Joyce Cohen
Temple Bat Yam has given me a most wonderful link to my Jewish heritage and observance in an area where few Jews reside. The Friday night Shabbat services led by Rabbi Rutberg are inspiring and fulfilling. The camaraderie I have experienced with fellow congregants, many of whom have become dear friends, has added a very important dimension to my life here, on Delmarva!
Barbara & Marvin Garber
Marvin and I have been members of Temple Bat Yam since September 2016. We moved from Central Jersey to Delaware and felt it was vitally important to join a synagogue. Fortunately for us, our daughter lives in Ocean Pines and introduced us to the reform congregation that was in Berlin …Temple Bat Yam. We are so glad we joined our vibrant, warm and caring congregation. The Temple is a welcoming place to pray, to learn and to create life-long friendships. We met one of our dearest couple friends outside of the Temple and started to attend events with them. It was not long before Marv and I felt embraced by so many TBY members. We now have a circle of dear, dear friends that we see in Temple and outside of the Temple. Our experience with Rabbi Rutberg and his beautiful wife Sara has been one of the highlights of our Temple life. Our Temple family are our dear friends, our support system and people we love. How fortunate Marv and I feel to have found this beautiful Jewish community here on the Eastern Shore.
Bonnie & Steve Kirschbaum
“In Search for a Temple Home”, Steve and I retired from Ellicott City, Maryland in 2016 and we relocated to Selbyville, Delaware! In Columbia, Maryland and Ellicott City, the majority of the Temple’s used the Interfaith Centers and we eventually joined a Temple in Laurel, Maryland where our children had their B’nai Mitzvah. We dropped out shortly thereafter. We didn’t feel comfortable there and welcomed as they had their founding congregants. We found Temple Bat Yam while riding our tandem bike to Berlin on many occasions and were very curious. While volunteering at Freeman Stage, we met a TBY congregant who invited us to services. The first year we had a Gifted Membership and the rest is history. Temple Bat Yam has become our Jewish Home. We have more friends now that are considered family!! People are warm, inviting and friendly. I have been involved on the Sisterhood board for many years and help on different committees! Steve is currently the zoom expert and is involved with other activities. We have enjoyed the many classes, social events and services.
Shelley Klapholz
Until I came to the area and joined Temple Bat Yam, I never felt that feeling of community and because of this, I’ve become more and more involved in Temple life. Right from the start, I felt an immediate warmth and fellow congregants went out of their way to make me feel included. If you get involved, you will not regret it. One of the best things I did was to join TBY’s Sisterhood. What a wonderful and warm group of women. My husband and I began TBY’s Social Committee and we have had some wonderful activities for the entire family and we plan many more. The most important thing to remember about Temple Bat Yam is its service to the Jewish community and all of our friends and neighbors. When you need us, we will be there with you. We will laugh and smile with you, and we will cry and grieve with you. At Temple Bat Yam we are one big family. If you join us, you will see what I mean … there is a difference.
-Shelley Klapholz