Letter from Rabbi Ross Dear TBS Friends and Family,
A Gaza ceasefire has been announced. We collectively hold our breaths that the hostages will begin to be released Sunday or Monday.
We pray that this will be a lasting ceasefire that will lead to a lasting peace. I am cautiously optimistic. We will discuss these hopeful updates in Torah Study this Saturday, as we begin the Book of Exodus. Join us!
The Los Angeles fires weigh heavy on my heartI was born and raised in Los Angeles. I grew up in North Hollywood, and attended USC for undergraduate study. I lived in Brentwood for two years, and Playa Del Rey for 2 years. and I worked at a summer day camp in the Santa Monica mountains for six summers where our daily bus routes ran through the Palisades.
After a 13-year hiatus in the Bay Area, I returned to West L.A. for 2 years to earn a master’s in Jewish Education from American Jewish University, which was located where the San Diego freeway meets Mulholland Drive.
My parents and extended family live in Southern California. My mom lives in Bel Air, my dad lives in Thousand Oaks. Everyone is fine. My mom’s home is just beyond the current edge of the Palisades fire evacuation zone. She spent the past weekend with my sister’s family in Sacramento breathing clean air.
Growing up in Los Angeles one learns the stories of the wildfires that have occasionally swept through the hillsides. One learns about the fierce Santa Ana winds. But nothing prepared me for the scope, depth and horror of this current tragedy.
I am heart-broken, devastated.
I have sought out other transplanted Angelenos in the area over the past week to simply check in and see how they are doing. The ability to commiserate our pain and anxiety has a healing quality to it.
In 1991, I lived and worked as a newspaper editor in the East Bay as the Oakland Hills firestorm swept the hillsides for several days. Nearly 3,000 homes were destroyed. It was a terrible experience. As I write this, 19,000 homes and buildings have been partially or completely lost in L.A.
We don’t need to suffer this anxiety and stress alone. We can bring our worries and fears to our communities and begin to face them. We can hold ourselves with great gentleness.
We can hope and pray that the lessons we learn about these fires will wake us up to the existential threat of living in a world ravaged by climate change.
We can prepare ourselves for the massive cleanup effort that will likely take a decade or more.
It is a very sad time for those of us connected to the Los Angeles fire scene. In this week’s Torah reading, we begin the painful reading of the Exodus narrative. As we re-enter the darkness, and feel the constriction, let us find courage and strength from each other so we don’t enter alone.
How to Help in L.A.:
-The California Fire Foundation works with local fire agencies and community based organizations to provide direct, ongoing support to victims of wildfires.-Malan is a clearinghouse of small, hyper-local businesses and organizations that are providing relief. You may donate to them, or click here for their database of individual businesses and organizations in their network that you can support directly.
-Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles Resources (at the bottom of the page is a “donate” section)
-Through its California Fire Relief program, Direct Relief is distributing medical supplies and essential resources to health care workers and impacted communities. (Scroll down to the middle of the page to donate.)
–World Central Kitchen’s Relief Team is supporting first responders and families impacted by wildfires in the Los Angeles area. They are mobilized across the region to provide nourishing meals to people in need.
–Canine Rescue Club to find temporary foster homes for displaced animals,
May those who have been affected by the fires in Southern California find safety. May they feel held in the embrace of our prayers and in our hearts as they move toward recovery.
TBS’ Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class Starting this winter!
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)
TBS Legacy Fund Update
Exciting News!
We have now reached $118,400 or 59% of our goal. And the really good news (which I announced at our fabulous Hanukkah celebration Friday night) is that one of our members has generously offered to match all donations up to the next $10,000 and another member is talking about taking over the match when that goal is reached.
Which means that since your donation is a mitzvah (the blessing of a good deed) your donation at this time will be a double mitzvah. We would really love to see everyone receive the blessing of knowing they played a part, however small, in completing the purchase of our wonderful building and insuring our Jewish presence well into the future. It is an investment we can all be proud of.
While we are at 59% of our goal, only 25% of our congregation has participated so far. We would love to see that reach 100% as well. Please join us. All contributions of any size will be greatly appreciated and then doubled in value. Let’s do this together! I know we can.
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
———-
• The Brotherhood is excited to host this year’s Bingo fundraiser on 2/22/25.
Bingo is always well attended with scrumptious appetizers and desserts. This year will be NO exception!
• 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.
Please Do Notpay 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!
TBSSisterhoodmeetings/events
• Kim Strausser has set up our next sisterhood dinner out at Blu Basil, 180 W. Streetsboro St Ste 5, Hudson, OH 44236. It is a great place and I look forward to seeing you all on Tuesday, January 21st at 7 PM.
Please RSVP Kim at: kimstrausser@gmail.com
• 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!
Bingo is always well attended with scrumptious appetizers and desserts. This year will be NO exception!
Bingo Night Silent Auction Donations are Welcome!
Please reach out to Eric Chupack ericchupack@gmail.com with questions if you plan to donate silent auction items so we can be ready with the supporting marketing (description, quantities, retail value, photo, etc.) for your items.
Information on Recycling
Thanks to all in the congregation who help clean up after Onegs and other activities. We want to be good stewards of our environment greatly appreciate putting recyclable materials in the recycle bin in the kitchen. However, we want to make sure that only materials accepted by Hudson recycling go in the bin, or the entire contents get dumped in a landfill. If you are in doubt as to whether something is recyclable, please put it in the trash.
To reduce contamination, rinse and dry the items below.: PAPER – not shredded CARDBOARD – Break it down METAL FOOD AND BEVERAGE CANS – no scrap metal CARTONS PLASTIC BOTTLES AND JUGS with the neck smaller than the bottle and without lids
Plastic clam shell containers, tubs and other plastic items other than bottles are NOT recyclable, even if they contain a recycling symbol. Also, plastic bags jam up the recycling machines so please no plastic bags in the recycling. A large garbage bag can be used to take materials to the bin outside, but do not put the bag in the bin.
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
Jane Litt• Jack Scanlon
A monthly yahrzeit list of TBS family loved ones will now be published in the e-megillah
as well as read during Shabbat services.
J A N U A R Y Y A H R Z E I T S
Joseph Beck • Cynthia Blazey • Harry Robert Bronstein
Mildred Caplin • Helen Cooper • Celia Eisen
Xenia Fischmann Culiner • Frank Frankino
Sabina Fromm • Theodore Hess • Sarah Koller
Simon Krutowsky • Dorothy Long • Deborah B Neiburg
Leo Schildhouse • Robert Noel Schildhouse • Anne Selinger
Haim Singer • Allen Slivka • Maurice Terkel • Sylvia Weisman
If you have names to add, please send them with their yahrzeit date to:
Laurie Frankino, Ritual Chair, at lfrankino@gmail.com.
• Upcoming meetings and events are currently being planned and scheduled by the Sisterhood. Announcements will be posted as soon as they are available!
Information on Recycling
help our Temple!
announced at our fabulous Hanukkah celebration Friday night) is that one of our members has generously offered to match all donations up to the next $10,000 and another member is talking about taking over the match when that goal is reached.
Temple Beth Shalom can now use Zeffy for donations, membership dues or other payments. On the Dues/Fees/Donations tab on 
Temple Beth Shalom
Please reach out to Eric Chupack 
