A Shabbat Message
06/27/2025 11:08:19 AM
Jun27
JAY L. KOOPER
TEMPLE B’NAI ABRAHAM PRESIDENT
SHABBAT MESSAGE (June 27, 2025)
My fellow Congregants
Shabbat Shalom! Rabbi Edwards has generously turned over the weekly pre-Shabbat message to me this week. I hope this message finds you all well and having a restful summer so far.
This past week I experienced a joyful event that I know many other TBA families experienced, a graduation. In my case, it was my younger son and future Florida State Seminole, Ethan, from Livingston High School. And it was an extra special graduation as it was my final high school graduation – Jessica and I officially become empty nesters this August! Last month, I had the great honor to sit on the Bimah for a special Friday night Shabbat Service honoring all of our TBA graduates. I felt pride not just for Ethan, but for all of our TBA graduates, many who I first knew as toddlers. They are all such outstanding adults. The future is bright.
These joyous events remind me of two important things. First, graduations may be the final chapter of one phase of life, but they are not endings. Rather, they are new beginnings. That’s why they call graduation ceremonies “commencement” (that, and “commencement” has a nicer ring to it than “termination ceremonies”). Second, especially in a world so consumed by so much troubling news in Israel and here in the United States, now more than ever it is so important to celebrate the simchas both in our families and as a community.
And at TBA this summer and fall, we have both new beginnings and simchas to celebrate. As you all know, this coming Tuesday July 1, our amazing new Cantor Emily Simkin officially arrives at TBA. I know how much Cantor Simkin is looking forward to meeting and connecting with all of you, and I know that feeling is very much shared by us all. In the coming weeks we are going to offer opportunities for everyone to do just that.
If you have not yet marked it down in your calendar, please save the date and join us on Friday evening July 11 on the Singer-Krause Patio for an evening titled “Together In Song”, as we welcome Cantor Simkin to the pulpit for her first official Friday night Shabbat Service outdoors under a gorgeous sky with a “Happy 45 Minutes” wine-and-cheese reception before the service. And, of course, please do not forget to register for our annual Temple B’nai Abraham BBQ on Thursday July 24, and our inaugural “Play All Day With TBA”, which will be our biggest fundraiser of the year, at Crestmont Country Club on Monday September 15. Let’s all give ourselves the opportunity to celebrate new beginnings and simchas together as a TBA family!
Wishing everyone safe and fun travels over the summer, and I look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events! Of course, if there is anything you need from the Temple over the summer, we are here for you and please reach out.
L’Shalom
Jay L. Kooper
President
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Wed, July 2 2025 6 Tammuz 5785