Temple Beth El of Boca Raton

Shabbat Message from Rabbi Ashira Boxman: “This past Wednesday night, we gathered here at our temple to observe this very holiday. Tisha B’Av, the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av, is traditionally considered the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. It is a day of fasting and mourning, when we read from the Book of Lamentations and remember the destruction of both Holy Temples in Jerusalem. Over time, other tragedies throughout Jewish history have also become associated with this day, making Tisha B’Av a time when we collectively mourn the pain, destruction, and loss our people have endured throughout generations.
Years later, as I learned more about this holiday, I began to question why it was not observed more broadly in Reform Jewish settings. Through that learning, I came to understand that while other tragedies throughout Jewish history may have coincided with the ninth of Av, it is the destruction of the Temples that really dominates the day’s rituals and liturgy. And the destruction of the Temple is not something that Reform Judaism has traditionally viewed with the same sense of sorrow. Reform theology does not generally look upon the end of Temple worship, or the dispersion of the Jewish people from the land of Israel, solely as catastrophes to be mourned. After all, we do not pray for a return to the Temple or to the system of sacrifices that once took place there.
However, in learning more about this holiday, I uncovered something deeper than just a yearning to return to Temple times or a mourning for the Holy Temple, something that, personally, I had a difficult time connecting to. I began to see Tisha B’Av as a day that represents the brokenness of the Jewish soul and a tearing of our collective peoplehood. It reminds us of just how fragile our culture, our religion, our peoplehood, and our land can be. It reminds us how quickly it can all be threatened, and how important it is for us to treasure it, nurture it, and hold onto it tightly.”

READ THE FULL MESSAGE on our blog: https://tbeboca.org/what-tisha-bav-still-teaches-us-shabbat-message-by-rabbi-ashira-boxman/

Shabbat Message from Rabbi Greg Weisman:
“This Shabbat marks the end of two weeks that I have spent at URJ Camp Coleman in North Georgia. It is a privilege each summer to come to camp to spend time with the kids from our synagogue who are campers, and in these two weeks I saw them learn and grow in meaningful ways. Along with them are counselors, members of the medical and wellness teams, camp’s Director of Jewish Life, and the temple’s Director of Jewish Living and Learning Emerita Robin Eisenberg, totaling over 40 members of the congregation who are here- an impressive number.
The number of Temple members at Camp Coleman is not the only impressive number I’m thinking about this week. As we begin our reading of the next and final book in our Torah, Deuteronomy, we learn of another impressive number. Moses begins his swan song and final reminder to the Israelites of their commitments and his expectations of them when they enter into the Land of Israel, saying to them:
‘God has multiplied you until you are today as numerous as the stars of the sky…May the God of your ancestors increase your numbers a thousandfold, and bless you as promised.’
As Moses prepares the Israelites to take possession of the Promised Land and learn to live without his leadership, he blesses them with a vision of prosperity and growth.”

READ THE FULL MESSAGE on our blog: https://tbeboca.org/blessings-in-the-stars-shabbat-message-by-rabbi-greg-weisman/

Our Jewish tradition is clear: “A ruler is not to be appointed unless the community is first consulted” (Babylonian Talmud Berachot 55a)

Primary Elections are on Tuesday, August 18 and the deadline to register is Monday, July 20!

The Protecting Democracy Social Justice Circle at Temple Beth El is working to ensure that every eligible member of the community has the chance to share their views and cast their vote. Learn more about how to check your voter registration status and how to get informed.

Find important dates, information and links for Palm Beach and Broward Counties at tbeboca.org/social-justice/vote

• Early Voting: August 8-16
• Primary Election Day: August 18
• Deadline for Voter Registration: October 5
• Early Voting: October 24-31
• General Election Day: November 3

💙 Join Our Team at Temple Beth El of Boca Raton!

We're seeking a Staff Accountant / AP / AR Specialist who is detail-oriented, organized, and enjoys working collaboratively. In this role, you'll help support the financial operations that make our vibrant synagogue community possible.

If you're ready to make an impact while doing meaningful work, we'd love to hear from you. Learn more and apply today—or share this opportunity with someone who may be the perfect fit!



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