Included in this month’s LIGHT
• President’s Message
• Save the Date for 40th Anniversary
• Meet Beth Or’s Builders
• Remembering Shirley Pollak
• Tu B’Shevat Service - Save The Date
• Jewish Book Review
• Gallery of Light Store
• Upcoming ArtTalk Tuesdays
• Amazon Smile
• Tributes
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A New Year with hope for a better 2021
President’s Message
By Mel Tenen
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Dear Friends,
As we embark on our 40th anniversary year, we look forward full of hope for better days ahead and a return to normalcy. The five years that I spent as Temple President from 2014 to August 2019 were so very gratifying and fulfilling because I had the honor of giving back to our special Beth Or community. And now, I am blessed, and privileged to return as President of Beth Or.
What makes Beth Or unique and special is that we are so very proud to emphasize and celebrate the diversity of our community. We treasure our mix of opinions and backgrounds, the tapestry of our cultural heritages, races and ethnicities. We strive continuously to live up to the ideals of inclusion, access, and acceptance that inform our core values, because we know that we have grown stronger when we have stood together. We are stronger when our hearts unite. We are stronger when we give of ourselves and are spiritually and financially invested and connected to our community.
And I know that we are so much stronger today because of the leadership provided by Ilien Hechtman, Annette Katz and Andrea Loring who gave tirelessly of themselves in order to enhance every aspect of our Temple during the past eighteen months. No one embodies the spirit and act of giving more than Ilien, Annette and Andrea. Their accomplishments are innumerable. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude for leading our Temple and, for not only meeting, but far exceeding the unique challenges during this tumultuous period. Fortunately, they will remain an integral part of our Board, Executive Committee and Leadership as we move forward. I am so pleased to let you know that we will honor the LT with a special evening tribute...stay tuned for specific details.
I leave you this month with an excerpt of the inspirational lyrics from Peter, Paul and Mary’s “Don’t Let the Light Go Out” …rest assured, we will never let the light go out at our beloved Beth Or.
Light one candle for the strength that we need
To never become our own foe
And light one candle for those who are suffering
Pain we learned so long ago
Light one candle for all we believe in
…Don't let the light go out!
It's lasted for so many years! (40)
Don't let the light go out!
Let it shine through our hope and our tears.
What is the memory that's valued so highly
That we keep it alive in that flame?
…We have come this far always believing
…this is the promise
This is why we will not fail!
Best wishes for a Happy and Healthy 2021.
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Have You Made Plans to Attend
Beth Or’s 40th Anniversary?
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As we look to the future, we remember our past and the leaders who brought us to this place |
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As we look forward to celebrating our 40th Anniversary, there are so many people who we should thank for our continued success. In this January edition of The LIGHT, we’ll be looking at 3 members who helped us reach this special moment. In February, we’ll meet others who did the same. The people we are highlighting in this Beth Or Builders Column are not currently members of our Board. What they did in the past helped us get here and need to be remembered for those successes. There are many people who have brought us to this point but space is limited. We hope you enjoy this walk down memory lane.
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Beth Or Is The Most Accepting Place on Earth |
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What does a person who has a Masters Degree in Early Childhood and taught for years at Miami Dade College, CAJE (Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education) and Temple Beth Am do when deciding to join a new temple? You help to develop curriculum and develop good educational practices.
Although Beth Or’s youth educational programs were not in full bloom when Sheila Silverberg came to Beth Or, she did her best to help improve the delivery of educational services.
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Sheila and Marvin Silverberg sharing a treasured moment |
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What many newcomers may not know is that when first arriving at Beth Or, Shelia sang in Beth Or’s choir for eight years where she developed life long friendships with Phyllis Winnick, Marcy Prince and Diane Pearl.
How Shelia and her dear departed husband of 55 years, Marvin, ended up at Beth Or is a story in itself.
While enjoying her teaching years at Beth Am and the friends she made there through the Havurah, Sheila never felt fully engaged with the congregation and was always yearning for something different.
Sheila’s sister, Joan, who lives in Massachusetts, was at the time attending a Bat Mitzvah class comprised of 10 women. One of the requirements of that class was to read a book by Rami Shapiro. Joan discovered that Rami Shapiro was a rabbi at a temple in Miami and recommended that Sheila and Marvin attend services he conducted. Sheila and Marvin took her advice and the rest is history. She did indeed find meaning in those services and to her surprise she also met up with two old friends, Shep Faber and Doug Schwartz.
“After many years of belonging to a temple where I celebrated lifecycle events for my family and taught for 19 years, I found that Marvin and I needed a change,” Sheila said. “I was guided to Beth Or where I discovered individuals who spent valuable time together. They prayed together. They celebrated together. They shared sad times together. They used their collective skills to inspire one another and learn from each other. Together they were a very positive united force. Marvin and I knew we had found a new home. Beth Or is the most accepting place on earth.”
The last few years have been challenging ones for Sheila. Demonstrating great resilience while facing a difficult health condition and then the loss of her husband, Sheila looks at life with tremendous optimism. She is grateful that Beth Or has offered a robust Zoom presence, allowing her continued participation despite health and distance challenges. She also is grateful for the deep friendship of Beth Orians who have been with her throughout.
On December 19 of 2020, Sheila celebrated what would have been her 56th wedding anniversary with Marvin. Although he was not there, she celebrated the event with her children and carried forth a very tender tradition that she and Marvin started when first married.
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Sheila’s sock puppets have kept her and her grandchildren
connected during the pandemic.
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“We had saved the two pink candles that the ushers used during our wedding ceremony to light the long aisles at our wedding at the Deauville Hotel,” she said. “Marv and I lit those pink candles every year for at least five minutes to make them last.”
Her children Stephen and Randi have continued the tradition and on December 19 she and her children lit those candles together. Marvin’s picture was in evidence and his spirit was felt.
Her energy and upbeat attitude have led to a new area of expression. In an effort to stay connected with her grandchildren during the pandemic, Sheila has created a series of sock puppets designed with the special interests of her grandchildren in mind.
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Smiling in her home office, Irene Elliott has kept busy throughout the pandemic. |
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Attending her first service at the Unitarian Church and she was “hooked”
As a young woman growing up in Brooklyn, Irene Elliott had never belonged to a formal temple congregation. Living near Brighton Beach, a huge hall would be filled with chairs stretching as far as the eye could see. She and her family would buy High Holiday tickets every year. That was as formal as it got.
But 37 years ago, she had a chance meeting with Linda Mayers who talked about this new temple and a new rabbi.
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When the temple first started it was called Shoresh Hadash and belonged to the Humanist Movement. But two years into that affiliation the founders decided to affiliate with the Reconstructionist movement and renamed itself as Beth Or.
“We met at the Unitarian Church and at that service led by Rami Shapio, there was a guest speaker, Dave Barry,” Irene recalled. “Thom (her dear departed husband) and I were hooked.”
She and Thom weren’t initially involved with temple committees but that changed in the late 80s. She joined the Board and along the way she and Thom became LIGHT co-editors. They took on those duties after Michael Newman’s tenure on that project.
“Working downtown as a court reporter I would run into Doug Schwartz and over time we became great friends,” Irene said.”On one occasion he mentioned he was going to a Reconstuctionists’ congregation convention and asked me if I wanted to go.”
While attending the convention, Irene needed to leave the meeting for just a few minutes. “When I got back Doug informed me that I was just named Vice President for the Southeastern Region of the Reconstructionist movement.”
As Regional Vice President, Irene headed up numerous events for congregations in the region bringing in speakers, music and conducting various events. She continued in this role for many years until personal health issues required her to slow down a bit.
“Being active with the Reconstructionist movement was not only enlightening but also reaffirmed that when in need people can be kind,” Irene remembered. “In 1992 after Andrew hit, Beth Or had extensive damage. Reconstructionist congregations from around the country came to our aid.”
The many years she and Thom worked on The LIGHT was appreciated by the congregation.
“One Friday night the temple honored Thom for all his photographic contributions, particularly LIGHT editor, and we had a whole program around a parody of Neil Sedaka's song Calendar Girl rewritten as Calendar Boy. Michael Leslie videoed the service, but to this day I have never seen the video and of course Thom never saw it before he passed. It was a spectacular night.”
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Inspired by Beth Or’s
commitment to inclusion
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David Newman’s Bar Mitzvah with Patricia and Michael
looking on as proud parents.
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When Beth Or began, one of its founding members was Michael Newman. There, from the beginning, Michael has since held numerous roles in Beth Or’s life and continues to be one of its best historians, both in writing and through voluminous photographs. |
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Michael is pictured here at the Beth Or Gala in his honor with Rabbi Mark and Mindy Kram and his family. Far left is son Mark behind him you can see Patricia and next to Michael is son Shawn. Son Eric is to the right of Mindy Kram. |
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Michael, and later with Thom Elliott, the two captured Beth Or’s treasured photographic history.
Editor of The LIGHT from 1984-1988, Michael was responsible for flyers, High Holiday programs and helped to create Beth Or’s original logo.
He continues to serve in the choir - an expanse of 40 years. His deeply engaging bass baritone voice added to his special musical moments from 1981-1996 as he chanted the Kol Nidre melody accompanied by some of Beth Or’s musical greats: Simon Salz, Ellen Bukstel, and Bonnie Weiner. He has worked with choir directors Elissa Treuer, Paul Hoyle and Michael Henry.
He participated in the Beth Or Hunt (the original Miami Hunt), Purim Rock Opera, many Passover and all High Holidays events. He helped design the original Meditation Bamboo garden.
After serving on the temple board for many years, Michael was elected President for two terms starting in 2008. He stayed in that role until 2013. His first term as temple President occurred right after a four year leadership training with the Rotary Club. He served as President of the South Miami Chapter of Rotary and brought many organization and marketing ideas from that experience to Beth Or. During that those years he worked closely with Rabbi Rebeca Lillian and Cantorial Soloist Lauren Levy.
During his tenure as President, he brought Rabbi Mark Kram to Beth Or. Working with Rabbi Kram, they initiated the temple’s successful Bridge to the Future fundraising campaign.
“I am inspired by Beth Or‘s commitment to egalitarianism, inclusive participation, and an eclectic approach to Judaism and spirituality,” Michael said. “I feel Beth Or’s future will continue to grow with these ideals.”
Beth Or is very close to Michael’s heart as it has played a major role in his life. On January 22, 1995, Michael married wife Patricia with Rabbi Rami Shapiro officiating. Sons Shawn and David celebrated both their Bar Mitzvahs at Beth Or.
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Shirley Pollak honored and remembered
It’s been two years since one of Beth Or’s most beloved matriarchs, Shirley Pollak, passed away. On December 18, 2020, Amy Lomaskin arranged a service that honored Shirley’s memory. While favorite stories were told, smiles glowed from every Zoom square and a few tears were shed. Many members of Shirley Pollak’s family zoomed in, (including her two daughters, sons-in-law, her sister, brother in law, some of her grandchildren and her niece). Her longtime friends shared memories of Shirley’s love of activism, cooking, teaching and of her family. Shirley’s memory is our blessing. Here are a few photos from that special Shabbat service:
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Tu B’Shevat Service
Save the Date - January 27th
Save the Date: Wednesday, January 27, 2020 at 6:00 PM, for a 45 minute Zoom Tu B'Shevat service. In true Beth Or tradition, this service will make the old new, and the new holy (and contemporary), uniting traditional Tu B'Shevat seder themes to the environmental issues of today's South Florida. The service is brought to you by: Rabbi Robyn, Pat Barron, Kathy Fisler, Linda Goodman, Annette Katz, Ellen Siegel, Bette Spector, Rose Spector, and Karen Steinberg-Lewis.
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Jewish Book Review every
other Wednesday
Keep on the lookout for the Jewish Book Review taking place every other Wednesday. The discussion focuses on Rabbi Jonathan Sacks book, Heal a Fractured World. The first January session is January 6. Visit the Beth Or website calendar for detailed information.
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Need a gift idea or some new art for your home? Visit the Gallery of Light store
The Galley of Light store is open for business. You'll find a select collection of drawings, paintings, prints, photographs, textiles, ceramics, wearable art and more by award-winning artists and makers from South Florida and around the world. Visit the Beth Or website at https://bethormiami.com and click on the Gallery of Light navigation at the top of the page. Purchase online by connecting directly with the artist. You can reach each artist by clicking on the artist's name to visit their website. Every purchase you make supports artists and the Gallery of Light's educational programs.
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Upcoming events for the Gallery of Light ArtTalk Tuesdays provide an exciting look at politics through art and a trip around the world. |
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Visual artists interpret the politics of their time through their art and in doing so can impact the opinions of a society. On January 19, we will welcome Dr. Joel Hollander to the Gallery of Light ARTalk when he will present “Art & Politics”: Modern Contemporary Expressions of Change -1850-2000. Dr. Hollander will enlighten and re-introduce us to 14 major movements in art history – some we know, and some we’ve yet to consider. Art is always a reflection of its time and is often controversial and alarming. What was shocking decades ago may be viewed quite differently today. |
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On January 26, leave your passport at home and travel the world through the eyes of talented photographic artist, Alice Goldhagen. We will follow in her footsteps as she shows her stunning work in the Gallery of Light. Alice, whose home is in Coral Gables, has a unique style of observation and composition in her unforgettable photos. You may have visited the same locales as Alice, but you will know that she sees with an enlightened eye. Prepare yourself for wanderlust!
Watch out for Zoom link information for both events.
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Beth Or members are making a difference when buying on line from Smile.Amazon
Buying on line has really increased in recent months. Keep in mind that when you purchase items from Smile.Amazon and have identified Beth Or in Miami as your designated charity, you are helping Beth Or.
It costs you nothing, but has brought a few hundred dollars into Beth Or’s treasury. So, next time you reach for your Amazon app, make sure its set up for Smile.Amazon and you make Beth Or your charity of choice. It’s working!
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The following is our tributes list: |
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General Mitzvah Fund
Karen Steinberg Lewis, in honor of Amy Lomaskin and Tom Gammon for their wonderful
service honoring veterans
Annette Katz, in honor of Rhoni
Tannebaum’s beautiful cards
Ellen Garner, in honor of Rhoni
Tannebaum’s beautiful cards
Irene Elliott, in honor of Kathy Fisler, for her masks
Ossie and Harry Hanauer, in honor of Amy Lomaskin to thank her for an exceptional and fun
Chanukah night of Trivia
Vicki and Michael Henry, in honor of Rhoni
Tannebaum’s beautiful cards
Marti and Tom Gammon, in honor of
Bette Spector’s special birthday
Marilyn Traeger, in honor of Mel Tenen
Marilyn Traeger, in honor of Amy Lomaskin
Marilyn Traeger, in honor of Michael Henry
Marilyn Traeger, in honor of Annette Katz
Marilyn Traeger, in honor of Marcy Prince
for the benefit of the garden
Ilien and Keith Hechtman, in honor of Amy Lomaskin and the beautiful service she created in memory of
our dear friend Shirley Pollak
Rabbi's Discretionary Fund:
Linda Goodman
Marilyn Traeger
Yahrzeit Fund:
Phyllis Winnick, in memory of
her mother, Bernice Heiberger
Arlynn Segal-Owens, in memory of her parents,
Diane & Manny Segal
Marti and Tom Gammon, in memory of
Marti’s grandfather, Jack Fox
Gallery of Light Fund:
Leslie McKinley, in honor of the Gallery of Light
Diane Barkow and Dick Dorn, in honor of Marilyn Traeger and her Team of Visionaries for their incredible creativity and dedication. The Gallery of Light brings wonderful art experiences into our lives at a time when it is sorely needed.
Amy Lomaskin and Mel Tenen, in honor of Jen Berse for bringing Desiree Capote o the Gallery of Light. The Wynwood Walls were beautiful, dazzling and inviting.
Daffodil Project
(This is a complete list of everyone who is
participating in this important project)
Marcy Prince
Vicki Brail
Jeanne Covert
Mark & Enid Garber
Kathy Fisler
Pat Barron
Karen Steinberg Lewis
Mark & Mindy Kram
Vicki & Michael Henry
Sara Horowitz
Jen & Rob Berse
Linda & Shep Faber
Marilyn Traeger
Mollie Grad
Eva Bernstein
Phyllis Winnick
Amy Lomaskin
Andrea Loring
Marty Gammon
Nancy Kirsner
Rose Spector
Annette Katz
Ossie Hanauer
Diane Barkow
In honor of the
BethOr@Home Zoom:
Contributing to this fund honors people who are donating their time to provide a fuller spiritual experience for Beth Or
Memorial Plaques:
Permanently remember family members and events by purchasing a memorial plaque
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and view our calendar of upcoming events
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305.235.1419 email: bethormiami@aol.com |
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