Volume 70. No. 4. September 2025

Two years ago, a new section of the Mass Central Rail Trail opened, just a two-minute walk from my family’s home. For months, we watched with excitement as construction crews dismantled a long-unused, overgrown railway track filled with refuse and uneven terrain. It was paved over and transformed into a beautiful shared-use path for walkers, joggers, and cyclists.



Since it opened, I’ve been able to get out for a walk nearly every single day. It’s kept me, my family, and our dog (!) healthier—knowing that we can be outside, exercising and recharging, in no time at all. No obstacles. No excuses.

In the traditional Haftarah for Yom Kippur morning, God speaks through the prophet Isaiah to the Israelites returning from exile in Babylonia:

“Build up, build up, clear a road! Remove all obstacles from the road of My people!”

Physically, the verse refers to the construction of a literal road for those journeying back to the Land of Israel. But spiritually, the prophet is calling for something deeper. As the JPS Bible Commentary: Haftarot explains, Isaiah is alluding to “a path of inner renewal— leading from greed to a contrite spirit, and from duplicity and strife to compassion and justice.”

This is the kind of road we’re meant to clear during the High Holiday season: not just a path through the world, but one through our own hearts and minds. We are called to open up a path that will help us move beyond what’s been holding us back in our relationships with others and with the Divine.

The High Holidays "work" best when we enter them already warmed up to their themes of repentance, reflection, and renewal. That’s exactly the purpose of Elul, the month we’ve just begun: to help open us up to the possibility of change. To help us begin the work of clearing our own paths so that we can enter the New Year ready to bring our best selves forward.

As we look ahead to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, I encourage you to take some quiet time and ask yourself: What are the obstacles in my way? What do I need, in these coming weeks, to help me clear the road ahead and walk with greater purpose and clarity into the year to come?

I pray that this year will bring with it an open path: free of what holds us back, and full of what brings us closer to who we’re meant to be. May we walk it with compassion, justice, and community.

With early wishes for a sweet and free New Year— for us, for all Israel, and for the whole world,

Rabbi Sam Blumberg

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 September 14, October 19, November 9, December 7, January 11

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 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.

Dear Friends,

We often think of September marking the new year, whether it is the school calendar year or the Jewish New Year. But here at Temple Beth Am, the new year for our Leadership team and staff began in July with our fiscal year and a new Board of Trustees. While our meeting schedules slow down in the summer, there has been lots of activity as we ready for the coming year. Before filing last year’s calendar, I like to take time to reflect on the year past - the pages are filled with a wide-array of programs and activities, the holidays shared, the meetings attended and work of the many teams that make Temple Beth Am a vibrant, caring community. 

This year, we see lots of changes. First, a new leadership team – comprised of folks who have never served on the Board of Trustees, those who are in positions they held last year, those who have returned to the Board after an absence and those returning Board members serving in new positions. And I am so excited to see this change – it is exactly what our Strategic Planning Committee recommended – making room for new Board members while maintaining continuity to have a balance of new ideas and having the experience of our operations.

Change means that we thank the dedicated members who have served our community and have “retired” from the Board, including Howard Schwartz, Treasurer and Immediate Past President and Rachel Marsh, co-Membership, Marketing and Communication VP . We thank Judy Swartz, College Outreach, Dan Bendell, Technology and Grants, and Ellie Anbinder, Lizkor for their active role on last year’s Board as they continue with their committee work aligned to our new organizational structure. And we are grateful for Carol Hanover’s six years as TBA President and welcome her to the new role as Immediate Past President.

A key cornerstone of our Strategic Plan is the engagement of you, our members and friends, by providing volunteer opportunities that are scoped in size and duration to meet your interest and availability. Thank you to all who completed the TBA Volunteer Interest Form. Many of you have indicated what areas you are interested in participating; some have joined our committees and others have had information discussions on where they might like to participate. You asked for us to be more specific in sharing the volunteer opportunities – and the Strategic Planning Committee has done just that! Be on the lookout for a TBA Volunteer Checklist and sign up!

Going back to the New Year, again we often think of the Jewish New Year starting with Erev Rosh Hashanah. And by the calendar, you would be correct. However, the preceding month of Elul is a time of soul-searching and reflection to prepare oneself for the magnitude of the Days of Awe. It is during this time that we observe Selichot. In addition to the service, those in attendance are asked to assist in changing the torah covers to the special white covers designed for the High Holidays, a powerful community moment as we prepare for the High Holidays.

I hope to see you on Saturday, September 13 at 8:00 pm in person and on Zoom for Havdallah and Selichot Service. I look forward to greeting you during the Holidays and continuing the work of strengthen Temple Beth Am.

L’Shalom

Sharon Silverman, President

As the summer draws to a close, the foremost thought on the minds of many young families is of course, the beginning of the school year! Shortly after the beginning of the secular school year, religious school begins on Sunday, September 7! We are so excited to welcome new families to our religious school and our growing community. We have an exciting year in store for our young children and families.

As we have the last 2 years, we will offer concurrent children’s and adult High Holiday services on Rosh Hashana morning and Yom Kippur morning. We encourage all students from age 3 through 5^th grade (10-11 years old) to attend children’s services. Students in 6^th grade and up are encouraged to join our adult services.

Students in our children’s service will engage in fun learning, crafting, and games, and enjoy a snack together. Students will also have their own student-centered service, led by the amazing Sarah Gavin, including Torah readings, Avinu Malkeinu, a confessional, and many of the prayers we expect in our adult services. 

While children enjoy a fun, meaningful, and educational morning, we encourage all parents to join us for adult services in the sanctuary; there is something for everyone! We know that childcare can be difficult to arrange on a weekday; our intention is to make it as easy as possible for everyone in the community to join us for the High Holidays.

Children’s Rosh Hashana morning services take place Tuesday, September 23 from 10 am - 12:30 pm. People of all ages are invited to join us for a brief and meaningful Tashlich ceremony – casting off our mistakes – in the TBA garden following Rosh Hashana morning services.  

Children’s Yom Kippur services take place Thursday, October 2, also from 10 am – 12:30 pm. Please look for the children’s HH services sign-up sheet in your e-mail! And please invite your friends and neighbors with young children! With the purchase of adult tickets, children of visiting families are entitled to attend our children’s services.

As we end the Jewish year of 5785, a challenging year in so many ways, and enter this new year of 5786, we hope for sweetness, a year in which our families and communities can come together to learn and grow. In this season of self-reflection and learning, we hope that both children and adults have the opportunity to ask themselves some important questions.  “Where did I go astray this year? And how can I be the best version of myself?” For all of us, I pray for a sweet new year – l’shana tova um’tuka – לשנה טובה ומתקה.

Cantor Wolff

The Strategic Planning Committee is continuing to update our lists of open positions on the Board, as well as the list of committees, events, and programs that could use short term help.

As you know, Temple Beth Am is embarking on a new and improved organizational model, a model designed to be user friendly and inclusive to anyone interested in becoming (more) active in the TBA community. The success of this model depends on the involvement of our membership, in order for it to be as successful as it can possibly be. If you haven’t already, please take a few minutes periodically to see if there is a task, large or small, that may appeal to you. 

We look forward to expanding our volunteer base and to getting to know more of our members as we begin with our 2025-2026 Board of Trustees. We can’t wait to work with all of you!

With wishes for a wonderful High Holiday season,

Ellen Felcher

(For the Strategic Planning Committee)

Be a Part of Something Special for

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

As we are preparing to welcome you and your families for a sweet and meaningful year, we are also asking our TBA community to assist us.

•  Prepare and package Rosh Hashanah apple and honey bags.
•  Distribute Annual High Holiday Food Drive bags.
•  Prepare bags for Tashlich Ceremony in Gan Ha’am
•  Serve as Ushers for High Holiday services
•  Hand out prayer books and collect them at the end of services.
•  Serve as Greeters – welcome TBA members as they enter the Temple.
•  2^nd Day of Rosh Hashanah Community lead service – contact Wendy Schwartz directly, wendyaschwartz@gmail.com

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. If you are interested in any of the above tasks, please sign up here

Please contact the temple office for more information



Shanah Tovah U’Metukah—Wishing you a good and sweet New Year!

The Power of a Minyan

by Abby Wolf

My mother died in September 2024. Following a parent’s death, it is customary for a child to say Kaddish daily for 11 months after the burial. However, that wasn’t on my mind after she died. Going to Shabbat services each Friday night during shloshim (the first 30 days after burial) to say Kaddish for her felt right.

Then, four months later, in January 2025, my father died. A childhood memory of him leaving early for work every day and getting home late, for 11 months, to attend minyan at our synagogue came to me powerfully. Though not a regular temple-goer, he performed this ancient ritual out of respect for and connection with his father. I wanted to do the same. Accommodating the realities of modern life, I found an online minyan at a New York synagogue. I logged on every evening, Sunday through Thursday, to say his name and say Kaddish. At first it was just for him, but at the end of his shloshim, I began to say my mother’s name also, linking them in this daily ritual as they had been linked, always, in my life.

Nearly every Shabbat, I am at TBA for the Friday evening service —and the Saturday morning minyan, too. For my first several Saturdays in the temple library, I was surprised that I was usually the only recent mourner present. It was grief that had led me to get myself out of the house early on a Saturday morning, nothing else. I’ve since learned that other reasons bring out this small but mighty group, including a desire for Shabbat morning worship; a hunger for weekly Torah study and the generous teaching of Rabbi Blumberg and Rabbi Splansky; and a call to community. Often we aren’t technically a minyan, numbering just under 10, but what the minyan lacks in numbers it makes up for in dedication. As one of the newer “regulars,” I invite each of you to join this special group, even if only occasionally as your schedule allows it.

Long after moments of profound loss, grief surfaces unannounced and without regard for what it is interrupting. By many accounts, it is a mitzvah to provide support to mourners by making up a minyan. I’ve just marked the end of the 11-month mourning period for my mother, and my father’s 11 months will continue into December. I cannot say how powerful it is to have a community buoying me in my time of grief. What I have learned through these past months—and what I will continue to carry with me even when my own “active” mourning subsides—is that a minyan provides a unique space to manage grief daily and to learn to live with it. It is a gift that Judaism gives to each of us, and I am grateful for it. 

Friday Shabbat Services are in person and livestreamed on Zoom.

Check Temple Beth Am weekly email for any changes to the schedule.

Friday September 5, 2025 / 13 Elul 5785

PRE-NEG WINE AND CHEESE PRIOR TO SERVICES at 6:30 PM

EREV SHABBAT SERVICE at 7:15 PM

Saturday September 6, 2025 / 13 Elul 5785

Weekly Portion Ki Teitzei Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19

Haftarah Isaiah 54:1-10

SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN AND TORAH STUDY at 9:00 AM

Friday September 12, 2025 / 20 Elul 5785

EREV SHABBAT SERVICE at 7:15 PM

Saturday September 13, 2025 / 20 Elul 5785

Weekly Portion Ki Tavo Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8

Haftarah Isaiah 60:1-22

SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN AND TORAH STUDY at 9:00 AM

SELICHOT

Saturday September 13, 2025 / 21 Elul 5785

Havdallah and Selichot Service at 8:00 PM

Please see the rest of the High Holiday Schedule Below!

Friday September 19. 2025 / 27 Elul 5785

TOT SHABBAT SERVICE at 5:15 PM

EREV SHABBAT SERVICE at 7:15 PM

Saturday September 20, 2025 / 27 Elul 5785

Weekly Portion Nitzavim Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20

Haftarah Isaiah 61:10-63:9

SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN AND TORAH STUDY at 9:00 AM

Friday September 26, 2025 / 5 Tishri 5786

EREV SHABBAT SHUVAH SERVICE at 7:15 PM

Saturday September 27, 2025 / 5 Tishri 5786

SHABBAT SHUVAH

Weekly Portion Vayeilech Deuteronomy 31:1-30

Haftarah Hosea 14:2-10; Micah 7:18-20; Joel 2:15-17

SHABBAT MORNING MINYAN AND TORAH STUDY at 9:00 AM

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

Partial List of Upcoming TBA Events

Check TBA Weekly and our calendar on the TBA website for more details and updates.

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.

Brotherhood

TBA Brotherhood has a very exciting year of monthly breakfasts planned. Our first breakfast will be on September 14 at 9:00 am with guest speaker Eileen Davis, Vice President, Mass 211, the suicide prevention and assistance program.

Brotherhood membership is open to all TBA and non TBA members, and open to all faiths. Our monthly breakfast feature local celebrities, authors, sports figures, and politicians to name but a few that have welcomed our members and guests over the last 50 plus years.

Those attending the nine, monthly breakfasts dine on our delicious 40 plus foot buffet, serving the usual breakfast items, like bagels, 3 types of scrambled eggs, cream cheese, kugel, vegetables, white fish, fruits salad and muffins and a few of the more unusual breakfast items, like chicken wings, chopped liver and peach cobbler, all made by our seasoned volunteer kitchen crew!

TB Brotherhood Membership, including 9 breakfasts, is $100 and $75 for seniors. Those who wish to pay per breakfast, can join us as a guest for $15/breakfast.

TBA Brotherhood, besides being a source of a great monthly social activity, was created to support various TBA programs. Having been a part of TBA for over 50 years, we continue to support the temple, the religious school and the greater Framingham community both with our volunteer services and financially. 

We hope to see you on September 14 as we welcome Eileen and another great year of breakfasts and Brotherhood events! 

Steven J. Schneider

TBA Brotherhood President

Sisterhood

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

TBA-Sisterhood & Friends Book Club

Here are the upcoming meeting dates and selections:

Thank you to our meeting hosts! Please contact Merle Kushner boardcoordinator@tempbetham.org for further information

Supporting Young Readers

by Merle Kushner

The Greater Boston Jewish Coalition for Literacy trains and supports temple-affiliated and other community members to be literacy tutors in local elementary schools. The TBA Team is proud to have completed our third year, partnering with Charlotte Dunning Elementary School, with 6 tutors, a presence in almost every grade, and many enthusiastic and inquisitive young readers.

The needs of the students are the priority reflected in a range of volunteer experiences from one-to-one meetings, to facilitating small groups, to circulating in a specific classroom.

Sue Rakusin, reflected, “It’s been another wonderful year as a kindergarten volunteer at Dunning Elementary School! I enjoyed providing general support during centers. These small groups addressed reading readiness skills and gave me the opportunity to work with all of the children.”

“The weekly reading group with several second graders provided the space for children to develop not only as readers but also interpersonally as they listened to, took turns with and supported one another while discussing the texts and new words” noted Merle Kushner, TBA LiteracyTeam Leader.



Lisa Nasch shared, “I looked forward to my time every Wednesday with my two students, a 1st and a 4th grader. Their curiosity, kindness, and love of reading never ceased to amaze me. It was a joy to watch them grow and share in their excitement for learning."

Another returning volunteer, Carol Mamlok commented, “This was my third year working with 5th graders. I am always impressed with their energy, creativity and willingness to let me work with them. At the culmination of their poetry unit, they presented a binder of their original poems as a gift to me. I was deeply touched by this gift. I volunteer at Dunning to give back to the community, but I’m getting back so much more than I give!”

As we look ahead to the 2025-2026 school year, new volunteers who can make a commitment of one hour each week at the school are welcome, pending meeting with the school liaison and completing the GBJCL orientation. Ongoing support and training with seasoned professionals during monthly virtual meetings is available. Please contact boardcoordinator@tempbetham.org for more information and explore https://www.jcrcboston.org/our-program-areas/greater-boston-jewish-coalition-for-literacy/

Join a TBA Committee....

To contact any of the committee leads, please log in to the ShulCloud member directory or contact the temple office.

In Joy

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Dan and Rachel Berkowitz

56 Anne Marie Drive

Holliston, MA 01746

Alex and Jill Moheban

57 Chamberlain Street

Hopkinton, MA 01748

Doug and Jillian Kaplan

32 Derby Street

Framingham, MA 01701

Jared and Lynne Goldman

29 Perry Henderson Drive

Framingham, MA 01701

Aaron Rothberg & Katherine Kirby

2 Nicholas Road

Hopkinton, MA 01748

Alan and Merle Cohen

65 Carriage Hill Circle

Southborough, MA 01772

WE REJOICE WITH

Simms Pearl for receiving Honorable Mention as a Letter Writer of the Year from CAMERA (Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis).

Bill and Sue Habelow on the marriage of their son, Jason to Julie Harrison. The couple were married by Rabbi Blumberg in the Gan Ha'Am on August 6th. TBA members, Alex and Jill (Habelow) Moheban attended the ceremony of their brother.

Cynthia Roll on becoming a great grandmother for the 2nd time. Liza Jordan Roll was born on July 4, 2025

In Memory

We record with deep sorrow the names of those who have died since our last Tebeam. May their memory be for a blessing.

THE CONGREGATION MOURNS WITH

Allan and Natalye Alter on the loss of Natalye's mother, Laura Stein

Bill and Tracey Karger on the loss of Bill's father, Kenneth Karger

Lev and Luba Volfson on the loss of Lev's brother, Mikhail Volfson

Marshall and Nancy Brown on the loss of their son, Howard Brown

We mourn the loss of our friend and temple member,

Marion Wollmeringer

We send condolences to her family.

May her memory be for a blessing.

We mourn the loss of our friend and temple member,

Marcia Bachman

We send condolences to her family.

May her memory be for a blessing.

We mourn the loss of our friend and temple member,

Lisa Movitz

We send condolences to her husband Lou, daughters Brooke Guerra and Danielle Movitz and son-in-law Matt Guerra and her parents, Robert and Pat Friedman

May her memory be for a blessing.

SPECIAL ANNIVERSARIES

Special anniversaries in July, August and September (multiple of 5). Couples will be blessed at September 5th service at 7:15pm.

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 in 2025 will honor 2024 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.

Gifts to Temple Funds

RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND

CANTOR'S DISCRETIONARY FUND

MUSIC ENRICHMENT FUND

GAN HA'AM THE PEOPLE'S GARDEN

GENERAL FUND

LEVINE LIBRARY FUND

LLOYD MARTIN YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP FUND

MORRIS CHAPMAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND

PRAYERBOOK FUND

SANCTUARY FUND

Temple Beth Am / 300 Pleasant Street / Framingham, MA 01701

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