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Word from Our Rabbi
Rabbi Dr. Janet B Liss, December 2025
I attended the American Zionist Movement Biennial in Manhattan Sunday and Monday as a delegate representing the Reform Movement’s slate Arza. I have been part of this organization since 2016 when I had the privilege for the first time of being a delegate at the World Zionist Congress in Jerusalem. The location of the Biennial was kept secret for security reasons and no one was permitted to share the location in any social media post. I remember two years ago, when I was at the Biennial, that the location could not be disclosed, either, as it was less than a month after the October 7th attack, when everyone was on high security alert. This time felt very different as the World Zionist has become a dog whistle for a torrent of Anti-Semitism that has been unleashed across the globe following October 7th. A week ago, a protest was held outside the Park Avenue Synagogue in New York City because the synagogue was hosting a nefesh b’nefesh workshop for people interested in learning about making Aliyah (immigrating) to Israel. This, according to Mayor-elect Mandami, was an illegal event. When did it become illegal in the United States to hold an event focusing on Aliyah? Obviously, it is not, but this is scary and does not bode well for Jews living in the 5 boroughs of New York City under the new incoming Mayor. He is fostering more hatred for Jews, and he hasn’t even taken office yet.
They gave out swag at the conference, including a white tote bag with a picture of Theodore Herzl and the words "The American Zionist Movement." I did not take the bag because I did not want to be seen holding it on the streets of New York. I have never even held that thought before.
One of the highlights for me was an interview with journalist Abigail Pogrebin and President Isaac Herzog. I recorded it, and I hope to share excerpts during Services this Friday night. I look forward to sharing highlights from the conference over the weekend.
This Saturday night, we are introducing Movie Night and Havdalah. We will be showing the movie Eleanor the Great at 7, followed by a discussion and Havdalah. We will be serving popcorn. There will be no dinner, as the room will be set up for the fabulous Hanukkah bingo party on Sunday. The movie is about a 94-year- old woman, Eleanor, who, after losing her best friend, Bessie, moves to NYC and joins a support group where she appropriates Bessie’s stories as her own. You can imagine where this leads. Scarlett Johansson directed and produced the film.
I hope to see you over the weekend, which will be packed with fun opportunities to be together!
Rabbi Liss
Rabbi Dr. Janet B Liss, October 2025
During Sukkot, we are commanded by God to rejoice in the celebrations of our holiday. Perhaps before the end of Sukkot, we will truly be able to fulfill this commandment. For two years now, every moment of the day has been tinged with sadness and grief as we pray that our hostages, who have been in captivity for over two years, will be released.
It is with bated breath and anticipation that all eyes are focused on Israel as we wait and see if the current Trump peace plan and hostage deal will go through. What is puzzling to me is the radio silence that I have experienced from my friends and colleagues in Israel, who are usually very chatty about the hostage situation. After two years of this ongoing war, God willing, we will see the hostages released so that they and Israel and the Palestinians can begin the long road toward recovery. I will happily relegate all of my “bring them home” candles, jewelry, pins, and shirts to history and museums. The day after, for both Israel and Gaza, will be a reckoning for the current leadership and the time to accept the moral consequences of the failings that allowed October 7th to happen.
It was very uplifting to see so many people over the holiday period. We were blessed to have non-members present at every Service, and hopefully, they will choose to become active members of our Temple family. A number of people approached me to express their interest in having an adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah. On Sunday, October 26, we will have a meeting at 11:15 for anyone who is interested in pursuing this. If you cannot be there, please reach out to me and let me know of your interest. I am happy that Susan Goldstein has volunteered to work with this group as well.
On Saturday night, October 25, during our adult education program, we will be examining Jewish texts on the Afterlife. I invite you to join us for a light dinner, study, and Havdalah. No prior knowledge is required, just a willingness to learn and partake in lively discussion, good food, and spiritual nourishment for the soul.
I hope to see you over the weekend of October 24th and I hope and pray we will have reason to celebrate true joy together.
Shalom,
Rabbi Janet B. Liss
Rabbi Dr. Janet B Liss, September 2025
On September 20, I will have the privilege of officiating at Aurora Cohn’s Bat Mitzvah. I hope you will be able to be there to help her celebrate this milestone in her life. This will be the perfect way to spend the last Shabbat of 5785 as it will help this past year end on a high note for all of us. It has been very exciting for me to watch and participate in the personal growth and progress that Aurora has made since I first met her two years ago. She has transformed from a shy and quiet child into a proud self-confident teenager. Aurora has worked hard on her Hebrew skills and it really shows. The Cohn family is a perfect example of taking God’s commandment to teach your children seriously. With her father Seth’s help and her brother Werner’s help, Aurora has mastered her portions and will be able to lead us in prayer with confidence. As the entire congregation has been invited to continue the celebration with them Saturday night, I hope to see many of you there. It will truly be a joyous event.
Monday, September 22nd we will usher in the New Year together. This year will mark my 40th year of leading High Holy Day Services. I can honestly say that this year truly is the most difficult year to be writing sermons because of the state of the world. There is so much turmoil enveloping us and so many people everywhere are struggling to keep their heads above water whether financially, emotionally and for physical and mental health reasons. I hope that the time we spend in prayer will be both spiritually meaningful and healing as we come together as a community to support one another as a comforting family holding each other as we struggle to find meaning in today’s world.
After the kiddush luncheon on Tuesday, I invite you to join us for Tashlich, when we will go to a body of flowing water to symbolically cast off our sins. This year we will use a new liturgy that was just published by the Central Conference of Reform Rabbis which I know you will find meaningful. The service is brief and impactful. It is a worthwhile way to spend a half hour on Rosh Hashana afternoon.
The beauty of being in a small congregation is seeing how many people are involved in keeping it going. This past year, many people have volunteered and helped shape a meaningful Jewish experience for you. This year we call on you to make a commitment to get involved. Join the many people who give to this congregation in so many meaningful ways from making sure we have challah on Friday nights to insuring our security when we are together, from paying bills to getting a new roof on the building, from teaching our children and reaching out to the sick, from helping us bury our loved ones, to officiating at life cycle events, from hosting me and Grace to feeding us as well, from being active on the board to being active in Sisterhood. The list of how you can be involved is endless. Do you want to make a difference in your life? Do you want to make a difference in this world? Start by helping sustain Temple Beth Shalom and by enhancing what we already do. Step up and let us count on you in this New Year.
L'shana tova tikatavu!
May this be a sweet New Year for us all.
Rabbi Dr. Janet B. Liss
Rabbi Dr. Janet B Liss, August 2025
I wrote this article on Tisha B’av from Jaffa where we arrived after spending 4 days in Jerusalem. Tisha B’av commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temple in Jerusalem traditionally attributed to senseless hatred between Jews. On Tisha B’av it is customary to fast and read the Book of Lamentations. Lamentations laments the destruction and the wanton behavior of the Jews living in that period. The parallels between those times and today once again sadly show us the timelessness of our Biblical texts and how human nature does not change. For 3½ years Israelis have been going to weekly protests. For 10 months over the horrible judicial reforms that the current government was trying to put through, and then following October 7th, the protests were against the war in Gaza and wanting the hostages to be freed. This Shabbat, Hamas released pictures of two hostages who are so emaciated that they look like Holocaust victims, one being forced to dig a grave in the tunnel presumably for himself. Hamas stated that they are getting the same food as the Palestinians. From what we saw, there is no way these men are going to survive without being released immediately. Yet, we face a government whose majority coalition does not care. The opposition is screaming, and the majority of Israelis are screaming yet the ruling coalition cares more about staying in power, not having to take responsibility for the intelligence failures, and keeping Bibi out of jail all over the lives of the hostages. Today is day 667 in captivity. It is heartbreaking. The senseless hatred between Jews in Israel is played out every single day in Israel where the pleas to end the starvation and the war in Gaza fall on deaf ears. This is not a story that will end well.
I am involved in a weeklong seminar on Crisis and Creativity, and I will have much to share with you over the next several months. I look forward to our next visit to Hickory beginning on August 15th.
May you continue to enjoy your summer!
Rabbi Dr. Janet B. Liss
Rabbi Dr. Janet B Liss, June/July 2025
I received the letter below regarding results of the World Zionist Congress recent delegate election. Thanks to all of you who voted!
Vote Reform won a commanding victory! Your work has paid off! Our slate received more votes than any of the 22 slates by a wide margin. We got the largest number of votes in the history of the WZC - and we did so by running a fair, honorable campaign and holding up our Reform Jewish values.
We are the largest U.S. voice at the World Zionist Congress. This is a victory for the democratic ideals and Reform Jewish values that we share. This will mean that we will fight for pluralism and democracy; and secure significant funding for Reform causes. Our community showed up and it made a powerful difference. Our work is not done. We face significant opponents seeking to deny our rights and oppose our values. We need you to stay at the table and involved in the fight. We will continue to push for just and fair elections. Countries around the world are holding their elections throughout the summer. If you have friends in Canada, click here for the Canadian election site
This outcome shows that when we organize and act, our movement leads.
In this time of vulnerability, of increased antisemitism, our victory is an expression of our unwavering commitment to Israel. We will use our strong showing to continue to push for the release of the hostages and the security of Israel as a Jewish and democratic State.
Our win is a win for the future that we are going to build together.
Rabbi Josh Weinberg
Vice President, Israel and Reform Zionism, Union for Reform Judaism
Executive Director, ARZA
Rabbi Dr. Janet B Liss, May 2025
Counting the Days / Counting the Votes
We are in the period of the days between the holidays of Passover and Shavuot which is marked by counting the Omer. This tradition is based on the biblical commandment to bring an omer (a measurement) of barley as a wave offering to the Israelites from the day after the first day of Passover until 49 days have passed and we celebrate Shavuot (Sundown- Erev Shavuot June 5th), honoring the giving of the Torah. Each grain of barley was a physical way to mark the days between the holidays before there was a formal calendar. A blessing is recited each evening including what number day it is of the Omer. This period is a time of reflection and spiritual growth preparing us to commemorate receiving the Torah at Sinai.
As we patiently count the days, the voting in the World Zionist Congress elections is over and now we await the results. We know that more than 211,000 Jews have cast their votes going to 22 different slates. This was the highest voter turnout in history. I want to personally thank everyone of you who voted. On the last day, I reached out to a lot of people and I brought in close to another 50 votes. The number of votes will determine which slates will comprise the 152 American delegates and how many people from each of the 22 slates will have representatives. These 152 delegates make up about 1/3 of the total worldwide delegations who control an annual budget of 1 billion dollars. Most of this money is spent in Israel and some goes abroad to further the World Zionist Congress’s broader agenda.
This year, on two separate occasions, fraud was identified that was committed by at least one ultra-religious party. 2000 votes were thrown out the first time and I have yet to see what happened in the second case. It does not speak well of those who feel the need to cheat because they feel so threatened by slates whose values do not match their own. It is quite disappointing. One of the rabbis of the ultra-religious from Bnei Brak demanded that one of the ultra-religious parties drop out of the elections all together because of their own outlook on the State of Israel. I was surprised that the American party did not obey.
So, we wait. We wait to see what the count will be. And the message is the same. Every Jew counts. Every Jew is needed. Even you. We need you to come to our annual meeting. We need you to step up and be counted.
I will be back on May 16th. I hope to see you either at Services, Adult Ed, Sunday School or the annual meeting. Can we count on you?
Rabbi Dr. Janet B. Liss
Rabbi Dr. Janet B Liss, April 2025
World Zionist Congress Elections
Voting is open
Register to Vote Today!
Have you registered to vote in the World Zionist Congress elections? We need your vote. The World Zionist Congress determines the leadership and policies that affects global Jewish priorities and the distribution of 5 billion dollars. By voting, you help ensure that the values of inclusivity, equality, and peace are at the forefront of the Jewish communal agenda. Your participation is vital. We are literally fighting to fund the Reform Movement in Israel and protect values that we hold dear. Together, by participating we can campion a vision of Zionism that embraces our progressive ideals and strengthens the bond between Israel and the diaspora.
How to vote: Register to cast your ballot for the Reform Movement slate to support leaders who are committed to a pluralistic and democratic Israel. There is a $5. Registration fee which offsets the administrative costs of running this election. Voting is open until May 4th. Don’t wait.
Once you register and agree with the Jerusalem platform and pledge to keep Israel a pluralistic and democratic state, you will receive a Voting pin number which you need to vote. It can be texted or emailed. It is easier to have it texted to you.
Enter the pin number and make sure to go Vote Slate #3- VOTE REFORM. Then scroll down and hit cast my ballot. You will then see a screen that confirms your vote and you are done. Can we count on you?
TO VOTE GO TO: www.vote4reform.org. If you need help, see me when I am in town and I can easily walk you through the steps. It only takes a couple of minutes to complete. After you vote, reach out to me and let me know that you have voted.
I am organizing a weeklong Solidarity Mission to Israel. The itinerary is outstanding and the experience is life changing. The only piece I do not have at this moment are the dates. Once we have a group together, we together will determine when it will be best to go. If you are interested, please email me at rabbijanetb.liss@gmail.com or text me at 516-318-8868.
I look forward to seeing you in April!
May you and your loved ones have a Zessen Pesach!
Rabbi Dr. Janet B. Liss
Rabbi Dr. Janet B Liss, February 2025
Grace and I have spent an amazing week and a half in Israel, finishing our Rabbinic mission this evening (February 1st) with Havdalah in Hostage Square in Tel Aviv. It has been a very emotional time to be here with 14 hostages coming home since we arrived. The joy and jubilation at their release weighs heavily on everyone whose loved ones are still waiting to be released and even more troubling for those not in the first 33 on the list to be released. The theme of our trip is Hope and Resilience. We had incredible meetings with people whose presence gives hope to everyone they encounter. Everywhere we went people could not stop thanking us for visiting Israel at this time. There are many American students taking a gap year or studying here and we also saw some Christian groups. It is so important for Jews to come to Israel to witness first hand what is happening here. It is so important to show support by coming here. I’m investigating putting together a week-long mission to Israel in May. If you are interested please reach out to me. I will be speaking about my experiences in Israel when I come to Hickory in two weeks and I look forward to seeing you. May you continue to pray for the return of the hostages.
Rabbi Dr. Janet B Liss, January 2025
Grace and I just returned from a 16-day trip to Sicily. It was very special to visit there over Christmas and New Year’s. There were remarkable decorations around the cities and towns. Sicily, like Israel, is located in a place that made it an access point to all people who were conquering the area. Because of this, the rulers of Sicily kept changing. Remaining are ancient Greek and Roman ruins, churches that were originally mosques, and Arab, as well as Greek and Roman, influence in the architecture of existing structures. We visited many towns where the local guides showed us maps of ancient places. The towns were divided into quarters and there were many with prominent Jewish quarters. Jews lived for centuries in Sicily prior to the Inquisition. Spain ruled Sicily for 500 years and unfortunately for the Jewish community, that included the period of the Spanish Inquisition. Jews were forced to convert, were killed and many left. So we know where the Jewish community lived in these towns and the streets still have Jewish names and sometimes there is some remnant of the community like artwork of a Menorah or a shofar.
One highlight of the trip for me was the Mikveh in Siracuse. This Mikveh was built in the 600’s and is still intact. You go deep underground by a stone staircase that is several flights down. The stairs open into an area with three mikvehs in the center of the room with seating around the side made of stone. On two sides there were private Mikvehs for another two people. The Jewish population of Siracuse was 3500 prior to the Inquisition, and clearly this Mikveh was well maintained and used. It still collects water and was recently used in the adoption process of two young children. The Mikveh has always been used by Orthodox men on Fridays before Shabbat, by women before their wedding, by people converting to Judaism, and by married women following their monthly menstrual cycle. We saw a lot of ruins in Sicily. It was amazing to see this mikveh which can still be used today a good 1400 years after it was built.
Before leaving home, I bought a small traveling Chanukiah for our trip. We arrived in Palermo hours before the first candles were lit on December 25. We lit the candles our first night in the hotel but then we were transferred to a ship. I thought I would light the candles every night on the ship, but I soon learned that they had a no candle rule which was strictly adhered to unless they were celebrating someone’s birthday in the dining room! It took days to work out the logistics to be able to light the Chanukiah on the ship. Finally the last night of Chanukah arrived and with it, came the permission for a lighting. The lighting was done on a deck with a crew member standing by with a fire extinguisher “just in case.” My traveling Chanukiah used birthday candles. Imagine us standing around the lighting of this tiny Chanukiah guarded by a fire extinguisher. We had a lovely lighting, a good laugh, we sang songs and we were joined by both Jewish and non-Jewish passengers and crew members who wanted to be there for the lighting. It felt really good to bring Jewish observance to a place which is pretty much devoid of a Jewish presence today. Some Jews are living in Sicily and a small group has gotten permission from the Bishop to have a synagogue in a Catholic Church which is literally called the Church of Saturday because it originally was a synagogue in Palermo. The small community is renovating this site but from what we were told, it is a project that has taken years and their primary mover and shaker recently died.
For me lighting the Chanukiah this year symbolized hope in a way I haven’t felt before. We need hope. As the fires rage out of control in California, as the days pass and the hostages are still not home, with all of the uncertainty we face as Americans today, we need to keep the light of hope burning in our hearts and souls. May we continue to be a source of hope for each other, as we come together as a community to worship and celebrate our Judaism in these challenging times.
May 2025 be a better year with positive outcomes for all.