Shabbat with JFX - Jewish Family Experience

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SHABBAT SHALOM

PARSHAT TAZRIA-METZORA
May 2-3, 2025
Candle lighting 8:07 pm
Havdalah 9:16 pm

SHABBAT MORNING EXPERIENCE

8:45 am: Services
9:45 am: Narrated Torah service
10:00 am: Childcare
10:15 am: NCSY Juniors Donuts & Discussion
10:30 am: Rabbi's sermon
10:45 am: Parsha Class
11:15 am: Kiddush

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Isaiah Burg, Dan Fremont, Eva Golub, Michelle Katz, Moria Sadowsky, Jake Sonkin, Ari Weiss

MAZEL TOV
Alana and Aaron Gallardo on the birth of a daughter

David and Becky Heller and Bill and Anita Heller on the birth of a grandson and great-grandson, Joseph Brook Miller, and to parents, Lindsey and Graham Miller

What conversation left you thinking recently? Have you met anyone interesting or had an experience that made you think, pause and reflect? Perhaps the JFX community would love to hear about it. Be our next guest Rambler.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS HERE

Rabbi Friedner shares practical insights how to connect with Hashem and forge strong bonds with the Jewish people on a global and individual level. See his website here

Available at JFX
Special JFX discount $20

There will be an upcoming community art fair at Mandel Jewish Day School on Sunday, May 18 and and Monday, May 19 in support of Israeli artists.
More information here

With gratitude to Hashem for the hostages who have been safely returned to their families, we hope and pray for the remaining hostages to come home safely soon.
UPDATED HOSTAGE LIST
PRAYER FOR THE HOSTAGES

PICTURE PERFECT

With much appreciation to Howard Amster and Alan Silverman for dedicating the JFX sanctuary in memory of their parents.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Yoga with Susan Stone
Tuesday, May 6
8:00-9:00 pm

For women and girls 12 years and older
Bring your own yoga mat and blocks
All levels welcome and encouraged

Additional classes: May 13, 20

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The Non-Jewish Nanny
Tomorrow!
11:00-11:45 am

"Loud and Proud: Why you're so lucky to be Jewish!"
Followed by Kiddush

The Non-Jewish Nanny is a TikTok and Instagram sensation using her platforms to educate the world about Israel advocacy and a Jewish way of life

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Jewish Sunday Experience
Sunday, May 4
10:00-11:15 am

For kids ages 0-6
Little gym style play stations in a spacious indoor venue
Live guitar circle time: Jewish songs and storytelling
Healthy snacks for the kids
Hot coffee station for the adults

Additional session Sunday, May 18

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TAKE A CLASS

MEN'S CLASS WITH RABBI KOVAL
Build on personal growth and character development
For learners of all backgrounds
In the merit of Israeli soldiers

Thursdays 8:15 to 8:45 pm

Contact Rabbi Koval for more info

MUSSAR WITH
RUCHI FOR WOMEN
Character Improvement Through Torah Wisdom

Mondays at 10:00 am in Beachwood (No class this week)
Every other week on Mondays at 7:30 pm at JFX (There is class this week)
Tuesdays at 9:00 am via Zoom
Thursdays at 12:00 pm via Zoom (No class this week)

Contact Ruchi for more info

LUNCH & LEARN WITH RABBI YOSEF KOVAL

Fridays at 12:00 pm at JFX

Contact Rabbi Yosef Koval for more info

MEN'S PARSHA 'N CHOLENT

Every other Wednesday at 7:00 pm

Contact Rabbi Helman for more info

Our Magic Kingdom
By Rabbi Josh Grodko

And there I was, with my wife and children, heading to the most magical place on Earth. But the question remains: with so many ways to purchase Disney tickets, does anyone actually just walk up and pay full price at the gate?

Allow me to rewind.

This past Passover, our family was fortunate to spend the holiday together with extended family in Orlando. I’ve always loved going to the parks, but personally, I hadn’t been in several years—and my children had never been at all. On morning, in an act of spontaneity, we decided late in the morning to jump in the car and head out to Disney.

As we were sitting in classic Orlando traffic (IYKYK), we figured it was a good time to purchase the tickets online. Sure, we could’ve just gone to Disney’s official site… but come on—who actually does that?

Turns out, there’s a whole underground world of “discount” Disney tickets: ticket brokers, Orlando Torah Academy, and my personal favorite—Costco. Yes, apparently you can score park tickets right next to your 48-pack of paper towels and 3 gallons of mayonnaise. The problem was, we were only 20 minutes away, with four kids in the back demanding our attention, and all of these other options seemed to require more planning.

It felt like a tease—Google kept showing us all these discounts, but we just didn’t have the time or bandwidth to figure it out. They even offered a first responder discount (cue my EMT pride), but that also required submitting documentation in advance. Left with no choice—and running low on patience—we walked up to the counter to purchase full-price tickets. I told myself that next time, we’d be more prepared.

And then it happened.
A stranger walked up to us.
Stranger: “Are you buying tickets?”
Me (thinking): Is there a problem? Yes, I know I’m about to pay full price—don’t make it worse.
Stranger: “We have an extra ticket. Would you like to buy it from us at a heavily discounted rate? We’ll walk in with you so you can see it’s legit.”
Me: Are you Elijah the Prophet? (Okay, I didn’t actually say that.)

I hesitated for a second. Then I took the gamble, zelled the money to this stranger, and began walking with him toward the entrance. I’ve always believed that people are naturally good, and I had no reason to think he was trying to scam us. Sure enough, we walked in together, the ticket was real, and Hashem gave us our savings!

The most ironic part? In all the chaos of thanking the guy, explaining to the gate agent that “no, we’re not together, just using one of their tickets,” and trying to keep our kids from climbing the railings, I completely forgot to scan my son Noam’s ticket. It was still in my back pocket.
And yet… he just walked right in.

This is Disney we’re talking about.
They usually scan your ticket, your fingerprint, and maybe your DNA for good measure! But somehow, Noam strolled in with the rest of us—no beeps, no questions, nothing.

They say G-d has a sense of humor.
But maybe this wasn’t just humor, maybe it was a nudge from above:
SLOW. DOWN.

Sometimes we’re rushing so fast to “make the moment happen” that we forget the moment is already happening.
Whatever’s meant to be… will be.

Let go & let God.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Josh Grodko

THANK YOU TO OUR
CORPORATE SPONSORS

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Call Gavi 216-262-4700

DONATE HERE TO MAKE MORE JFX POSSIBLE

office@jfxcle.org

@jewishfamilyexperience

Our program is supported by the Fund for the Jewish Future of the
Jewish Federation of Cleveland.

The Jewish Family Experience is a community of inspired Jews led by Rabbi Sruly and Ruchi Koval. We offer Jews of all ages, backgrounds, and affiliations a fresh look at Judaism in a way that offers education, inspiration and community.

Our doors are open to all who seek to worship, learn and serve the community.

Services at Jewish Family Experience are a learning experience. During the service members of the Minyan are encouraged to raise their hand if they have a question regarding the structure of the service, the meaning of a prayer, the interpretation of the Torah portion or a comment regarding the practice of Judaism.

Our goal is to broaden the understanding of Judaism. And through better understanding establish each individual’s relationship with G-d. Join us to experience our interactive service. Come learn with us.

Sponsor a Kiddush
The Kiddush following JFX Shabbat Morning Experience is a great way to socialize, catch up with old friends, meet new members, guests and be part of JFX's vibrant community. Sponsoring a Kiddush is a beautiful and meaningful way to pay tribute to a loved one, celebrate a simcha such as bar/bat mitzvahs, anniversaries, graduations and remembering the Yahrzeit of a family member. Share stories, laugh, be inspired and be part of fostering a strong sense of community at JFX.

We have three levels of Kiddush sponsorship. These costs are based on normal Shabbat attendance.

Standard Kiddush: $500
Includes: Includes kugel, chulent, herring, chips, dips, cake, drinks and fruit.

Deluxe Kiddush: $750
Includes all of the above plus cold cuts and lettuce salad.

Gala Kiddush: $1,000
Includes all of the above plus chicken fingers.

To sponsor a kiddush sign up here
For more information please contact our office

Shabbat Schedule

8:45 am
Shacharit service with Rabbi Koval, Rabbi Josh Grodko and our cantor, Rabbi Nissan Blum

9:45 am
Narrated Torah reading

10:00 am
Youth groups

10:30 am
Rabbi's sermon

10:45 am
Mussaf service
Ruchi's Parsha class

11:15 am
Deluxe Kiddush

Mon, May 5 2025 7 Iyyar 5785

JEWISH FAMILY EXPERIENCE

2200 S Green Road | Cleveland, OH 44121

216-591-9525 | info@jfxcle.org

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