We hope you are enjoying your summer! This month's VOICE has several articles about how Temple Beth El members are having an impact on congregant lives and making a difference in our community. If you would like to get involved in any projects or Temple committees, please contact our executive director, Dr. Laura Bernstein.

For more than ten years, TBE has hosted an extraordinary group of teens from the Washington D.C. area known as Operation Understanding DC.

Operation Understanding DC's mission is to build a generation of African American and Jewish community leaders who promote respect, understanding and cooperation while working to eradicate racism, anti-Semitism and discrimination. This year they visited the Shalom Park Freedom School, and met one of Charlotte's most celebrated Civil Rights activists, J. Charles Jones.

Sacred Giving: It's in our hearts. It's in our hands. 

If you did not receive your Sacred Giving packet in the mail, please contact Candace Naliboff, Director of Congregational Engagement.

The Temple Beth El Sacred Study Fund has been established through the generosity of lovers of learning like Barbara Stoner and Kent Novell. The Fund will further experiential learning in and around Shalom Park and Charlotte.

This fund will provide support to Jewish study programs and events for adults at TBE. Study opportunities include engaging and innovative programs such as scholars-in-residence; regular programs of Talmud Lunches, Jolts of Judaism, Book Clubs, and Mondays with Martin Buber; Temple Beth El University; and Entering Kabbalah classes. These opportunities will be considered in consultation with any committee that helps facilitate learning for adults. 

Thanks to the Callifs for their gift. Read more on the TBE website to learn more about planned giving.

Your rabbinic search committee is on task and on schedule to find our next senior rabbi. The 14-member group has reviewed resumes from several candidates referred by the Rabbinic Placement Commission (RPC), a joint effort of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, Union for Reform Judaism and Hebrew Union College.

Due to vacation schedules and other factors, the number of responses slowed in July after the initial flurry when the opening posted in June. RPC representatives expect the rate to increase again as fall approaches. For more information on the timeline and to see a complete list of committee members, visit the TBE Inside News webpage.