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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's Torah discussions are held every Wednesday on Zoom. Known as the "people of the book", Jews value education, and the value of education is strongly embedded in Jewish culture. Our discussions are led by Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan as well as volunteers. Torah Discussion on Zoom Torah discussions are held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Wednesday on Zoom. Known as the "people of the book", Jews value education, and the value of education is strongly embedded in Jewish culture. Join Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan for a stimulating weekly exploration of the Torah, the foundational text of Judaism and one of the most influential books in human history. This study group is intended for beginners with no previous background and is conducted online through Zoom. You can join from anywhere with a WiFi connection. Everyone has the opportunity to speak and people from all backgrounds are welcome to join. Our beloved Steve Siegel is the devoted coordinator. Each session focuses on the weekly Torah portion (parashat ha-shavua), combining close reading of the biblical text with insights from classical Jewish commentators and once in a while from modern scholarship. Together, we will examine the enduring questions that the Torah raises about God, morality, community, justice, and the purpose of human life. Whether you are a longtime student of Judaism or opening the Torah for the first time, this class offers an engaging and accessible opportunity to deepen your understanding of the Jewish tradition. Our discussions are thoughtful, interactive and intellectually rich, showing how ancient teachings continue to speak powerfully to contemporary concerns. Participants will gain a greater appreciation for the wisdom of the Torah and discover new ways to connect its timeless messages to their own lives. Please contact the TBS office at 623.977.3240 to register for the discussions if you have not previously done so.

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. Ancient Biblical Interpretation “Ancient Biblical Interpretation” is a new weekly study group which will be led by Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan meeting weekly from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays beginning Sept. 3. Using James Kugel’s “The Bible As it Was” as a text, the participants will discuss how the earliest interpreters of the scriptures radically transformed the Torah and made it into the document that has come down to us today. The course is designed for persons willing to make an on-going commitment to study. Using biblical stories we know well, we will ask how and why the writers of this formative age of interpretation – roughly 200 B.C.E. to 150 C.E. – assumed such a significant role. Mining their writings – including the Dead Sea Scrolls, works of Philo and Josephus and letters of the Apostle Paul, and writing of the Apostolic Fathers and the rabbinic Sages – we will read short selections from the actual texts that uncover this crucial interpretive process. Going over every detail in the Torah’s stories, prophecies, and laws, these interpreters let their own theological and imaginative inclinations radically transform the Bible’s very nature. Their sometimes surprising interpretations soon became the generally accepted meaning. These interpretations, and not the mere words of the text, became the Torah. New participants may join any time. Participants will need to provide a personal copy of Kugel’s book – “The Bible as it Was” and a copy of the Bible. The cost for the course is $20 per person per month for Temple members and $35 for non-members, or one coupon per month. Payment is required at the beginning of each month. Contact the Temple Office at 623.977.3240 or templebethshalomaz@gmail.com t o sign up for the course, purchase coupon books (if desired) and make payment before Sept. 9.

Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley is a Reform Jewish congregation serving the West Valley, all the Sun Cities, and Avondale, Buckeye, El Mirage, Glendale, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, Peoria, Surprise and Tolleson, Tonopah, Waddell and Youngtown. Everyone is invited to join our congregation. 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 .

Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley is a Reform Jewish congregation serving the West Valley, all the Sun Cities, and Avondale, Buckeye, El Mirage, Glendale, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, Peoria, Surprise and Tolleson, Tonopah, Waddell and Youngtown. Everyone is invited to join our congregation. Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley in the News Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley and Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan are featured regularly in the news media. Here are examples of the coverage: Sun City Independent (11.14.25) Sun City temple slates interfaith course Sun City Independent (10.31.25) How to protect against scams Sun City Independent (10.23.25) Sun City Temple hosts interfaith Thanksgiving service Sun City Independent (10.10.25) Sun City temple slates archaeological journey through the Middle East Sun City Independent (9.17.25) Sun City Temple to offer three-part course on antisemitism Sun City Independent (9.12.25) Temple Beth Shaloms costs "Kindness, Courage and Joy" course Jewish News (9.4.25) Valley rabbis share High Holy Day messages Sun City Independent (8.26.25) Area Temple invites non-members to High Holy Days services Sun City Independent (8.22.25) Sun City Temple slates Sundae Funday Open House Sun City Independent (8.5.25) Temple Beth Shalom course teaches how to forgive and let go Sun City Independent (7.29.25) Temple Beth Shalom presents High Holy Day course Sun City Independent (4.29.25) Sun City Temple commemorates Holocaust Remembrance Day Sun City Independent (4.12.25) Sun City temple offers interfaith courses in May

Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley's service guide provides access to the music and teachings of our service. Our prayer book, Mishkan T’filah, can also be accessed by clicking the button on the web page. High Holy Days 5787 Preparing Our Heads and Hearts for the High Holy Days Message from Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan, Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley, Sun City, Arizona As the month of Elul draws us toward Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Judaism invites us into a season unlike any other. The High Holy Days are not simply dates on the calendar. They are an opportunity to pause, to reflect, and to ask the questions that are easy to avoid during the rest of the year: Who am I becoming? Am I living according to my deepest values? What kind of person do I hope to be in the year ahead? The High Holy Days begin with a message of hope. Judaism teaches that none of us is trapped by the past. We cannot change what has already happened, but we can decide how we will respond today and tomorrow. Every year offers us the opportunity to begin again. The sound of the shofar calls us to wake from spiritual complacency. It reminds us that life is precious, time is limited, and meaningful change is always possible. While our society often encourages us to measure success by what we acquire, the High Holy Days ask a different question: Are we becoming wiser, kinder, more compassionate, and more grateful? Yom Kippur is often misunderstood as a day devoted to guilt. In reality, it is a day devoted to growth. Judaism calls this process teshuvah—returning to the person we are capable of becoming. It asks us to acknowledge our mistakes honestly, seek forgiveness where we have caused harm, extend forgiveness whenever possible, and move forward with greater integrity and purpose. These holy days also remind us that we do not undertake this journey alone. Gathering with family, friends, and community strengthens us and reminds us that our lives are deeply connected with the lives of others. Our relationships—with those we love, with the broader community, and with God—are renewed when we open our hearts with humility and sincerity. At Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley, we welcome everyone who is searching for meaning, whether they attend synagogue regularly or are reconnecting with Jewish life after many years away. The High Holy Days offer an opportunity not simply to observe ancient traditions, but to discover their enduring wisdom and relevance for our lives today. May this New Year bring wisdom, healing, compassion, and peace to you, your loved ones, and our entire community. Shanah Tovah U’Metukah — may you be blessed with a good and sweet New Year. 2026/5787 High Holy Day Services Schedule Join us for the uplifting and beautiful High Holy Days services conducted by Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan and Cantor Baruch Koritan at Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley, 12202 N. 101st Ave., Sun City. Tickets are required for all events. Available for Non-Member Guests Tickets for 2026 High Holy Day Services are available to non-members. Contact the Temple office at 623.977.3240 from 9:30 a.m.– 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday to arrange to purchase non-member tickets, which cost $250 per person. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets will not be sold at the door. Questions? Email the Temple office at templebethshalomaz@gmail.com . * Ending times are approximate Friday, Sept. 11 Erev Rosh Hashanah: 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 Rosh Hashanah Morning Service: 10 a.m.-Noon Sunday, Sept. 20 Kol Nidre: 7-9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21 Yom Kippur Morning Service: 10 a.m.-Noon Yizkor Service: 1-1:45 p.m. Yom Kippur Afternoon Service: 4-5:15 p.m. Neilah (Concluding) Service: 5:15-6:30 p.m. For security reasons, tickets must be presented for admittance to all services and are non-transferrable. Doors will be locked 15 minutes after services begin.

Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley is a Reform 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. Everyone is invited to join our congregation. 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 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. 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. View live streaming of Shabbat services and past services on Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley's YouTube channel

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. Ancient Biblical Interpretation “Ancient Biblical Interpretation” is a new weekly study group which will be led by Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan meeting weekly from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays beginning Sept. 3. Using James Kugel’s “The Bible As it Was” as a text, the participants will discuss how the earliest interpreters of the scriptures radically transformed the Torah and made it into the document that has come down to us today. The course is designed for persons willing to make an on-going commitment to study. Using biblical stories we know well, we will ask how and why the writers of this formative age of interpretation – roughly 200 B.C.E. to 150 C.E. – assumed such a significant role. Mining their writings – including the Dead Sea Scrolls, works of Philo and Josephus and letters of the Apostle Paul, and writing of the Apostolic Fathers and the rabbinic Sages – we will read short selections from the actual texts that uncover this crucial interpretive process. Going over every detail in the Torah’s stories, prophecies, and laws, these interpreters let their own theological and imaginative inclinations radically transform the Bible’s very nature. Their sometimes surprising interpretations soon became the generally accepted meaning. These interpretations, and not the mere words of the text, became the Torah. New participants may join any time. Participants will need to provide a personal copy of Kugel’s book – “The Bible as it Was” and a copy of the Bible. The cost for the course is $20 per person per month for Temple members and $35 for non-members, or one coupon per month. Payment is required at the beginning of each month. Contact the Temple Office at 623.977.3240 or templebethshalomaz@gmail.com t o sign up for the course, purchase coupon books (if desired) and make payment before Sept. 9.

Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley's leadership includes officers and trustees. Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan Leadership Te mple Beth Shalom of the West Valley's leadership members for 2025-2026 are: President: Sara Jane Feldman Past President: Steve Bold 1st Vice President: Gloria Bold Vice President: Mariane Anderson Vice President: Carmen Berkowitz Recording Secretary: Dave Katz Treasurer: Jonathan Green Financial Secretary: Warren Bentkover Board Members: Bernie Arum Lori Baker Richard Bass Bea Eisenberg Steve Hechler Nan Lieber Barbara Rudzin Ellyn Ventura Michael Zager Sisterhood President: Roz Goldstein Brotherhood Co-Presidents: Max Allen and Bernie Arum

Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley is a Reform Jewish congregation serving the West Valley, all the Sun Cities, and Avondale, Buckeye, El Mirage, Glendale, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, Peoria, Surprise and Tolleson, Tonopah, Waddell and Youngtown. Everyone is invited to join our congregation. 2026 Kavod Award Winners Two Temple Beth Shalom members receive Kavod awards Carmen Berkowitz and Jon Green were honored on May 1 with prestigious Kavod Awards in appreciation of their exemplary service to Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley in Sun City. The annual Kavod Award honors individuals whose service and dedication strengthen the Temple community. Berkowitz was selected for the Kavod Award because of her many years of volunteering on several committees and serving on the Board of Directors. She currently is a Board Vice President and has chaired the Membership Committee for many years. “As Membership Chair, I have had the opportunity to meet many people and inform them about our very friendly congregation, our very talented Cantor and our scholarly, friendly and, sometimes, humorous Rabbi,” Berkowitz said. Green is an essential part of the Temple’s leadership and currently serves as Board treasurer. He’s active in the Brotherhood and he plays a key role in overseeing the Temple’s Arizona and Homeland Security grants. “My goal is to help our congregation succeed in our mission of well-representing the Jewish population here in the West Valley,” he said.