Congregations

St. Petersburg

Selichot: Join the congregation at 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 4, for a pre-Selichot program including Havdalah and installation of USY officers. Featured will be a special musical presentation by Hazzan Paul D. Goldstein titled “Todah v’Zimrah (Thanks and Song): A Taste of the Music of the Choirmaster Louis Lewandowsky.” A reception will precede Selichot eve services. Rabbi Jacob Luski and Hazzan Goldstein, will lead the service, which begin at 10:30 p.m.

Hebrew High School: The fall semester of Hebrew High School begins on Wednesday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. Classes meet weekly for two hours and are open to all students in grades 9-11 who have completed elementary religious school. Students in grade 12 participate in the classes, in addition to special seminars geared for the college bound. Classes focus on discussions and study under the direction of Rabbi Luski.

Time for school: The Pauline Rivkind Preschool is still accepting enrollment for children from age 1-5 for the fall. The school, open to the community, participates in the VPK program and accepts coordinated child care. For more information, contact Bonnie Halprin, preschool director at 302-9668 or email preschool@cbistpete.org.

Religious school: Registration is underway for the Pauline Rivkind Talmud Torah for students from kindergarten through eighth grade. This year a new program called “Sunday Seminars” will be offered for families to participate together. For more information contact Ilana Dayan, education director at 381-4900, ext. 310.

Talmud Made Easy: Stephen Wein will continue his class covering the first tractate of the Talmud, Berachot, on Wednesday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m. in the library. The class will study the actual text, which deals with blessings and praryers, as well as selected commentaries . Knowledge of Hebrew, Aramaic or Jewish or American law is not required or necessary. All materials will be provided. The class is open to all with no necessary prerequisites.

Chabad Center

of St. Petersburg

Creating holiday gifts: Children are invited to the Chabad Center of St. Petersburg on Sunday, Sept. 5 at 11:30 a.m. to make round challahs, bottle honey, create New Year’s cards, and assemble them all as gifts to be distributed locally to individuals that would otherwise have not been part of the holiday preparations. This is free for Chabad Hebrew School students free and is $5 for community members.

English Talmud class: A Talmud class meets at the Chabad Jewish Center every Monday at 7:30 p.m. Participants can delve into the English-language Talmud and discover rabbinic lore. Men and women are welcome. There is a one-time book fee of $18.

Temple Beth-El

St. Petersburg

Sunday schmooze: The Brotherhood sponsored get together for men and women during Sunday school will resume Sept. 12, beginning at 9 a.m.

Food for the needy: The Social Action Committee is collecting non-perishable food for the Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services Food Pantry during the High Holidays. The committee is also urging community members to make a donation to MAZON, a Jewish response to hunger. Paper bags will be available at the temple to bring home and return with food for donation. MAZON donation envelopes will be attached to the paper bags.

Temple B’nai Israel

Clearwater

Dinner time: Temple B’nai Israel’s Chai 5 Club is inviting their paid up members and new members to their annual progressive dinner on Saturday, Sept. 25. This is the first event of the year. For more information, call Audrey at 799-0986. Cong. Beth Shalom

Clearwater

Adult discussion group: A new season of the Talmud Torah discussion group, led by Rabbi David Weizman, will begin on Thursday, Sept. 2 in the social hall at approximately 9:30 a.m. following the minyan service. A light breakfast will be served.

Time for reflection: Rabbi Danielle Upbin will lead a study and reflection hour in the library on Tuesday, Sept. 14 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

Sukkah project: The Men’s Club and volunteers will build and decorate the congregation’s sukkah on Sunday, Sept. 19. Anyone interested in helping, should contact the synagogue office.

Spaghetti dinner: Erev Sukkot, the religious school will hold a spaghetti dinner at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 22. Staff and students will dine in the sukkah in celebration of Sukkot.

Peace Shabbat Sukkot: A candlelighting and Kabbalat Shabbat service will begin on Friday, Sept. 24 at 6:30 p.m. in the Biblical Garden. Following services, a vegetarian dinner will be served. Call the office at 531-1418 for more information and to RSVP.

Cong. Beth Sholom

Gulfport

Shabbat preparation course: Learn the melodies, prayers and rituals of Shabbat in a course taught by Dr. Paul Cohen each Monday at 10 a.m. Members and non-members are invited. Call the synagogue at 321-3380 for confirmation.

Chavurah services: Chavurah Services are now being scheduled on the second and fourth Fridays at 6:30 p.m.The second Friday will be a more traditional and intimate experience, while the fourth Friday will be complemented by live music, contemporary composition and celebration. All are welcome. Cong. B’nai Emmunah

Tarpon Springs

Community Outreach: Join Congregation B’nai Emmunah from 2-5 p.m. on the first and third Sunday of every month as the synagogue cooks and serves dinner to the less fortunate in the community. Participants meet at Mt. Moriah Church, 772 Disston Ave. S. in Tarpon Springs. Call Ed Zisman at (727) 808- 8160 to sign up.

Jewish Enrichment

Center, Clearwater

Women’s Talmud: A class in Talmud to discover the deepest Jewish thoughts from a woman’s perspective will be taught by Raizy Reich during a lunch and learn session every other Wednesday at noon at the Jewish Enrichment Center.

Mystical Hebrew: Study Hebrew with Rabbi Shmuel Reich in the ancient mystical manner on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. For details, call 474-3663.

Young Israel/ Chabad of Pinellas

Palm Harbor

Alphabet lesson: Get a new perspective on the Hebrew alphabet in a new class offered on Wednesdays from 7-9 p.m. at Young Israel/Chabad. The class will analyze the shapes of the letters, the meaning of their names, their value in numerology and the creative force of the letters. The course is free but donations are accepted. All materials will be provided and recordings of each class will be available for $10 per class. For more information or to register, call (727) 789-048 or email rabbi@ yichabad.com.

Parsha class: Explore the weekly Torah portion, with timely messages culled from the commentaries on Wednesdays from 9:30-10:30 a.m. The class is free, although donations are welcome. Temple Ahavat Shalom

Palm Harbor

Selichot: A special Selichot service featuring Florida Orchestra’s Cellist Lowell Adams will be held Saturday, Sept. 4, at 8 p.m. Dessert and coffee will be served followed by Havdalah and the Selichot service. For more information contact the temple office at (727) 785-8811.

Chabad Jewish Center

of West Pasco

Monday night class: The study of Pirkei Avot (Ethics of Our Fathers), offered on Mondays at 7 p.m. at the Chabad Center, will introduce participants to famous Talmudic Jewish sages. The purpose and direction of these essays on Pirkei Avot is based on what is called Talmudic Archaeology, exploring a sage’s biography, geography and historic background to better appreciate his advice and counsel.

School registration: Hebrew School registration is now open for the 2010-11 school year. Scholarships are available. Sunday School is from 10 a.m. to noon. For more information, call Dina at (727) 376-3366.

Cong. Beth Tefillah/ JCC of West Pasco

Port Richey

Adult education: Join Rabbi Al Goldberg every Monday at 11 a.m. at the JCC for discussions on wide ranging topics, including religion and philosophy.

Bingo: Bingo is played every Thursday at the Jewish Community Center of West Pasco. Free coffee and doughnuts are offered and additional food is available for purchase. Doors open at 9 a.m. and the first game is at 10 a.m.