Volume 70. No. 4. December 2025 | | |
•• A word from Rabbi Blumberg
•• Lifelong Learning Class with Rabbi
•• President's Message
•• A word from Cantor Wolff
•• Wall of Honor Campaign
•• Volunteer Opportunities
•••Services Schedule
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•••Calendar
•••Looking Ahead
•••Committees
•••Highlights
•••Lifecycles
•••Fundraising
•••Gifts to Temple Funds
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A word from Rabbi Blumberg
SHINING BRIGHTLY, TOGETHER
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There’s nothing quite like the glow of the candles on the last night of Chanukah. Don’t get me wrong, nights one through seven are beautiful too! But seeing all eight Hanukkah candles giving their radiance— especially when several chanukiyot are lit together— is a sight to behold.
So too with people; we shine most brightly when we come together. There is power in numbers, and Jewish tradition recognizes it. It was once suggested to me that this is why the minyan— 10 Jewish people over the age of 13 coming together in prayer— is so significant in Judaism: God sees that a gaggle of people have gathered for a common purpose and pays that much more attention.
I’m thinking about the brilliance of the last night of Chanukah as I think about all we do together week by week, year by year, and the many times already in 5786 we’ve shone brightly together: at Shabbat services and evening programs, Lifelong Learning sessions and apple picking at Tougas Farm, conversations with interfaith families in our Lower School and a Shabbat hike, Tot Shabbat, and so much more!
And there are many more opportunities to shine brightly with our community, as we feel the glow of power in numbers: with our newly-launched Green Team and the revitalization of an Israel Committee, supporting our community by volunteering with the Caring Committee or joining our new B’nai Torah cohort. The sky is the limit for this holy community as each of us brings forward our unique attributes— the things that make us, us— and makes these attributes gleam in one another’s presence.
I look forward to a dazzling December that lifts our spirits, fills our cups, and brings forth the divine light inherent in each and every one of us. This December, as we celebrate the rededication of the Temple more than 2,000 years ago, may we, too, rededicate ourselves to Jewish tradition, community, and each another.
To light and to life,
– Rabbi Sam Blumberg
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President's Message
Hanukkah and Celebrations
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Have you started to make your holiday plans? For me it starts in the summer with our family calendaring meeting to ensure we lock in the dates that we will all gather – not as complicated as TBA calendar clearance but still a task we do to ensure we get some family time! My holiday boxes are ready to unpack and Hanukkah cookie decorating with my grandsons is scheduled for this weekend! And as part of my interfaith extended family, I am looking forward to all of our family traditions and glad that there is a little breathing room between Hanukkah and Christmas this year!
Here at TBA, we have also been preparing for Hanukkah with the Temple-wide Hanukkah Party scheduled for Sunday, December 14th from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm - lots of activities for our children, a taste of the first sufganiyot or latke of the season and of course sugar cookies. I am grateful to Josh Weiss, Michele Kessler and Jason Kessler who have volunteered to be the Planning Team coordinating the event and to all the volunteers who have signed up to support the Hanukkah Party. Also, thanks to Jenn Moshe and Jess King for planning the Holiday Shopping Spree and the many volunteer who signed up to help our children find the right gift!
Plan on joining us in person and on Zoom on Friday, December 19th for Erev Shabbat service which will include our communal Hanukkah candle lighting – don’t forget to bring your Hanukkiah! Also we are collecting diapers and food for A Place to Turn and JFS of MetroWest Lucy and Joe Press Food Pantry. A list of items needed can be found at tempbetham.org.
Wrapping up our 2025 holiday plans is the annual Sisterhood Christmas Dinner Project supporting local group homes. This mitzvah project is a wonderful opportunity for you and your family to bring some cheer to those who might be alone. Thank you to Wendy Schwartz for coordinationing - To signup to volunteer, please go to http://www.PerfectPotluck.com Coordinator Last Name: Schwartz Password: xmas
Speaking of TBA calendar clearance, we have a great problem to solve – we have many new programs being initiated which need to find a spot on the calendar, a zoom link and/or an available meeting space. This is a great problem to have, and we have been able to schedule them all - a Patriots Watch party, Mah Jong lessons, and new committees/interest groups being formed. Keep your ideas coming!
One of the first entries in my 2026 calendar is the Cantor’s Concert scheduled for Saturday, January 24th. Cantor Wolff will present a concert titled Poetry, Prayer, and Protest! Watch for more information for volunteer support and tickets – and of course we will have a special dessert reception that evening! It will be a great evening!
Wishing you all a Happy Hanukkah, festive family holiday celebrations, time to enjoy the early days of winter and a Happy and Healthy New Year.
L’Shalom
– Sharon Silverman
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A Word from Cantor Wolff
Spotlight on Jewish Music: The Chanukah Candle Blessing
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As the days grow shorter in New England and winter is upon us, we can look forward to the light, warmth, and gathering of friends, family, and community of Chanukah.
Chanukah holds something different for each of us. Having polled our religious school students, I can report that many children are most excited about receiving presents. But for many families, gathering around the Chanukiah to light the Chanukah candles and recite the Chanukah blessings holds a special place. I find that the special melody for the Chanukah candle-blessing is an essential part of being with loved ones for Chanukah.
Like much Jewish music, the origins of the Chanukah candle-blessing melody are somewhat confusing and murky. Because Chanukah is traditionally a holiday celebrated at home, and because Chanukah is a later addition to Jewish practice (Chanukah is not in the Torah!), there is no ancient, traditional melody for the Chanukah blessings.
The melody that most of us chant for this blessing appears to have been composed by Samuel and Israel Goldfarb in the early 20th century. The Goldfarbs were hugely important composers of Jewish music. Samuel Goldfarb, at one time called “the father of Jewish music,” grew up playing piano in Yiddish and Vaudeville Theaters in New York City. He composed many melodies that are sung by our community, and in synagogues and Jewish homes across the globe today. Samuel Goldfarb (along with his brother, Rabbi Israel Goldfarb) composed the melody for Shalom Aleichem that we often sing during Erev Shabbat services. In 1918, the brothers published a Jewish songbook entitled “The Jewish Songster” to wide acclaim, which included their most popular song of the day, “I Have a Little Dreidl,” as well as "Once There Was a Wicked, Wicked Man and Haman was his name…" Ultimately Samuel Goldfarb moved to Seattle where he became the musical director of Temple De Hirsch Sinai, one of the largest Reform synagogues in the pacific northwest.
His melody for the Chanukah candle-blessing is so beloved, that it is often misused as the Shabbat candle-blessing! The melody for the Shabbat candle-blessing that we use was also composed in the early 20th century, but by another important composer of Jewish music, Abraham. W. Binder.
You can hear the melody for the Chanukah candle-blessing (Samuel Goldfarb) by clicking this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y28Swixslg
And you can hear the melody for the Shabbat candle-blessing (Abraham Binder) by clicking this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqpKNij5JhI
Music has the power to bring us together and connect us to a lifetime of memories. When I chant the Chanukah candle-blessing, I am instantaneously drawn to past Chanukah celebrations, spent with loved ones in different places, at different times in my life. This Chanukah, may we all feel the warmth and light of the Chanukah candles, drawn together by the sweet, familiar melody of the Chanukah candle-blessing. And I hope that you will join us at TBA to celebrate Chanukah this month – at our all-ages Chanukah party on Sunday, Dec. 14 from 11AM -1PM, and at our joyous Chanukah Shabbat Hallelu service on Friday, Dec. 19 at 6:30 PM.
– Cantor David Wolff
| | Deadline to make your Wall of Honor donation is December 31st. The committee sent a letter to remind the community about Giving Tuesday on December 2nd. The temple received a very generous donation that exceeded the budgeted goal of $70,000. As of this writing, the Wall of Honor is at a total of $76,443 | | |
TBA Volunteers represent the heart of our temple. Your spirit, time, and commitment reflect what makes TBA an inclusive and welcoming place – truly House of the People.
ARE YOU SEARCHING FOR A SMALL TASK THAT WILL ENHANCE OUR SHABBAT EXPERIENCE AT TEMPLE BETH AM?
Join TBA's Usher Volunteers! The commitment is just once a month, giving you the opportunity to greet and welcome TBA members and guests attending services, assist guests with completing their name tag, and reset seats and books following services. This is a great way to reconnect with TBA friends and to meet our newer members.
Offer your help in any of these ways that will help enhance our Oneg Shabbat experience:
- Bake or bring a baked item to serve at the Oneg
- Come to TBA on Friday morning to help wrap the baked items
- Sponsor a Shabbat Oneg by making a contribution to cover Oneg expenses
- Set-up and preparation of the Social Hall for the Oneg
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Clean-up after the Oneg in the Social Hall
We would appreciate your help in performing one or more of these
tasks on the Shabbat(s) of your choice.
Our Friday night Technology Team needs volunteers to help with the Zoom of our Shabbat services. Bill Rabkin, our expert extraordinaire, is ready, waiting and excited to train anyone who is interested to perform this (and easy to learn) task.
The Technology team alternates Shabbat responsibilities so the more volunteers we have, the more flexibility in scheduling we have. Please consider helping Bill and his team with this important function— it is both fun and rewarding.
If you haven't already done so, please click here to view the TBA volunteer sign-up list.
Click here to view the volunteer sign-up list for TBA religious school families.
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Friday Shabbat Services are in person and livestreamed on Zoom.
Check Temple Beth Am weekly email for any changes to the schedule.
Friday December 5. 2025 / 16 Kislev 5786
Erev Shabbat Pizza Supper at 5:30pm
Erev Shabbat Service with Grades 5 & 6 participating at 6:30pm
Saturday December 6, 2025 / 16 Kislev 5786
SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN AND TORAH STUDY at 9:00 AM
Weekly Portion Vayishlach Genesis Genesis 32:4-36:43
Haftarah Obadiah 1:10-18, 1:21
Friday December 12, 2025 / 23 Kislev 5786
EREV SHABBAT & TORAH SERVICE at 7:15 PM
Saturday December 13, 2025 / 23 Kislev 5786
SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN AND TORAH STUDY at 9:00 AM
Weekly Portion Vayeshev Genesis 37:1-40:23
Haftarah Amos 2:6-3:2, 3:7-8
CHANUKAH
Sunday December 14, 2026 / 25 Kislev 5786
Light the 1st candle at sundown
Friday December 19. 2025 / 30 Kislev 5786
EREV SHABBAT HALL'LU SERVICE at 6:30 PM
Bring your Chanukiyot to light together as a community
Saturday December 20, 2025 / 30 Kislev 5786
ROSH HODESH TEVET
SHABBAT CHANUKAH
SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN AND TORAH STUDY at 9:00 AM
Weekly Portion Miketz Genesis 41:1-44:17
Haftarah Zechariah 2:14-4:7
Friday December 26, 2025 / 7 Tevet 5786
EREV SHABBAT SERVICE at 7:15 PM ZOOM ONLY
Saturday December 27, 2025 / 7 Tevet 5786
SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN AND TORAH STUDY at 9:00 AM
Weekly Portion Vayigash Genesis 44:18-47:27
Haftarah Ezekiel 37:15-28
Friday January 2, 2026 / 14 Tevet 5786
EREV SHABBAT SERVICE at 7:15 PM.
Saturday January 3, 2026 / 14 Tevet 5786
SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN AND TORAH STUDY at 9:00 AM
Weekly Portion Vayechi Genesis Genesis 47:28-50:26
Haftarah Hosea Amos 5:4-15
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Partial List of Upcoming TBA Events
Check TBA Weekly and our calendar on the TBA website for more details and updates.
| | | Shabbat Pizza Supper
Reservations are necessary $10 per family | Friday Dec. 5, 2025 at 5:30 PM | | Bereshit Program
| Sunday Dec. 7 at 9:00 AM | | Lifelong Learning Class with
Rabbi Blumberg
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO
| Sunday Dec. 7 at 11:15 AM | | TBA CHANUKAH PARTY
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO | Sunday Dec. 14 at 1:00 PM | | Brotherhood Breakfast
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO | Sunday Dec. 21 at 9:00 AM | | Sisterhood Cooks and Delivers Christmas Dinner to group homes
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO | Thursday Dec. 25 at 9:00 AM | | |
Tikkun Olam
TBA Members participate in on-going social action programs with local partners, including Jewish Family Services of MetroWest, The Advocates, and Hasting House. Each year TBA hosts the MetroWest MLK Day of Service for teens and families in conjunction with J-LOFT and Jewish Teen Initiative at CJP.
Contact TBA Office if you are interested in volunteering at any of the Tikkun Olam programs or making a financial contribution.
We are currently collecting jackets for Coats for Kids and Anton Cleaners will professionally clean them before distributing to local families. A box for the jackets is at the entrance of the religious school.
Additionally we are collecting diapers and food for A Place to Turn and JFS of MetroWest Lucy and Joe Press Food Pantry. More details on the items needed can be found at tempbetham.org
Tikkun Olam Conversations –
Seeking Representatives for the Immigrant Justice Council
Since the High Holidays, small groups of Temple members, new and longtime, young and old, have been gathering to discuss what we can do to repair the world, with individual efforts and as a spiritual community. Priorities that have emerged so far are around addressing food insecurity locally and becoming greener in our practices at the Temple. We are not only concerned about economic and environmental justice, but also immigrant justice.
In addition to the TBA Immigrant Support Committee which has been helping a family make Framingham their new home, there is an opportunity to represent TBA at the Jewish Alliance for Social Action’s Immigrant Justice Synagogue Council. The Council will meet every other month and the first meeting IN PERSON is scheduled for January 13th from 7-8:30pm at Temple Beth Elohim, 10 Bethel Road, Wellesley. If you are interested in joining this council, please RSVP to Merle Kushner by Wednesday, December 10th.
If you enjoy a hot drink at Onegs or Sunday breakfasts, why not “Save A Tree” and Bring Your Own Mug to use.
| | | | To join TBA Brotherhood: click here for the application. Brotherhood Membership is included for all parents with children in the religious school at no charge. For more information, contact Steve Schneider, Brotherhood President. | | | |
For the November breakfast, the TBA Brotherhood welcomed Nicole McGurin, Programs Director at the Alzheimer's Association MA/NH Chapter. Over 70 members and guests were introduced to the facts regarding this devastating disease that continually affects more and more Americans each year. The bottom line (for something that in one way or another affects so many people) is there is help out there and resources are available to assist those with Alzheimer or living with someone with the disease. If you missed this event, please tune into the TBA YouTube channel and watch the streaming version of Nicole's presentation.
Brotherhood continues to donate funds to our local charities. Annually we donate to the Framingham Police, Shop With a Cop Program, the Ashland and Pearl Street Food Panties and our neighbor at Jeff's Place, a local bereavement facility specifically for children, teens and young adults. Brotherhood is able to support these charities with funds we make from our 9 monthly breakfasts, supported by our guests and our members.
Brotherhood welcomes all new TBA members with a free year of membership and invited all board members to the first two breakfasts this year. We were honored that so many of our temple board members not only took advantage of the offer, but took the time and joined the Brotherhood this year.
We look forward to seeing you over the year, and hope you will join us!
Steven J. Schneider
President
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To join Sisterhood: click here for the application.
Events are open to all, those identifying as women, as Jews and as their allies. For more information, contact Sisterhood Co-President, Lyn Cron.
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All the leaves are brown and the skies are gray, (The Mamas and the Papas, September, 1966). We turned back the clocks, darkness comes early, days are shorter, and nights are colder. We located the shovels, car window scrapers and roof rakes, (remember when the phrase, "ice dams” became popular?) We are prepared for winter.
In addition to getting ready for the winter and the changing seasons, we look ahead to the anticipated joy of the holidays. We will sit down with family and friends who have become family, for a holiday meal. We’ll talk about being grateful and Lucy, our seven-year-old granddaughter, an only child and only young grandchild, will be in charge of the sharing order.
Sam and I are among the older grandparents, whose children waited to have children and so we look like Lucy’s great-grandparents. Lucy will sleep over and we know that any time with Lucy, is a gift and precious time. How lucky are we to have Lucy, at this stage of our lives, to witness her innocence, questions and personality development. Limited rules, a loving, fun, relaxed atmosphere, is all that’s required. Bake cookies, play with Barbies, make-believe with Lucy directing, and of course watch movies and have tablet time. As a tag-team, Sam and I will get to rest. The holidays will be here and bitter-sweet as they remind us of those no longer with us, those just passed, those sick and suffering and those who go without shelter or food.
Like the holidays, we look for comfort and warmth with people and Temple Beth Am has become that place for me. The Temple provides a setting to socialize, pray, learn and volunteer. I am thrilled to be a part of this and love learning about the Temple. It is very exciting that The Sisterhood is offering Mahjongg lessons this year, thanks to Victoria Felson and Traci Lander. Traci and other members are providing the lessons as well as offering help with transportation. This is something the Sisterhood has been talking about for a couple of years.
Additionally, Merle and I met with the district leader, Marsha Byrnes, Area Director in the Northeast District for the Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) and learned about “Mighty Network” offering virtual classes and webinars, such as Hearing the Voices of Biblical Women Through Midrash, Wednesdays, January 21-February 11 at 3pm EST with Rabbi Marla J. Feldman.
We are always trying to think of ways to bring more women into the Temple for events and to create more connections. If you have ideas, please let us know.
Lyn Cron
Co-President of Sisterhood
Next Sisterhood Meeting - December 10, 2025 - 7:15 - 8:45 PM
FUTURE EVENTS
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Monday, December 8 at 8:00 PM ET
WRJ is providing a virtual, Lilith Salon event,with featured guest, author and coach, Alexis Sclamberg to discuss her piece, Dear Yin: A Fertility Quest. An intimate look into her personal journey with fertility. Register at WRJ.org website, under events calendar.
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Sunday, December 14 11 AM-1 PM
TBA Hanukkah Party with support from Sisterhood.
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Sunday, December 18 7:00 - 8:30 PM
L’Chaim: A Toast to the Jewish Legacy of Broadway at Mechanics Hall, Worcester. Contact Sue Siegel if interested.
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December: Cook and Deliver Christmas Dinners to 4 area Group Homes. To signup to volunteer, please go to http://www.PerfectPotluck.com Coordinator Last Name: Schwartz Password: xmas
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January Book Club (Date TBD)
Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk
(advance notice due to book length)
- Mah Jongg Lessons at TBA: Feb 1 & 8, March 8 & 15 9:00-11:00 AM Contact Traci Lander for registration details. See flyer in TBA Weekly.
| | | TBA Sisterhood & Friends Book Club | | |
Upcoming meeting dates and selections:
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BONUS TUESDAY NIGHT meeting: January 6, 7:00 pm at Panera on Route 30
A few short pieces on Exile and Self-Exile
- SUNDAYS 9:30 am - @11:30 am
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January 25, at the home of Andrea Geller, Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk
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March 29, The Goddess of Warsaw by Lisa Barr
Thank you to our meeting hosts! Please contact Merle Kushner for further information and RSVPs.
| | | To contact any of the committee leads, please log in to the ShulCloud member directory or contact the temple office. | |
TBA Teens volunteer at Family Table
On November 9, six TBA teens volunteered at Family Table, an initiative of Jewish Family & Children’s Services in Waltham that work to end hunger in the Greater Boston Jewish community, while serving those who need their assistance regardless of religious affiliation. Our teens will volunteer monthly this year on Sundays, ending their time together with lunch before returning to TBA.
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Shabbat Hike at Nobscot Scout Reservation
On November 1 TBA Members and Friends joined with Rabbi Blumberg and Cantor Wolff to honor Shabbat and enjoy the beauty of Creation with a foiliage hike. The sun was out and the trees were beautiful. Rabbi and Cantor hope to have another nature walk and hike in the spring of 2026.
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In Memory
We record with deep sorrow the names of those who have passed
since our last Tebeam.
THE CONGREGATION MOURNS WITH
We Mourn the Loss of Our Friend and Temple Member
DAVID LAPPEN
Sincere Condolences to his children and grandchildren
May his memory forever be a blessing.
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We love celebrating life’s joyful moments together! If there's something special going on with you or your family, let us know so we can celebrate together as a community!
SPECIAL ANNIVERSARIES
Special anniversaries in October (multiple of 5). All anniversary couples celebrating an October, November or December wedding anniversary will be blessed at December 12th Shabbat service at 7:15 PM
| | | November 15, 2015 | Chris Amenita & Rachel Marsh | 10 years | | November 28, 1975 | William and Delanie Wise | 50 years | | | |
WEBSITE DONATION
Just a click away to access our donation page on TBA website
Please take advantage of this opportunity to acknowledge the memory or honor an accomplishment of a friend or a loved one.
TREE OF LIFE
The TREE OF LIFE mounted on the wall of the temple lobby is a favorite way for members to commemorate “simchas” and honor family members and friends. Your gift of leaves ($300) and stones ($1,000) will support continuing growth projects in the future. Pledge cards are available in the temple office.
SPONSOR FUTURE ONEGS
This is a great opportunity for your family to honor any type of special occasion or Kiddush. Sponsorship is a $100 donation.
| | RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND | | CANTOR'S DISCRETIONARY FUND | | DAVID MINDESS SCHOLARSHIP FUND | | GAN HA'AM THE PEOPLE'S GARDEN FUND | | LLOYD MARTIN YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP FUND | | RABBI EMERITUS GOOD WORKS FUND | | Temple Beth Am / 300 Pleasant Street / Framingham, MA 01701 | | | Temple office | 508-872-8300 | | Bookkeeper's Office | 508-872-8300, x106 | | E-mail | shalom@tempbetham.org | | Website | www.tempbetham.org | | School Office | 508-872-8312 | | Rabbi Sam Blumberg
Upper School Education Director | 508-872-8300 x102 | | Cantor David Wolff
Lower School Education Director | 508-872-8300 x121 | | Rabbi Donald M. Splansky Ph.D, D.D. | Rabbi Emeritus | | Cantor Jodi Schechtman z"l | Cantor Emerita | | Sharon Silverman | President | | Ellen Jagher | Office & Building Administrator; Tebeam Contributing Editor | | Mary Robinson | Bookkeeper | | Brianna Schneider | School Administrator | | Sarah Gavin | Youth Advisor | | Rob Levine | Tebeam Designer | | Rachel Lamont | Tebeam Contributing Editor | | | |
Tebeam is published 9 times annually by Temple Beth Am
Questions, comments, or ideas for TeBeAm?
Please email the temple office at shalom@tempbetham.org
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