Welcome to Beth Israel: The West Temple

We Are A Full-Service Synagogue

We represent 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.

These efforts, over more than sixty-five years, strengthen the Jewish community in Northeast Ohio and contribute to our duty of tikkun olam – repairing the world.

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Our Mission

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.
To assure the continuity of our people’s traditions, values, and life.

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Meet Our Leadership

Rabbi Rachel BrownAs of this year, Rabbi Brown is BI-TWT’s new Rabbi. “This is what you can expect from me: When we are together, I will pay attention to you, I will listen to you, I will treat you as created in the Divine image–because you are.”
– Rabbi Brown

Rabbi Emerita Enid C. LaderRabbi 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 until her retirement in 2023.

Debbie Chessin, EducatorDebbie 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.

Board of TrusteesOur Board is committed to maintaining a vibrant, welcoming and inclusive congregation by inviting everyone to participate in all aspects of temple life.

A Modern Day Exodus
It all started here, in the 1960s, as Beth Israel began a movement that ultimately saw 1.6 million Jews leave the former Soviet Union.
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From the Union For Reform Judaism / Reform Movement

For Some of Us the Holidays Are Just…Hard

For Some of Us the Holidays Are Just…Hard jemerman November 18, 2024

Death and Mourning

As we head into the holiday season, I am acutely aware of how much different this year is going to be than previous ones. I will be celebrating without my mom for the first time. My mother died in January 2021, and I'm still dealing with the unexpected waves of grief that wash over me, sometimes out of nowhere. As I head into this first winter holiday season without her, I'm not quite sure I know what to expect, other than everything is going to be very different.

The Cost of Free Land

The Cost of Free Land jemerman November 14, 2024

Native American issues

The author's Great-Great-Uncle Louie Sinykin posing with men in Dakota garb in South Dakota's Black Hills. Date unknown.

When I was a child growing up in the 1980s, the story I learned about Thanksgiving followed the classic script: it highlighted amity between the Pilgrims and their Indigenous neighbors. Due to this connection, the hunger of the European settlers was met with squash and turkey.