This innovative subscription series can help you reconnect with your Jewish traditions

Rosh Rosie
Celebrating Jewish Life features six Jewish holiday experiences at Cleveland-area venues.

By Mimi Vanderhaven

Striking a successful balance between the social and the sacred aspects of Judaism, Rabbi Rosette Barron Haim has created the fourth year of Celebrating Jewish Life, an event-based subscription series of six Jewish holiday experiences that engages adults in ways that recapture the Jewish spirit and reconnect them to the Jewish community.

Beachwood’s beloved Rabbi Haim has served the Cleveland Jewish community for more than 30 years and brings a wealth of life cycle, pulpit, and counseling experience with her. She has instilled a sense of Jewish pride, confidence, and connectedness in people of all ages.

Rabbi Haim (affectionately known as Rabbi Rosie) will be joined by Cantor Laurel Barr and musician and guitarist Chuck Fink to create each experience.

“We are thrilled to launch the fourth year of our program to address the largest population of the Cleveland Jewish community—those unaffiliated adults seeking ways to find greater meaning, identity and purpose in their Jewish experiences, and those wishing to enrich their other Jewish involvements,” Rabbi Rosie says. This innovative program creates an opportunity for anyone to be involved in Jewish holiday experiences, especially empty nesters, full-lifers, millennials, baby boomers and retirees—fun people who want to enjoy their Judaism.

Building Community
Celebrating Jewish Life centers on building community through gathering at creative venues to share a festive meal and to honor Jewish heritage and tradition by coming together in joyful prayer. The subscription series begins on Monday, September 6, for an Erev Rosh Hashanah dinner and service at the Cleveland Marriott East (Beachwood), and continues with Erev Yom Kippur at the Cleveland Marriott East (Beachwood); Hanukkah Shabbat at Acacia Reservation (Lyndhurst); Purim at Topgolf Cleveland (Independence); Passover Second Night Seder at Embassy Suites (Beachwood); and Shabbat Shavuot at Mayfield Sand Ridge Club (Lyndhurst). (For a detailed schedule, see the sidebar on this page.)

Creating New Leaders
In addition, Rabbi Rosie hopes to channel her passion for social change that strengthens the Jewish community into identifying, recapturing, and creating Jewish leaders who will be great models for their families and may enjoy engaging with local and nationally based organizations, such as Jewish Federation of Cleveland, AIPAC, Israel Bonds, Jewish National Fund, and United Way.

Fully Transferrable Subscription
The subscription series is $600 per person and includes all six dinners, services, and programs. Subscribers may purchase additional individual experiences for friends or family at $125 each, or $100 for guests ages 36 and under. Experiences are fully transferable, but non-refundable. Subscribers are encouraged to transfer the opportunity to others if unable to attend.

Celebrating Jewish Life 2021-2022 Schedule

  • Erev Rosh Hashanah: Monday evening, September 6, at Cleveland Marriott East (Beachwood), 6:00 p.m. festive dinner followed by the Rosh Hashanah service and Oneg.
  • Erev Yom Kippur: Wednesday evening, September 15, at Cleveland Marriott East (Beachwood), 6:00 p.m. dinner followed by the Kol Nidre service and Yizkor.
  • Hanukkah Shabbat: Friday evening, December 3, at Acacia Reservation (Lyndhurst), 6:00 p.m. with candle lighting and dinner followed by the service, games and Oneg.
  • Purim: Sunday, March 13, 2022, at Topgolf Cleveland (Independence). Begins at 4:30 p.m. with a Megillah reading followed by dinner and delicious hamentaschen. Use of the golf bays is included for fun and entertainment.
  • Passover Second Night Seder: Saturday evening, April 16, at Embassy Suites (Beachwood), 6:00 p.m. Seder, dinner, and desserts.
  • Shavuot Shabbat: Friday evening, June 3, at Mayfield Sand Ridge Club (Lyndhurst), 6:00 p.m. for the service followed by a festive meal and Oneg.

Celebrating Jewish Life will follow best practices to be safe due to the evolving Covid-19 and Delta variant situation. The plan is to continue the in-person experience at the Marriott East and provide the option to pick up dinner and join on Zoom.

“We will keep participants informed as we look to the Ohio Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local medical professionals for further direction,” Rabbi Haim says.

To learn more, subscribe or to sponsor a holiday experience, contact Rabbi Rosie Haim at 216-223-8736 or email info@celebratingjewishlife.com or visit CelebratingJewishLife.com.

Categories: Smart Living