Welcome to Beth Israel – The West Temple. We are a full-service synagogue representing those who reside, generally, west of the Cuyahoga River, from Oberlin to the west, to Strongsville on the South, to downtown Cleveland. We celebrate Shabbat with services every week of the year – on both Friday night and Saturday mornings – led by our Rabbi and/or members of our Ritual Committee.
Our mission is:
- to provide a center of worship, education, and community for Jews in Cleveland’s western communities;
- to help our children learn about Jewish traditions and values;
- to give our members a tolerant and accepting environment in which to develop their own Jewish identities; and,
- to assure the continuity of our people’s traditions, values, and life.
These efforts, over more than sixty years, strengthen the Jewish community in Northeast Ohio and contribute to our duty of Tikkun Olam – repairing the world.
Peter Sackett, President, Board of Trustees
Beth Israel – The West Temple
What’s Happening
1. Night time services/events – the vestibule light will remain on.2. Services – Pat’s office door will remain open at all times. School – Holly N. or someone will be available to viewthe monitor.3. Anyone seeing the ‘blue blinking light’ will enter Pat’s office and review the situation via the door monitor….thecurrent monitor is small – but, we just purchased a larger one…..and hope to have it in place on 11/30/18…4. Most likely, the person at the outside door will look familiar. The opposite is surely possible. If that is the case,TWO people will approach the back door to discuss entry.5. No one under 18 should handle these responsibilities. Members (only) shall take care of this.Thank you,Peter Sackett, Evan Fleisher, Rick Keller
This past Sunday, during Religious School, our Parents and teachers and students brought up the Torah scrolls from the ark in Ratner Hall to our Sanctuary, as we prepared to celebrate the last night of Chanukah, the festival of lights and the historical rededication of the Temple after the Maccabeean victory. Join us this Shabbat as we continue to rededicate our sanctuary with joy, and prayer, and music:
Our Leadership
Rabbi Lader served the congregation for many years as a member-volunteer, in a variety of roles, before being ordained in 2010. She was installed as BI-TWT’s Rabbi in 2012.
Debbie brings not only experience, having worked for 13 years at several Cleveland area congregations before coming to BI-TWT, but a true passion for Jewish Religious and Family Education programming.
Rabbi Emeritus Alan B. Lettofsky
Rabbi Lettofsky served Beth Israel – The West Temple from 1999 until his retirement in 2012. He continues to lead and assist in services at BI-TWT on special occasions, and he remains active as part-time chaplain at Hillcrest Hospital on behalf of the Jewish Community Federation.
Our Board is committed to maintaining a vibrant, welcoming and inclusive congregation by inviting everyone to participate in all aspects of temple life.
