September 2026 | Elul-Tishrei 5786

MESSAGES

Come Home for the High Holy Days

by Rabbi David Komerofsky

The High Holy Days are a time to be together. We welcome a new year and reflect on the year that has passed, and we celebrate the community we have built together. This year, our Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services will include a few opportunities to honor some of the people whose dedication has helped build and sustain Temple Israel across the generations.

On Rosh Hashanah morning, we will honor some people who have helped generations of our children discover what it means to be Jewish and to find their place in our community. Longtime educator Marcia Berke and longtime youth group advisors Shelley and Rob Schweitzer will have aliyot. We will also call for an Aliyah all of our Temple Israel Religious School teachers, past and present. If you have ever been a teacher in the school, before or since the creation of Chadash, please join us! That morning we will also honor Jerry Frisch with an aliyah for his years of service as the lead volunteer taking care of the Temple's facilities on 25th Street.

On Yom Kippur morning, we will offer aliyot honoring our past presidents of Temple Israel Sisterhood, our past presidents of Temple Israel Brotherhood, and our Temple Israel Board members, past and present. Their leadership, volunteerism, generosity, and countless hours of service have helped make Temple Israel the congregation it is today. If you are or ever have been on the Temple Board, and/or were president of Sisterhood or Brotherhood, please join us to accept this honor.

These honors remind us that a congregation is something each generation receives, sustains, and passes on to those who follow. 

Whether you have been part of Temple Israel for decades or have only recently found your way to us, I hope you will join us this month for the High Holy Days. Come to pray, to reflect, to reconnect, and to honor those who have helped make Temple Israel our Jewish home.

Shanah Tovah.

Shanah Tovah

by Barbara Spera, Temple Israel President

It’s that time of year again, the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are right around the corner. It’s a time to look inward and reflect on our lives – who we’ve been, where we might make amends, and how we might become a better version of ourselves. It’s designed to help us reconnect with what matters most and approach the new year with intention and hope. As we welcome 5787, may it be written and sealed that this new year be filled with good health, happiness and sweet moments for you and your family. L’shanah Tovah.

HIGH HOLY DAYS

Schedule of Services and Programs

Saturday, Sept. 5

8:00 p.m. Selichot Service

Friday, Sept. 11

8:00 p.m. Erev Rosh Hashanah Service

Saturday, Sept. 12

9:00 a.m. Rosh Hashanah Family Service

10:00 a.m. Rosh Hashanah Morning Service

12:30 p.m. Tashlich (symbolic casting away of sins) at Stadium Park Shelter #5

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Open House for Temple Israel Members at the Komerofsky/Sherwin Home CLICK TO RSVP

Friday, Sept. 18

5:30 p.m. Oneg Shabbat sponsored by the Bertman Family in memory of Elisabeth Bertman

6:15 p.m. Shabbat Shuvah (including blessings for couples celebrating 50+ years)

Sunday, Sept. 20

Kever Avot Cemetery Services

10:00 a.m. Alliance

11:00 a.m. West Lawn

11:30 a.m. North Lawn

Sunday, Sept. 20

8:00 p.m. Erev Yom Kippur (Kol Nidre) Service

Monday, Sept. 21

9:00 a.m. Yom Kippur Family Service

10:00 a.m. Yom Kippur Morning Service

1:00 p.m. Yom Kippur Afternoon Program on Judaism and Positive Psychology 

3:00 p.m. Yom Kippur Afternoon Service

4:30 p.m. Yom Kippur Yizkor (Memorial) Service

5:30 p.m. Yom Kippur Neilah (Concluding) Service

Tuesday, Sept. 22

5:00 p.m. Building the Sukkah with the Habitat for Humanity staff

Friday, Sept. 25

6:15 p.m. Shabbat Sukkot Service

Friday, Oct. 2

6:15 p.m. Simchat Torah Celebration Shabbat Service

Honors

We will honor groups of people with the aliyot (Torah blessings), and encourage everyone who has been part of Temple Israel's story in these ways to attend in person and share the occasion.

​

Rosh Hashanah Morning Aliyah

• Temple Israel Religious School Teachers (past and present)

Yom Kippur Morning Aliyot

• Past Presidents of Temple Israel Sisterhood
• Past Presidents of Temple Israel Brotherhood
• Temple Israel Board Members (past and present)​

Security & Passes

Given the heightened state of alert around the world, we are taking additional steps to ensure that everyone can gather safely for the High Holy Days this year.

​

Temple Israel and Shaaray Torah are issuing passes to all members and registered guests. This is in case there are members and guests who attend but with whom our greeters and police are not familiar.

Members will receive their passes before Rosh Hashanah. If you would like to register as a guest, complete the guest pass registration by clicking here. You may be asked to show this before entering Beit Ha’am. In the event that you do not have the ticket with you, you may be asked to show a photo ID.

Thank you for understanding and for helping to keep our shared sacred space safe for the holy days. 

Book of Memory

This year we will be continuing the format for listing names in our 2026 Book of Memory.

We will have the following sections:

•  Perpetual Yahrzeits

•  Those who have died in the past year

•  People remembered by members of the congregation

All donations for the Temple Israel Book of Memory are voluntary. A donation of $5 per name is suggested. If you have any questions, please contact the Temple office at (330) 455-5197. Please submit your listings by Tuesday, September 8, 2026.

CLICK TO SUBMIT NAMES AND DONATE BY CREDIT CARD

CLICK TO SUBMIT NAMES AND DONATE BY CHECK

​

View last year's Book of Memory by clicking here.​

​

​​Temple Israel Yearbook

For security reasons, we will not publish member names, addresses and phone numbers. The yearbook will include all other information as usual and is available for pick-up during the High Holy Days. Temple Israel members who need contact information for another member may call the office.

​

If you have changed addresses, phone numbers or emails since last year, please notify the Temple office.

JFS Food Drive

Jewish Family Service's Food Drive information is available at www.templeisraelcanton.org/hhdfooddrive.

SHABBAT

September 2026

All services are in-person and streaming live via Temple Israel’s YouTube channel.

Watch our website and Temple Tidbits for updates and more information.

Friday, September 4

5:30 p.m. Oneg Shabbat

6:15 p.m. Shabbat Service – Kid-dish Shabbat

Friday, September 11

Erev Rosh Hashanah (see High Holy Days schedule)

Saturday, September 12

Rosh Hashanah (see High Holy Days schedule)

Friday, September 18

5:30 p.m. Oneg Shabbat sponsored by the Bertman Family in memory of Elisabeth Bertman

6:15 p.m. Shabbat Service / Shabbat Shuvah

Blessings for couples celebrating 50+ years

Saturday, September 19

10:00 a.m. Stollen Moments Torah Study

Friday, September 25

5:30 p.m. Oneg Shabbat

6:15 p.m. Shabbat Sukkot Service

Monthly birthday and anniversary blessings

Saturday, September 26

10:00 a.m. Stollen Moments Torah Study

CHADASH

ADULT EDUCATION

BROTHERHOOD & SISTERHOOD

SOCIAL ACTION &

SOCIAL JUSTICE

The Social Action Committee would like to thank all of you for your generous donations of school supplies for Canton City Schools. With the money that was donated I was able to purchase over 300 backpacks and other needed supplies for the students. The administrator was overwhelmed and very appreciative of our donations. Thank you for your continued support of the kids in Canton.

Paulette Karelitz

Social Action Committee 

Community Interfaith Garden

Whether you are a seasoned gardener or just want to help, we would love to welcome you to the volunteer team. We need some more people to sign up for watering to make sure the garden thrives.

Food Bank Volunteering

November 12, 2026

Join the Temple Israel volunteers at the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank for our shifts.

Sign up at www.templeisraelcanton.org/foodbank.

OPT-IN FOR TEXTS

LET US KNOW

Please let us know if you think we have a wrong e-mail for you or if your e-mail, address or phone number has changed recently. It is very important for Temple Israel to keep our records updated. Call Debbie at the Temple Israel office at 330-455-5197 to verify or change your information.

YAHRZEITS

OUR TEMPLE FAMILY

The Temple's sympathy is extended to the families of:

• Frank Spetich
• Eugene Sinopoli
• Rick Monsell

CONTRIBUTIONS

Rabbi John Spitzer Social Justice Endowment

In Appreciation of

• Rabbi John Spitzer, by Davina Schweitzer

In Memory of

• James Spitzer, by Rabbi John & Cheri Spitzer

In Support of

• Justice Programming, by Randi & Bill Smuckler and Leslie & David Nelson

Community Relations Fund

In Memory of

• Luise Weintraub, by Marilyn & Paul Feldman

Hunger Relief Fund

In Honor of

• Rob Schweitzer's 75th Birthday, by Linda & Howard Smuckler
• The birth of Barbara & Bob Ferne's grandson- Calvin Martinson, by Linda & Howard Smuckler
• Diana Collum's Special Birthday, by Hannah Jolly

In Memory of

• Lena Smuckler, by Harlene Smuckler
• Aaron Saltzman, by Ron & Adele Gelb
• Freda Brokstein, by Harlene Smuckler
• Louis Olden, by Karen Olden
• Eugene Sinopoli, by Harlene Smuckler

Kiddush Fund

In Memory of

• Alan Katz, by Ellen & Steve Miller

Rabbi's Discretionary Fund

In Appreciation of

• Rabbi David Komerofsky, by Davina Schweitzer

In Memory of

• Victor Kitzen, by Jerry Kitzen

Social Action- Habitat for Humanity Fund

In Honor of

• Shirley Lockshin's Birthday, by Anita & Tom Porter

In Memory of

• Eugene Sinopoli, by Anita & Tom Porter

Temple Israel Mission and Vision Fund

In Appreciation of

• Rabbi David Komerofsky, by Nicholas Sailor-Goff

In Honor of

• The Birth of Denise & Steve Nielsen's Grandson- Alexander Curtis, by Leanne & Bill Lehn
• The Birth of Barbara & Bob Ferne's Grandson- Calvin Martinson, by Eileen & Matt Saltarelli
• The Birth of Shirley Lockshin's Great Grandson- Calvin Martinson, by Eileen & Matt Saltarelli

In Memory of

• Our beloved family members, by Leanne & Bill Lehn
• Paula Bloom, by EJ Bloom, Jo-Anne & Ed Buxbaum
• Freda Brokstein, by William Brokstein
• Harold & Gertrude Drebin, by Rabbi John & Cheri Spitzer
• Vivian Rosengard, by Jo-Anne & Ed Buxbaum
• Neal Libster, by Brenda & Lloyd Miller
• Lenore Schwartz, by Eileen & Matt Saltarelli
• Samuel Feiman, by David Winston

Temple Israel

432 - 30th Street NW

Canton, OH 44709

Phone: 330-455-5197

The staff’s direct phone numbers are listed below their email addresses

Rabbi David Komerofsky

rabbi@templeisraelcanton.org

330-445-2406

Rabbi Emeritus John H. Spitzer

john.h.spitzer@gmail.com

Debbie Spetich, Temple Office

office@templeisraelcanton.org

330-445-2852

Bobi Berringer, Chadash Coordinator

chadash@templeisraelcanton.org

330-445-2853

Temple President - Barbara Spera

barb420@aol.com