WORKING TO PRESERVE JEWISH TRADITION
The mission of this congregation is to cultivate the tenets of Reform Judaism through prayer, worship, study, fellowship and good works. In pursuit of this, we commit ourselves to ongoing innovation, seeking new challenges and continually evaluating our progress and results while building and sustaining an environment necessary to realize our mission.
WELCOME RABBI BENJAMIN SHULL
EXCITING NEWS FROM TEMPLE B’NAI SHOLEM
Dear friends,
We are thrilled to report that Temple B’nai Sholem has engaged a part-time rabbi to lead us monthly on Shabbat and for the High Holidays. Rabbi Benjamin Shull will begin on Friday evening, March 3, 2023. We hope you will be there to welcome him as he leads us in Shabbat services. Usually, we will also have programming on Saturday led by Rabbi Shull, but we are not yet sure of the full schedule for his first visit. (In general, we will plan some combination of: Torah Study, Adult Education, Lunch ‘n Learn, discussion with children in our Religious School, or just general “schmoozing” in and around the temple to get to know each other.)
Rabbi Shull and his wife recently moved to the Wilmington, NC area from Florida to be closer to family in Raleigh. He has been a congregational rabbi for many years and has training and experience in social work. He will be working full-time as a chaplain in the Wilmington area but contacted us to see if we would be interested in having a part-time rabbi. We had been starting to think of that possibility, since we have been grappling with easing the load of our dedicated group of lay leaders. At the same time, our dear Rabbi Whiman and Cantorial Soloist, Sherry Cohen, who have been leading us in High Holiday Services for several years, informed us that they had the opportunity to lead another congregation, but hesitated to leave us without a rabbi.
So, when our Search Committee met Rabbi Shull — and was impressed with his manner, experience, and ideas — and when he indicated he would be available and interested in leading High Holiday services as well as Shabbat services, we felt this was “bashert” (i.e., “meant to be”).
I want to thank the Search Committee (Chair Irv Joffee, Howard Neviser, Maxine Weisman, Marsha Luhrs and Carla Byrnes) who helped enormously with this important task. The Board of Directors unanimously approved their recommendation to engage Rabbi Shull through 2023.
Shalom,
Howard Neviser, President
SHABBAT SERVICES – CANCELLED THIS WEEK
Due to unforseen circumstances there will not be Shabbat services this week at the Temple. Regularly scheduled Shabbat services wiill resume next week on December 15 at 7:00 pm.
Instead everyone is invited to celebrate Shabbat and Chanukkah with us at the Live Windows display at Surf, Wind and Fire, 230 Middle Street.
Please continue to check the Shofar each week for the current schedule as services will take place at 7:30 p.m. on the weeks when Rabbi Shull is here. Services will take place at 7:00 p.m. on the other weeks when the Rabbi is not here.
We invite you to join us. For information about joining our Zoom service or any other Temple functions please call the Temple at 252-638-4545 or contact us via this website. After speaking with you we will be happy to send you a link to a Zoom service.
NEWS – See Our New Temple Brochure
CHANUKKAH BEGINS DECEMBER 7
CANDLE LIGHTING AT UNION POINT PARK – The Temple will have a menorah at Union Point Park and we will light the first light at 5:30 pm on Thursday, December 7. New Bern’s Mayor Odham will be present. Please click here for more information
CHANUKKAH PARTY – Temple Bnai Sholem will hold its annual Chanukkah party on Sunday, December 10, from 12 noon to 3 pm at the gymnasium of the First Presbyterian Church. The gym is located at 508 Middle Street right across the street from the Temple. Please click here for more information.
LIVE WINDOWS – Temple B’nai Sholem will be doing Live Windows again in New Bern. Live Windows will take place in New Bern on Friday evening, December 8, starting at 6:00 pm. Our window will be at Surf, Wind and Fire at 230 Middle Street.
INTERVIEW WITH RABBI SHULL – Rabbi Shull was interviewed by Bill Hand for New Bern Live. Click here to read the article about Israel and the war with Hamas.
5784 IS OFF TO A GREAT START!
The new year is off to a great start. The year 5784 began with wonderfully warm Rosh Hashanah services in our Temple. This the first time in many years that we have had a Rabbi to be with our congregation all year long and not only to lead High Holiday services. The services were led by Rabbi Benjamin Shull, who has been with us now each month since March. This helped to enhance the mood of the holiday and made the Temple feel even more like home.
The services were further enhanced by talented people in our Temple family. Steve Rosen, a concert violist, opened up services on Rosh Hashanah by playing Bloch’s “From Jewish Life” on the viola. On Yom Kippur he played Bloch’s Kol Nidrei. Melodie Salley is studying to be a cantor and sang as a vocalist. Joanne Friedman accompanied Melodie in several songs on her guitar. After each of the Rosh Hashanah services there was a delicious spread provided by Jody Sherman and Maxine Weisman. Everyone agreed that the warmth of the Temple and the warmth of the community made this feel like a true holiday.
The holiday services were well attended. This year we welcomed many new members and friends. It was a time for friends to celebrate the New Year together, a time for people who participate only occasionally to renew ties with old friends and with their community, and it was a time to meet new people and make new friends. It was encouraging to see new faces, new families and new children entering into our Temple family.
We wish everyone a sweet, prosperous, and healthy New Year.
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