News and Announcements

Hebrew School 12/7 and 12/14 with classes at 3, 4, and 5:00 pm. No Hebrew school on 12/21 and 12/28.

Is it chilly out there?

1 Kislev 5777—2 Tevet 5777

Come warm up with us!

Chili, Salad, & Latke Dinner Friday, December 16 at 6:00 pm Please RSVP to the Temple

“O, man! What I learned on my journey to Oman.” Join us for a morning with Chaplain Jason Loscuito! Sunday, December 11 at Beginning with Breakfast at 9:00 am and Dr. Loscuito at Approximately 9:30 Please RSVP for Breakfast!

The Reverend Jason Loscuito, has served as the Col- lege chaplain and Co-Director of the Interfaith Studies Program at Converse College for 9 years. He is an ordained Baptist minister. Jason completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Samford University and his Master of Theological Studies degree at The Boston University School of Theology. He is married to Chamlee McGuire Loscuito, CEO of The HOPE Center for Children, and they have a daughter, Abigail.

Founder of the First Reform Kibbutz,
Ron Bernstein, to Speak Wednesday, December 14th at 6:00 PM
Dinner at Select, 880 S. Pine Street

RSVP by December 12th to The Temple
$15 dollars per Person Seating is Limited to 30

Born and raised in New York, Ron grew up in a Reform Jewish household. Before making Aliya in 1977, Ron spent his junior year studying at Kfar Galim Agricultural HS near Haifa. Before his freshman year at the University of Albany, Ron volunteered at Kibbutz Kiryat Anavim, working as a farmer. Ron spent his sophomore year on a URJ sponsored university program at Hebrew Union College, living at Kibbutz Ma’aleh HaChamisha. In 1977, Ron received his BS in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Delaware. In October, 1977 Ron made Aliya and assisted in the establishment of Kibbutz Yahel, the first Reform kibbutz. Yahel is located in the Arava Desert Valley, the Southern Negev, considered one of the harshest deserts on earth.

Ron was manager of Yahel’s citrus pomelo orchard, the largest of its kind and for years the highest producing in Israel, for twenty five years. In addition to farming, Ron is a tour guide, accompanying temple and federation groups visiting Yahel. Ron also manages the logistics for the NFTY summer group’s desert adventure sponsored by Yahel. Between 1999 and 2001, Ron served as shaliach for URJ’s Youth Division in New York.
Between 2011 and 2013 Ron served as shaliach for Jewish National Fund (JNF), responsible for connecting with the Jewish Communities in TX, OK, AR, NM and LA. At present, Ron is serving as IMPJ Director of Resource Development Small Southern Jewish Communities. Ron is married to Gila, and has three children and two grand- children. Ron’s youngest child was adopted from China thirteen years ago.
About the IMPJ

The Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism (IMPJ )is the umbrella organization of all Reform communities and institutions in Israel, today totaling close to 50 congregations and institutions across the country, from Rosh Pina in the North to the Arava in the south. The IMPJ seeks to promote Israel’s character as a Jewish and democratic state by nurturing the values of Jewish pluralism, social and religious tolerance, gender equality, equal rights for all, justice and “Tikkun Olam” – repairing the world. To this end, the IMPJ works in a wide range of areas, including: Education, building and developing congregations, young adult leadership, social action, Arab–‐Jewish relations, and activities for immigrants. Jewish values are the guiding principles of all the work that this IMPJ carries out.

Spartanburg Green Congregations’ Chaplain Ron Robinson is going to speak on December 7 at 8:30 to 9:30 in the morning at the Temple. Breakfast will be offered. Conservation and recycling efforts are underway locally, regionally, and even nationally. Included in these efforts is a new group in Spartanburg called Spartanburg Green Congregations. The special session will focus on the organization’s efforts to promote reference for the Earth in the web of life. Learn more about faith communities that are gathering together to reach many diverse individuals to encourage love and respect of the Earth, the Common Ground upon which the faith community is built

Left to right: Rabbi Liebowitz, Rabbi Ingber, Dr.Rob McCormick, & Gary Poliakoff.

We’d like to thank the following institutions and individuals who have helped put to- gether this interfaith effort: USC Upstate and Dr. Rob McCormick, Wofford College and Chaplain Ron Robinson, Converse College and Chaplain Jason Loscuito, Central United Methodist and Pastor Tom Norrell, Unitarian Universalist Church and Reverend Sally Beth Shore, St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church and Father David Whitman.
We’d also like to acknowledge the follow- ing members of the religious and general community: Cheryl August, Tom & Joan Barnet, Stephen & Sandy Gordin, Jon & Cathy Lewson, Mike & Ina Minsky, Helga Moglin, Hank & Marla Steinberg, Nancy Anderson, Jay & Pam Kaplan, Dr. Dwight & Nancy Lambert, Gary & Sandy Smiley, Ben & Lynn Stauber, Gary Poliakoff, and Junie & Irene White.