Springhill Avenue Temple

August is here! The Month of Elul (August 14 – September 11, 2026) is a special preparatory period traditionally dedicated to introspection, soul-searching, and repentance leading into the High Holy Days.

The window of Ezekiel, fourth in our Temple window series:
“Ezekiel, the priest and visionary, whose face contains the brooding sorrow of the Diaspora and the inward gaze of compassion and hope, is here integrated with the fiery wheels of his vision, the scroll of prophecy beside his beard. With one hand he gestures in hope to God, while with his other he encircles the globe of the world covered by the Menorah, signifying that God may be worshipped anywhere in the world, not in Jerusalem alone. Beneath his hand is the Boiling Pot, while upward from the snared Eagle, the symbol of captivity, are shown the Rising Bones symbolic of the return of life of Israel from the death of bo***ge.”
(excerpts from a memoir by Phyllis Brown Feibelman, photo by Sam Feibelman)

We had a delicious congregational breakfast Sunday morning with lox and bagels, varieties of quiche, danish, and fruit, with visiting Rabbi Eric Lazar as our guest.

Another special Friday night Shabbat, with Barry Silverman at the bimah. Visiting Rabbi Eric Lazar, from King of Prussia, PA, delivered the D’Var Torah, followed by an Oneg dinner in the social hall.

Did you know...that one of the saddest days on the Jewish calendar is Tisha B’Av? This day marks the destruction of both the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, and is observed by fasting and praying, among other rituals. This year it falls on July 22 and ends July 23.

Friday’s Shabbat service, led by Dianna Kubat, was made extra special as we honored our congregation Sha’arai Shomayim’s past with a display of photos and documents dating back to the 1800’s. Dianna’s delivery of the parsha (weekly Torah reading), and her commentary, was meaningful and thought provoking as our congregation looks towards a bright future!

See if you recognize anyone in the photos below:

Join us Friday!

Springhill Avenue Temple shares with sadness the passing of Jack Friedlander on July 10, 2026, and extend our condolences to Amy Friedlander on the loss of her husband, as well as Jack’s daughters, Jamie McGinnis (Scott Genzer) and Robin Mayer (Adam), and to his grandchildren, David McGinnis, Meryl McGinnis, and Rachel Mayer.
His obituary can be found here:

Jacob "Jack" Friedlander Obituary (2026) - Mobile, AL - Dressler's Jewish Funeral Care View Jacob "Jack" Friedlander's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

A little history on our Tree of Life on the doors of the Ark:
Like all the original sculpture in the Temple, the Tree of Life was created by renowned New York sculptor Michael Lantz.
He described the Tree he created in bronze outline, "The flowers and entwining branches in the various forms of the Tree of Life is my description of the Everlasting Life. The central porte of the Tree of Life holds the Eternal Light." Above the Tree of Life is a bronze tablet of the Ten Commandments, also created by Lantz.
David Cherniak, son of Rabbi Solomon Cherniak, who served during the design and building of the Temple, states that he believes his father was responsible for choosing the Tree of Life for the sculpture on the doors of the Ark.
(from a memoir by Phyllis Feibelman)

Week 3 of our Temple windows series, Jeremiah.
Jeremiah clearly foresaw the inescapability of a time of desolation, but at the same time his faith in God was strong. He is shown touching the sun "for light by day" and the moon and stars for "for a light by night", the promise of Israel's eternity lifting the yoke of bo***ge around his neck. His faith in the future, the Deed of Property, is in his left hand. The Potter's Wheel is represented, and Rachel is shown weeping for her children, surrounded by scenes of the destruction of Jeruselum and the chains of captivity as prophesized by Jeremiah.