Welcome to Temple Beth Shalom Online

A highlighted event...Shavuot  Services- Sunday, May 27 at 9:30AM followed by Torah Study Session with Rabbi Rothstein and Monday, May 28 at 9:30AM which includes Yizkor (This is Memorial Day).

Who We Are

  • Conservative-Egalitarian-Caring

  • Contemporary-Challenging

  • Uplifting-Learning-Celebrating

  • Comforting-Healing-Exploring

  • Join us on the Journey!

Ira J. Rothstein - Rabbi
Ruth Katz Green - Cantor
Mark Meyer- President
Karen Ross - Executive Director
Nancy Shechter - Ed. Dir.

Our Philosophy

Temple Beth Shalom was founded in 1978. Since then we have grown from a handful of individuals to over 500 families. Our building was dedicated in November,1984.

Our mission is to learn and experience the relevance, power and joy of our tradition. In order to fulfill this mission, we must perform acts of kindness, study our tradition on an ongoing basis and encourage participatory prayer.Together we will create a caring and vibrant center of Jewish life.   

Our goal is to create a Mercaz- a center of Jewish life. In such a center, people will feel inspired to pray, study and socialize together. If the next generation can be taught how to live Jewish values, then we will have created a sense of community and interconnection. A Mercaz can only be created when enough people have been exposed to primary Jewish experiences. As a result, we must ask ourselves:

1. Do we explore our relationship with God? Are we strengthening that relationship?
2. How do we pray and what do the words mean?
3. How do we celebrate holidays and what do the customs mean?
4. How do we read from the Torah and what do the words mean to us?
5. Do we have a place for Jewish children to meet and socialize with other Jewish children?
6. Is there a place where we can spend quality time working with other Jews on programs, projects and events?
7. Is there a place we can turn to in a time of need?
8. Is there a place in which we can celebrate the life cycle events of our lives?

 

What's Going On

Shabbat Services - Friday evenings in May and June are at 8PM except on  May 18 and June 1 for TBS Alive which is at 7:30PM and May 4 for Early Shabbat Prayer, Birthday and Alef Services which is at 7:30PM.  Saturday morning services are at 9:30AM .

TBS ALIVE!  Friday Night services filled with music and inspiration.  Don’t Miss It.  Join us at 7:30PM on May  18 and June 1!

Rabbi’s Mysticism and Meditation Class- A time set aside for learning meaningful and probing Jewish texts. Time will also be set aside for meditation and inner awareness. If you are seeking refuge from the noise of everyday life, this will be a wonderful opportunity for inner reflection, learning and spiritual growth. Tuesdays from 7:30 to 8:15 on May 15 .

The Essentials of Judaism – Putting the pieces together - Part 2.  If you did not take Part 1, don’t let that stop you.  Part 2 is a stand on its own course.  Join us and bring a friend.  Tuesdays- 7:30PM to 8:30PM on  May 1, 8, 22 and 29.

A Glimmer of Light- Throughout the year, on selected Friday evenings, Rabbi Rothstein will hold a short 15 minute meditation meeting in our meditation room. In 15 short minutes, we will study one teaching and then meditate for a few minutes. It is relaxing. It is calming. It is spiritual. Here is this year's list: June 15, 2012.   

Shavuot  Services- Sunday, May 27 at 9:30AM followed by Torah Study Session with Rabbi Rothstein and Monday, May 28 at 9:30AM which includes Yizkor (This is Memorial Day).

TBS Blood Drive-Monday, June 11 from 5:30PM to 8:30PM.  Call the Temple office to set up appointment as soon as possible or e-mail appointment request to Templebeth@aol.com

Something To Think About

By Rabbi Ira Rothstein

Who Are We?

Once upon a time there was something called black and white television.  These black and white TVs had antennas that often required generous helpings of aluminum foil,  if you didn’t want your screen to be filled with “snow.” (Ask your kids if they know anything about TV snow)  Consider for a moment how much technology has changed our lives. Today we twitter, Facebook and text.   With a tiny cell phone we can connect to others around the world or access a library’s worth of knowledge.  Technology keeps on changing the world.

When a human being runs, researchers have found that the runner is in the air for 40% of each stride.  Let me introduce you to Mabel – the world’s first bi-pedal robot that can run with a human-like gait.  When Mabel runs, she is in the air for a human like 40% of each stride. Why is Mabel important? Mabel technology means that wheelchair bound people may soon be able to walk again.   It is impossible to underestimate the power of such progress.  By the way, Mabel lives at a lab in the University of Michigan and apparently can run up to 6.8 miles per hour.

Yet, no matter how many Mabels fill our world, nothing can replace the challenge of being human.  Such a challenge never changes.   Can we live with honor?  Is our word our bond?  Can we live with disappointment?  How do we handle criticism?  How often do we opt for the easy way as opposed to the right way?  Our robot friend Mabel has the luxury of never having to struggle with such questions.  We do every single day and every single moment.

“Two people are traveling through the desert and one of them has a flask of water.  If both of them drink, they will die. But if one drinks, he will be able to reach civilization. Ben Petura taught that they should both drink and die rather than have one person witness the death of his companion.  Rabbi Akiva taught that it is written “that your brother may live with you.”  This means that your life comes before the life of your fellow man.” (Talmud)

In other words, Rabbi Akiva says that the purpose of life is life.  It is not acceptable for both to drink from the bottle and then both die. Instead, it is always preferable that one person should live rather than have two people die.

No matter how much technological innovation we see in our lifetime, there will be certain situations that will always challenge our humanity.  No matter how much our world changes, tradition continues to be the relevant and indispensable guide to a life of deeper meaning.  So enjoy your Iphones and Ipads.  Facebook to your heart’s content.  Just remember that no matter how much things change, certain things will always remain the same.  In a world that changes at lightning speed, we must never lose sight of our own humanity.  It’s for this reason that the Torah teaches us, “Bechor Bachayim” - choose life.

So, in the future, you may turn the corner and come face to face with Mabel or one of her ‘cousins.’  Say hello, but remember who we are – human and in constant search for our humanity.  Technology may make our lives more convenient, but the perpetual search for our humanity will make our lives more meaningful.