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Some Sun City residents looking for a spiritual home started Temple Beth Shalom in 1968. Initially, the congregation met at the Fairway Center in Sun City before moving to the Sun Dial Center in 1975. Rabbi Albert Michels became the first permanent rabbi for the congregation. Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley's History Arizona Jewish Historical Society photos A handful of Sun City residents looking for a spiritual home started Temple Beth Shalom in 1968 . In the beginning, the congregation would meet at the Fairway Center in Sun City before moving to the Sun Dial Center in 1975. Rabbi Albert Michels became the first permanent rabbi for the congregation, and was officially installed in 1972. In 1976, the congregation purchased land and began construction a year later. At the groundbreaking ceremony, Rabbi Michels said, “At last, we have a home. We no longer have to wander in the desert.” The congregation has seen tremendous growth in the West Valley and is still located on North 101st Avenue in Sun City. Since 1972, Temple Beth Shalom has had only five rabbis serving the congregation. Temple Beth Shalom Rabbis Rabbi Albert A Michels 1972-1982 Rabbi Bernard Kligfeld 1982-1997 Rabbi Arthur J Abrams 1997-2005 Rabbi Sheldon Moss 2005-2019 Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan 2019-Present

Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley Mem ber Testimonials Marlene and Jonathan Green We recently moved to Arizona, and knew we wanted to sink new roots into the Jewish community in the West Valley. We visited Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley, met the Rabbi, attended services, and immediately felt the warmth and welcoming of the congregation. We were impressed that Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan came over to our home to welcome us and ask about our history and interests. We joined, and found the congregation very inviting. We have enjoyed some of the adult education programs. I've gotten involved in the treasury function, the Outreach Committee, and Marlene is co-chairing the Social Action Committee. We are very happy with our decision to join, and feel our efforts to contribute to the congregation are well-received and appreciated. Gloria and Steve Bold Steve and I were snowbirds for 3 years, until our daughter told us she was expecting our first grandchild. So we bought a place in Sun City and quit the back & forth to the East Coast. We were sad to leave our temple in Rehoboth, Delaware! We had gone with our daughter to their synagogue in Scottsdale. It was too big for us & a long drive. We decided to try Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley since it was nearby. We felt welcomed and liked those we met. The next week, several people recognized us and we told them we were looking for a synagogue! After attending services several times, we knew we had found our new home. Friendships have grown & both of us are getting involved. We are a close community of committed Jews. It has made a huge difference in our life. We love Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan and look forward to many more years at Temple Beth Shalom. Steve Siegel and Robert Koch Before we joined Temple Beth Shalom we started Shul shopping around the Phoenix area. There were so many choices to choose from. It became overwhelming. None of the other congregations felt right to us. Plus most were on the other side of town and as many of you know it’s a schlep. After talking with then president Jan Sodos and the temple educator, Elissa Rose, they gave us the highlights of the temple and this wonderful community. So we began attending services and we decided to join. We then joined the Brotherhood and started attend Torah study with Rabbi Sheldon Moss. This was the community we needed and wanted to be a part of. Then something struck us. We were reading a message from Mary Gill Savoren in the Shofar that said: “We (TBS) have always welcomed individuals and families of varying Jewish lifestyles. We are particularly sensitive to the need for inclusion of both traditional and non-traditional family structures.” The message rang home to us. We want to thank the members of Temple Beth Shalom for opening their arms and welcoming Bob and I into your family.

Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley has a very small religious school, which allows us to provide individual attention. Our team of volunteer teachers from our community work with students under the guidance of the rabbi. Families of our religious school students are involved in the temple. Religious School Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley reopened its religious school in 2023, as part of the congregation's wish to create a multi-generational community. We welcome students from the entire West Valley. Kindergarten is free! Our small school allows us to provide individual attention. We have a team of volunteer teachers from our community who work with students under the guidance of the rabbi. Families of our religious school students are actively involved in the religious and social life of the Temple, including attending services on Friday nights. Our Temple is committed to providing a warm and caring environment for all students to explore their spirituality. We aspire to inspire each student to develop a love of Jewish learning and provide the opportunity for them to participate actively in Jewish ritual and holiday observances. Learning is both individualized and personalized. We also want to help each student to feel emotions related to the biblical stories and ritual acts they are learning about. Our educational experience is not just about learning facts but is centered on what those facts can and do mean for us as human beings. We also engage them with a series of values based on Professor Martin Seligman’s positive psychology. Temple Beth Shalom offers study opportunities leading to confirmation at a minimum age of 15, and bar and bat mitzvah at a minimum age of 13. As part of the confirmation process, the older kids will study advanced material dealing with various themes across Jewish studies. We're trying to build a distinctly Reform approach to Judaism that emphasizes personal religious autonomy while at the same time emphasizing the vibrancy and seriousness of religious commitment. With the limited hours available, American religious schools cannot teach students as much as they would really need to become highly educated Jews. What we do hope to do is to inspire them to want to continue their education into their college years and far beyond. Please contact the TBS office at 623.977.3240 for further information.

Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley's Bar and Bat Mitzvah program for children is a multi-year program based on a commitment by parents and the child to engage in worship and study resulting in a public demonstration of what the child has learned about Judaism, our prayers, and basic Hebrew. Bar/Bat Mitzvah Confirmation About While providing a course of study for a child to become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah after age 13 is a basic religious education program at TBS, like many other Reform congregations we also recognize that many of our adult members never had the opportunity to become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah as a child. Our program for children is a multi-year program based on a commitment by the parents and the child to engage in worship and study that results in a public demonstration to the congregation of what the child has learned about Judaism, our prayers, and basic Hebrew in order to become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. However, the commitment does not end there: it extends for another two years of a different type of learning in order to prepare the youth for Confirmation. The adult B'nai Mitzvah program is a one-year program of concentrated study similar to that of the children, but with different texts and individual study. This one-year program culminates with a service at which time each adult who completes the program becomes a Bar or Bat Mitzvah.

Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley's Edith Mattal Library has a significant collection of non-fiction Judaica and quite a lot of fiction by Jewish authors or with Jewish themes. The library is open when the office is open, or when there are other open meetings or services. Edith Mattal Library The TBS library has a significant collection of non-fiction Judaica and quite a lot of fiction by Jewish authors or with Jewish themes. The Mattal Trust Fund purchased a group of 2021 and 2022 National Jewish Book Award (NJBA) winners for the library at Temple Beth Shalom. The library is open when the office is open, or when there are other open meetings or services. Come in to browse the shelves and take home a book or three to read.

Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley hosts scholars-in-residence, including Rabbi David Frankel from the Schechter Institute in Jerusalem and Helen Schwartz, who has lectured and written about stolen French art by the Nazis during World War II. Scholar-In-Residence Professor Rabbi David Frankel from the Schechter Institute in Jerusalem was Temple Beth Shalom's Scholar-in-Residence in November 2022. He spoke about "How Can We Cope with Evil and Suffering?" He is an internationally known scholar, and teaches M.A. and rabbinical students at the Schechter Institute. He is the author of "The Murmuring Stories of the Priestly School" and "Land of Canaan and the Destiny of Israel." Helen Schwartz , who has lectured and written about stolen French art by the Nazis during World War II, spoke at Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley in April 2023. Helen, a retired Indiana University English professor, has written several books, including her historical thriller, “Thieves of Paris.” She has lectured at universities, community centers, synagogues and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley offers something for everyone, including the weekly study of Torah with Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan, a four-week class on Kabbalah, or an interfaith study open to Jewish and non-Jewish members of the West Valley, or a Scholar-in-residence speaker on the Holocaust. Adult Education Lifelong learning is a cornerstone of Reform Judaism. At Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley, we provide a variety of opportunities to assist our members in finding educational offerings that meet the varying needs of our members. Whether it be the weekly study of Torah with Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan, a four-week class on Kabbalah, a participative program to enable learners to identify the meaning of God on a personal level, or an interfaith study of “Rabbi Jesus” open to Jewish and non-Jewish members of the West Valley, or a scholar-in-residence who spoke on the theft of art from the Jews of France during the Holocaust, we offer something for everyone. The Adult Education Committee and Rabbi Kaplan develop course offerings For most months, there will be two courses on Monday mornings and Thursday afternoons, and there will be a few "extras" added here and there. We will also be introducing a new weekly study group for the serious learner which will focus on God. All our courses are open to TBS members and non-members, whether the non-member is Jewish or a member of another religion.

To be a devoted Reform Jew is to do many things. One of the most important is to work toward making the world a better place. Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley's Social Action Committee enables us to work together as a community to try to help the lives of at least a few people. Social Activities To be a devoted Reform Jew is to do many things. One of the most important is to work toward making th e world a better place. Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley offers many ways to make new friends, celebrate and support one another through good times and bad, and volunteer to help the Temple and the entire community. So cial Action Committee : We work together as a community to try to help the lives of at least a few people. For example, we have been supporters of the Valley View Community Food Bank in Sun City since it was founded in 2007. Brotherhood: Our Brotherhood was established in 1979 at Temple Beth Shalom to promote fellowship and service to the Temple. Toward that goal, the Brotherhood sponsors Temple fundraisers and social events. Sisterhood : All women Temple members are invited to join the Sisterhood. First-year Temple members receive a complimentary membership to Sisterhood. Chavurah: Temple Beth Shalom members with similar interests get together to share communal activities and Jewish learning. Community Projects : From canned goods to cereal, Temple members make donations as part of the "Can Do" monthly campaign to benefit the Valley View Community Food Bank. Caring Committee: Our Caring Committee specializes in building connections with our congregants and their immediate family members during times of health crisis and beyond. Book Club : The TBS Book Club meets by Zoom the third Wednesday of the month at 2 p.m. Most books are Jewish-related fiction and non-fiction, but not always. Grief Group : Are you experiencing grief or depression? The grief group meets monthly (except during the summer) at the Temple for all members and non-members. For more information, the Temple office at 623.977.3240. A Jewis h Community for a Better You and a Better Worl d

The Shofar is Temple Beth Shalom' of the West Valley's monthly newsletter detailing important information on Temple events. Archived Shofar Monthly Newsletters Here are archived issues of Shofar, Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley's monthly newsletter. 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 Feb. 2026 Jan. 2026 2025 Dec. 2025 Nov. 2025 Oct. 2025 Sept. 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 Feb. 2025 Jan. 2025 2024 Dec. 2024 Nov. 2024 Oct. 2024 Sept. 2024 Aug. 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 J anuary 2024 2023 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 2022 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022

Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley celebrates Shabbat every Friday night with a joyous service at about 7 p.m. to about 8:15 p.m., led by Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan and Cantor Baruch Koritan, followed by a Oneg. Most prayers are in English so a worshiper with minimal Hebrew can participate actively. Thanksgiving Interfaith Service Please fill out RSVP Form Read Rabbi Kaplan's blog, "An Interfaith Thanksgiving of Gratitude" Join us for Thanksgiving interfaith service on Nov. 21 Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley is hosting a Thanksgiving interfaith service at 7 p.m. Nov. 21 at the Temple, 12202 N. 101st Ave. in Sun City. Temple Beth Shalom’s Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan and Cantor Baruch Koritan will be joined by clergy from Sun City churches who will be sharing Thanksgiving messages. They include Rev. Ann Utke, interim minister of First Presbyterian Church; Rev. Mark J. Makowski, associate pastor of The Church of the Palms; Pastor Greg Emery, Faith Presbyterian Church; and Rev. John Maroni of Shepherd, Desert Lutheran Church. For security reasons, no purses or bags will be allowed unless they are clear and baggies will be provided for wallets, cellphones and keys.

Become a Member Fill Out TBS New Member Application We invite EVERYONE – Individuals, couples, and families – to be a part of our congregation. At Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley, we celebrate Shabbat together, study Torah together, volunteer for social action projects together, and connect to Israel through food, wine, and folklore. We are a Reform Jewish congregation serving the entire West Valley, all the Sun Cities, and Avondale, Buckeye, El Mirage, Glendale, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, Peoria, Surprise and Tolleson, Tonopah, Waddell and Youngtown. Whether you are single or partnered, were born Jewish, are a Jew-by-Choice, in an interfaith family or are thinking about or interested in Judaism … there is a place for you to join our temple family. Worship with our rabbi and our cantor as we celebrate Shabbat with inspiring Friday night services at 7 p.m. Following services, we flock to the social hall for an Oneg. Join us for our monthly Saturday morning informal Shabbat with guitar service and a potluck brunch in a member’s home. With great joy we celebrate the holidays of the Jewish calendar from Sukkot to Chanukah and Purim to Passover. Come and visit … and stay! We’d love to hear from you! There’s a place here that only you can fill. Join Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan and Temple volunteers for the weekly Torah Study on Zoom. Contact the Temple office at 623.977.3240 for more information. Watch videos of F riday Evening Shabbat s ervices on Temple Beth Shalom's YouTube channel .