Children's Play Space in the TBE Library
08/29/2024 09:44:14 AM
The TBE library, located next to the Weinstein Community Court, will have a small supply of toys available for supervised quiet playtime during worship. Please put toys and games away when you finish, keep the library clean, and note that food and drink is not allowed. To check out books, please see instructions on the library desk.
TBE Sisterhood and Men’s Club Make a Difference at the Arboretum
08/28/2024 03:14:31 PM
TBE Sisterhood's Mitzvah Day event on April 14 was a resounding success! Together with the Men’s Club, we dedicated our time to beautifying the UW Arboretum. By removing eight bags of invasive species from the Cedar Buffer area, we made a significant contribution to preserving this cherished natural space, while demonstrating the value of shmirat ha’adamah, taking care of the Earth. This collaborative effort not only enhanced the arboretum’s ecosystem but also fostered a strong sense of community and shared purpose. What a wonderful way to bring our two groups together for a shared purpose!
Two Binding Constitutional Amendments on the August 13 Ballot
07/16/2024 05:16:57 PM
The TBE Civic Engagement Action Team is working to ensure that every voice is heard in our democracy. This summer and fall we have a variety of nonpartisan activities to register voters and get out the vote for the August 13 and November 5 elections. Even if you will be on vacation, make a plan to vote in the August 13 election, since there are important primaries and binding constitutional amendments on that ballot.
The binding constitutional amendments on the August 13 ballot will be:
Question 1: “Delegation of appropriation power. Shall section 35 (1) of article IV of the constitution be created to provide that the legislature may not delegate its sole power to determine how moneys shall be appropriated?”
Question 2: “Allocation of federal moneys. Shall section 35 (2) of article IV of the constitution be created to prohibit the governor from allocating any federal moneys the governor accepts on behalf of the state without the approval of the legislature by joint resolution or as provided by legislative rule?”
➕A "yes" vote on these two measures would mean that legislative approval is required before the governor can spend any federal money appropriated to the state. Proponents favor shifting control of federal funding from the governor to the legislature.
➕A "no" vote would allow the governor to continue to accept and allocate federal funds without seeking legislative approval. Opponents believe the proposed amendments would reduce and delay the use of federal funds to help citizens, especially in times of emergency.
What can you do to increase voter turnout?
- Vote on August 13 and November 5. Go to myvote.wi.gov to register, change your address, or request an absentee ballot. Email slevy51@gmail.com if you need assistance.
- Help others register to vote. Our TBE goal is to register 100 new voters by November. TBE volunteers will register UW students as they pick up their bus passes and at the Division of Motor Vehicles, farmer’s markets, and other places. Don’t worry if you haven’t done it before—the League of Women Voters provides a quick, online training and lots of support.
- Send postcards to get out the vote. We will have several “postcard parties” where we provide the postcards and mailing lists and you provide the personal touch and the camaraderie.
- Canvass door to door. Our TBE team will partner with the Wisconsin Interfaith Voter Engagement Campaign to provide information to voters in low-turnout wards.
Join us! Participation is easy: let us know you’re interested, and we’ll let you know about upcoming opportunities. For more information, contact Susan Levy (slevy51@gmail.com) or Marcia Vandercook (Marcia.Vandercook@gmail.com).
Year in Review 2023–24: Beit Tzedek —House of Justice
07/16/2024 04:23:04 PM
As a beit tzedek (house of justice), we put our values into meaningful action through social justice and advocacy.
Mitzvah Day in April was a major highlight of our year. In addition to service activities, the day included a luncheon honoring Rabbi Biatch’s commitment to social justice (see photos and details of our mitzvah day accomplishments here).
Programs organized by our social justice action teams included a dinner highlighting refugee chefs, a visit to the Black Holocaust Museum in Milwaukee, a book discussion and lecture on soil-related climate issues, and many fundraising initiatives for the community. Read more below about our pursuit of a better world.
Check out the other sections of our Year in Review 2023–24 to read about our worship, community events, and educational programming.
Immigration and Refugee Rights Action Team
Nearly 100 congregants and community members gathered to feast and learn at “Tables Across Borders,” organized by the Immigration and Refugee Rights Action Team and Jewish Social Services of Madison. This was part of a series of multicultural community dinners highlighting local chefs who are refugees or seeking asylum. Before dinner, we welcomed visitors to the sukkah and shared our traditions.
Racial Justice Action Team
The Racial Justice Action Team focused on education through travel, visiting the Milton House Museum Underground Railroad Station near Janesville, America's Black Holocaust Museum in Milwaukee, and a tandem tour of the Black Holocaust Museum and the Jewish Museum Milwaukee. We also hosted a presentation on planning a trip to the southern US landmarks that played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement.
Reproductive Rights and Civic Engagement Action Teams
The Reproductive Rights and Civic Engagement Action Teams hosted a postcard party encouraging Ohio voters to vote “yes” on an amendment to the Ohio state constitution protecting reproductive rights. We wrote more than 400 postcards as part of a unified effort by the national Reform movement. The amendment passed and we were pleased to play a small part in the success of this campaign.
Environment and Climate Change Action Team
The Environment and Climate Change Action Team and Torah Study hosted the second annual Joel Pedersen Memorial Lecture, exploring the connection between climate science and Jewish values. UW professor Jo Handelsman spoke about the importance of soil and the climate-related challenges we face as the earth’s soil erodes and degrades.
Social Action by the Numbers
How TBE members supported our community:
- High Holy Day Food Drive: Thanks to the generosity of our members, we were able to distribute $10,000 to Second Harvest Foodbank and $5,000 to seven smaller food programs. We also bought food for the Mitzvah Day cooking projects.
- Goodman Community Center Thanksgiving Basket Collection: Religious School students and families donated over 200 items for Thanksgiving dinners.
- Catholic Multicultural Center: 20 TBE volunteers served meals and cleaned up after a community dinner every month, serving 480 people over the year. Six volunteers also helped weed and harvest the garden that supplies the Catholic Multicultural Center’s food pantry.
- Healing House: 27 volunteers planned, bought, and cooked four weeks of dinners for people without permanent housing recovering from illness or surgery, a total of 224 meals.
- Nehemiah Center and F.O.S.T.E.R: In December, TBE members filled 105 shoeboxes full of gifts for children and adult clients who might not receive any other holiday gifts. In recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, members donated $1,500 for hygiene items and cleaning supplies.
- Jewish Social Services refugee resettlement program: Our volunteers helped set up 16 apartments with furniture and food, welcoming refugees from the Middle East, Central America, and West Africa. We hosted a gathering of TBE members who are mentoring or interested in mentoring new refugees through Jewish Social Services.
- Boys and Girls Club of Dane County: We arranged for five high school and college students from Boys & Girls Club and Centro Hispano to work at businesses and organizations with leaders from the Jewish community, funded by a grant from the Jewish Federation of Madison.
- Literacy Network: We arranged a tour to learn about Literacy Network’s free educational services to refugees, immigrants, and low-income community members.
- Trash Lab: The Environment and Climate Change Action Team arranged for the Dane County Trash Lab to visit TBE on Mitzvah Day.
Social justice education and advocacy in support of Jewish values:
- Our annual Social Action Shabbat was held on the weekend dedicated to the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Kaleem Caire, founder and CEO of One City Schools, spoke about how to prepare children to build a better world.
- This year’s Blockstein lecture was presented by the Wisconsin state refugee coordinator, Bojana Zorić Martinez, who spoke about her own experiences as a refugee from Bosnia.
- In July, the Environment and Climate Change Action Team combined a group bike ride around Lake Wingra with a short talk about how the Inflation Reduction Act can help individuals implement energy-efficiency measures.
Building community:
- The Social Action Committee held a potluck on the patio in August to welcome new members and held another in April to say goodbye and thank you to Rabbi Biatch and Rabbi Margulis.
- Social Action Committee co-chair Sherie Sondel received the first Rabbi Jonathan Biatch Tikkun Olam Award for her committee leadership and many acts of service to our community, including resettling refugees and fighting hunger.
- Betsy Abramson was honored with the Volunteer Lifetime Achievement Award at the TBE annual meeting in June 2023. Betsy has served many roles at TBE, including president, Mitzvah Day chair, developer of the children’s library, and leader of the first Leadership Development cohort.
- Rabbi Bonnie Margulis was honored by Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice for her 13 years as founder and director of the organization. Her work included worker rights, immigration, voting, anti-racism, LGBTQ+ rights, affordable housing, health equity, and building bridges among faiths.
Year in Review 2023–24: Beit Midrash—House of Study
07/16/2024 03:18:28 PM
As a beit midrash (house of study), TBE offers lifelong education in our excellent Religious and Hebrew School and Jewish experiences for all ages.
Throughout a busy 2023–24, we celebrated the b’nai mitzvah of 11 students, our Hebrew school classes were introduced to a new curriculum, the Swarsensky Memorial Weekend offered teachings from an inspiring Chicago rabbi, and our weekly Torah Study sessions explored texts beyond the Five Books. Read more below about how learning continues at TBE.
Check out the other sections of our Year in Review 2023–24 to read about our worship, community events, and social action activities.
Youth Education Committee
The Youth Education Committee collaborates with the director of lifelong learning and other TBE staff to provide an engaging and fulfilling Religious School experience for children at Temple. We help with Religious School and youth group programming and events, as well as provide policy support and feedback.
This year we introduced chugim (activities) to the Religious School schedule. Chugim included:
- Library, where Men’s Club volunteers read to our youngest learners and students can check out books to read at home.
- Rikud (Israeli Dance), which got everyone up and moving.
- Cooking, where our older students learned kitchen skills, Jewish and Israeli recipes, and Hebrew vocabulary all at the same time.
- Art, where students made beautiful Judaica.
- Chug Ivrit, where Hebrew came to life in project-based learning.
The Youth Education Committee sold snacks before and after Hebrew School this year, which funded the Hanukkah candles that all families received as a gift just before the holiday.
Security continues to be top of mind. We have updated security procedures and signage and are exploring additional improvements. We are grateful to the many volunteers who were greeters on Sunday mornings.
Our students began learning modern Hebrew this year as part of the curriculum. The students made great progress and we look forward to building on this program to create learners who are conversational in Hebrew by the time they finish their studies at TBE.
The MaTTY Pasta Dinner and Dessert Auction featured a “whodunit” mystery theme this year.
The Youth Education Committee hosts one Koffee Kibbitz per grade level each year at Café Panim to give grade-level parents/guardians time to get to know one another while their children are at Religious School.
MaTTY (9th–12th grade)
MaTTY has made considerable progress this year. We started off the year with 12 high schoolers attending our mini-golf event and ended the year with 16 attending our last Maccabiah event, which was planned entirely by the MaTTY board.
MaTTY is self-funded by the annual MaTTY Pasta Dinner and Dessert Auction. This year we raised over $2,000, which was divided up between the MaTTY Programming Fund and TBE’s scholarship fund for NFTY (Reform Jewish youth movement) activities. Here is the list of our events with the number of high school students attending each one:
- Mini-golf event: 12
- Hanukkah party: 12
- Bowling event: 14
- Maccabiah event: 16
MuTTY (6th–8th grade) and JEWniors (3rd–5th grade)
MuTTY and JEWniors had four combined Youth Day events this year immediately following Religious School. Attendance ranged from 10 to 25 participants.
Congregational Education Committee
Swarsensky Memorial Weekend
The 2023 Swarsensky Memorial Weekend scholar-in-residence was Rabbi Lizzi Heydemann of Mishkan Chicago. During three events over the weekend, she brought us (1) new and inspiring perspectives on the lighting of Shabbat candles, (2) a deep reading of the Torah portion Chayei Sarah (Life of Sarah), and (3) ideas and personal examples of ways to make Jewish community work for younger and diverse Jews. Many congregants expressed their gratitude for how her visit offered opportunities to think creatively about enriching relationships within our congregation.
My Jewish Journey
Over three Sundays in March 2024, we engaged in conversations to learn and share individual histories of members of the congregation.
- We heard from Orly Klugman and Arik Roginsky, both Israeli Americans.
- We heard from immigrants Irina and Yefim Shklyar (from Belarus), Rubi Hayam (from Turkey), and Marta Karlov (from Colombia).
- We heard from two Jews by choice: Todd Giesfeldt and Francesca Rodriquez.
- Recognizing that many of us were not born and raised in American Jewish families, we wanted to understand about the many pathways of nationality and culture that have contributed to our TBE community.
Right to left: Yefim and Irina Shklyar, Marta Karlov, Rubi Hayam, and moderator Charles Cohen.
Beyond the Five Books
For the third year, the Torah Study group in five of its regular Saturday morning sessions explored other readings from our sacred writings beyond the first five books, the Torah.
- The Book of Esther, led by Larry Kohn
- The Book of Joshua (1–8), led by Steve Olson
- Finding King David/The Book of Samuel, led by David Kopstein
- Proverbs, led by Steven Crade
- Images of the Matriarchs in the Torah, led by Alan Garfield
Year in Review 2023–24: Beit T'filah —House of Worship
07/16/2024 02:54:58 PM
As a beit t’filah, a house of worship, we explore and nurture our spiritual needs, inspired as we gather for worship and life-cycle events.
During the past year, we enjoyed a musical weekend filled with ruach (spirit) with guest Dan Nichols, hosted the community Purim carnival, told “Taylor’s Version” of the Esther story in our Purim shpiel, welcomed our Religious School students to lead us in prayers during our monthly Likrat Shabbat (Welcoming Shabbat) worship during the school year, and gathered for a variety of special Shabbat services.
Check out the other sections of our Year in Review 2023–24 to read about our community events, educational programming, and social justice activities.
Worship, Holidays, and Special Events
We started the 2023–24 programming year with Shabbat Across Madison, welcoming Shabbat with food and community outdoors in parks across the city on the first Fridays of June, July, August, and September 2023.
We welcomed over 350 people through our doors at times during the High Holy Days of 5784. We were thankful for ability to celebrate the new year together in person and online. We had wonderful weather for all of our Sukkot events, and a highlight was welcoming our newest members at our New Member Sukkah Schmooze.
We loved seeing our Religious School students lead us in prayers at Likrat Shabbat at the first Friday of each month when school was in session.
Thank you to our choir for leading us in song the second Friday of each month and our musicians for sharing their talents at Shabbat Midor Lador.
Our Membership Shabbat, Sisterhood Shabbat, Men’s Club Shabbat, and Shabbat dinner and program honoring our volunteers gave the community the opportunity to welcome Shabbat with speakers and music that fit the theme.
This year’s Taylor Swift–themed Purim shpiel was a showstopper!
Music Committee
The music committee resumed meeting on a regular basis this past year. We had not met regularly since well before COVID times. We now have a small (but mighty) group of committee members who meet monthly. This year we brought Dan Nichols to TBE for a weekend of worship and music. Unfortunately, a winter storm canceled the in-person Shabbat service in which Dan was involved; however, he participated in our online Shabbat worship and then performed a wonderful interactive concert on Saturday night as well as other gatherings with the TBE choir, young families, and song leaders. The Dan Nichols weekend was well attended and enthusiastically enjoyed, in spite of the weather. We are actively recruiting new members to our committee.
Year in Review 2023–24: Beit Knesset—House of Community
07/16/2024 09:30:18 AM
We value the connections we make when we gather as a beit knesset, a house of community, sharing Jewish activities, Temple involvement, and social connections.
Highlights in 2023–24 included a joyful Whole Latke Fun Hanukkah party for young families, dinner and breakfast gatherings for single seniors, an event to learn about Vietnam veterans’ experiences hosted by Sisterhood and Men’s Club, and our 57th annual Food-A-Rama for the entire community. Read more below about our programs and events for everyone!
Check out the other sections of our Year in Review 2023–24 to read about our worship, study, and social justice activities and accomplishments.
Families with Young Children
Our Families with Young Children group relies on parent participation and is geared toward kids in 2nd grade and under and their families. We love having multiple generations join us. We met about once a month, occasionally more. Thanks to Ellen Cecil-Lemkin, Alexander Lemkin, and Nick Nunez for co-chairing this year.
In partnership with our 4K Religious School class, families with young kids enjoyed songs with Cantor Jacob Niemi, crafts, a story, and snack at Tots and Tunes on six Sunday mornings during the school year.
We enjoyed a special Tot Shabbat with Musician in Residence Dan Nichols.
We made ourselves at home at TBE as we enjoyed a pizza dinner, Havdalah, and our glowstick dance party. This has become a favorite of our young families.
Our “A Whole Latke Fun” Hanukkah party was well attended: almost 150 people, from newborns to grandparents, joined in the festivities.
Singles Creating Community
Singles Creating Community brings together single seniors, age 65 or older, who meet twice monthly to enjoy a good meal and conversation together, once for breakfast and once for dinner. The morning “coffee klatch” is always on Fridays, and the dinners are usually on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. The December dinner is a New Year’s Eve potluck meal, celebrated at the home of a gracious host.
About 25 people have attended at least one of these gatherings, of which about 18 attend on a semi-regular basis. Most attendees are members of TBE, and about 5 people are unaffiliated or members of other congregations who have found us on the TBE website or heard about us from friends.
Men’s Club
The Men’s Club fosters healthy relationships among the men of TBE, guided by the principles and values of Reform Judaism, compatible with the vision of TBE and in support of its leadership and congregation. The vision of the Men’s Club is to create and sustain a vibrant and inclusive club membership engaged in social, religious, and educational activities. We currently have a membership of 104 men.
Our activities cover a wide scope from landscaping to reading to golf to speakers. Our Book Club meets monthly and alternates between fiction and nonfiction choices. Some of this year’s books included:
- "The Dutch House" by Ann Patchett
- "A World Without Soil: The Past, Present, and Precarious Future of the Earth Beneath Our Feet" by UW professor Jo Handelsman, who presented the 2024 Joel Pedersen Memorial Lecture
- "One Summer: America, 1927" by Bill Bryson
- "The Personal Librarian" by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
- "How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America" by Clint Smith
In summer 2023 we enjoyed our annual retreat at a pastoral site for reflection and discussion led by clergy.
In spring 2024, Men’s Club Shabbat carried on the energy Louis Swedarsky shared with his musicianship for Yismachu! We also gathered to spread mulch to beautify the Beit Olamim cemetery on Mineral Point Road.
The Men’s Club began a golf group that plays best ball at a local course. We also gather for card games several times a year at a member’s home.
Sisterhood
For the 57th annual Food-A-Rama in November, we welcomed people back into the dining room and the bakery for the first time since 2019!
We also enjoyed fun evening last fall learning to make kosher-style charcuterie boards to impress our guests!
Our joint event with Men’s Club in the spring focused on women veterans and Vietnam veterans from Wisconsin.
Interfaith Outreach and Education
Temple Beth El actively engages in interfaith relationships through our group visitation program. We share the beliefs and traditions of Judaism with visitors, while demonstrating our current practices.
We welcomed nearly 1,000 visitors from September to May, from many churches and schools throughout Wisconsin. Organizations interested in visiting Temple Beth El are welcome to contact the office at 608-238-3123.
Communications
The Communications Committee helps the congregation and community learn about all we do at TBE!
Staff and volunteers together produced in 2023–24:
- 5 Giving Spotlight emails, 4 Social Justice Spotlight emails plus a Mitzvah Day accomplishments email, and a new Sisterhood Spotlight
- 5 Bulletin issues
- Weekly Happenings emails every Wednesday
- 9 event publicity postcards
- Numerous quick-turnaround congregational emails responding to current events and TBE happenings
- LinkedIn page for TBE
- A Toast to Rabbi Biatch invitation and program
- Display of Rabbi Biatch’s social justice activities
- Publicity of the Endowment for Spiritual Leadership donation match in fall 2023
- Membership renewal brochure and emails
- High Holy Day communications, web page, program, and Book of Remembrance
- Facebook and Instagram posts
Notable accomplishments this year include editing and posting several new web pages:
• Visitor guide, in web and PDF versions
• Solar panels—check out the photos from the installation!
• Code of Ethical Conduct for members, a Union for Reform Judaism initiative
• Emergency procedures (member login required)
Behind the scenes, we helped edit grant applications for security funding, the rabbi search booklet, and the Caring Committee request and volunteer forms supporting the relaunch of that committee, in addition to all the planning and coordination that makes all this possible!
Sandy Goldberg Sustains Her Husband’s Legacy at TBE
07/15/2024 04:26:04 PM
We are grateful to Sandy Goldberg for her generous donation to the Yerusha Fund in memory of her husband, Howard (z''l), who recently passed away. When asked why she made this donation, Sandy noted that Howie had a deep understanding of the need for a congregation to have healthy endowments as he was the chairman of their Florida congregation’s endowment committee for seven years. Howie’s parents were founding members of TBE, and with these deep family ties to Temple Beth El, she felt it was “the right thing to do.”
As a lifelong resident of Madison, Howie was known and admired by many at Temple Beth El and throughout Madison. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School and clerked for a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice. He was a respected lawyer for over 50 years. Howie and Sandy, members of TBE for the 62 years they were married, have three children who attended our Religious School as they grew up. Howie served on the TBE board and advocated to others about the importance of being active in the Jewish community.
Thank you to Sandy Goldberg for this generous donation in memory of Howie. It is a wonderful way to continue his lifelong legacy to Temple Beth El.
Projections for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2024
07/15/2024 04:17:49 PM
Temple Beth El’s fiscal year ended on June 30, 2024. Final reporting on the past year will not be completed until late July. These projections about the current year’s budget and revenue have guided us as we set goals for the coming fiscal year:
- Membership contributions are projected to come in 4% higher than budgeted. Thank you for understanding the need for increased contributions.
- Memorial donations are projected to come in approximately 7% higher than budgeted. Thank you for honoring those we have lost with donations in their memory and for making donations in honor of both sad and joyful life occasions.
- Fundraising is projected to come in 3% lower than budgeted. The budgeted amount was based on obtaining more sponsors like Cress. If you know of a business that may be interested in sponsorship, please contact Stefanie Kushner at exec@tbemadison.org.
- Staff compensation is predicted to come in about 3% below budget. This is due to the variability in scheduling for some of our staff (such as facilities assistants and youth advisors), whose hours differed from what was budgeted. Our largest expense continues to be personnel.
- With all the wonderful events we have had this year, our program revenue is up over 20%. While our expenses for events are also higher than budgeted, they do not exceed our revenue.
- Our solar panels continue to save us money. We decreased our budgeted expense, and we will come in under budget from that amount. We are excited to see this cost savings, and we are pleased to be doing our part to help the environment.
- Our facilities team continues to maintain our building within the budget and plans necessary maintenance in the spring, once final numbers for spending on unplanned expenses are available.
Overall we are projecting a surplus in the operating budget. As was explained in the May Giving Spotlight, 25% of our revenue comes from our endowed funds. This surplus allows us to pay back funds used from our endowments. Specifically, the Larry Kohn Chair for Jewish Learning fund, the purpose of which is to provide high-quality Jewish education, funds the compensation for our director of lifelong learning. With this surplus we can pay back what we “borrowed” from this fund to keep the balance healthy and maintain a secure financial future for education at TBE.
Visa and Mastercard Changes to Debit Cards: New Procedures Affect Payment Options
07/12/2024 11:09:53 AM
When making a donation or paying any of your TBE billing statements, you are able to use either a debit or credit card and are assessed a 3% fee to offset the 3% that TBE is charged for this convenience. Visa and Mastercard recently changed their procedures so that we can no longer make this 3% charge automatic when a debit card is used. Now, it can only be assessed if you agree to accept the 3% charge. This is only for debit cards; credit card payments will continue to be assessed the 3% charge.
Because of this change from the debit card companies, TBE will change our procedures for using debit cards:
• You can continue to use a debit card for all donations under $50 and will be asked to confirm that you agree to pay the 3%. When you make these donations, we will ask you to agree to the 3% charge to offset the 3% TBE has to pay the debit card companies.
• You will no longer be able to use your debit card to pay for your membership contributions, school fees, or building fund donations. This is to prevent TBE from having to pay large fees that aren’t covered with members’ payments, since we can no longer be certain that we will recoup the 3% charge for these larger payments. If you would like to pay these charges from your checking account, we can help you set up payments as an electronic check directly from your checking account. There is only a 1% charge for these transactions.
• If you want to continue to use a debit card to pay for membership contributions and school fees, and agree to pay the 3% fee, you can set up automatic payments with Melissa Osborne. Any automatic payments that are currently set up with debit cards can remain as they are. This change is for any new payments or when setting up automatic payments for your 2025 membership contribution.
Again, this only affects debit cards. The policy for credit cards remains the same. We will remind all members of this change during the membership renewal period later this fall. If you have any questions about this new procedure, please contact Stefanie Kushner at exec@tbemadison.org.
Endowments Provide Stability and Support
05/07/2024 04:03:44 PM
Staff and leaders at TBE understand how fortunate we are to have healthy endowment funds helping to support our programs and services. This is even more apparent during this period of the budget cycle as we complete the budget for the next fiscal year, which starts on July 1.
We are grateful to those who came before us, and to current families, who have established and support funds that allow us to use interest and donations to help support the important work we do at TBE now and in the future.
Of the almost $1.5 million annual budget, about 25% of our expenses are paid for from our many funds. These funds include the Endowment for Spiritual Leadership, Yerusha Fund, and Larry Kohn Chair of Jewish Learning Fund.
The distributions we take from these funds represent a significant, long-term stream of income. In addition to membership contributions, donations to our funds are another form of revenue enabling us to continue to offer excellent programming, worship, education, and social action initiatives.
Thank You to the Family of Marj Tobias
05/07/2024 03:49:24 PM
The Tobias name has deep roots at Temple Beth El. Vivian and Joseph Tobias were founding members. Vivian was a Sisterhood president and Joseph was a TBE board president. Harry and Marjorie were both TBE board presidents, and Marjorie was a Sisterhood president. Their daughter Amy was a Sisterhood president (twice) and TBE board president and currently serves as Sisterhood treasurer and upcoming Food-A-Rama co-chair. Granddaughter Molly Fields continues the family TBE leadership tradition as Sisterhood’s vice president for programming.
In addition to their many contributions to TBE capital campaigns, Marjorie and Harry Tobias established the Tobias Jewish Programming Fund at Temple Beth El to support and ensure our engaging programming.
Marjorie and Harry were not only active and generous participants, but they were early TBE Dorot Society members. Dorot legacy members provide advance notification of their commitment to include TBE in their estate planning.
We recently received the Tobiases’ charitable bequest, directed to the Tobias Jewish Programming Fund, from Marjorie’s estate. With this gift, the Tobias family’s generosity will have long-lasting benefits to our congregation.
We are so grateful to the Tobias family and their continued dedication to Temple Beth El.
If you are interested in more information about Temple Beth El’s Dorot Society or other giving opportunities, please contact Executive Director Stefanie Kushner at exec@tbemadison.org.
Honoring Rabbi Biatch
05/07/2024 03:30:18 PM
This spring is filled with many ways to honor Rabbi Biatch for his dedication to our community.
In March we celebrated his passion for social justice work with a special lunch during Mitzvah Day. His legacy in social justice will continue with the Rabbi Jonathan Biatch Tikkun Olam Award. In this inaugural year, the award was presented to Sherie Sondel for her devotion to social justice work and recognizing her many years as co-chair of TBE’s Social Action Committee. This lunch was underwritten by many generous donors, including the Social Action Committee leadership. Thank you to all the donors who helped make this event affordable, allowing more than 160 attendees to enjoy the food of Afghan refugee Bakht Mohammad, owner of Afghan Kabul Cuisine. Thank you, too, to Roger Brown of Rocky Rococo Pizza for donating delicious pizza, which was a great addition to the lunch buffet.
We are looking forward to the Toast to Rabbi Biatch on May 19. This evening will be filled with delicious food and a special program highlighting our gratitude for all Rabbi Biatch has given to Temple Beth El. We are grateful to Jeff and Marv Levy for generously underwriting this event. Their generous donation made this an affordable event, and we quickly reached the maximum amount we can seat, with more than 200 people registered to attend! Thank you to all of you who contributed funds that enabled us to invite people important to Rabbi Biatch to be our guests, as well as helping TBE members to attend.
On June 14 we will honor Rabbi Biatch for the meaningful spiritual guidance and worship he has provided to all of us. The evening will start with a delicious Shabbat dinner. We thank Joanna Berke for generously underwriting this event so more people can attend.
Thank you to everyone who has provided financial support and to all who have contributed their time and energy to plan these wonderful events honoring Rabbi Biatch.
Solar Panel Update: March 2024
04/03/2024 08:32:18 AM
March 2024 was the best month by far, to date, for our solar panels. In 31 days, the 191 panels generated 9,200 kilowatt-hours (kWHr), saving $1,380 in energy expenses this month, calculated at $.15/kWHr.
On our single best day so far, March 28, 2024, our solar panels generated 531.42 kWHr for about $80 in savings. We hit our designed maximum production of 75 kW during midday. This one day exceeded production from the whole month of January, which was cloudy or snow covered, totaling only 446 kWHr.
In total, since going live on September 22, 2023, our solar panels generated 31,977 kWHr, just under $4,800, in the six months of the year with the shortest days. That’s already 12.6% of our annual electrical usage and 40% of our annual solar projection. In that time, we saved the equivalent of 105,500 electric vehicle car miles or 27,000 pounds of CO2.
For comparison, our original 12-month solar production goal was 31.5% of our electricity, for savings of $12,000 (out of $38,000) or 80,000 kWHr (out of 254,000 kWHr). Our solar panels are well on track to meet this goal!
Featured Volunteer Opportunities
04/01/2024 03:02:16 PM
Looking to volunteer? Need a b’nai mitzvah project? Here are ways to help people in our community.
Chevra Kadisha: Ordinary People Doing Holy Work
For over a century, a devoted group of Jewish Madisonians has cared for our community by preparing bodies for burial according to Jewish tradition. This group, called the Chevra Kadisha (sacred colleagues), has a pressing need for new volunteers to provide this critical service. If you think you may be able to help, please join us for a learning session on May 31 or June 2 at Beth Israel Center. To RSVP or express interest, contact Rabbi Renée Bauer (rabbi@jssmadison.org, 608-424-4033) or Kristin Geil (kristin@jssmadison.org).
Serve Supper at the Catholic Multicultural Center
Sign up for April 16, May 21, or June 18.
Cook Meals for Healing House
Sign up to drop off meals May 12 to 18.
Donate for Mitzvah Day
For Mitzvah Day on April 14 we are collecting items needed for Mitzvah Day projects. These donations can be left in the coatroom at Temple Beth El. Monetary donations to the Social Action Fund are also welcome to fund our Mitzvah Day projects. Donations can be made online or as part of Mitzvah Day registration.
Volunteer for Voting Rights
The TBE Civic Engagement Action Team is preparing for an active year in 2024! Our nonpartisan activities include registering voters together with the League of Women Voters, going door-to-door with the Wisconsin Interfaith Voter Engagement Coalition, and holding postcard parties in support of national issues suggested by the Union for Reform Judaism’s Religious Action Center. To get involved, please contact Sue Levy or Marcia Vandercook.
More Volunteer Opportunities
Please visit our Social Action web page for our ongoing volunteer opportunities.
MLK Fundraising Effort Helps Families Meet Basic Needs
04/01/2024 02:55:52 PM
A big shoutout to the more than 20 TBE members who donated to our fundraising effort in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January. Together, these generous members gave over $1,500 to help us support the Essentials Pantry provided by F.O.S.T.E.R. of Dane County and Nehemiah. The drive-through pantry provides kits of personal hygiene items and cleaning supplies to clients in need. Pantry director Ms. Jackie Hunt says that TBE's generous gift will enable them to purchase needed items that aren't otherwise donated, items their clients greatly appreciate.
TBE also partnered with this organization in December, providing over 100 shoeboxes of holiday gifts. Mazel tov to Temple Beth El, once again, for responding to the needs of partner organizations in addressing the most basic needs of our Madison area neighbors.
Leading with the Heart Is the Theme of the 2024 Blockstein Lecture
04/01/2024 02:44:37 PM
“Leading with the heart” is the approach this year’s Blockstein presenter, Bojana Zorić Martinez, has followed in her work with refugees. Bojana is the state refugee coordinator and director of refugee programs at the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. A refugee herself, having fled as a teenager with her family from war-torn Bosnia in 1995, she knows what it’s like to be torn away from everything you know and navigate a new culture, frightened and vulnerable, but determined to make a new life.
Speaking to a large audience on February 11, Bojana noted that the UN Commission on Human Rights estimates that there are 110 million displaced people in the world today, 40 million of whom are refugees, and half of whom are children. Shockingly, fewer than 1% of these displaced people get to resettle in a country like the U.S. She emphasized that this is why she is so passionate about making sure we resettle as many people as we can, by building our capacity and growing our programs. These include programs for migrants at the southern border, asylum-seeking migrants, migrants on humanitarian parole, and undocumented migrants. Many of these people have experienced the same kind of trauma as refugees but are not looked at the same way and are not able to receive the same benefits.
While in the past few years the U.S. has had increasing numbers of refugees and migrants due to the crisis in Afghanistan, the war in Ukraine, climate change, civil wars, and violence, this coming year a record number of refugees is expected due to the situations in Cuba and Haiti, among others.
Making this crisis even more challenging is the way refugee resettlement, once a bipartisan issue, has become politicized. In addition to misinformation, there has been the development of hate groups who are threatened by people who don’t look like them, don’t have the same religion, etc. Yet refugees are the most vetted group in the U.S., waiting two years or longer to receive permission to enter the country.
Asked what we as individuals can do, Bojana emphasized that it takes a village. Wisconsin has been a welcoming state due to the support of volunteers and the teams of people in agencies such as Jewish Social Services of Madison, Open Doors for Refugees, Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice, and the Office of New Americans. She urged us to keep volunteering, keep supporting local groups who provide services to refugees and immigrants, and continuing to voice our support for refugees and for immigration reform. After all, no one asks to be a refugee, but if we lead with our hearts, we can provide vulnerable people with a safe and welcoming home.
A World Without Soil
04/01/2024 02:04:46 PM
On February 25, the second Joel Pedersen Lecture in Tikkun Olam and the Environment featured author Jo Handelsman talking about her book, “A World Without Soil: The Past, Present, and Precarious Future of the Earth Beneath Our Feet” (view the recording).
Dr. Handelsman served as the associate director for science at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy for three years, and her book begins with her letter to President Obama, telling him that the pace of fertile soil loss in this country was an emerging crisis that threatened soil across the U.S., especially in the Midwest. President Obama also awarded her a presidential award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring. She now serves as the director of the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery at UW–Madison, and is a Vilas Research Professor and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor.
The lecture series honors Joel Pedersen, who passed away in June 2022 after a battle with brain cancer. Joel was a vital member of the Torah Study group and the Environment and Climate Change Action Team at TBE. Dr. Handelman’s father, Irv Handelsman, was also an active participant in the Torah Study group.
Before the lecture, a book discussion took place with members of these groups and the Men’s Club Book Group. To guide their book discussion, they used questions provided by the author, as well as mentions of soil in the Torah, beginning with Genesis 2: “The first human is made from the soil itself.”
One of the striking facts Dr. Handelsman shared is the USDA estimate that soil is eroding at about 5 tons per acre each year, while less than .5 tons is produced per acre per year. Over time, this erosion could mean fewer crops, more floods and droughts, loss of the most powerful water filter on Earth, loss of microbes that lead to life-saving medications, and waterways polluted by eroded soil.
Why is soil eroding? Reasons include plowing techniques, annual crops with small root systems, and a lack of cover crops to protect the soil. Thankfully, there are solutions, including “no-till” planting, planting cover crops to avoid bare soil and increase organic matter, and rotating plantings. Dr. Handelsman also stressed policy changes that can help, such as changing crop insurance policies to reward farmers who build soil health, developing a food label for “soil-safe food,” subsidizing the right foods at the national level, and more.
On the home front, we can all consider local solutions like composting our own food waste or using a composting service, asking farmers at the local markets about their soil practices, lobbying Madison officials to conduct municipal food composting—as Middleton is now doing— and planting trees and perennial plants that nourish the soil in our own yards.
More than 40 people attended Dr. Handelsman’s lecture, in person and online. The presentation was eye-opening for attendees, and they asked many insightful questions. We hope it will inspire all of us to take action.
Rabbi Jonathan Prosnit to Become Rabbi of Temple Beth El Starting in July 2024
03/19/2024 04:29:38 PM
We are pleased to welcome Rabbi Jonathan (Jon) Prosnit as the next rabbi of Temple Beth El, starting on July 1, 2024, as Rabbi Jonathan Biatch progresses to a rabbi emeritus role.
For the past 12 years, Rabbi Prosnit has been part of the rabbinical team at Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills, California. Originally from New York, he earned his bachelor's degree from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, and was ordained by the Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City. As a rabbinical student, he worked in East Liverpool, Ohio; Melbourne, Australia; The Village Temple in Manhattan; and Temple Micah in Washington, D.C.
Rabbi Prosnit is married to Erin Gleeson, who is an artist. They have two sons, Ezra and Max, and a daughter, Winnie.
Search committee co-chairs Niles Berman and Julia Katz commented, “In last year’s listening sessions and survey, the congregation told us what they were looking for in our next rabbi. That vision guided our diverse Search Committee at every step of the process. The traits the congregation identified as most important to them describe Rabbi Prosnit ‘to a T.’ We could not be more enthusiastic.”
Rabbi Prosnit said, “I am thrilled to be joining the community of Temple Beth El. It has been such a delight to feel the warm embrace of such a thoughtful, compassionate and welcoming community. Every person I’ve interacted with, from the outstanding professional staff to the strong lay leadership to the wonderful community members, has demonstrated a love and desire to bring the best of Jewish history, teachings and practices to life. My family and I are excited to be able to join Temple Beth El.”
Temple Beth El, the largest synagogue in Madison, Wisconsin, is affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), which represents the progressive tradition of Judaism. Founded in 1939, Temple Beth El offers a vibrant Jewish program encompassing religious, spiritual, social action, educational, and social activities, for nearly 600 member households. Rabbi Prosnit will be the fifth senior rabbi in the congregation’s history.
Rabbi Biatch’s Book Sale to Benefit Giller Library Fund
02/06/2024 12:27:52 PM
As Rabbi Jonathan Biatch goes through his office library, he wants to share some of his favorite titles with the community by offering them in a book sale. You're invited to come and browse the books in this donation-based sale. The book sale cart is typically located in the Weinstein Community Court.
All donations from the book sale will go to the Giller Library Fund for enhancements to our library-management system and for the purchase of new books. Enjoy this opportunity to add to your own library while helping TBE’s! Thank you, Rabbi Biatch.
A Wonderful Weekend with Dan Nichols
02/06/2024 12:09:29 PM
Dan Nichols was TBE’s artist-in-residence on January 12–13. He warmed our hearts and our souls over the course of a very snowy and cold weekend. We were so grateful for his flexibility in leading music with Cantor Jacob Niemi for our MLK Shabbat from an event room in his hotel, while we watched from the safety of our homes. Fortunately, we could join him in person on Saturday morning, as he got on the floor with our youngest members as they sang along and danced to his music. Later, he led over 100 of us in a beautiful and fun concert that followed Havdalah on Saturday night. His impact on our community will be remembered for a long time.
This event used a new flexible ticket pricing structure. The goal of this model was to encourage everyone to attend at a ticket level that was comfortable for them. Many TBE members chose to purchase at a higher level to help others attend. Thank you to all who attended and to those who donated an additional amount to the Music Fund to help support future TBE music programs.
We are so grateful to Madison Top for donating funds that helped support this special event for the community. Their generosity, in addition to funds from the Blotner Family Music Fund, the Cantor’s Discretionary Fund, and the Music Fund, made this wonderful weekend possible.
Rabbi Jonathan Biatch Fund to Help TBE Members in Need
02/06/2024 12:03:50 PM
Tim and Kathy Mazur, along with their daughter, Lauren, have been members of TBE since 2007. Their membership is due, in large part, to a special friendship. Rabbi Jonathan Biatch met the Mazurs through their children when they were all in school together. Through the years, Tim and Kathy became close friends with Rabbi Biatch and Rabbi Bonnie Margulis. Both rabbis had honors during Lauren’s wedding this summer.
Rabbi Biatch and the Mazurs share a passion for helping those in need. That is why Tim and Kathy established the Rabbi Jonathan Biatch Endowment Fund, which will help Temple Beth El members needing assistance. It is a fitting tribute to Rabbi Biatch that will continue his dedication to ensuring the well-being of the TBE community.
Thank you, Tim and Kathy Mazur, for this wonderful legacy to Rabbi Biatch.
Photo by Loan Dang | loveineverymoment.com
A Strong Commitment to Our Spiritual Leadership
02/06/2024 11:56:39 AM
In July 2023, we were fortunate to have a generous donor come forward to match $100,000 of donations and pledges made to the Endowment for Spiritual Leadership by December 31, 2023. I am proud to say that our community accepted the challenge and committed over $100,000, adding $200,000 to the fund in the last six months of the year.
Thank you to all who pledged and donated during this match period, including some members who contributed for a second time, wanting to be part of the match.
The Endowment for Spiritual Leadership total has reached $4,983,723. Now, we are just over $16,000 away from our first goal of $5 million. If you have not yet donated to the endowment, or if you’d like to make an additional contribution, please consider a gift that will help us reach this first goal.
Thank You for Your Annual Contributions for 2024!
02/06/2024 11:48:42 AM
I am so grateful to the more than 580 Temple Beth El households that have renewed their membership for 2024. This year, 65% of TBE households that renewed by January 1 increased their contribution from last year, with an average increase of 8% from those households that increased their contribution. Overall, the total increase in contributions from our entire community is 3%.
Thank you for the time and reflection you put into considering your financial commitment to TBE. Thank you, too, for understanding that membership contributions represent 75% of the total revenue used to run our programs and services, compensate staff, and keep the lights on in our building!
Black History Month Opportunities
01/26/2024 08:52:19 AM
February is Black History Month, an annual celebration of African Americans' achievements, with many opportunities to honor the central role of Black Americans throughout history and today. Temple Beth El’s Racial Justice Action Team suggests the following:
- Check out the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce and the Black Business Hub, scheduled to open soon.
- Extraordinary and innovative artists will be featured in “Restoring the Black Woman” at Madison College's Dzigbodi Akyea Art Exhibit on February 1, hosted by the Black Women’s Affinity Group at Madison College.
- Also at Madison College is a production of “The Meeting,” a 1987 play by Jeff Stetson that imagines a meeting between civil rights leaders Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. The Nobleman Theater Troupe is bringing the show to Madison College on Saturday, February 10.
- Most Madison public libraries are hosting movie nights that explore the African American experience. A list of books, events, and resources is located on the Madison Public Library website.
