Here’s how Rabbi Rosette Barron Haim’s new holiday subscription series is reconnecting people to the Jewish community

Mp Jewish Life Web Art 2
Celebrating Jewish Life, a new subscription series of six Jewish holiday experiences promises to engage adults in ways that recapture the Jewish spirit and reconnect them to the Jewish community.

By Mitch Allen

Lately, there’s been plenty of new research into what it takes to live a long, healthy and happy life. And the findings are clear: people with strong social relationships enjoy a greater quality of life than those who feel more isolated.

That should come as no surprise. Humans are social creatures, who—for countless millennia—have relied on each other to survive and thrive.

Ironically, modernity is wreaking havoc on our social connections. We’ve replaced real human contact with virtual social networks like Facebook and Instagram. We’re more “connected” than ever, yet we’re lonelier. Family sizes are shrinking, Amazon deliveries have reduced communal visits to the local store, more people are working from home (alone), and fewer people report attending organized worship services.

And that’s why Rabbi Rosette Barron Haim’s new venture—Celebrating Jewish Life—captured my attention. This new subscription series of six Jewish holiday experiences promises to engage adults in ways that recapture the Jewish spirit and reconnect them to the Jewish community.

“This is about building community and honoring Jewish heritage and tradition through sharing a festive meal and coming together in prayer,” explains Rabbi Haim, formerly of Beachwood’s The Temple-Tifereth Israel for 30 years. She will be joined by community leader Cantor Laurel Barr to create each experience.


“Family life is changing,” Rabbi Haim adds.

“Couples are delaying having children—or not having them at all—and our children often live out of town. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to get families together for traditional celebrations. Plus, there are more interfaith couples today and people are simply not affiliating like they used to. So, we’re creating a chance for people to gather, meet new friends, network, and connect to Jewish culture.”

Celebrating Jewish Life isn’t some pot luck dinner in the temple basement. Far from it. The celebrations will take place in elegant venues around the community and will feature complimentary valet parking and sophisticated, kosher-style dinners. Each program will be relaxing, fun and less formal than traditional celebrations.

Rabbi Haim (affectiontely known as Rabbi Rosie) developed the concept to serve the largest population of the Cleveland Jewish community—unaffiliated adults looking for greater meaning, identity and purpose in their Jewish experiences, and those wishing to enrich their other Jewish involvements. Celebrating Jewish Life creates an opportunity for anyone to be involved in Jewish holiday experiences, including empty-nesters, full-lifers, millennials, boomers and retirees.

“We have been commanded to love God with our head, our heart and our hands,” Rabbi Haim says.

“As with any relationship, it’s not enough to love with only our head and our heart; we have to love with our hands, too. That means we have to demonstrate our love. We have to get out there. We have to do something.”

The new venture also hopes to identify, recapture and create Jewish leaders to engage with Jewish organizations as it expands relationships and partnerships with other community and nationally-based organizations, such as Jewish Federation of Cleveland, AIPAC, Israel Bonds and Jewish National Fund.

Celebrating Jewish Life
The Celebrating Jewish Life subscription series features six holiday celebrations:

• EREV ROSH HASHANAH
Sunday, September 9, 2018 at Executive Caterers at Landerhaven
Gather at 5:30 p.m. to meet and mingle, then come together for dinner at 6 p.m. The celebration continues at 7:30 p.m. with a Rosh Hashanah service and Oneg.

• EREV YOM KIPPUR
Tuesday, September 18, 2018 at Executive Caterers at Landerhaven
The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with time to get acquainted before dinner at 6 p.m. A Kol Nidre service follows at 7:30 p.m.

• HANUKKAH SHABBAT
Friday, December 7, 2018 at Beechmont Country Club
Schmooze at 5:30 p.m. followed by a Menorah lighting, Shabbat blessings and dinner at 6 p.m. Continues with a service at7:30 p.m., Oneg, dreidel tournament and special musical guest.

• PURIM
Saturday, March 16, 2019 at Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park
The Purim celebration begins at 7 p.m. with a Megillah reading, dinner and dessert. A silent auction, horse races and onsite games make for a truly entertaining evening.

• PASSOVER SECOND NIGHT SEDER
Saturday, April 20, 2019 at Executive Caterers at Landerhaven
This life-enriching second night of Passover starts at 5:30 p.m. to meet and mingle followed by a 6 p.m. Seder and dinner.

• SHABBAT SHAVUOT
Friday, June 7, 2019 at Acacia Reservation
The celebration of what began as an ancient agricultural festival begins with some socializing time at 5:30 p.m. Gather at 6 p.m. for a service and festive meal.

The Celebrating Jewish Life subscription series is $600 per person and includes all six services, programs and dinners. If you can’t make one, don’t worry. Each opportunity is fully transferable to a friend or family member. That’s a strong value, particularly compared to the cost of dinner and a night at the theater.

Not to mention the tremendous health benefits.

Especially for your heart.

For more information or to sign up, contact Rabbi Rosette Barron Haim at 216-223-8736 or email: info@celebratingjewishlife.com or visit CelebratingJewishLife.com. The deadline to sign up for the 2018-19 subscription series is September 3, 2018.

Categories: Eastside Smart Living