Welcome to Temple Beth Shalom!
***Non-members who wish to attend High Holy Day services at Temple Beth Shalom***
You can purchase guest tickets. To request tickets, please contact Amy McCormick, ticket coordinator, at e-mail: membership@tbshudson.org. In your e-mail, please leave your full name (first and last) as well as your phone number and best contact e-mail so Amy can get back to you.
Temple Beth Shalom is a dynamic congregation of about 100 families, under the leadership of Rabbi Michael Ross. Known as the Synagogue of the Western Reserve, we are a Reform Jewish congregation, affiliated with the national organizations of that movement.
Although the Temple has grown over the years, it endeavors to maintain a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Please come join us so we can share who we are today and our vision for the future.
The Temple is located in a beautiful, historic building at 50 Division Street in Hudson. Friday night services are held twice a month at 7:30 p.m. For a schedule of services and other activities, see our Calendar page.
Address: 50 Division Street, Hudson, OH 44236
P.O. Box 2230, Hudson, OH 44236
330-656-1800, Please Note: there is no on-site staff and there may be a delay in retrieving and returning messages left at this number.
Office hours vary; please email for appointment.
Rabbi: rabbimichaelross@gmail.com
Education Director: education@tbshudson.org
President: president@tbshudson.org
Membership: membership@tbshudson.org
Accounting: accounting@tbshudson.org
e-Megillah
November 14, 2024
Issue #692
Letter from Rabbi Ross
Dear TBS Friends and Family,
In preparation for the elections, I told our board members two weeks ago that the Jewish response to elections is to make Shabbat.
We know there are folks who are devastated by the election news. We know there are folks who are feeling anxious by the unknown aspects of a new presidency. I have been meeting privately with some of these folks this week. We will hold each of you with kindness and gentleness this Friday as we slowly move from a period of grief and mourning to a time of holiness in the community.
We also know there are folks who are excited by the election news and are looking forward to the new presidency.
Let’s make Shabbat together. Let’s dedicate ourselves to building a holy community.
We need every part of our community now. Each of should feel that we have a unique, important role in holding our community through good times and anxious times.
Eli Lazear will lead part of our service this Friday as he prepares for his Bar Mitzvah in two weeks! We will also commemorate our veterans this Friday evening.
Please join as we come together for an evening of peace, of song, and of holiness.
On Friday, we will honor our veterans in a special musical shabbat service.
Please join us!
TBS’ Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class Starting this fall!
Have you wanted to transform your adult understanding of Judaism into a meaningful ritual? We are forming an adult b’nai mitzvah class this fall. We will spend the next 18 months studying together. Each student will read from the Torah, lead part of a group prayer service, and deliver a D’var Torah.
Rabbi Michael Ross and Jean Beasley will be the instructors. Costs will be determined by enrollment.
CLASSES:
– Jewish Prayer Essentials – structure & meaning of prayers (Fall ’24: Saturday mornings before Torah Study, from 9:00 – 9:45 am)
– Making Prayer Real – the art of prayer (Spring ’25, Saturdays before Torah Study, from 9:00 – 9:45 am)
– Basic Hebrew (Winter and Spring ’25, class time to be determined)
– Torah Reading & Chanting (Fall ’25)
– Spiritual Autobiography writing (Fall ’25 or Spring ’26)
Zoom link for Torah Study Classes:
This is the same link for each class. TORAH STUDY LINK
Meeting ID: 844 3145 6155, Please contact the temple or join our Facebook Group for passcode.
From the President
Legacy Fund Update:
So far so good. We have exceeded 30% of our goal and really haven’t kicked it into high gear yet. Our committee is still putting its plan together to reach out to everyone. Thank you to all who have already stepped up. The future is bright. Let’s ensure it.
B’Shalom,
Larry
TBS Legacy Fund Drive
As members of Temple Beth Shalom, we have a unique opportunity to insure the legacy of our temple here in the Western Reserve. While we are a religious minority in our area, TBS stands as a shining example of the survival of the Jewish people and the role Judaism offers to a challenging world. That TBS is here, that we have survived for decades, that we have grown when other temples have struggled or, proves that we offer a meaningful contribution to our society and culture.
And now, we can ensure that legacy in a number of ways:
• The most immediate and visible way is to pay off and burn our mortgage. We are faced with a balloon payment, due early next year, in an environment of higher interest rates than we had before. Hey, let’s just pay it off! Let’s truly own our historic and loveable building here in Hudson, and let’s never let anyone take it away!
• But let’s not stop there. We know our building needs tender-loving care so let’s build a legacy fund that insures that care. Whether we need a new roof, fresh paint, a new boiler or unforeseen repairs, let’s make sure we have the means to handle it.
• Not only that, instead of paying interest we’ll be making interest, which will really help our bottom line.
• Also, let’s be clear about two principles TBS has held firm. One is that unlike almost every other temple we know, TBS has never imposed a building fund. In many temples that cost can be as much as their dues. For many that has been an attractive incentive to join TBS, so let’s try to keep it that way!
• The other principle is we do not turn people away who can’t afford our full dues. Everyone, and we mean everyone, is welcome to seek solace, spirit, community and peace within our doors so let’s pass that on to future generations.
• Finally, we have never been a temple constantly pushing fund-raising campaigns. Unlike some temples, where there is on-going pressure, this is our first capital campaign in 20 years. (That’s when we raised the money to buy the building.) Yes, we know many of you have responded to our suggestion to voluntarily add a donation to your dues. Those donations have helped us balance our budgets and to help fund those who can’t afford to pay our full dues. Let’s do this so we can try and keep the pressure low for the next 20 years as well.
What is our goal and how can we reach it?
Your board has set a goal of $200,000. That will pay off our approximately $80,000 mortgage and give us about a full year of revenue to have in reserve, a number we feel will insure our future for the next 20 years.
We are asking everyone able to first consider donating the equivalent of one year’s dues. (Note: we did not raise dues or school fees this year.) The problem is that will not even get us halfway to our goal. So, we are asking those with available resources to dig deeper. To those of you already planning on leaving a legacy to your future generations, we are asking you to make this contribution part of that legacy. You will be insuring a Jewish presence here for future generations as well. That is why we are calling it the TBS Legacy Fund.
We are also asking for volunteers to join our Legacy Fund-Raising Committee. You will not have to apply pressure to anyone. We simply want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to participate in this mitzvah. All contributions, no matter how small, will be greatly appreciated and acknowledged. Please direct your questions to any of our board members:
Larry Terkel Larry @ LarryTerkel.com 330-714-6346
Wendy Hess wendykhess @ hotmail.com 330-666-1944
Laurie Frankino lfrankino @gmail.com 330-620-2020
Mark Schildhouse markschildhouse @ gmail.com 330-342-1146
You can view upcoming services and events on the Calendar page:
CALENDAR PAGE
Donations to support Israel can be made at
Cleveland Federation:
Temple Beth Shalom can now use Zeffy for donations, membership dues or other payments. On the Dues/Fees/Donations tab on tbshudson.org is the option Zeffy, which works like PayPal except Temple Beth Shalom does not pay a fee.
Dues/Fees/Donations Link
