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Religious School Open House: Saturdays, May 9 – June 6

April 8, 2026 by zivn • Features

Religious School Open House: Saturdays, May 9 – June 6

From May 9 through June 6, we’re opening our doors to families curious about K–8 Jewish learning. Bring your kids. Meet our teachers. Let kids discover a class. Ask your questions. Sit in on a Saturday morning service. Stay for a sweet oneg. Meet other families. Connect with clergy. Experience how community and learning come together at B’ShERT. You can also register for next year’s classes!

Our small, close-knit school means your child is important here from day one. Hebrew, Torah, holidays, Jewish values, music, art, and conversation all come to life. Students grow in their learning, socially, and spiritually. Bar/bat/brit mitzvah prep, skill-building for Jewish life are woven into our learning.

All families and learners are welcome here, whatever your background or experience. You don’t need to attend an open house to register for next year. But joining us can be a helpful way to imagine what a year at B’ShERT could look like. No pressure, just possibilities.

Come see learning, belonging, and Jewish life in action at B’ShERT.

Location: 83 Marlborough Road
Saturdays, May 9, May 16, May 30, June 6: 9:45–11:00 AM with tefilah and Torah service from 11:00-12:30
Questions? educator@bshert.org

Shabbat Across America

March 12, 2026 by zivn • Features

Circle, Conversation, and Connection: Exploring Honi the Circlemaker

March 9, 2026 by zivn • Features

Join us @B’ShERT on March 30th at 7 pm as we explore texts and teachings from Honi the Circlemaker, such as…

“When our hearts are full or empty, when we feel deep longing, gratitude, humility, awe, love, or devotion, many of us—even those who don’t relate to liturgical prayer in a formal service—instinctively turn toward prayer, just as a flower turns toward the sun.”

A Rare Opportunity: Hear a 97-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor at Our Temple (April 18)

March 6, 2026 by zivn • Features

Dear Community,

During the weeks of the Omer—a traditional time of reflection and spiritual growth between Passover and Shavuot—our Temple community will gather for a meaningful Yom HaShoah observance.

We have a rare opportunity to hear directly from a Holocaust survivor in our own congregation.

Maritza Shelley, now 97 years old and living in Brooklyn, will join us to share her story. Born in 1928 in Budapest, Hungary, Maritza’s life changed dramatically after the Nazi invasion of Hungary in 1944. She and her sister were selected for forced labor. During a brief visit to their mother in the Jewish ghetto in Budapest, a roundup took place and they were sent on a death march. The three women later reunited, escaped, obtained false papers, and even hitchhiked back to Budapest alongside a convoy of Nazis. Maritza came to New York City in 1947 and built her life here.

Maritza is known for her powerful storytelling and is the co-author of In the Very Air We Breathed, written with Randi Dickson. We are deeply grateful that she has the energy to come and share her experiences with us. Opportunities to hear directly from Holocaust survivors are becoming increasingly rare. Gathering to listen, remember, and bear witness together is one of the most meaningful ways we can honor Yom HaShoah.

Please invite family, friends, and anyone who you think should hear her story. This is a powerful program for our entire community and for the next generation.

Saturday, April 18
1:00–2:00 PM at B’ShERT

No RSVP is required, though we would love to know if you are planning to attend so we can plan for space.

Questions: educator@bshert.org

B’ShERT Purim Celebration

February 2, 2026 by zivn • Features

Celebrate Purim with us on Saturday, 2/28/26! Purim is a late-winter holiday that commemorates the Story of Esther and is known for joy, creativity, unity, and courage.

The morning begins at 11:00am with a family-friendly Purim spiel and Megillah reading, followed at 12:00pm by a Purim carnival with games, pizza, a costume parade, face painting, and crafts. This event is open to the whole community. You don’t have to be a member to join. Costumes encouraged!

A Celebration of Sephardic Music Shabbat Afternoon

January 5, 2026 by zivn • Features

A Celebration of Sephardic Music Shabbat Afternoon

Concert | January 31, 2026 | 12:00–1:00 PM

The concert will take place at 83 Marlborough Road (at Church) following our Tu B’Shevat seder and is free and open to the public, with a suggested donation of $18.

Ladino music originated in Sephardic communities, blending Hebrew, Spanish, Arabic and Turkish influences to arrive at a uniquely rich sound. Guitarist Ira Klein and vocalist Maya Shaw imbue the traditional songs and stories with a contemporary perspective inspired by Jazz and folk music. Additionally, they will share a variety of Jewish music from Israel, Turkey, and Algeria, highlighting the richness of Jewish musical traditions around the globe.

Ira Klein is a guitarist, composer and educator whose work centers Middle Eastern music, American folk traditions, and music for dance. Alongside performing and composing, Ira is deeply committed to music education. He teaches at The Senesh School and is also a teacher in B’ShERT’s Religious School, in addition to maintaining a private teaching practice. Ira has received awards and fellowships from LABA Artist Beit Midrash New York, J Arts Boston, and the Mass Cultural Council, and currently serves as a 2025–2026 Artist-in-Residence at the Kinney Center at UMass Amherst.

Maya Shaw is a musician and songwriter whose work blends music with storytelling. She began studying classical piano at the age of four and attended the Rimon School of Music, where she immersed herself in composition, singing, acting, and dance. She has released six singles and an album, Unfocused Freedom, a deeply personal project that marks a new chapter in her artistic journey.