI MICAH D. GREENSTEIN H I G H H O LY D AY S I S S U E • 3

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The High Holy Days are a sacred time for reflec-

Together, our clergy have thoughtfully shaped

tion, renewal, and reconnection with our faith, our

services that honor the beauty of our tradition while

community, and our deepest values. As we enter

responding to the needs of today. These experienc-

this meaningful season, we honor the traditions

es are designed to inspire, connect, and uplift, all

passed down through generations while embrac-

within our newly renovated spaces, including the

ing the spirit of today.

breathtaking Greenstein Sanctuary, the refreshed

In this issue of The Voice, you’ll find reflections

Danziger Chapel, and the Ettelson-Wax Social Hall.

on the themes of the season, explanations of key

To help prepare spiritually, we invite you to join

rituals, and suggestions to help make your obser-

our three-part Elul series, offering moments of re-

vance more personal. You’ll also find a condensed

flection and personal growth as we approach Rosh

service schedule for easy reference throughout the

Hashanah.

holidays. Whether joining us in person or online,

We look forward to sharing this season of inspi-

we invite you to embrace this season with an open

ration, learning, and song with you. May the coming

heart and mind.

year bring peace, meaning, and fulfillment to our

This year is especially meaningful as we wel-

Temple Israel family and to the world.

come Associate Rabbi Leah Sternberg and Cantorial Soloist Eleanor Tallie Steinberg, who join High Holy Day Cantorial Soloist Happie Hoffman and our entire clergy team. Their arrival brings fresh energy, insight, and creativity to our spiritual community.

H I G H H O LY D AY S I S S U E • 5

PREPARING TO PRAY: A SPIRITUAL WARM-UP

ELUL

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Rabbi Ross Levy

During my junior year of high school, I found a new obsession. I always loved music–playing it, listening to it, connecting over it with new and old friends. But for some reason, that year became the year where I devoted more time to music than ever before. To be specific, I became obsessed with being the best baritone saxophonist I could be, and even trained for a state-wide band competition. I did not make the cut, but that year of disciplined devotion to my instrument taught me a great deal.

When I sat down to practice my saxophone, I would almost never begin with the most difficult piece of music in my repertoire. Rather, there was a method, a ritual I would undergo step by step: check and prep my reeds, assemble the horn, set my ligature (the fancy term for the metal piece that secures the reed), and play some scales that span the tonal range of the instrument. In other words, I knew that in order to practice most effectively, I needed to warm up. Whether it’s in sports or music or dance or really any skill that we develop through practice and repetition, it is always essential to warm up before pushing ourselves to break out of our comfort zone and try to do difficult things.

The same is true for our spiritual selves. This is why our tradition gradually developed a series of spiritual “warm ups” during the month preceding the High Holidays. In their wisdom, our ancestors understood that just as you wouldn’t want to play a full 90 minute soccer game on cold legs, so too you wouldn’t want to begin the serious work of reflection and introspection asked of us during this season without any kind of warm up.

So the month of Elul has become that warm up, and we hope y’all will join us for these special offerings.

ELUL SERIES Jewish Paths to Stability in the Midst of Uncertainty ----------Join our rabbis for this special three-part series during the month of Elul. Judaism is all too familiar with the challenge of finding constants in a world that seems to shift beneath our feet each day. Each stand alone session of this class will offer ways to feel more grounded and anchored amidst times of uncertainty.

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Session One ----------STABILITY IN OUR PERSONAL LIVES Rabbi Ross Levy

We can best meet the challenges and uncertainty of the world around us when we are able to find stability and centeredness within ourselves. In this session, Rabbi Ross Levy will offer methods and practices from Jewish tradition that can serve as tools for personal resilience.

Wednesday • September 3 • 7:00PM

Session Two ----------STABILITY IN A SHIFTING GLOBAL LANDSCAPE Rabbi Micah Greenstein

As we tend to our spiritual selves in this season, we acknowledge how our hearts are often pulled to the conflicts of the world beyond the borders of our country. With anti-semitism on the rise and the war continuing in Israel, we have all felt the uncertainty of a shifting global landscape this past year. Join Rabbi Micah Greenstein as he offers the Jewish perspective on finding stability, resilience, and clarity in uncertain times.

Wednesday • September 10 • 7:00PM

Session Three ----------STABILITY IN TIMES OF NATIONAL DIVISION Rabbi Leah Sternberg

In this final session, Rabbi Leah Sternberg will offer tools for a path forward as we navigate the challenging dynamics of division and polarization in the United States. Her teaching will guide us in how we might have difficult conversations, and how we, as American Jews, can draw from our religious tradition as a source of moral clarity and resilience.

Wednesday • September 17 • 7:00PM

H I G H H O LY D AY S I S S U E • 7

Selichot ----------Selichot, meaning “forgiveness,” is a reflective and meditative service in the final days of the month of Elul that serves as the spiritual gateway into the High Holiday season. A special evening of prayer, poetry, and special music, highlighted by the sounds of Avinu Malkeinu and the blasts of the shofar, Selichot sets the tone for the days of reflection, repentance, and renewal that follow. The changing of the covers of our sacred Torah scrolls to their festive whites represents the spiritual transformation we hope to undergo during the High Holy Day season. This year’s service will feature the special sounds of Spirit & Matter along with special readings and offerings from our clergy team.

We hope you’ll join us for this unique, once a year worship experience.

Saturday • September 13 • 7:00PM

Apples & Honey Festival ----------Don’t miss our annual Apples & Honey Festival! Enjoy activities for kids, toddler play land, bounce houses, local food trucks, and a marketplace showcasing small businesses from Temple Israel and the Memphis Jewish community. It’s a sweet and spirited way to celebrate the season, support local small businesses, and kick off the New Year together. Free and open to the public.

Apples and Honey is generously sponsored by a generous donor - Thank you!

Sunday • September 21 • 11:00AM - 1:00PM

A NEW YEAR, A RENEWED SPIRIT -----------

Rosh Hashanah, meaning “Head of the Year,” marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year and ushers in the Ten Days of Awe—a time of deep introspection and repentance that culminates in Yom Kippur. It is both a celebration and a spiritual reset, blending joyful traditions with meaningful reflection. At Temple Israel, our Rosh Hashanah services draw from a rich liturgy—ancient and modern—that uplifts our spirits and connects us to generations past. As we enter this sacred season, we are reminded of the power of reflection, the strength of community, and the timeless wisdom of our Jewish values to guide us toward a purposeful and renewed year.

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FAMILY

ROSH HASHANAH

Erev Rosh Hashanah ----------ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION? Rabbi Ross Levy

As the sun sets on Erev Rosh Hashanah, our Temple Israel family comes together as one community to welcome the Jewish New Year with open hearts and renewed spirit. Join us in a meaningful and inspiring service in the Greenstein Sanctuary—an historic space now beautifully renovated, blending our rich past with a hopeful future. Surrounded by sacred tradition and the warmth of community, this service sets the tone for the Days of Awe, offering a powerful beginning to a season of reflection, prayer, and connection.

Monday • September 22 • 7:00PM Greenstein Sanctuary

Rosh Hashanah Morning at Temple Israel ----------THE MISSING ELEMENT Rabbi Micah Greenstein

Rosh Hashanah morning services at Temple Israel offer a meaningful blend of solemnity and hope. Through ancient prayers and contemporary reflections, stirring readings, and soulful music, we create a space that honors our heritage while speaking to the realities of today. It’s a time to look inward, take stock of the year behind us, and open our hearts to the possibilities of renewal in the year ahead. Whether this is your first High Holy Day with us or your fiftieth, we gather as one community—anchored by tradition, inspired by faith, and strengthened by connection.

Tuesday • September 23 Tot Service

FAMILY

Morning Service

Family Service

9:00AM

10:00AM

10:00AM

Danziger Chapel

Greenstein Sanctuary

Danziger Chapel

Shabbat Shuva ----------A SACRED PAUSE BETWEEN TWO HOLIEST DAYS Shabbat Shuva—“the Sabbath of Return”—falls between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and offers us a powerful opportunity for reflection and spiritual grounding. At Temple Israel, this special Shabbat service invites us to pause in the midst of the Ten Days of Awe, to listen deeply, and to consider the work of teshuvah—returning to our best selves, to one another, and to God. Through heartfelt prayer, timeless teachings, and the beauty of Shabbat, Shabbat Shuva calls us to slow down, reconnect, and prepare with intention for the sacred day of Yom Kippur.

After services join us for a special all-member Shabbat dinner featuring a delicious meal from Mosa, followed by a live sushi-making demonstration with chef Marisa Baggett.

Friday • September 26 • 6:00PM Danziger Chapel H I G H H O LY D AY S I S S U E • 9

KEVER AVOT

HONORING THE MEMORY OF OUR LOVED ONES -----------

Kever Avot, meaning “Graves of the Ancestors,” is a cherished tradition observed during the High Holy Days, when individuals and families visit the graves of loved ones to honor their memory. At Temple Israel, this moment of remembrance connects us to generations past, grounding us in gratitude and reflection as we enter the new year. Through prayers, quiet reflection, and acts of remembrance, we reaffirm our bond with those who came before us and draw strength from their legacy. It is a sacred opportunity to pause, remember, and carry their light forward into the year ahead.

Sunday • September 28 • 10:00AM Levy Cooper Chapel at Temple Israel Cemetery

CASTING AWAY OUR SHORTCOMINGS -----------

Tashlich, meaning “to cast away,” is a symbolic ritual observed during the High Holy Days. It invites us to gather at a body of flowing water and symbolically release our sins, regrets, and missteps from the past year—often using breadcrumbs or small pebbles. Tashlich provides a meaningful, visual way for individuals and families to engage in reflection and renewal, helping us enter the new year with open hearts, clear intentions, and a strengthened sense of purpose.

TASHLICH

Sunday • September 28 Hyde Lake Pavilion, Shelby Farms

Tashlich at Shelby Farms ----------Bring your family and your shofar to the Hyde Lake Pavilion at Shelby Farms as we symbolically cast away our sins and welcome the New Year. Join Temple Israel clergy and Religious School staff for a brief, meaningful ceremony. Families with children are invited to deepen their understanding of the High Holy Days through engaging, hands-on activities, including a spirit walk, story time, art projects, and yoga.

Adult Tashlich Class • 10:00AM Tashlich Ritual • 10:30AM Family Programming • 11:00AM

FAMILY

Following the ritual: All ages can take part in our spirit walk, yoga meditations, creative art projects, and storytime.

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YOM KIPPUR

A DAY OF REFLECTION AND RETURN -----------

Yom Kippur, the most sacred and solemn day of the Jewish year, brings the Ten Days of Awe to a powerful close. At the heart of this holy day is teshuvah—often translated as “repentance,” but more deeply understood as a return to our truest selves. We dedicate this day to personal introspection and communal repair, seeking to reconcile with ourselves, one another, and the Divine. The fast from sunset to nightfall serves as both a physical and spiritual cleansing, helping us focus more fully on prayer, reflection, and growth. Through the day’s meaningful liturgy and rituals, we are reminded of the profound impact of atonement—within our own lives, in our community, and throughout the world.

Kol Nidre ----------WHEN OUR WORLDS BECOME TOO SMALL Rabbi Micah Greenstein

The Kol Nidre service, held on the eve of Yom Kippur, marks one of the most stirring and spiritually resonant moments of the Jewish year. Centered around the haunting melody of the Kol Nidrei prayer, the service begins with the recitation of an ancient legal formula that releases us from personal vows and oaths we may not have been able to keep—past or future. This solemn ritual invites us to begin Yom Kippur with humility, introspection, and a renewed commitment to honesty, integrity, and personal growth.

Wednesday • October 1 • 7:30PM Greenstein Sanctuary

Yom Kippur Day ----------WE ARE NOT BEYOUND REPAIR Rabbi Leah Sternberg

The observance of Yom Kippur continues throughout the day with a meaningful progression of services, study sessions, and sacred rituals. Together, these moments guide us through a spiritual journey of introspection, repentance, and renewal. From the morning liturgy to afternoon reflections and the concluding Ne’ilah service, each element of the day invites us to return to our best selves—strengthening our connection to God, our community, and our deepest values.

Thursday • October 2 • 10:00AM

See enclosed booklet for more information

H I G H H O LY D AY S I S S U E • 1 1

Yom Kippur for the Whole Family ----------We’ve made it easier than ever for families to have a meaningful Yom Kippur experience— together and apart. This year, our Family Service moves to 4:30 PM, so children can attend school in the morning and still join in a special, age-appropriate experience later in the day.

Parents can begin the day with the 10:00 AM main service, enjoying their own time for reflection and spiritual connection, knowing their children will have their moment too.

NEED A LITTLE DOWNTIME? Our Relaxation Station in the Scheidt Family Center will once again be open to all ages on both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur—a calm, creative space for rest, reflection, or quiet play.

And for our youngest ones, we’re offering childcare after the Tot Service for children ages 18 months to 5 years, giving parents the chance to attend the main service with peace of mind.

(See page 17 for childcare details.)

Family and Tot Services ----------For families with children, Temple Israel offers age-appropriate services filled with stories, songs, and interactive activities that make Yom Kippur both meaningful and engaging. These moments provide a special opportunity for families to worship together and to pass on the values and spirit of Yom Kippur to the next generation.

Tot Service • 9:00AM Danziger Chapel

FAMILY

Family Service • 4:30PM Danziger Chapel

FAMILY

TIMPO Music Hour ----------After the Family Service on Yom Kippur, join us in Danziger Chapel for TIMPO Music Hour, a vibrant celebration of music and spirit! Director of Music Education & Family Services, Emily Groff Heilborn, the TI Band, Teen Band, Songleaders, and our Wendy & Avron Fogelman Religious School students will come together for a special High Holy Day performance you won’t want to miss.

TIMPO Music Hour • 5:20PM Danziger Chapel

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FAMILY

Yom Kippur Morning Service ----------The morning service (Shacharit) includes some of the

"We Are Not Beyond Repair" Sermon by Rabbi Leah Sternberg 10:00AM • Greenstein Sanctuary

most powerful and reflective moments of Yom Kippur. Central prayers such as the Vidui (confession) and Al Chet invite us to acknowledge our shortcomings and seek forgiveness—not just for ourselves, but on behalf of our entire community. The service also features the poignant Unetaneh Tokef prayer, which contemplates themes of life, death, and divine judgment, setting the tone for the day’s solemn and introspective nature.

Yom Kippur Afternoon Programs

Rabbi James A. Wax Social Justice Speaker Honorable Reverend Dr. Raphael G. Warnock 12:30PM • Ettelson-Wax Social Hall

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In the afternoon and before the concluding Mincha,

Reflections on Israel & the American Jewish Experience after Oct. 7 A Conversation with Beverly Tsacoyianis and Rabbi Leah Sternberg 12:30PM • Ettelson-Wax Social Hall

Yizkor, and Neilah services, Temple Israel offers opportunity for learning, reflective music, and quiet personal contemplation.

Torah Study with Dr. Joe Levy 1:30PM • Meeting Room Connecting Body and Soul: Spirit Walk into Jewish Yoga 1:30PM • Meadows of Temple Israel Ruach Contemporary Music Hour with Happie Hoffman 2:30PM • Greenstein Sanctuary

Yizkor and Ne'liah ----------Yizkor is a solemn and meaningful service where we hon-

Yizkor • 4:00PM Greenstein Sanctuary

or the memory of loved ones who have passed and reflect

Torah & Ne’ilah with Happie Hoffman • 5:00PM

on the lasting legacies they’ve left behind. As Yom Kippur

Greenstein Sanctuary

draws to a close, the Neilah service marks the final, climactic moments of the day. It symbolizes the closing of the gates of repentance as we offer our final prayers for

Final Shofar Blowing • 6:30PM Greenstein Sanctuary

forgiveness, renewal, and spiritual clarity. The day con-

Break the Fast • 6:30PM

cludes with a powerful, single blast of the shofar—signal-

Atrium

ing the end of the fast and the sacred observance.

H I G H H O LY D AY S I S S U E • 1 3

SUKKOT & SIMCHAT TORAH

Immediately following the awe-filled days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we find ourselves entering a very different kind of sacred space in the holiday of Sukkot, Zman Simchateinu, the Season of Rejoicing. It’s a joyful pivot from the Day of Atonement, but that joy is complemented by symbolism that encourages us to dive into the depths of meaning and purpose as individuals and as a community.

At the center of this holiday is the sukkah: a deliberately fragile, temporary shelter. The Torah gives us specific instructions for building a sukkah. It’s not supposed to be weatherproof or permanent. It must be open to the elements, with a roof that lets in both starlight and rain.

It’s certainly not a fortress, as describing a sukkah as “flimsy” would feel more accurate. The sukkah invites us to remember the fragility of life, reflecting the uncertainty many of us carry and the journey our ancestors took through the wilderness, unsure of what would come next.

And yet, in the very same breath, we are told to rejoice. Zman Simchateinu. A time for joy. A time to gather, to welcome guests, to open our hearts even as we sit in structures with open

That’s the spiritual power of Sukkot… taking fragility and transforming it into celebration.

roofs. That’s the spiritual power of Sukkot… taking fragility and transforming it into celebration.

RABBI LEAH STERNBERG

We’re reminded that the strength of our community comes not from uniformity, but from diversity and togetherness.

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As we dwell in the sukkah through the festival of Sukkot, we are instructed to fulfill the mitzvah of waving the lulav and etrog. There is a beautiful teaching that each of the four species represents a different kind of person: those with wisdom, those with kindness, and those still discovering their gifts. Some bring taste, some bring fragrance, some bring both, and some bring neither, but all are essential. When we bind them together, we’re reminded that the strength of our community comes not from uniformity, but from diversity and togetherness.

Sukkot invites us to bring our whole selves… messy, joyful, uncertain… into sacred space. And it reminds us that even in vulnerability, we can be a source of strength for one another.

Pizza in the Hut ----------Continue the holiday season with Pizza in the Hut, our festive Sukkot celebration for families!

SUKKOT EVENTS

Come complete the mitzvah of shaking the lulav and etrog, enjoy holiday activities, and unwind with a movie night under the stars, all while enjoying plenty of delicious pizza.

Sunday • October 5 • 6:00PM

Erev Sukkot Service -----------

Shabbat Sukkot with Elana Arian

Come together for our Erev Sukkot service

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in the Danziger Chapel

Join us in Danziger Chapel

Monday • October 6 • 6:00PM

Friday • October 10 • 6:00PM

Sukkot at the Shell ----------Havdallah, Dinner & Drinks in the portable Sukkah at the Shell. Featuring: North Mississippi Allstars with opener, The Sensational Barnes Brothers. This program is partially funded by a generous grant from Memphis Jewish Federation’s Lemsky Endowment Fund.

Saturday • October 11 • 5:30PM • Hospitality Deck/Memphis Shell

Shabbat in the Sukkah: A Morning of Music and Meaning with Elana Arian

Simchat Torah -----------

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We welcome you to the Danziger Chapel as we

We invite you to a meaningful service in the

celebrate the 2024-2025 B’Nai Mitzvah class.

Greenstein Sanctuary

Monday • October 13 • 6:00PM

Tuesday • October 14 • 9:00AM

Join us for a joyful and uplifting Shabbat Sukkot morning service featuring Elana Arian, one of the most influential voices in contemporary Jewish music.

Yizkor

A gifted composer, multi-instrumentalist, and prayer leader, Elana brings deep spiritual connection through song. As a nationally touring artist serving over 30 distinct communities each year, her music has become a beloved part of Jewish life across the globe. Elana just released her fifth album of original music, If We Loved Like That, and she is the subject of a forthcoming composer’s anthology published by Transcontinental Music

Sim-Tot Torah ----------We extend a special invitation to all, particularly our young families to Sim-Tot Torah, a joyful Tot Shabbat-style celebration of Simchat Torah! Perfect for families with young children, this event includes nosh, fun holiday-themed activities, and an age-appropriate service for little

Publications.

ones to celebrate the Torah in a way that’s just right for them.

Celebrate Sukkot in community, surrounded by the

Saturday • October 18 • 10:00AM • Danzinger Chapel

beauty of our tradition, the warmth of our sukkah, and

FAMILY

the power of prayer through music. Following services we will gather in the sukkah.

October 11 • 10:00AM • Danziger Chapel

H I G H H O LY D AY S I S S U E • 1 5

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Security at the High Holy Days ----------The safety and well-being of our community remain a top priority. Temple Israel will once again be using our weapons detection system during the High Holy Days to help ensure a secure and welcoming environment for all.

To support a smooth entry process, we kindly ask that you avoid bringing large handbags or backpacks. Please also be mindful that large metal accessories or jewelry may trigger the detectors and delay your entry.

Please note: Firearms are strictly prohibited on Temple Israel’s campus.

Passes

Guests/Non-members

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SIMPLE TIX - DIGITAL ENTRY

Guests, non-members, and extended family of mem-

Passes are required for campus entry and admission to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Ser-

bers will need to register for their tickets, which can be

vices (both evening and day of). Unlike in previous years, passes will be sent digitally to mem-

done at timemphis.simpletix.com.

bers automatically from SimpleTix. That email will be sent to the primary and secondary members on file and will include passes for all members of each household listed in ShulCloud. If you are a member or in a member’s household, you do not need to sign up for your tickets.

Passes for all Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services will be sent on September 15.

Your High Holy Day passes, information, and alerts will be sent to the emails we have on file in

If you have questions, please contact: CONNIE SHERMAN connies@timemphis.org (901) 761-3130

ShulCloud. To ensure you don’t miss out on anything, please verify that you have access to the email accounts you provided in ShulCloud. Also, be sure to check your Spam filters for those email addresses to be sure you don’t miss any communications from Temple.

Do we have your current email address?

What if you don’t have an email?

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To receive your High Holy Days tickets, information, we

If you do not have access to an email, please let us know and we will provide physical tickets to

need to have your current email address. If you receive

you or you may pick them up at Temple Israel. We ask that you contact us at least two weeks

our emails, no update is necessary. But if you do not,

prior to Erev Rosh Hashanah to give us ample time to mail you printed tickets. Please contact:

please be sure to provide us with your preferred email.

You may contact:

CONNIE SHERMAN

CONNIE SHERMAN

(901) 761-3130

connies@timemphis.org (901) 761-3130

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connies@timemphis.org

Parking

Live Streaming

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During times of high traffic, such as the High Holy Days,

If you can not join us in person, services from Temple Israel will be streamed live for members

we encourage people to arrive early to find a spot on

on our website and Facebook for Erev Rosh Hashanah, Rosh Hashanah morning services, Kol

campus. Once that lot is full, there is extra overflow

Nidre, and Yom Kippur morning services.

parking available and a shuttle will also be available to transport attendees from the building to their vehicles.

High Holy Day Food Drive: Help Us Fight Hunger

Food Drive: Donations

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Last year, thanks to your generosity, Temple Israel made meaningful contributions to the Mid-

Your generosity ensures that Temple Israel continues to

South Food Bank, MIFA, and MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, helping to combat hunger

be a force for compassion and action in our city. Together,

locally and nationally. These funds provide critical resources to individuals and families facing

we can bring comfort and nourishment to those who need

food insecurities, both in our back yards and across the country.

it most. To contribute to the High Holy Day Food Drive,

Temple Israel’s longstanding commitment to fighting hunger is made possible year after year

please visit:

by our generous congregation. In Memphis alone, 1 in 5 residents lacks consistent access to

timemphis.org/giving/

adequate food—a reality we cannot ignore.

This High Holy Day season, we invite you to be part of our collective effort once again. Your donation will directly support vital food programs in our community and the organizations working

or mail a check to Temple Israel, noting "Food Drive" in the memo.

every day to provide meals to those in need.

Complimentary High Holy Day Babysitting ----------Temple Israel is pleased to once again offer complimentary babysitting for families during the High Holy Days. Babysitting is available for children ages 18 months to 5 years, and advance registration is required

Erev Rosh Hashanah • Monday • September 22 • 7:30PM Rosh Hashanah Day • Tuesday • September 23 • 10:00AM Kol Nidre • Wednesday • October 1 • 7:30PM Yom Kippur • Thursday • October 2 • 10:00AM

at timemphis.org.

H I G H H O LY D AY S I S S U E • 1 7

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RENEWAL

H I G H H O LY D AY S I S S U E • 1 9

A JOURNEY O F R E NE WA L : T E MP L E IS R AE L’S V IS I O N 2 0 2 6 RE N OVATI ON STORY

hat began as a bold vision to renew and reimag-

synagogue. The earliest steps included demolition of key

ine Temple Israel’s sacred and communal spac-

areas—the Danziger Chapel, Ettelson-Wax Social Hall, re-

es has steadily unfolded into a deeply transfor-

strooms, Bridal Suite, and portions of the foyer—to clear

mative project. With each passing month, our

the way for renewal.

building has grown to better reflect the warmth,

January 2025 was a month of both physical transforma-

accessibility, and spirit of our congregation—thanks to the

tion and shared imagination. As materials were removed

Vision 2026 Capital Campaign and the unwavering support

and blueprints came to life, our architects unveiled thought-

of our Temple Israel supporters and family.

ful design details that would soon shape the soul of our

The journey began with excitement and intention. In

space. The foyer would be reimagined with brighter light-

December, construction officially launched, and our com-

ing, a more open layout, and Jerusalem stone to create a

munity was introduced to the vision behind the project:

warm, modern entryway. In the Greenstein Sanctuary, plans

updating essential worship, gathering spaces and infra-

included new lighting and carpet, improved ADA access to

structure while preserving the sacred feel of our beloved

the bimah, and a cleaner, more welcoming atmosphere.

The beginning of the renewal process for our Courtyard Gallery involved removing the old carpet.

Throughout February and March, the building buzzed with activity. While much of the work took place behind the The Ettelson-Wax

scenes—like new ductwork, electrical rewiring, and updated

Social Hall received

plumbing—visible progress soon emerged. In the social and

major updates in

transitional areas, new carpeting, tile, and finishes added

sound and lighting,

polish, while motion-sensor lighting provided both conve-

as well as new carpet.

nience and energy savings. In the Danziger Chapel, bricks were carefully removed and work began to bring in natural light through floor-to-ceiling windows and refresh its walls and ceiling.

April marked a major turning point. The Danziger Chapel, once a construction zone, now neared completion. Fresh lighting, clean lines, and new windows transformed the space into a spiritual retreat bathed in daylight. Meanwhile, final touches were completed in the restrooms and Bridal Suite—details that, while often overlooked, greatly enhance comfort and hospitality.

20 • VOICE • 2025

Danziger Chapel has gone through a two-phase renovation. The major work was done in Phase 1, including carpet, walls, a new AV booth, and numerous updates to lights and sound. In the second phase, new paint and lights were added to the walls.

A JOURNEY O F R E NE WA L : T E MP L E IS R AE L’S V IS I O N 2 0 2 6 RE N OVATI ON STORY By mid-May, the Danziger Chapel was ready to welcome worshippers again. Its reopening during the Lag BaOmer Shabbat Service marked not just a functional milestone, but an emotional one—proof that our collective vision was becoming reality. At the same time, work began in the Greenstein Sanctuary, with a focus on completing renovations in time for the High Holy Days.

Throughout June and July, the sanctuary’s transformation continued. Crews installed advanced lighting and sound

Our foyer renovations included adding Jerusalem stone to the walls and repairing the wood ceiling.

systems, enhanced the ceiling design, and implemented key accessibility improvements. Meanwhile, the foyer received its final stonework and lighting enhancements, becoming the beautiful, welcoming hub we had long envisioned. The finishing touches on the painted walls in the Danziger Chapel were applied, and recessed LED lighting was installed.

Now, as we enter the final stretch of summer 2025, our community looks forward to walking through a campus that is brighter, more accessible, and more reflective of who we are and where we are going. From newly modernized restrooms and social halls to sacred spaces infused with warmth and inclusivity, every improvement is a testament to the power of shared purpose, made possible through the generosity of all our Vision 2026 supporters.

But, we’re not done yet. Soon, we will begin work on the renovation of the Barbara K. Lipman Early Learning Center, and so we still need your support. Reach out to Executive Director Mark Gulner (markg@timemphis.org) or Associate Executive Director Aida Nozick (aidan@timemphis.org) if you are interested in learning more about Vision 2026 or supporting the campaign.

We’re not just renovating a building—we’re renewing a spiritual home for today and for generations to come.

H I G H H O LY D AY S I S S U E • 2 1

A COMMON

22 • VOICE • 2025

ROAD T

TO FREEDOM

Welcoming Reverend Dr. Raphael G. Warnock for Yom Kippur ach year, Temple Israel’s Rabbi James A. Wax Institute for Social Justice invites our community to gather not only in prayer but also with a shared purpose.

On this most sacred day, as we reflect on our individual and collective paths, we are honored to welcome a voice of our time—The Honorable Reverend Dr. Raphael G. Warnock—as this year’s Yom Kippur speaker.

Following our morning services, Dr. Warnock will lead us in a powerful conversation titled “A Common Road to Freedom: Black-Jewish Relations Past, Present, and Future.” With clarity, wisdom, and compassion, he will explore the deep and often intertwined histories of the Black and Jewish communities, highlighting moments of shared struggle, mutual support, and the ongoing journey toward justice and dignity for all.

Dr. Warnock joins us not in his role as a senator, but as a faith leader and moral advocate. As the senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta—the spiritual home once led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—he continues a legacy of leadership at the intersection of faith and action. A graduate of Morehouse College and Union Theological Seminary, Dr. Warnock’s voice has inspired movements and mobilized hearts across generations.

The Rabbi James A. Wax Center for Social Justice, inspired by Rabbi Wax’s unwavering commitment to civil rights, was established as a living resource for education, advocacy, and moral leadership. Through the Center’s work, we seek to build a world where justice is not a dream deferred, but a promise fulfilled.

We hope you will join us for what promises to be a deeply moving and transformative experience. Together, may we recommit ourselves to the sacred work of justice, compassion, and community.

H I G H H O LY D AY S I S S U E • 2 3

MASTERING

WITH CHEF MARISA BAGGETT SEPTEMBER 26

|

7:00 PM

|

ETTELSON-WAX SOCIAL HALL

A S U S H I D E M O N S T R AT I O N A N D S A M P L I N G W I T H C AT E R E D D I N N E R BY M O S A

TIMPO SESSION A PE RF OR M ANCE

JAZZ PIANIST

& ALL MEMBER SAT U R DAY

SHABBAT DINNER

A PERFORMANCE IN THE ROUND —— PERFORMANCE: 6:00-7:00 PM IN DANZIGER CHAPEL —— DINNER: 7:15 PM IN ETTELSON-WAX SOCIAL HALL

24 • VOICE • 2025

T HE FABERS B R I NG A S PE CI A L S W E E TN E SS TO O U R C O MMU N I T Y AN D TH E H IGH H OLIDAYS

But it's not just the charm of the landscape that captures your attention — it's the hum of bees and the gleam of golden honey that make this place truly special. Nestled in a shady corner across from the treehouse is a small but vibrant apiary populated with tall hives.

From these buzzing towers, the Fabers harvest and bottle their signature “Sweet Melissa Honey,” named lovingly for Melissa herself.

Rich, a passionate backyard

beekeeper,

explains

that the couple harvests honey twice a year — once in July and again in October — yielding around 40 bottles per hive each season. He personally favors the fall batch. “It’s a different floral and a different robustness,” he says. “It’s heartier.”

Rich says the taste of a

SPECIAL SWEETNESS

batch of honey depends on what plants the bees have access to. “Unlike most beekeepers, I live in the middle of a neighborhood where the bees have access to ornamental flowers.

We also have wildflowers on our property. It gives a floral taste.”

The Fabers’ sweet labor doesn’t just stay at home — it’s a

I feel I am

gift to the community. Each year, Sweet Melissa Honey is sold

a caretaker

through the Temple Sisterhood as a fundraiser.

Rich credits his wife, Melissa, with getting him into beekeep-

of a real

osh Hashanah is synonymous with the richness and

ing. “Melissa grew up on a farm, and one day she said she

civilization

sweetness of honey. When many Temple members

wanted to raise bees. I had never thought of it. One day, I sur-

that is one

think of honey, they think of Melissa and Richard ‘Rich’

prised her with an empty hive on the kitchen table. That was

Faber, who operate the Faber Family Honey Farm be-

20 years ago,” he said.

hundred and

hind their house in Germantown.

“I feel I am a caretaker of a real civilization that is one

Stepping into the Faber’s backyard feels like entering a sto-

hundred and fifty million years old. Bees are as old as the

rybook. Nearly five acres of woods and open grass stretch out

flowers. Also, when a scout bee finds a new crop of flowers,

behind their home, where a treehouse and a rustic bridge invite

she returns to the hive and shows everybody the way to the

memories of childhood adventures and numerous gatherings

flowers through a little dance. Not a selfish little bee bone in

of family and friends.

their bodies.”

fifty million years old.

RICH FABER H I G H H O LY D AY S I S S U E • 2 5

WELC OME NE W M E M B E R S

NEW MEMBERS We are thrilled to welcome all those who have joined the

A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated Membership Com-

Temple Israel family over the past year. Whether you are

mittee for their tireless efforts in making every new member

new to Memphis, new to synagogue life, or simply seeking

feel seen, welcomed, and embraced as part of the Temple

a deeper connection to Jewish community, we are honored

Israel family. The Membership Committee is chaired by Sam

that you’ve chosen to make Temple Israel your home. Your

Fargotstein, with Elise Jordan, Brian Lurie, Farryl Silver, Alla

presence enriches our community, and we are so glad you

Lubin, and Leah Gafni.

are here!

If you'd like to join this growing list of members or would like to learn more about becoming a member at Temple Israel, please email Faith Ruch, faithr@timemphis.org for more information.

Stephanie & David Stevens

Eliza & Seth Schklar

Tracy & Larry Schaffer

Mindy Kronenberg

Rabbi Harry Rothstein

Shane Banz

Devon & John Reinhardt

Hannah Chanin

Nathan Evans

Karen Levy

Joseph Besser

Svetlana "Lana" & Alex Rich

Debra "Debby" Weiss

Ellen & Mark Grishman

Belinda & Dave Johnston

Lucian Williams

Victoria Hallett & Jeffrey Miller

Paige & Mischa Soekoro

Andrew Harris & Stefan Stewart

Audrey May

Martha & Ernest Gulner

Vicky & Jor-El Williams

Hillary Lindberg & Benjamin Fishman

Michelle Fox & Adam Rosenfeld

Amber Osiadacz

Nathan "Spencer" Gruber

Jennifer & David Stein

Cassidy & Eric Goldberg

Robert Davis

Hanna & Keith Orland

Rachel & Elie Diner

Mary & Lane Ross-Renard

Amy Bonk-Chanin

Nancy & Walter Joerg

Evalyn & Phil Grossman

Lee Olswanger

Elizabeth "Liz" Thorpe

Zoe & Alex Harkavy

Samantha & John-Claude Saltiel

Steven Williams

Adam Libby

Alana Rothenstein

Chrystal & Matthew Gibbs

Dylan & Adam Schulman

Rebecca Wilson & Adam Cohen

Sarah & Herschel Freeman

Lauren Bates

Stacy Jacobson & Andrew Baird

26 • VOICE • 2025

BARBAR A K . LI PM A N E A R LY LE ARN IN G C E N TE R Touch is how toddlers explore the world, and the High Holy Days are full of meaningful textures. Let children knead dough for challah, dip apples into sticky honey, or use their hands to create holiday-themed art—like painting shofar horns or making tissue paper pomegranates. These hands-on experiences ground the holidays in joyful, physical activity.

Sight plays a powerful role in how young

children to see,

children experience and connect to the High

hear, touch,

Holy Days. For young children, the deep red

smell, and taste

of pomegranates, white clothing worn on Yom Kippur, and the glow of the holiday can-

the season,

dles, provide visuals to abstract concepts.

we’re not just

Young children can help set the table with

introducing

special items, point out the decorations at

BRINGING THE HIGH HOLY DAYS TO LIFE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

When we invite

home or at the synagogue, and look through

rituals—we’re

picture books that show the beauty of Jew-

planting seeds

ish symbols. These visuals help young children connect what they see to something sacred and new.

of joyful Jewish identity.

Lastly, we come to the sense of smellone of the most powerful tools for memory and connection. The warm scent of baking challah, the sweetness of apples and cinnamon, or even the crisp air of early fall can become part of a child’s sensory memory of

he High Holy Days are a season of connection, cele-

the holidays. These new smells will turn into a signal that

bration and reflection-a time filled with both joy and

something special is hap-

solemnity. As adults, we think back on our year with

pening. By inviting young

introspection and set intentions for the year ahead.

children to sniff spices or

But what does this sacred time look like through the

herbs used in holiday cook-

eyes of young children?

At the Barbara K. Lipman Early Learning Center, it is just as important for our youngest learners to explore and experi-

ing, we are helping them build connections between scent and celebration.

ence these meaningful holidays. Through early exposure and

These sensory doorways

engaging activities, young children learn that this time of year

may be small, but they’re

is different and meaningful.

powerful. Through the curi-

For toddlers, Jewish learning isn’t experienced through

ous eyes, eager hands, lis-

sermons or thoughtful contemplation-it is about what they

tening ears, little noses, and

can see, taste, smell, feel and hear. This time of year is the

tiny taste buds of a toddler,

perfect opportunity to engage in sensory experiences while

the High Holy Days come

bringing Judaism to life in meaningful ways.

alive in a way that’s mean-

Taste is the first and easiest way children can experience

ingful and special. When we

Rosh Hashanah. With round challahs, apples and honey and

invite children to see, hear,

pomegranate juice there are options for all ages. Let children

touch, smell, and taste the

help you in the kitchen, taste test your favorite holiday meals

season, we’re not just intro-

and be a part of the experience.

ducing rituals—we’re plant-

Sound comes alive with the blast of the shofar. Even if little

ing seeds of joyful Jewish

ones don’t sit through services, hearing the shofar—even on

identity. These early experi-

a recording—can be exciting and memorable. You might even

ences blossom into a lasting

invite toddlers to try making their own “shofar sounds” with

love for Jewish learning, life

toy horns or their voices, celebrating the joy of being heard.

and tradition.

H I G H H O LY D AY S I S S U E • 2 7

STAFF FOCU S

ELEANOR TALLIE STEINBERG emple Israel is thrilled to welcome Eleanor Tallie Steinberg as our full-time Cantorial Soloist as of July 1. Eleanor has served as our interim Cantorial Soloist since April 2024 and brings a rich musical and spiritual background to our community.

Born and raised in Israel to an Israeli father and Canadian mother (Judy & Benny Tsaig), Eleanor grew up in a deeply musical family—her mother a classical pianist and educator, and her siblings professional violists. She began playing cello at six, added piano and guitar by ear at twelve, and started writing songs the same year.

Trained in classical voice and conservatory music through high school, she launched a singer-songwriter project in Israel (2009–2012), then fronted a blues band that toured Israel, the Netherlands, and the U.S. From 2015 to 2020, she led her own project, Eleanor Tallie, touring over 40 U.S. states with a Memphis-based band and collaborating with producer Steve Greenwell (Joss Stone, Common, The Roots).

The war in Israel led Eleanor to a renewed sense of purpose: using music to heal and connect. Since moving to the U.S. in 2013, Temple Israel and Reform Judaism have helped her reconnect with her Jewish roots.

Eleanor is married to Corey Steinberg, who grew up in this congregation and is part of a family with six generations of Temple Israel roots. She’s the proud mom of Dylan and Lilah, both in our ELC. Please say hello after services, or join Eleanor for upcoming musical events and programs!

28 • VOICE • 2025

STAFF FOCU S

KARLEIGH RING emple Israel is proud to announce Karleigh Ring as our new Youth Engagement Coordinator, dedicated to enriching the lives of Jewish youth through our Junior Youth Group (grades 6–8) and teen programming for high school students.

Originally from Asheville, North Carolina, Karleigh graduated from Rhodes College with a degree in Education. During her time at Rhodes, she served as President of Rhodes Hillel, studied Hebrew, and was inducted into Theta Alpha Kappa, a national honor society for religious studies. Her strong academic foundation and deep connection to Jewish life have shaped her into a thoughtful and passionate educator.

Karleigh’s experience in Jewish education spans over a decade, beginning at age 13 when she became a Hebrew tutor at Congregation Beth HaTephila. After moving to Memphis in 2021, she joined Temple Israel as a teacher for the Wendy & Avron Fogelman Religious School, quickly becoming a valued part of the education team.

“I have loved working as a religious school teacher the past four years, and I am so excited to continue working with the team at Temple,” Karleigh shared. “Temple Israel made me feel so welcome in Memphis when I started at Rhodes, and I am so excited to have the opportunity to help students feel just as welcomed and connected to this community.”

Karleigh’s appointment comes at a time when many Jewish teens in Memphis are seeking more ways to engage with their heritage, their peers, and their identity. Her role will focus not only on Temple Israel members, but will also extend to Jewish teens across the Memphis community. Both Junior Youth Group and Teen Programming will be open to all Jewish students, regardless of synagogue affiliation.

This inclusive approach aims to fill a significant gap in local youth engagement—In a time when Jewish identity is being shaped by both tradition and a changing world, creating consistent, welcoming, and meaningful programming is more vital than ever.

We are excited to have Karleigh step into this new chapter and can’t wait to see the creativity and energy she brings to our youth programming. Temple Israel is excited to build an inclusive, vibrant space where youth can explore their Jewish identity, build lasting friendships, and discover the joy of belonging to a community that values them.

H I G H H O LY D AY S I S S U E • 2 9

ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES Temple Israel is offering Adult Education Classes taught by Clergy and Staff.

STABILITY IN OUR PERSONAL LIVES September 3, 2025 | 7:00pm | Rabbi Ross Levy

------------We can best meet the challenges and uncertainty of the world around us when we are able to find stability and centeredness within ourselves. In this session, Rabbi Ross Levy will offer methods and practices from Jewish tradition that can serve as tools for personal resilience.

STABILITY IN A SHIFTING GLOBAL LANDSCAPE September 17, 2025 | 7:00pm | Rabbi Micah Greenstein

------------As we tend to our spiritual selves in this season, we acknowledge how our hearts are often pulled to the conflicts of the world beyond the borders of our country. With anti-semitism on the rise and the war continuing in Israel, we have all felt the uncertainty of a shifting global landscape this past year. Join Rabbi Micah Greenstein as he offers the Jewish perspective on finding stability, resilience, and clarity in uncertain times.

STABILITY IN TIMES OF NATIONAL DIVISION September 17, 2025 | 7:00pm | Rabbi Leah Sternberg

------------In this final session, Rabbi Leah Sternberg will offer tools for a path forward as we navigate the challenging dynamics of division and polarization in the United States. Her teaching will guide us in how we might have difficult conversations, and how we, as American Jews, can draw from our religious tradition as a source of moral clarity and resilience.

30 • VOICE • 2025

SILENCED JEWISH WOMEN OF GENESIS & TODAY November 12, 2025 | 7:00pm | Rabbi Leah Sternberg

------------The voices of Jewish women—both heard and unheard— have been necessary in writing our Jewish story. This class examines the stories of women in the Torah, rabbinic literature, Jewish history, and our contemporary age, whose contributions have been overlooked, suppressed, or misinterpreted. By spending time with these narratives, we will reclaim these voices and consider their relevance to Jewish life and gender dynamics today.

EVERY DAY JUDAISM December 17, 2025 | 7:00pm | Rabbi Ross Levy

------------One of the most beautiful aspects of Judaism is that while it is usually centered around a synagogue, it does not end there. In the creative imagination of the ancient sages, each moment of our day can be seen as an opportunity for gratitude and connecting with the Divine. In this class, Rabbi Ross will lay out simple ways we can connect with our Judaism each and every day.

MA ZEL TOV! M O M E NT S

Births

New Members

We welcome the families of: Steven Williams Kt Lawton Ada Waddell Rachel & Joey Notowich

ELEANOR JOSEPHINE DARGA

Maggie Robertson & Seth Rudy

Lauren Isaacman and Paul Darga celebrated the birth of their

Jodie Struminger & Mike Weisman

daughter Eleanor Josephine Darga. She is the granddaughter of Sherry Phillips Isaacman, Karen Fields & Ken Isaacman, and Sophie & Tom* Darga.

Lyric & Adam Malkin Amanda & Jeff Fuller Jordan Kleber & Noah Sullivan Wendi & Jason Stec Lydia Watson & Simon Chanin

Engagements Lainey Felsenthal and Avery Poynter Rebecca Wilson and Adam Cohen

ELIJAH BERNARD SUNSHINE

Sarah Goldstein and Noah Hanover

Alexandra and Jacob Sunshine celebrated the birth of their son, Elijah Bernard Sunshine.

BRODY ALLEN KAHN Ashley and Jeremy Kahn celebrated the birth of their son Brody Allen Kahn. He is the grandson of Ellen Kahn and Herbert Kahn and Mary Anne and William Allen and the great-grandson of Barbara and Frank* Kahn, Shirley* & Bernard* Frisch, and Barbara* & Robbie* Robinson.

If you have a simcha to share with the congregation, please contact: JASON TERRELL jasont@timemphis.org 901.761.3130

*of blessed memory

H I G H H O LY D AY S I S S U E • 3 1

MA ZEL TOV! M O M E NT S

B’nai Mitzvah

JULIA STONE FRIEDMAN Jessica Kaplan and Zachary Friedman celebrated the birth of their daughter, Julia Stone Friedman. She is the granddaughter of Nathalie Feldman & Andrew Stone Kaplan and the great-granddaughter of Linda Stone Kaplan & Edward* Steven Kaplan.

G R A NT W. CO WENS Became a bar mitzvah on May 31, 2025. He is the son of Abbey & Jeff Cowens.

J O N A H NIS S IM FIRS T Became a bar mitzvah on June 14, 2025. He is the son of Sara & Joshua First.

SONNY REID SNYDER Jessica and David Snyder celebrated the birth of their son, Sonny Reid Snyder. He is the grandson of Lorraine Steinberg, Barry Steinberg, Barbara Schwartz, & Sherman Snyder and the great-grandson of Ethel Jarmell.

CHLO E R EIT ER G RIG G S Became a bat mitzvah on May 10, 2025. She is the daughter of Stacey & Tommy Griggs.

PA IG E HO PE PO RTNOY Became a bat mitzvah on May 3, 2025. She is the daughter of Lisa Usdan & David Portnoy.

ARCHER JAMES FORTNEY Abby and Jimmy Fortney celebrated the birth of their son Archer James Fortney. He was the grandson of Robin Greenberg and Jeff * Pohlman, and Brenda & Gene* Fortney, and the great-grandson of Diane* Mednikow and Alfred Greenberg, Ray and Dorothy* Pohlman, and Charlotte* & Gene Hubbard.

J O S HUA F O G ELM AN Joshua Fogelman became a bar mitzvah on August 9, 2025. He is the son of Margo & Mark Fogelman.

32 • VOICE • 2025

*of blessed memory

DONATIONS

Ralph Yaffe Chloe and Stacey Griggs

According to the Talmud, giving is as important as all of the other commandments combined.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all those listed below who generously contributed to the following funds between April 2025 to June 2025: Barbara K. Lipman Early Learning Center, Beulah R. Vosse Library, Brotherhood, Cemetery, Clergy’s Discretionary, ConnecTI, General, Grounds & Beautification, Hohenberg-Scheidt Lifetime Learning, Mary Shainberg Archives, Temple Teens, Mildred Schwartz B’nai Mitzvah Scholarship, Museum, Music Program, Rabbi James A. Wax Fund for Social Justice, Service to the Blind, Sisterhood, Temple Israel University, and the Wendy & Avron Fogelman Religious School. Your support is deeply appreciated and vital to our mission.

FOR THE RECOVERY OF Harvey Reisman Francine Brown Hallie Elliot Jean & Buddy Ballin Susanne & Bruce Landau

IN HONOR OF Nancy Kline Nancy & Gary Raileanu Amy Filderman Nancy & Gary Raileanu The 60th Anniversary of Juliet & Jerold Klein Louise & Jerald Sklar Shari & David Gubin Ginger Gruber Ava Shindler's 1st Birthday Baylee, Monte, and Dahlia Eiseman For those in our family who have gone before and are written in the Book of Life Ellen & Brig Klyce Terry Orgel Mary Kaplan The Brit Milah and Naming Ceremony of Elijah Bernard Sunshine Alexandra & Jacob Sunshine Naming of Estee Rose Charney Amy & Tod Singer Marcy & Sidney Seligstein Sandy & Clifton Lipman Margie & Ben Katz Sandy & Clifton Lipman Billy Seligstein Sandy & Clifton Lipman Carole & Mel Krug's 65th Anniversary Judy Ringel Birth of Rudy Kapp Judy Ringel Mark Halperin - 8th Honorary President of Temple Israel Judy Kriger Barbie & Ray Dan *of blessed memory

Jan & Lee Stein Eileen & Steven Wishnia Barrie & Kenneth Wurzburg Judie Ashkenaz and Bruce Kahn Linda Ellen & Ron Sklar Michele & Martin Pinstein Lorraine & Bert Wolf Jan & Marc Hanover Jill & David Buring Saralyn & Danny Weiss Joyce & Fred Graflund Stacey & Michael Alpert Susan & Abe Plough Rayna & Michael Greenberg Sally & Michael Pelts Paula Jacobson Judy Ringel Lesley & Sam Marks Carole & Charles Plesofsky Jean & Buddy Ballin Goldin & Steve Bearman Margaret & Sam Graham Judy Royal Jill & Ken Steinberg Rabbi Micah Greenstein Chloe and Stacey Griggs Calvary Episcopal Church Audrey May Stacey & Michael Alpert Judy Ringel Louis Glazer’s Birthday Sara Beth & George Silverman Birth of Aviv Johnny Dreifus Connie & Mike Sherman and Family Rose Merry Brown Tod & Amy Singer Melissa & Rich Faber Lynn & Joel Weiner Rabbi Ross Levy Stacey & Michael Alpert Kayla & Jason Salomon Rabbi Jeff Dreifus Lisa Usdan & David Portnoy Stacey & Michael Alpert Judy & Michael Edelson Jodie Struminger Sherry Samuels Suzanne Gronemeyer Atlee Silk Chloe and Stacey Griggs

Eleanor Tallie Steinberg Jennifer & Mike Ross Chloe and Stacey Griggs 89th Birthday of Peggy Evensky Mickey & Arthur Buring Evelyn Snyder

Melissa & Richard Faber Jane and Louis Lettes, Jan Lettes Zauzmer Family Alyssa & Brady Tanner Harris Nagelberg Waynette Besser

Alex Saharovich on his 65th Birthday Jill & David Buring Sally & Michael Pelts Jeri & Mitch Moskovitz Michelle & Paul Clein Janis & Pat Finan

Marilee Sher Susan & Butch Frumin Janis & David Iansmith Barbie & Ray Dan Betsy & Andy Saslawsky Wendy & Morris Thomas Amy & Michael Egerman Bettye J Gronauer Jan & Lee Stein Carole & Charles Plesofsky Michael Stein Karen & Gordon Robbins Tami & Bob Eiseman Barbara & Michael Gordon Jill & Ken Steinberg Bonnie Chambliss Jean & Buddy Ballin Louise & Jerry Sklar Jan & Marc Reisman Nancy & Jim McIntyre Judy Kaplan McCown & Pete Lemmon Marcia Honig Mollie & Doug Robbins

Judy Bearman Audrey May

Cathy Green Elaine & Ken Gieszler

Sally Mansberg Rosenberg Audrey May

Marx Jeffer Roselle Lazarov

The Conversion of Audrey Jane May Barbara & Jonathan May

Zelda Singer Francine Yellen

Birth of Grant Maxwell Cohen Susanne & Bruce Landau

Pearl Epstein Judy Royal

Special Birthday of Joyce Graflund Judy & Jerry Shore

E. Charles Eichenbaum Peggy & L.R. Jalenak, Jr.

Marriage of Molly Buring & Sam Carduner Susanne & Bruce Landau

Mollie Friedlander Rodman Debra Califf

Sarah Eckstein's Retirement after a career of service to the ELC Jennifer Ross Paige Portnoy Lisa Usdan & David Portnoy Linda Bedrin Michelle & Brian Blake Debbie Jackson Brad Jackson Rabbi Harry Danziger Leonard Engelberg

Births of Miller Jack and Cooper Lee Weitz Susanne & Bruce Landau Birth of Estee Rose Charney Susanne & Bruce Landau Birth of Dahlia Allison Eiseman Susanne & Bruce Landau Birth of Nora Bea Kashfian Susanne & Bruce Landau Rayna & Michael Greenberg Marriage of Lauren & Justin Libby Jean & Buddy Ballin

Charles Samuel Lewis Georgi & Lowell Davis Liliane C. Samuel Georgi & Lowell Davis Jack Libby Jamie & Glenn Goldring Debra & Alex Saharovich Stacey & Michael Alpert Sam Buchalter Beverly Buchalter Sam Alabaster Penney & Dan Alabaster Sara Gordon Lebovitz Maxine & Mike Shepard Alexander Bernstein Minda & Norman Katz

IN MEMORY OF Henry Wurzburg, Jr. Deborah & James Parker Fay H. Gubin Chris Gubin Bonnie Jacobson Nancy & Gary Raileanu Debra & Cary Califf Donna Young Ann Davis Wilson Joel & Dub Ashner Lynn & Jerry Eisenstatt Mickey & Arthur Buring

Fannie Magids Jan Magids Joseph Krivcher Jan Magids Linda Kriger Usdan Diane & Irv Friedman Lisa Usdan & David Portnoy Judy Royal Frank Leon Prins Harry Blumenthal Steven Alan Lazarov Roselle Lazarov

H I G H H O LY D AY S I S S U E • 3 3

D ONATIONS Renee Newman Geyer Charlene Snider Anna Kabakoff Gruber Lynn & Vic Butcher Paul Alpert Judy Ringel Eileen Finestone Jan & Marc Reisman Dan Barber and Helen Leitner Stacey & Michael Alpert Rayna & Michael Greenberg Debra & Alex Saharovich Michelle & Paul Clein Connie & Mike Sherman and Family Laurie & Jeff Meskin Evelyn Makowsky Judy Ringel Jamie Blevins Amy & Tod Singer Jill & Ken Steinberg Bert Alan Less Wendy & Morris Thomas Carol & Peter Weiss Leah's Camp Homies Jill & Ken Steinberg Alyssa Chase & Brady Tanner Ann Weiss Commercial Bank & Trust Co. Stacy & Jerry Siegler and Family Jan & Marc Reisman Sherry & Mike Grosman Annie Dragutsky Caren Cohen Yarmuth Bryko Heating & Air Janet Lang Mickey & Arthur Buring Amy & Tod Singer Loren Sanderson & Curt Cobb Jamie Blevins Anonymous Elizabeth & Tom Farrar Lisa Friedman Carole & Charles Plesofsky Debra & Alex Saharovich Judie Ashkenaz and Bruce Kahn Rayna & Michael Greenberg Shoshy Levine and Joshua Ferrer Mary & Sam Cornpropst Jaime Marquis Carol & Jim West Judy Ringel

Sheri & Jim Steiger Elaine & Marc Stegman Judy Ringel Suzanne Rhea Burgar Jan & Lee Stein and Family Diane & Mark Halperin Shelley Robbins & Reed Landau Judie Ashkenaz and Bruce Kahn Rochelle Perlman Frank Perlman David Martin Fargotstein Laura Fargotstein Shep & Margaret Fargotstein Beverly Bachman Rose Susan & Lee Bachman Cathy & Jim Pottorf Stanley Bachman Charles Rafael Angie Chulos Clark Ed Dattel Steve Gordon Martha & Ernie Gulner Cecile Felsenthal Prager Rose Merry Brown Linda Ellen & Ron Sklar Ingrid & Gordon Goldsmith Peggy Harris Lynn Meyer Inky & Phil Aronoff Deedee & Ron Perel Gail Lewis Scottie Davis Fredrika Felt Terry Deboo Montag Wealth Carole & Charles Plesofsky Barbie & Ray Dan Diane & Mark Halperin May Lynn Mansbach Barbara Lapides Hallie Elliot Joyce & Fred Graflund Judy Ringel Bunny & Charles Burson Jack Kirsch Ronni Kirsch

Amy & David Winestone Debra & Alex Saharovich

Doris L. Marks Lesley & Sam Marks

Marion Holz Baer Ann & Larry Adler Carole & Charles Plesofsky Elise Meyer Jan & Marc Reisman

Stanley Engelberg Diane & Irv Friedman

Freda Epstein Baruchman Beverly Buchalter Dorothy Gellerman Geri & Hal Lansky Johanna Jiedel Silverstein Jane & Jack Censer David Okeon Pat Okeon and Family Harry Rudin Sharon Kerson Mabel B. Paul Deanna Burson Jake Shainberg Deanna Burson Albert Burson Deanna Burson Jon Charles Poulin Cathy Poulin Annie Schatz Samuels Evelyn Snyder and Kimberley Snyder Cathy Poulin Rebecca Burson Deanna Burson Tillie Blen Alperin Jan Magids & Family Conrad Snyder Evelyn Snyder Janet & Paul Rubin Helen Leitner and Dan Barber Waynette Besser Melissa & Rich Faber Linthicum Turner Harriet & Louis Strasberg Deedee & Ron Perel Tony Appleton Tami & Bob Eiseman Carole & Charles Plesofsky Margie Kerstine Meryl Rosen

Le Roy Brown Pat Okeon and Family

Lucy Pepper Secher Randa Lipman, Larry Lipman Melissa & Rich Faber Mildred Abra Katzen Sherri & Jim Steiger Rayna & Michael Greenberg Helen Leitner Madelyne Daneman Jan & Marc Reisman

Louis Barnett Carole & Charles Plesofky

Irving Jack Kirsch David Kirsch

Alfred Greenberg The Family of Alfred Greenberg

Louise Wolf Ellis Diane Rudner Rochelle & Avron Slutsky Nancy & Gary Raileanu Michelle & Paul Clein Marilyn & Louis Glazer Mollie & Doug Robbins Kelsey Buchbinder & Spencer Glaser Stephanie & Barry Leff Lynn & Jerry Eisenstatt Jan & Marc Reisman Judy & Peter Felsenthal Steve Kisber Linda Ellen & Ron Sklar Carole & Charles Plesofsky Anise & Ron Belz Connie & MIke Sherman Rayna & Michael Greenberg Melissa & Rich Faber

Judy Freudberg Jean & Buddy Ballin

Dr. Stanley Baruch Kaplan Sue Kaplan

George Lapides Rose Merry Brown

Arlyne Schwartz Barrie & Kenneth Wurzburg

Belle Eshman Balkin Lynn & Vic Butcher

Lynn Kline Evelyn Snyder and Kimberley Snyder

Binnie Alpert Stacy & Jerry Siegler and Family Jan & Marc Reisman Cindy & Mark Finestone

Myn Samuels Loket Evelyn Snyder and Kimberley Snyder Cathy Poulin

Nancy Bogatin Kate & Robert Gooch

34 • VOICE • 2025

Dr. Norman H. Davis Scottie Davis Marcia Charney Jan & Marc Reisman Tami & Bob Eiseman Sally & Michael Pelts

Polly Jane Cohen Cooper Karen & Murray Riss Max Notowitz Michael Gryll

Martin Snyder Evelyn Snyder and Kimberley Snyder Henry H. Fortas Carol & Joel Hertz Dr. Robert L. Forman Evelyn Greenberg

Jake Engelberg Diane & Irv Friedman Maxine Feinberg Engelberg Diane & Irv Friedman Frank Robinson Stacey & Gene Wypyski Nora Pearl Rothschild Linda Gornek Mary & Harry Stone Linda Stone Kaplan Helen & Herbert Silverson Gail & Norman Stern Aaron Scharff, Jr. Darcy & Ron Scharff Mike Starr Martha & Ernie Gulner Sarah Lazarus Lewis Michele & Martin Pinstein Rachel & Steve Shankman Carole & Bob Pinstein Susan & Abe Plough Lauren McGehee Tami & Bob Eiseman Laurie & Jeff Meskin Stacey & Michael Alpert Gail Lewis Sherry & Mike Grosman Elise Meyer Yvonne Kiersky Susan & Irving Koch Bettye J Gronauer Aileen Burson Leslie Burson Louise O. Lewis Gail Lewis & Family Ann Arnof Fishman Anonymous Joanne Cullom Moore Hallie Elliot Helen Leitner Janet B. Lang Elizabeth Kennedy Blackstone and Family Kayla & Jason Salomon Cathy & Richard Kessler Judy Royal Jennifer & Mike Ross Walter Wills, III Debbie & Ron Jackson Meryl Rosen Billy Chism Deborah Faber Holtermann Fredrika Felt Beverly Buchalter Sandra Leibson Rubovits Donald Rubovits Dalen Bressack Courtney Bressack Living Trust Boswell Hale Hallie Dawson Max Bronze Kathy & Michael Bronze Robert K. Kisber Steve Kisber Janet Kisber Louis Barnett Isaacs Carole & Charles Plesofsky *of blessed memory

D ONATIONS Frank Robinson Golden & Steve Bearman

Irving Manis Laurie & Elkan Scheidt

William "Wim" Mandel Cohen Pattye Cohen

Roselyn Graff Christopher Marino

Jerry Lang Susan & Abe Plough

Samuel Beck Sharon Gadless

Marshall Pelts The Pelts Family Marion Baer Janet Brueck

Betty Zundman Joseph Susan & Larry Weiss and Family

Aaron R. Scharff, Jr. Jane Scharff Lillian Solomon Greenberg Phyllis & Jay Greenberg Dr. Philip H. Bloom Nancy Ballin Alice R. Goodman Patty & Lee Abraham Max Isaac Sweeting Terry Orgel Ida Engelberg Waynette Besser Paul Engelberg Susan & Jerome Franklin Pauline Needleman Plesofsky Sandy Kessler & Michael Woolsey Selma Bauer Simon Martha & Jerrold Graber Richard Hiller Suzanne & Sam Siegel Dot & Stanley Bilsky Lin Turner Sylvia Morris Suzanne & Sam Siegel Dora & Herman Lieberman Barbara & Phil Lieberman Sylvia Stiman Fortas Carol & Joel Hertz Lillian Stegman Jan & Lee Stein Nancy Bogatin Barbara Loevy Joel Felt Debby Weinstein Jean & Eugene Sebulsky Alan Sebulsky Cynthia Blanton Schwartz Mike Schwartz

CEMETERY PLANNING REDUCES STRESS

Jill Barrasso Judy Barrasso Sol Kaplan Judith Kaplan McCown Bennie Rosenthal Diane Mendelson Helen Ruth Weisburd and Isidore E. Karchmer Barbara & A.W. Karchmer Lewis "Pat" Isaacs Carole & Charles Plesofsky Frank Balkin Lynn & Vic Butcher

VISION 2026 DONORS As of July 15, 2025 Anonymous The Arney, Gronauer, and Scheidt Families Julie & Lawson Arney Josie & Steve Ballin Carole & Bert Barnett Barbara Bacharach Golden & Stephen Bearman Linda Bedrin & Don Klotwog Drs. Lauren & Brandon Bell Julie & Byron Besser Marcy & Michael Blen Sherry & Peter Blumberg Mickey & Arthur Buring Bonnie & Eliot Cohen Marilyn & Harvey Cook Tracey & Ronald Cooper and Family Liz Ann & Robert L. Dinkelspiel Amy & Richard Dorsey Beni & Mike Dragutsky Edie & Eric Efron Melissa & Rich Faber Rebecca Belz & Sam Fargotstein Margaret & Shepard Fargotstein Rhonda & Lenny Feiler and Family Gloria & Edward Felsenthal

Fredrika Felt Janis & Pat Finan Cyndie & Larry Fogarty The Fogelman Family The Folz Family Cindy & Jim Forman Lisa & Jonathan Frisch Milton Fortas Bequest Leah Gafni Regina Jolly Lisa Menuskin & Neil Gibson Sharon & Michael Goldstein Julie & Michael Goldstein Jessica & David Goldstein Bunny & Jeff Goldstein Richard Greenberg Sheril & Rabbi Micah Greenstein Helen Gronauer & Family Suzanne Gronemeyer Sheliah & Scott Gruber Lauren, Bill, Jacob, and Benjamin Hackney Marci & Geoffrey Hirsch Peggy & L.R. Jalenak, Jr. Elise & Richard Jordan Justin & Ben Katz Faith & Leonard Kaye Marty Kelman Denise, Jeffrey, Hannah, and Martin Kerlan Ronni Z. Kirsch Gabby & Zach Kisber Karen & Michael Koplon Judy Kriger & Family Susanne & Bruce Landau Geri & Hal Lansky Barbara Lapides and Family Jami & Adam Lazarov Debbie & Ron Lazarov Stephanie & Barry Leff Laura & James Linder Alla & Nathan Lubin Melissa & Brian Lurie Jan Magids and Family Leigh & Danny Mansberg May Lynn Mansbach The Meskin Family Ellen Mezger Taylor & Benjamin Orgel Robin & Billy Orgel Sally & Michael Pelts Mary Lynn Perl Carole & Robert Pinstein The Plough Foundation Lisa Usdan & David Portnoy Wendy & Steve Radke Ann Rabinovitz Judy Ringel Randa Rosenblum

LET TEMPLE ISRAEL HELP YOU PREPARE Making cemetery arrangements in advance can bring peace of mind to you and your family while preventing stressful, last-minute decisions during an already emotional time.

Temple Israel offers affordable burial plots at our beautifully maintained cemetery.

Plots are available to members and non-members, and we offer flexible multimonth payment plans to make planning accessible and manageable.

Shelli & Sheldon Rosengarten Debbie & David Rosenthal Jennifer & Mike Ross Wendy & Cary Rotter Debra & Alex Saharovich Sherry & Alan Samuels Betsy & Andy Saslawsky The Herbert Shainberg Foundation Jane & John Shelton Lisa & Howard Silver Farryl & Josh Silver Katie & Ryan Silverfield Marcy Wurzburg Stagner Jill & Ken Steinberg Kimberlee & Scott Strome Terri & Scot Struminger Sharyn Tritsch Cathy & Craig Weiss Eileen & Steve Wishnia Edward J. Wise Bequest Amanda & Gary Wolf Barrie & Kenneth Wurzburg Mary & Charles Wurtzburger Bequest Carol & Ralph Yaffe Hollie & Greg Ziskind

ADDITIONAL D O N AT I O N S Barbara and Leonard Richman

O U R S Y M PAT H I E S June - August 8, 2025 Robert J. Hermann Jack Libby Raymon Sauer Bonnie Jane Jacobson Ann Davis Wilson Liam Roth Sidney S. Friedman, Jr. Karl E. Egerman Jeffrey Alan Levingston Deborah Frisch Shirley I. Summerfield Annabelle Beyer Kaplan

Please reach out to Jen Kollath at jenk@timemphis.org to schedule a confidential conversation.

Planning today is a gift to your family tomorrow.

*of blessed memory

H I G H H O LY D AY S I S S U E • 3 5

BABKA BAKE BACK TO S CH OOL

WITH J O SH STEINER

50% DISCOUNT FOR FAMILIES IF A CHILD IS ENROLLED IN WAFRS.

Get ready to roll up your sleeves and knead some dough at our Back to School Babka Bake with special guest Josh Steiner, owner of Hive Bagel & Deli! Arrive at noon for a build-your-own bagel sandwich lunch by Hive included in your registration, then Josh will lead a lively, hands-on demonstration, sharing his expert tips and tricks for creating the perfect babka. You won’t just watch—you’ll get in on the action, shaping and filling your own loaf with delicious swirls of flavor.

The best part? You’ll take your babka and Josh’s personal recipe home to bake, filling your kitchen with that irresistible, fresh-from-the-oven aroma. This is a fun, interactive experience for all ages you won’t want to miss! *Children under 4 years old are FREE and don’t require registration as they will work in tandem with a parent.

T E M P L E

ISRAEL

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 | 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Enjoy activities for kids, toddler play land, bounce houses, local food trucks, and a marketplace showcasing small businesses from Temple Israel and the Memphis Jewish community. It’s a sweet and spirited way to celebrate the season. Free and open to the public.

This event has been generously sponsored by an anonymous donor.