Our clergy, professional staff, and lay leadership can help provide you with the support, information, and resources for life cycle events including births, B’nei Mitzvah, conversation, weddings, and funerals.
Birth
Mazal tov on your new addition! We love to celebrate with you and are thrilled to welcome the newest members of our Temple Israel family. In addition to sending out birth announcements to our community, our clergy are available to perform baby namings during Qabbalat Shabbat services.
B'nei Mitzvah
From selecting a B’nei Mitzvah date to standing on the bima, all of us look forward to guiding you through this special time in the life of your family. Our goal is to have each of you look back on the process with a deep sense of pride and accomplishment.
Conversion
All of our rabbis are available to meet with individuals and couples who are interested in the conversion process. In addition to one-on-one meetings for study and reflection, we ask our conversion students to take the Introduction to Judaism course offered by URJ.
Wedding
Mazal tov to you and your life partner! Our clergy are available to meet with couples who are interested in spiritual counseling before the big day.
Funeral & Cemetery
“May God comfort you among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.”
The clergy at Temple Israel are here to support when you experience a loss. Please notify us so that we can help guide you through the process.
The Temple Israel Cemetery in Wakefield plays an important role in the life cycle of the congregation’s members. It is a place of history, contemplation, and spiritual renewal.
Remembrance (Yizkor)
We offer a special Yizkor service, dedicated to the memory of our family members and loved ones who have died and for those who consider themselves mourners. This service is held on Yom Kippur and the eves of Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah, Pesach, and Shavuot.
We mourn the loss of:
Paul Kateman
May 15, 2020
Brother-in-law of David Bailen (Helene)
Uncle of Laurence Bailen (Jennifer Weber)
Great-uncle of Daniel, Molly and Lily
Stephen Klein
May 15, 2020
Father of Amy Michaels (Harvey), John Klein, Richard Klein (Leslie)
Grandfather of Laura, Andrew, Tyler, Julianna, Matthew, and Christian
Harold Bishins
May 15, 2020
Grandfather of Andrew Bishins (Sarah)
Great-grandfather of Iris and Sam
Diana Levine
May 11, 2020
Mother of Sam Levine (Sandra) and Edward Levine (Judy Konefal)
Grandmother of Ada, Natanya, and Jacob
Arthur Blasberg Jr.
May 9, 2020
Father of John Blasberg (Jeanne), Arthur Blasberg III (Audra), and Neil Newhouse (Mary)
Grandfather of Jack, Charles, Ann, Bradley, Alexandra, Amanda, Cassie, and Tom (Laura)
Trude Posner
May 7, 2020
Cousin of Fran Putnoi (Don)
Edward Kuchta
May 1, 2020
Father of Michael Kuchta (Karen Weintraub)
Grandfather of Caroline and Josie
Lee Kozol
April 24, 2020
Uncle of Matthew Kozol (Kim)
Great-uncle of Eliana, Michaela and Franklin
Albert Natale
April 28, 2020
Great-Great Uncle of J.A. Fanciullo (Marli Porth)
Great-Great-Great Uncle of Amelie
Ann Fried
April 26, 2020
Mother of Deborah Bates (Joe) and Beth Whitehill (Henry)
Grandmother of Josh and Julie, David Whitehill (Jessica), Simcha Bergman (Ross)
Great-Grandmother of Lana Bergman
Jacob George Miller
April 24, 2020
Grandfather of Matt Ellis (Victoria)
Alice Sherman
April 23, 2020
Mother of Stephen Sherman (Ann), and Oren Sherman (Richard Miller)
Sherman H. Starr
April 22, 2020
Father of Sandy Starr (Raine Figueroa), Tony Starr (Kathy Chazan Starr), Julie Starr Duker (Jay Duker), and Dinny Starr (Alan Gordon)
Husband of Ellie Starr
Grandfather of Sierra and Emma Starr, and 12 others
Great-Grandfather of 4
Juanita Victor
April 22, 2020
Mother of Leslie Victor Kates (Richard)
Grandmother of Alex Kates (April Ondis) and Stacy Kates-Levy (Matt)
Mother of 4
Grandmother of 21
Great-grandmother of 16
Sheila Levine
April 21, 2020
Mother of Amy Levine (Stewart Silverman), Jodi Levine (Lucy), and Andrew Levine (Lauren)
Grandmother of Bennett and Nina, Emily and Julia
David Kerstein
April 19, 2020 (25 Nisan, 5780)
Brother of Michael Kerstein (Maureen)
Uncle of Sarah, Matthew, and Benjamin
Husband of Colleen Kerstein
Father of 4
Grandfather of 3
Rose Bank
April 19, 2020
Great- Aunt of Marli Porth (J.A. Fancuilli)
Great – Great Aunt of Amelie Fancuilli
Sheldon Levine
April 18, 2020
Father of Amy Levine (Stewart Silverman), Jodi Levine (Lucy), and Andrew Levine (Lauren)
Grandfather of Bennett, Nina, Emily, and Julia
Berton Fliegel
April 16, 2020
Husband of Susan Fliegel
Father of Janie Howland (Brian), Lisa Fliegel, and Joshua Fliegel
Father-in-law of Arthur Bocian
Grandfather of Julian, Davis and Russell
We celebrate the birth of:
Oscar Ezra
May 16, 2020
Son of Adam Goodman and Jo Schaalman
Grandson of Alan and Pam Goodman
Penelope Sophia Alba
May 14, 2020
Daughter of George Alba and Lucy Schulson
Casey Bruce Macleod
May 11, 2020
Daughter of Molly and Blake Macleod
Granddaughter of Jon and Margot Davis
Naomi Marina Plotkin
May 6, 2020
Daughter of Sam Plotkin and Daniela Jacobson
Nava & Moriah Schlussel
April 2020
Children of Lizzie Bell and Sam Schlussel
Theodore Santana Goldstein
April 7, 2020
Daughter of Adam and Gaby Goldstein
We celebrate the marriage of:
Greg Katz and Abbie Niebuhr
May 3, 2020