Celebrating our Member Milestones: Freda and Jim Blair

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Celebrating our Member Milestones: Freda and Jim Blair

02/28/2022 10:36:34 AM

Feb28

Member Milestones is an initiative at Temple Beth El to spotlight our longtime members, who have provided a strong foundation for our community.

Check out other Member Milestones stories here.

Meet Longtime Members Freda and Jim Blair

Interviewed by Susan Ottmann
Written by Aleeza Hoffert

Before meeting her husband James (Jim) Blair in Madison, Wisconsin, Freda Vodovosoff witnessed history in the making.

She was born February 2, 1938, in Tel Aviv, during the British Mandate. Her grandmother, Fayga Levinson, was from Russia and had ten children, seven boys and three girls. Freda’s mother, Sylvia, was the second youngest of the girls. The youngest girl, Freda, died from tuberculosis. Freda Vodovosoff Blair is named for her.

When Fayga left Russia, she took her family to St. Louis, Missouri, always hopeful that there would be a Jewish state. Fayga heard Golda Meir speak in Milwaukee to recruit American support for the formation of a Jewish state in British Palestine. This reinforced her desire to go to Palestine and work for the establishment of a Jewish state. Fayga left her seven oldest children in Missouri with her husband, and took the three youngest, including Sylvia, to Palestine.

Freda’s father, Leon, had escaped from the Bolsheviks by fleeing across Russia to Vladivostok. From there he went to Paris and later to Tel Aviv, where he met and married Sylvia and they had Freda. The family lived in Palestine through World War II and the War of Independence in 1948. Despite being a child, Freda still remembers the War of Independence. Like her grandmother, she is a strong supporter and lover of Israel.

Photo: Freda Blair enjoying the sunset in Israel in 2009

After the war they took a ship to the U.S. via Egypt, but Leon had a fatal heart attack in Alexandria and was buried there. Sylvia didn’t know whether to return to Israel or to go on to America. She asked Freda, who answered that she wanted to go to America “to see the escalators.” So they went on to New York, and from there to St. Louis, where Freda graduated from Washington University with a teaching degree. The family joked that Sylvia always had one foot in Israel and one foot in St. Louis, and always talked about reuniting the family, which over the years has spread out all over America.

James (Jim) Blair was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, but his family moved quite a bit. He spent the summer of 1941 in Bermuda before ending up in Kansas City, Missouri, where he lived until he graduated from Rockhurst, a Jesuit college (now Rockhurst University).

Jim and Freda came to Madison from opposite ends of Missouri. Jim was a graduate student at UW–Madison, having received a National Science Foundation scholarship, and Freda was spending the summer here. The only thing Jim knew about Madison was that some UW professors had written a textbook on physical chemistry that he liked. Upon arriving, he quickly learned there was a big lake. He had never been on a sailboat, but he rushed to join the Hoofers sailing club and has been sailing ever since. He has taught sailing for the Hoofers for many years. Joe Silverberg, another Milestone Member, also taught sailing for the Hoofers.

Photo: Freda Blair leaning in to right the sailboat with Jim Blair steering

Freda and Jim met at the July 4 Hoofers picnic in 1958. He offered her a watermelon, the prize of a contest that hadn’t taken place yet. Fortunately he won, and was able to keep his word. They married on January 21, 1961. After Jim received his PhD in chemistry and Freda received her MS in library science from UW, they moved to New Jersey, where Jim worked for DuPont. After two years, they moved back to Madison, where he taught chemistry at Milton College near Janesville. They bought the house they still live in today, and joined Temple Beth El in 1966 during Rabbi Manfred Swarsensky’s time.

Freda met three couples at Temple who quickly became her closest friends: Barbara and Chuck Gordon, Lowell and Julie Lakritz, and Lois and Norton Stoler. Together they formed a gourmet club and got together monthly to prepare and enjoy an extravagant meal, often with a cultural theme. Julie was a Holocaust survivor who had escaped to the Dominican Republic, where she learned Spanish, which enabled her to teach Spanish when she came to the United States. They had a lot of fun together and formed a close bond.

Over the years the Blairs enjoyed seders at Temple, where they got to know other members. They loved the singing and dancing programs in particular, especially Israeli folk dancing and Israeli music. The Blairs enjoyed Sisterhood programs and speakers on current events as well as the Jewish Social Services Lechayim Lunch programs before the pandemic. Freda remembers having a lovely conversation at one lunch with the woman seated next to her. Late in the conversation Freda realized she was the mother of Robert Fassnacht, who had been killed in the Sterling Hall bombing and whose funeral Rabbi Swarsensky officiated.

Freda and Jim had two children: Leon, named after Freda’s father, and Cynthia (Cindy), named after Freda’s grandmother. Both children were named at TBE by Rabbi Swarsensky, attended Religious School, and were confirmed at Temple. Their photos appear in the gallery of confirmation class pictures, four years apart. Leon had his bar mitzvah at Temple; bat mitzvah was not a common practice at that time.

June 23, 1983 is forever etched into the Blairs’ minds. Their world flipped upside down that day when their son accidentally shot himself at age 21. Leon had been playing basketball with a friend at a park near the lake. It was a hot day, and the water fountain at the park was broken, so they rode their bikes to the friend’s girlfriend’s apartment nearby. The friend went into the kitchen to get the drinks. Leon walked into the living room, where the girlfriend had been packing up to leave. Leon spotted a purple Crown Royal whiskey bag. He picked up the bag, but it contained the girlfriend’s gun, not alcohol. Lacking adequate safety training, she had thought it was unloaded. It turned out to have one bullet left, and Leon accidentally shot himself. He died in the hospital shortly after. “It was horrible, horrible.”

This awful time brought the Blairs closer to Temple. Freda’s gourmet club friends came to comfort her, and Rabbi Kenneth Roseman was an amazing source of support. In Freda’s words, “Rabbi Roseman was just outstanding. He was so good, he lifted me up spiritually, and even physically.” Rabbi Roseman continued to play a role in their lives.

The Blairs will never forget the first Rosh Hashanah after Leon’s death, when Rabbi Roseman devoted his sermon to Leon. There was an empty chair on the bimah. When it came time for the sermon, Rabbi Roseman walked over to the chair and said, “This is the chair that would have been occupied by Leon Vodovosoff Blair, son of Freda and James Blair, and I want to tell you what happened to him because he died in an accident that could have been prevented.” Rabbi Roseman was trying to warn students and parents to prevent future accidental deaths by guns. The tears flowed down Freda’s cheeks. This moment continues to mean so much to the Blairs and strengthened the connection they always felt they had with Temple. Freda cherishes the memorial plaques that hang on the Temple wall for her parents and her son.

Years later, when Freda was in the hospital recovering from surgery, Cantor Deborah Martin and others from the Jewish community visited her. Jim and Freda feel blessed to have such a community around them that they can call on when needed, especially because their family isn’t nearby.

Photo: Jacki Friend, Lois Stoler (also a Milestone Member), and Freda and Jim Blair

The fact that Freda knew and spoke Hebrew and had a degree in library science came in handy when she was offered a job at the University of Wisconsin library. The library had bought a Hebrew typewriter, but no one knew how to use it. Freda said she could help out, as she could type and use the Hebrew alphabet. She loved her job in the catalog department on the third floor of the library and worked there for many years.

Jim taught at Milton College for 13 years, until it closed, then taught at Edgewood College for two years before working for a private company and finally for the State Laboratory of Hygiene until his retirement.

Freda and Jim feel we should all be proud Jews and raise our children to be proud Jews. They also feel that teaching our children about World War II and the 6 million Jews who died in the Shoah is very important. Antisemitism needs to be fought wherever it appears. Having a Jewish state and celebrating Jewish holidays is also important to them. They encourage everyone to visit Israel and experience the feeling of Judaism being all around you. “When stores are closed and flags fly on Jewish holidays and Shabbat, you know this is a Jewish state. It’s a special feeling.”

They encourage you to support Israel not just with your dollars, but by raising proud Jews who know Israel is there for them.

This email series highlights members of 54 or more years who have been vital to building, growing, and sustaining the congregation. We thank the team of volunteers who have helped recognize these members by conducting interviews, writing their stories, proofreading, and more.

A video of our Membership Shabbat Reception, held on Friday, February 25, 2022, can be found here. You can find a link to the Milestone Members book featuring these stories on our Members Only page. (You must be logged in to view.)

May we continue to go from strength to strength!

Click the Donate button below to make a donation in honor of our Milestone Members. Select Member Milestone Honors for the donation type.

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Wednesday ,
AugAugust 6 , 2025

Singles Creating Community Dinner
Wednesday, Aug 6th 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Join the Singles Creating Community group for a dinner gathering.
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Thursday ,
AugAugust 7 , 2025

House Committee Meeting
Thursday, Aug 7th 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm

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Thursday ,
AugAugust 7 , 2025

Social Action Committee Meeting
Thursday, Aug 7th 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Social Action Committee meetings are held at 7:00 pm on the first Thursday of most months at Temple Beth El.
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Friday ,
AugAugust 8 , 2025

ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out)
Friday, Aug 8th 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

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Tuesday ,
AugAugust 12 , 2025

Board Meeting
Tuesday, Aug 12th 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm

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Wednesday ,
AugAugust 13 , 2025

Sisterhood "Monthly Mingle" Lunch
Wednesday, Aug 13th 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Join us for a Sisterhood lunch!
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Thursday ,
AugAugust 14 , 2025

Congregational Book Club
Thursday, Aug 14th 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm
Join us in reading and discussion of challenging, but accessible, contemporary Jewish writings.
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Thursday ,
AugAugust 14 , 2025

Sisterhood Exec Committee Meeting
Thursday, Aug 14th 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

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Friday ,
AugAugust 15 , 2025

Singles Creating Community Coffee Klatch
Friday, Aug 15th 9:00 am to 10:30 am
Please join the Singles Creating Community group for breakfast.
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Sunday ,
AugAugust 17 , 2025

Magic Pride Festival
Sunday, Aug 17th 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Temple Beth El is partnering with Beth Israel Center and Congregation Shaarei Shamayim to host a table at the festival. Don't forget to stop by our booth if you're attending the festival!
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Tuesday ,
AugAugust 19 , 2025

Environment and Climate Change Action Team Meeting
Tuesday, Aug 19th 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Join our action team as we make plans to engage the congregation in activities that raise awareness about environmental issues. We meet on Zoom.
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Thursday ,
AugAugust 21 , 2025

Play Mahjong with Sisterhood
Thursday, Aug 21st 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Join Sisterhood for a fun afternoon of Mahjong!
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Friday ,
AugAugust 22 , 2025

Senior Shabbat Dinner
Friday, Aug 22nd 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Enjoy Dinner together after the 6:00 pm Shabbat worship.
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Monday ,
AugAugust 25 , 2025

Sisterhood Exec Committee Potluck
Monday, Aug 25th 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

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Thursday ,
AugAugust 28 , 2025

TBE Monthly Meditation Group
Thursday, Aug 28th 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Please join us on the 4th Thursday of the month as we continue the growth in our community around spiritual practice and meditation.
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Monday ,
SepSeptember 1 , 2025

Office Closed for Labor Day
Monday, Sep 1st (All day)

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Thursday ,
SepSeptember 4 , 2025

House Committee Meeting
Thursday, Sep 4th 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm

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Thursday ,
SepSeptember 4 , 2025

Social Action Committee Meeting
Thursday, Sep 4th 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Social Action Committee meetings are held at 7:00 pm on the first Thursday of most months at Temple Beth El.
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Friday ,
SepSeptember 5 , 2025

Camp Shabbat and End of Summer Celebration
Friday, Sep 5th 5:15 pm to 7:00 pm
Join us for Shabbat Across Madison as we celebrate the end of another beautiful summer in Madison.
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Sunday ,
SepSeptember 7 , 2025

Play Mahjong with Sisterhood
Sunday, Sep 7th 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Join Sisterhood for a fun afternoon of Mahjong!
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Monday ,
SepSeptember 8 , 2025

ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out)
Monday, Sep 8th 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

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Tuesday ,
SepSeptember 9 , 2025

Board Meeting
Tuesday, Sep 9th 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm

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Sunday ,
SepSeptember 14 , 2025

Tots and Tunes
Sunday, Sep 14th 10:45 am to 11:45 am
This song and craft program for families with children ages 0–5 is open to the entire Madison Jewish community.
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Sunday ,
SepSeptember 14 , 2025

MJND Apples and Honey Cook-off and Tasting
Sunday, Sep 14th 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Join Madison's Jews Next Dor (20s and 30s group) for our apples and honey cook-off and tasting!
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Tuesday ,
SepSeptember 16 , 2025

Environment and Climate Change Action Team Meeting
Tuesday, Sep 16th 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Join our action team as we make plans to engage the congregation in activities that raise awareness about environmental issues. We meet on Zoom.
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Thursday ,
SepSeptember 18 , 2025

Sisterhood "Monthly Mingle" Lunch
Thursday, Sep 18th 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Join us for a Sisterhood lunch!
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Thursday ,
SepSeptember 18 , 2025

Play Mahjong with Sisterhood
Thursday, Sep 18th 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Join Sisterhood for a fun afternoon of Mahjong!
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Monday ,
SepSeptember 22 , 2025

Office Closes at 12:00 pm
Monday, Sep 22nd 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm

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Tuesday ,
SepSeptember 23 , 2025

Office Closed for Rosh Hashanah
Tuesday, Sep 23rd (All day)

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Tuesday ,
SepSeptember 23 , 2025

Tashlich
Tuesday, Sep 23rd 1:15 pm to 2:15 pm
Following the Rosh Hashanah morning service, we proceed to Lake Wingra to symbolically cast away sins, as well as any thoughts and behaviors that no longer serve us well.
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Thursday ,
SepSeptember 25 , 2025

TBE Monthly Meditation Group
Thursday, Sep 25th 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Please join us on the 4th Thursday of the month as we continue the growth in our community around spiritual practice and meditation.
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Wednesday ,
OctOctober 1 , 2025

Office Closes at 12:00 pm
Wednesday, Oct 1st 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm

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Thursday ,
OctOctober 2 , 2025

Office Closed for Yom Kippur
Thursday, Oct 2nd (All day)

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Thursday ,
OctOctober 2 , 2025

House Committee Meeting
Thursday, Oct 2nd 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm

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Thursday ,
OctOctober 2 , 2025

Social Action Committee Meeting
Thursday, Oct 2nd 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Social Action Committee meetings are held at 7:00 pm on the first Thursday of most months at Temple Beth El.
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Sunday ,
OctOctober 5 , 2025

Sukkah Building with Men’s Club
Sunday, Oct 5th 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Join the TBE Men's Club and friends as we set up the Paul S. Gratch Sukkah for our 28th year. Everyone is welcome! No previous experience or skill required. Please bring work gloves and a 6' ladder or cordless drill if you have one.
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Sunday ,
OctOctober 5 , 2025

Play Mahjong with Sisterhood
Sunday, Oct 5th 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Join Sisterhood for a fun afternoon of Mahjong!
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Monday ,
OctOctober 6 , 2025

Office Closes at 12:00 pm
Monday, Oct 6th 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm

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Tuesday ,
OctOctober 7 , 2025

Office Closed for Sukkot
Tuesday, Oct 7th (All day)

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Thursday ,
OctOctober 9 , 2025

Sisterhood Exec Committee Meeting
Thursday, Oct 9th 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

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Thursday ,
OctOctober 9 , 2025

Board Meeting
Thursday, Oct 9th 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm

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Sunday ,
OctOctober 12 , 2025

Tots and Tunes
Sunday, Oct 12th 10:45 am to 11:45 am
This song and craft program for families with children ages 0–5 is open to the entire Madison Jewish community.
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Monday ,
OctOctober 13 , 2025

Office Closes at 12:00 pm
Monday, Oct 13th 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm

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Tuesday ,
OctOctober 14 , 2025

Office Closed for Simchat Torah/Sh'mini Atzeret
Tuesday, Oct 14th (All day)

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Thursday ,
OctOctober 16 , 2025

Play Mahjong with Sisterhood
Thursday, Oct 16th 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Join Sisterhood for a fun afternoon of Mahjong!
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Sunday ,
OctOctober 19 , 2025

Sukkah Take Down with Men's Club
Sunday, Oct 19th 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Join the TBE Men's Club and friends as we take down the Paul S. Gratch Sukkah for our 28th year. Everyone is welcome! No previous experience or skill required. Please bring work gloves and a 6' ladder or cordless drill if you have one.
Register Now

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Monday ,
OctOctober 20 , 2025

Sisterhood "Monthly Mingle" Lunch
Monday, Oct 20th 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Join us for a Sisterhood lunch!
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Tuesday ,
OctOctober 21 , 2025

ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out)
Tuesday, Oct 21st 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

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Tuesday ,
OctOctober 21 , 2025

Environment and Climate Change Action Team Meeting
Tuesday, Oct 21st 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Join our action team as we make plans to engage the congregation in activities that raise awareness about environmental issues. We meet on Zoom.
MORE INFO
Thursday ,
OctOctober 23 , 2025

TBE Monthly Meditation Group
Thursday, Oct 23rd 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Please join us on the 4th Thursday of the month as we continue the growth in our community around spiritual practice and meditation.
MORE INFO
Thursday ,
OctOctober 23 , 2025

TBE Monthly Meditation Group
Thursday, Oct 23rd 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Please join us on the 4th Thursday of the month as we continue the growth in our community around spiritual practice and meditation.
MORE INFO
Thursday ,
OctOctober 23 , 2025

TBE Monthly Meditation Group
Thursday, Oct 23rd 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Please join us on the 4th Thursday of the month as we continue the growth in our community around spiritual practice and meditation.
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Thursday ,
OctOctober 30 , 2025

Sisterhood Potluck
Thursday, Oct 30th 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
TBE Sisterhood is inviting all women of TBE to join us for a potluck. Bring a dish, enjoy good company and good food. Beverages will be provided.
Register Now

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Sunday ,
NovNovember 2 , 2025

Play Mahjong with Sisterhood
Sunday, Nov 2nd 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Join Sisterhood for a fun afternoon of Mahjong!
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Thursday ,
NovNovember 6 , 2025

House Committee Meeting
Thursday, Nov 6th 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm

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Thursday ,
NovNovember 6 , 2025

Social Action Committee Meeting
Thursday, Nov 6th 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Social Action Committee meetings are held at 7:00 pm on the first Thursday of most months at Temple Beth El.
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Friday ,
NovNovember 7 , 2025

Likrat Shabbat Family Dinner
Friday, Nov 7th 5:15 pm to 6:00 pm
Join us for a light dinner preceding our Likrat Shabbat (Welcoming Shabbat) service on the first Friday of the month, November–May. Dinner is $18 per family unit/household. Please note: there is not a special Likrat Shabbat service on the first Friday in January.
Register Now

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Tuesday ,
NovNovember 11 , 2025

Office Closed
Tuesday, Nov 11th (All day)

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Thursday ,
NovNovember 13 , 2025

Board Meeting
Thursday, Nov 13th 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm

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Sunday ,
NovNovember 16 , 2025

Tots and Tunes
Sunday, Nov 16th 10:45 am to 11:45 am
This song and craft program for families with children ages 0–5 is open to the entire Madison Jewish community.
MORE INFO
Tuesday ,
NovNovember 18 , 2025

Sisterhood "Monthly Mingle" Lunch
Tuesday, Nov 18th 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Join us for a Sisterhood lunch!
MORE INFO
Tuesday ,
NovNovember 18 , 2025

Environment and Climate Change Action Team Meeting
Tuesday, Nov 18th 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Join our action team as we make plans to engage the congregation in activities that raise awareness about environmental issues. We meet on Zoom.
MORE INFO
Wednesday ,
NovNovember 19 , 2025

ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out)
Wednesday, Nov 19th 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

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Thursday ,
NovNovember 20 , 2025

Play Mahjong with Sisterhood
Thursday, Nov 20th 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Join Sisterhood for a fun afternoon of Mahjong!
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Wednesday ,
NovNovember 26 , 2025

Office Closes at 12:00 pm
Wednesday, Nov 26th 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm

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Thursday ,
NovNovember 27 , 2025

Office Closed for Thanksgiving
Thursday, Nov 27th (All day)

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Thursday ,
DecDecember 4 , 2025

House Committee Meeting
Thursday, Dec 4th 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm

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Thursday ,
DecDecember 4 , 2025

Social Action Committee Meeting
Thursday, Dec 4th 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Social Action Committee meetings are held at 7:00 pm on the first Thursday of most months at Temple Beth El.
MORE INFO
Friday ,
DecDecember 5 , 2025

Likrat Shabbat Family Dinner
Friday, Dec 5th 5:15 pm to 6:00 pm
Join us for a light dinner preceding our Likrat Shabbat (Welcoming Shabbat) service on the first Friday of the month, November–May. Dinner is $18 per family unit/household. Please note: there is not a special Likrat Shabbat service on the first Friday in January.
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Tuesday ,
DecDecember 9 , 2025

Board Meeting
Tuesday, Dec 9th 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm

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Thursday ,
DecDecember 11 , 2025

ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out)
Thursday, Dec 11th 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

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Thursday ,
DecDecember 11 , 2025

Sisterhood Exec Committee Meeting
Thursday, Dec 11th 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

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