The current Board had its final meeting of 2017 this past Sunday. We had quite a lengthy agenda and, as always, significant conversation around the agenda items. While we have gotten a tremendous amount of work done this year, there is always more and we will leave the incoming Board with a “to-do” list so they can hit the ground running! I want to offer a heart-felt “Thank You!” to all the Board members that I have had the honor to work with this year – Howard Zeff, Buddy Bernstein, Marty Abroms, Michelle Bernstein, Nancy Opler and Jeff Schneider. I hope you, too, will thank each of them for the support they have provided our Temple family by serving in this capacity!
Date Set for Annual Congretional Meeting
The date has been set for our annual congregational meeting. It will be held on Sunday, Janauray 21 at 10:00am. As always, we will hold the meeting in the Temple sancuary and I hope that everyone will do their best to join us! We have a few items to vote on as a congregation and, of course, there will be a vote on the slate of officers for next year. Be sure your voice is heard!
Hannukah Celebration
Our annual Hannukah celebrations will be held the last night of Hannuka or Tuesday, December 19. Rabbi Nancy will be here to celebrate with us so it promises to be a beautiful event! I hope you will plan to join us, starting at 6:00pm that evening. Please bring a covered dish item as we will share a dinner following the service. In addition, please bring your menorah and candles to light during the service. And be prepared to eat some great latkes!
It’s NOT TOO LATE get your Temple Logoed Items in Time for Hannukah!
The first (monthly) shipment of logoed items will be mailed the end of this week. What that means is, if you place an order right away, you can get your items in time for Hannukah! It also means you don’t have to pay for shipping AND you don’t have to wait until next month to receive your items if you choose the “Local Pickup” option at checkout. Click this link and place your order today – it’s easy! www.florencetemple.org
Other Gift Options…
I recently discovered that the daughter of one of Temple families (the Bernsteins) has an online business that many of you might be interested in. The name of her business is SewSoStyle (Short for Sew Southern Style) and she provides a variety of appliqués that can be embroidery onto a variety of items (sweatshirts, towels, blankets, etc) and several of these are related to Hannukah! Here is her Website where you can learn more: www.etsy.com/shop/sewsostyle
Donations
As we approach year-end, and you consider making additional charitable donations, please remember our Temple! Celebrate a loved one, mark a simcha, commemorate a Yarhzeit or other lifecycle event in happiness or in sorrow, through a donation to Temple B’nai Israel. Also, please remember Temple B’nai Israel in your will and estate plans. Such donations are an important way to ensure that the Temple will continue to serve our Jewish community with weekly services, Torah study, Jewish programming and social events. The form for making donations is available on our Website or in paper format in the foyer at the Temple.
Service Schedule
The service schedule for December is:
- December 8 – Buddy Bernstein
- December15 – Ken Wolf
- December 19 (Tuesday) – Hannukah – Rabbi Nancy
- December 22 – Buddy Bernstein
- December 29 – Robert Adler
As always, congregants and members of the Shoals community, at large, are invited to attend the weekly Torah Study session which is held each Saturday morning at 9:30, at the Temple.
Reminder items:
- Hannukah Celebration – Tuesday, December 19, 6:00pm – bring your menorah and a covered dish to share
- Soup Kitchen – Saturday, December 16, please have donations at the Temple no later than 9:30am.
If you are aware of something in the community that you would like me to draw some attention to in my message, please let me know! And, as always, if you have any announcements you would like for me to share with our membership, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
I hope everyone has a wonderful week – enjoy the rain – and I look forward to seeing you on Friday!
Shalom!
Traci Welch
