I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to write a message once again. I have missed you very much.
We have persevered through two years of COVID. We have lost many loved ones, and so much in our lives has changed. Too much to write about here. But there is something that has not changed at all. I will illustrate with a story.
When my father died I was committed to not missing one kaddish. This means that I planned every single day around where I could find a minyan. I traveled to Israel a few weeks after his death, and I was concerned that I would not be able to organize a minyan on my overnight flight. A few hours in, a group of hasidim gathered in the aisles and began to pray. I put my tefillin on and joined them. The prayer leader was far down the aisle and behind the wall where the restrooms were located, so I could not hear him. Worried that I would miss the kaddish, I told the hasid in front of me that my father died and I was trying to say kaddish but I could not hear anything. He took my hand, pushed through the men crowding the aisle, and brought me next to the shatz (prayer leader). And the most remarkable thing happened: for the remainder of the service, this man held my hand. At first it felt awkward, but it was one of the most meaningful gestures that I experienced during my year of mourning.
Such moments cannot be reproduced in virtual spaces. No matter how intimate it feels with close ups and crisp video, nobody can ever grab your hand and hold it while you grieve for a loved one. As joyous as it may be to watch a bar mitzvah dance around the bimah, it does not compare to throwing the candy and adding your voice to our communal singing.
It is important to acknowledge that for some, in person engagement is truly not possible. It may be unsafe for medical reasons or not possible because of one’s physical limitations. And for people in this situation, virtual opportunities to join our communal life are crucial. I am so thankful that we have created robust and effective virtual options for people who can’t attend shul in person, and we will continue to nurture these members of our community. For those who have not been to shul in two years and really can’t come back yet, please let us know if you would like to set up a time to chat together on Zoom so we can have a mutual reconnection. Though you can see and hear us, we can’t see you on the other end, and we miss that time with you.
For those who can return to shul but have chosen to remain engaged virtually, we need you to come back to our sanctuary. Prayer is deeply personal and intimate, but it is not meant to
be solitary. Personal prayer is embedded with greater significance when it is shaped by communal prayer. Each prayer uttered in a sanctuary full of people joins itself to the prayers of others. Together, they weave a tapestry of words, music, and yearnings that can be transformational. Without the give and take generated by an in-person communal experience, it becomes extremely difficult to transform prayer into the powerful religious expression it can be. Even though participating virtually fills an important need, it is important to remain cognizant that though we may feel connected, in actuality, we remain in our homes, alone.
Of course, during the past two years, our virtual service was not a convenience; it was a life saver. It was a solace amidst the profound isolation and fear that was rampant. It was a source of hope and defiance. In some ways, I even miss those Kabbalat Shabbat services that ended with your smiling faces waving goodbye as Jack played the piano. But as with anything else, we must ask ourselves if we want this to be a temporary bridge that sustained us through the darkest time of this pandemic, or a transformation of how we engage in our spiritual and communal lives. The latter would be devastating for American Jewish life, with its empty sanctuaries and commodified virtual experiences. Now is the time to return to shul to prevent this temporary solution from becoming a permanent feature of modern Judaism.
If you fell out of the habit of coming to Beth El in person and you have enjoyed the conveniences of joining through the livestream, please, come back to your communal home. We miss you and we are incomplete without you. Every single one of you. It’s easy to think, “I am just one person, so joining from home does not impact anyone.” But I want you to know that this is not true. If you are able, we want you to sit with us and sing with us and schmooze with us at kiddush. If you attended shul every week prior to the pandemic, we want you to return every week. If you came to shul every once in a while, we want you to return every once in a while. The viability of our shul depends on making that switch.
And besides, someone may need you to hold their hand through saying kaddish, and that should be worth everything.
I hope to see you soon, and I wish you all good health and lots of love.
L’Shalom,
Rabbi David A. Schuck
I am a person who prefers the printed word over the digital one. I still receive the New York Times at my doorstep seven days a week, and, although I do occasionally read a book on my iPad, there is nothing like the feel of a “real” book in my hands (I still recall the thrill I would get as a child when the teacher would bring in the box with “book club” orders). For my “day job,” I read legal briefs and voluminous evidentiary records, and perhaps one of the biggest inconveniences to me that resulted from the pandemic, although trivial in the greater scheme of things, is that I now only receive electronic copies of lawyers’ submissions to the court where I work. This means that I can no longer underline or highlight what I am reading, affix sticky tabs, or write things like “are you kidding me?” in the margins.
This is why I am so excited to re-introduce to you the Beth El Bulletin. Because putting together the Bulletin is an undertaking that requires a lot of staff time, I decided shortly after I began serving as Beth El’s President to put the Bulletin on pause, and to convene a small committee of members to review our overall communications strategy, and to consider specific questions about the Bulletin. Was it really necessary? Did congregants value it? Did it serve a role different in substance than our bi-weekly “Ride the El” and Shabbat Announcement e-mail communications? The answer to each of these questions was a resounding “yes.” The committee concluded that the Bulletin is a vehicle for information that simply cannot be communicated through our electronic newsletters. For example, you will find inside these pages a list of people who have generously donated to our various funds, and news from our Nursery and Religious Schools, to name but a few features.
More importantly, we learned from talking to some of our members that, when they see the Bulletin in their physical mailboxes, and hold it in their hands, it generates a real sense of connection to Beth El. In one place they can get a 360 degree view of everything happening in our community, including upcoming programming, important life-cycle events among our members, pictures of our adorable nursery school kids, a message from our clergy, and so much more. This is especially the case while the pandemic persists, as there remains a significant number of members who continue to limit their time out of the house and have not been in the building more than a handful of times in the past two years, if at all.
For now, we plan on putting the Bulletin out on a lessfrequent basis than in the past. You may also notice some changes to the content of the Bulletin. For example, we are no longer printing the calendar of events, since that is so easily accessible from our website (which, you will soon discover, is going through its own reimagining, and will always be up-todate in a way that the Bulletin cannot be). We have also gone ad-free, as the benefits of advertising revenue did not outweigh the administrative burden of coordinating with advertisers and the expense of printing the ads. I would like to take this space to profoundly thank those advertisers who supported the Bulletin over the years, especially those who are members of our community.
Finally, if you have any ideas for what you would like to see in the Bulletin, or you would like to get involved in its assembly, I encourage you to reach out to me by sending an email to rpatchen@bethelnr.org. I welcome your feedback, both positive and negative. For now, I hope you will enjoy perusing this latest edition of the Beth El Bulletin!
The Silver Family moved to New Rochelle specifically to join Beth El Synagogue Center after attending the first Family Kallah in 2001. Mark, Candy, and Shira have been active members of the community ever since, enjoying its vibrancy and warmth.
Mark is Beth El’s immediate past President, having served as chair or co-chair of various shul committees, including the Ritual Committee, ICAR (a strategic planning initiative), and the Vision Action Team (charged with implementing the strategic vision that emerged from the Journey process). He is co-author of Beth El’s last three mission statements, spanning a dozen years.
Mark grew up in Philadelphia and continues to root for the Phillies, Eagles, Sixers, and Flyers. He graduated from Akiba Hebrew Academy and attended Camp Ramah in the Poconos. Mark received a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. from Penn’s Wharton School. He has been a professor of Information Systems at UCLA, NYU, and Fordham. He is the author of a book and various articles on Information Technology.
Mark has always played leadership roles in the Jewish community. He served as President of Hillel at Penn and as a member of the National B’nai B’rith Hillel Commission. His activities at the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia included being treasurer of the Jewish Campus Activities Board and co-chair of long-range planning for the Leadership Development Committee. In New York, he served on the METNY Region Board of Directors of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and the New Rochelle Executive Committee of UJA-Federation.
A lifelong supporter of Israel, Mark was privileged to participate in the Faculty Fellowship Summer Institute in Israel sponsored by JNF, SPME, and Media Watch International. He values his Israeli academic colleagues and delivered the keynote address at the Annual Conference of the Israel Association for Information Systems. He is also a fan of Israeli music, television, and movies, which give him a chance to improve his Hebrew.
Mark appreciates the support of his family over the years. He and Candy are proud that their daughter, Shira, an alumna of SAR High School and the University of Pennsylvania, is passionate about her Judaism and actively involved in the Jewish community. At Penn, she was President of Hillel, following in her father’s footsteps.
Mark is thrilled to be honored together with Allison and Alan Kellman, who have made such significant contributions to Beth El.
Allison and Alan met at the University of Pennsylvania Hillel, where they bonded over their mutual love of calculus (yes, really). After a “short” seven-year courtship, they married in 2000, living first in Manhattan and then moving to New Rochelle and joining Beth El shortly before their daughter, Naomi, was born in 2007. Joshua arrived four years later, completing the Kellman crew.
Allison grew up in New Rochelle. Her family belonged to Temple Israel of New Rochelle, where she attended religious school and became a Bat Mitzvah. She attended New Rochelle High School and spent summers at music camp. After graduating from Penn with a major in Biology and a minor in Math (of course), she attended the Yale University School of Medicine, graduating in 2001. Allison did her residency in pediatrics at the NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital/Columbia, and then worked in pediatric practices in Westchester until Joshua arrived.
Alan grew up on Long Island and attended the Shelter Rock Jewish Center. He attended North Shore Hebrew Academy through eighth grade and the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County (HANC) for high school. Alan graduated from Penn’s School of Engineering with a degree in Systems Engineering in 1996. After earning a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1999, Alan combined his passions for law and technology and joined the patent litigation group at Kirkland & Ellis LLP. In 2010, Alan became a founding partner of the patent trial firm, Desmarais LLP.
Naomi and Joshua are proud graduates of Beth El’s Nursery School and Day Camp, and now attend The Leffell School (formerly Schechter Westchester), where Allison is a Co-President of the Parent-Teacher Organization.
Allison served on the Nursery School Board for several years and participated in the Day Camp Task Force and Camp Board, as well as the Youth Services Committee. More recently, Allison participated in the Vision Action Team, has co-chaired several iterations of the Beth El Kallah retreat (mark your calendars - the Kallah is back June 1719 at Ramah Berkshires), and is currently involved in the
Membership Committee. Alan has served as Haftarah coordinator, a member of the Ritual and Clergy-Search committees, a member of the Gabbai working group, chair of the Sanctuary Committee, lead of the High Holiday Task Force, and a member of the livestreaming team. But Alan’s true passion is encouraging active congregant participation in services through Beth El’s Torah Reading Initiative, which offers everyone – from experienced to first-time readers – the opportunity to read from the Torah.
Volunteering at Beth El is a true family affair, as Naomi has taken an active role coordinating teen services and reading Torah, and Joshua has joined the tech team, helping work the cameras for Beth El’s ever-growing Shoresh HaLev musical events.
Allison and Alan are honored to receive the President’s Ne’emanim Service Award, and are thrilled to be recognized alongside their good friend, Mark Silver. Beth El is a second home to the Kellman family, and every staff member, clergy member, and congregant is part of our mishpacha. The entire family is grateful to be a part of this amazing community.
= Hebrew for “to draw closer”
The Keruv Committee’s mission is to help make Beth El Synagogue’s diverse members and visitors feel welcomed, included, and comfortable. Our subcommittees focus on different areas of inclusion and have all been very busy! Here is a snapshot of some recent activities and how you can get involved.
• Disabilities Inclusion: In February 2022, for Jewish Disabilities Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM), we hosted Rabbi Lauren Tuchman for a virtual talk entitled “The Power of Voice: Human Dignity & Inclusion in the Jewish Community.”Rabbi Tuchman spoke about her journey to the rabbinate as the first female and blind rabbi, and taught Torah that speaks to the power of human dignity as a pathway to broadening our inclusion efforts. Watch a replay of this program at www.bethelnr.org/pastlivestream.
• Racial Inclusion: In October 2021, we hosted a virtual program “Jews of Color: Who Are We?” in which Heather Miller and Kendell Pinkney shared their experiences as Jews of Color. There is a link to the replay of this program and to a list of related educational sources at www. bethelnr.org/pastlivestream. The program inspired us to revise our committee’s mission statement to include color in the many forms of diversity that we value and embrace.
• LGBTQ+ Inclusion: Save the date June 26, 2022 for Pride Shabbat! Please let us know if you wish to read Torah, Haftorah or otherwise participate in this service.
• Intermarried Families Inclusion: “Let’s Talk About It” is a warm, social-worker-facilitated support group where members discuss issues related to intermarriage and interdating. Upcoming meetings are March 29th and June 2nd.
• Technology Inclusion: If anyone is having technological difficulty joining virtual programs, we can arrange for a tech buddy to help. Teen Michael Sulman also created a terrific 14 minute video demonstrating how to install Zoom, set up an account, and use Zoom basic features. The video is available on Beth El Synagogue’s YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3CndGgt
If you are interested in getting involved with Keruv, please email Carrie Fox at csfox99@gmail.com or join our next meeting. The meeting link will be on www.bethelnr.org/ upcomingevents and all are welcome!
Fox Ellen Hollander“Keruv”
Beth El Day Camp for children ages 2-8 and our Arts and Theater Program Ages 9-12!
Hurry, spots are limited!
Monday, June 27- Friday, August 19
9am – 4pm with ABC, A fter and Before Care from 7am – 7pm childcare
Beth El Day Camp welcomes children ages 2-8 for swimming (towel service included), in our outdoor pool, art, sports, tennis, music, yoga, STEM, cooking, karate, and special days. Our highly qualified and carefully selected staff encourage each child to develop self-confidence and an incredible sense of belonging. If you are considering sending your young child to camp, Beth El is the place to be!
And for children entering 4th through 7th grade, talent will shine in our Arts & Theater program with an option for a 4 or 8-week enrollment. Each day is spectacular, filled with creative fun, focusing on fine arts and performing arts! Our talented artists introduce campers to a variety of new experiences, valuing ensemble and teamwork while preparing for our endof-summer production.
All children enjoy morning and afternoon snacks in addition to enjoying a nutritious and delicious kosher lunch in our beautiful tent. With support and expertise from Beth El’s Green Team, we are proud to be 95% waste-free! The camp is nut-free and the gluten free menu options makes us worry-free!
Beth El Day Camp is accredited by the American Camp Association and is proud to foster friendship, personal growth and tons of fun!
To learn more, contact Julie Rockowitz at daycamp@bethelnr.org.
How? What became of the mountain of “trash”?
Plastic cups: Nearly all gone in favor of personal water bottles.
Paper plates and napkins: Uncoated paper, which is compostable
Plastic bowls: Mostly replaced by paper plates. A small remainder – compostable plant-based bowls and uncoated paper pleated cups (compostable and economical)
Take 250 campers and staff – eat lunch and snacks; throw in lots of water breaks – for 5 days a week – 8 weeks. What do you get? A mountain of trash and food scraps, all headed to an incinerator in Westchester, adding to our climate crisis.
What’s in that mountain?
50 thousand plastic disposable cups; 18 thousand paper plates; 10 thousand plastic bowls; 30 thousand plastic forks, knives, and spoons; Countless thousands of napkins; Food leftovers and scraps
That was before 2021. That was before 2021. This past camp season we went 95% “green” – nearly all items being compostable or eliminating the item altogether. This was achieved at a lower cost than before
Utensils: Now compostable - Similar to Kiddush but an appropriate lower grade/cost Food: Leftovers and scraps – ALL compostable
Individual snack bags/wrappers: Disposed in a special TerraCycle box for snack bags. One box all season. TerraCycle collects specific (normally) non-recyclables like these, processes and upcycles into products like outdoor furniture and decking, plastic shipping pallets, etc.
Yogurt sleeves: Not compostable or recyclable. Trash.
Here’s a snippet from the sheet integrating the daily menu with products & handling to achieve this “Green” sustainable environment.
Exposing 200 campers – from the teeny 2-year olds to 12-year olds - and all staff to the notion of sustainability and composting every weekday for 40 days. A future article will focus on sustainability as part of STEM at camp.
What about the other 10 months of the year?
Did you know that Beth El’s weekly Shabbat Kiddush is zero-waste? After a COVID hiatus, Kiddush is now back on the
table (pun intended). All the tableware and food scraps should be placed in the compost bins. Everything is cycled back into the earth to help new growth. That’s a whole lot better than going to an incineration facility – the traditional destination - pumping more carbon gasses into our environment here in Westchester.
We’re eager for you to join, dispose properly, and make Beth El a shining example of sustainability in action.
Alan Greenberg, on behalf of the Green Team
Our parent body very generously funded the creation of a STEAM STUDIO for the Nursery School. STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) gives a label to what we already do in our early childhood classrooms: helping children to explore, observe, ask questions, predict, integrate their learning and more.
The early childhood years, birth to age 5, are the most critical point in neurological development. Studies show that young children learn through active exploration, and the drive to observe, interact, discover, and explore is inherent in their development. During these years, STEAM curricula set children on a path to develop a love of scientific inquiry. Children’s natural curiosity of how the world works makes early childhood an optimal time to introduce children to scientific inquiry.
Our play-based curriculum has shown to be a particularly effective method for early learning. These practices can be directly applied to STEAM and the scientific inquiry process, and can be found across routine activities that are already of interest to children or are part of their daily routines. Examples include playing on the playground, washing hands, or building with blocks. These opportunities allow learning to occur both out of context, such as a science experiment led by the teacher, and within daily classroom situations, such as caring for class plants. These small concepts allow children various opportunities throughout the day to engage in STEAM concepts.
Experts agree that this period of development must be utilized to start children on the right path to be successful in STEAM, and other content areas. In addition to developing an interest and knowledge base for STEAM and enhanced
inquiry skills, experts say that science instruction improves abilities in subjects outside of STEAM, including literacy, language-learning, math, and executive functioning.
Some of the choices available to children in our STEAM Studio include: a magnet wall, tegu blocks, squishy circuits, ramps, a wind tunnel, light tables, gears and loose parts. When STEAM Studio appears in the “Order of the Day” lineup, the response for the children is elation!
Sparking scientific inquiry in young children has shown to develop an affinity for STEAM-related subjects that they carry with them throughout their education. Early exposure to STEAM – whether it be in school, at a museum, a library, or just engaging in the natural trial and error of play – supports children’s overall academic growth, develops early critical thinking and reasoning skills, and enhances later interest in STEAM study and careers.
By now, many of you are familiar with The Shoresh Halev Center for Jewish Music at Beth El. The mission of this wonderful new initiative is first and foremost to fill the Beth El sanctuary, classrooms, and corridors with music, and we are doing that more than ever! Throughout the recent months, congregants and clergy have come together with rich musical events, in person and live-streamed. These have held the community together during challenging times.
Some of Shoresh Halev’s exciting new programs include:
• Heart & Soul, our monthly musicand poetry-filled service, with instruments, on certain Sunday and Friday evenings throughout the year. This special service is an opportunity for a deeply spiritual and moving experience, whether you read Hebrew or not, and whether you are a regular synagogue goer or not.
• Music Prayer Lab, our monthly workshop to develop Beth El’s Prayer Team, where congregants learn new melodies, practice harmonizing and study techniques to enhance our Shabbat and holiday services.
• Saturday Night Melavei Malkah, our post-Shabbat song fests have been enriching, noted for heart-lifting, wonderful music shared in community.
• S hirei Neshama, Songs of the Sacred Calendar - this new project brings exciting musical guests, including some world renowned Jewish musicians, to join with the
community in celebration of our sacred times, to present new works, and to enrich our holiday seasons. Scheduled events include our Shoresh Halev launch on May 4, celebrating Yom Ha’atzmaut with Daphna Rosenberg and Yoel Sykes, the founders of Nava Tehila in Jerusalem. Also stay tuned for our visit from Rabbi Josh Warshawsky Shabbat on May 20-21, with a special concert at Beth El on May 22.
• Music for children: Programs include weekly music in the Nursery School, Sunday morning Kehila service for the entire Religious School, classroom music in the Religious School, an engaging
musical Kehila children’s service every Sunday morning, and Shiratenu, Beth El’s new Children’s Choir, an exciting initiative for children to have an opportunity to be part of a Jewish choir singing together.
In the coming weeks, stay tuned for exciting announcements and opportunities to participate in ongoing events. Your support is essential! If you have questions, or would like to participate, please be in touch with me directly.
I hope to sing with you and share music together soon!
Kol tuv, Jack KlebanowEvery day, we give thanks for our blessings. We give thanks for the morning that brings us renewed life and for Shabbat which teaches us to pray, rest, spend time with family and be grateful for all that life brings us on a daily basis.
But what happens when we can’t see the blessings - when all we see are the obstacles and the challenges? For the past two years, the theme for Women’s League for Conservative Judaism has been “B’Yachad,” which in Hebrew means “together.” We are still dealing with the challenge of the Covid pandemic. We have endured sickness. We have been lonely. We have been cautious. So where are the blessings in this? How can we be “together” when we are told to stay far away from one another?
As Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, of blessed memory,
once said, “So often in life, things that you regard as impediments turn out to be great, good fortune.” In the face of the pandemic, our Sisterhood created our own “great fortune” by organizing events and meetings on Zoom - taking us to the Jewish communities of Paris and India; “Cooking with the Clergy;” engaging in fascinating conversations with Dr. Kenneth Pollard; and our continuing book group discussions. We donated funds not only to the synagogue, but also to the HOPE Soup Kitchen, Feeding Westchester, Bronx Jewish Community Council, and our own Religious and Nursery Schools.
To each of you, thank you for your support of Sisterhood and for being B’Yachad, together, with us in this journey called life.
Please join us for our last few programs scheduled for this calendar year.
April 11 - Join us in person as we create beautiful Matzah covers with our own artist, Cynthia Schechter. Sign up is needed for this event as we can only take a maximum of 25 women.
May 23 - We will finally have our in person gala event honoring our past president Rise Stern outside in the tent on May 23rd.
May 26 - Will be our installation of officers along with a surprise program to accompany the investiture.
Please watch our Tuesday and Friday digital updates for instructions as to how to sign up. We want you to join us as we end our years of isolation and come back and have the joyous opportunity to be together at last.
Sandy Gruenberg and the Sisterhood BoardWe have had a wonderful year so far in our Youth & Family Engagement Department.
One of our highlights of the year was coming together during Hanukkah for a wonderful Day of Chesed. We had families all over the building celebrating Hanukkah together while engaging in a wide range of volunteer opportunities.
It was also incredible to celebrate Purim together at Beth El with a fabulous
carnival, spirited megillah reading, and a successful Purim Campaign to support our Youth & Family Engagement Department!
With Passover soon approaching, we can’t wait to see everyone for our Passover Palooza on Sunday, April 10 at 10am. There will be stations all over Beth El with opportunities to learn, create, volunteer, and have some prePassover fun as a family.
And save the date for:
Lag Ba’omer celebration on May 19
Youth and Family Engagement + Graduation Shabbat on June 11 Kallah Weekend June 17-19
We look forward to seeing you all at all of our upcoming Youth and Family events this spring!
Stephanie LedermanWe hope you saw the recent email announcement about Israel 360 – a group of Beth El members with varied perspectives on and connections to Israel. Israel 360 is dedicated to raising awareness and fostering respectful and nuanced dialogue about Israel that encourages openness to the diversity of perspectives among the Beth El community and the Jewish community at large.
As noted in the introductory email, the work of Israel 360 and the environment we hope to encourage will be predicated on the following principles:
1. “Ahavat Yisrael”, love of Israel, is foundational to our work.
2. Zionism and the right and need of the Jewish people to a secure Jewish state in the land of Israel
3. Honest, open and civil communication across diverse, even conflicting, perspectives
4. Humility and respectful listening and self-expression
On a practical level, Israel 360 is also dedicated to coordinating Israel-related programming at Beth El. We are blessed with a busy shul calendar and many different groups that host important Israel programs. The Israel Affairs Committee (IAC)
will continue its important and valuable work focusing on more cultural and social Israel related events, while Israel 360 will focus on all other Israel programming and support other groups and initiatives at Beth El, including Sisterhood, the Encounter Group, the Israel Film Festival and others, in addition to the IAC.
We’re currently working on upcoming programs and if you want to plan a program related to Israel, please contact either one of us, Susan Solow-Dubin, solowdubin@gmail.com, or Mark Seidenfeld, seidenfeldmark@gmail.com, so that Israel 360 can support your efforts and ensure a thoughtful and varied calendar of Israel related events at Beth El. With your help, we hope Israel 360 will foster and encourage thoughtful, open and varied programs and dialogue, based upon Beth El’s passionate commitment to Israel.
Susan Solow-Dubin and Mark Seidenfeld Israel 360 Co-ChairsDear Beth El Family,
An unfortunate part of being Jewish is living with the knowledge that there are people in the world who wish harm upon us. As we know too well, antisemitism today is as prevalent as it has ever been. Thankfully, there are wonderful organizations dedicated to fighting antisemitism, tracking extremist activity, and working tirelessly to keep the Jewish community safe here in America. And the most well-known out of all of them is the Anti-Defamation League, which has worked to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all for over 100 years.
This year, thanks to a gift by Michael and Linda Goldstein, we were able to join the ADL’s Signature Synagogue Program, which ignites congregation-wide commitment to raising awareness of and speaking out against antisemitism and hate. This program creates a unifying initiative for community education and engagement, connecting dozens of New York/ New Jersey synagogues under a common goal of fighting
Do you have treasured sports memories?
Do you remember eating peanuts at Yankee Stadium? Was there an afternoon you saved the day on the ball field with a great catch? A game-winning bet? Do you remember sitting in the stadium when your favorite player belted one out of the park?
antisemitism. Signature Synagogues have direct access to ADL’s programs, resources, and learning opportunities. Our synagogue continues to partner with the ADL to address local issues and develop community strategies to prevent future incidents.
Some of the programs we hosted at Beth El this year through our partnership with ADL’s Signature Synagogue Program included: sending a liaison to the ADL’s Never Is Now conference, hosting a conversation with the ADL’s Regional Director, Scott Richman, about the nature of antisemitism today, and offering the ADL’s Words to Action workshop to all of the teens in our community. We value our partnership with the ADL and we hope to continue building upon this relationship in order to raise our awareness and speak out against antisemitism both locally and abroad. We hope that you will continue on this educational journey with us.
Sincerely, The Beth El Clergy Team
These recollections are both compelling and powerful. Let's reminisce and share experiences of our sports memories, or even recent sports games. The ball is in your court.
Contact Ari Mayblum ari.mayblum@gmail.com or Julie Rockowitz jrockowitz@bethelnr.org to set up a chance to talk about sports.
Senior Mature Adults Retired Together (SMART) is an affinity group for active congregants and community members, dedicated to creating strong bonds, building community, and creating lives of meaning and purpose.
We are a social group of vibrant seniors who enjoy learning, exercise, and entertaining experiences. Topics have included art classes, discussions of current events, author visits, an overview of Jewish boxing, the history of the beautiful Bronx, and Jazz masters.
Over the past few years, we have visited the News 12 studio, the White Plain Courthouse, and the Gomez Mill House in Newburgh. Programs often culminate with a gourmet lunch.
A highlight is our weekly exercise class, which includes Balance, Chair Yoga, and Golden Zumba. We look forward to the return of these activities in the Fall. Currently, we meet every Monday on Zoom from 11am-12 noon for a current events discussion, facilitated by Shari Baum, MSW. Consider
joining our dynamic discussions! We look forward to returning to in-person activities to build community with other adults from lower Westchester.
Have a passion? Consider sharing your knowledge and leading a discussion with our group. We are open to all. If you know of others who may want to join our group, please contact Julie Rockowitz, jrockowitz@ bethelnr.org. 914.235.2700 x 256.
When the United States pulled American troops out of Afghanistan in the fall of 2021, it created a desperate situation for many Afghanis who helped the US government—they feared for their lives. Thousands of Afghanis were airlifted to the United States, where they began a new life without resources or family support. While we can’t fix everything, we can do our small, meaningful part to help these Afghani refugees adjust to a new culture.
The families lucky enough to escape and resettle in Westchester need our help and support now. Beth El is a part of a consortium of faith organizations called ICNAW - The Interreligious Council of New Americans Westchester. Our involvement in refugee resettlement is run through HIAS - Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society - the same organization that was originally founded to help resettle so many Jewish immigrants over the last 150 years. ICNAW’s work resettling refugee families is deeply rooted in Jewish values. As Passover approaches, its core message about redemption and freedom should resonate now more than ever. Passover is a yearly reminder of the imperative to care for refugees because we, as Jews, remember when we were refugees fleeing from Egypt.
If you would like to contribute to this effort but are worried about the time commitment required, please know that there are many ways to support refugees. We are delighted to meet with anyone curious about refugee resettlement who would
like to discuss what might work for your schedule, whether it’s being matched with a family to build a long-term social connection or serving on one of our many committees to help a family adjust to their new life here in America. If you are interested in volunteering with ICNAW, you can contact us and we will send you the volunteer form, which allows for you to directly indicate the areas of refugee resettlement that interest you most. (For those of you who have volunteered already--please contact us and we will resend the spreadsheet so you can confirm or add new areas in which you’d like to help).
Coordinating volunteers is a complex and iterative process. Over the past few years, we have refined the ways in which we coordinate our volunteers, including direct and consistent follow-up. So whether you are a past volunteer or are newly interested in volunteering with us, we are eager to work with you!
As two Beth El members who have been involved with several immigrant families, we encourage you to participate to feel the joy we feel. Join us!
Joyce Wechsler 914-629-8731 Susan Wolman 914-980-5050
In the early days of the Zionist movement, Jewish pioneers like David BenGurion trekked the length of the Jewish Homeland, building communities out of swampland and desert plains until it turned into the thriving country it is today. However, there’s still much work to be done. And residents in Halutza, an emerging town led by Israel’s modern-day pioneers on Israel’s southern frontier, are following in the footsteps of their ancestors by once again turning the desert into an oasis, with help from Jewish National Fund-USA (JNF-USA).
Located in the Northwest Negev Desert, less than a mile from the Gaza border, Halutza was formed by families that were evacuated from several Gush Katif communities during Israel’s disengagement from Gaza in 2005.
“We wanted to create something new,” said Yedidya Harush, JNF-USA’s liaison to the Halutza community and local resident. “We took what could have been a devastating loss and turned it into the creation of another beautiful, flourishing community despite the harsh environments.”
Those harsh environments include a barren desert landscape, a lack of rainwater, and incendiary balloons sent from terrorists in Gaza. “The conditions can be tough,” added Harush. “However, with grit, innovation, and support from our friends, we are tougher.”
The support comes, in large part, from Jewish National Fund-USA and generous donors. With JNF-USA’s help, Halutza’s pioneers built roads, brought in prefabricated temporary housing, erected hundreds of greenhouses, planted crops, and built fields of solar energy panels.
“JNF-USA truly is a great friend of ours,” said Harush. “They understand we are building something incredible, and they have been with us every step of the way.”
Recent JNF-USA projects in the Halutza communities include the Halutza Medical Center, the Halutza Student Program, the Naveh Synagogue Project, and the Young Farmer’s Incubator Project, which trains young Israelis to become farmers.
Today, Halutza has grown from its 30 founding families to over 2,500 families. “It’s amazing how our ‘little’ community has developed and flourished,” said Harush. “We embrace the pioneering spirit of our forefathers, and I’m so excited to continue creating a home in the desert for more families.”
For more information, contact Rebecca Zimilover, JNF-USA Director, Westchester at rzimilover@jnf.org or 212.879.9305 x510.
DO YOU HAVE A SIMCHA COMING UP? Are you celebrating a birthday or other milestone? Do you just love spending time with your community after Shabbat services? Sponsoring a kiddush on Shabbat is a wonderful way to share your special day with your Beth El community. To learn more about the details of sponsoring a kiddush and to help you make a choice that is right for you and your family please reach out to Alise Liquorie at aliquorie@bethelnr.org or (914) 235-2700 x223.
The kiddush on February 19th was sponsored by our 9th and 10th Grade Leffell School families, in honor of their children’s trip to Israel.
The kiddush on February 26th was sponsored by the Beth El Sisterhood in honor of Sisterhood Shabbat.
The kiddush on March 26th was sponsored by Nicole Hart and Joseph Zargari in honor of the bar mitzvah of their son Eli and by Robert and Greta Brown and Jack and Robin Zencheck and family in honor of the upcoming marriage of their children Hadas Brown to Jon Zencheck, and by our Senior Class Leffell School families in honor of their children’s trip to Israel.
The kiddush of April 2nd was sponsored by Salo Aizenberg and family in honor of Karine Kleinhaus on her birthday.
The kiddush on April 9th will be sponsored by Dori Graf and Seth Leibowitz in honor of the bar mitzvah of their son Henry.
The kiddush of April 23rd will be sponsored by the Gordon family in honor of Yvette Gordon on her 100th birthday.
The kiddush on April 30th will be sponsored by Sharon Brown and Marc Straussberg in honor of the bar mitzvah of their son Max.
Revekka and Alexander Babayev on the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Daniel Babayev; our member Marc Klee on being honored at Westchester Jewish Council’s 46th Annual Gala; Sammy Weber, son of Rob and Lori Weber, on becoming an Eagle Scout! As one of many achievements along the way to reaching Eagle Scout rank, Sammy designed and led the building of a gaga pit in our Gan Teva; Deborah Olstein on the engagement of her son Matt to Julia Tepper, daughter of Drs Priscilla and Mark Tepper; Kelly & Harry Mamaysky on the Bat Mitzvah of their daughter Liv Mamaysky; Susan and Robert Goldstein on the Bat Mitzvah of their granddaughter, Michaela Stern, daughter of Sharon and Brian Stern; Janis Demartini on being honored at Beth El Sisterhood’s March 20th Torah Fund event; Daniel Urbas and Orli Moscowitz on the Bar Mitzvah of their son, William Moscowitz-Urbas; Joseph Zargari and Nicole Hart on the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Eli Zargari; Hadas Brown and Jon Zencheck on their Auf Ruf and mazal tov also to their parents, Robert Brown and Rabbi Greta Brown and Jack and Robin Zencheck together with all the extended families; Ellen and Arnold Bernstein on the birth of their granddaughter, and mazal tov also to parents, Ariella and Ari Zweben. A warm Beth El mazal tov to one and all!
We record the losses suffered by our members and friends and extend to them our deepest sympathies.
Melanie Bernitz & Bradley Katcher
Joshua & Leah Cahn
Fred & Joyce Claar
Daniel Dickman & Linda Fang Leslie Glanz
Andy Kattell
Amy Kline
Daniel & Alexandra Kovenat
Andrea & David Lieberman
Beverly Marcus
Valarie Overton & Mitchell Fishbach
Tally & Jacob Palefski Gary Schneidman
Avinoam Shefa & Gabrielle Aufgang Shefa
Matthew Beatus & Eberle Schultz
Nina & Jeremy Blachman
David & Desiree Miller
Mariya Rozenblit & Robert Rifkin
Larry & Kim Weissmann
Larry (Lisa Mignone) Schwimmer on the passing of his father z”l; Walfish family on the passing of our member Abraham “Abe” Walfish z”l; Valarie (Mitchell Fishbach) Overton on the passing of her mother, Edith David Sasportas z”l; Susan Lurie on the passing of her husband, Michael Lurie z”l; Linda (Dov) Hyman on the passing of father, Stanley Snitkof z”l; The Esses family on the loss of our member Jacob Esses z”l; Julius and Ann Oestreicher on the loss of their daughter, Heidi Oestreicher z”l; Claudia (Michael) Felberg on the loss of her father, Miguel Altschuller z”l. Meryl (David) Mendelson on the passing of her brother, Stuart Handelsman z”l. Arkady Mamaysky and Harry (Kelly) Mamaysky, and Isaac (Lisa) Mamaysky on the passing of his wife and their mother, Margarita Mamaysky z”l.
The ritual sale of hametz must be completed by Friday 4/15 at 9 am. Many prefer to perform this ritual in person. Cantor Gaby Schvartz will be available for this purpose on 4/13 from 9 am to 11am and 5pm to 7pm and on 4/14 from 8am to 9am and 1pm - 3pm and 6 pm to 7pm on 4/15 from 8am to 9 am.
Cantor Schvartz may be contacted directly by email at gschvartz@bethelnr.org to arrange an appointment. Those who cannot tend to this matter in person may complete the form and return it to the main office.
I, ______________________________________________, do hereby authorize Rabbi David A. Schuck of New Rochelle, New York to act as my agent to sell hametz that may be in my possession, whether it be at home, place of business or elsewhere in accord with the requirements and provisions of Jewish Law. NAME:______________________________________________________________________
I enclose a contribution for Maot Hittim (Passover Tzedakah) to help others, less fortunate, to celebrate the holiday.
*Please make checks payable to Beth El Synagogue Center and write, Maot Hittim in the memo line.
Calling all volunteers! Beth El is looking to expand our volunteering efforts in the following areas: social action, chesed, and community building/social programming. If you are someone who is looking to get more involved please contact Michal Schaefer at mschaefer@bethelnr.org.
Earlier this year, Beth El USY joined USYers across Westchester and some of our Westchester shinshinim for a fun afternoon of rock climbing!
For information on upcoming teen programs, contact USY Advisor Bekkah Gold at usy@bethelnr.org.
The family of Herb Fox would like to thank the Beth El clergy and community for their kind words and support during his illness and after his passing.
Dorothy Fox and family
General Fund:
In Honor of:
Gwen & Gary Salmo on the birth of their grandchild, from Shari & Marvin Chinitz.
Sophia Peister upon receiving the award for Outstanding Service as a Soldier in the IDF from Irene & Mitch Gilbert. Refuah Shleima to: Michael Goldstein, from Richard Goldstein.
George Rozansky, from Shari & Marvin Chinitz.
In Memory of:
Debra Danis Seiden, z”l, beloved mother of Zach Seiden from his fellow Beth El officers, and Lida Keltz. My parents, from Sylvia Rogers.
Jules Leonard Schwartz, beloved husband of Harriet Schwartz from Martha Goldman, and Jeffrey Hellman.
Herb Fox z”l, beloved husband of Dorothy Fox, from Selma Aronson, and Matthew Slater.
Abe Walfish z”l, from Barbara Walzer. Bea and Abe Walfish, from Jonathan Lester.
Edith David Sasportas z”l, beloved mother of Valarie Overton, from Caryl Fuchs.
Jacob Esses z”l, beloved husband of Ruth Esses, from Alan & Liz Legatt, Susan & Bob Goldstein, and Robert & Julianne Ashkinaze.
Stanley Snitkof z’l, beloved father of Linda Hyman, from Susan & Bob Goldstein, Eric & Laurie Roth, and Shari & Marvin Chinitz.
Our beloved mothers, Gail GoldsteinKenvin and Julia Lefkowitz upon their yahrzeits, from Howard & Helene Goldstein.
Miguel Altschuller z”l, beloved father of Claudia Felberg, from Joseph & Barbara Wygoda.
Abe Walfish z”l, from Susan & Jeff Mittleman.
In Honor of:
Naomi Shechter’s Bat Mitzvah, from Nora Klion Wallach.
Gwen & Gary Salmo on the birth of their grandchild, from Nora KlionWolloch.
Ruth King’s special birthday, from Norma Wasserman.
In Memory of:
Stanley Snitkof z”l, beloved father of Linda Hyman, from Fran and Larry Rubenstein, and Maxine & Joe Siegel.
Abe Walfish z”l, from Judi Schmeidler.
My father, Oscar Mandel on his yahrzeit, from Dalia Fenster.
My father, Morris Ordover z”l on his yahrzeit, from Lori & Steve Schwartz.
In Memory of:
Edith David Sasportas z”l, beloved mother of Valarie Overton, from Harriet Kaplan Suvall & Marc Suvall.
Dorothy Fleishaker Fund
In Honor of:
Naomi Shechter’s bat Mitzvah, from Shari & Marvin Chinitz.
To make a donation, contact Zoe Raynes at zraynes@bethelnr.org or 914-235-2700 ext 228. Minimum donation is $18.
Mail your payment to Beth El Synagogue Center attn: Alise, 1324 North Avenue New Rochelle, NY 10804
In Memory of: Edward Shapiro z”l, from Richard Brown.
Eleanor G. Baumwald Prayerbook Fund:
In Memory of: Stanley Snitkof z”l, beloved father of Linda Hyman, from Deborah Olstein. Herb Fox z”l, beloved husband of Dorothy Fox, from Sondra Goldenberg.
Youth Activities Fund
In Memory of: Jacob Esses z”l, beloved husband of Ruth Esses, from Harvey Heir.
Teen Educational Experience Scholarship
In Honor of:
Naomi Shechter on her Bat Mitzvah, from Phyllis and Harvey Jay.
The family of Dr. Jacob Esses would like to thank the clergy, staff and congregants of the Beth El community for their concern, caring, kind words and reminiscences.
Ruth, Sarah and Daniel Esses
In Memory of:
Abe Walfish z”l, from Marc & Barbara Klee
Mayer ben Shimon, beloved father of Marc Klee from Marc and Barbara Klee.
In Memory of:
Abe Walfish z”l, from Larry & Erica Epstein.
Bernice Feldman Nursery Fund:
In Memory of:
Debra Danis Seiden z”l, beloved mother of Zach Seiden, from Dan Weiser.
Walter Schwimmer z”l, from Sheila Mignone.
of:
Michael Berkman z”l, beloved father of Jodi Scheinfeld, from Robin Kaphan, Arlene Reifer, Carol & Stephen Herzog and Shari & Marvin Chinitz.
Debra Danis Seiden z”l, beloved mother of Zach Seiden, from Robin Kaphan.
Maria Gold hecht z”l, from Ruth & Marc Sininsky.
Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund
Sol & Linda Haber in memory of Abe Walfish z”l; Dan Fogelman in appreciation of the support of Beth El’s Rabbis following the passing of Mitchell Fogelman and thank you to Rabbi Fisher for officiating a beautiful funeral; Arthur & Loretta Holland in memory of Louis Holland on his yahrzeit; Esther Winik in honor of Shari Chinitz on her retirement from teaching; Florence & Gordon Liebergall in memory of Jules Schwartz z”l; Judith Harary in honor of the marriage of Abigail Katz (Granddaughter of Eunice Kaplan) to Brett Kirsch; Jeff & Adina Keller in memory of Jules Schwartz z”l; Allan & Sala Brooks in memory of Jules Schwartz z”l; Marci & Marc Esrig in memory of Barbara Burton, beloved mother of Ron Burton; Nora Klion Wallach in honor of Shari Chinitz and her contribution to Beth El; Nora Klion Wallach in honor of Ruth King’s special birthday; Rita & David Kaufman in memory of Stanley Snitkof z”l; The Overton Fishbach family in memory of Edith David Sasportas z”l; Andrew Wallach in memory of Abe Walfish z”l; Caryl Fuchs in memory of Jacob Esses z”l; Harriet Schwartz with thanks to the Beth El clergy for their support following the loss of her beloved husband, Len Schwartz z”l; Claire Gerstein in memory of her grandmother, Rebecca Jackson and her father, Sol Gerstein; Ira & Cynthia Shechter in honor of Nate Fisher’s 80th birthday; Jay & Barbara Lerman in memory of Jacob Esses z”l; Marilyn Yablon in memory
of Valerie Rudolph’s sister in law Barbara Schwarz; Shari & Arnie Baum; Susan Lurie in memory of Michael Lurie and with thanks to the clergy for their kindness; Phyllis Cole in memory of Abe Walfish z”l; Morris Stampfer in memory of my parents, Rabbi Theodore Stampfer z”l and Rebbetzin Pauline Stampfer z”l; Joyce Wechsler in memory of her mother, A nnette Chabrow z”l.
Dan Fogelman with thanks to Cantor Schvartz for your kindness following the passing of Mitchell Fogelman; Sisterhood Mitzvah
In Honor of:
Eunice Kaplan on the marriage of her granddaughter from Phyllis and Harvey Jay, and Goldie Newman.
Janis Demartini on being the Torah Fund honoree from Gaby and George Newfield.
Marc Klee on his honor from WJC from Sandy and Jack Gruenberg.
The Susan Morris Memorial Shivah Dinner Fund from Barbara & Jay Lerman, Jeffrey and Roberta Graf.
Eunice Kaplan of the birth of your 4th great-grandson from Barbara Simon.
The Beth El Sisterhood from Jeffrey Bloom. Gwen’s Bat Cohen Aliyah on sisterhood shabbat from Gwen and Gary Salmo.
In Memory of:
Abe Walfish, beloved father of Andrew Wallach from Marjorie Schlosberg, Nora Klion-Wolloch, Sandy and Jack Gruenberg.
Herb Fox, beloved husband of Dorothy Fox from Nora Klion-Wolloch.
Jacob Esses, beloved husband of Ruth Esses from Erica and Larry Epstein, George and Gaby Newfield, Sandy and Jack Gruenberg, Barbara Simon, Joyce and Michael Wechsler.
Debra Seiden, beloved mother of Zach Seiden from Nora Klion-Wolloch.
Stanley Snitkof, beloved father of Linda and Dov Hyman from Nora Klion-Wolloch, Joyce and Michael Wechsler.
Edith Sasportas, beloved mother of Dr. Valarie Overton from Sandy and Jack Gruenberg.
Michael Berkman, beloved father of Jodi Scheinfeld from Sandy and Jack Gruenberg.
Miguel Altschuller, beloved father of Claudia Felberg from Andrea Spitz, Joyce and Michael Wechsler.
Alice Schwartz, beloved mother of Steve Schwartz on her yahrzeit, from Lori and Steve Schwartz.
Goldie Newman, beloved bubbie, from Ivan Corwin.
Special Guest Performers
Daphna Rosenberg and Yoel Sykes, from the renowned Israeli Jewish community, Nava Tehila.
Celebration will include a concert, sing-along with a full band, delicious Israeli food, and raise-the-rafters Hallel!
MAY 4 AT 7:30 PM
Register here: BETHELNR.ORG/YOMHAATZMUT202
Raphael Abada, Stan Arkow, Rhona, Danny and Jason Aronstein, Janet and Steven Berkowitz, Elena Bilik, Felice and Steve Brostoff, Phyllis Brown, Phyllis and Jerome Brown, Jody and Dan Burton, Diana Chudnoff, Rita Cohen, Sheila Cohen, Judy Conrad, Joyce Cornick, Ilene and Irwin Davison, Carol and Paul Diament, Nathan Eisler, Joan Faier, Barbara and Allen Feinberg, Dalia Fenster, Vicky and Nate Fisher, Deborah Frankel, Tova Friedland Usdan, Rita and Bruce Gilbert, Bari Goldstein, Susan Goldstein and Family, Jerry Gottleib, Linda and William Grabel, Patricia GreenwelRojkind, Sandy Gruenstein, Sy Gruza, Barbara and Sheldon Haber, Marilyn Handler, Ruth and David Hirsh, Marcie Kahn, Mollie Kane, Geo Carl Kaplan, Cindy and Ken Klein,
Brooklyn, NY Permit No. 1718
OFFICIAL LAUNCH!
Shayna Klopott, Joyce Silver Koch, Donald Kotler, Danuta Kurstein, Caryn Levison, Anita and Stanley Liebowitz, Susan Lurie, Michelle Maidenberg, Marshall Matos, Lois Morgenstern, Diane Newman, Deborah Olstein, Judith and Daniel Pace,Lynda and Herb Posner, Pamela Friedman and Robert Preminger, Huguette Rosenthal, Sharon and George Rozansky, Cynthia and Ira Shechter, Marsha and Warren Sherman, Lloyd Sherman, Martin Siegel, Barbara Simon, Bernice Simon, Laura Simon, Leslie Snyder, Shirin and Steven Stein, Rachelle and Steven Stern, Jacqueline and Harold Sussman, The Troyetsky Family, Risa Ryger and Peter Wasserman, Bill Winters, Esther Zarembski, Murray Zung.