On April 4, 2004 BROTHERHOOD sponsored one of its quarterly Sunday brunches. Guest speakers were Temple members Lara and Hugh Feinberg who spoke about roadside safety. Lara founded Families for Roadside Safety, an organization dedicated to disseminating and advertising the need for roadside safety to protect law enforcement personnel when tending to stopped vehicles. Hugh is a State Trooper.

During the month of March the Tzedakah Committee took on a "Villager Project" suggested by Buncombe County authorities to provide assistance to children about to be placed into foster homes. The committee enlisted the Temple senior youth, led by Cantor Deb Winston, who proceeded to supply 32 book bags filled with children's necessities such as toiletries, stuffed animals, books, crayons and writing materials. Before delivering the bookbags to DSS they were stored in Cantor Deb's conference room where this picture was taken. Administrator Lea Schultz stands guard.

A week before Passover, a special seder was conducted for the benefit of all the childern in the Temple's Religious School. Here we see Rabbi Ratner demonstrating the art of preparing the afikomon for insertion into a special embroidered matzah cover.

The Temple Adult Choir was busy preparing for some special Passover music. Here the choir is shown practising under the direction of Cantor Deb Winston, ably accompanied by Vance Reese.

Just before the congregational seder began on April 6, the choir is shown ready to do their stuff. Members of Congregation Beth Israel have agreed to join the choir for participation in the Yom HaShoah program which this year will be conducted at the Temple April 18.

Three representatives of Israel at Heart visited Beth Hatephila April 22nd. They are students in their 20's who travel throughout the world to speak about everyday Israeli life in an informal and non-political way. Left to right: Elad Goz, Naftali Aklum (he was born in Ethiopia and is a professional musician), and Anat Bahat.

Beth HaTephila hosted the spring meeting of the Board of the Mid-Atlantic Council of the Union for Reform Judaism. Business began April 23 with Shabbat dinner and services at the temple. Saturday services were conducted at the Holiday Inn Sunspree with kalloth and business meetings to follow through Sunday. Shown here are (right) President of the MAC board David Shapiro (Charleston, WV), and board member Scott Winter (Roanoke, VA).

Where Jews gather there is gastronomic Judaism. And in Asheville there is no better place to practice it than at a shabbat seder at CBHT. The dinner was catered for this occasion by our very own chef Dennis Pitter. Here Dennis' assistant Joey Meeker serves hungry congregants and guests from the MAC board.

Rabbi Robert Ratner of Congregation Beth HaTephila (l.) enjoys a good story with Rabbi Scott Sperling, Director of the Mid-Atlantic Council, at the oneg following Friday's shabbat services.

This image doesn't really have anything to do directly with the MAC Board meeting, but who would pass up an opportunity for posting our ever smiling Cantor Deb Winston with husband Bob, enjoying the oneg?

Monday May 17th was this year's date for the annual ISAAC LICHTENFELS Institute for Christian Clergy. Chaired by Sam Shermis, this year's event featured Dr. Amy-Jill Levine, New Testament professor at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee. Her subject was "The Jesus Christians and Jews Don't Know." She covered her material during a morning session at Beth HaTephila for Christian clergy, including brunch. The evening session was attended by clergy as well as the general public at First Baptist Church.

The pictures attest to the impact of her address.

On June 15th, 35 congregants and guests listened intently to a presentation by Sid Singer about the political paradoxes in Israel. Sid and his wife Ina reside in Arad six months of the year and spend the reaiming months in Asheville. The photos reflect the concentration of the audience and the dedication of the speaker.

Beth HaTephila hosted the bi-monthly meeting of the Jewish-Christian Dialog Interfaith group on June 17. The group is chaired by our own Dr. Sam Shermis and involves clergy and members of diverse religious institutions in the area. This sampling of images shows Sam, Fr. Chuck Taylor of St. John's Episcopal Church and Rev. Harold Littleton of First Baptist Church with other clergy and interested lay people discussing issues arising from the question of faith vs. war.

The ANNUAL MEETING of the congregation was held June 24, 2004. Yes, yes, we know, it's already the beginning of summer, but what better event to cap a very busy spring season? A record attendance of members discussed and approved the 2004-2005 budget which is getting close to half a million dollars; approved the nominees for officers and board members as proposed by the nominating committee; approved an amendment to the by-laws which updates the requirement for a quorum; and enthusiastically applauded the announcement of Debbie Winston's achievement of full Cantorate after she successfully passed all requisite exams at the HUC-JIR School of Sacred Music in New York. Here are some of the highlights:

President Charles Gershon makes an important point while Secretary Pam Gretz looks on.

Legal counsel and former president Kerry Friedman comments on the proposed amendment to the by-laws.

Listening intently to committee reports are Sid Schochet (c.) flanked by wife Mary and fellow congregant Kerry Friedman. That's Temple Administrator Lea Schultz in the background.

Pam Gretz gives a report on this year's Hard Lox Café project.

Lotte Meyerson raises a point concerning the budget, especially as it might impact the Social Justice Committee, of which she is chair.

The Nominating Committee report is given here by chairman Arnie Sgan. All current officers were renominated for another term. Three new Board members were nominated and elected: Dr. Robert Pozner, Jan Schochet, and Chuck Itzkovitz. Leaving the board after their third term are Dick Braun, Ned Simon and Nikki Erickson.

This time, Temple Administrator Lea Schultz is definitely in the foreground, with Jan Schochet (l.) and Sharon and Vic Fahrer sharing her table.

Rabbi Ratner reports to the congregation.

After announcing cantor Deb Winston's ordination as Cantor, the new Chazzanit and husband Bob are relaxed as they observe the rest of the anuual meeting's proceedings.

Chazzanit Debbie Winston gives her report to the congregation.