(Are you a local author, or connected with one? Would you like to be part of our author interview/podcast series? Reach out and let us know!)
Life can really feel like a whirlwind. Time rushes by before we can mark its significance, and storms may engulf us. We look for an anchor to steady ourselves. B’ShERT provides that anchor, and has since 1912.
Just ask Ron Schweiger, beloved Past President, current official Brooklyn Historian, and one of the treasures of our congregation. During all this time we have created a community held together by worship services, religious school, cultural and educational events, and social action. Our support for each other is strong and faithful, and we see this especially through the activities of our Caring/Chesed Committee. We care also about the wider community outside our walls by maintaining a grab-and-go food pantry, by conducting food drives, by conducting holiday toy drives for hospitalized children, by partnership in the Interfaith Coalition of Brooklyn, and more. Our clergy and our congregants are warm and welcoming.
We invite you, our Temple Family and friends, to enable B’ShERT to continue to be the anchor it has been for over 110 years by supporting us on Giving Tuesday, December 2.
Your support is invaluable and very greatly appreciated. Please note that B’ShERT is a 501(c)3 nonprofit — donations are fully tax-deductible and almost always eligible for corporate matching.
Scan the QR code below to donate from your phone!
Dinner & A Movie at B’ShERTSunday, November 16, 2025 at 3:30 pm in the banquet room. Register here:
Update: The podcast episode is live & available wherever you get your podcasts. The book is available as well.
Please join us on 12/4 for our next event with author Jennifer Baum.
On November 22 after services, join us for a talk with author Beth Pinsker, CFP® about her new book, My Mother’s Money. RSVP required at Beth’s site.
“As a retirement columnist at MarketWatch and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, I thought I knew a lot about Medicare, managing money and estate planning, but I had a lot to learn when I had to take care of my mom’s affairs.
If you’re taking care of a loved one or want to know what to do to plan ahead so your family has an easier time taking care of you, my book can help you through the hardest parts.”
My Mother’s Money comes out Nov. 4 from Penguin Random House. Beth will be chatting with George Mannes of AARP, and the discussion will be shared on our new Books at B’ShERT podcast later this fall.
More about the book:
A comprehensive, compassionate guide for navigating end-of-life financial decisions for an aging parent or other loved one—from an award-winning journalist who is also a Certified Financial Planner
Have you just gotten the dreaded phone call—a parent or loved one has taken a turn for the worse and suddenly the burden is on you to manage their affairs? Or are you simply hoping to navigate complex financial conversations with your aging mother or father well in advance so you don’t encounter problems later? This is the book for you.
In this practical handbook, award-winning MarketWatch columnist and financial expert Beth Pinsker walks you through everything you need to know about the complex world of end-of-life financial planning. Weaving personal stories from her experience caring for her elderly mother with best practices gleaned from more than 100 experts and family caregivers, My Mother’s Money is a much-needed lifeline to those facing one of life’s most challenging transitions. Drawing on the latest legal, financial, and healthcare resources, Beth offers clear, actionable advice on common scenarios millions of people will face:
Watching your parents age can stir up a mix of emotions—nostalgia, concern, and often, a sense of uncertainty about the future. And assuming care for your aging loved ones can be an overwhelming sea of endless checklists, textbook explanations, and mind-numbing paperwork. With this definitive guide to elder financial planning, you can navigate these processes with confidence, saving time, energy, and peace of mind for what really matters.
Introduction to Judaism: An Exploration for Curious Adults
Rabbi Sue Oren, Instructor and Coordinator
The Fall ’25-Spring ’26 cycle of this 20-session class meets
• Weds eves, 7:00-9:00 pm – in-person w/hybrid option
• Thurs eves, 7:00-9:00 pm – on ZOOM
• Sun eves, 7:30-9:30 pm – on ZOOM
classes begin: Weds Oct 29 // Thurs Oct 30 // Sun Nov 2
For registration & questions,
contact Rabbi Sue Oren at introclass@postpro.net or 1.917.539.1334
This class is co-sponsored by:
BROOKLYN
Brooklyn Heights Synagogue, B’ShERT: Beth Shalom v’Emeth Reform Temple,
East Midwood Jewish Center, Flatbush Jewish Center, Kane Street Synagogue,
Kolot Chayeinu/Voices of Our Lives, Park Slope Jewish Center, Temple Sholom of Flatbush
QUEENS
Malkhut: progressive Jewish spirituality in Queens, The Reform Temple of Forest Hills,
West End Temple-Sinai Congregation
Join this 20-session course on Jewish life, thought and practice
• Discover Judaism from an adult perspective
• Become a more confident parent of Jewish children
• Explore long-standing questions that you haven’t yet asked
Please join Brotherhood in person or on Zoom at 9:30 Sunday 10/12 for our monthly meeting. Contact Sam Silverman if you would like the Zoom information.
October Updates from Brotherhood President Joel Moss:
We just had our first post-summer Brotherhood meeting and the turnout both in person and on Zoom was the largest we ever had. It was great to see some new faces, and I hope more men of all ages will take an interest in our Brotherhood affiliate.
Thank you, Sam and Jean, for helping supply the breakfast. Thank you, Mike, for running Zoom for us. It was great to see Eric Platt on Zoom and on his way to a complete recovery.
We have some exciting events planned this year that will be informative for everyone of all ages at our temple.
In November, Jonathan Schachter will do a presentation on The Ritchie Boys, a group of over 15,000 U.S. Army servicemen, many of them Jewish refugees who had fled Nazi Germany, who trained at Camp Ritchie, Maryland, for intelligence and psychological warfare roles during World War II.
In December, we will have our always interesting Retro Brotherhood Shabbat, with a stimulating d’var Torah.
Join Mike Rose in February for a must-see presentation on internet security.
In April, join the Official Brooklyn Historian, our own Ron Schweiger, for his amazing presentation on the Battle Of Brooklyn in the Flatbush area during the Revolutionary War.
In May, Alan Zarrow will report on his visit this summer to Selma, Alabama and to the site of the march for voting rights from Selma to Montgomery.
More exciting events are in the planning stages.
Check your emails, phone trees and future issues of the Voice of Truth for information about our events. We really appreciate all the people who attend these events and make them a success. Please let us know if you have any ideas you would like to see us try.
Stay safe and stay well, everyone.
Joel Moss and the Men of Your Brotherhood Affiliate
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.