Yahrzeits the
National Anthem of the State of Israel
National Anthem of the State of Israel
Kol od ba’le’vav p ’nima,Nefesh yehudi ho’miyah.
U’lefa-atei mizrach kadimah,
Ayin le’Tziyyon tzofiyah.
Od lo avda tikva-teinu,
Ha’tikvah bat sh’not al-payim
Lih-yot am chofshi b’ar-tzeinu
Eretz Tziyyon v’Yerushalayim.
Translation:
As long as within our hearts
The Jewish soul sings, As long as forward to the East
To Zion, looks the eye –
Our hope is not yet lost, It is two thousand years old,
To be a free people in our land
The land of Zion and Jerusalem.
Rose Sandler Anker
Sam Bennett
Lillian Van Baalen Blach*
Deborah Borsuk*
Ronald Bramesco
Martin Byrd
Shelby Chadwick
Arthur Cunningham
James Durham
Adele Einstein
Owen L. Falk
Sidney Feinberg
Lois Goldberg
Ben Greenfield
Joan Halperin Rabin
Dorothy Heller
Mark Hershkowitz*
Robert Hirsch
Rhoda Jenkins
Carole Kalish
Muriel Katz
David Kichler
Edwin Krassner
Eli Samuel Leff*
Michael Leveen*
Beedie Weiss Mendelsohn
Irwin Miller
Blime Malka Orange*
Helen Pecharsky*
Franklin I. Rose*
Louise S. Rosen*
Seymour G. Rosenthal
Hilda Samler*
Harry Simon*
Shmuel Lazar Steur
Jeffrey Timmins
Betty Weintraub
*Denotes plaque in Memorial Alcove
We’d love to hear from you!
Reach out to us with any questions.
Amy L. Morrison - Rabbi
727-347-6136 - RabbiMorrison@TempleBeth-El com
Tara O’Donnell - Director of Finance & Operations 727-347-6136 - Tara@TempleBeth-El.com
Jennifer Hannon - Director of Early Childhood Center 727-350-5885 - JennHannon@TempleBeth-El.com
Alexis Kelly - Raymund Family Religious School Principal 727-347-6136 - RaymundRS@TempleBeth-El.com
Tracy Nash - Bookkeeper
727-347-6136 - Bookkeeper@TempleBeth-El.com
Tovah Feld - Communications & Engagement Coordinator
727-347-6136 - Tovah@TempleBeth-El.com
Allison Fowler - Office Administrative Assistant 727-347-6136 - Allison@TempleBeth-El.com
Mike Shapiro - Temple President 727-347-6136 - President@TempleBeth-El.com
Rabbi Amy L. Morrison, Joyce Liu, & the Cantor Pamela Siskin Memorial Choir z”l
Rabbi Amy L. Morrison
Parashat Yitro teaches us a powerful lesson about asking for help even when it’s hard. Moses is doing everything himself, judging disputes, and carrying the weight of the people alone. Yitro, his father-in-law, sees this and gently says, “This is not good.” He encourages Moses to share leadership, to trust others, and to build a system where no one carries the burden alone. What’s striking is not just Yitro’s wisdom, but Moses’s willingness to listen. A great leader admits he cannot do it all.
Many of us struggle with that same challenge. Asking for help can feel uncomfortable, vulnerable, or even shameful. Our tradition reminds us that needing others is not a weakness—it’s part of being human, part of being in community. Judaism is built on relationship, responsibility, and mutual care.
This week, let Parashat Yitro challenge us: do one thing outside your comfort zone. Ask for help you ’ ve been avoiding, offer support to someone new, or share a burden you ’ ve been carrying alone. Together, we are stronger.
Torah Portion Announcements
Saturday, Feb. 7
10am - 11:30am - Minyan “University” Music of Shabbat: Songs from the Diaspora with Joyce Liu
Wednesday, Feb. 11 5pm - Hebrew School
Thursday, Feb. 12
4pm - Nifty Over Fifty Shuffleboard
Parashat Yitro: Exodus 18:1-20:23
Saturday, February 7, 2026 / 20 Sh’vat 5786
Yitro brings his daughter Zipporah and her two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, to his son-in-law Moses. (18:1-12)
Moses follows Yitro's advice and appoints judges to help him lead the people. (18:13-27)
The Children of Israel camp in front of Mount Sinai. Upon hearing the covenant, the Israelites respond, "All that God has spoken we will do." (19:1-8)
After three days of preparation, the Israelites encounter God at Mount Sinai. (19:9-25) God gives the Ten Commandments aloud directly to the people. (20:1-14)
If you are new to Temple Beth-El, welcome!
OPEN COMMUNITY CREATES ENGAGING & DIVERSE JEWISH PATHWAYS
Located in St. Petersburg on Florida's beautiful west coast, Temple Beth-El is a Reform Jewish congregation that has served this area since 1928 and is focused on strengthening relationships and making connections. We are a welcoming Reform community for Jewish and interfaith households to experience an uplifting and joyful sense of belonging as we seek to connect our members with each other and the greater community and world around us.
Enjoy and have a Shabbat Shalom!
Frightened, the Children of Israel ask Moses to serve as an intermediary between God and them. Moses tells the people not to be afraid. (20:15-18)
