During the school year, 30 children (some only a few times for scheduling reasons) attended our Sunday classes. We welcomed all who wished to learn about our traditions, prayers, Hebrew, holidays, and more. Ages 4-18 studied under the direction of our highly-qualified staff. Thank you to Josh Caulkins, Amber Caulkins, Dory Magnuson, Samantha Opperman, and Heather Balk for sharing your commitment to Jewish study with our kids. And to Jamie Melnick for volunteering most Sundays in the youngest classroom.
Three students completed a three year Confirmation class last Friday and stood proudly on the bimah. Moses, Layla, and Benjamin Pimentel have set the bar high for our younger students. They are the first but will not be the last to reach this level of Jewish study. We are so proud of them.
Two of our middle school students, Rebecca Caulkins and Thalia Bensmiller, are enrolling in a national cohort of like-minded Jewish learners that will meet weekly throughout next year on Zoom. Tikvah.org offers advanced learning for pre-teens and teens.
Josh Caulkins is working with the Prescott Jewish Community Foundation to gain funding for Jewish travel for our high school students. That will be an exciting addition to our program.
We used every space available this year. Classes met in the classroom, social hall, library, sanctuary, and my office. We are losing students next year who are moving away or have completed our program but we hope to continue to attract new students in the area.
The Tzedakah Collective, our end of the year fundraiser for Israel, was a big success. Thank you to those who attended and listened to the chidren's speeches about ten organizations in Israel that need our help. We raised nearly $1400 to send to Israel.
We do have infant/toddlers attending our monthly Saturday Tot Shabbat program. Trevor, Remi, Tatum, Charlotte, and Elise - we can't wait until you are old enough for Sunday school! בשלום Rabbi Susan
TBS Calendar ~ לוּחַ שָׁנָה
Check out our website to view our calendar and discover the wonderful events coming up! View the TBS Calendar
This Week’s Calendar Thurs., May 8 ~ 11:00 Short Story Discussion; 12:00 Great Thoughts Fri., May 9 ~ 5:30 Shabbat Service Sat., May 10 ~ 9:30 Tot Shabbat; 10:00 Torah Study Sun., May 11 ~ Happy Mother's Day! Tues., May 13 ~ 9:00 Men of TBS at Wildflower; 10:00 Mussar; 11:00 Mahjong; 1:00 Crafters; 3:00 Rabbi Invocation at Prescott City Council Meeting; 3:30 Gala Meeting
Wed., May 14 ~ 9:30 Chaverim at Panera; 11:00 Women's Book Group
Women's Book Group~ Wednesdays at 11:00am Wed., May 14 ~ The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish (historical fiction)
Leonard Cohen: The Holy & the Broken – The Jewish side of Leonard Cohen. With Tom Brodersen, Sunday, May 18, 1 PM.
Israel Book Group ~ Sundays from 12:00-1:00 May 18, 25; June 15, 22. The Ten Big Anti-Israel Lies: And How to Refute Them with Truth by Alan Dershowitz. Read to page 26 for the May 18 class.
TBS Board Meeting ~ ישיבת דירקטוריון The next Board Meeting is Wednesday, May 21 at 5pm at TBS. Board meetings are open to all members in good standing. If you would like to attend or speak at a board meeting, please contact President Deborah Plotkin by Monday, May 19.
Tickets are now on sale! RSVP and purchase your ticket today!
Scandalous Hands is keeping rock alive across Arizona with their modern take on 60s & 70s classics from Allman Brothers, Steely Dan, Beatles and so much more! Come dance the night away to your favorite songs and bid on some incredible auction items!
Thank you to Shari Brooks and Laury Shayne for organizing the Mahj Lite Fundraiser Tournament at TBS. What a success! Let's do it again!
Congregational Support ~ עֶזרָה
Mitzvah Circle ~ מצווה Contact Suzi Abramson-Johnson at 602-570-9688 to participate or to request assistance. Mitzvah circle members send Condolence and Mi Shebeirach cards, offer rides, provide meals, and more. Do what you are comfortable doing to help congregants in need.
Tikkun Olam ~ תיקון עולם
Co-Chairs Amber Caulkins and Allee Steinberg From the Talmud: It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it.
1. Volunteers to help with the Adopt-A-Street Program. Once a month TBS cleans up litter in an area of Gurley Street. TBS has been participating in this program for 45 years and would like to see it continue. This activity takes about an hour each month. Contact Lee Nackman (roleenack@yahoo.com) to help out.
2. Donations Needed: Yavapai Casa for Kids Foundation. TBS is collecting donations starting this Friday through the month of May to help foster youth in our community. Our goal is to provide 50 hygiene kits for boys and girls. We are asking people to provide the following items inside of a bag/kit:
Boys Bag for items 3 oz shampoo/conditioner Nail clippers Wide-tooth comb Deodorant Shaving items Tooth care items
Girls Bag for items 3 oz shampoo/conditioner Nail clippers Wide-tooth comb Deodorant Shaving items Tooth care items Menstrual products Nail files Lotion
Monthly: Prescott Area Shelter Services Dinner. Prescott Area Shelter Services Dinner. Volunteers cook or purchase their donation and deliver their dishes to the shelter at 5:15pm on the appointed day. Email Annie or call her at (928) 273-5202 before Sunday, May 11. anniebernkrant@gmail.com
THE MOB: Men of Brith Shalom Join THE MOB every Tuesday at 9am at the Wildflower to schmooze over a cup of coffee. There is no extra cost or commitment, just a lot fun! Come check it out.
Member News ~ חדשות חברים
Mazel Tov to all who are celebrating their anniversaries this month: 3 Leith & Judy Baletin 6 Remi & Jessica Dreifuss 7 Esther & David Littmann 23 Rob & Wendy Ratner 24 John & Dot Jones
Temple B'rith Shalom wishes a very happy birthday in May to:
1 Sue Weiss 4 Sandy Soloy 5 Allison Stahl 7 Michael Sperling 7 Janet Rifkin 8 Brian Schanerman 9 Everett Melnick 9 Janice Reed
11 Nancy Quitney 14 Lloyd Zane 15 Rich Hart 16 Mark Farber 19 Leah Gilbert 21 Herb Frielich 24 Helen Schwartzman
26 Mike Wolf 27 Lee Nackman 27 Rob Ratner 28 Mindy Rubin 28 Sandy Rabin 28 Olive Melnick 30 Remi Van Drome
Special Prayers ~ תפילות
Kaddish ~ קדיש We are remembering the following people at Shabbat this Friday, May 9. We are observing the Yahrzeits of loved ones who have passed from May 9 - 15. We also remember those who have left us in the last eleven months. These names have been taken from the member portion of our website. If you do not see your loved one's name (family members) and would like their name mentioned at services, please contact Jessica in the office.
Susan Jo Robyn 5/1/1945-4/12/2025 A Celebration of Life Temple B’rith Shalom Monday June 30, 2025, 1 pm
Rose Gelman, grandmother of Bill Weiss Eva Vayda, grandmother of Danny Kowalsky Arthur Freeman, relative of Roza Rosenberg Jerome Kowalsky, father of Daniel Kowalsky Bernice Blumenthal, aunt of Mindy Rubin Bernice Blumenthal, sister of Roberta Nackman Carolyn Gilbert, mother-in-law of Leah Gilbert Dawn D'Entremont, partner of Shira Hudson Joseph Weiss, grandfather of David Hess Armand Solvet, father of Suzanne Solvet Esther Basch, mother of Rachel Turet Susan Gall, mother of Shannon Silvas Sue Robyn, wife of Currie Lee Carol Gilson, mother of Dawnielle Gilson Kaye Ellen Tarnow, mother of Lauren Van Drome, grandma of Izzy Escalante Arnold “Arnie” Dolled, brother of Rolene Attias, uncle of Heather Balk Yechezkal Zalman Ben Ya’akov, father of Jeff Plotkin Libby Mills, wife of Stuart Mills, mother of Allison Stahl Barbara Fruchter, mother of Alan and Amy Fruchter Craig Russell Parry, cousin of Mitch Oppenheim Pilad Torres, daughter-in-law of Arlene Brownie Carl Shulak, partner of Sally Contour Charles Pollack, uncle of Linda Frankel Wendy Grace, cousin of Shira Hudson Diana Couch, relative of Arlene Brownie Janet Crayne, close friend of Barbara Sussman Justin Flaherty, brother of Gerry Flaherty-Tate Howard (Chaim) Sherry, father of Alan Sherry John Yeakley, husband of Marilynne Yeakley Arlene Fultonderg, cousin of Laury Shayne Esther Cohn, mother of Dana Cohn and founding member of TBS Shirley Brohner, founding member of Temple B'rith Shalom Randi Chenkin, cousin of Gail Punyen-Davis Ellen Mechanic Schlossmann, cousin of Suzi Abramson-Johnson David Leon Weiss, son of Sue Robyn Henry David Gellerman, ex-husband of Leslie Gellerman
Purchasing a Yahrzeit plaque is a beautiful way to honor and remember our loved one's who have passed. To purchase a plaque, please fill out this form and return it to the temple office. We kindly ask for $360 per Yahrzeit plaque. Yahrzeit Plaque Order Form
Healing Thoughts ~ מי שבעירך
Barbara Sussman, Sandy Weiss, Claudia Ackerman, Mark Gray, Peggy McCauley, Gloria Hershman, Jeffrey Snell, Mary Sussman, Sue Weiss, Linda Patent, Leslie Adler, Rachel Coy, Vadim Vaynerman, Mike Wolf, Amy Snell Kingslinger, and Rosario Maya.
If you would like to add or remove your name or your family member's name from the healing list, please call or email the office at 928-708-0018 or office@brithshalom-az.org.
Donations ~ תרומות
We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the donations we received in the month of April. We are so grateful and appreciative of your support!
GENERAL FUND: Roza Rosenberg- In loving memory of father, Jack Szajman Janice Reed- In memory of mother, Virginia Reed Leah Gilbert- In celebration of the commitment ceremony of Barbara Sussman and Mark Ziven and in memory of Yechezkal Zalman Ben Ya’akov, father of Jeff Plotkin. Lee and Kathy Berman- In memory of Irene Berman-Hirschcawn, mother of Lee Berman. Suzanne Solvet- In honor of Barbara Sussman & Mark Ziven and their commitment to each other. Stephanie Dishal Nancy Quitney- In memory of husband, Lester Quitney Bob and Belle Merwitzer- In memory of Helen Merwitzer, mother of Bob Merwitzer. Lloyd and Susan Zane- In loving memory of Ervin Zane, father of lloyd Zane Lauren Van Drome and Family Shirley Goldstein- In memory of Arnie Dolled, brother of Rolene Attias Al and Allee Steinberg- In honor of Barbara Sussman and Mark Ziven. In memory of Celia Steinberg. Laury Shayne- In honor of Jeff and Shari Brook’s 50th wedding anniversary Annie Bernkrant- In honor and in memory of Sue Robyn. A true “social justice warrior.” The Singer and Schuck families Leah Gilbert- In celebration of Jeff and Shari Brook’s 50th wedding anniversary. In memory of Sue Robyn Lee and Kathy Berman- In memory of Mason Olden, father of Kathy Berman Linda Frankel and Alan Sherry- In honor of Jessica leading Shabbat services on April 11. Dawnielle Gilson- In memory of Carol Gilson Shirley Rosen- In memory of Carol Gilson Shari and Jeff Brooks- In appreciation of Jessica Dreifuss and Ruth and Steve Stern Deb and Jeff Plotkin- In honor of Jeff and Shari’s 50th wedding anniversary Barbara Sussman- In memory of Sue Robyn Richard and Joanne Brody- In memory of Sue Robyn Mindy and Jim Rubin- In honor of Jeff and Shari’s 50th wedding anniversary Belle and Bob Merwitzer- In honor of Jeff and Shari’s 50th wedding anniversary Carol Flinner- In memory of Sue Robyn
RABBI DISCRETIONARY FUND: Jeff and Shari Brooks- In memory of Yechezkal Zalman Ben Ya’akov, father of Jeff Plotkin, Libby Mills, mother of Allison Stahl and wife of Stuart Mills. In honor of Barbara and Mark’s commitment ceremony. Bill and Sandy Weiss- In memory of Carl Shulak Lee and Roberta Nackman- In memory of Sue Robyn Suzanne Solvet- In honor of Jeff and Shari’s 50th wedding anniversary Mindy and Jim Rubin- In memory of Sue Robyn
GALA: Linda Frankel and Alan Sherry- In honor of Linda Patent Esther and David Littmann Mindy and Jim Rubin Steve and Sue Weiss
BUILDING FUND: Lee and Roberta Nackman- In memory of grandfather, David Nachmanowitz and father Abraham Nackman
ONEG FUND: Pimentel Family
A special thank you to those who hosted an Oneg in April: Si Osgrove Linda Frankel & Alan Sherry Deborah and Jeff Plotkin Esther & David Littmann
Give Back to TBS! We are so grateful for your kindness and generous giving to Temple B'rith Shalom. Your contributions help Temple B'rith shalom to thrive and ensure a home for Jews in the Quad City area.
If you would like to make a donation now, click here. Did you know you could can give back to TBS at no additional cost to you simply by shopping at Frys? For more information, click here.
Shavuot Service and Program Sunday, Jun 1st 5:00p to 8:00p Dairy and Fruit Nosh and will feature special Guest, Seth Rachlin, Anti-Defamation League Desert Region Board Chair.
Seth will speak on antisemitism in the US and in Arizona. Questions and Discussion will follow. Children and Adults 12 and Older. RSVP is kindly requested.
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Purchase a Leaf on our Temple Tree of Life. Mark a special occasion in a beautiful way.