Temple Beth Shalom

(Canceled due to snow) Sisterhood Mah Jongg
2025-02-06 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
Come play Mah Jongg with Sisterhood on the first Thursday of every month at 7-9 pm. There will be at least one teaching table each month so newbies are welcome to join us. Be sure to indicate if you are a new player. Mah jongg is free for TBS members. Non members are welcome to join Sisterhood to play (your first game on us). Register at t-b-s.me/mahjongg.

Lay-Led Morning Minyan
2025-02-06 07:00 - 07:30, 2025-02-03 07:00 - 07:30, 2025-01-30 07:00 - 07:30, 2025-01-27 07:00 - 07:30 (America/New_York)
Members of our community gather virtually for a warm and inclusive lay-led service. These services take place even if there are fewer than ten participants, last about 20-30 minutes, and are a meaningful way to start your day.
Please join us in person; we are no longer meeting virtually.

Lay-Led Evening Minyan (online)
2025-02-05 18:45 - 19:15, 2025-02-04 18:45 - 19:15, 2025-01-29 18:45 - 19:15, 2025-01-28 18:45 - 19:15 (America/New_York)
Members of our community gather virtually for a warm and inclusive lay-led service. These services take place even if there are fewer than ten participants, last about 20-30 minutes, and are a meaningful way to end your day. Join us on Zoom here.

God, Torah, Israel: An Exploration of Judaism's Foundational Principles
2025-02-04 19:15 - 20:15 (US/Eastern) | Online
Jewish tradition teaches that the three major pillars of Judaism are God, Torah, and Israel. While Jews understand and connect to each of these principles differently, they nonetheless encompass that totality of Judaism as a tradition of religion/spirituality, sacred text, and community/peoplehood. Join us as we consider the various meanings of each and how we might relate to them today. Led by Rabbi Sonsino.
Register: https://t-b-s.me/principles

Learn to Play Canasta (Second Session)
2025-02-04 19:00 - 21:00 (US/Eastern) | Carmen Hall
Come learn to play Canasta with Sisterhood. We will be offering a three part series to learn to play. It’s best if you can make it to all three dates because it takes a while to learn the game and practice, but if you can only make it to two, still sign up. The first session will be the most important, so please try to make it to at least that one. The dates will be: Thursday January 30th from 7:00-9:00 PM Tuesday February 4th from 7:00-9:00 PM Tuesday February 11th from 7:00-9:00 PM
Register: https://t-b-s.me/learncanasta

Jam Baby
2025-02-04 10:30 - 23:15, 2025-01-28 10:30 - 23:15 (America/New_York)
Join in the fun with your child: Sing songs! Play instruments! Dance around and JAM! The first years are critical in a child’s musical development. JamBaby classes provide a fun atmosphere while promoting musical learning, socialization, and the most exciting introduction to the wonder and joy of music. Taught by the amazing musician of Jammin’ With You!
Register here.

Garden Club Workshop
2025-02-04 10:00 - 13:00 (US/Eastern) | Simon Hall
Must be a Garden Club member to participate. Please visit the Garden Club page for more information.

A State of Ideals is Not the Same as an Ideal State (Online Only)
2025-02-03 19:15 - 20:45 (US/Eastern) | Online
Join Rabbi Jan Katzew and Rabbi Elyse Pincus Abrahams as they explore the complexity of Israel and how we might better personally understand our relationship with a country founded on the ideals of democracy, equality, justice, and peace. This program is part of our “Where Are You In Relation to Israel?” series.
Register: t-b-s.me/relationtoisrael
During our series, our topic titles will include:

Israel in Perspective: Zionism as a Response to Modernity
Israel in Perspective: The Zionist Idea
One State, Many Midwives
A State of Ideals is not the Same as an Ideal State
Be Careful What You Pray For
Not All Wars Are the Same
The Story of Hatikvah

All sessions will be recorded.
Our Teacher: Rabbi Jan Katzew
Rabbi Katzew, PhD is Associate Professor Emeritus of Jewish Thought and Education and Senior Educator of the EMA Program at HUC-JIR. After serving for six years as rabbi/educator at The Community Synagogue in Port Washington, NY, Jan became a Jerusalem Fellow and earned a doctorate at the Hebrew University in Jewish Thought and Education. For fifteen years Jan led a team of educators at the Union for Reform Judaism that was responsible for designing, developing, and implementing curricular resources for early childhood centers, congregational schools, day schools and adult learning communities throughout the world. Since its inception in 2008, Jan has been a senior consultant to the iCenter for Israel Education, mentoring students from multiple graduate schools and seminaries to become Israel educators, a task made even more important after October 7, 2023. Jan is the author of popular and scholarly articles in multiple fields that include Interfaith dialogue, Mussar, Medieval Hebrew Poetry, Israel Education, Moral Development, and educational philosophy and practice.

Israeli Dance
2025-02-03 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-01-27 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York)

TBS Presents: Songs of Love and Devotion
2025-02-02 19:00 - 20:30 (US/Eastern) | Sanctuary
Over the past year, Cantor DJ Fortine and pianist Lois Shapiro have teamed up with Francine Trester, one of Berklee College of Music’s Professors of Composition, to set meaningful Jewish texts to music. These original compositions — vocal duets and quartets which Temple Beth Shalom has formally commissioned — are celebrations of love, devotion, and enduring commitment, based on texts from Song of Songs, the Book of Ruth, and poetry by Rabbi Rami Shapiro. This 60-minute concert — featuring Cantor DJ, Alli Aaron, Betty Bauman, and Elijah Botkin — will also showcase an eclectic mix of love songs from genres ranging from contemporary musical theater to lieder from composers including Gustav Mahler and Clara Schumann. This February performance and its repertoire is dedicated to the love, devotion, and enduring commitment of our TBS community, and is just one way to join our ongoing celebration of TBS’s 70-year anniversary!
Suggested donation: $18
Register: t-b-s.me/songsoflove

Social Action meeting and project
2025-02-02 18:00 - 19:30 (US/Eastern) | Conference Room (front)
Throughout January, Social Action is collecting items to create beautiful Valentine’s Day baskets for women sheltering at Rosie’s Place. On Sunday, February 2nd at 7:00pm, we will be meeting at TBS to assemble these baskets together. We hope you will join us in spreading some love!
Register here.

The Great War: How World War I Shaped the Modern World
2025-02-02 13:00 - 14:00 (US/Eastern) | Online
Join us for an exclusive four-part series with Professor Stephen M. Berk as we delve into the transformative impact of World War I—The Great War. This seminal event of the 20th century reshaped nations, ideologies, and societies, influencing everything from the rise of Lenin, Mussolini, and Hitler to the global movements for decolonization, women’s rights, and American isolationism. Each session will focus on a pivotal aspect of the war: on February 2, we explore The Kaiser, Pervasive Fear, and National Interest, leading to the Battle of the Marne; on February 9, Verdun and the Somme, battles that epitomize the horror of war; on February 16, Lenin Comes to Power and the Yanks Are Coming, revealing the revolutionary changes and American involvement; and on February 23, Germany Rolls the Dice, examining the diplomacy of war and peace. A distinguished historian and TBS’s 2017 Scholar-in-Residence, Professor Berk brings unparalleled insight and expertise to this exploration of history that continues to shape our world. Presented by the Orange County Community Scholar’s Program and sponsored by TBS Adult Learning.
Register: t-b-s.me/thegreatwar
Stephen M. Berk, who served as CSP’s 10th Annual One Month Scholar in Residence in February 2011, is Professor of History at Union College in Schenectady, New York, former Chair of the Department of History, Director of the Program in Russian and Eastern European Studies and Faculty Advisor to the Jewish Student Organization. He is the author of Year of Crisis, Year of Hope: Russian Jewry and the Pogroms of 1881-1882 (Greenwood Press, 1985). He is currently writing a book titled: Our People Are Your People: American Jewry and the Struggle for Civil Rights 1954-1965. The book provides an interesting discussion of an extremely important chapter in the history of the civil rights movement and attempts to dispel the myths and misunderstandings surrounding the Black-Jewish relationship. A recipient of the Citizens Laureate Award of the University of Albany Foundation, Professor Berk has been a consultant to the Wiesenthal Holocaust Center in Los Angeles, has written articles on Russian and Jewish history, anti-Semitism, and the Middle East and has lectured on throughout the United States and Canada including such distinguished colleges and universities as Princeton, Vanderbilt, The University of Texas at Austin and Williams College.

Open Play Lab
2025-02-02 11:30 - 12:15 (America/New_York)
It’s cold outside, and we’ll have a warm and welcoming place to learn with your child with several sensory stations to explore! Playdough, a rice or water table and craft. Designed for families with children ages 1-5 and the whole family is welcome. Come play! Register

The Jews of Morocco - A Journey through History, Politics and Culture
2025-02-02 10:00 - 11:00 (US/Eastern) | Online
The Jews of Morocco – A Journey through History, Politics and Culture
Please join us for four, Zoom-only, sessions about the Jews of Morocco – taught by Dr. David Mendelsohn from Israel. This is a precursor to the TBS Morocco Adventure but it is open to all TBS members.
Register Here: https://t-b-s.me/moroccolearning
Sunday, January 12th from 10:00-11:00 am
The Indigenous Jews of Morocco
It is believed that the first Jews reached Morocco in the 5th century BCE. They settled among the indigenous Amazigh (Berber) tribes and slowly become integrated with them. Intermarriage led to a “Judaization of the Berbers” and conversely a “Berberization of the Jews,” meaning that the Berber Jews may be considered as indigenous to Morocco themselves.
This lecture will look at the History and culture of the Amazigh – especially as it pertains to the cultural imprints left upon the Jews many of which survive until today.
Sunday, January 26th from 10:00-11:00 am EST
The Arabian conquest of Morocco and its Effect on the Jews
The Arab conquest began in 703 and began the process of the Islamification of Morocco. In 1492, the Spanish Expulsion led to a wave of Spanish Jews seeking refuge in northern Morocco, and importing a unique cultural heritage, including their own language. What did this mean for the local Jews who had already lived there for centuries?
The lecture will trace this history and examine the difficulties inherent in integrating and coexisting with this dominant new culture and religion. We will also spend some time looking at the history and tenets of Islam and the structure of the mosque, especially as it pertains to Morocco.
Sunday, February 2nd from 10:00-11:00 am EST
Moving into Modernity: Monarchy, Islam, and the Jews of Morocco
This lecture will examine the unique role of the Moroccan monarchs as protector of the faith (Islam) and the unusual tolerance demonstrated to the Jews of Morocco throughout much (but certainly not all) of its history. We will examine the reasons behind this unique relationship. As a French colony, Morocco was subject to same anti-Jewish decrees as the Jews of France from Nazi-allied Vichy France during the Second World War. Yet in 1941, King Mohammed V refused to deport Morocco’s 250,000 Jews to the concentration camps of Europe stating: “There are no Jews in Morocco. There are only Moroccan subjects,” resulting in the entirety of Morocco‘s Jewish population being saved.
This lecture will investigate the complex relationship between monarchs and Jews in Morocco – especially as it pertains to the culture of Islam. We will experience and feel the results of this continuing relationship and the love most Moroccan subjects (Muslim and Jew) still feel for their king when we visit Morocco in March.
Sunday, February 9th from 10:00-11:30 am EST (11:00-11:30 dedicated to travel details):
The Jews of Morocco: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
In 1948, the creation of the state of Israel motivated many Moroccan Jews to move to Israel. By 1964, more than 97,000 Jews had left Morocco, mainly to Israel where today there are around 1,000,000 Jews of Moroccan descent.
Today there are about 2500 Jews living in Morocco, mostly in Casablanca. The community has good relations with the current ruler, King Mohamed VI who encourages religious tolerance and who strives to uphold the legacy of tolerance demonstrated by King Mohammed V during the Holocaust. We will ask and attempt to answer the oft repeated question: If the Jews had it so good, why did they ever leave Morocco?

Finding Our Jewish Values in the Torah
2025-02-01 09:15 - 10:15 (America/New_York)
Each week we will focus on a single Jewish moral or ethical value found in that week’s parshah (Torah portion). These will include, but not be limited to: Justice, Compassion, Environmental Ethics, and Business Ethics. A variety of rabbinic sources will enrich our exploration as we seek to apply each week’s value to our lives today.
Join us in person at TBS or drop in online at t-b-s.me/findingvalues.

Torah Study
2025-02-01 09:15 - 10:15 (America/New_York)
No previous experience with Torah study is required…just an open mind and a desire to learn more!

Lay-Led Shabbat Morning Service
2025-02-01 08:30 - 09:00 (America/New_York)
Join in virtually, or join us in person in the Beit Midrash! Please refer to your Shabbat Shalom email for the Zoom information.

Erev Shabbat Service
2025-01-31 18:15 - 19:45 (America/New_York)
If you are a TBS member who would like to join us virtually, please check your Shabbat Shalom email for the link.

Pre-Shabbat Yoga
2025-01-31 09:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York)
Step into fall with strength, balance and alignment through the practice of yoga. Join experienced yoga teacher Stephanie Javaheri for a weekly mindful yoga ‘work in’ to cultivate awareness physically and mentally. Feel better in your body and your mind. Slow physical movement, breathwork and meditation blend together in this 1-hour class.
Drop in at TBS for the in-person class, or click here to join in via Zoom; no registration is necessary.

Winter Shabbaton
2025-01-31 - 2025-02-02 | Eisner Camp
Register: t-b-s.me/wintershabbaton

Learn to Play Canasta (First Session)
2025-01-30 19:00 - 21:00 (US/Eastern) | Beit Midrash

Little Learners
2025-01-30 10:30 - 11:15 (America/New_York)
Come be a part of our vibrant community as we sing, play, and discover the joy of learning together! This engaging and interactive session blends music, stories, and sensory play to create a nurturing environment where little ones can explore, learn, and grow. Register here.
