FROM THE PRESIDENT
Joe Marx
Welcome back to all of our weary world travelers from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and throughout North and South America. No matter how distant the travels nor how exotic the locale, it always feels good to be home again. For those who stayed in St. Augustine for at least part of the summer, I hope you attended one of our three “lay led” services. Our Choir service was a musical extravaganza from beginning to end, and our Sisterhood and Men’s Club services were spiritual, meaningful and moving experiences. Thank you to all of those who made these Shabbat services possible.
Life Long Learning continued this summer with computer and digital camera instruction. These classes will be repeated in December in the evening. Please watch the Shofar for details. If you have a skill you’d like to share or a body of information you’d like to talk about, please see me or Phyllis Keiser to discuss and schedule the event.
In August, TBY committee chairs had their annual calendar meeting, wherein the Temple calendar was set for the year. Based on that meeting, the entire congregation can look forward to some fabulous, fun and educational events. Please try and attend as many as possible and be sure to bring your friends.
Even though the Temple building is in use many days during each month, there are still plenty of days which are open. If you know of a local group looking for space, please direct them to Phyllis Keiser. If they are willing to pay a rental fee, so much the better.
I look forward to seeing all of you at High Holiday Services. Andrea and I wish you all a year as sweet as honey. L’shana tova tika tevu.
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RITUAL
Jennie Vick
Getting ready for the High Holy Days were busy days indeed. Many of you helped and supported preparations for these holiest of days. I want to thank everyone who has helped me up to this point: Carol Gladstone--- I could have never done this without you; Mitch Bloch and Nancy Schachnovsky for your continuous support; Phyllis and Maury Keiser for all your help in setting up for our services. Please join me in welcoming Ileine Hoffman to the Ritual Committee. Thank you all for your willingness to help in all of these endeavors this year.
Thank you to everyone who sent in your High Holy Day Volunteer and Book of Remembrance forms by the requested August 10th deadline. Your promptness really made preparing for these services much easier. If you did not volunteer to participate in the services and still wish to do so, please give me a call as soon as possible. Also, I sent out the following email recently explaining what we intend to do if we have not heard from people who have been listed in the Book in past years. The email said: “If you did NOT return your form for the Remembrance Book, we have left the names that were previously listed in past books.” Please let me know immediately if you want to make any changes. Of course, it is never too late to send donations. Wow, so here we are… On your mark, get set, go.
See you all at the services.
Selichot:
Saturday evening, Sept. 4th
Educational program: 8:00 pm
Refreshments
Candlelight Service: 10:30 pm (approximately)
Erev Rosh HaShanah:
Wednesday, September 8th at 7:30 pm
Rosh HaShanah Day:
Thursday, September 9th
Children's Service: 9:30 am
Morning Service: 10:15
Tashlich at Treaty Park
Kol Nidre / Erev Yom Kippur:
Friday, September 17th at 7:30 pm
Yom Kippur Day:
Saturday, September 18th
Morning Service: 10:15 am
Children’s Service: 1:00 pm
Discussion with the Rabbi: 2:15 pm
Afternoon Service: 3:15 pm
Yizkor: 4:30 pm (approximately)
Neilah
Havdalah
Break-the-fast
We wish all of you a Healthy and Happy New Year.
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SHIR-U L’ADONAI
Carol Gladstone and Emily Brown
Just a few notes (no pun intended.) First, we are so proud of our men and women for the outstanding music during the Sisterhood and Men's Club services!
The choir continues to practice for High Holiday services and Art Heilweil continues to amuse and amaze us. Look for his performance on YouTube playing the accordion with one hand and the organ with the other, while "pedaling" with one foot. Most of us have trouble holding on to our music notebooks without dropping them! We love you Art. You are our hero.
--Carol
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YOUR TEMPLE FAMILY
Mitzvah Mob
Paul Greenfield
Thanks to Barbara Stafford, Jennie and Tom Vick, Marty and Shelly Cohen, and Terri Wallach for offering to drive for the Mitzvah Mob. We are seeking more volunteers so that more of our members can enjoy the beautiful feeling of doing a mitzvah. Call Paul Greenfield 823-1931 to volunteer your services.
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WAYS AND MEANS
 
Carol Gladstone & Shirley Rudnick
If you haven't bought your ENTERTAINMENT BOOK yet, you are missing out on BIG savings. It's packed full of coupons for restaurants, theater, retail stores, car rentals, fast food and more. It's only $25 and will pay for itself after one or two purchases. And it's valid until November 2011. Entertainment Books also make great holiday gifts. Remember, the more books we sell, the higher the profit margin for the Temple! If you would like one or more, just e-mail me.
Remember to put the CARD PARTY at Panama Hatties on your calendar. It's Wednesday, October 20th at 10 a.m. and tickets are $25.00. Great food – Great Fun – Great Prizes. Barbara Stafford will have tickets and details available soon.
When the Choir CD is ready, we'll announce the release date. At present I'm holding advanced reservations for about 80 people on a first run of 100 CD's. If you are not among that group but would like to have one or more, just e-mail me at grambini1@comcast.net.
We have been offered an opportunity to have a table, free of charge, at the St. Johns Flea Market two days a month (weekend). Andi Marx and I scoped out the Flea Market and because of the heavy foot traffic,we are willing to give it a try. If you have unwanted items of the knick-knack, book, CD, DVD and jewelry variety, please pack them in a box and save it for our test venture, which will be after the High Holidays. No clothing or linens please. If we feel that it is worthwhile venture, we'll solicit more items. If we opt not to continue, all items will be donated to Goodwill or Betty Griffin.
CALLING ALL DANCERS: In order to determine the feasibility of a really exciting event, please read over the question below and e-mail your response back to me. No phone calls, and no further questions please. Send only “Yes” responses. This does not commit you – I'm just testing the waters.
QUESTION: If you have chutzpa and like to dance, would you consider performing a dance routine with a professional dancer at a future TBY event? Five lessons/choreography would be provided to you free of charge and those would begin in October. More lessons will be needed to make sure each dance routine is perfected. These will be the provided to each dancer at the discounted rate of $45 per session.All dance styles are open.
That's it. As soon as I get responses I'll know whether we can proceed to the planning stage and then all details will be revealed.
More news after the High Holidays.
Carol
TREES FOR ISRAEL
We are enjoying huge success with our Trees for Israel . Every tree purchased is not only recognition of some significant event in your life or in the life of someone close to you but is also a Mitzvah for Israel and contributes to our Temple fundraising effort. Please use this very important program as a memorial to a friend or loved one or in celebration of a happy occasion for someone dear to you. Contact person is Toby Weintraub.
JUDAICA SHOP
Toby Weintraub
The Judaica Shop is available for all our congregants’ convenience. Please support it. We make every effort to stock items that will help make shopping for special gifts, especially Judaica, easier for you. Special orders can be filled upon request. We have access to excellent catalogs at very competitive prices. See Toby Weintraub during the Onegs or call her with any special request.
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BETWEEN THEE AND ME
Rabbi Mark Goldman
These were the days, My Friends. Times were simpler; the pace was slower, old-fashioned dial phones carried our voices locally, when “party lines” interrupted our flow. These days, we cross the globe with voicemail messages, with no visible telephone poles and wires to catch our communication drift. Even I have surrendered to the dazzling effects of an “i-phone!” We have become communication addicts, intoxicated by immediacy.
As the High Holy Days specified prayer messages summon our People to get in touch with God Almighty, we realize that we have never depended on any novel technology to call upon Deity! The lines have always been open and fluid. The Almighty Operator never had office hours nor more inexpensive time intervals welcoming our voices.
“Avinu Malkeinu, Sh’ma Koleinu: Our Father, Our King (Better translated: Our Celestial Parent, Our Guiding Force!).” We chant, sing, and plea during these Days of Awe. The melodies are familiarly clear and penetrating. “Sh’ma Koleinu: Hear our voices,” we earnestly pray and yearn! As we desire that our voices be heard and our voice messages answered from earthli
ngs, we profoundly hope (dare we expect?) that the Still Small Voice somewhere in cyberspace will respond soon, and in our time.
The High Holy Day time zone is now upon us, beckoning our best intentions. We are a People whose timeless commitment is to Hope against all odds. We are an amazing Faith Community, spiritual descendents of dreamers like Abraham and Moses, Esther and Ruth. So, dear family, “Hineini: Here we are,” opening the lines with the limitless power of our hearts and souls, waiting to be recharged!
Plugging in,
Rabbi Mark
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SISTERHOOD AND MEN'S CLUB ACTIVITIES:
SISTERHOOD
 
Bobbi Carman & Andi Marx
Thanks to the twenty-two members of the Sisterhood who worked to put together the service on August 6. And thanks to the Men’s Club for providing the Oneg.
Sisterhood members should be on the lookout for an Evite to the first Sisterhood gathering of the season. It will be a lunch/planning meeting on September 28. Lunch will be provided by Ned’s at $10/person. Upon receiving the Evite, please RSVP so we can get a count.
The kitchen cabinets and drawers have been reorganized. Please check the labels and put items back in the appropriate places. If any object needs replacing, contact Ileine Hoffman, our kitchen coordinator.
The Friday night Oneg sign-up process has been working nicely. Many of the dates have been filled, but there are still several spots open. Please contact Bobbi Carman. Liz Feldman will be calling those who have not yet responded to the email requests, and Dori Abell will be sending out the reminders.
If you have not contacted Andrea Marx for the Break-the-Fast, please do so and let her know what you will be bringing.
The first book of the fall Book Club is Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay. The meeting will be at the home of Carol Mandel, date to be announced. Look for the E-vite.
We are looking forward to a productive year.
 
MEN'S CLUB
Harvey Hoffman
The Men's Club Shabbat was a wonderful service. The blend of reading and music was enjoyed by all. The men's choir, under the direction of Lisa and accompanied by Art, was music to our ears.
I appreciated the effort put into this program by everyone. Thanks to the Sisterhood for a tasty and plentiful (as always) Oneg.
Remember guys, Men's Club poker is open to everyone and a fun get together the 3rd Thursday of each month. Elliot said that in August there were ten players when they played at Myron Mensh’s home. They had a lot of laughs and raised some money for the Men's Club. The next game will be at Elliot Stone’s on September 19th. If you would like details or to join in, please contact Joe Marx or Elliot Stone.
There is no meeting in September due to the High Holidays. Our next meeting will be October 14th, the second Thursday of the month. We plan to have a guest speaker and a deli supper.
A Happy and Healthy New Year to everyone.
Harvey Hoffman
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NEWS FROM YOUR COMMITTEES
MEMBERSHIP
Barbara Rogove
By the time you read this article, our membership fair Sunday, August 29th, will have taken place. Hopefully we will have entertained a number of new members. And hopefully a long list of new members will be included in the next Shofar.
We are looking forward to an exciting year and hope that you will call or email me with any potential new members for our Temple. If you know people who might be interested in joining us, please be sure to invite them to our High Holiday services. Then, introduce them to me or other another member of the membership committee.
I wish you all a Happy Healthy New Year!
RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
Joan Guglielmo
School days!!! Bruchim haba'im (welcome) to all our new and returning TBY Religious School kids! A great year, filled with learning and song and play is right around the corner. So many wonderful plans are underway. Ready to participate in a Congregational Learning Day—brought to us by our very own Dr. Meryl? Ready to have our wonderful Rabbi Mark come and teach us about Jewish values? Ready to go on a field trip? Or how about learning Hebrew, Jewish traditions and history, new songs, and Jewish games?
As the “new” Religious Director of Temple Bet Yam, I’d like to take a moment and express my excitement for all that’s being planned for our kids. And I’d like to thank all those who have led the school in the past. From meeting in each other’s homes to having our own beautiful sanctuary, our Religious School has been built, one child, one teacher, one director at a time during these past 17 years. It has taken—and does take—a village, or in this case, a congregation, to help our children develop a strong Jewish identity. I, and the TBY teaching staff and volunteers, look forward to bringing the strongest educational program available to our children. With guidance from Rabbi Mark we are able to ensure our program meets the highest standards. With programming from our very own Religious Educational Consultant (our one and only Dr. Meryl), we continue to have both our children and parents take an active role in Jewish development. And with the knowledge and care of our teaching staff, we know our children are learning in a structured and loving environment.
I am an avid believer in L’Dor V’dor (from one generation to another), so please consider coming in to our school and reading our children a story or teaching them a craft or song. Our children need your knowledge, your love and your support. Please feel free to contact me at 904-325-3554 with any ideas you may have.
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SOCIAL JUSTICE
Art Rogove
Temple Garden
Our Temple garden has been harvested multiple times and we are now getting ready to prepare the site for the Fall plantings. Chuck Riffenberg, our Flagler student, and Bill Hamilton from Southern Horticulture, and I will be meeting to consider re-leveling the site for better esthetics and functionality, which will include a low cost drip irrigation system for greater efficiency. Our site will be prepared to better accommodate the future remembrance wall with a stronger, more level soil base. We will send a note out to all our Temple family inviting your participation in replanting the Garden. Joan Guglielmo and I will coordinate with our Hebrew school children to have them participate in the Garden planting and occasional maintenance.
  
High Holy Days Food Donations
We will again be collecting non-perishable food donations for our annual food drive to help those in need. The collection period is between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Last year, our congregants op
ened their hearts and pantries to help the St. John’s Food Bank of the Salvation Army, generously contributing 693 pounds of collected food. During Rosh Hashanah services, please pick up several of the Publix bags and take them with you. Due to our lack of storage space, please bring your filled bags on Yom Kippur. Let’s see if we can beat last year’s contribution level!
Interfaith Unity and Peace Festival – October 9th
On Saturday, October 9, 2010, Temple Bet Yam will participate in an Interfaith Unity and Peace Festival, which will be held at the Saint Augustine Beach Pier near the pavilion. Our Temple Bet Yam choir will be participating with other religious organization choirs to sing several songs together as a community chorus. The event supports activities relating to promoting greater community unity and peace initiatives. This event will start at 6:30 PM and we encourage all of our Temple family to attend this great event and support our Rabbi Mark and choir. Please bring your friends.
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