"Our Sacred Soil" - Rosh Hashanah Morning 5779
09/11/2018 02:20:29 PM
Rabbi Jonathan Biatch
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L’shanah tovah.
This morning’s Torah portion[1] contains one of the key principles that define the mission of the people of Israel.
This first principle is foundational to our people’s ethos and lies within God’s description of the commissioning of Abraham as a prophet of Israel. This element defines not only who we are as a people, but also what we must do to merit the title of “Israelite”, one who strives—even with God—and prevails.
We discover this basic ethical component when we hear God engaging in an internal debate on whether and how to disclose to Abraham the Holy One’s intention to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. In the text, God says:
“Since I have known [Abraham] intimately, [I will tell him] so that he will command his own children, and all his descendants, that they should observe the way of the Eternal, which is to perform righteousness [tzedakah] and justice [mishpat]; [and I will tell him] so that I, the Eternal, may bring about for Abraham what I have promised him.”[2]
God’s rationale embodies benefits that would return to Abraham, such as blessings of numerous descendants[3], universal greatness[4], and a land to call his own[5]; God also identifies responsibilities that come down to us: to manage our affairs through righteous and just deeds, and to demonstrate proper stewardship of the sacred soil that Abraham bequeaths to his posterity.
Now: ‘stewardship of the soil’ is not an obligation only in an agricultural context. Today’s Torah reading suggests that the people of Israel can claim legitimate possession of the land only through performing acts of tzedakah—our doing what is right—and verdicts of mishpat—proclaiming what is just—within the land.
‘Observe these sacred obligations’, God implies, ‘and Israel will merit true sanctity', that is, a sense that God’s moral and ethical commandments will inspire future generations of Israel.
Sadly, as close as we have come to these ideals in some generations, we’ve not yet arrived at a time when we fully merit God’s presence in the land of Israel. The chilling and portentous events in Israel over the past few years suggest that we have a long way to go before we can effectuate God’s original intentions for the land.
There was a time when we had earned God’s sacred presence. In the book of Exodus, when God initiates the process for serving God in the desert, the Torah places this sacred commandment in God’s mouth: “Let them build me a mikdash, a sanctuary, so that I can dwell with them.”[6] The Exodus text assures that God desired to live among us and help to direct our behavior.
And even when Israel went into exile, so says a midrash of the Talmud, God quit the land and went with her, to celebrate her accomplishments, to comfort her at times of sorrow. In that midrash, God commanded them to build, wherever they settle, a ‘mikdash me’at’, a miniature sanctuary, a place where God could find a home, and a symbol to which they could turn in times of need.
But I believe even this miniature sanctuary of God’s can exist only when we act righteously and advocate justice. In our day, even as the people of Israel is happily reunited with the land of Israel, there are dangers: a loss of democracy when Jewish ultra-religious minorities receive a disproportionate amount of power; increased tribalism, which has led Israel to alliances with nations experiencing similar right-leaning phenomena; and unconscionable disregard in some realms for equality of her ethnic and racial minorities.
By the way, any parallels to events in other nations is purely coincidental…but nonetheless quite unfortunate.
Our task is to determine how best to bring increased righteousness and justice to the land. And we, living in the Diaspora, must be involved through the performance of the moral and ethical standards of our people.
These two concepts—tzedakah and mishpat, righteousness and justice—are like the colossal foundation stones of the ancient Jerusalem Temple that physically supported the Temple walls, and spiritually undergirded centuries of religious life. For a nation to stand firm and grow strong, it must establish itself on a legitimate, positive, moral, and ethical ideological premise, such as performing righteous deeds and enacting just laws, and my hope is that, as a world-wide Jewish community, we can take these two Abrahamic values of righteousness and justice, and use them to fortify Israel’s foundation, so that she will conduct her internal and external life in righteous and just ways.
Although we may each have many different feelings about the modern state of Israel, we Jews are undeniably and unalterably connected to her. As Jews and as people connected to the Jewish community, we cannot easily escape this connection. Further, we know that what affects one, affects the other.
* * * *
Now, this connection has its benefits:
Israel guaranteed in its Declaration of Independence of 1948 that the state “will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex”[7]. Hearing these words, we offer praise and support for the generation of Israel’s founders who enshrined this concept in the history of not only Israel but also of humanity. We feel a sense of pride in Israel’s place in the world, for in that section of Israel’s Declaration lie the seeds of righteousness and justice. It would be a joyful duty to support Israel were she to grow as a society that personifies these values.
* * * *
Our connections to the land of Israel also has its challenges:
In recent years, the values of righteousness and justice seem to have been tested and found insufficient.
When local Israeli municipalities assume the ersatz religious authority to control secular women’s attire or mandate separate men’s and women’s seating on public buses, we sense a lessening of righteousness and justice.
When a governing coalition blocks passage of a law permitting two gay men to jointly adopt a child, we see a violation of these values.
When the Haifa branch of the Orthodox rabbinate has a Conservative rabbi detained and interrogated because he had the ‘audacity’ to perform a wedding in Israel not under the auspices of the Orthodox rabbinate, we feel the degradation of those basic ethical guidelines.
These are symptoms of a civil society in peril.
* * * *
But wait, there’s—sadly—more.
Consider the recently passed—by a bare majority, mind you—Israel’s new Basic Law on “Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People”.[8] This new legislation could reverse the course of human rights and liberty for a good portion of Israel’s citizens, and threatens righteousness and justice within the land.[9]
The language of this new law seems to purposely avoid the call for equality of all Israel’s citizens, as we find in the Declaration of Independence. If fact, an early version of the bill would have allowed the state “to establish separate communities based on ethnicity or religion”. In other words, communities would have been better able to discriminate against minorities, a term here I use to refer to Israel’s Arab citizens[10].
I breathe somewhat easier knowing that such extreme language did not enter the final version of the law. But the law as passed included two ill-composed clauses that do trouble Israel’s Arab minority: “The right to exercise national self-determination in the State of Israel is unique to the Jewish people.”[11] And “The state views the development of Jewish settlement as a national value and will act to encourage and promote its establishment and consolidation[12]”. Taken together, these two sentences could create an official move toward “Jewish privilege”, and could eliminate or severely curtail the rights of minority populations when it comes to individual housing, or even the proper apportionment of the land in an eventual two-state peace settlement.
The way I see it, those who feel the same despondency as I do have only two options before us.
We can turn away from Israel and totally deny our responsibility to be involved with influencing the moral direction of the Jewish state.
Or we can continue to be engaged, despite the emotional upsets of the present generation.
We can offer support to those organizations and movements that support the civil state in the face of such extremism, such as the Campaign for Religious Equality sponsored by the Reform and Conservative movements, or the Jewish Federations' Israel Religious Expression Platform (iREP). Ask me about this after services.
Just this past week, in fact, a new public opinion survey among Israelis shows that Israelis see a need for further separation of religion and state. I digress to offer a sampling of these promising survey results:
Today, two-thirds of Jewish Israelis support separation of religion and state, representing an increase of 10 percentage points since 2012. Seventy percent back government recognition of all forms of marriage, including civil marriage — an increase from 53 percent in 2009. Sixty-six percent believe that the three major denominations of Judaism — Orthodox, Conservative and Reform — should enjoy equal status in Israel.
And in results that are more geared to the everyday life of Israelis, more than 70 percent want increased public transit on Shabbat.
Suffice to say that the tide is turning among secular Israelis, who now wish to have help from the Diaspora Jewish community in moving their country to a place of true equality.
So being involved in this pluralistic work, again, is one way we can be involved.
But wait, there is -- happily more.
We can, by writing letters to the editor or talking with our friends, support Israel’s defensive posture against Hamas’ propaganda or rocket and resistance attacks. At the same time, we can -- if it is warranted -- be critical of Israel's prosecution of any military encounter with its enemies.
We can raise our voices in protest when Jewish thinkers or leaders of civil state organizations are stopped at Ben Gurion airport and interrogated about their ideologies before being allowed to enter the country.
In these and many ways, we can seek to help Israel renew a call for righteousness and justice.
Look: Israel can be a place of inspiration and pride, a beacon of humane values, a start-up nation whose fame is known not only through technological breakthroughs and military moxie, but also through her laboratory of ethical practices where Israelis learn to bring forth the essence of Torah values.
Here is what we can advocate:
By suppressing petty political squabbles and establishing the moral high ground of which she is capable, she can become that ‘mikdash’, that ‘holy place’, that God assigned the people of Israel to build.
By continuing to welcome her exiles, she can be that sanctuary against the antisemitism that continues to afflict our world.
By offering sanctuary to refugees from various nations, she can fulfill the 37 commands of Torah to care for the stranger among us.
By striving for justice for those persecuted by racism, bigotry, and homophobia, she can preserve liberty for all the marginalized in her society.
By refusing to give in to the nativist and tribal tendencies of some of her right-wing politicians, she can act righteously and offer the justice referred to in today’s Torah portion.
By thinking carefully about how to live among Middle Eastern entities awash in their own tribal loyalties and anti-Israel sentiment, she can encourage the US government to return to its position as a neutral arbiter in the peace process, so that all parties feel that their concerns are addressed.
By maintaining the democracy that is inherent in her governmental structure and enshrined in her Declaration of Independence, she can give majority rule back to the majority of her citizens.
By employing the concepts of righteousness and justice, she can become more like the land that Abraham and God envisioned in Torah, a land where her citizens will celebrate the sanctity of God, and the holiness of humanity.
* * * *
Whew! That is a large agenda...but one that is doable and necessary if Israel wishes to preserve and promote the values of righteousness and justice we cherish in our 4,000-year-old tradition.
The Torah and the midrash of our people describe an Abraham who involved himself in both the internal matters of his family, and the grander and more consequential process of building a nation.
One element of that process was establishing a land and a maintaining a way of life there: one that was elevated above the ordinary; one that acted in humane ways; one that gave its people one day in seven to rest; one that offered an ethical approach to everyday life; one that saw even its rulers as never being above the law; one that established justice and righteousness as foundation stones for everything else it supported.
These are hopes set forth in Torah; and now that we have set forth our dream, let us continue to strive to make this dream real for future generations of our people, whether in this Diaspora where Jewish survival is never guaranteed, or the in land of Israel which has served as an anchor of Jewish identity, and which needs to become an exemplar in the world of moral and ethical leadership.
* * * *
We know that dreams of a better future can ignite human imagination to accomplish great things. Think about what we have done:
When a nomadic people establishes a nation driven by moral and ethical values;
When the concept of a small and legendary desert sanctuary evolves to become a magnificent Jerusalem Temple;
When a ragtag band of freedom fighters overthrows a powerful Syrian-Greek army and re-establishes their nation’s sovereignty;
We accomplished all of this in the past—and we can do this once again: by declaring, and acting upon a foundation of moral and ethical values that supports all that we do.
God’s commandments directed this. Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and Jacob, Leah, and Rachel recognized this> And I hope we will as well!
L’shanah Tovah.
Lyrics for sermon anthem: Shiro Shel Aba, Naomi Shemer, words; Nachum Heiman, composer. 1970. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xisu--Pwc2w
[1] Genesis 18:16 ff, Abraham’s bargaining with God over Sodom and Gomorrah
[2] Genesis 18:19
[3] Genesis 12:2; 13:16; 15:5; 17:4-6
[4] Genesis 12:3
[5] Genesis 12:7; 13:15; 15:7; 17:8
[6] Exodus 25:8
[7] http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/foreignpolicy/peace/guide/pages/declaration%20of%20establishment%20of%20state%20of%20israel.aspx
[8] ישראל - מדינת הלאום של העם היהודי
[9] There are some benign parts of this law. Asserting that Jewish holidays and the Jewish calendar are part of the nation’s ethos, along with exceptions for other religions and their religious needs; declaring the state symbols and anthem; the openness of the state to Jewish in-migration: These qualities of the law support the Jewish character of the state in appropriately Jewish ways.
[10] https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/editorial/the-proposed-nation-state-law-is-discriminatory-and-nationalistic-1.5841526?=&ts=_1532720099347
[11] Section 1, paragraph C, Israel’s Basic Law -- Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People
[12] Ibid., Section 7, paragraph A
July 9, 2025
13 Tammuz 5785
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Wednesday ,
AugAugust 13 , 2025Sisterhood "Monthly Mingle" Lunch
Wednesday, Aug 13th 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Join us for a Sisterhood lunch! -
Thursday ,
AugAugust 14 , 2025Congregational 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. -
Thursday ,
AugAugust 14 , 2025Sisterhood Exec Committee Meeting
Thursday, Aug 14th 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
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Friday ,
AugAugust 15 , 2025Singles Creating Community Coffee Klatch
Friday, Aug 15th 9:00 am to 10:30 am
Please join the Singles Creating Community group for breakfast. -
Sunday ,
AugAugust 17 , 2025Magic 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! -
Monday ,
AugAugust 18 , 2025Fiber Arts Schmooze
Monday, Aug 18th 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Join friends at TBE for an evening of knitting, crocheting, stitching, and friendship! -
Tuesday ,
AugAugust 19 , 2025Environment 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. -
Thursday ,
AugAugust 21 , 2025Learn and Play Mahjong with Sisterhood
Thursday, Aug 21st 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Join Sisterhood for a fun afternoon of Mahjong! -
Friday ,
AugAugust 22 , 2025Senior Shabbat Dinner
Friday, Aug 22nd 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Enjoy Dinner together after the 6:00 pm Shabbat worship. -
Sunday ,
AugAugust 24 , 2025New Religious School Family Orientation
Sunday, Aug 24th 10:00 am to 11:30 pm
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Monday ,
AugAugust 25 , 2025Sisterhood Exec Committee Potluck
Monday, Aug 25th 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
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Monday ,
AugAugust 25 , 2025Men's Club Book Group
Monday, Aug 25th 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
The Men's Club Book Group will gather to discuss "James: A Novel" by Percival Everett. -
Thursday ,
AugAugust 28 , 2025Monthly Meditation
Thursday, Aug 28th 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Please join us as we continue the growth in our community around spiritual practice and meditation. -
Monday ,
SepSeptember 1 , 2025Office Closed for Labor Day
Monday, Sep 1st (All day)
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Thursday ,
SepSeptember 4 , 2025House Committee Meeting
Thursday, Sep 4th 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
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Thursday ,
SepSeptember 4 , 2025Social 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. -
Friday ,
SepSeptember 5 , 2025Singles Creating Community Coffee Klatch
Friday, Sep 5th 9:00 am to 10:30 am
Please join the Singles Creating Community group for breakfast. -
Friday ,
SepSeptember 5 , 2025Camp 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. -
Sunday ,
SepSeptember 7 , 2025Play Mahjong with Sisterhood
Sunday, Sep 7th 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Join Sisterhood for a fun afternoon of Mahjong! -
Monday ,
SepSeptember 8 , 2025ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out)
Monday, Sep 8th 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
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Tuesday ,
SepSeptember 9 , 2025Board Meeting
Tuesday, Sep 9th 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm
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Sunday ,
SepSeptember 14 , 2025Tots 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. -
Sunday ,
SepSeptember 14 , 2025MJND 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! -
Monday ,
SepSeptember 15 , 2025Fiber Arts Schmooze
Monday, Sep 15th 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Join friends at TBE for an evening of knitting, crocheting, stitching, and friendship! -
Tuesday ,
SepSeptember 16 , 2025Environment 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. -
Thursday ,
SepSeptember 18 , 2025Sisterhood "Monthly Mingle" Lunch
Thursday, Sep 18th 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Join us for a Sisterhood lunch! -
Thursday ,
SepSeptember 18 , 2025Play Mahjong with Sisterhood
Thursday, Sep 18th 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Join Sisterhood for a fun afternoon of Mahjong! -
Monday ,
SepSeptember 22 , 2025Office Closes at 12:00 pm
Monday, Sep 22nd 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
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Tuesday ,
SepSeptember 23 , 2025Office Closed for Rosh Hashanah
Tuesday, Sep 23rd (All day)
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Tuesday ,
SepSeptember 23 , 2025Tashlich
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. -
Wednesday ,
SepSeptember 24 , 2025Singles Creating Community Dinner
Wednesday, Sep 24th 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Join the Singles Creating Community group for a dinner gathering. -
Thursday ,
SepSeptember 25 , 2025Monthly Meditation
Thursday, Sep 25th 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Please join us as we continue the growth in our community around spiritual practice and meditation. -
Thursday ,
SepSeptember 25 , 2025Social Action Committee Meeting
Thursday, Sep 25th 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. -
Friday ,
SepSeptember 26 , 2025Kever Avot: A Days of Awe Cemetery Visit, Forest Hills and Beit Olamim
Friday, Sep 26th 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
As we prepare our hearts for the High Holidays, join us for a brief Kever Avot service—a sacred tradition of visiting the graves of loved ones before Rosh Hashanah. -
Wednesday ,
OctOctober 1 , 2025Office Closes at 12:00 pm
Wednesday, Oct 1st 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
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Thursday ,
OctOctober 2 , 2025Office Closed for Yom Kippur
Thursday, Oct 2nd (All day)
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Thursday ,
OctOctober 2 , 2025House Committee Meeting
Thursday, Oct 2nd 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
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Sunday ,
OctOctober 5 , 2025Sukkah 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. -
Sunday ,
OctOctober 5 , 2025Play Mahjong with Sisterhood
Sunday, Oct 5th 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Join Sisterhood for a fun afternoon of Mahjong! -
Monday ,
OctOctober 6 , 2025Office Closes at 12:00 pm
Monday, Oct 6th 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
-
Tuesday ,
OctOctober 7 , 2025Office Closed for Sukkot
Tuesday, Oct 7th (All day)
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Thursday ,
OctOctober 9 , 2025Sisterhood Exec Committee Meeting
Thursday, Oct 9th 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
-
Thursday ,
OctOctober 9 , 2025Board Meeting
Thursday, Oct 9th 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm
-
Sunday ,
OctOctober 12 , 2025Tots 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. -
Monday ,
OctOctober 13 , 2025Office Closes at 12:00 pm
Monday, Oct 13th 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
-
Tuesday ,
OctOctober 14 , 2025Office Closed for Simchat Torah/Sh'mini Atzeret
Tuesday, Oct 14th (All day)
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Thursday ,
OctOctober 16 , 2025Play Mahjong with Sisterhood
Thursday, Oct 16th 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Join Sisterhood for a fun afternoon of Mahjong! -
Sunday ,
OctOctober 19 , 2025Sukkah 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. -
Monday ,
OctOctober 20 , 2025Sisterhood "Monthly Mingle" Lunch
Monday, Oct 20th 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Join us for a Sisterhood lunch! -
Tuesday ,
OctOctober 21 , 2025ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out)
Tuesday, Oct 21st 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
-
Tuesday ,
OctOctober 21 , 2025Environment 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. -
Thursday ,
OctOctober 23 , 2025Monthly Meditation
Thursday, Oct 23rd 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Please join us as we continue the growth in our community around spiritual practice and meditation. -
Thursday ,
OctOctober 30 , 2025Sisterhood 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. -
Sunday ,
NovNovember 2 , 2025Play Mahjong with Sisterhood
Sunday, Nov 2nd 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Join Sisterhood for a fun afternoon of Mahjong! -
Thursday ,
NovNovember 6 , 2025House Committee Meeting
Thursday, Nov 6th 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
-
Thursday ,
NovNovember 6 , 2025Social 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. -
Friday ,
NovNovember 7 , 2025Likrat 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. -
Tuesday ,
NovNovember 11 , 2025Office Closed
Tuesday, Nov 11th (All day)
-
Thursday ,
NovNovember 13 , 2025Board Meeting
Thursday, Nov 13th 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm
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Sunday ,
NovNovember 16 , 2025Tots 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. -
Tuesday ,
NovNovember 18 , 2025Sisterhood "Monthly Mingle" Lunch
Tuesday, Nov 18th 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Join us for a Sisterhood lunch! -
Tuesday ,
NovNovember 18 , 2025Environment 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. -
Wednesday ,
NovNovember 19 , 2025ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out)
Wednesday, Nov 19th 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
-
Thursday ,
NovNovember 20 , 2025Play Mahjong with Sisterhood
Thursday, Nov 20th 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Join Sisterhood for a fun afternoon of Mahjong! -
Wednesday ,
NovNovember 26 , 2025Office Closes at 12:00 pm
Wednesday, Nov 26th 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
-
Thursday ,
NovNovember 27 , 2025Office Closed for Thanksgiving
Thursday, Nov 27th (All day)
-
Thursday ,
DecDecember 4 , 2025House Committee Meeting
Thursday, Dec 4th 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
-
Thursday ,
DecDecember 4 , 2025Social 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. -
Friday ,
DecDecember 5 , 2025Likrat 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. -
Tuesday ,
DecDecember 9 , 2025Board Meeting
Tuesday, Dec 9th 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm
-
Thursday ,
DecDecember 11 , 2025ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out)
Thursday, Dec 11th 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
-
Thursday ,
DecDecember 11 , 2025Sisterhood Exec Committee Meeting
Thursday, Dec 11th 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
-
Tuesday ,
DecDecember 16 , 2025Environment and Climate Change Action Team Meeting
Tuesday, Dec 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. -
Wednesday ,
DecDecember 17 , 2025Sisterhood "Monthly Mingle" Lunch
Wednesday, Dec 17th 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Join us for a Sisterhood lunch! -
Wednesday ,
DecDecember 24 , 2025Office Closes at 12:00 pm
Wednesday, Dec 24th 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
-
Thursday ,
DecDecember 25 , 2025Office Closed
Thursday, Dec 25th (All day)
-
Wednesday ,
DecDecember 31 , 2025Office Closes at 12:00 pm
Wednesday, Dec 31st 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
-
Thursday ,
JanJanuary 1 , 2026Office Closed for New Year's Day
Thursday, Jan 1st (All day)
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Thursday ,
JanJanuary 1 , 2026Social Action Committee Meeting
Thursday, Jan 1st 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. -
Thursday ,
JanJanuary 8 , 2026Sisterhood "Monthly Mingle" Lunch
Thursday, Jan 8th 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Join us for a Sisterhood lunch!
TBE BLOG
Thank you for donating to TBE events!
Thursday, Jun 26 11:23amEndowment Funding and the Start of Fiscal Year 2026
Thursday, Jun 26 10:35amAnnual Sponsorship Opportunities
Thursday, Jun 26 10:14amTemple Beth El • 2702 Arbor Drive, Madison, WI 53711 • 608-238-3123 • Contact Us
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