Dear TBS Friends & Family,
We conclude a week of Passover festivities, and we prepare for Yom HaSho’ah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, this Monday evening.
This Saturday we have Torah & bagels! Join us as we study Kosher foods, and the death of Aaron’s sons.
Here is my weekend column for the newspaper about Yom HaSho’ah.
Remembering the Holocaust in 2026
By Rabbi Michael Ross
After a week of Passover celebration, the Jewish calendar turns to Holocaust Remembrance Day, Yom HaSho’ah which is commemorated this Monday evening, April 13 and all day Tuesday, April 20.
We turn from joy, springtime and hope towards darkness, memory and horror.
The wonderful short story writer, Nathan Englander, wrote an amazing story to open his collection, “What We Talk About When We Talk About Ann Frank.” The characters in the story discuss a somber topic among some Jews. They wonder aloud, who among their neighbors would actually house them if antisemitism roars back into power, and Jews are fleeing for their lives. The anthology was published 15 years ago.
In light of the recent, ongoing spike of antisemitic rhetoric, ICE raids in Minneapolis, and threats against Jewish communities in West Bloomfield, Michigan and Toronto, more and more Jewish families are thinking about this concept. I think the question they are asking is, will anyone speak out against antisemitism?
If you doubt this, ask a teenager or young adult you know about their social media feeds and what percentage of it is antisemitic.
Recently, my family sat down to watch a movie at the start of Spring Break. We watched “Nuremburg.”
The movie explores how the rise of authoritarian actions can be seen as permissible in a fearful, anxious society. The focus of the film is about what Hannah Arendt termed the “banality of evil.” Arendt covered the Adolf Eichmann trial in 1960. Eichman, the originator of the “Final Solution” formulated the idea of exterminating the Jewish people in Nazi Germany. Arendt observed that Eichmann and the other Nazi leaders were ordinary men, just doing their jobs. In her other writings Arendt drew the linkage between profound loneliness and disconnection and the rise of authoritarianism in Eastern Europe a century ago.
In the new movie, Russel Crowe plays Herman Goring, as a brilliant strategist and builder of the Nazi concentration camps. He is seen as a warm, loving husband and father who is brutally dedicated to Hitler’s Nazi ideals. The banality of evil is present throughout the film.
In these uncertain times, you should know antisemitism is rising. Hatred of the Jews has become more mainstream on both the right and the left.
My community and I need your help. We have thrived due to the warmth, kindness and support of our non-Jewish neighbors. In Hudson, we felt this support last September at our Interfaith Peace Vigil after the neo-Nazi rallies. We felt this warm embrace after the Pittsburgh shooting in 2018.
On this Holocaust Remembrance Day, will you learn more about the history of the Holocaust? Fear and anger continue to rise. Will you remain silent? Will you speak up for your neighbors?
First they came for the Communists, And I did not speak out, Because I was not a Communist,
Then they came for the Socialists, And I did not speak out, Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists, And I did not speak out, Because I was not a trade unionist,
Then they came for the Jews, And I did not speak out, Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me, And there was no one left, To speak out for me by Pastor Martin Niemöller
TBS Religious School News
Our next class will be Thursday, 4/9. Religious school classes resume Sunday, 4/12.
EXCITING NEWS – Jewish Meditation Circle Meets on 4/16 at 7pm!
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.
TBS Botherhood 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 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!
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 PW: TBSHudson
Past e-Megillahs can be found on Media > e-Megillah Newsletters page
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 Zeffyfor Dues, Fees, and Donations.
Temple Beth Shalom does not pay a fee
ISRAEL DONATIONS Donations to support Israel can be made at
Cleveland Federation
News & Special Announcements!
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.
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:
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 offourused 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 5:00 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.
TBS Lending Library News!
The TBS library has books for both children and adults We have books that share the stories of Jewish hero’s, {Biographies} Please take out the books of your choice.
Thank you for your continued donations.
All the best, Bill Riter AJL wrriter@yahoo.com
We love 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! •Help our Temple •Assist with events and gatherings
•Match activities to your interests & abilities •Participate in Brotherhood & Sisterhood •Support & Enhance the TBS community •E-Megillah Creative Desktop Publisher
D E A T H S I N T H E L A S T Y E A R
Marika Andro • Tom Beasley • Frances Berman Linda Schulman
A monthly yahrzeit list of TBS family loved ones will now be published in the e-megillah
as well as read during Shabbat services.
A P R I L Y A H R Z E I T S
Eleanor May Beck • Rosette Borstein Stanley Caplin • Minna Dubner • Irene Ezring George Joseph Frankino
Gussie Miller Gardner • Sanford Goeble
Shirley Goldberg • A Jeanne Goldman
Sanford Goldman • Robert Greenberg
Hedva Hess • Gregory Krizman
Anna Krutowsky • Miriam Litt • Jacob T Marks
Julius Miller • Mary Miller Barbara L Riter • Michael Rose • Irving Rosen Stanley Shapiro • Max Wachtell
If you have names to add, please send them with their yahrzeit date to:
Thursday April 9, 2026
• Upcoming meetings and events are currently being planned and scheduled by the Sisterhood. Announcements will be posted as soon as they are available!
Temple Beth Shalom
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.
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 