TEMPLE BET YAM CELEBRATES 25 YEARS!!!

On Saturday, December 15^th, the congregation of Temple Bet Yam, along with many guests, celebrated Temple Bet Yam’s twenty-fifth anniversary. It was an evening that mixed nostalgia and fun, great food and fellowship. From the Temple’s humble beginnings when two couples, Shelly and Marty Cohen and Betsy and Kal Lee, met in a downtown plaza, the evening traced the Temple’s history in skits, songs, narration and pictures. As the congregation grew, the need for more space prompted the purchase of land on Wildwood Drive. Eight years ago the congregation moved from the Unitarian Fellowship, their home of fourteen years, to a building of their own. It was a day of celebration and tears of joy as Rabbi Mark Goldman led the congregation in a procession into the new sanctuary, accompanied by “Maestro” Art Heilweil, of blessed memory, who played joyous tunes on his accordion. As the Torahs were placed in the beautiful ark, with stained glass panels designed by congregant Shirley Rudnick, and the Ner Tamid, a gift from congregant Mimi Selig, was lit, the congregation was finally, and truly, home.