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The Shofar is Temple Beth Shalom' of the West Valley's monthly newsletter detailing important information on Temple events. Shofar Monthly Newsletters The Shofar is our monthly newsletter detailing important information on Temple events. Check out TBS happenings. Read archived Shofar issues . June 2026 July 2026 Aug. 2026

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.

The Temple Shalom of the West Valley Brotherhood's mission is to promote fellowship and service to the Temple, including fundraisers and social events such as the monthly potlucks, a speakers series, Golf Tournament, and Mother's Day Brunch. Members are caring and compassionate Jews. TBS Brotherhood The Temple Shalom of the West Valley Brotherhood was established in 1979 with 42 members starting out with the first meeting. Our Brotherhood's mission is to promote fellowship and service to the Temple. Toward that goal, the Brotherhood sponsors fundraisers and social events such as various entertainment functions, Mother's Day celebration and monthly potlucks before Shabbat services. With the Sisterhood, we contribute funds and provide many unseen activities that foster a smooth Temple operation. Our "Movers and Shakers" do the annual Succah erection and all chair moving needed for the holidays. We are proud to serve the Temple.

Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley's Chanukah celebrations go on for several nights at the Temple and into the communities. Our special events celebrating Jewish culture like the Klezmer Band Jewish Folk Music concert draw visitors from all over the Phoenix area. Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley Has Something for Everyone! Come join in the fun! Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley's Chanukah celebrations go on for several nights at the Temple and into the communities. Our special events like the Klezmer Band Jewish Folk Music concert draw visitors from all over the Phoenix area. These are a few examples of the Temple's joyous events. Ongoing: Join Our Ancient Biblical Interpretations Study Group Learn about the Jewish Influence on R & B and Rock and Roll during Temple Beth Shalom's three-part series in May. MORE DETAILS Sign up for the "Authenticity, Honesty and Integrity" interfaith series presented by Temple Beth Shalom in May. MORE DETAILS

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. Stand in Solidarity with Israel How You Can Help Israel Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley is taking donations in support of Israel. Please make checks payable to Temple Beth Shalom. You can drop off your donation or mail it to Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley, 12202 N. 101st Ave., Sun City, AZ 85351. Your donation is tax-deductible and 100% of your donation will be sent to the Magen David Adom Emergency Medical Fund. Religious leaders lead interfaith service to show solidarity with Israel Rabbis, pastors, ministers, priests and preachers joined Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan and Cantor Baruch Koritan in leading an interfaith service with about 200 congregants to show solidarity with Israel on Oct. 7, 2024. At Temple Beth Shalom, they prayed and sang in unity with congregants in memory of those murdered on Oct. 7, 2023, and prayed for Israel and her people, the safe return of the hostages, safety of the Israel Defense Forces, healing of those innocent Israelis and tourists wounded in body and soul, and the comfort of grieving loved ones. Rabbi Kaplan shared his experiences during this past summer having visited several of the sites of massacres of innocent civilians that had taken place in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. “Our Temple felt it was important to bring together congregations from as many different backgrounds as possible in solidarity with Israel. On the first anniversary of the terrible atrocities committed by Hamas and other groups and individuals from Gaza, it was gratifying to see and feel how so many people in the West Valley want to share their support for the State of Israel and the local Jewish community. I think it is important to bring together people of different faiths to support the right of Jewish people to live in our ancestral homeland without fear of being butchered in our homes or blown up by missiles,” Rabbi Kaplan said. Clergy from neighboring communities shared prayers and statements, including First Presbyterian Church in Sun City, Living Word Pentecostal Church in Sun City, First Presbyterian Church in Peoria, Saint Haven Ministry in Surprise, Shepherd of the Desert Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sun City, Grace Bible Church in Sun City, First Baptist Church in Sun City West, St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Goodyear, Embassy Church, Faith Presbyterian Church in Sun City, Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, Soka Gakkai International Nichiren Buddhist Community in Phoenix, and Avista Hospice and at the Palazzo Senior Living Center.

Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley's Caring Committee team is personal, physical, spiritual and loving. We specialize in building connections with our congregants and their immediate family members during times of health crisis. We are available to all at-risk congregants at any time. Caring Committee Dr. Jack Pearlman and Phyllis Jacobs started our Caring Committee over 20 years ago. The Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley Caring Committee specializes in building connections with our congregants and their immediate family members during times of health crisis and beyond. Our congregants live in Arizona while most of our family members are scattered around the world. We do not wish any member to feel alone or afraid during any time of stress. Our professional Caring Committee Team is personal, physical, spiritual and loving. We have been dedicated for many, many years to our congregation. We reach out via telephone calls, visits and prayers. We are available to all at-risk congregants at any time of the day or night. Our Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan is also on OUR team. Prayers have marvelous healing powers. The close contact and gentle embraces we provide will help on your road to recovery.

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.

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. Service Guide Our service guide provides constant access to the music and teachings of our service. Our prayer book, Mishkan T’filah, can also be accessed by clicking the button. Follow the entire service or select individual parts of service by clicking on the links. View Our Shabbat Prayer Book Here Watch a Recent Shabbat Service

Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley Brochure

Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley's weekly Friday Shabbat service using the Reform Mishkan T’filah prayer book is led by Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan and Cantor Baruch Koritan. One Saturday morning a month, a small group meet for an informal participatory Shabbat service lead by Rabbi Kaplan. Prayer View live streaming of Friday Night Shabbat services and past services on Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley's YouTube channel Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley's weekly Friday Shabbat service using the Reform Mishkan T’filah prayer book provides our worshipers with an opportunity to set aside sacred time for engaging with God through prayer and reflection – spoken and sung – and the reading of the Torah. Led by Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan and Cantor Baruch Koritan, our members are afforded the opportunity to participate in the service through reading prayers, blessing the lighting of the Shabbat candles, reciting the blessings before and after the reading of the Torah, or carrying the Torah during the Torah service. Services begin at 7 p.m. throughout the year. We have monthly informal Saturday Morning Shabbat service with music at 10:30 a.m. It is followed by a potluck Kiddush brunch. For more information, visit tbsaz.org or call 623.977.3240.

Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley's Hy Mandell Biblical Gardens has plants and trees noted in the Bible. Trees include fig trees, a large carob, almond, citron, henna, acacia, olive trees, Aleppo pines, pomegranate and frankincense. Plants include a rose garden, myrtle bushes and cassia bushes. Hy Mandell Biblical Garden Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley's Biblical Garden were created by member Hy Mandell. The Garden has trees and plants which are noted in the Bible. Trees include fig trees, a large carob, almond, citron, henna, acacia, olive trees, Aleppo pines, pomegranate and frankincense. Plants include a rose garden, myrtle bushes, cassia bushes, cedar, rosemary, agave and aloe. In addition, there is an arbor with rose bushes and a Jacob’s ladder. A slate path leads around the Garden with “stepping stones” covered with stain glass art work created by congregants. A highlight of the Garden is that each tree or plant also has a plaque labeling the plant plus the Biblical reference in English and Hebrew. A geniza vault was added by Hy to the Garden for the proper burial of older, unusable books and artifacts. Adjacent to the Garden is the Sukkah frame. Every Sukkot, the Brotherhood places palm fronds on the top of the Sukkah and the religious school students decorate it. The Garden was used by the religious school for gatherings. Their students added plants to the herb garden. Over the years, the Garden has been maintained by members of the congregation. Pam Katz is the Garden's “Guardian.” She helps with the tree trimming, raking and handiwork by fellow congregants.