Hello Friends,
What a month it has been for Temple Beth Tikvah! What an honor it has been to be the president of TBT during these special Shehecheyanu moments.
Let’s start with our May 12th Shabbat service in our new sanctuary when we revealed the ark doors. We had set up for 100 people. Who could possibly have predicted that would not be enough? We scrambled to get more chairs and Gary Damiano rushed off to Stop and Shop to buy more food for the Oneg. As Taylor Swift says, “champagne problems.” The service filled me with memories that I will never forget. Seeing my son and so many of our incredible high school seniors honored in our new sanctuary brought tears to my eyes. Hearing Rabbi Offner on the bimah talking about the Interior Design Committee’s vision for the ark door three years ago filled me with gratitude. Having our Bat Mitzvah, Olivia Mervine-Schiff, help uncover our ark doors was beautiful, symbolic, and perfect. Then seeing those ark doors . . . the colors, the reflections, the Torah illuminated through the glass, the artistry . . . Shehecheyanu.
We had the opportunity to celebrate three B’nei Mitzvot in our new sanctuary this month. Mazel Tov to Simona Cottrill, Olivia Mervine-Schiff, and Joshua Glazer. Shehecheyanu.
We held our first annual meeting in our building in three years. We started that sacred meeting with a prayer, together singing Shehecheyanu.
We honored our Religious School teachers and had a special moment for Judy Pozzi who is retiring after 18 years of service at our Religious School. We are so grateful. Shehecheyanu.
Confirmation Shabbat celebrating our amazing teens. Shehecheyanu.
And finally, the greatest miracle of all . . . the birth of Rabbi Danny Moss and Rabbi Susan Landau Moss’s baby boy. On Friday July 28th, our congregation will have the opportunity to share in a blessing for our Rabbinic family. Shehecheyanu.
The literal translation of Shehecheyanu means “that we are alive.” As Jews we have a tradition of gratitude. We are thankful for all our blessings and that we are alive at this moment. As a community we have had a challenging three years. We had social isolation from COVID, we had clergy transitions, and we had what felt like a never-ending building renovation. I feel as if I am now at the top of the mountain seeing the holy land . . . and it is beautiful.
Praised are you G-d, ruler of the universe, for granting us life, for sustaining us, and for helping us to reach this day. Shehecheyanu.
Blessings,
Karen Goldberg