A serious student of Talmud was building a house and asked his Rabbi for help. The Rabbi knew just the place to learn how to properly build a new house: the Talmud. Together they studied the words handed down through the ages and the student left to build. Months later, the student returned and told the Rabbi that everything went well until the student attempted to affix the mezuzah to the door. At the first hit of the hammer, the entire house shook and fell to the ground. The Rabbi looked back into the Talmud and found that Rashi had a comment on the text that they had missed the first time. After restudying the Talmudic passage with the Rashi comment, the student rebuilt his home. Again, at the mezuzah hanging, the house collapsed. “I don’t understand, Rabbi. Why does this keep happening?” The Rabbi looked into the Talmud once again and replied, “Aha, Tosephot asks the same question!”
You just have to trust me. It is funny to a rabbi.
Chanukah is the celebration of the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. After the Assyrian Greeks had desecrated the Holy Sanctuary, the Maccabees reconquered Jerusalem, cleaned and reconsecrated the Holy Space and celebrated for eight days and nights.
The First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians and the Second Temple was burned to the ground by the Romans. After that time, our people built synagogues in many places and times ranging from simple one-room shuls to palatial multi-acre works of architectural grandeur.
Ultimately, each structure we created either was destroyed, transformed for another purpose or remains active for a Jewish community. Over time, most synagogue buildings will fall into one of these three categories.
Temple Beth Sholom remains active and thriving and now in possession of a brand new beautiful facility from our School building through our Welcome Center/Youth/Administration areas into our Holy Spaces, Beit Hannah and our Sanctuary, plus our elegant Social Hall and its associated areas.
This year, we will rededicate our Sanctuary through prayer and song during the Shabbat of Chanukah. We will affix the mezuzah on our newly-refurbished Sanctuary/Social Hall.
I assure you nothing will fall down when we perform the sacred ceremony on Shabanukah, December 23. I have read the Talmud, Rashi and the Tosephot carefully.
Our building is a metaphor for us as a community. Those Jewish buildings that are destroyed or used for other purposes represent communities that have been destroyed, moved away or are no longer a cohesive entity with enough members to remain a congregation.
Our facility is totally renewed because we are renewed as a congregation.
What began in 1942 as an idea is now flourishing as a reality. We continue to grow with a vibrant leadership, lay and professional, and a record of excellence and vision that drives us toward ever deeper, more varied programs and services.
Join us for Shabanukah.
Help us affix the mezuzah and formally rededicate our synagogue.
Light your Chanukiah at our dinner following Shabbat services.
Sing with full voice the familiar melodies we all love as well as exciting new songs,all to the sounds of a Salsa band.
Eat latkes and rejoice in the energy and synergy of this remarkable community.
As Temple Beth Sholom is the Shamash that rekindles the lights of its members daily throughout the year, be the Shamash that ignites many other souls who look to you for light and hope.
This is our Chanukah of Renewal. Together we will illumine the darkness of a world in search of light.
