March 26 2026Issue #761
Letter from Rabbi Ross
A Message from your Board
We are writing on behalf of the TBS Board in response to the stunning news we received last week regarding Hillel’s reorganization and elimination of Rabbi Ross’s position there. For the last eight years we have been blessed to collaborate with Hillel and together provide full-time employment for him. Hillel has chosen to end that financial collaboration.
Please know that your Board is unanimous in its support of Rabbi Ross. He knows we do not want to lose him but that our limited resources prevent us from making up the salary he has lost. To that end, we stand ready to assist in any way we can in his search for complimentary work that will allow him to continue as our rabbi and spiritual mentor.
Clearly, this is a challenging time for Rabbi Ross and his family. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they navigate the unknown right now. It is also challenging for our TBS family but know that your board is committed to supporting whatever decision the Rabbi feels he needs to make. And we will stick together, as we have always done in the past, and pursue whatever creative solutions present themselves.
Also note that Larry remains in contact with Hillel at Kent State. While we will no longer be sharing our rabbi, we are still committed to ongoing cooperation in the joint effort of offering opportunities for Jewish engagement in our shared community. We will remain welcome there, and their students will still be welcome here.
May the future continue to shine bright for our rabbi, his family, and Temple Beth Shalom.
Larry Terkel and Mark Schildhouse
TBS Co-Presidents
Dear TBS Friends & Family,
We prepare for Passover with a special Shabbat Hagadol service Friday at 7:30pm. This Shabbat is called the Great Shabbat, as we explore how to do the spring cleaning in our homes, and in our hearts.
What are the seeds that you are planting this year in your life?
What are the new buds of growth that are beginning to show themselves?
What is the deadweight, or the extra baggage you can leave behind before you leave the narrow places for freedom?
Join us!
TBS Religious School News
We are now on Spring Break until Wed. 4/8. Our next class will be Thursday, 4/9. All of our TBS Families and Religious School families are invited to our Community Seder on Friday 4/3 where we will have special family pricing.
EXCITING NEWS – Jewish Meditation Circle Meets on 4/16 at 7:00 pm!
Our Jewish Meditation Circle will resume its twice a month sessions on Thursday, April 16 at 7pm. We will explore the weekly personality traits as we count the omer towards our 50-day journey to Shavuot. These sessions are for new, beginning students and advanced students as well. All are welcome. Donations are welcome.
ALMOST SOLD OUT! RSVP NOW!
ALMOST SOLD OUT! RSVP NOW!
TBS Brotherhood meetings/events
• Brotherhood Membership
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 TBS projects planned for 2024 – 2025. Please contact treasurer Art Busch, ascyb34@yahoo.com with any questions.
* Please Do Not pay along with your Temple dues.
• 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. Announcements will be posted as soon as they are available!
Contact: Mike Miller at: mikemillercsi@roadrunner.com
Thank you for your support!
TBS Sisterhood meetings/events
* Must be at least 18 years or older to participate.
Aviva
Julie Lakas
Take care of yourself, and if you can, someone else too. ~ Stephen Dubner
• It’s that time again to support sisterhood with your membership dues. Please contact Robin Rosen-Sharp at Rrsdvm2@gmail.com for a membership form. Please DO NOT send dues with your Temple dues or to the Temple Zeffy account. Robin can provide you with a Zelle link if you want to pay online. Thanks for your support!
Thanks, Robin
• Upcoming meetings and events are currently being planned and scheduled by the Sisterhood. Announcements will be posted as soon as they are available!Thank you for your support!
Temple Beth Shalom
Website Notes and Links
*Receive our weekly e-newsletters!
Please email your First Name, Last Name, and Email Address
to: hberman44236@yahoo.com
PAST NEWSLETTERS . Please contact the temple or join our Facebook group for the passcode.
Past e-Megillahs can be found on Media > e-Megillah Newsletters page
CALENDAR PAGE View upcoming services and events
SHABBAT SERVICE ID: 861 4959 4595. Please contact the temple or join our Facebook group for the passcode.
Available when noted on the Upcoming Events schedule
TORAH STUDY ID: 844 3145 6155. Please contact the temple or join our Facebook group for the passcode.
Saturday Prayer Essentials and Torah Study
MAKING PRAYER REAL The book for Saturday classes can be ordered here
KENT HILLEL SHABBAT Candle-lighting, Service/Community Discussion, FREE Dinner (*Registration is REQUIRED and will close each week on Thursday at 2:00pm)
KENT HILLEL Providing a comfortable atmosphere for socializing, studying, or connecting spiritually for students
Zeffy We can now use Zeffy for Dues, Fees, and Donations.
Temple Beth Shalom does not pay a fee
ISRAEL DONATIONS Donations to support Israel can be made at
Cleveland Federation
TBS BOOKKEEPER NEEDED!
TBS SEEKS PART-TIME BOOKKEEPER
As we thank James Field for his years of service as TBS Bookkeeper, we seek a new part-time bookkeeper to replace him effective June 30.
Basic duties include:
• Make deposits and pay bills, which are primarily done online.
• Record all transactions in QuickBooks software.
• Issue preprogrammed reports from QuickBooks including monthly profit & loss and fund balance statements and annual dues invoices.
• Input annual budget created by Treasurer/President into QuickBooks.
• Along with Treasurer check communications on Accounting@tbshudson.org email.
• Work with Treasurer to monitor financial position.
If you are interested, or know someone who might be interested in this position, please contact Co-Presidents Mark Schildhouse or Larry Terkel for further information at markschildhouse@gmail.com or Larry Terkel at larry@larryterkel.com.
Dear TBS Family,
Wendy Cooley is at home recovering from spine surgery. She and Ralph would greatly appreciate some help with meals. A Meal Train has been set up that can be accessed using this link.
https://mealtrain.com/vk6y38
Thank you for showing that TBS is a caring community!
Randy Herman
Caring Hearts
Our religious school students are encouraged to offer donations to our local Hudson food pantry during the months of March and April. Donations will be collected in a marked bin in the social hall until April 30th. Currently the pantry is in need of the following items:
Peanut butter • Rice sides • Refried beans
SpaghettiOs • Chef Boyardee
FYI: During Passover, the bin will be relocated to the board room.
Information about the Hudson Food Pantry:
The food pantry is part of the Hudson Community Service Association which notes its mission is to promote the general welfare of our neighbors living in the Hudson City School District Boundaries.
Thank you very much!!
Kim
• Important Dates – Details below
Sunday, April 12 – Good Deeds Day, register by April 5
Monday, April 13 – Social Action Organizing meeting, 5 pm
Saturday, June 6 – Akron Mitzvah Day 1 & Cleveland Pride
Sunday, June 7 – Akron Mitzvah Day 2
TBA – Cemetery Clean Up in April or May
• Got Sneakers?
The Social Action Committee has kicked off our used sneaker collection. Donated sneakers will be refurbished for re-use or will be sent to a recycler who will extract as many materials as possible for reuse or sent to a waste-to-energy program. Our goal is to keep sneakers out of landfills and repair, reuse or recycle them. For sneakers in good condition, we receive a small amount of money to fund future Social Action causes.
Please bring your used sneakers to the bin marked as Got Sneakers in the Social Hall.
Note: athletic-wear only – no other type of shoe, boot or slipper. Rubber cleats are acceptable, but not metal cleats. Please deposit them attached as a pair by tying them together with the shoelaces or binding them with a rubber band. Adult and kids’ sneakers are welcome. Contact Cheryl Butensky at cheryl.butensky@gmail.com for more information.”
• Collecting Funds for Cleveland Kosher Food Pantry through Passover
The Social Action Committee is continuing its request for donations to the Cleveland Kosher Food Pantry through Passover. Donations may be made online using the form at their website: https://kosherfp.org/donate-2/
On the donation page please enter Temple Beth Shalom-Purim in the “Message Box,” so the TBS donations can be tallied. Similarly, please indicate Temple Beth Shalom-Purim on donations made by mail to their address at: 2004 South Green Road, South Euclid, Ohio 44121. In addition to welcoming those who need food assistance to the pantry, food deliveries are made to those with limited mobility. There are also opportunities to volunteer to pack food boxes for delivery. Contact Cheryl Butensky at cheryl.butensky@gmail.com for more information.
• Collecting Items for Hudson Food Pantry
TBS has stepped up to fulfill a need of the Hudson Food Pantry. Your monthly donations of laundry detergent have been truly appreciated by our neighbors in need. Let’s keep up the momentum! We are asking for three TBS families to donate 2 large detergents — liquid, powder, or pods — each for a total of 6 per month. Families can sign up for a single month or multiple months. The detergents can be dropped off at TBS when open, i.e. Friday services, Saturday study sessions, Sunday school, etc. To sign-up to help go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4FABAF2EA3FE3-61572875-tikkun or scan the QR code:
The pantry has also made a special request for body wash, deodorant and hand sanitizer. These items can also be dropped off any time during the month and there is no sign-up for these items.
For more information about the pantry, see http://www.hudsoncsa.org/food-pantry. For questions about the donation process, please contact Michelle Draper at mldraper@yahoo.com. Thank you!
• Good Deeds Day 2026
Sunday, April 12, morning and afternoon volunteer opportunities across the Cleveland area.
Join the Federation’s Jewish Volunteer Network to make a difference in our community as part of Good Deeds Day, a global day of volunteerism. Since 2007, Good Deeds Day has united millions of volunteers from 108 countries for service opportunities that benefit people and the planet.
Register online by April 5 at www.jewishcleveland.org/news/blog/good_deeds_day_2026/.
Some TBS members will be helping with the Hebrew Cultural Garden clean-up, so join us for that or any other opportunity that moves you.
• Next meeting
The Social Action Committee will meet on Monday, April 13 at 5 pm in the TBS Boardroom. All are welcome. Please text or call Eric Draper, 216-630-6075, for more information and to be added to the Social Action communication.
• Cemetery Clean up
Date and location to be announced for April or May. The Federation provides all tools, supplies and H2O.
• Pride in the CLE
June 6 – Pride in the CLE is an annual event celebrating the city’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community, put on by the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland and held in Downtown Cleveland. The LGBT Center strives to ensure Northeast Ohio is afforded a Pride event that not only celebrates our LGBTQ+ community but also advocates for the equitable and just treatment for ALL in our community. For the day’s activities, see https://lgbtcleveland.org/pride/
• Akron Mitzvah Day
June 6-7. Volunteer opportunities are being finalized. Mitzvah Day in Akron was started by Temple Israel in 2002 and is a two-day effort committed to helping different agencies in and outside the Akron community by collaborating with other faith-based organizations in the Akron Community. Stay tuned for more information.
Passover will be here soon. The TBS library has great books for both children and adults explaining the Jewish holidays past and future. Please take out books of your choice.
These holiday books and hundreds more are available to borrow and enjoy. We have a large donation of children’s books arriving today. Information will follow next week.
Thank you for your continued donations.
All the best, Bill Riter AJL
wrriter@yahoo.com
Please include ‘e-megillah news‘ in the subject field.
• Help our Temple
• Assist with events and gatherings
• Participate in Brotherhood & Sisterhood
• Support & Enhance the TBS community
• E-Megillah Creative Desktop Publisher
- Fri. 3/27, 7:30 pm: Musical Shabbat – with Deb Rogers
- Sun. 3/29, 1:00-4:00 pm: How Do We JEW Passover? – TBS Kitchen and Social Hall – with Chef David Holland and Cantorial Soloist Deb Rogers
- Fri. 4/3 – Community Passover Seder – RSVPS needed
- Sat. 4/11, 9:00 am: “God is Here” Discussion Group – monthly sessions
- Sat. 4/11, 9:45 am: Torah with Commentaries & Bagel Brunch – a short service will follow the study
- Mon. 4/13, 5:00 pm: Social Action meeting – in the TBS Boardroom
- Thu. 4/16, 7:00 pm: Jewish Meditation Circle – new time!
- Fri. 4/17, 7:30 pm: Kabbalat Shabbat – with Deb Rogers
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.
Please Note: there is no on-site staff and 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
