Posted on March 7, 2024
Tuesday, April 23, 6:00 pm, Come one and all for our traditional Passover seder, led by Rabba Kaya Stern-Kaufman, with songs, prayers, and stories. The evening features a delicious catered kosher meal, with menu options that include vegetarian, vegan, or nut-free meals.
Posted on February 11, 2024
Please join us Saturday evening for a musical Megillah reading, and Sunday morning for carnival games, prizes, activity stations, refreshments, and a very special magic show!
Posted on November 30, 2023
We plan to light candles at the temple on seven of the eight nights of Hanukkah. Please join us to usher in the light, together.
Posted on September 27, 2023
Yom Kippur 2023 Sermons “Israel – The Hope” Sermon for Yom Kippur, 5784/2023, by Rabba Kaya Stern-Kaufman Looking about in this room, we see a beautifully diverse community with members from varied Jewish and non-Jewish backgrounds. Our synagogue is affiliated with the Conservative movement, but we have members who come from Reform, Reconstructionist and Orthodox Continue Reading »
Posted on September 27, 2023
Rosh Hashanah 2023 Sermons “Birds, Bees and Butterflies” Sermon for Rosh Hashanah Day 1, 5784/2023 by Rabba Kaya Stern-Kaufman I want to begin by thanking Pastor David Clark whose ideas greatly influenced my sermon today. We are so blessed to live in such a beautiful place, where each season brings its treasures and where in Continue Reading »
Posted on September 12, 2023
Dear Friends,
As we approach the High Holidays I am reminded of a powerful statement in one of our essential prayers.
Posted on September 6, 2023
Everything you need to know about High Holidays at Temple Israel in Portsmouth.
Posted on September 6, 2023
Yom Kippur 2022 Sermons “On Shame and Forgiveness” Sermon for Kol Nidre 5783/2022, by Rabba Kaya Stern-Kaufman The following is a Midrash – a Rabbinic Legend: On the 6th day of creation, when God was ready to create human beings, God decided to give human beings a special gift. Each one of them would receive Continue Reading »
Posted on September 6, 2023
Rosh Hashanah 2022 Sermon & Video “Dor Hamidbar – The Wilderness Generation” Sermon for Rosh Hashanah Day 1, by Rabba Kaya Stern-Kaufman The wonderful Hebrew poet Zelda wrote a poem about names- about how each person carries many names based on their experiences, their behaviors, their gifts and their limitations. She writes: Each of us Continue Reading »
Posted on September 6, 2023
Yom Kippur 2021 Sermons “Telling Our Stories” Sermon for Kol Nidre, by Rabba Kaya Stern-Kaufman We have choices. Our lives are a series of choices that have brought us all individually and collectively to this moment. Brukhim Habaim-Welcome to this moment! In our foundational origin story, when Adam and Chava eat from the Tree of the Continue Reading »
Temple Israel Stands with Israel.