Upcoming Gatherings and Programs
We invite you to join us for upcoming services, programs, and community gatherings designed to connect, inspire, and engage.
Click on each tile for more information.
Please note that dates and details are subject to change—be sure to check back regularly for the most up-to-date information.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Temple Shalom Book Club: Shylock’s Venice |
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Monday, August 11, 2025 | 7:30pm (Zoom) This August, Temple Shalom’s Book Club is heading to Italy—more specifically, to the heart of Venice—as we discuss Shylock’s Venice: The Remarkable History of Venice’s Jews and the Ghetto by Henry Freedman. Despite its title, Shylock’s Venice offers little of Shakespeare or Shylock himself. Instead, Freedman paints a vivid portrait of Jewish life in Venice from the late 15th century through the fall of the Venetian Republic in 1797. His book explores how Jewish residents navigated centuries of restrictions and resilience, all while contributing to a thriving intellectual and commercial culture, especially through the rise of the printing press. Judith Dileo will facilitate what promises to be a rich and lively conversation. We hope you’ll join us! Register to receive the Zoom link here.
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Shabbat on the Hill |
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Friday, August 15, 2025 | 5:30-7:00pm (Room 101 Patio) Join us for a joyful, family-friendly outdoor Shabbat experience with a lively musical service, a casual pizza dinner, and popsicles for everyone. It’s a great opportunity to meet our clergy, staff, and other Temple friends in a relaxed and welcoming setting.
We look forward to celebrating together! |
Teen Ice Cream Gathering |
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Tuesday, August 26, 2025 | 4:00–6:00 PM Cool off with ice cream and catch up with friends as we kick off a new year of teen programming at Temple Shalom! Come hear about exciting opportunities, share your ideas, and get involved. Open to all 8th–12th grade teens—bring a friend and your sweet tooth! |
Elul (Preparing for High Holy Days): Coffee with Clergy, A Casual Conversation for the Soul |
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Thursday, September 4, 2025 | 12:30pm (Library) Join our clergy for a warm and intimate "Coffee with the Rabbi." This is a unique opportunity to connect personally, ask questions about the High Holy Days, reflect on the past year, or simply share a quiet moment of preparation over a comforting cup of coffee. No agenda, just conversation and connection as we journey towards renewal.
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Family Fun Fest |
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Sunday, September 7, 2025 | 9:30–11:30am Kick off the year with joy at our Family Fun Fest! Join us for a lively morning featuring Family T’fillah , hands-on crafts, games, cooking activities, and the chance to meet our wonderful Temple Shalom staff. Whether you’re new to the community or returning for another great year, this is a perfect way to connect, celebrate, and have fun together! Families with young children and prospective members are especially welcome. |
Elul (Preparing for High Holy Days): Memories of Temple Shalom |
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Wednesday, September 10, 2025 | 7-8:15pm (Zoom) In December 2025, Temple Shalom will proudly mark its 75th anniversary – a remarkable milestone in our rich history. From our founding in 1950 by 225 families, meeting in borrowed spaces, to our current vibrant home on Temple Street, our community has grown, adapted, and flourished. Join Rabbi Abrasley for a special gathering to journey through these seven and a half decades. Share your cherished memories, reflect on the moments that have defined us, and discuss how Temple Shalom has evolved, always striving to be a place of warmth, learning, and connection for generations. |
Elul (Preparing for High Holy Days): Walk with a Rabbi |
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Thursday, September 11, 2025 | TBD (meet in 1st floor lobby) Join our clergy for a neighborhood walk. We’ll connect with one another, reflect on the past year and consider how to be our best selves in the year to come. Join us for a lovely walk with your fellow community members as we look forward to the holiday season.
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Shabbat B'Yachad Selichot & Welcome Back BBQ |
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Friday, September 12, 2025 Start the evening with Tot Shabbat, a joyful and engaging service for our youngest community members and their families! Then reconnect with friends of all ages at our festive Welcome Back BBQ—perfect for catching up after summer. We’ll continue with Shabbat B’Yachad and a meaningful Selichot service, offering warmth, reflection, and spiritual preparation for the High Holy Days. We’ll cap off the evening with an engaging adult dinner, creating space for deeper conversation and connection. All are welcome for this multigenerational celebration of community and renewal. |
Shabbat Mind: Mindfulness & Meditation |
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Saturday, September 13, 2025 - 12:00pm (Room 101 & Zoom) Join us for Shabbat Mind, an hour of Shabbat-inspired stillness and reflection led by members of our community. Shabbat Mind includes guided imagery, meditation, discussion, and sharing. Appropriate for all experience and comfort levels. For more information please email Renee Brant
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Welcome Back Bagel Brunch |
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Sunday, September 14, 2025 | 10:00pm (Social Hall) Join Sisterhood for a warm and welcoming Bagel Brunch on Sunday, September 14 at 10:00 AM! Reconnect with old friends, meet new ones, and enjoy a delicious spread of bagels and treats as we kick off the new year together. The brunch will take place during Temple Shalom’s Activity Fair, an opportunity to explore all the ways to get involved in our vibrant community. All are welcome. Come hungry and curious!
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Find Your People Activities Fair |
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Sunday, September 14, 2025 | 10-11:30am (Social Hall) Come discover all the ways to get involved at Temple Shalom. Representatives from our many clubs, committees, and groups will be on hand to share information and answer your questions. Whether you’re passionate about social action, learning, spirituality, or just looking to meet new people, there’s something for everyone. Stop by to find meaningful, fun, and engaging ways to connect, contribute, and strengthen our community. No Registration Necessary |
Nechama Post-Abortion Kits Assembly |
Sunday, September 14, 2025 | 4-5:00pm (Social Hall)
Join us in assembling care bags filled with items generously donated by Sisterhood and Temple Shalom congregants. These bags will be delivered to HealthQ Reproductive and Sexual Health in Lawrence to support patients following medical abortions.
To learn more or get involved, please contact:
Laura Scharf laurahscharf@yahoo.com
Abby Fierman abbyfierman@gmail.com
Your time and care will make a meaningful difference. Thank you!
Elul (Preparing for High Holy Days): Memories of Loved Ones |
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Wednesday, September 17, 2025 | 7-8:15pm (Zoom) During Elul, it's customary to visit the graves of our loved ones, a poignant tradition as we approach the New Year. While their physical presence may be gone, their spirit remains vibrant in our memories. Whether you are remembering someone who died decades ago or in this past year, this session offers a heartfelt space to reflect on and celebrate the legacies of those who have shaped our lives, finding comfort and connection in the stories and moments we hold dear. |
Elul (Preparing for High Holy Days): Parent Learning |
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Sunday, September 28, 2025 | 10:15am (Library) This workshop invites parents to slow down and thoughtfully prepare for this New Year by exploring what it means to bring our "best selves" to the sacred task of raising children. Through guided reflection and shared wisdom, we'll aim to identify areas for growth, practice self-compassion, and envision a new year filled with even greater connection, patience, and joy within our family lives. |
Jewish Milestone’s Program:
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Saturday, October 5, 2025 | 10:15am -12:00pm (Room 101) During this program, we'll delve into the meaning behind the Milestone of Consecration, the official beginning of a child’s Jewish education. This program begins with some text study, community building, and ends with using our creative sides to design a memory box for your child’s Jewish journey.
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Little Explorers |
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Sunday, October 5, 2025 | 10:00am–12:00pm (Nursery School Level) Future Dates include: November 23, December 21, January 11, February 8, March 15, April 12, May 3 |
October 7th Memorial Observance and Film Screening |
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"October 8th" Documentary Film Showing Join Temple Shalom for a meaningful evening of remembrance and reflection. We will begin with a short memorial service, honoring the memory of those lost in the October 7th attack, followed by a screening of the powerful documentary October 8th. This film captures the personal and national aftermath of the tragic events in Israel on October 7, 2023, offering space for collective mourning and deeper understanding. All are welcome for this sacred and thought-provoking gathering. |
Family Sukkot Celebration |
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Wednesday, October 8, 2025 | 5:00–7:00pm (Sukkah & Room 101) Celebrate Sukkot with an evening of joyful hands-on fun for families with children ages 0–12! Join us for a festive gathering featuring Sukkot Garden Club activities, crafts, and plenty of opportunities to shake the lulav and etrog. We'll enjoy supper together in the sukkah as we celebrate the harvest holiday and the beauty of being in community. All are welcome—come build memories, connect with others, and experience the magic of Sukkot as a family! |
Soup in the Sukkah with Sisterhood |
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Thursday, October 9, 2025 | 6:00pm (Sukkah) Temple Shalom Sisterhood members and potential members are invited for a cozy and meaningful evening in the sukkah as we enjoy delicious homemade soups, warm company, and the joy of gathering during this festive season. In the spirit of Sukkot and tikkun olam, please bring a donation item for Dignity Matters, an organization supporting women and girls in need. We would love to have you bring a pot of your homemade soup to share. Please indicate on the registration form if you intend to bring 8 - 10 servings of soup (no nuts, please.) Let’s nourish our community—body and soul—together. |
Shabbat Mind: Mindfulness & Meditation |
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Saturday, October 11, 2025 - 12:00pm (Room 101 & Zoom) Join us for Shabbat Mind, an hour of Shabbat-inspired stillness and reflection led by members of our community. Shabbat Mind includes guided imagery, meditation, discussion, and sharing. Appropriate for all experience and comfort levels. For more information please email Renee Brant
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Sukkot Yizkor |
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Tuesday, October 14, 2025 | 6:00pm (Zoom) Join us on Zoom for a reflective and meaningful Yizkor service as we honor the memories of our loved ones during Sukkot. This sacred moment invites us to pause, remember, and find comfort in community as we mark the conclusion of the High Holy Day season. All are welcome to attend this virtual service of remembrance. |
Senior Fall Brunch for Congregants Age 80+ |
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Thursday, October 16, 2025 | 11:30am – 1:30pm (Room 101) Members aged 80 and above are invited to a special brunch gathering at Temple Shalom. Feel free to bring a guest. If you’d like a ride, we’re happy to help arrange one. Questions? Please contact: We look forward to spending this special time with you! As part of our 75th anniversary celebration, we invite seniors who are interested in sharing their stories for our upcoming Historical Documentary to schedule a time for an interview either before or after the brunch. To learn more or to sign up, please contact Mitchell Dickerman at mdickerman@gmail.com. Your memories are an important part of our Temple’s history—we’d love to include your voice! |
Simchat Siddur: A Joyous Milestone for Our 5th Graders |
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Friday, October 17, 2025 Join us for a heartwarming evening as we celebrate our 5th grade students at Simchat Siddur, a special Shabbat service where each child receives their very own siddur (prayer book) and learns their B'Mitzvah date and Torah portion. This beautiful tradition marks the next step in their Jewish journey, as they deepen their connection to prayer, community, and Torah. The evening begins with a 5th grade family dinner at 5:30 PM, followed by a joyful Shabbat service at 6:30 PM. We can’t wait to celebrate this meaningful milestone together! |
Temple Shalom Film Club Returns: The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob |
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Sunday, October 19, 2025 | 12:30pm Join us as we kick off Season 2 of the Temple Shalom Film Club with the wildly funny French farce The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob (1973). This slapstick classic mixes outrageous comedy with a message of tolerance, as a bigoted businessman finds himself impersonating an Orthodox rabbi while on the run. The film is in French with English subtitles and is appropriate for teens and mature children. Bring your lunch—we’ll provide drinks and snacks! Stay after the film for a lively discussion on the movie and its take on the Jewish experience. Space is limited—please sign up in advance. Questions? Contact Dick Morrison at rjm23456@gmail.com.
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Annual Brotherhood Blood Drive |
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Sunday, November 2, 2025 | 8:30am – 1:30pm (Social Hall) Help save lives by donating blood at Temple Shalom’s annual Brotherhood Blood Drive! In partnership with the American Red Cross, this important event is a meaningful way to give back to the broader community. Appointments are encouraged and walk-ins are welcome as space allows. Donors of all blood types are needed. Together, we can make a difference. Questions? Contact Allan Cole at ajcole@comcast.net |
Shabbat B'Yachad Celebrating our Consecration Students |
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Friday, November 7, 2025 Join us for a joyful and meaningful evening celebrating our Consecration students as they begin their formal Jewish learning journey. During the Shabbat B’Yachad service, the children will be called to the bimah for a special blessing from our clergy. Before services, enjoy viewing the memory boxes lovingly created by each family to honor this milestone. Start the evening with a spirited Tot Shabbat for our youngest families, then gather for a festive family dinner. We’ll conclude with oneg, a Teen dinner & an adult dinner designed to spark connection and conversation. This multigenerational evening is open to all—come celebrate community, tradition, and new beginnings together. |
Shabbat Mind: Mindfulness & Meditation |
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Saturday, November 8, 2025 - 12:00pm (Room 101 & Zoom) Join us for Shabbat Mind, an hour of Shabbat-inspired stillness and reflection led by members of our community. Shabbat Mind includes guided imagery, meditation, discussion, and sharing. Appropriate for all experience and comfort levels. For more information please email Renee Brant
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Little Explorers |
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Sunday, November 23, 2025 | 10:00am–12:00pm (Nursery School Level) Future Dates include: December 21, January 11, February 8, March 15, April 12, May 3 |
Shabbat Mind: Mindfulness & Meditation |
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Saturday, September 6, 2025 - 12:00pm (Room 101 & Zoom) Join us for Shabbat Mind, an hour of Shabbat-inspired stillness and reflection led by members of our community. Shabbat Mind includes guided imagery, meditation, discussion, and sharing. Appropriate for all experience and comfort levels. For more information please email Renee Brant
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Little Explorers |
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Sunday, December 21, 2025 | 10:00am–12:00pm (Nursery School Level) Future Dates include: January 11, February 8, March 15, April 12, May 3 |
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