Winter/Spring 2026
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE:
Like so many in our communities – whether local, national, or global – I have found myself these past few months trying to grapple with so much uncertainty everywhere.
Conventional wisdom often holds that religion offers a salve for such anxieties by reassuring us that, no matter our own limitations, we are part of a pre-determined plan whose truth are set high above. But, as so often seems to be the case, common sense is very much not Jewish wisdom. We all know the saying, “two Jews, three opinions” or can rehearse a good “On the one hand…. But on the other hand….” Jews have no single sense of contemporary authority, no clear sense of the end times, and no clear dogma. The rabbis of the Mishna taught that there were 70 faces of the Torah, 70 different, equally valid interpretation of the Bible. I think of this often, at the end of our divrei torah, when members of our Temple often chime in with their own interpretations, doubts, and approaches to the week’s parshah.
Instead of dealing with uncertainty through Divine Truth, Jews have sought to manage it through community. As the famous Talmudic parable the oven of Akhnai teaches, “the Torah is not in Heaven.” Its truth lies with us as we argue, muddle through, express doubt and confusion. Jews are a people of multiplicity. Throughout the millennia, we developed countless legitimate ways of being Jewish in dialogue and often fierce disagreement with our Jewish and non-Jewish neighbors. But always in community
One of my favorite Jewish takes on what it means to struggle with uncertainty comes from the philosopher Walter Benjamin. For Benjamin, Judaism was special because it was unwilling to give up our uncertainty about the future. For Jews, the messianic age was neither imminent nor far off, but fundamentally uncertain. Any moment could be the “narrow gate” through which the messiah entered and inaugurated a world fundamentally unlike the one we live in now. The founders of the Reform Movement sought distance from any literal expectation of the messiah. Instead, as they articulated in the 1885 Pittsburgh Platform, they saw our collaborations in “the pursuit of truth, justice, and peace among all men[kind]” as the thing that would bring about the messianic aspirations expressed by previous generations. It feels like their optimism for an “era of universal culture of heart and intellect” might be needed now more than ever.
How do we get there? To give the very Jewish answer: I’m not sure. But I’m grateful to have you as the community in which we get to struggle – in multiplicity, in generosity, in doubt, and in disagreement – together over these questions.
– Jonah Rubin, Temple President
RABBI’S MESSAGE:
Happy secular new year, Temple Sholom! And may it be a year filled with happiness, blessings, and peace. I hope your 2026 calendar is filled with events you are looking forward to.
On a personal note, one of the things I’m eagerly anticipating is beginning a year-long program to become a Certified Facilitator of the FASCETS Neurobehavioral Approach later this month. I have attended a series of trainings with this organization, and I believe it has made a huge difference in my personal and professional life. As their website notes, the FASCETS, “approach has been life-changing for people with all brain-based differences such as ADHD, FASD [Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder], autism, acquired brain injuries, stroke, dementia, and more. This brain-based approach fosters compassion over anger, acceptance over blame, and significantly reduces frustration, ultimately leading to better outcomes for everyone involved.”
I embrace their philosophy that behaviors are communication, and challenging behaviors can be a great indicator that there is a mismatch between expectations and a person’s abilities.
As most of you know, my kids can display some really difficult behaviors at times, and I agonize over the best ways to correct and accommodate their conduct at the Temple. I believe that there is a discrepancy between their chronological age and their developmental age. For example, sometimes Darrell’s behavior is commensurate with someone about half his chronological age (fighting to be the one to extinguish the shabbat candles, blurting out inappropriate words during services, etc). Coming from this perspective, it is understandable that sitting quietly for extended periods of time or showing age-appropriate behavior at Religious School can be very difficult for them. They seldom attend services, or that we choose the behaviors that we correct because David and I do our best to accommodate their needs and abilities in order to foster stronger bonds and to help them find success in environments where they thrive. This is why we have not set dates for JJ and Darrell’s b’nai mitzvah yet. We’re waiting until they are ready, and we are respecting their timelines.
Beyond my family, this approach has really helped me whenever I encounter people who think and act differently than me. Viewing behaviors as communication eliminates the need to attribute positive or negative values to what I’m seeing. I hope it has made me a better whole-hearted listener, and better able to be present with each of you. I love talking about the neurobehavioral approach, so please let me know if you would like to learn more.
I hope the new year brings us all a bit more love and compassion. May we see the world grow into a more kind and accepting place. Happy 2026.
– Jennifer Bunde, Rabbi
SERVICE SCHEDULE
Services are hybrid, with Zoom access. Contact Temple Sholom for the Zoom address.
| Date |
Leader |
Oneg |
Tech |
Shamash |
Holiday/Notes |
| 1/9 |
Amor |
West |
D. Bunde |
|
|
| 1/16 |
Rabbi |
Karlin/Raley-Karlin |
Lyon |
Raley/Karlin |
|
| 1/23 |
Karlin/Raley-Karlin |
Bunde |
J. Bunde |
|
|
| 1/30 |
Rubin |
Bunde |
Lyon |
|
Tu B’Shevat (2/2) |
| 2/6 |
Gold |
Lyon |
D. Bunde |
|
|
| 2/13 |
Rabbi |
Rubin |
Amor |
|
|
| 2/20 |
West |
Rericha |
J. Bunde |
|
|
| 2/27 |
Jacobs |
Gold |
Lyon |
|
Purin (3/3) |
| 3/6 |
Schulz |
Greathouse |
D. Bunde |
|
|
| 3/13 |
Rabbi |
Cohn/Eberhardt |
Amor |
Raley-Karlin |
|
| 3/20 |
Amor |
Karlin/Raley-Karlin |
J. Bunde |
|
|
| 3/27 |
Lyon |
Schulz |
Lyon |
|
Passover begins 4/1 |
| 4/3 |
D. Bunde |
West (Passover) |
D. Bunde |
|
|
| 4/10 |
Karlin/Raley-Karlin |
Karlin/Raley-Karlin |
Amor |
|
|
| 4/18 |
Rabbi |
Rubin |
Lyon |
Gold |
Sat. morn in Macomb |
| 4/24 |
Gold |
Lyon |
J. Bunde |
|
|
| 5/1 |
West |
Rericha |
D. Bunde |
|
|
| 5/8 |
D. Bunde |
Jacobs |
Amor |
|
|
| 5/15 |
Jacobs |
Satisky |
J. Bunde |
|
|
| 5/22 |
Rabbi |
Cohn/Eberhardt |
Lyon |
M. Lyon |
Shavuot (5/22) |
| 5/29 |
Satisky/Schulz |
H. Lyon |
Amor |
|
|
| 6/5 |
Lyon |
Karlin/Raley-Karlin |
J. Bunde |
|
|
| 6/12 |
Rubin |
Schulz |
D. Bunde |
|
|
Leaders can find the names to read before the kaddish at this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XbSNpEzbUZ3_JU98yxm04BKYcHyu7L66/
You will find the list of names to read for Mi Shebeirach at this link:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1utWU0ZCuLr6iFCeiV3mw4XngrfaOIx7xDswU0uXz9Hg/
Oneg responsibilities include: providing the food for the oneg, setting it out in the social hall, and cleaning up afterwards. (Beverages are kept in stock at the temple.) If you cannot attend services the evening you are assigned for the oneg, please switch with someone for another night, rather than just dropping off the food ahead of time. Thanks!
Need to switch?
If you cannot lead the service or provide the oneg, please find someone to switch with. Inform David Bunde of the switch.
TEMPLE NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mazel tov to Chuck Shulz, who has officially retired from working in the IT department at Knox as of December 31, 2025.
On October 26, the Temple held an installation ceremony for Rabbi Jennie. We had a service, light lunch, and a performance by Kol Shira (below), who played Jewish music from around the globe.
. 
SAVE THE DATE!
The Temple Passover Seder will be Wed, April 1. (No joke!)
More details to come!
2026/5787 Festival Schedule
(Note: festival begins at sunset on these days)
Tu B’Shvat Feb 1
Purim Mar 2
Yom Hashoah Apr 13
Shavuot May 21
ACCESS TO BROOKSIDE CEMETERY
For security reasons, car access to Brookside Cemetery is controlled by having a locked gate at the entrance, but you can always walk in through the smaller gate to the side. Please make sure the gate is closed after you exit, with the padlock re-locked. If you have any questions or would like to receive the lock code, please contact one of the cemetery trustees: Bob Bondi, David Amor, and Jeremy Karlin.
Scholarship funding available for Jewish camps: a $200 scholarship per child per year to families sending children to Jewish camps. A maximum of $1,000 will be budgeted yearly. Apply to the Temple Treasurer by February 1.
The Hesed Committee
Once a year we put a reminder in the bulletin about the Temple’s Hesed Committee. If you know of someone who might need assistance, or if you could use some help yourself, contact Gabe Raley-Karlin (gabe.raley@gmail.com), who will follow up from there. Examples of the kinds of help we can provide:
- Dinner meals for a period of time when someone is ill, or for a family where a new baby has been born.
- Rides to services for those who can’t drive.
- Visits to someone who is ill or in a nursing home.
- Participation in daily services during shiva, and providing food at the home.
- Welcoming newcomers to the community.
DONATION RECORD
In honor of Robert Geraci’s birthday
Kristofer and Joanne Young
In memory of Khaya Taymonova
The Fayman Family
In honor of Rabbi Bunde’s installation
Nancy Eberhardt and Steve Cohn
In memory of Eva Faynova
The Fayman Family
In honor of Douglas Bunde’s bar mitzvah
The Bunde Family
In honor of Zack Bunde’s bar mitzvah
The Bunde Family
In support of Temple Sholom
Steve and Marjorie Cooper
Mary and Murrell Howell
Arlene and Steve West
In thanks for keeping them on the mailing list
Janis Zilinskas
In memory of Michael Fayman
The Fayman Family
Don’t see your name? If you have made a donation but do not see your name on this list and/or have not received an acknowledgement by mail, please let Nancy Eberhardt know. Sorry in advance for any slip ups!
Making a donation to Temple Sholom? If you would like to make a donation to Temple Sholom, please send your check to: Maury Lyon, Treasurer, identifying the nature of the gift (e.g., in memory of, in honor of, or for the speed recovery of a particular person). Maury will notify Nancy Eberhardt, who takes care of correspondence concerning such gifts (e.g., notifying the family of the deceased that a gift has been made in memory of that person).
Give to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund
The Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund was established by the Temple Sholom Board in 2024, at the time that Rabbi Jennie Bunde was engaged as our rabbi. A regular part of most congregations that have ongoing clergy, this fund is intended to provide Rabbi Jennie with the means to provide tzedakah on behalf of the congregation to individuals and charitable organizations in times of need, both in the congregation and in the larger community. It can also be used to help the rabbi with professional expenses, books and other materials used to further her professional development. The Temple does make a contribution to the Fund each year, but the hope and expectation is that gifts from congregants and friends of Temple Sholom will also help to build the fund.
If you are planning a gift to Temple Sholom, please consider making it to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund. It could be in memory of a loved one, an expression of thanks for a life milestone, or any other reason, even just to support the fund. Checks should be made out to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund (NOT to Rabbi Jennie personally) and sent to Maury Lyon, Treasurer.
Happy Tree of Life Donations
Donations may be made in recognition of a variety of events, for example: in honor of a happy occasion (anniversary, birth, bar/bat mitzvah, birthday, etc.), or in honor of an individual or family. Donations may be made by an individual or a group, and may be made at three levels: a leaf ($200), an acorn ($500), and a stone ($1,000). A leaf can be engraved with four lines of text with 20 characters in each line, plus a brief fifth line (often a date). Acorns and stones are larger than leaves and can accommodate more text. Sample wordings can be found by looking on the Happy Tree of Life. If you want to make a donation, you can send your gift, along with specification of wording, to Maury Lyon, Treasurer.
Memorial Plaques: If you would like to purchase a memorial plaque ($250), send your donation and desired wording to Maury Lyon, Treasurer, Temple Sholom. You will find samples of what to include on the plaque by looking at ones already on the memorial board.
Gift Shop
Gift shop offerings have been pared back to candles (Shabbat, memorial, Hanukkah) and mezuzot. These items are in the plastic set of drawers under the Happy Tree of Life. Place the money in the fish bowl. Please let Faye know if we are low on any items.
Winter 2026 Bulletin
February 6, 2026 by templesholomgalesburg • Uncategorized Tags: Bulletins, Temple Bulletin •
Winter/Spring 2026
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE:
Like so many in our communities – whether local, national, or global – I have found myself these past few months trying to grapple with so much uncertainty everywhere.
Conventional wisdom often holds that religion offers a salve for such anxieties by reassuring us that, no matter our own limitations, we are part of a pre-determined plan whose truth are set high above. But, as so often seems to be the case, common sense is very much not Jewish wisdom. We all know the saying, “two Jews, three opinions” or can rehearse a good “On the one hand…. But on the other hand….” Jews have no single sense of contemporary authority, no clear sense of the end times, and no clear dogma. The rabbis of the Mishna taught that there were 70 faces of the Torah, 70 different, equally valid interpretation of the Bible. I think of this often, at the end of our divrei torah, when members of our Temple often chime in with their own interpretations, doubts, and approaches to the week’s parshah.
Instead of dealing with uncertainty through Divine Truth, Jews have sought to manage it through community. As the famous Talmudic parable the oven of Akhnai teaches, “the Torah is not in Heaven.” Its truth lies with us as we argue, muddle through, express doubt and confusion. Jews are a people of multiplicity. Throughout the millennia, we developed countless legitimate ways of being Jewish in dialogue and often fierce disagreement with our Jewish and non-Jewish neighbors. But always in community
One of my favorite Jewish takes on what it means to struggle with uncertainty comes from the philosopher Walter Benjamin. For Benjamin, Judaism was special because it was unwilling to give up our uncertainty about the future. For Jews, the messianic age was neither imminent nor far off, but fundamentally uncertain. Any moment could be the “narrow gate” through which the messiah entered and inaugurated a world fundamentally unlike the one we live in now. The founders of the Reform Movement sought distance from any literal expectation of the messiah. Instead, as they articulated in the 1885 Pittsburgh Platform, they saw our collaborations in “the pursuit of truth, justice, and peace among all men[kind]” as the thing that would bring about the messianic aspirations expressed by previous generations. It feels like their optimism for an “era of universal culture of heart and intellect” might be needed now more than ever.
How do we get there? To give the very Jewish answer: I’m not sure. But I’m grateful to have you as the community in which we get to struggle – in multiplicity, in generosity, in doubt, and in disagreement – together over these questions.
– Jonah Rubin, Temple President
RABBI’S MESSAGE:
Happy secular new year, Temple Sholom! And may it be a year filled with happiness, blessings, and peace. I hope your 2026 calendar is filled with events you are looking forward to.
On a personal note, one of the things I’m eagerly anticipating is beginning a year-long program to become a Certified Facilitator of the FASCETS Neurobehavioral Approach later this month. I have attended a series of trainings with this organization, and I believe it has made a huge difference in my personal and professional life. As their website notes, the FASCETS, “approach has been life-changing for people with all brain-based differences such as ADHD, FASD [Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder], autism, acquired brain injuries, stroke, dementia, and more. This brain-based approach fosters compassion over anger, acceptance over blame, and significantly reduces frustration, ultimately leading to better outcomes for everyone involved.”
I embrace their philosophy that behaviors are communication, and challenging behaviors can be a great indicator that there is a mismatch between expectations and a person’s abilities.
As most of you know, my kids can display some really difficult behaviors at times, and I agonize over the best ways to correct and accommodate their conduct at the Temple. I believe that there is a discrepancy between their chronological age and their developmental age. For example, sometimes Darrell’s behavior is commensurate with someone about half his chronological age (fighting to be the one to extinguish the shabbat candles, blurting out inappropriate words during services, etc). Coming from this perspective, it is understandable that sitting quietly for extended periods of time or showing age-appropriate behavior at Religious School can be very difficult for them. They seldom attend services, or that we choose the behaviors that we correct because David and I do our best to accommodate their needs and abilities in order to foster stronger bonds and to help them find success in environments where they thrive. This is why we have not set dates for JJ and Darrell’s b’nai mitzvah yet. We’re waiting until they are ready, and we are respecting their timelines.
Beyond my family, this approach has really helped me whenever I encounter people who think and act differently than me. Viewing behaviors as communication eliminates the need to attribute positive or negative values to what I’m seeing. I hope it has made me a better whole-hearted listener, and better able to be present with each of you. I love talking about the neurobehavioral approach, so please let me know if you would like to learn more.
I hope the new year brings us all a bit more love and compassion. May we see the world grow into a more kind and accepting place. Happy 2026.
– Jennifer Bunde, Rabbi
SERVICE SCHEDULE
Services are hybrid, with Zoom access. Contact Temple Sholom for the Zoom address.
Leaders can find the names to read before the kaddish at this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XbSNpEzbUZ3_JU98yxm04BKYcHyu7L66/
You will find the list of names to read for Mi Shebeirach at this link:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1utWU0ZCuLr6iFCeiV3mw4XngrfaOIx7xDswU0uXz9Hg/
Oneg responsibilities include: providing the food for the oneg, setting it out in the social hall, and cleaning up afterwards. (Beverages are kept in stock at the temple.) If you cannot attend services the evening you are assigned for the oneg, please switch with someone for another night, rather than just dropping off the food ahead of time. Thanks!
Need to switch?
If you cannot lead the service or provide the oneg, please find someone to switch with. Inform David Bunde of the switch.
TEMPLE NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mazel tov to Chuck Shulz, who has officially retired from working in the IT department at Knox as of December 31, 2025.
On October 26, the Temple held an installation ceremony for Rabbi Jennie. We had a service, light lunch, and a performance by Kol Shira (below), who played Jewish music from around the globe.
SAVE THE DATE!
The Temple Passover Seder will be Wed, April 1. (No joke!)
More details to come!
2026/5787 Festival Schedule
(Note: festival begins at sunset on these days)
Tu B’Shvat Feb 1
Purim Mar 2
Yom Hashoah Apr 13
Shavuot May 21
ACCESS TO BROOKSIDE CEMETERY
For security reasons, car access to Brookside Cemetery is controlled by having a locked gate at the entrance, but you can always walk in through the smaller gate to the side. Please make sure the gate is closed after you exit, with the padlock re-locked. If you have any questions or would like to receive the lock code, please contact one of the cemetery trustees: Bob Bondi, David Amor, and Jeremy Karlin.
Scholarship funding available for Jewish camps: a $200 scholarship per child per year to families sending children to Jewish camps. A maximum of $1,000 will be budgeted yearly. Apply to the Temple Treasurer by February 1.
The Hesed Committee
Once a year we put a reminder in the bulletin about the Temple’s Hesed Committee. If you know of someone who might need assistance, or if you could use some help yourself, contact Gabe Raley-Karlin (gabe.raley@gmail.com), who will follow up from there. Examples of the kinds of help we can provide:
DONATION RECORD
In honor of Robert Geraci’s birthday
Kristofer and Joanne Young
In memory of Khaya Taymonova
The Fayman Family
In honor of Rabbi Bunde’s installation
Nancy Eberhardt and Steve Cohn
In memory of Eva Faynova
The Fayman Family
In honor of Douglas Bunde’s bar mitzvah
The Bunde Family
In honor of Zack Bunde’s bar mitzvah
The Bunde Family
In support of Temple Sholom
Steve and Marjorie Cooper
Mary and Murrell Howell
Arlene and Steve West
In thanks for keeping them on the mailing list
Janis Zilinskas
In memory of Michael Fayman
The Fayman Family
Don’t see your name? If you have made a donation but do not see your name on this list and/or have not received an acknowledgement by mail, please let Nancy Eberhardt know. Sorry in advance for any slip ups!
Making a donation to Temple Sholom? If you would like to make a donation to Temple Sholom, please send your check to: Maury Lyon, Treasurer, identifying the nature of the gift (e.g., in memory of, in honor of, or for the speed recovery of a particular person). Maury will notify Nancy Eberhardt, who takes care of correspondence concerning such gifts (e.g., notifying the family of the deceased that a gift has been made in memory of that person).
Give to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund
The Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund was established by the Temple Sholom Board in 2024, at the time that Rabbi Jennie Bunde was engaged as our rabbi. A regular part of most congregations that have ongoing clergy, this fund is intended to provide Rabbi Jennie with the means to provide tzedakah on behalf of the congregation to individuals and charitable organizations in times of need, both in the congregation and in the larger community. It can also be used to help the rabbi with professional expenses, books and other materials used to further her professional development. The Temple does make a contribution to the Fund each year, but the hope and expectation is that gifts from congregants and friends of Temple Sholom will also help to build the fund.
If you are planning a gift to Temple Sholom, please consider making it to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund. It could be in memory of a loved one, an expression of thanks for a life milestone, or any other reason, even just to support the fund. Checks should be made out to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund (NOT to Rabbi Jennie personally) and sent to Maury Lyon, Treasurer.
Happy Tree of Life Donations
Donations may be made in recognition of a variety of events, for example: in honor of a happy occasion (anniversary, birth, bar/bat mitzvah, birthday, etc.), or in honor of an individual or family. Donations may be made by an individual or a group, and may be made at three levels: a leaf ($200), an acorn ($500), and a stone ($1,000). A leaf can be engraved with four lines of text with 20 characters in each line, plus a brief fifth line (often a date). Acorns and stones are larger than leaves and can accommodate more text. Sample wordings can be found by looking on the Happy Tree of Life. If you want to make a donation, you can send your gift, along with specification of wording, to Maury Lyon, Treasurer.
Memorial Plaques: If you would like to purchase a memorial plaque ($250), send your donation and desired wording to Maury Lyon, Treasurer, Temple Sholom. You will find samples of what to include on the plaque by looking at ones already on the memorial board.
Gift Shop
Gift shop offerings have been pared back to candles (Shabbat, memorial, Hanukkah) and mezuzot. These items are in the plastic set of drawers under the Happy Tree of Life. Place the money in the fish bowl. Please let Faye know if we are low on any items.