Midbar Kodesh Temple News

Val McAllister, preschool teacher at the Early Childhood Center at Midbar Kodesh Temple recently received her Bachelor Degree in Educational Studies from Ashford University. Val McAllister is the Lead Teacher for the Pre-K program, teaching the 4 years olds of the Kochavim class. Miss Val has been with Midbar Kodesh Temple's Early Childhood Center for more than 16 years, working with the children when she was a teenager. She will return in the summer as a teacher at Midba

Two rabbis and two evangelical pastors get together in a bar…. Sounds like the beginning of a joke. But it is in fact a reality. Well at least the part where two rabbis and two pastors get together. We get together not in a bar but at each other’s homes of worship to study Torah and Gospels together. For the past 45 months or so, we have met once a month to study a chapter of Torah and a chapter of the gospels together. We are nearing the end of Genesis and have read throu

Elizabeth Doctors, daughter to Midbar Kodesh Temple members Tiffany and Steven Doctors, sister to Jordan and granddaughter to Marcy and Gerald Welt and Lois and Malcolm Doctors, will graduate from Coronado High School in May. She is outgoing co-president of MKT USY, has studied with Rabbi Bradley Tecktiel in the Ma'ayan class, and was a camper at Alonim for several years. Elizabeth, who will attend UNLV's Department of Film in the fall, was recently honored by the National C

Alyssa Goussak, daughter of Cindy and Greg Goussak, is graduating with an advanced honors degree from College of Southern Nevada High School. She looks forward to attending Southern Utah University in Cedar City this Fall, where she will pursue a degree in Advertising and Public Relations. Alyssa has danced and trained with The Dance Zone, starting at just age 2, and now shares her passion for dance in teaching the Studio's youngest of new students. She has spent her summers

Jordan Doctors, a member of Midbar Kodesh Temple, graduates from the William S. Boyd School of Law in May, earning a Juris Doctorate degree with Pro Bono High Honors. He will sit for the Nevada Bar Exam in July. Jordan, a graduate of UNLV, will seek a career in Public Interest Law. While at Boyd, he was Treasurer, then President, and finally President Emeritus of the student section of the Nevada Justice Association. He is a Public Interest Fellow and received a grant from th

Abbie Villanueva, a fourth grade and grade level lead teacher at Pinecrest Academy Inspirada, recently achieved recognition by the Master Teacher program. The program, now completing its inaugural year, recognizes teachers for exemplary instructional practice; maintaining positive relationships and communication with parents, students and teachers; helping students grow academically and socially; working collaboratively with colleagues; and seeking out opportunities to learn

Charley Lyn Bell, daughter of Midbar Kodesh Temple members Jill and Mike Bell, will be called to the Torah in May at the synagogue. Charley is a 7th grader at a local middle school where she plays the trumpet. Band and math are her favorite subjects. She plays tennis and enjoys participating in her "Prinicpal's Book Chat" club. Charley's mitzvah project is to establish a library of books to auction off at the JDRF of Southern Nevada fundraising gala to be held on May 11.

"Complicit," a production of the SS St. Louis Legacy Project, and directed by Robert Krakow, will be featured by The Sperling Kronberg Mack Holocaust Resource Center, with a grant from Jewish Nevada, on Sunday, April 29 at 2 p.m at Midbar Kodesh Temple. The film contains rare footage and candid interviews with the heroic Jewish refugees from Germany who were not granted safe port by several countries. It also includes never-before-seen footage of the US Special Envoy Hannah

For many of us, finding opportunities to get directly involved in helping people truly in need can be difficult. Our lives are busy. Sometimes it is just easier to write a check, send a care package or drop off non-perishable food items. We rarely come in contact with homeless individuals or families that benefit from our donations. That is one of the things I appreciate about Family Promise. It gives us the chance to meet face to face with people who are at a low point i

Post Passover begins the season of the modern Jewish holidays and commemoration. It began this week as we commemorated Yom Hashoah u’Gvurah, Holocaust Memorial Day. It is the day the Jewish community comes together around the world to remember those who were slaughtered in the Holocaust. Since World War II and the founding of the modern State of Israel there have been many powerful moments that have shown our people’s strength and resilience despite unimaginable tragedy.