Upcoming Gatherings and Programs
We invite you to join us for upcoming services, programs, and community gatherings designed to connect, inspire, and engage.
Click on each tile for more information.
Please note that dates and details are subject to change—be sure to check back regularly for the most up-to-date information.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Thursday Lunch & Learn: The 5 Megillot
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February 26, March 5, 12, 19 & 26, 2026 | 12-1:00pm Join us for a five-week Thursday Lunch & Learn exploring the Five Megillot: Shir HaShirim (Song of Songs), Ruth, Eicha (Lamentations), Kohelet (Ecclesiastes), and Esther. Through close textual study and guided discussion, each session will focus on one megillah, examining its central themes, messages, and role within the Jewish calendar. This course is open to everyone! No prior knowledge of megillot necessary, we will learn together! Participants are encouraged to bring a bag lunch and enjoy a meaningful hour of learning, connection and conversation. A $36 donation is requested for the series. |
Ark Adventures |
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Friday, February 27, 2026 | 5:30pm (ROOM 101) Come aboard for a magical Shabbat journey! Ark Adventures invites children and their grownups to step into a world of sensory storytelling, joyful music, playful puppetry, and boundless imagination. Led by Becca Yudkoff (Temple Shalom) and Jolie Helmbrecht (Temple Isaiah), along with talented artist-educators, this interactive experience is designed especially for very young children and their families. Temple Shalom is proud to partner with the K’ilu Company and Temple Isaiah to bring Ark Adventures to the Boston area. Come along, climb aboard, and join us for a ride you won’t forget! |
Shabbat with a focus on Reproductive Justice |
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Shabbat Mind: Mindfulness & Meditation |
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Saturday, March 7, 2026 - 12:00pm (Room 101 & Zoom) Join us for Shabbat Mind, an hour of Shabbat-inspired stillness and reflection led by members of our community. Shabbat Mind includes guided imagery, meditation, discussion, and sharing. Appropriate for all experience and comfort levels. For more information please email Karen Kramer
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Purim Palooza! |
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Sunday, March 8, 2026
10:00am Spiel and Parade (Sanctuary) 11:00am Carnival (Social Hall)
11:00am Adult Bellini Brunch (Room 101)
Join us for a joy-filled morning of Purim celebration at Temple Shalom! Festivities begin at 10:00am with a colorful and spirited Purim costume parade and high-energy, JPop Haman Hunters Purim spiel. At 11:00am we will keep the celebration going with a lively kids’ carnival featuring games and activities, while adults can relax and connect over a festive Bellini brunch. Come dressed in costume, bring your ruach (spirit), and celebrate Purim with music, laughter, and community. This is a can’t-miss morning of fun for all ages—we can’t wait to celebrate with you! *Bring a box of mac and cheese to use as a gragger and leave it in the food donation collection bin for the Newton Food Pantry. |
Shabbat B'Yachad |
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Friday, March 13, 2026
For more information and to register, click here.
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6th Grade Family Program: BMitzvah Service |
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Saturday, March 14, 2026 | 10:45am - 1:00pm (Room 202) What does it look like to stand up in front of a community and read from the Torah, or give a D’var Torah speech? Gather to attend a BMitzvah service and hang out with Rabbi Gubitz for brunch afterwards to process your experience and ask whatever questions you may have.
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Little Explorers |
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Sunday, March 15, 2026 | 10:00am–12:00pm (Nursery School Level) Future Dates include: April 12, May 3
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Sisterhood Women's Seder |
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Sunday, March 22, 2026 | 4 - 6pm (Social Hall) Sisterhood invites women of Temple Shalom along with friends, mothers, and daughters ages 13+ to gather for a meaningful Women’s Seder. Together, we will celebrate Passover through ritual, reflection, and song, infusing the traditional Seder with women’s voices and shared experiences. The evening will be led by Cantor Jen Keren and offers a warm opportunity for connection across generations and friendships. Participants are invited to contribute to our communal meal by donating food or wine. Please sign up for food donations when you register. If you need a ride to the event, please contact Sharon Sholkin (sholkinsharon39@gmail.com) or Deborah Shapiro (loondeb@me.com). In the spirit of Passover and tikkun olam, please also consider making a contribution to Family Table for their Passover distribution. They have requested potato pancake and matzah ball soup mixes (request currently being verified). Donations are welcomed. Please register by March 16. |
Project Manna Concert |
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Tuesday, March 24, 2026 | 7pm (Temple Emanuel of Newton) Join us for the 36th Annual Project Manna Concert featuring Cantor Keren, Shir Shalom and an array of other singers and choirs. Don’t miss out on this fantastic evening of music, while doing an important mitzvah! Proceeds benefit the Massachusetts Avenue Baptist Church Food Pantry. Tickets are required to attend: $25 Per Person. The music committee has purchased a block of tickets, please reserve yours today. Deadline is March 17, 2026. Participating Choirs may include:
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Parents Beyond BMitzvah Cohort Community Shabbat Dinner & Games |
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Friday, March 27, 2026 | 7:30pm (Room 101) The carpools have slowed down. The B’nei Mitzvah binders are closed. And suddenly, Friday nights feel a little different. Jewish life doesn’t end with a B’nei Mitzvah—it evolves. As our children grow more independent and family routines shift, Shabbat offers us a moment to pause, reconnect, and stay rooted in community. Join us Friday night, March 27th for a welcoming Shabbat service for parents of post–B’nei Mitzvah teens, including families with kids heading off to college and new empty nesters. We’ll continue the evening with a relaxed community dinner and games—a chance to laugh, connect, and spend time with other adults who are in the same season of life. If you’ve been wondering whether there’s still a place for you at Temple after weekly religious school and B’nei Mitzvah prep—there is. You belong here. We hope you can come share Shabbat with us. |
5th Grade Family BMitzvah Workshop |
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Sunday, March 29, 2026 | 10am-12pm (Room 101) Rabbi Jen Gubitz and Liz Shiro will host a Pre-BMitzvah Family Workshop for parents and their 5th graders. This interactive experience explores the “why” of becoming BMitzvah and invites families to reflect on the meaning of this milestone together. The workshop is designed to strengthen connections among current 5th-grade families while creating space to build new relationships. Rabbi Gubitz will also walk through the BMitzvah preparation timeline and answer questions about the process and expectations ahead. As your child begins their BMitzvah journey, this is also an important moment to learn more about what Jewish learning and engagement will look like as they transition into middle school. |
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Jewish Film Club: When Do We Eat? |
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Sunday, March 29, 2026 | 12:30pm Join Jewish Film Club for a laugh-out-loud movie featuring a wildly irreverent Passover comedy that turns a traditional Seder into pure, unfiltered mayhem. Packed with an all-star cast, over-the-top antics, and hallucinatory hilarity, the film skewers family dynamics, religious expectations, and holiday pressure with sharp humor—and just enough heart. It’s chaotic, clever, and surprisingly warm, reminding us that even the most dysfunctional families can find connection and redemption… as long as they survive the Seder. For more information and to RSVP please email Dick Morrison.
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Temple Shalom Community Passover Seder |
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Friday, April 3, 2026 | 5-8pm (Social Hall)
Members of all ages are invited to join Temple Shalom for our 1st annual Community Passover Seder. This warm, welcoming, multigenerational evening brings our community together to retell the story of Passover through song, ritual, and a festive meal—designed to be engaging for all ages. 5:00–5:45pm | Join us in the Sanctuary to welcome Shabbat and begin telling the story of Passover together.
6:00–7:00pm | Seder meal for all ages in the Social Hall (kosher-for-Passover style).
7:00–8:00pm | Continue the Seder for adults in the Social Hall or enjoy supervised kid activities on the first floor.
We will celebrate with meaningful traditions, lively conversation, and a delicious kosher-for-Passover–style meal in a joyful, inclusive setting. Whether this is your first Seder or a cherished annual tradition, all are welcome to gather, reflect, and celebrate freedom together. Cost: $25 per child (pre-B’Mitzvah) and $40 per adult.
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Wednesday Lunch & Learn: Torah for Turbulent Times with Rabi Gubitz |
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Wednesdays, April 8, 15, & 29, 2026 | 12:30pm - 1:30pm (Conference Room) Join Rabbi Gubitz for a meaningful midday study series exploring how ancient wisdom speaks to our modern challenges. In these turbulent times, Torah offers timeless guidance, comfort, and perspective. Bring your lunch and join us for three engaging Wednesday sessions where we'll delve into sacred texts together, discovering insights that resonate with today's world. Whether you're a seasoned scholar or new to Torah study, this series offers a welcoming space for learning, reflection, and community connection. Please note: There will be no class on April 22 (school vacation week). A $18 donation is requested to support this program. |
Altshuler Rabbi in Residence: Rabbi Laura Geller |
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Friday, April 10, 2026 Saturday, April 11, 2026 | 8:45pm (Chapel & Room 101) Sunday, April 12, 2026 | 10am-12pm (Room 101)"Panini Generation" for parents and seniors* We are honored to welcome Rabbi Laura Geller—renowned author of Getting Good at Getting Older—as our Altshuler Rabbi in Residence. Inspired by her thoughtful and practical approach to life’s later chapters, our clergy team has invited Rabbi Geller to lead a special Shabbaton exploring Jewish perspectives on aging with wisdom, intention, and creativity. Through learning, conversation, and reflection, Rabbi Geller will guide us in reimagining aging as a journey filled with possibility, purpose, and spiritual depth. Join us for a meaningful and inspiring experience. *Panini Generation: Those who are actively parenting their own children while simultaneously caring for parents |
Little Explorers |
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Sunday, April 12, 2026 | 10:00am–12:00pm (Nursery School Level) Future Dates include: May 3
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Shabbat Mind: Mindfulness & Meditation |
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Saturday, April 18, 2026 - 12:00pm (Room 101 & Zoom) Join us for Shabbat Mind, an hour of Shabbat-inspired stillness and reflection led by members of our community. Shabbat Mind includes guided imagery, meditation, discussion, and sharing. Appropriate for all experience and comfort levels. For more information please email Karen Kramer.
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Babka Bake with Sisterhood & Hadassah |
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Sunday, April 19, 2026 | 2-4:30pm (Social Hall) Join Sisterhood and Hadassah Boston for a hands-on Babka Bake led by Mandy Silverman of Mandylicious. Learn the techniques behind this beloved Jewish treat as Mandy guides us step-by-step through the babka-making process in a fun, welcoming setting. Each registrant will leave with their own babka, ready to bake at home and enjoy. This is a great opportunity to spend time together, learn something new, and connect with community. Cost: $36 with early registration through March 15, 2026 Regular price: $45 |
Museum Trip: Women's Graphic Narratives of the Holocaust |
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Wednesday, April 22, 2026 | 10-11am (Women's Studies Research Center, Brandeis University) Sisterhood invites all Temple members to join us for a powerful and moving guided tour of Who Will Draw Our History? Early Holocaust Graphic Narratives by Women Survivors, 1944–1949 (on view January 27–April 30, 2026). This extraordinary exhibition introduces eight Jewish women who survived Majdanek, Auschwitz-Birkenau, Ravensbrück, and life in hiding under "Aryan" papers. In the days and months following liberation, they began documenting their experiences through ink, watercolor, handmade albums, and illustrated books. Lacking photographs of what they endured, these women turned to visual storytelling to bear witness. Their wordless novels and pictorial diaries offer vital historical evidence while revealing how survival and the "return to life" were experienced and expressed. Bringing these works together for the first time, the exhibit challenges assumptions about early Holocaust memory and highlights the profound role of art in testimony, resilience, and community rebuilding. All are welcome to join this meaningful and thought-provoking experience. |
4th Grade Parent BMitzvah Info Session |
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Sunday, April 26, 2026 | 10:00 - 11:30am (Room 101) Parents of 4th graders are invited to gather for an initial introductory session of this incredible milestone in your family’s life. We'll gather together to learn about what celebrating becoming a BMitzvah at Temple Shalom entails, including how we lift up the gifts, talents, and interests of our students and support our families throughout this journey. At this meeting we will share our process for assigning BMitzvah dates, highlight milestones along the journey and have an opportunity to begin designing the special cover for your child’s prayer book. |
Shabbat B'Yachad: Celebration of Growth and Learning |
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Friday, May 1, 2026 Join us for Shabbat B’Yachad: Celebration of Growth and Learning, an evening honoring our teachers, uplifting student voices, and celebrating our graduating high school seniors as they prepare for their next chapters. Begin with spirited Family Shabbat services for our youngest families, then gather for a festive family dinner and meaningful community worship. After services, enjoy Oneg and continue the evening with dedicated adult and teen dinners designed to spark connection and conversation. This multigenerational evening is open to all. Come celebrate community, tradition, and new beginnings together.
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Little Explorers |
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Sunday, May 3, 2026 | 10:00am–12:00pm (Nursery School Level)
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