Beth Boruk Temple
Message from our President
Welcome to the Year 5784
August signals back to school for educators, school personnel, parents, and students. Additionally August brings us back together as a community at Beth Boruk. What a joyful return it will be with our annual congregational picnic and Shabbat services! It is with much gratitude that we welcome Jamie Starr back to Beth Boruk to lead our worship, share our joys and challenges, and provide us with new perspectives on Jewish life.
Our sense of community will be enriched with more opportunities to learn and grow together. As we move through the Jewish calendar we will worship together in person and virtually. Through the planned Lunch and Learn sessions we will experience more enrichment and chances to learn from one another.
We look forward to exploring having services in homes of members, gathering during Onegs following services, and adding some lunch options to Saturday educational sessions. I invite you to provide feedback regarding programming and activities for our community. The Board is ready to hear your ideas regarding community building and enhancements.
History has shown us that we gain strength from being together as a group. Let us search together for ways to gain meaning as we live Jewish lives here in east central Indiana.
L’Shana h Tovah,
Lawrence M. Simkin
President of the Beth Boruk Board of Directors
Our Student Rabbi Jamie Starr
Dear Beth Boruk Community,
I am elated to return this year as your student rabbi, and I am equally thrilled to share some wonderful news with you all. This year, our community will gather not just once, but twice a month! Starting in September, we will hold a Friday night Shabbat service and a Saturday morning lunch and learn session each month. This expansion of our schedule will provide us with ample opportunities to grow and thrive as a close-knit community, coming together in prayer, learning, and celebration.
As I reflect on the upcoming year, I find solace and inspiration in the words inscribed above our ark: “Adonai li, v’lo ira – G-d is with me, I shall not fear.” Our tradition teaches us that G-d’s presence is most palpable when we gather as a community. Together, we find comfort, joy, and support in moments of prayer, celebration, and hardship.
We each carry within us a sacred spark of divinity, and this divine light flourishes when we share it with one another. The echoes of heartfelt chants in our sanctuary and the infectious laughter filling our social hall are like sacred music that elevates our spirits. We are truly a holy community, a kehilah kedosha, empowering one another to confront our fears and embrace the richness of life.
As we look forward to the coming year, I am filled with gratitude for the privilege of serving alongside such a vibrant and caring community. Let us come together with open hearts and open minds, creating a space where all feel welcomed and cherished. May this year be filled with blessings, growth, and a deepening sense of togetherness.
L’shalom,
Jamie Starr
HUC Student Rabbi