ARTHUR AND LILLY BOOK READING with Lilly Maier

Monday, December 11th @ 7pm in the Sanctuary

What do a 75-year-old Los Angeles based rocket engineer and an eleven-year-old schoolgirl from Austria have in common? Lilly Maier, a historian and journalist, will be visiting TBE to share readings from her recently published book. It's the story of an American, Arthur Kern, revisiting his old apartment in Vienna and befriending 11-year-old Austrian girl Lilly, who lived there with her mother.  

In 1939, Arthur's Jewish parents sent their son abroad on a so-called Kindertransport ("children's transport"), hoping to save him from the Holocaust. The separation is a traumatic experience for the ten-year-old. Although he is rescued from Austria via France to the United States, he never sees his family again. Sixty-five years later, Arthur Kern meets Lilly, a decisive encounter for both of them, which shapes Lilly's life and leads to Arthur receiving a long-lost legacy from his parents. 

Lilly is finishing a PhD in Jewish Studies in Munich and completing a two-month book tour of synagogues and educational institutions across the US. Read more about Lilly and her research about women rescuers during the Holocaust here: https://lillymaier.wordpress.com/  Email with any questions to: adulted@tbeithaca.org. You may attend in person or via Zoom - Teens are invited and welcome. 

Registration is HERE

Join us for light refreshments down in the Social Hall, where you have the opportunity to purchase Lilly's book and speak with the author.  

2023-2024 Scholar-In-Residence Program #2 Renewal Judaism
December 15,16 with Hazzan Abbe Lyons

Renewal is an attitude, not a denomination, and offers tools to all branches of Judaism.
Jewish Renewal is a transdenominational approach to revitalizing Judaism.

Renewal combines the joy of Hasidism, the informed do-it-yourself spirit of the havurah movement, egalitarianism, and the accumulated wisdom of centuries of tradition.

• Renewal values deep ecumenism; in Hillel’s words, we learn from every person and spiritual tradition.
• Renewal creates innovative, accessible, and welcoming prayer experiences.
• Renewal shapes halacha (Jewish law) into a living way of walking in the world.
• Renewal seeks to deepen the ongoing, joyful, and fundamental connection, with a God who connects us  all, which is at the heart of Jewish practice.

Hazzan Abbe Lyons is dedicated to making Jewish music, learning, and practice both accessible and inspiring, in everyday life as well as at sacred times. She received s'micha as Hazzan in 2010 through ALEPH Ordination Programs.   She serves Hillel at Ithaca College and is on faculty at both Aleph Ordination Programs, and Davennen Leadership Training Institute.

Hazzan Lyons is a writer, musician, composer, and innovative liturgist whose published work includes Jewish Liturgy: A Guide For Everyone (2022), poetry and alternative social justice haftarot, and two albums of original music.  She co-founded the SpeakChorus Torah Project in 2010.  

To learn more about this special program and how to register, please click HERE

*We are looking for 4 – 10 individuals to work with Hazzan Abbe to prepare a “SpeakChorus Torah”presentation, in lieu of a traditional dvar Torah.  Participants will meet with Hazzan Abbe in advance, study the Torah Reading, and write a five minute dramatic  script, and present it to the congregation during the Torah Service.  (If you would like to participate please write to ritual@tbeithaca.org)

 Ann Erlich Art Reception

Please join us for the opening reception of Ann Erlich's artwork and help support Temple Beth-El!

Let us know you're joining us for the reception on Sunday December 17th 2-4 pm by RSVP'ing to secretary@tbeithaca.org or call (607) 273-5775 any time.

Many thanks to the Erlich Family for their generous support.

The Intersectionality of Antisemitism, Islamophobia and Racism

Register to watch the recording from November 16, 2023 HERE

Temple Beth-El launched an endowment campaign to secure the future of the congregation.  Every gift to this campaign, which will conclude in 2024, will be matched for the next four years so as to permanently sustain the amazing TBE community, school and activities associated with the temple.  In appreciation for their many years of leadership to our congregation, this campaign is named in honor of our beloved Rabbi Emeritus, Scott Glass together with his spouse, Sharon, who both gave tirelessly to our community throughout their 43 years of service to TBE. 

The campaign goal is $2M to be raised over 5 years with the goal, when fully funded (including the challenge match of $1.5M) to provide $100K in annual flow of funds in support of the temple, for operations, reserve funds, programming and as needed capital replacement expenses.  For further details, please reach out to the campaign committee chair HERE

Information on the Endowment Campaign can be found HERE.

• “My house will be called a house of prayer for all people” (Isaiah 56:7).  Read Temple Beth-El's statement on diversity and inclusion  HERE.
• A kidney transplant success story.
• We can always be reached via phone (607) 273-5775 and email at: secretary@tbeithaca.org