Temple

e-Megillah

Thursday, April 4, 2024
Issue #662

Letter from Rabbi Ross

Dear TBS Friends and Family,

Today marks 180 days of the Israel-Hamas war, 6 months of praying for the release of the hostages. This has been another wrenching week in the news out of Gaza. The killing of the 7 international volunteers working with the World Central Kitchen in Gaza is a terrible tragedy. These volunteers had delivered millions of meals to Gazan civilians. This group has been providing food aid to folks encountering devastating disasters for 14 years. They had recently assembled a sea jetty to access food shipments from international ships.
Folks who are interested can donate to a new food aid fund set up this week, Rabbis for World Central Kitchen:
https://tiltify.com/+rabbis-for-world-central-kitchen/rabbis-for-world-central-kitchen?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

This Passover will be an opportunity to confront our emotions and anxieties of the past 6 months as we consider liberation, freedom, and joy this spring. In Prayer Lab, on 4/20 we will have a special session reviewing the Haggadah as we prepare for the holiday. It’s a perfect opportunity to bring new insights to your seder tables! Additionally, we will have a Family Seder for religious school families and friends on Sunday, 4/21. On Friday, 4/26, we will host our Community Seder.

Join us for this season of liberation!

Religious School Updates
– Our Religious School is on Spring Break until Thursday 4/4.
– We have begun advertising for a new education director for next fall. Please let us know if you know anyone who might be interested! We have formed a search committee for this opening, and will be sharing information and details in the weeks to come.
– All religious school families, parents of small kids, and community members, are invited to our Family Seder on Sunday 4/21 at 11:00 am!

From the Boardroom – Laurie Frankino and James Field
This month’s “From the Boardroom” will discuss your board’s work in filling the open salaried and volunteer positions for the next fiscal year.
Cantorial Soloist
Robin Selinger, our salaried Cantorial Soloist for almost 20 years, asked the board co-presidents to seek a new soloist to enable her to devote more time to her work, travel, and her family. Though we were disappointed to lose Robin, we of course understood and wished her well. She and Jonathan will remain congregants at TBS, and we will honor and celebrate them and Robin’s retirement at a special Shabbat service this fall.
We are thrilled to announce that Deb Rogers has accepted our position as Cantorial Soloist effective July 1, 2024. We will offer a full biography of Deb’s past accomplishments in next week’s e-Megillah. Her position as full-time Cantorial Soloist and Music Director at Suburban Temple, Beachwood the last 4 years and the previous 10 years at Kol Chadash in Solon with responsibility for all Shabbat, High Holy Days, B’nai Mitzvah and festival services won us over. Her desire to move to a part-time position as Cantorial Soloist makes her an excellent fit for us. Welcome Deb!
Education Director
When Rabbi Rachel Brown accepted the position as Rabbi of the West Temple last fall, Rabbi Ross stepped in as interim Education Director for this school year while we began our search for a permanent director. Our search continues, led by a task force of religious school parents and teachers. We are focused on hiring a new Education Director before the school year begins in August. If you know someone who might be interested in discussing this part time position, please contact Rabbi Ross. The Education Director position is primarily funded through an annual grant from the JECC, Jewish Education Center of Cleveland.
President of TBS
James Field and Laurie Frankino complete their two-year term as co-presidents on June 30. This voluntary position calls for one person or a team of 2 to lead the TBS Board of Trustees in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the Temple. For the next fiscal year, July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025, Past President, Larry Terkel has volunteered to take responsibility as president once again. The board is so pleased to have Larry at the helm again as he made a tremendous contribution during his last term as co-president with his wife, Susan. As president, Larry will use his vast experience along with our Temple community and his relationships in the Hudson and Cleveland communities to continue the good works

Judaism 101 – 12 Sunday afternoons (3/3-5/12 at 4:00 pm)
Have you ever wanted to learn more about Judaism from an adult perspective?
Are you considering conversion to Judaism?

If so, this class can form a great foundation to get you started. We will focus on Jewish history, holidays, ideas and traditions.
There will be a few paperback books as part of the class as well.

• Class fees – $10 for TBS members or $56 for the entire course, $18 per class non-members or $154 for the entire course. College students can pay a donation. (Fees for the class will go to pay our zoom manager/teaching assistant.)
• RSVPS are needed in advance. Please email rabbimichaelross to RSVP or get more info and syllabus. 

Donations to support Israel can be made at
Cleveland Federation: 

  ISRAEL EMERGENCY CAMPAIGN  

FAMILY  PASSOVER  SEDER

Temple Beth Shalom

FRIDAY, April 26, 2024
Doors open at 4:30 pm. Seder begins promptly at 5:30 pm

Join Rabbi Ross, Song Leader Chuck Fink and fellow TBS members and friends as we celebrate Passover with a family friendly service and delicious
Passover Seder dinner on the
5th night of Passover, Friday night, April 26.

The service will begin promptly at 5:30 pm followed by a family style dinner
catered by Mr. Brisket, back by popular demand.
Dinner will include traditional Passover foods, accompaniments & dessert.
A vegetarian option is available.

An invitation and response form will be mailed to all congregants. Friends of TBS may RSVP email to Laurie Frankino to hold your reservation lfrankino@gmail.com.
Confirmation of your reservation + payment options will be e-mailed
back to you immediately.

TBSBrotherhood meetings/events 
• Upcoming meetings and events (4/9, 4/14) that will make everything look bright and shiny for the upcoming Passover at TBS. See below Upcoming TBS Events for details.

• Brotherhood Membership
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 
• I am sorry to say we decided that the birds, having more food in the environment now that it is Spring, are likely to avoid hand-feeding. So next year when it is winter and the ground is bare and resting we will have this activity to look forward to! Thank you to Wendy Hess in advance!

• It is time to RSVP for our Sunday May 5th docent-led tour at the Cleveland Museum of Art on Sunday May 5th 1:20 pm on “Seeing Nature through the Eyes of the Artist” after which you will be treated to, coffee/tea/dessert and a short presentation of Jewish writings about Nature. Please bring your significant other if you would like.  Please RSVP to jeanrhodes16th@gmail.com.  If you are running late we’ll text each other so you can meet up.  

And it is time to send in any photos you would like to share for the service booklet to jeanrhodes16th@gmail.com.

photo submitted by Jean Rhodes

• I would like to gauge interest in a car pooling to the community-wide All-night Learning Tuesday June 11, 2024 (Erev Shavuot).  It is a splendid thing to do. And we need not stay all night! Let me know if you’d consider it at jeanrhodes16th@gmail.com.

• We will also go on a HIKE in the CVNP led by Marcy Caplin and Beth Madis (date/time to be determined, hopefully in next e-megillah).

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  

We are looking for volunteers for many other important tasks, big and small, to help our Temple.
Please email James Field at jdfield23@aol.com if you would like to be a TBS Super Supporter. Some ways to volunteer include:
• Backup to our Email czar Harry Berman (Harry will show you the ropes)
• Coordinator with the Cleveland Jewish Federation for security support
• Setup/takedown of furniture and refreshments for Prayer Lab, Judaism 101 or other regular Temple activities
• Sponsoring an Oneg
• Coordinating Zoom for services (we do hire a professional for major holiday observances)
• Many other activities to match your interests, abilities and availability

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.

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•  Y A H R Z E I T S  •