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As a TBS member, you play a critical role in maintaining our Reform Jewish presence in Springfield. Without you, we would not be here today. Unfortunately, member dues and other income do not cover our operating expenses. Fundraisers fill the gaps. Our biggest fundraiser is our annual Century Club and its success depends on you!

We all benefit from Temple life. Your contributions to the Century Club help us maintain: our beautiful and historic sanctuary; religious school education of our children; our spacious community building used for events such as last year’s community Seder; our social action endeavors, including the Thanksgiving baskets project; our Rabbi, caretaker and secretary; and meaningful religious services, adult education, and the celebration of holidays and life cycle occasions.

Anyone can join the Century Club with a $100 donation. Participation brings you recognition as one of the most committed pillars of TBS and says that we can count on you!

The exact location and entertainment for this year’s “Speakeasy” event on November 4^th is still in the planning stage, but you can bet that it will be a great party of celebration. Invitations with the details are at the printer and will be mailed to all TBS members by October 1^st.  Please RSVP quickly so we can finalize plans.

If you have been a Century Club member, thank you for your past support. Can we count on your participation again? If you have not participated in the Century Club, we hope this is the year that you will!   For additional information, please contact Committee Chairs, Bob and Natalie Silverman, 217-553-8878.

Temple B’rith Sholom and Temple Israel are hoping during the coming year to pursue a joint Torah restoration project as a way of bringing our congregations closer together.

Rabbi Yochanan Nathan of Chicago has performed repairs on one of Temple Israel’s scrolls several years ago.  He has also been a gracious host to our Religious School students on their ninth-grade trip to Chicago, explaining to them the nature of his craft as a scribe and the rules regarding the writing and repair of Torah scrolls.

Rabbi Nathan will be coming to Springfield on Tuesday, June 19th to inspect the two congregations’ Torah scrolls and to provide an estimate of the cost of repairing each.  He will take a break from what will be a very busy day (inspecting ten scrolls in total) to make a presentation about the work of a “sofer” (scribe).

Members of both congregations are invited to attend his very interesting and instructive presentation at 12:15 p. m. Tuesday, June 19th at Temple Israel.



Two years ago, Temple B’rith Sholom teamed up with the Jewish Federation of Springfield and Temple Israel to be one of five cities with small Jewish populations to take the Grinspoon Foundation challenge to create a culture of philanthropy in our community.

Each organization successfully obtained at least 18 letters of intent indicating intention to leave a bequest or make a cash donation of $1,000 or more to our endowment. This is the second year that all three donations have succeeded in meeting the challenge, and each has qualified for $10,000 over two years of unrestricted money from the Grinspoon Foundation in acknowledgement of our effort.

This money has gone into our general operating account, and all our endowment donors, whether in response to Grinspoon, or earlier donors, were recognized at a Joint Service and deli dinner on June 1, 2018 at Temple Israel.

Dear Temple B’rith Sholom Congregants:

The “Fix the Temple” fundraising committee sincerely appreciates your pledges.  We are well on our way towards reaching our goal of $198,500 which will enable us to begin work on fixing the water drainage problems and updating our kitchen and vestry room as outlined in the newsletter.

Thanks to all of you who have pledged so far.  This is a progressive list that will continue to be added to as more pledges come in.  If you don’t see your name listed, be assured it will be in the next newsletter printing.  If you have not already been contacted for your pledge, you will be receiving a call within the next few weeks.