Letter from Rabbi Ross Dear TBS Friends and Family,
Tonight, Friday, 12/20, we welcome my son Gabe for his Bar Mitzvah. Both my family and my wife, Rabbi Rachel’s family will be in town for the simcha! And then on 12/27, we will have our annual Hanukkah dinner, song fest, and short family service.
Each of these gatherings is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate in our lovely community. Please join us for as many of these precious moments as you can.
Here’s my column for the weekend newspapers:
To my son, Gabe at his Bar Mitzvah:
I am so proud of you!
You have changed my life in so many important ways.
When you were born, I knew I wanted to be a special type of dad, someone who would be actively involved in your daily life, and engaged in your growing up. I wanted you to see a model of masculinity and manhood based in compassion, which would be centered on our loving relationship for each other.
I also made a few commitments to myself as an older dad. One commitment was that I wanted to be able to play with you like my dad played with me. My dad was 23 when I was born. I was 51 when you were born. So I hit the gym, and began a dedicated workout regimen to keep me in decent physical shape. I also committed to being present for family time, and being home for as many family meals as possible.
When you were a toddler, I had the unusual blessing of being your primary caregiver each and every morning. After breakfast, we would move into the living room and play with trucks and vehicles from your truck bins. Hundreds of trucks. We built fascinating parades through the house.
What you taught me was that you needed me to be radically present to participate in the truck parades. You didn’t need me on my phone, or reading the newspaper. You needed me to be on the floor with you giving you my full attention. For the first four years of your life, this was my spiritual practice each morning – could I be fully present with my son today as we played together?
During the pandemic you taught me about exploring. We were cooped up in our house and as Passover hit that first spring, we started riding our bikes together, each and every day. It was a way to be together outside, and it was a way to see our neighborhood despite living in quarantine.
When we went on these rides exploring our neighborhoods, you always wanted to lead the way. You wanted to create the route we would travel. I learned to take a step back and let you lead. I also learned how much I love cycling. You moved on after two months to play with our neighbor in the front yard, I continue to ride my bike several times a week.
For the past few years, we have played catch together on our front lawn. You have taught me the value of practice and the value of experimenting. You are always working on new pitches to try and fool batters. You are willing to practice for long periods of time to get better playing the game you love.
You are a teacher to me about taking care of your friends. You go out of your way to make new friends and to try and be kind to your friends.
I am proud of your efforts in school this year. I am proud of how hard you worked for this special day.
I am proud of your artistic talents, which I never had. I am proud of your love for maps and history. I am proud of your love of “D&D” and your dedication to spend meaningful time with your friends.
Now, I want to challenge you as a new teenager. I want to challenge you to become the best person you can be. I want to challenge you to read Torah in the community again and again and again. I want to challenge you to learn how to become an amazing leader who loves and respects the group you are leading.
You are entering a messy, dark world. There is too much violence and hatred in this world today. There is too much anger and distrust. Our environment is a nightmare. Antisemitism and Islamophobia have moved from fringe, extreme ideas to mainstream arguments. Toxic masculinity and bullying are on the rise.
First, remember, when it gets dark, community can help you weather the storm.
Second, we, all of us here, will need you to do your part in bringing peace into your world. We need you to listen to people’s ideas, even if you disagree with them. We need you to love nature and to spend time in nature so that you care enough about the health and welfare of the planet. We need you to be able to teach others about Jewish life and to be open and curious about the lives and cultures of others. We need you to be a man who can be kind and loving to himself and to others
In these few days before Hanukkah, on this darkest day of the year, may you always be a lamplighter: one who brings light to the world, one who inspires others to bring their light, and one who celebrates the returning of the light. On this bright, beautiful day, as you are shining your brightest, may this new light from this precious day carry you through the holidays with hope, joy and love.
Gabriel Brown-Ross’ Bar Mitzvah – Fri. 12/20 & Sat. 12/21!
Dear Temple Beth Shalom Family,
We would love for you to join us as our son, Gabe Brown-Ross, is called to the Torah as a bar mitzvah on December 21, 2024
The celebration will begin with a Friday night service and festive oneg at TBS on Friday night, at 7:30.
Dress is whatever you would normally wear to synagogue.
Gabe will be called to the Torah during services on Shabbat/Saturday morning, starting at 9:00 am (Plan to arrive by 9:45 AM), followed by lunch at Congregation Shaarei Tikvah in Beachwood. Dress is whatever you would normally wear to synagogue. Shabbat/Saturday morning and night: Congregation Shaarey Tikvah’s address is: 26811 Fairmount Blvd.,Beachwood, OH 44122
RSVPS are now closed for Saturday’s lunch.
With joy, gratitude, abundant blessings, and love,
Rabbi Rachel Brown and Rabbi Michael Ross
TEMPLE BETH SHALOM FREE HANUKKAH SHABBAT DINNER & FAMILY SERVICE Friday, December 27 – SOLD OUT!! Dinner at 5:30 pm, Doors Open at 5:00 pm TBS Social Hall 6:45pm Short Family Service
Enjoy our lively Family Service with Rabbi Michael and Deb Rogers filled with Hanukkah music, Community Candle Lighting & more (Bring your menorahs) Delicious Hanukkah Dessert Buffet following the service
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)
Legacy Fund Update:
We have reached over 50% of our goal. The end of the year is fast approaching so if you itemize you can save on your taxes by donating before December 31. Our goal is coming into sight. Let’s keep it rolling.
B’Shalom, Larry
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
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
TBSBrotherhoodmeetings/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 projects planned for 2024 – 2025 for TBS. Please contact treasurer Art Busch, ascyb34@yahoo.com with any questions.
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
TBSSisterhoodmeetings/events
• The sisterhood is providing oneg for the Friday night before his Gabriel`s bar mitzvah.
Check with us for more info or to contribute an item.
Please use the sign up link or contact me if you are unable to get to the link. http://tiny.cc/gabrielbarmitzvah2024
• 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 would like to mail your payment.
Please Do Notpay along with your Temple dues.
• 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
• Past e-Megillahs can be found on Media/e-Megillah Newsletters page: E-MEGILLAH NEWSLETTERS
You will need to use the password TBSHudson
You can view upcoming services and events on the Calendar page: CALENDAR PAGE
Save the Date! February 22, 2025
Back by Popular Demand! TBSBingo Night!
Welove to share news & announcements 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.
We are looking for VOLUNTEERS tohelp our Temple!
Activities to match your interests and abilities
are still available!
D E A T H S I N T H E L A S T Y E A R
John Andro • Jane Litt• Jack Scanlon Norman Taer • Karen Touve • Mark Varney
A monthly yahrzeit list of TBS family loved ones will now be published in the e-megillah
as well as read during Shabbat services.
D E C E M B E R Y A H R Z E I T S
Joanne Marie Beck • Donald Blumenthal • Martha Brunstein
Shirley Rosen Comer • Stephen John Field • Bernard Gross
Violet Hiner • Freda Lerer • Harry Lerer • Janet Roberts
Murray Silverman • Sylvia Silverman • Charles Strausser
Barbara Rose Straussman
If you have names to add, please send them with their yahrzeit date to:
Laurie Frankino, Ritual Chair, at lfrankino@gmail.com.
T B S
Fri. 12/20, 7:30 pm: Shabbat Service – with Gabriel Brown-Ross
Sat. 12/21, 9:00 am: Gabe Brown-Ross Bar Mitzvah – Shaarei Tikvah, Beachwood
Fri. 12/27, 5:30 pm: Community Hanukkah PartyDinner – at TBS Social Hall
Fri. 12/27, 6:45 pm: Hanukkah Family Service with Rabbi Michael and Deb Rogers
• Upcoming meetings and events are currently being planned and scheduled by the Sisterhood. Announcements will be posted as soon as they are available!
help our Temple!
B’Shalom, Larry
Temple Beth Shalom can now use Zeffy for donations, membership dues or other payments. On the Dues/Fees/Donations tab on 
Temple Beth Shalom