Welcome to Temple Beth Shalom!
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.
50 Division Street
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
Letter from Rabbi Ross 2023-11-23
e-Megillah
Thursday, November 23, 2023
Issue #643
Letter from Rabbi Ross
Dear TBS Friends and Family,
A Different Approach to Gratitude This Fall
Jews around the world have held their collective breath for seven weeks since the war broke out and Hamas captured the hostages on October 7. Both sides have agreed to the first exchange of prisoners this week. When those hostages are finally set free, we will exhale for the first time in seven weeks.
As I begin to focus on gratitude this year at Thanksgiving, my gratitude list starts with this idea – I can breathe again.
In the Jewish world redeeming our captives is paramount. Every morning, in our daily liturgy, we recite the following prayer: “Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, who releases the captives.” For seven weeks, we have held their captivity in mind.
Jewish communities have added the acheinu prayers (or our brothers’ prayer) at each and every prayer service this fall:
For all our family of the House of Israel,
fellow Jews who face anguish and captivity,
whether on sea or on land:
May the Divine have compassion upon them,
and bring them from distress to relief,
from darkness to light, from subjugation to redemption,
now, speedily, soon, and let us say: Amen
I have also prayed for the healing of the injured in hospital beds in Gaza and Israel. I have prayed for the dead in Israel and Gaza. I have wept for the parents who have lost their innocent children in this terrible war.
We are all carrying so much pain, so much fear, so much anxiety. The world has been a decidedly darker place the past seven weeks.
Out of this pain, and this fear and this anxiety, the hate can run rampant. Antisemitism is wildly out of control. Islamophobia is rising precipitously. As we pause to take a break for Thanksgiving, and notice the location of gratitude in our lives, can we also notice how we might be complicit in sharing the anger, or rising the fear, or denying the humanity of the other.
I have been warning my communities about this for a few weeks now. Let’s locate the humanity in every person, and see them as being created in the image of the divine.
May we cultivate compassion instead. May we find compassion for ourselves, for those we love, and for those who are encountering violence,
During these seven weeks, I have found solace, comfort and companionship in my communal life. Every time the world feels too much to handle, my return to being in community has been a healing balm. I can get out of my own head and see the other. I can get out of my own social media feed and see how others are navigating the stresses of the day. On this Thanksgiving, I am grateful for my community, who can bear witness to our struggles and our joys.
I am grateful for my interfaith partners and neighbors in Hudson who gathered together last Sunday at Christ Church Episcopal to welcome in Thanksgiving together at our sixth annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service.
My coping mechanism during this chaos has been to dramatically increase my self-care. Each and every work day begins with a long, silent bike ride, or a long meditation sit, or a full prayer service, where I can feel grounded, centered, whole. And then I can go into work on campus at Kent State’s Hillel, where the daily storm of emotions, and anxieties will create its own whirlpool. On this Thanksgiving, I am deeply grateful for my self-care practices that are keeping me afloat.
Each week on the Sabbath, I take a break. I close my laptop, put away my phone and celebrate a day of rest with friends, family and community. These weekly breaks shone brightly like lighthouses for the past seven weeks.
My prayer for the future resides with the rest of those hostages still in harm’s way. May they soon see freedom again, back in the arms of their loved ones.
Donations to support Israel can be made at Cleveland Federation:
ISRAEL EMERGENCY CAMPAIGN
NEW CLASS STARTING – Prayer Lab’s “Making Prayer Real”
Last year in the Prayer Lab our Saturday morning group explored the structure of the prayer service and learned some of the metaphors that appear in the prayers. This year, we will explore the art of Jewish prayer, and explore the stumbling blocks that might get in the way of having a meaningful prayer life.
We will read through a wonderful book, by Rabbi Mike Comins with the same name, “Making Prayer Real.” Each week we will read through a short section of the book together.
I am asking everyone to purchase the book at Amazon or Barnes and Noble. (I will provide handouts the first week or two as folks order this paperback book.)
Here’s the link:
AMAZON LINK
Our third session will be Sat. 12/9. Each class is independent and can be studied on its own. All are welcome!
Prayer Lab’s Saturday Schedule
– 9:15 – 9:30: Coffee, bagels, schmoozing, check in about news of the week
– 9:30 – 10:30: Discussion of this week’s chapter
– 10:30 – 11:30: Shabbat Morning Prayer Service
(led by Rabbi Ross and once a month with Chuck Fink)
Meal Train for Wendy Cooley
Dear TBS Congregants,
Wendy Cooley is recovering from spine surgery, and she and Ralph would appreciate some meals while she is recuperating. Please follow the link below to sign up for a meal. Thank you for being a part of the TBS caring community.
OPEN MEAL TRAIN The Gift Card Shop
Randy Herman
Caring Hearts
Sisterhood Latke Fry and Sale December 3rd:
The TBS Sisterhood is again cooking wonderful latkes for your Hanukkah gatherings with family and friends. You must order them in advance. They can be picked up on Sunday Dec 3rd from 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm or they will be stored in the TBS freezer with your name on your order. Bring your checkbook or cash to pickup.
How to order Latkes:
If you want to order latkes for $10/dozen please email Robin Rosen-Sharp at rrsdvm2@gmail.com.
Absolute deadline for ordering is Dec 1st (Friday) at 10:00 am!
Temple Beth Shalom
HANUKKAH SHABBAT DINNER & FAMILY SERVICE
Friday, December 15
Dinner 6:00 pm, Doors Open at 5:30 pm
TBS Social Hall
Dinner Buffet is Compliments of TBS and includes:
Baked Chicken, Sisterhood’s Famous Latkes, Vegetables, Salad
Chicken Fingers for the kids
7:00 pm Family Service
Enjoy our lively Family Service with Rabbi Michael & Soloist Chuck Fink Lots of Hanukkah music, 8th Night Community Candle Lighting & more (bring your menorahs)
Delicious Hanukkah Dessert Buffet following the service
RSVP before December 10 to Laurie Frankino
lfrankino@gmail.com
Family Name, Number of Adults & Children
TBSBrotherhood meetings/events
• Brotherhood Membership
Annual Brotherhood Membership Dues are due. Membership dues are $36 (double chai) and this year we are adding a sustaining membership level $54 (triple chai). Make checks payable to TBS Brotherhood and mail to 50 Division St., Hudson, 44236 or bring to the next meeting. Please contact treasurer Art Busch, ascyb34@yahoo.com with any questions. Your financial support is much appreciated.
The Brotherhood performs much needed projects for TBS. Even if you cannot participate in Brotherhood, PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION. This will help to complete the many projects planned for 2023-2024 for TBS.
We meet throughout the year in the spirit of friendship and good humor. We sponsor social events, fundraisers and building beautification projects to support and enhance the TBS community. Contact: Mike Miller at mikemillercsi@roadrunner.com
TBS Sisterhood meetings/events
Annual Latke Fry Dec 3rd
• Our Annual Latke Fry is on Sunday Dec 3rd from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm. We will be making Latkes for the Jewish Education Hanukkah Breakfast, TBS’s Hanukkah Dinner on December 15th and for all of the congregants who would like Latkes for their family Hanukkah gatherings.
We still need 2 persons to help Robin at 8:00 am on Dec 3rd to help prep the kitchen and someone to collect, label and help congregants picking up orders. Let Robin know at (rrsdvm2@gmail.com) which extra task you’d like to do. Everyone else shows up for the the actual fry!
Latke Work sign up: Again let Robin (rrsdvm2@gmail.com) know if you will be coming on Sunday Dec 3rd and the equipment you will bringing of these: food processor with grating disk, large colander, large bowls with large spoons, 1/4 cup measures, cooling racks, electric frying pans, rolls of paper towels, Aluminum foil heavy and wide, Box of gallon zip-lock freezer bags. An email has been sent out the the Sisterhood with more details.
• Join the Sisterhood and support us with a dues donation. Please email me, Robin Rosen-Sharp (rrsdvm2@gmail.com) if you need a membership form and and would like to mail your payment. Otherwise you can use this PayPal link:
TBS PAYPAL LINK
Please Do Not pay along with your Temple dues as Jonathon has asked us not to do this any longer.
Thanks
Upcoming:
• Latke Fry Dec. 3rd
• Maltz Museum tour of “The Girl in the Diary: Searching for Rywka from the Lodz Ghetto” followed by ice cream or a meal, January date to be determined.
We love to share good news at TBS!
Please send us your announcements, engagements, weddings, graduations, sports news, kid news, etc. to: e-megillah editor, hberman44236@yahoo.com no later than ONE WEEK PRIOR to the next issue. Please include ‘e-megillah news‘ in the subject field.
DEATHS IN THE LAST YEAR
as well as read during Shabbat services.NOVEMBER YAHRZEITS
Susie Axelrod • Esther Blazey • Marilyn Eisen
Dorothy Kirchheimer • Richard Kirchheimer • Todd Alan Sanders
Annette Schildhouse • Maxine Shiffman • Maria Telesman • Betty Terkel
If you have names to add, please send them with their yahrzeit date to Laurie Frankino, Ritual Chair, at lfrankino@gmail.com.
U P C O M I N G T B S E V E N T S
- Fri. 12/1, 7:30 pm: Shabbat B’Yachad – Praying for Peace – w/ musical soloist Chuck Fink
- Sun. 12/3, 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm: Annual Latke Fry
- Sat. 12/9, 9:30 am: Prayer Lab – Making Prayer Real
- Sun 12/10, 11:00 am: Family Hanukkah Party – w/Deb Rogers
- Fri. 12/15, 6:00 pm: TBS Hanukkah Service and Community Candle lighting – w/Chuck Fink
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
Registration for Religious School 2023-2024
Dear TBS Religious School Parents:
As you know, Rabbi Rachel Brown has accepted the position of Rabbi at The West Temple in Cleveland, replacing their long-term Rabbi who has retired. We wish Rabbi Rachel the very best in her new opportunity and we thank her for 5 years of leadership. We have taken this as an opportunity to reimagine our religious school program.
We formed a search committee to find a new education director for TBS. Co-Presidents Laurie Frankino, James Field and Rabbi Michael Ross met with Rabbi Stacy Schlein, Director of Educational Capacity Building, at the JEC (Jewish Education Center) to assist us in our search. We took this opportunity to take a fresh look at our religious school program. Our dear teacher, Jean Beasley and Laurie with the help of Rabbi Rachel met to brainstorm our religious school program’s future. That meeting produced the goals for our program, including providing our students with a strong sense of positive Jewish identity and our roadmap to achieve these goals (below).
We are thrilled to announce our roster of educators for this school year:
- Rabbi Michael Ross has accepted the role of Interim Education Director at TBS. In addition to his current position as Rabbi at TBS and Senior Educator at Hillel at Kent State University, Rabbi Michael will lead our religious school on Sundays, implementing our curriculum.
- Jean Beasley, master educator, is the winner of the National Grinspoon Award for Excellence in Jewish Education and past winner of the Libbie L. Braverman Award. Jean will join Rabbi Ross in the newly created position of Assistant Education Director, and she will run our Thursday Hebrew program for our older students. She will also teach grades K-2 on Sundays.
- We have hired an exciting new teacher, Kate Palleschi for grades 3-5 on Sundays.
- Rabbi Michael will continue to teach students on Sundays grades 6-8 as they prepare for B’nai Mitzvah.
- Thursday religious school will be led by Jean Beasley for grades 5-8 (a change from grades 3-8) and will have a major emphasis on reading Hebrew and practicing the Torah service.
- Cantorial Soloist Robin Selinger is taking a sabbatical year from teaching beginning in October so we’ll have a new song leader, Jacob Rathkopf, who will lead our Sunday morning prayer service with Rabbi Michael and will also lead a monthly music class.
- Laurie Frankino will take on many of the administrative duties for the school this year.
Our first day of religious school for all students is Sunday, August 27, 9:00-12:00 pm. Please plan to bring your students in and stay for bagel breakfast and a short group discussion with Rabbi Ross.
If you can’t stay on August 27, please contact Laurie Frankino lfrankino@gmail.com who will schedule an individual meeting appointment with Rabbi Michael prior to August 27.
Please feel free to reach out to Rabbi Michael at his email: rabbimichaelross@gmail.com or by text/phone at 310-569-6329 with questions, concerns, or ideas.
Additionally, we have a private Facebook group for all TBS members. We will update our communications to you through this group as well as through email and texts. Let us know if you need an invitation to this group.
We are excited to present our new leadership as we begin a new school year and a new Jewish Year on Friday, September 15, Erev Rosh Hashanah.
L’Shalom,
Rabbi Michael Ross
Jean Beasley
Laurie Frankino
James Field
Paige Mintz
TEMPLE BETH SHALOM EDUCATION PROGRAM GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Our goals: By the end of religious school
- Graduates will be comfortable walking into any Reform service in the world and being able to participate fully by knowing:
- The prayers
- The choreography (when to sit, stand, bow)
- The way to behave in a sanctuary
- Graduates will have a strong sense of positive Jewish identity.
We achieve these goals by:
- Focusing our curriculum on Jewish prayer
- Actual recitation and chanting of the prayers
- Rituals that are part of our prayer services (lighting Shabbat candles, taking the Torah out and reading from it, when to stand, when to bow, etc.)
- Hebrew language acquisition specifically for reading/chanting Hebrew prayers and Tanakh
- Celebrating Jewish holidays as they come up on our Jewish calendar.
- Learning the stories of the Torah and other books of the Tanakh.
- Demonstrating that activities and subjects that our students enjoy have inherent Jewish values and teachings
Religious School Fees 2023-2024
Religious School Sundays
K-4th Grades
$600.00
Sundays 9:00-12:00 noon
Religious School Sundays & Thursdays
5-8th Grades
$800.00
Sundays 9:00-12:00 noon, Thursdays 4:30-6:00 pm
