Jewish Federation of Rockland Calendar (a community calendar) 5/13/09 Merger Power Point View (If you have MS Power Point) 5/13/09 Merger PDF Reader View (If you have Adobe Acrobat Reader) 5/14, 5/15, 5/16 - Cantor's 10th Anniversary

Congregational Trip to Israel, May 2010 We are considering having a TBS Congregational trip to Israel in late May of 2010. Cantor Schwartz would organize and lead a trip that is being planned to be 12 - 14 days. For this trip, we want to begin planning a bit earlier than usual so that we can develop a great itinerary and also meet to prepare for what we would see. So, if you have a strong degree of interest, please reply to me via e-mail at envmgmtsys @ aol.com. I will organize a list of interested people to be contacted for details and other information. Marty Rutstein Listen to Sim Shalom CD -- TBS Music/Junior Choir

 

3/09 - West Point Jewish Chapel Cadet Choir at TBS Services Eastern Europe 2008 1/11/08 - Founders Day Pictures Israel Trip 2007 Russia Trip 2006 2/3 Brotherhood Super Bowl Party 2/16 - Chai Society Turkish-Mediterranean Feast

On Sunday, March 2, 2008, temple members from Union for Reform Judaism New Jersey-West Hudson Valley congregations attended a program entitled "Changing Demographics in Our Region." The conference was held at Congregation B'nai Jeshurun in Short Hills, NJ. The TBS contingent was comprised of (from right to left) Iris Freyer, Brenda Rutstein, Marty Rutstein, Sally Winter, Susan Marquith, Dona Sobel, and Gene Freyer. The participants attended workshops on temple mergers, budgeting, financial planning for the future, fundraising, biblical texts of change, and adapting religious schools to changing demographics.

 

Well, here we are, looking at the start of shortest month of the year and moving ever more quickly toward those warmer days of Spring.  By the time that the February Lamp reaches you, the Board of Trustees will have spent many hours dealing with two very important questions—where we will observe the High Holydays and what our budget and dues structure will be. Jay Grossman, Chair of the Ritual Committee, has been working on this project for many months.  WE have been at RCC for years and years, and while it has “worked”, we now find that the space is too large for the size of our Congregation. We have been searching and searching for possible locations– Jerry Korn has evaluated every possible lead and the entire Ritual Committee has considered these to find what would work best for us.  As Vice President Paula Ridge often notes, we have to think outside of the box as we strive to come up with new solutions to old problems.

The Trustees believe that there are two overarching parameters—first, the religious and spiritual “feel’ and atmosphere and second, encompassing fiscal factors. We have been working with Rabbi and Cantor about the spiritual “feel” and also the need to spend monies to make RCC a bit more “nice” (for example, the blue and white curtains that cordon off where we pray form the rest of the gymnasium). For some years now, having the High Holydays at RCC has been costing us more than our income from ticket sales and donations.  Last year, in the hope of increasing income, the Board voted to raise ticket fees.  I have been urging that we reduce fees for Congregant’s family members, and establish a ticket price for one service and another price for both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We recognize that we have to develop a ticket price schedule both fair and balanced, yet one that shares our costs with non-members who do not pay annual dues. I anticipate that the Board will make a final decision by mid-February and at that time, I will notify the Congregation.  The Finance Committee is also involved in the HHD process.  Our Treasurer, Carol Garber, has been combing through each and very line of our Congregational budget.  With her very able committee, she has been able to establish what resources we have and then present these against the choices that the Board must make.  For instance, do we raise dues, lower dues, give salary increases; and how do we deal with increased medical costs, fuel costs, etc…  Moreover, as part of this process, Donna Sobel, Chair of Membership has presented to the Board a proposal of reconfiguring our membership categories.  and planners, and can only be responded to.  If Hamas were a publically traded company and I were a business analyst, I would project is that a deal to release Gilad Shalit for some 1000 terrorists and others may increase Hamas’ short term value and For example, we have a single senior paying the same as a senior couple – seemingly an “unfair” situation that has dragged on year after year.  In addition, we have some Congregants who live very far away (Florida) and a little far away (New Jersey).  Some have requested that they receive a reduced rate because they do not use the Temple as much those who live in Rockland County.  While this would seem to be a simple matter, many on the board feel that the core issue is support of the Temple.  There has been much discussion about what rates these live-away groups will be assessed.  When the Board reaches a decision, I will notify the Congregation that the recommendation will be placed on the agenda for the May Congregational meeting. . Please remember that Passover comes relatively early this year and I suggest that you begin thinking about participating in the second night’s Congregational Seder in the Social Hall.  Lastly, Congregants who have served as Trustees and Officers have given much to Temple Beth Sholom.  The Nominating Committee is developing a slate of new Officers and Trustees for 2010-2011.  Please think about volunteering and working to help to strengthen Temple Beth Sholom. Be well and all good things to each of you and your Families, Marty may bring Gilad Shalit home to sleep peacefully in his own bed at last.  But, I’d issue a call to sell shares in Hamas as fast as Shalit gets home, because his return will give no reason for Israelis, or Palestinians, reason to sleep peacefully for very long. Marty

 

Our Mission

Temple Beth Sholom is a Reform Congregation dedicated to building on the rich traditions of our sacred past, joyfully creating a more meaningful Jewish present, and exploring new paths toward a vibrant future.

We are committed to:

• Providing an atmosphere of inclusion, respect, and acceptance for congregants of all ages and family configurations.

 

• Worship that reaches upward toward God, outward toward our fellow human beings, and inward toward the spiritual core of our minds and hearts and souls.

 

• Inspiring a sense of community, belonging, comfort, and well-being in each and every member of our Temple family.

 

• Tikkun Olam, the repairing of our world, through social action and the pursuit of justice.

 

• The study of Torah, of sacred Jewish texts, and to lifelong Jewish learning to deepen our knowledge and encourage a meaningful observance of Judaism for young and old.

 

• Supporting the State of Israel and the Jewish people, beginning in our local community and extending throughout the world.

Rabbi David E. Fass Rabbi David Fass has served as the spiritual leader of Temple Beth Sholom for over twenty-five years.  His dynamism, outstanding skill as a preacher, teacher, and counselor has guided our Congregation toward an ever more meaningful Jewish future. Coming to New City with five years of pulpit experience after being ordained from the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1973, Rabbi Fass has been active in Jewish causes at many levels.  As a member of the Rabbinic Cabinet of the UJA, ARZA (the American Reform Zionist Organization), and the Interreligious Committee for Peace in the Middle East, he has traveled extensively in the Middle East (even to Syria, Gaza, and the West Bank!), and on missions to Jewish communities on several continents.

Closer to home, our Rabbi serves as a Jewish Chaplain for the Rockland County Sheriff’s department, sits on the Clarkstown Board of Ethics, is a member of the board and the executive committee of the Rockland Jewish Federation, and is active in social action, interfaith and interreligious work with the Christian, African-American, and Muslim communities.  Rabbi Fass has always been deeply committed to our youth, serving on the faculty of the Reform movement’s leadership camp in Warwick, NY, and at numerous regional conclaves.  The services he leads in our Religious School are wonderfully interactive, and involve the students in discussions of all aspects of Judaism.  He also spends most of one day a week with our Nursery School children.  A mesmerizing speaker and story-teller (to which all our students, from nursery age on up, and their parents can testify), Rabbi Fass’ sermons, compilations of sermonic anecdotes and illustrations, and scholarly journal articles are known and used by colleagues and lay-people from all branches of Judaism throughout the US and beyond. 

Rabbi Fass’ roots in our community now run three generations deep in that his children, grandchildren, and even the machatunim (his daughter’s in-laws) are all members of Temple Beth Sholom.  He has brought us a vision of Reform Judaism rooted in tradition, informed by the present, and open to change and growth for the future. 

Cantor Sergei Schwartz To be in the congregation when Cantor Sergei Schwartz is on the pulpit is to be drawn into the joy of Jewish worship and Jewish music.  Although an accomplished performer, Cantor Schwartz’ greatest pleasure is to have everyone participate – often with clapping – with him in the service.  His ruach (spirit) on the pulpit is contagious as he conveys both the meaning and emotional nuances of our prayers and liturgy. Despite the religious prohibitions and restrictions in the Soviet Union imposed on all Jews, Jewish music was always a part of Cantor Schwartz’ life.

He began singing by the age of six in his home in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine.  After graduation from the College of Music with a major in Choral Conducting in 1990, he and his family emigrated to Israel.  Accepted to the Jerusalem Rubin Academy of Music, he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in 1995 with a major in Choral Conducting.  During this time Cantor Schwartz joined the Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir, started studying in the Jerusalem School of Cantorial Art (1995), and in 1996, moved to the U.S. to study at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, from which he graduated with a Master of Sacred Music Degree and Investiture as Cantor in May, 2000.

Worship services at Temple Beth Sholom, as our tradition teaches, reach upward toward God, outward toward our fellow human beings, and inward toward the innermost parts of our being.  We strive to touch mind and heart and soul through the worship experience. Our services contain the prayers of the past as well as contemporary ones that strive to express the struggles and complexities of the present.  We pray from the prayerbooks of the Reform movement on Shabbat, Festivals, and the High Holydays.  The use of egalitarian and gender-inclusive language is of great importance to us. There is either a sermon or a congregational discussion about the weekly Torah portion or current issues of Jewish importance. The rabbi’s introduction to the Torah reading places our ancient texts into a modern context and there are often comments and explanations of various prayers and rituals interspersed throughout the service.

It is said that “whoever sings during worship, prays twice.”  Our cantor is especially adept at encouraging the congregation to join in song.  The music is always moving and spirited, and enhances the joy and meaning of our prayers.  Our Young People’s choirs, at various age levels, enhance the worship service for their contemporaries.  The adult choir sings at High Holyday services, at a number of Shabbat services throughout the year, and at various community concerts.

We seek to provide meaningful worship for our congregants of all ages:           

We have Family Services designed for younger children, including our nursery school students.  The children take part in the service by leading songs and/or blessings over the candles, wine, and challah.         

Our Junior Congregation is designed for students from grades 3-8 in our Religious School, and all our students have a weekly Tefillah service during their school hours.

Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations are usually held on Shabbat morning.  There is also one Friday evening a month on which such a simcha may be held.

“Adult services” are the norm on Shabbat eve, and one Friday a month there is an Adult Teaching Service at which the rabbi interprets and discusses various prayers and readings, and leads a Torah study session or a discussion in place of a sermon.  Holiday observances celebrate the traditions of our people and the rhythms of the Jewish year.

We welcome the opportunity to join together to observe holidays and festivals, celebrate the birth of our children, the upcoming marriages of our young adults, conversions, and other happy occasions.  We provide healing and solace to those who are ill, have experienced a loss, or are otherwise in distress of body and soul.

Our worship is truly a moving expression of what it means to be a kehillah, a Congregation.

Nursery School

The dedicated early childhood professionals at Temple Beth Sholom Nursery School are deservedly proud of our reputation as one of the finest early childhood centers in Rockland County.  We take special pride in the active and supportive role of our clergy in the school.  The Nursery School has many wonderful programs for children starting at 12 months with “Babysteps”, our Mommy & Me program, and our Toddler program for 2 year olds.  Our program for 3 year olds is complemented by our “Busy Hands” enrichment program, as is our 4 year old program by the “Explorers” enrichment program.  Our 4’s participate in weekly music classes with our Cantor and “Computertots classes. The 3’s and 4’s enjoy yoga classes as well.  The children enjoy weekly Friday Shabbats with a story-time visit from our Rabbi. Our teachers work hand in hand with the Clarkstown School District staff to assure a smooth transition to kindergarten.  Our goal is to promote the social, physical, intellectual, emotional and creative growth of each child.  In our unique child-centered program, children grow in a warm, supportive, nurturing and developmentally appropriate environment, where Judaism is a living experience.

 

Religious School

Temple Beth Sholom Religious School offers stimulating and innovative programming for students ranging from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Our mission is to strengthen our students’ pride in and love of Judaism, and to deepen and affirm their identity as Jews. We are proud to instill within our students a sense of responsibility toward our sacred Torah, the State of Israel, the Jewish People, and the wider sphere of humanity as well.

Our goal is to cultivate a lifelong thirst for Jewish learning that spans a myriad of topics. Led by our professional, dedicated, and nurturing faculty members, students are acquainted with both age-old and contemporary knowledge of Jewish history, culture, rituals, liturgy, philosophy, theology and Hebrew language.  Class lessons and special programs are creative and thought provoking. Our students become Bar or Bat Mitzvah at age 13, and Confirmation takes place in the tenth grade, culminating in a student-led, creative worship service on Erev Shavuot.  The Religious School environment is filled with exciting Jewish experiences and opportunities for personal growth.

Adult Education

It is our firm belief that Jewish learning is a lifelong process. To that end we sponsor workshops, seminars, and adult education classes held at varying times and on a vast array of topics, both religious and secular.  Our programs feature the teaching talents of our clergy, religious school director, congregants and guests. Particularly noteworthy are our weekly Torah study classes with Rabbi Fass, beginning and intermediate Hebrew for adults, and the adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah program.

Brotherhood

Brotherhood is a wonderful vehicle for Jewish men in our Temple family to develop a sense of camaraderie and community with one another, and extend their efforts to support Temple Beth Sholom in a variety of ways.

Brotherhood is open to all adult male congregants, and our group meets approximately once a month, typically in our Temple’s Youth House.  We usually enjoy a pizza dinner together, and follow our meetings with a lively game of poker or bowling. Our members run the gamut in age; we have younger members who play on our Temple softball team, and more senior members who are participants in the Chai Society.

The members of Brotherhood know they can count on one another to help with various projects that help our Temple, and our congregation knows it can always count on Brotherhood members for their support.  We sponsor an annual Chanukah party for the children of our congregation.  Brotherhood raises and decorates the Temple sukkah, and holds many annual events for families and children.   We have been delighted to extend our support to the Youth Group, both by enabling several Youth Groupers to attend NFTY conventions, and by helping to refurbish the Youth House. We sponsor a men’s softball team, and co-sponsor, along with Sisterhood, a number of adult education seminars and programs and congregational Shabbat dinners.  We are proud to be a major arm and active force at Temple Beth Sholom.  Join us and be a part of a warm and friendly group.

 

Sisterhood

The women of Temple Beth Sholom’s Sisterhood are deeply committed to Reform Judaism and toward fulfilling the vital role that Sisterhood plays in Temple life.  We strive to meet many of the spiritual, social, cultural and educational needs of the congregation, and offer friendship to one another, together with a real sense of belonging.

Our involvement in Temple life includes decorating the Temple bimah for Sukkot, Simchat Torah, and Consecration celebrations.  Along with Brotherhood, we co-sponsor adult education classes, congregational Shabbat dinners, and participate in an annual Brotherhood/Sisterhood Shabbat service.  Our members have a great time creating Shalach Manot baskets for Purim, making and selling Chanukah candy, and making and selling chocolate roses for Mother’s Day in support of breast cancer research.  Sisterhood runs the Temple Judaica shop, and donates funds to help support the Nursery and Religious Schools, and the Youth Group.  We provide scholarships for children in our congregation to attend summer camp, and help the Temple with special needs it may have, such as purchasing a new wheelchair lift for the Temple lobby.

We look forward to doing even more with your support and participation.  When you join Sisterhood, you will not only form new friendships, but you will also discover that the rewards of doing mitzvot are endless!

Temple Beth Sholom’s Youth Groups provide a powerful motivation for our young people to develop a continuing commitment to Jewish life and Israel.

Our youth are involved in social action and community service projects. We develop creative worship services during the year, and run a Purim Carnival for the younger children in the Temple. We are proud to be the only Temple in Rockland County with our own Youth House, located behind the Temple, containing a TV, DVD and VCR, and even a kitchen, well-used for our chocolate lovers’ nights and our famous spaghetti dinners!  Our Youth House is a great place for our lounge nights, movie nights, craft nights and game nights.   Our social programs and activities include bowling, Broadway shows, and trips to comedy clubs, Great Adventure, and Sportsworld.  Our senior group members take an active part in NFTY, the North American Federation for Temple Youth, which organizes shul-ins, trips, conclaves and leadership training, joining together youths from around our region.

As members of our Youth Groups, our children come together to become active participants in the local Jewish community, experience personal growth, make long-lasting friendships, and develop leadership qualities within in a Jewish setting.

 

Ritual

Caring Community

Social Action

College Outreach

Choir

School

Youth

Cultural

Publicity

Lamp

Fine Arts

House & Grounds

Membership

The membership committee inspires Jews to find a lifelong place for themselves within the Temple Beth Sholom community and gives Jews the opportunity to grow their Jewish identity through their affiliation.  This committee is the primary group in the congregation that focuses on attracting, recruiting, welcoming, integrating and retaining members.  The goal of our Committee is to make Temple membership a meaningful experience for every congregant.  We help to make the unique members of our Temple family feel that they belong, and we support their growth within our community.  We speak personally to prospective members, and provide them with information about our Temple.  We invite new and potential members to special breakfasts, Shabbat dinners, and other social or cultural events.  We assist other committees in creating new programs in an effort to meet the constantly changing stages of life and needs that our members experience.

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Ritual

The Ritual Committee is concerned with all aspects of the congregational experience. To maintain and enhance the ritual structure of our congregation, the Ritual Committee interacts with the other arms and committees of the Temple, our clergy, other Temples, and the URJ (the Union for Reform Judaism, the national organization for the Reform Movement).  This brings about an integration of concepts and new ideas and experiences, the goal of which is to provide for the most rewarding Reform worship experience possible.

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Caring Community

The Caring Community is a group of concerned volunteers who truly demonstrate that Temple Beth Sholom is a family.  We provide help and support to congregants facing illness or family crises, and are dedicated to helping to make a difference to congregants during a time of need.

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Social Action/Outreach

Because we feel that Judaism is not merely a set of beliefs, but a way of life, we believe it is our obligation to repair the world – tikkun olam – and to care for people, especially those least able to care for themselves.  To that end, the Social Action/Outreach Committee coordinates and implements a wide variety of programs that benefit not only the Temple community, but also the community at large.  We hold an annual blood drive, and our choirs lend their voices throughout the year to special events in the community.  We provide special programs for people with special needs. We participate in the “Shabbat Across America” program, and in Mitzvah Days. We conduct an annual Yom Kippur Food Drive, and in one year collected 17,500 pounds of food for People to People.

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College Outreach

College outreach provides a way for the temple to keep in touch with our college aged student congregants. Each year, we send holiday care packages during Chanukah, Purim, and Passover. If you would like to sign up  your student to participate, free of charge, for this program offered byTemple Beth Sholom, please contact Eugene Bass. Send to him your student's name, college address ( no Po box), e-mail address, and we will be happy to include them in these mailings. Send this information to Eugene Bass, 24 Beaumont Dr, New City, NY 10956, or e-mail it to hoops39 @ aol.com.

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The Choirs

The only requirement for joining our wonderful Children’s Choir and Adult Choir is a love of music and song.  Our work not only yields a truly remarkable quality of musicianship, under the excellent guidance of Cantor Schwartz, but also creates bonds of friendship and community.  Both choirs inspire our congregation during worship, and help in continuing our Jewish musical heritage.

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School Committee

The Religious School Committee works together with the educational director in setting policies for and making other decisions regarding the religious school. The committee also assists the school in implementing special educational programs and other related activities. We encourage membership from parents of religious school students of all ages in order to ensure that different perspectives are heard and needs are addressed. The school meets monthly throughout the year.

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Youth Committee

The Youth Committee supports the efforts of our Youth Group Advisor, and helps to oversee programs for our 5th through 12th graders.  Our committee, which meets approximately once a month, is the medium by which parents can become involved with our youth program by offering suggestions for programs, volunteering as chaperones for special activities and trips, and assisting at programs like our annual Purim carnival and Spaghetti Dinner.

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Cultural Events

The Cultural Events Committee develops and implements entertaining and culturally enriching programs for our Temple.  We often work in conjunction with the Fund-Raising committee.  Past programs have included “Neil Berg’s Broadway,” wonderful Cantorial Concerts, and great performances by a lively Klezmer band and the Israel Children’s Choir.

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Publicity

Through its contacts with the local media, the Publicity Committee ensures that the community at large is informed about the time and nature of Temple Beth Sholom’s worship services, and is made aware of the Temple’s many wonderful and diverse activities and programs.

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The Lamp

“The Lamp” is the Temple’s monthly newsletter, and, along with our website, the primary means of communication between the Temple and the congregation.  Regular features include the Rabbi’s Message, Cantor’s Notes, the monthly event calendar and worship schedule, and informative articles by the chairs of various Temple committees and groups.  The Lamp staff collects the articles, proofreads and edits them for publication, works on layout, and arranges for printing and delivery to the Temple office for distribution.

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Fine Arts/Beautification

The Fine Arts Committee oversees the appearance of the sanctuary and the inside of the Temple building. This committee handles any decorating, designing, remodeling or sprucing up that is needed.

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House and Grounds

This committee oversees the appearance of the Temple building and grounds, such as landscaping, driveway, and parking lot, making sure that they are appropriately maintained, updated, and improved.  Our goal is to make our Temple as beautiful on the outside as it is on the inside.

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