Volume 70. No. 4. October 2025 | | |
•• A word from Rabbi Blumberg
•• Lifelong Learning Class with Rabbi
•• President's Message
•• A note from Cantor Wolff
•• Volunteer Opportunities
•••Services Schedule
•••Calendar
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•••Looking Ahead
•••Committees
•••Highlights
•••Lifecycles
•••Fundraising
•••Gifts to Temple Funds
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A word from Rabbi Blumberg
Marking Two Years Since October 7
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It is hard to believe that two years have passed since that Black Saturday of October 7, a Simchat Torah that should have been full of joy and instead was marred by brutality and bloodshed. For the families of the hostages still held in Gaza, these years have been like one long, unending day. For the soldiers who have been fighting to dismantle Hamas and bring the hostages home, they have been exhausting and exasperating. For the civilians of Gaza, these years have been tragic. We pray that with the recent peace plan put forth, our hostages will be home soon and the war will end, putting Israel and its neighbors on a path towards lasting peace.
With the second anniversary of October 7, the Tribe of Nova Foundation— founded to support those affected by the massacre at the Nova Festival— has brought an exhibition to Boston that “sets out to recreate a festival dedicated to peace and love.” The exhibit will be held at the Former FW Webb Building through October 21st; tickets are available here.
Our community will honor those whose lives were cut short on October 7 during our Simchat Torah morning service, which begins at 9am on Tuesday, October 14th. We hope you’ll join us in remembrance.
Sukkot, which we celebrate now, is called z'man simchateinu— the time of our rejoicing. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z”l taught that “A people that can walk through the valley of the shadow of death and still rejoice is a people that cannot be defeated by any force or any fear… A people whose capacity for joy cannot be destroyed is itself indestructible.” Even as we acknowledge the cruelty human beings can unleash on one another, may we never lose our capacity for joy.
Moadim l'simcha and zichronam livracha— may the memories of those murdered on October 7 forever be a blessing.
Rabbi Sam Blumberg
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LIFELONG LEARNING CLASS
with Rabbi Blumberg
“The Triumph of Life: A Narrative Theology of Judaism” by Rabbi Irving Greenberg on Sundays at 11:15 am October 19, November 9, December 7
This semester, we’ll explore themes in Rabbi Irving Greenberg’s exquisite new book that reflects his understanding of our connection with God in the world around us. Together we’ll read and discuss excerpts from Rabbi Greenberg’s book on topics such as chaos and order, God’s covenant with humanity, human dignity and life, and the relationship between particularism and universalism. No background knowledge necessary; purchase of the book is suggested but not required.
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President's Message
“May we be as full of mitzvot as the pomegranate is full of seeds.”
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Shanah Tovah! I hope that you have checked out the TBA Volunteer Signup List and the Religious School Volunteer List and decided how many Pomegranate Seeds you have to volunteer. Bookmark the links, we will update the list when we have new opportunities. I have been asked to share the Yad b’Yad – “Hand in Hand” blessing I shared in my remarks on Yom Kippur. I edited it slightly to be specific for Temple Beth Am.
Yad B’Yad … Hand in Hand
by Cynthia Roosth Wolf
Published in Women of Reform Judaism book – “Covenant of the Spirit”
People holding hands…
The hands of Sisterhood, of Brotherhood, of the Temple Board
The hands of our Clergy, or Family Members, of Friends
The hands of Adults and Children of all ages
The Caring hands of our Community
Together let us envision the many opportunities for Yad b’Yad … Hand in Hand
Of working together to do tikkun olam
Of working together to make the world a better place
People holding hands …
Hands that you feel and that you see
Hands that you feel but that you do not see
Hands that are missing but that are in the heart
On one side the invisible hands of G-D
On the other side the invisible hands of departed loved ones
Acknowledge we must that many hands have brought us to this moment
Acknowledge we must that many hands will take us forth from this moment
Guiding, leading, following us from success to success to success as we serve Temple Beth Am
Yad b’Yad … Hand in Hand
With our heart
With our soul
With our spirit
L’Shalom
Sharon Silverman, President
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A Note from Cantor Wolff
Simchat Torah and Consecration:
Renewing Torah and Celebrating our New Religious School Students
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In just a few short weeks, on Monday, October 13 at 6 PM, we will celebrate Simchat Torah, rejoicing in both the end and beginning of our yearly cycle of Torah readings, and Consecration, a celebration of our a new religious school students. Our community is so excited for this evening of joy and celebration of the bright future of Temple Beth Am!
Simchat Torah is the last of the “High Holidays”, and the last of the many Jewish holidays that occur in the month of Tishrei. This day, called Simchat Torah (שִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה), literally “the joy of Torah” both ends and begins our yearly cycle of Torah readings. In the same ceremony, we finish the book of Deuteronomy – telling the story of the Israelites finally arriving in the land of Israel, and of Moses’ death – and then begin the Torah again with the book of Genesis – telling the story of the 7 days of creation. I often asks students – what other books do we begin again, as soon as we finish them? It is a testament to the joy of Torah, at the core of Jewish practice, that we waste no time renewing our joy of Torah. It affirms an expansive view of “Torah”, understood not just as the 5 books of Moses and teachings derived from them, but as all of Jewish wisdom and practice. Perhaps you have heard the phrase “sharing your Torah,” the idea that each of us has a unique, holy perspective on Jewish wisdom and spirituality.
After we begin the book of Genesis, Jewish tradition teaches that we celebrate and dance with our Sifrei Torah (Torah scrolls). And so we will! With members of our TBA choir joining me to lead us in singing and dancing in our sanctuary, we will celebrate our love of Torah!
That very same evening, Monday, October 13 at 6 PM, we will welcome and bless our newest religious school students with a Consecration ceremony. Students and their families will join me and Rabbi Blumberg on the Bima, and we will share blessings for a bright and sweet future of Jewish living and learning for these young students. We will honor their families’ decision to educate them Jewishly, among the many demands on the time of young families.
Many synagogues celebrate Simchat Torah with Consecration. Just as Simchat Torah affirms the renewal of Jewish wisdom, with the end of the Torah leading inexorably to its beginning, so too does Consecration affirm a renewal of Jewish wisdom.
In the text of V’ahavta, an essential part of every Jewish service, taken from Deuteronomy 6:7, we are taught to “impress these teachings upon our children.” As our newest religious school students begin their Jewish education, their families pass on the importance of Jewish identity and Jewish practice, l’dor vaDor (לְדוֹר וָדוֹר), from generation to generation. Just as we renew our connection to Torah each year with Simchat Torah, we renew the future of Temple Beth Am, and indeed of the Jewish people, as we Consecrate the beginning of our students’ Jewish education. We hope to see you for Simchat Torah and Consecration! Chag Sameach (חַג שָׂמֵחַ)!
Cantor David Wolff
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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.
As TBA President Sharon Silverman mentioned on Yom Kippur, the Strategic Planning Committee introduced a QR code on the back of the High Holiday Tickets with a list of volunteer opportunities. The list of opportunities is updated on a regular basis, so please check back often.
If you haven't already done so, please click here to view the sign-up list.
Click here to view the sign-up list for 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 October 3, 2025 / 12 Tishri 5786
EREV SHABBAT SERVICE at 7:15 PM
Saturday October 4, 2025 / 12 Tishri 5786
Weekly Portion Ha'azinu Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52
Haftarah II Samuel 22:1-51
SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN AND TORAH STUDY at 9:00 AM
SUKKOT
Monday October 6, 2025 / 15 Tishri 5786
Erev Sukkot Decorating & Pizza Supper starting at 5:00pm
Reservations are necessary for pizza supper ($10 per family)
Erev Sukkot Service at 6:30pm (in the sukkah)
Friday October 10, 2025 / 19 Tishri 57856
EREV SHABBAT SERVICE at 7:15 PM
Saturday October 11, 2025 / 19 Tishri 5786
Weekly Portion Sukkot Exodus 33:12-34:26
Haftarah Ezekiel 38:18-39:16
SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN AND TORAH STUDY at 9:00 AM
SIMCHAT TOARH
Monday October 13, 2025 / 22 Tishri 5786
Simchat Torah Pizza Dinner at 5:00pm
Reservations are necessary ($10 per family)
Simchat Torah Service & Consecration of New Students at 6:00pm
Tuessday October 14, 2025 / 22 Tishri 5786
Simchat Torah Sh'mini Atzeret Yizkor Service at 9:00am
Friday October 17. 2025 / 26 Tishri 5786
EREV SHABBAT SERVICE at 7:15 PM
Saturday October 18, 2025 / 26 Tishri 5786
Weekly Portion Bereshit Genesis 1:1-6:8
Haftarah Isaiah 42:5-43:10
SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN AND TORAH STUDY at 9:00 AM
Friday October 24, 2025 / 3 Heshvan 5786
EREV SHABBAT SERVICE at 7:15 PM
TEAL AND PINK SHABBAT
Saturday October 25, 2025 / 3 Heshvan 5786
Weekly Portion Noach Genesis 6:9-11:32
Haftarah Isaiah 54:1-55:5
SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN AND TORAH STUDY at 9:00 AM
Friday October 31, 2025 / 10 Heshvan 5786
EREV SHABBAT SERVICE at 7:15 PM
Saturday November 1, 2025 / 10 Heshvan 5786
Weekly Portion Lech Lecha Genesis 12:1-17:27
Haftarah Isaiah 40:27-41:6
SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN AND TORAH STUDY at 9:00 AM
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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.
| | | Sisterhood Dinner & Mah Jongg in the Sukkah
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO | Wednesday October 8 at 6:30 PM | | Brotherhood Breakfast
featuring Dale Arnold, play by play announcer for many Boston Sports Team and 3-time Emmy winner
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO | Sunday October 19 at 9:00 AM | | Lifelong Learning Class with
Rabbi Blumberg
SEE RABBI'S ARTICLE | Sunday October 19 at 11:15 AM | | Lizkor Program with guest speaker
Dr. Alex Kor
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO | Monday October 20, 6:30 PM | | Organizational Meeting for Tikkun Olam at TBA
| Sunday October 26 from 9:30 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 fall we collect winter jackets for Coats for Kids and Anton Cleaners will professionally clean them before distributing to local families. 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.
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Lizkor
Temple Beth Am's Lizkor: To Remember mission is to hear from those who can speak directly about the impact of the Holocaust on their lives, honoring our past for future generations.
Our next program is planned for Monday, October 20 at 6:30 pm with author Dr. Alex Kor who will speak about his new book A Blessing, Not a Burden: My Parents' Remarkable Holocaust Story and My Fight to Keep Their Legacy Alive. Dr. Kor's mother (and her sister) were in Auschwitz and were victims of Dr. Mengle who used twins for horrific medical experiments.
| | 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. | | | |
Welcome back to another exciting year of Brotherhood.
Our breakfast speaker for our first breakfast of the season was Framingham’s own Eileen Davis, Vice President 211 and Katherine Provost, Mass 211 Housing Resources Supervisor.
Eileen explained the vital importance of the 211 system in the state to help residence and all that it offers to residence of the state. Mass211 offers free, confidential services through phone, web and app access for not only behavioral health services, financial assistance, childcare, housing and shelter assistance to name but a few.
About 75 members and guests joined the Brotherhood Board with our 40-foot buffet, including members of our temple board and Rabbi Blumberg.
We welcome you to join us as a guest for $15/breakfast or by becoming a member of Brotherhood for $100 for members 64 and under or a senior member of $75/year for those 65 and older.
Membership is open to TBA members and non-members and all new TBA members receive their first year of membership for free in their first year of membership at the temple.
Steven J. Schneider
TBA Brotherhood 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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Temple Beth Am Sisterhood membership includes membership to Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) and its Northeast Chapter. WRJ supports the education of Cantors and Rabbis, URJ camps, the Religious Action Center, and social justice projects. Membership entitles you to participate in many cultural and educational events.
Click here for the WRJ Website
Click here for the WRJ event calendar.
Sign up here for the new Mighty Networks group for details on the WRJ Northeast District
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Sukkot and Sisterhood
by Merle Kushner, TBA Board Coordinator
Sukkot is the time of year when we gather in the harvest and gather in the Sukkah. Much is written about the symbolism, whether a type of person or part of the body, of the four plant species central to this beautiful festival. You may be like the etrog and have a lot of heart, like the lulav with a strong backbone, like the myrtle who is very observant, or the willow who is well-spoken. Or, just as we hold them together and shake them in several directions, you may embody more or less of each of these qualities at different times. Thankfully, our community is made up of people with a range of interests and skills.
What does this have to do with Sisterhood? Well, some prefer playing Mah Jongg to reading a book, or neither or both, some would like to see a comedy show, others a gallery opening, or neither or both, pickle ball or symphony, participate in a cooking demonstration or contest or attend a lecture by a Jewish scholar, prepare a meal for someone going through a difficult time or treat oneself to a dinner out.
Some of us are gregarious, some are more introverted, some prefer working behind the scenes to socializing during events, some come from a traditional Jewish household and some practice a different faith and have a Jewish partner. If you haven’t given Sisterhood a try, please do; if you did in the past and didn’t try again, in the spirit of days of forgiveness and openness, give her another try.
There is room for all in our Sisterhood; together, within or outside our Sukkah, maybe not even the sky is the limit.
| | | TBA Sisterhood & Friends Book Club | | Below are the upcoming meeting dates and selections: | | | | |
Sunday, November 16, tentative time 9:30 AM, location TBD
Be Ready When the Luck Happens: A Memoir by Ina Garten
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January, 2026 (details TBD)
Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk
(advance notice due to book length)
| | To contact any of the committee leads, please log in to the ShulCloud member directory or contact the temple office. | |
Rosh Hashanah Children's Service
Children ages 3 through Grade 5 enjoyed services with the aid of our religious school faculty. They enjoyed watching the shofar blown by religious school student, Ben Fialkow.
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Tashlich Service
The Tashlich Service was held in the Gan Ha'Am at the conclusion of the 1st Day Rosh Hashanah Service. TBA provided bird seed for tossing as representation of casting off our sins.
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Yom Kippur Children's Service
Rebecca Plitt, TBA religious school student, read Torah at children's service on Yom Kippur.
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And God Saw It That It Was Good
D'var given by Barbara Marder at 2nd Day Rosh Hashanah Service with above painting she referenced.
When I became a Bat Torah, my adult Bat Mitzvah, a little over a year ago, I found the process enlightening as I struggled to find meaning in ancient liturgy. I emerged enriched from the experience and as a result volunteered to undergo this process again and share with you some thoughts about today’s Torah portion.
In preparation, I read the story of the Creation in Genesis several times. The first time I read it to familiarize myself with it. The second time I read it looking for what pops out the most. And that was clearly the phrase GOD SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD.
When God saw what was made, God saw a world that reflected God’s own nature—holy, intentional, and beautiful. Each time God says it’s good, it’s like an engineer testing a system and declaring: “Yes, this works perfectly.”
God must have had a vision of a world of not only beauty but a world functioning according to a divine design.
God saw beauty, harmony, and balance.
Creation was not chaotic, random, or mismatched—it was harmonious..
- Light and dark balanced.
- Land and sea separated and so forth.
CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING
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In Joy
WE WELCOME BACK
Debby Rosenblatt
1215 Centre Street #19
West Roxbury, MA 02132
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Matt Darcy and Traci Silver
41 Pincecrest Village
Hopkinton, MA 01748
Jason and Michelle Kessel
31 Clarks Hill Lane
Framingham, MA 01702
Scott Lubell and Diane Hirsch
10 Haven Way
Ashland, MA 01721
Jeffrey and Emily Goldshine
21 Pioneer Road
Framingham, MA 01701
Neal and Suzanne Sonnenberg
56 Knight Road Ext
Framingham, MA 01701
Jeffrey and Julie Green
5 Hickory Hill Lane
Framingham, MA 01702
In Memory
We record with deep sorrow the names of those who have passed
since our last Tebeam.
THE CONGREGATION MOURNS WITH
Sam and Lyn Cron on the loss of Sam's daughter, Robin Cron
Ellen Lipka, on the loss of her cousin, Ed Bloom
May their memories forever be a blessing.
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
| | | October 12, 1975 |
| Bill and Margie Bluestein | 50 years | | October 13, 1985 |
| Bob and Susan Ivancic | 40 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.
WALL OF HONOR
Our annual Wall of Honor campaign supports our vision of Dor V'Dor, from generation to generation, to develop the next generation of Jewish leadership, and to nourish the future of our community. A special service will honor 2025 contributors.
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 | | LLOYD MARTIN YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP 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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