Where To Havdalah Services In Ormond Beach

Rabbi Stephen Julius Stein has been at work at Temple Beth-El since June and will be installed officially next week.

Rabbi Stephen Julius Stein has moved from the podium to the pulpit.

A former conductor of the Houston Symphony Orchestra, Rabbi Stein, 56, has taken a long journey from St. Louis, where he was built-in to a Holocaust survivor, to Temple Beth-El in Ormond Beach, where he has been serving as the rabbi since June.

Stein'due south installation, a ceremonial welcoming, will be at vii:30 p.m. Sept. 5 at the temple, with renowned Bible scholar, author and lecturer Dr. David Aaron presiding. Other events volition take place the next 24-hour interval, including 10 a.k. Torah study and a Havdalah Service and Dinner at 6 p.m.

"Dr. Aaron is my intellectual and spiritual mentor," said Stein, who received his rabbinic ordination and a master's degree in Hebrew letters from Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, where Dr. Aaron has been professor of Hebrew Bible and History of Interpretation since 1998.

"He played a formative influence in shaping the rabbi I'm becoming."

Dr. Aaron shares Rabbi Stein's love of music and both have a long history of music functioning. Dr. Aaron continues to play in chamber music groups as an apprentice violinist and violist.

Stein, who temple members say has a wonderful voice, had an illustrious music career before "realizing there was another dream residing deep inside me."

He termed information technology not a midlife crisis after 20 years of performing as a usher, only a "midlife take a chance" that has become more a profound calling.

Afterwards he was accepted to rabbinical school, "I found I was the fourth Stein rabbi in half dozen generations."

Becoming a rabbi is a five-year process, he said, and he was ordained in 2003. He gave upwards conducting the Houston Symphony Orchestra, which he led from 1992-1998, to begin his "adventure."

Although he grew up in a very one-time Jewish community, Stein said his parents were non observant in their exercise.

"As sometimes happened with that generation, (my father) shunned his German heritage and I was raised with minimal exposure," Stein said. "But what exposure I had planted a seed in me."

At Temple Beth-El, Rabbi Stein said, he has "three major areas that I hope to contribute to positively."

He'd similar the congregation to get a more closely knit Jewish customs within the Temple; grow that community by attracting unaffiliated Jewish residents; and ensure the Temple's financial stability for the time to come.

Already numbers and demographics are increasing for the Fri night Shabbat, he said. And his Torah Written report sessions Sabbatum mornings "exceeded even my expectations."

"He is committed and excited. As a congregation nosotros're moving forrad," said Michael Furman, chairman of the 12-fellow member search committee that spent months culling through 30 resumes, then doing Skype and in-person interviews.

"When I talked to Rabbi Stein on the phone, then met him in person, his warmth, personality, professionalism and academic brilliance was evident," Furman said.

Stein is replacing Rabbi Barry Altman, who Furman said "was wonderful and loved. How do we replace him? These are all concerns any organisation would have." Altman and his wife, Malka, who are retiring, had served Temple Beth-El for 38 years and she has been the managing director of the nonsecular schoolhouse at the temple.

Sheri Myers is the new administrative director of Temple Beth-El School, with 140 students from ages nine months to 5th grade.

Furman said Stein, who had served 7 years at the 2,500-fellow member Wilshire Boulevard Temple in California, wanted to be closer to the congregation and make a larger difference in people'south lives.

In 2011, he moved to Chicago with his married man, Stephen Ariel Miller, where he expanded his rabbinic skills and opportunities.

"I was married to a nifty man who of a sudden and tragically died of a heart attack in 2012," Stein said. They had been together 16 years and were legally married in California in 2008.

While in Chicago, Stein earned a master's degree in education and certification to teach children with special needs in grades K-12. He taught in Chicago and was a community rabbi, working with rabbinic colleagues, local congregations and unaffiliated Jews.

"He wanted a change and was ready for the challenge," Furman said.

At present, Stein said his goal is to meet with every member of the Temple Beth-El congregation,

Women of Reform Judaism Sisterhood President Adrienne Grossman agreed the new rabbi is always bachelor. He's busy visiting congregants, besides as the sick and those in the infirmary, she said. "He's very personable and approachable. Nosotros all love him."

"I call back information technology'due south working out for the best. Plus he loves my cooking," she said.

Rabbi Stein said his new life at Temple Beth-El is "a whole new path. I came to sympathise it's the right path."

He loves his new dwelling house here. His rescue collies, Jasmine and Boyfriend-Bo, are happy likewise, he said.

And Stein said at that place is dear is his life again. "I'm feeling fully satisfied and fully complete."

WHAT: Installation Celebration for Rabbi Stephen Julius Stein WHERE: Temple Beth-El, 579 Due north. Nova Route, Ormond Beach WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 5, installation service with Dr. David Aaron presiding, preceded at 7 p.one thousand. by wine and cheese reception; 10-xi:30 a.1000. Sept. vi, Torah study with Rabbi Stein and Dr. Aaron, followed by lite Kiddush; apex-1:30 p.k. Sept. 6, session of learning with Dr. Aaron on Pirkei Avot; 6 p.m. Sept. 6, Havdalah Service and Dinner with music and dancing with Joe and Lynn Goldovitz MISC.: Reservations required for dinner. PHONE: 386-677-2484 for information and dinner reservations