Greetings from Rabbi Jim Sagarin

It is with anticipation and excitement that I start my third year as rabbi for Temple Beth El of Dubuque.

Dubuque is a diverse city, with new people joining us and a welcoming congregation - all ingredients for spiritual growth and enrichment. It is my sincere hope that our journey together this year will be a fruitful one, marked by increased interconnectedness and understanding.

Of course there’s more to say, but I’ll leave that for another Temple newsletter. I look forward to seeing everyone!

Shalom U’vracha, Rabbi Jim
james.sagarin@gmail.com

Questions? Want to join? Wondering about things Jewish in Dubuque?
Just email. agarfield@hotmail.com

Temple Events Schedule 5777-5778

2018

Rosh Hashanah begins on September 9 at 7 PM.
  Sunday, September 9: Erev Rosh Hashanah Service, 7:00 PM.
  Monday, September 10: Rosh Hashanah Morning Service, 10:00 AM There is a pot-luck luncheon (from 12:15 PM to 1:30 PM) following the Morning Service. Please bring a salad, cold dish, or dessert to serve approximately 12 people. (Dairy meal: fish, eggs, and milk products.) Please bring in a serving bowl or tray with serving utensils. Fern Reinstein is organizing this meal. You may contact her directly with any questions: threeamstamper@yahoo.com.
  Tashlich Service (from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM) follows the luncheon. Tashlich will take place at the pavilion on the Mississippi, near the River Museum.
  Our Cemetery Service will take place on Sunday, September 16th, at 9 AM at Linwood Cemetery.

Yom Kippur begins on Tuesday, September 18, 7 PM.
  Tuesday September 18: Kol Nidrei Service, 7:00 PM
  Wednesday, September 19: Yom Kippur Morning Service, 10:00 AM
  Wednesday, September 19: Yizkor, 12:30 PM
  Wednesday, September 19: Afternoon Service, 4:30 PM
  Wednesday, September 19: Concluding Service, 5:45 PM
  Wednesday, September 19: Break-the-fast meal immediately follows the Concluding Service. We will ask you to sign up to bring one of the following: herring, hard-boiled or deviled eggs, egg salad, lox, sliced vegetables, fruit, or kugel. Rebecca Gottlieb is organizing this meal. You may contact her directly with any questions: beccagottlieb84@gmail.com

Sukkot: Building, Celebrating and Eating. This will take place on September 27th. Everyone's invited.
>>> 5-6 PM, building the Sukkah
>>> 6-7 PM, meal in the Social Hall (volunteers gladly accepted)
>>> 7-8PM, Children of Abraham conversation in the sanctuary. Come for some;come for all.

October 19: Shabbat service, 7:00 PM Host the rabbi: Oneg: Dinner with rabbi Friday night:
October 20: Family School with Rabbi, 10:00 AM
October 20: Adult Hebrew with Rabbi, noon Dinner/Discussion Saturday night:
November 9: Shabbat service, 7:00 PM Host the rabbi: Oneg: Dinner with rabbi Friday night:
November 10: Family School with Rabbi, 10:00 AM
November 10: Adult Hebrew with Rabbi, noon Dinner/Discussion Saturday night:

December 2: Hanukkah Party (details to come)
December 14: Shabbat service, 7:00 PM Host the rabbi: Oneg: Dinner with rabbi Friday night:
December 15: Family School with Rabbi, 10:00 AM
December 15: Adult Hebrew with Rabbi, noon Dinner/Discussion Saturday night:

January 11: Shabbat service, 7:00 PM
January 12: Family School/Confirmation Class, 10:00 AM
January 12: Adult Hebrew, noon Dinner with rabbi Friday night: Dinner/Discussion Saturday night:

February 15: Shabbat service, 7:00 PM
February 16: Family School/Confirmation Class, 10:00 AM
February 16 Adult Hebrew, noon Dinner with rabbi Friday night: Dinner/Discussion Saturday night:

March 15: Shabbat service, 7:00 PM (Purim Celebration this weekend; details to come)
March 16: Family School/Confirmation Class, 10:00 AM
March 16: Adult Hebrew, noon Dinner with rabbi Friday night: Dinner/Discussion Saturday night:

April 5: Shabbat service—Visitor Service; details to come
April 6: Family School/Confirmation Class, 10:00 AM
April 6: Adult Hebrew, noon Dinner with rabbi Friday night: Dinner/Discussion Saturday night:
April 26: Temple Passover Seder (details to come)
April 27: Family School/Confirmation Class, 10:00 AM (Rest of temple weekend activities TBD)

May 10: Shabbat service, 7:00 PM
May 11: Family School/Confirmation Class, 10:00 AM
May 11: Adult Hebrew, noon Dinner with rabbi Friday night: Dinner/Discussion Saturday night:

June 14: Shabbat service, 7:00 PM
June 15: Family School/Confirmation Class, 10:00 AM

Children of Abraham Book Group

As part of the Children of Abraham's mission to create an "atmosphere of civic life that builds inter-religious solidarity, cooperation, and friendship", we are happy to announce our first Book Group. Starting February 9 at 10am, we are going to explore the ideas in Abraham Joshua Heschel's marvelous little book, The Sabbath. If you haven't encountered it before, many of Heschel's ideas have migrated to main religious denominations since its first publication in 1951. The book is short and full of profound insights and wisdom. Ideal for a book group. We will discuss two chapters each session. We meet at Temple Beth El at 10 AM to discuss the ideas in the book on the following Saturdays for one hour: February 9 & 23, March 9 & 30, and April 13. Come and try it out. We'll even have coffee and bagels. If you want to get the book, we recommend you to our local River Lights Bookstore, (563) 556-4391, on Main Street in Dubuque. You even get a discount if you tell them this is for the Children of Abraham's Book Club. Nothing to lose and a few calories to gain. I hope to see you at some of the discussions.

Children of Abraham 2018-2019

It's our 8th year. Come and participate. Questions, contact agarfield@dbq.edu. Download and print the 2018-2019 poster as a pdf.  11 x 8.5"     17 x 11"

Temple Beth El - Community Memorial Service

On Saturday, October 27, 2018, a gunman walked into the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh PA and murdered 11 Jews during their Shabbat worship. On Monday, October 29, 2018, people of faith in Dubuque, Iowa, came to pray, mourn and support each other and Temple Beth El. After the 1 hour service, an impromptu collection was made for HIAS: Hebrew Immigration Aid Society. An amazing $1424 was raised to help all immigrants. Thanks to all who spoke on such short notice: Cindy Pearce, Ellie Landau, Kate Scheinman, John Eby, Sr. Betty Kugi, Imam Adib Kassas, Claudette Bees, Hank Goldstein, Rev. Dr. Lilian Daniel and Alan Garfield. Thanks always to the support by DACU, the Children of Abraham and to the Sinsinawa Sisters. Photo credits: Brett Pearce.

Former Temple Beth El member Speaking at UPittsburgh about Tree of Life Synagogue Murders. 11-5-18

Kathryn Fleisher (former member) in front of thousands of onlookers at the University of Pittsburgh, delivered a heartfelt and impassioned speech denouncing violence and hate while calling for the community to stand up for love in the face of senseless tragedy. This Facebook video was shared by her proud father, Evan.

Huffington Post article describing the Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism’s call for “commonsense” gun control and a ban on assault-style weapons. Kathryn is featured prominently. Article Here.

Temple Beth El's Sukkot Service with Children of Abraham. 9-27-18

WOW. Talk about the pleasures of inviting the stranger... Over 100 people helped to build our Sukkah, dine with us, and have a Children of Abraham conversation. 9-27-18.

Frontpage TH Sunday article on Temple & Philip Glen's Bar Mitzvah. 5-2-18.
Part 1 : Part 2

Temple Beth El (and friends) at the Jewish Art in Midwest Collections exhibit

Saturday, November 11, 2017. First Jewish Art exhibit ever in Dubuque. Opening on the occasion of the Israeli group, Sofi and the Baladis, at the University of Dubuque. Alan Garfield, Bisignano Art Gallery Director.

Importance of Interfaith in Politics article in the Saturday Telegraph Herald, 9-2-17

Rosh Hashanah article in the Sunday Telegraph Herald, 10-5-16

Hanukkah article in the Sunday Telegraph Herald, 11-29-15

Interview with Becca Gottlieb, Rabbi Anne Persin and Alan Garfield

Mission: Temple Beth El

Temple Beth El is a Reform Jewish Congregation just west of the Mississippi River with about 30 member families. At over 150 years old, we seek to fulfill our religious and ethical goals for our members by being a center for spiritual fulfillment, life-long learning, cultural enrichment, community leadership, social responsibility, and by lovingly entrusting our Reform Jewish tradition from generation to generation. We are committed in our support of the Jewish people throughout the world.

Hanukkah 2018 - December 2.

Sukkot & Children of Abraham, 9-27-18.

Rosh Hashanah and Tashlicht, 9-10-18.

Temple Seder, 4-6-18.

Purim at Temple Beth El. 3-17-18.

Hanukkah at Temple Beth El. 12-9-17.

Sukkot Celebration with Children of Abraham. 10-12-17.

Break-the-Fast. 9-16-17.

Passover. 4-14-17.

Purim. 3-10-17.

Tu Bishvat Seder after Shabbat Service 2-11-17.

Hannukah Celebration and Dinner 12-16-16.

Children of Abraham, Sukkot and Dinner 10-20-16.

Temple Beth El Wining 10-16-16.

Rosh Hashanah and Tashlich 10-4-16.

From Rabbi Anne Persin

Every rabbi is asked throughout their career to find ways to define who they are as a rabbi. As a rabbi who sees myself as a teacher, first and foremost, I am constantly returning to Exodus 35:31 where we read, “And God filled Betzalel with the divine spirit, with hochmah (wisdom), t’vunah (understanding) and da’at (experience) and in all work.” In shaping my rabbinate, I look to Betzalel as my model for recognizing that all three of these ways of knowing—knowing through study, knowing through connecting, and knowing through doing—are all inherent to Judaism. My most sacred duty as a rabbi, therefore, is to bring hochmah (wisdom), t’vunah (understanding) and da’at (experience) to the people I serve. (Excerpted from July 2013 Newsletter.)

Purim Service: 3-19-2016.

Children of Abraham at Temple, 11-19-15

Children of Abraham's Conversation at Temple Beth El on 11-19-15. The subject was, gulp, The Purpose of Life. With over 180 people, we're not used to SRO; special thanks to Cindy, Phyllis, Hank and our Saudi students. We heard about 'Purpose of Life' from a Muslim, Catholic, Agnostic, Buddhist and Jewish perspective. There was even a KCRG news article.

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Make a Difference Day: 10-24-2015.

Rosh Hashanah and Tashlich 9-13-15.

Passover Community Seder 4-3-15.

Visitor's Service 3-27-15.

Purim - 2-28-15.

Tu Bishvat - Temple School, 2-1-15.

Sukkot 2014 - Temple Men's Club and Children of Abraham.

Rosh Hashanah 2014 - Tashlich 9-25-14.

Some past events...