Nov. 17, 2021

Dear Friends,
 
It is my pleasure to announce the creation of the Executive Director Search Committee. This talented group of Fairmount Temple members will be led by our Board Vice President Shelley Milin Marcus and includes: Barry Kallmeyer, Jordan Katz, Board 1st Vice President Michele Krantz, Esther Potash and Cynthia Tancer. The team is also working with me and with Rabbi Rob Nosanchuk. You should have a high level of confidence, as I do, that this team will be successful at finding a new Executive Director to help lead us into the future. 
 
We hold gratitude for current Executive Director Steve Borstein, and the work he has done at Fairmount Temple since he joined the staff 12 years ago. Steve can look back on his achievements at Fairmount Temple with pride and when he concludes his service later this spring, we’ll share our appreciation and our wishes for Steve and Donna's great success, health, joy and happiness in the years ahead.
 
This fall our Executive Director Search Committee has conducted extensive research, and held conversations with NATA (National Association of Temple Administrators). In recent days, the Committee has posted a job description and application on the NATA website and will soon distribute that job description on multiple platforms for us to find a candidate best positioned to lead temple as Executive Director going forward.
 
Congregants are invited to share input and ask questions. In addition, candidates you may know are invited to send correspondence and resumes for consideration. We encourage you to interact with the Search Committee through the following email address: ExecDirSearch@fairmounttemple.org. 
 
I want you to rest assured that this team is developing a thorough, fair, and comprehensive process they intend to follow, while at the same time devising a rubric by which to properly evaluate the applicants on an equitable scale. We have identified what we are looking for and are determined to bring aboard the best candidate to fulfill our vision. The ideal candidate will be proactive, collaborate with Clergy and lay leadership, solve new and unique problems, continue to expand our technological reach, and help our congregation flourish in the future of an ever-changing landscape of Jewish Cleveland.
 
Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple is looking ahead to a bright future! We are upgrading our technology to deliver worship, ritual, and lifelong learning programs in dynamic ways. Fairmount Temple is completing a branding process and will soon reveal a newly redesigned website that is modern and reflects our prominence as a leader in Reform Judaism, while keeping us relevant and ahead of the curve. Our dedicated Clergy team continues to grow, inspire, teach, and innovate. We never rest on our laurels! I am looking forward to seeing how our next Executive Director strengthens our temple in meaningful ways and in the coming years.
 
I am so proud to have this ensemble of gifted congregants shepherding us on this journey. We are on the right path, I promise!
 
In the coming weeks, we will observe Thanksgiving and Chanukah. From my family to yours, please accept my wishes for joyful and happy holidays,
 
Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple
Join us for Shabbat

The Shabbat Evening Service this Friday (Nov. 19) at 6:15 pm will be led by our clergy and will be VIRTUAL only via Zoom and live-stream.


Saturday, Nov. 20, Simchat Shabbat, 11 am, led by Rabbi Muhlbaum and Cantor Lapin
Families with children from 0-5 are invited to our song-filled celebration of Shabbat - Simchat Shabbat. In Hebrew, the work simcha means joy and this special service is filled with joy. This will be outside, but we have heaters!! Bring lawn chairs or blanket to sit on.
Please RSVP to Elizabeth Kleckner here. In case of inclement weather, the service will be moved to Zoom and Elizabeth will email the details.

Reminder, at next week's Shabbat Evening Service (the day after Thanksgiving), we will be joined by the Gateway Band who will bring their special brand of jazz-gospel fusion to our service. The Friday, Nov. 26 service will be in-person and live-streamed.
Operation Warm Up
Fairmount Temple is participating in NCJW’s Operation Warm Up which provides winter items for the homeless. From Nov. 19 - Dec. 5, we are collecting new warm winter hats and scarves. Please help our needy neighbors stay warm during this cold winter! Donations can be dropped off in the collection bin that will be outside the Fairmount Temple main entrance from Nov. 19 - Dec. 5. If you would like a link to order donations to be sent directly to Fairmount Temple, click here.
This project is supported by the Chanukah Mitzvah Day Fund.

Chanukah Mitzvah Project
Last year our volunteers wrote over 100 Chanukah cards to some of our oldest temple members. Let’s make this an annual tradition! If you would like to brighten the holiday for someone by sending a card, please let Wendy Jacobson, Caring Community Coordinator, know at by email here or at 216-447-9542. She will give you the name and address of one of our members. Remember, Chanukah begins November 28, so let her know as soon as possible.
Vaccination Clinic at Fairmount Temple

Working with our partners at the Jewish Family Service Association (JFSA), Fairmount Temple is pleased to share we will be hosting a vaccine clinic at Fairmount Temple on Sunday, Dec. 5, from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm. This clinics is open to anyone who is eligible to receive a vaccine, including children ages 5-11.
Women of FT Chanukah Party

The Women of Fairmount Temple are hosting a Chanukah Celebration on the 3rd night of Chanukah, Tuesday, Nov. 30, 7 p.m. in Weinberg Hall. Enjoy sweet treats, singing, lighting our Chanukah Menorahs, raffle prizes (with raffle proceeds supporting a local non-profit) and more!
Free to paid-up Women of FT members, $10 guests.
 RSVP by Nov. 24 to sherrieslitvak@gmail.com


NEW - FYP Chanukah Party
Our Fairmount Young Professionals (FYP) will hold a Chanukah Party on Saturday, Dec. 4, at 6 pm with food, fun and more. To learn more and RSVP, click here and please share with the Jewish young adults (20s/30s) in your lives.
Save the Date: Sunday, Dec. 12 at 9:30 am (note new time), when Rabbi Robert Nosanchuk hosts a Zoom conversation with Rabbi Sarah Schechter, Chaplain, Major, United States Air Force.

Rabbi Schechter, a rabbinical school classmate of Rabbi Nosanchuk, is stationed in Ramstein, Germany, and recently participated in Operation Allied Refuge/Welcome, airlifting at-risk Afghan civilians, U.S. embassy employees, and other prospective Special Immigrant Visa applicants from Afghanistan, as U.S. troops withdrew from Afghanistan. Rabbi Schechter is the first female rabbi to serve as a chaplain in the USAF. We hope you’ll join us for this unique opportunity to learn from a rabbi and chaplain serving our military at a challenging and historic time.

Please contact Staci Cohen by email here or at 216-447-9547 to register and receive the Zoom link.
Member News

In last week's election results, Scott Bilsky was elected to Orange School Board and Brent Silver was elected to Orange Village Council.

Larrie Nadler’s father, Milton Nadler, shared his World War II story with active military members in a visit initiated by Larrie & Amy Nadler’s son, Barry Nadler.


In the November Beachwood Buzz, Jennifer Stern writes about The Only Person You Can Ever Change is Yourself (pg. 22) and Iris November invites others to the Yarn Over knitting/crocheting group (pg. 10).

Bulletin

Click here for the Nov/Dec Bulletin, including details about our Shabbat Service celebrating Chanukah and an upcoming "Jazzy Shabbat."
Anshe Chesed
Fairmount Temple
Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple strives to perpetuate Jewish tradition and strengthen Jewish lives through lifelong learning, worship, social action and deeds of loving kindness.