Temple Beth Sholom, Cherry Hill

09/04/2026

Shabbat Shalom. Cantor Cohen's message this week, The Orchestra Is Tuning Up

We’ve probably all been here: we take our seats at a Broadway theater, look up at the grand painted ceiling, gaze at the heavy velvet curtain, and wait expectantly for the musical to begin. If it’s an old-fashioned musical, though, something happens before the curtain goes up and the actors take the stage: the overture. Played by the orchestra or band, this medley gives us a taste of the musical motifs and themes to come.

This Saturday night we have our overture to the High Holy Days: Selihot. Traditionally a service that began at midnight on the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah, Selihot has evolved in our community and many others to be an evening of learning and davening just after Shabbat ends. This service gives us a preview of themes of all kinds – emotional, liturgical, and, of course, musical.

Selihot is translated as supplication, a central theme of the season, as we look inward and assess where we’ve not met the mark and start the deep task of asking for forgiveness. On Saturday we’ll join in tefilot – prayers – that we’ll then chant throughout the High Holy Days, especially on Yom Kippur when forgiveness is most on our minds.

And the musical themes are some of the most powerful of the year. When we all raise our voices in the plaintive tune of Avinu Malkenu, I am transported every time to the choir loft of my (and Rabbi Lindemann’s!) shul in Easton, Pa.

There is another version of Avinu Malkenu, composed in the mid-20th century by Max Janowski, who was born in Germany but who thankfully emigrated to Chicago in 1937. Sung by many a cantor in a grand sanctuary with a pipe organ over the years, it later gained popularity when recorded in 1997 by one Barbra Streisand. I wonder what Janowski would have thought of his stunning liturgical piece now being known as “The Barbra Streisand Avinu Malkenu.” Though Streisand recorded in 1997, she sang it live for the first time in 2013 at the request of Israeli President Shimon Peres. Listen to that live perfomance by clicking here.

This Saturday night, joining with Cantor Zahava Fried, the wonderful new cantor at Beth El, as well as the glorious choirs of TBS and Beth El, we will sing that prayer with choir and strings, along with so many of the pieces of liturgy we will daven together at TBS over the coming weeks. Please join us at 8:15 for nosh and community, followed by learning with Rabbis Sam Hollander and Jacob Lipkin, and our service.

Shabbat shalom, shana tova u’metuka, and we look forward to being together Saturday night at Congregation Beth El.

We’ve probably all been here: we take our seats at a Broadway theater, look up at the grand painted ceiling, gaze at the heavy velvet curtain, and wait expectantly for the musical to begin. If it’s an old-fashioned musical, though, something happens before the curtain goes up and the actors take...

09/04/2026

Mazal tov to TBS President Jill Hammel on this well-deserved recognition of her dedication and contributions to TBS and the Jewish community!

🎉 Big News at JFCS! 🎉 We are delighted to announce the promotion of Melanie Stoopler and Jill Hammel to Co-Executive Directors, effective September 28, 2026!

Over the past two years, Melanie and Jill have led JFCS through significant growth and impact, including expanding disability services, launching new community initiatives, guiding the agency through increased food pantry demand, and achieving national re-accreditation.

Together, they bring a powerful combination of leadership, innovation, and heart - demonstrating an unwavering commitment to the JFCS mission. Their shared vision and passion for serving others make them the ideal leaders for JFCS's next chapter.

💙Congratulations, Melanie and Jill! We can't wait to see all you'll accomplish in your new roles. 💙

08/28/2026

Shabbat Shalom. Rabbi Peltz's weekly message, The Blessing of New Beginnings

Yesterday, early in the morning, we loaded up the van and started our drive down to the University of Maryland to move Yael in for her freshman year. After all of the schlepping, the assembling, and the Target runs, we headed to Hillel for a welcome session and dinner, before saying goodbye.

As I placed my hands on Yael’s head to give her the blessing I have given her at our Shabbat table each Friday evening since she was born, I was overcome with feelings of joy and gratitude, and yes, some tears. You know we tell our children at their Bar or Bat Mitzvah that they become adults, but that of course isn’t really the case. On the Monday morning after they still go back to Middle School. This moment, however, felt like the real transition to adulthood.

I know, she will come home for breaks and holidays, but there was something about saying goodbye to her in a new place, with all of its possibilities, that made this feel different. It’s both scary and exciting (for all of us!), but mostly I am just feeling proud and grateful that she, and all of our students heading to college, to have this opportunity to learn, to grow, and to set out on their journeys.

As we walked away, one of Rabbi Lewis’ favorite teachings came to mind. Last week our Torah reading was called Ki Tetze (“When you go out”), and this week we read Ki Tavo (“When you come in).” After these portions we will read Nitzavim (“Standing”) and Vayelekh (“Walking).” Then we conclude the Torah with Haazinu (“Listen”) and V’Zot Haberakha (“This is the blessing).”

Read together, the last six portions in the Torah tell us, “When you are going out, and when you are coming in, whether standing in place or walking on your way, listen, and this will be the blessing.”

May Yael, and all of our students heading off to college and for other new experiences, be blessed on their journeys, and know that we are with you, even from far away.

Yesterday, early in the morning, we loaded up the van and started our drive down to the University of Maryland to move Yael in for her freshman year. After all of the schlepping, the assembling, and the Target runs, we headed to Hillel for a welcome session and dinner, before saying goodbye.

08/27/2026

The Temple Beth Sholom Social Action Committee organized a Rosh Hashanah card decorating project for JFCS clients! Led by Betsy Markman, volunteers came together to craft beautiful holiday cards to wish others a L’Shanah Tovah. 🍏🍯
Many thanks to all the creative volunteers who participated in this meaningful mitzvah!

08/27/2026

The countdown to the High Holy Days is on!

Behind the scenes, our office is buzzing as we prepare thousands of packets filled with everything you’ll need for the season ahead, from High Holy Day tickets and important information to the latest Community Life Book.

A big thank you to Michelle Shmuts and Laura Padersky, pictured here hard at work among the boxes, stacks, and packets, along with Susan Aaronson, who is busy at work in her office helping make it all happen, and to all of our dedicated office staff for pitching in as we get ready for the High Holy Days!

We can’t wait to welcome everyone for a meaningful High Holy Day season. Stay tuned, it’s almost here!

08/25/2026

Mazel tov to our Director of Congregational Learning, Alex Weinberg, who successfully defended his dissertation and is now Dr. Alex Weinberg! His research explores the unique spirituality of young children and the importance of recognizing and responding to their spiritual behaviors, including through a framework he developed for educators.

We were proud to celebrate this incredible achievement together as the congregation joined in song and celebration this past Shabbat!

08/21/2026

Shabbat Shalom. Rabbi Jacob's weekly message, Finding Meaning in the Details

Dear TBS Community,

I have to think that I am not the only one who is noticing the days get shorter and shorter! I am definitely feeling the astronomical signals that summer is winding down, as I find myself with less time each day to squeeze in sunlight in the evening. Accordingly, Shabbat gets “shorter” – it is of course still a full 25 hours, but the earlier Havdalah time each week makes it feel shorter!

I know that many of us treasure those long Shabbat afternoons, whether we use the time for swimming in the pool, leisurely naps, or whatever else gives you a sense of Shabbat menuhah (rest). For the Lipkin household, the progressively shorter Shabbat afternoons mean that we can no longer fit in a full round of our favorite lengthy game: Wingspan. Wingspan is a wonderfully creative board game in which players compete to woo various birds to their “habitat” and sustain them. (If you haven’t tried it yet, you’re missing out!) One small component to this game is that each bird card includes obscure facts about the bird and its nesting habits. I often find these irrelevant and trivial, and I find myself wondering who really cares about the details of each bird’s life.

Well, as it turns out, the Torah cares! With Wingspan on my mind, I was struck anew when reading this week’s parashah, Ki Tetzei, by the potency of the esoteric mitzvah of Shiloah Haken – sending away the mother bird. Deuteronomy 22:6-7 instructs, “If, along the road, you chance upon a bird’s nest, in any tree or on the ground, with fledglings or eggs and the mother sitting over the fledglings or on the eggs, do not take the mother together with her young.

Let the mother go, and take only the young, in order that you may fare well and have a long life.”

So let us ask again: who cares? Why should a bird’s wants or needs matter in this moment? The rationale here is entirely opaque, and the commentators offer several attempts to tie this law to other mitzvot. I want to propose one other mitzvah that we might look to for clarification: the very next verse. Here is verse 8: “When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, so that you do not bring bloodguilt on your house if anyone should fall from it.” In other words, we are each obligated to go out of our way to ensure that everything which is to our benefit is not at the expense of others.

What seems like a non sequitur between unrelated mitzvot actually has a thematic consistency. In both cases, we are excited about something new in our lives, and we might be tempted to develop a kind of tunnel vision that disregards the needs of others. But it is precisely in those moments that we owe it to each other and to ourselves to be maximally sensitive, whether it means taking into account the material needs or emotional sensibilities of others.

The Torah reminds us here that it is the Jewish way to care for the details and the small things. Every single thing that we do exists not in isolation but in relation to a whole web of individuals, communities, and creatures. As we continue the journey of Elul and prepare for the grandiosity of the High Holy Days, we may be preparing for major changes in our lives – new school years, new milestones, and new jobs. But let us be certain nonetheless to continually check in with others even as we embark on any changes of our own. Shabbat shalom.

08/19/2026

We’re excited to share this story about our new Assistant Rabbi, Jacob Lipkin, as he reflects on his journey and what brought him to Temple Beth Sholom and Cherry Hill. We are so happy to have Rabbi Lipkin and his family as part of our TBS community.

Read the full story in the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent and get to know Rabbi Lipkin a little better!

Jacob Lipkin, the new assistant rabbi at Temple Beth Sholom in Cherry Hill, has known that he wanted to be a rabbi since age eight or nine.

08/14/2026

Shabbat Shalom. Rabbi Peltz's weekly message, Entering Elul: A Time for Reflection

Today is Rosh Hodesh Elul, the beginning of the last Hebrew month of the year. Elul is a month of introspection and reflection as we begin a 40 day process that culminates with the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Soon you will receive an email from us with more information for these days this year. We look forward to sharing with you the many opportunities for connection and celebration that we will have these next 40 days.

In the meantime, this Shabbat we read parashat Shoftim, which is always read in Elul. Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz, a 16th century mystic, sees an important lesson for Elul in the very first verse of our parashah: Shoftim v'Shotrim teetain lekha b'khol she'arekha - "You shall appoint judges and officials at all of your gates." On its peshat, or surface, level, this verse is about setting up a system of courts to ensure justice is upheld throughout the land.

But Rabbi Horowitz, most likely inspired by the meaning of Elul, sees a deeper meaning in this verse. He writes, "We must set guardians at the gates of our souls--our mouths (that we do not lie or speak malicious gossip), our ears (that we not be eager to hear malicious gossip), and our eyes (that we not form the habit of seeing the worst in others)."

Sadly, today there are plenty of hateful and dangerous words coming from people’s mouths. We are left trying to process what our ears have heard and what our eyes have seen. How do we respond?

This very first verse of Torah we read in Elul helps remind us that we start to respond with the basic value of justice, which means having a clear sense of right and wrong. This is necessary for a healthy society, and it begins with each of us. Our collective actions and decisions affect our relationships, and ultimately define our community, and our country.

Elul presents us with an incredible opportunity to grow as people and as Jews. And it begins with parashat Shoftim, which challenges us to consider how we pursue justice, what disqualifies one from leadership, how we wage war ethically, and how a society takes responsibility for the most heinous of crimes.

Rabbi Horowitz teaches us that our grand values of justice, equality, compassion and goodness begin with our individual actions. It is not only what comes out of our mouths, goes into our ears, or we take in with our eyes that matters, but how we respond when we experience conduct that contradicts our values, our sense of justice and what’s right.

How we respond is the measure of what it means to live a life of Torah, and Elul is the month to look deeply into our hearts to see if we measure up.

Shabbat Shalom and Hodesh Tov

Today is Rosh Hodesh Elul, the beginning of the last Hebrew month of the year. Elul is a month of introspection and reflection as we begin a 40 day process that culminates with the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Soon you will receive an email from us with more information for these....