Temple Beth El

This Memorial Day, Temple Beth El remembers and appreciates off of the American service folk who have paid the ultimate price in defense of our country.

The festival of Shavuot begins at sunset, May 21, ending at sundown on Saturday, May 23. It is celebrated exactly seven weeks after the second Passover seder, which is why it is sometimes referred to as the Feast of Weeks. Although Shavuot began as an ancient grain harvest festival, the holiday has been identified since biblical times with the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai.

Many contemporary Jews will also read the Book of Ruth - who is considered one of the first converts to Judaism - taking the Torah into her life. Another way to commemorate is to simply study Torah in community!

Images © 2024 Christina Mattison Ebert - MazalModernArt.etsy.com

Lag B'Omer is tonight! Its a short break between Pesach and Shavuot - time for bonfires, barbeque and a little joy!

Read more about this minor holiday https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/lag-baomer/

This evening the minor holiday of Tu B'shevat begins. Called the “Birthday,” “New Year of the Trees” and “Jewish Earth Day,” this was sparked by Leviticus 19:23. This minor holiday started as a date for farmers to record the age of their trees. Tu B'shevat has become a time to connect traditional Jewish values of taking care of the Earth with modern environmental values.