Scholar-in-Residence Shabbat - Temple Sha'arey Shalom

Temple Sha’arey Shalom of Springfield kicks off 2012 with a six-month series of special events in honor of Rabbi Joshua Goldstein, the Temple's Rabbi, who is retiring on June 30, 2012 after 30 years.  Six special programs have been planned to celebrate and recognize Rabbi Goldstein's immeasurable contribution and dedication to the synagogue he has called home since 1982.  The first program, a Scholar-in-Residence Shabbat on Friday, January 20, 2012 at 8pm, will feature guest speaker Rabbi David Goldstein, the Rabbi's brother.  Rabbi David Goldstein is Rabbi Emeritus of Touro Synagogue in New Orleans and an Adjunct Professor at Tulane University.  He specializes in Spanish Jewry and his topic will be “Wine, Woman and Death: The Drama of the Golden Age of Jewish Life in Moslem Spain.”  

Other scheduled monthly events honoring Rabbi Goldstein are--  

• Sunday, February 26, 10:15am:  “The Great Discoveries of Biblical Archeology and Their Significance” with guest speaker Rabbi Ari Goldstein, Rabbi Goldstein's nephew.

• Sunday, March 18, 10:15am:  The Rabbi’s Annual Brunch featuring “Reflections on People and Moments Over Three Decades”

• Friday, April 27, 8pm--Intergenerational-Yom Ha’atzmaut Shabbat featuring a concert with "Seeds of Sun."

• Sunday, May 20, 4pm:  Yom Yerushalayim Concert with the New Jersey Cantors Concert Ensemble  ($18 in advance; $20 at the door)

• Friday, June 15, 8pm:  Erev Shabbat Service featuring the klezmer sounds of the Hester Street Troupe

• Friday, June 22, 8pm: Erev Shabbat Service, followed by Toasts in Honor of Rabbi Goldstein

The community-at-large is invited to all events.  Temple Sha'arey Shalom is located at 78 South Springfield Avenue in Springfield.  For more information about these programs, contact the Temple office at (973)379-5387 or office@shaarey.org.  

About Temple Sha’arey Shalom: Temple Sha'arey Shalom is a mid-sized congregation that has served Springfield and the surrounding local Jewish community for more than 50 years.  The synagogue welcomes children, young adults, singles, seniors, and families of all shapes, ages and sizes--including single parents, interfaith families and Gay and Lesbian families. 

In addition to its thriving Religious School and popular Pre-School, there is a wide array of educational, informational, entertaining and social programs to enhance the Temple experience.  Special programs, activities and events include lectures, workshops, panel discussions, community-service opportunities, adult bar/bat mitzvahs, conversational Hebrew classes, book discussion groups, speakers and trips.  The temple also boasts extremely active Brotherhood, Sisterhood, Youth and Renaissance (Seniors) groups. 

Shabbat services are creative and varied.  There are Family Shabbat services at 7:30pm on the first Friday of each month, Children’s Shabbat morning services for K-3rd grade families on Saturdays at 9am, monthly Tot Shabbat services--perfect for pre-school families—at 6:00pm on the third Friday of each month, and Adult Study minyans on Saturday mornings.  Erev Shabbat services take place from the second through the last Friday of each month at 8pm and ALL ARE WELCOME.   For more information, please contact the Temple office at (973)379-5387, email office@shaarey.org or visit our website at www.shaarey.org.