Monday, April 15th, the Rabbinic Search Committee came to the Board of Trustees and unanimously recommended our own Rabbi Beth Klafter to become Temple Beth David's next Senior Rabbi, and The Board of Trustees unanimously accepted our recommendation. It was a wonderful moment in the history of our Temple. We'd like to thank the Rabbis that interviewed with usand the CCAR and URJ" Joint Placement Commission in assisting us through this process.
In addition, we'd also like to thank the Board and the Congregation for their support and patience. We will now move forward into negotiations with Rabbi Klafter for agreement on a contract and terms for her first three years. There will be much more to follow as we move forward and complete the process necessary to bring the Congregation a complete package to consider at the Congregational Meetingon Tuesday, May 28th, in selecting Rabbi Klafter to fill the position.
Rabbi Beth Klafter has served Temple Beth David since 2006. As Director of our ReligiousSchool, she has revised and reinvigorated the curriculum and programming for students in Kindergarten through High School and their families. She has worked closely with the Director of our EarlyChildhoodLearningCenter to develop and lead activities for our youngest children. During her years here, Rabbi Klafter has also officiated at worship services and lifecycle events for our members. Rabbi Klafter has served on the faculty of Eisner Camp, one of the Reform Movement’s summer camps, since 1994. Prior to joining us at TBD, she was the Rabbi Educator at TempleJudea in Manhasset and she was the Associate Rabbi at TempleSinai of Roslyn.Rabbi Klafter earned her undergraduate degree in Religious Studies from BrownUniversity. She has a Masters in Hebrew Letters and a Masters in Religious Education from HebrewUnionCollege – Jewish Institute of Religion. On May 2, 2013, she will receive her Doctor of Divinity honoris causa from HebrewUnionCollege in honor of her 25 years in the Rabbinate.
Respectfully submitted
Rabbinic Search Committee
Welcome
Temple Beth David is a:
House of Worship: Our Rabbi and Cantor lead Shabbat and holiday services, as well as officiate for life-cycle events.
House of Study: We believe in the concept that Jewish learning should be a lifelong endeavor and offer a variety of educational programs, including Nursery School, Religious School, lectures, adult classes, on-line courses and family learning programs.
House of Gathering: Our various auxiliaries provide multiple opportunities for members of our congregation to gather together to do mitzvot, learn, or be with friends.
Our Jewish heritage links us to the people Israel, that great nation born out of the covenants between God and Abraham, at Sinai and descending from the House of David.It is through the bonds of religious affiliation that we are able to keep the covenant alive.Established in 1961, Temple Beth David, a Reform Congregation, was born out of the dreams, desires and determination of a small group of Jewish families. The families organized and word spread.
From our earliest days to the present, we have grown from a small fledgling temple to a congregation over 500 families strong.As a Jewish family community we strive to develop and refine programs that meet your needs, while offering you various opportunities to grow with us and share in our tradition.We treasure the spirit of closeness, warmth and haimishness– that feeling of family – on which Temple Beth David was founded and our congregation thrives.
Rabbi Needleman Farewell
COCKTAIL RECEPTION
On Friday June 14th, we will gather together with Rabbi Needleman and his family as he leads the congregation in prayer for his farewell Shabbat service at Temple Beth David.
Please join us before services for a special cocktail hour in honor of the Rabbi's years of service at Temple Beth David. Share some special moments with the Needleman family over cocktails and hors d'oeuvres.
If you have any questions, please contact Doug Wohl at
dougwohl@gmail.com or call 516-551-8333.
TRIBUTE SHABBAT
The entire congregation of Temple Beth David is invited to a special tribute Shabbat Service as Rabbi Needleman leads our congregation in his final Friday night service on June 14th at 8pm. Services will be followed by a special Oneg in honor of his years with Temple Beth David.
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For a long time the common refrain has been that “religious values” meant “conservative or traditional.” With the decline of the so-called Religious Right the monopoly on terms like “Values Voters” or descriptions that equate religion with only one set of beliefs and values about some contentious issues in civil society. So, when I saw this video from the Center for American Progress, I wondered if there’s a rising set of religious leaders who are asserting their values in the public sphere. Take a look after the jump.
Temple Beth David • 100 Hauppauge Road • Commack, NY 11725 • 631-499-0915
