Congregation Schaarai Zedek

05/22/2026

03/13/2026

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Torah Study tomorrow morning will be held via Zoom only. Join us as we continue the weekly journey through the Torah! The Zoom link is available on our website calendar, or you can join directly here:
https://zedek-org.zoom.us/j/3331022972?pwd=WDcxblZnQzhPby80amsrYkYwRjBQdz09

03/02/2026

What a Purim weekend! 🎭 From costumes and music to laughter, community, and a very full sanctuary, we loved celebrating together all weekend long. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make our Purim events so joyful and memorable. As we head into Purim, we’re feeling grateful for the spirit, energy, and togetherness that filled Schaarai Zedek all weekend long. 💜 Chag Purim Sameach!

02/18/2026

From flavors to family to faith, Jewish foodways reflect who we are and where we’ve been. This thoughtful look at Black Jewish cuisines is a great reminder of the many voices and tastes in our tradition.

Food has the unique ability to bring people together. Michael Twitty's concept of fusing Jewish and African Atlantic diasporic cuisines is compelling. Twitty’s fusion, dubbed “KosherSoul,” touches on how food informs memory and identity.

02/12/2026

Black History Month invites us to reflect on justice, courage, and the responsibility to speak up, even when it’s hard. This upcoming "Laasok: The Liberal Beit Midrash" session explores those themes through the story of Esther and Jewish texts that continue to challenge and inspire us today.

Poverty. Climate change. Racial justice. LGBTQ+ equality. Human rights. Tikkun Olam. What does Judaism teach us about creating a just society?

Once a month, join Laasok: The Liberal Beit Midrash for a one-hour “study break” to learn about an aspect of social justice in Jewish texts. All classes are Mondays at 3pm ET / Noon PT. Follow them to get more details.

02/04/2026

Black and Jewish America: An Interwoven History premiered last night on PBS. Episode 1 highlights Julius Rosenwald and Booker T. Washington, two leaders connected by a shared belief in education as a path to freedom. What moments of connection between communities have inspired you?
Watch now: https://www.pbs.org/video/episode-1-let-my-people-go-m3hnvj/

In the first episode of Black and Jewish America: An Interwoven History, we explore Julius Rosenwald and Booker T. Washington, two men from very different backgrounds, finding common cause in a bold idea: education as a pathway to freedom.

From shared struggles to moments of profound collaboration, our series brings to light the stories that unite these two communities—and the tensions that have tested their alliances. Tune into the premiere, Tuesday, February 3 at 9/8c only on PBS.

02/03/2026

In the spirit of Tu BiShvat, Rabbi Weiss reflects on what it means to stay grounded when the world feels unsteady. His message is a timely reminder that even in uncertain times, we can find strength, community, and purpose - like someone in a tree, reaching for something higher.

When I was growing up, my family had a huge, old tree in our backyard, just over one of those big plastic playhouses that toddlers play house in. But I discovered pretty quickly that if I climbed up to the roof of the playhouse, I could reach up to the tree’s lowest and largest branch and begin my...

02/02/2026

At Schaarai Zedek, we celebrate the deep connections between Black and Jewish communities through history and today. Join us in honoring Black History Month.

Tune in on Tuesday, February 3 at 9 PM for the premiere of Black and Jewish America: An Interwoven History on PBS. This powerful new special highlights stories of identity, resilience, and allyship.

Scholar and host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. leads a powerful new four-part PBS series exploring the complex, intertwined history of Black and Jewish Americans. F...

09/25/2025

Applications Now Open: Lilah Tov Overnight Camp Scholarship
The Lili Kaufmann Lilah Tov Overnight Camp Scholarship Fund provides need-based scholarships for Jewish children residing in Hillsborough County who wish to attend a non-profit Jewish overnight camp in the summer of 2026. Application deadline: December 5, 2025. https://www.jewishtampa.com/lilahtov

The Lili Kaufmann Lilah Tov Overnight Camp Scholarship Fund will award camp scholarships to children who would like to attend a non-profit Jewish overnight camp in the summer of 2026.

These are need-based scholarships for Jewish children residing in Hillsborough County.

The application deadline for summer camp 2026
is December 5, 2025.


Questions?
Contact Alissa Fischel at (813) 769-4726

07/31/2025

This thoughtful piece from ReformJudaism.org explores how the Man of Steel (created by Jewish artists) embodies the values of justice, compassion, and responsibility. It’s a reminder that we all have the power to be everyday heroes in our communities.

Superman embodies aspects that many of us strive to emulate: strength, compassion, honesty, and doing the right thing under all circumstances. So when James Gunn, the co-CEO of DC Studios, was announced as the writer and director of "Superman," the first movie set in the new DC Cinematic Universe (D...