Tu B'Shvat Celebration

from January 2021 Bulletin

Children of Aging Parents (CAP

KERUV* KORNER *“Keruv” = to bring close, to draw near.

January can be a cold dark month, but, on the other hand, Next month, February, is once again Jewish Disabilities it is in January that the days start to grow longer. Tu B’Shvat, the Awareness and Inclusion Month. We hope that Beth El will again new year for the trees, falls on January 28th this year. The holiday provide programming to highlight the contributions of those who brings hope, reminding us that spring is on its way. The seedlings are “differently abled.” We are also thinking of joining forces with we plant now will eventually blossom and bear fruit. neighboring congregations to bring back a more robust Kulanu-

So it is with Keruv, our Inclusion Committee. Back in November type, family-friendly service for families with members who have we had a virtual committee meeting with a record number of developmental or cognitive special needs once the pandemic is over. attendees and the seeds of new ideas were planted. A few are Will we be able to celebrate our LGBTQ members this year? working on the UJA grant with Beth El staff to develop a buddy Well, the virtual Jew York Pride “parade” online we helped sponsor system to provide technical assistance, as needed by phone, to last June was one of the most entertaining I’ve ever attended. So anyone who has not been able to take advantage of Beth El’s stay tuned—and share your ideas with us. Whatever your interest rich offerings due to discomfort accessing or using computers, in inclusion, help us be more inclusive! Our current members are smartphones or the internet. We are also looking into devices that Elise Richman and Nina Luban (co-chairs), Alyssa Sherman, Beth can assist those who are visually or hearing impaired to get online Cohen, Bob Sussman, Carole Graham, Carrie Fox, Ellen Hollander, and participate. Dorothy Fox, Deborah Olstein, Elise Schepp, Jay Diamond, Joyce

Other Keruv members reconnected with the women of Goldklang, Judi and Rabbi Barry Kenter, Judy Schmeidler, Les and Chai House, who have been unable to attend Beth El during the Marge Zimmerman, Pearl Sullivan, and Phoebe Gross. Feel free to pandemic, by assembling and delivering Hanukkah goodie bags contact any of us with your ideas, or, better yet, join the committee to their current residences in Westchester. “Let’s Talk About It” yourself! We will meet again on Sunday, January 17th, at 12:00 pm. resumed virtually under the leadership of Shari Baum, reuniting and We hope to see you (virtually) then. providing support and ideas to participants with family members Elise Richman and Nina Luban, co-chairs who are intermarried. We are also talking about ways of raising consciousness about the growing proportion of American Jews KERUV (Virtual) MEETING who are Jews of color and potentially seeking help from the Jewish Sunday, January 17th • 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm • Open to all! Multiracial Network or others on how to ensure that Beth El is Email Nina.luban@gmail.com or elisekrichman@gmail.com if welcoming and comfortable for diverse members. interested and the link will be sent before the meeting.

ISRAELI CULTURAL CONNECTIONS Presented by Beth El’s Israel Affairs Committee

Beth El’s Israel Affairs Committee (IAC) is pleased to share cultural items of interest concerning Israel each month. IAC always welcomes new members. For more information about meetings and events, please contact either Tamar Tait atTamarTait@optonline.net,or Bruce Gold at Bruces.gold@gmail.com. This month’s Israeli Cultural Connections column is presented by IAC member Mark Seidenfeld.

Move Over Netflix, Here Comes IZZY!

Fauda, Shtisel, When Heroes Fly, Mossad 101, “Srugim”, or Shtisel here, but you will find plenty of quality programming from Prisoners of War (“Hatufim”), Hashoter Hatov, False Flags short films to full length features. I’m on Season 2 of “Street Justice,” (“K’fulim”), Hostages, even the most recent Valley of Tears on HBO a great crime-drama that’s the perfect fix for Fauda fans who can’t Max….. You’ve seen all of these and more. They’ve been great. wait for the next season to arrive I’ve watched several short films Beyond the engaging story lines, quality acting, action, drama and and full-length features on everything from a couple trying to find laughter, you love hearing the Hebrew, following along and telling the ever-elusive parking spot in Tel Aviv to a religious Jew trying to yourself how good your Hebrew is (and that you’re not cheating make it home before Shabbat who unknowingly picks up an Arab by checking the subtitles!) and just getting your ta’am (taste) of a along the way and the chaos and friendship that ensues. I’ve seen country you love and miss. You get a thrill out of seeing the streets dramatic re-enactments of the Bus 300 hijacking in 1984 (which and scenes of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. But you want more. You happened while I was in Israel at Hebrew University for my junior continue checking Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu, trying to find year abroad) to the story of the Strauss ice cream empire –“Marrying some new Israeli TV show to get your fix, but you find nothing an Ice Cream Factory.” It’s $5/month and there truly is something for new. And then, like a great present you were waiting for all of everyone (although I have not seen any kids programming available Hanukkah that finally appears on the eighth night (I’m writing this yet). So give it a shot and enjoy! on Day 3), you find IZZY (https://helloisrael.tv/)—a streaming And for those of you wondering, no, I’m not related to anyone service dedicated exclusively to Israeli movies, TV shows, and at IZZY and I’m not getting any kickback. I’m just a lover of Israel documentaries. who found something that’s worth sharing with others.

IZZY was founded by Josh Hoffman, a Los Angeles native PS: IZZY has offered 50% off their first month for anyone from and unaffiliated Jew, who took advantage of a free trip and went on Beth El who signs up in January. They can redeem the offer using Birthright with two friends, discovered a deep connection to Israel, this link: https://www.streamisrael.tv/browse?code=bethelny. Also, and never left. Josh, together with two other Olim (immigrants to free episodes of some television shows on the service are available Israel) and just as the world was turning upside down, founded IZZY at www.streamisrael.tv/free-episodes. in February 2020, and launched the service in May 2020. No Fauda Israel Cancer Research Fund Presentation Save the date . . . February 8, 2021 Dr. Kenneth Pollack from the American Enterprise

January 12th, with Dr. Nancy Maizels Institute will speak on a current topic.

See page 3. Sponsored by The Israel Affairs Committee Co-Sponsored by Sisterhood and The Israel Affairs Committee

Who's in Your Circle?

If you find yourself spending the majority of your time at home, especially now during Covid, and wishing you could find new and interesting ways to meet people—you’re not alone. UJA invites you to learn about Westchester Circles, a 60+ online community.* Beginning this winter, we’re offering a variety of small virtual groups created especially for people who may feel isolated and are looking for conversations and connections with their neighbors around common interests. Please join us. And tell friends or family members. It’s a wonderful new way to meet your Westchester neighbors from the comfort and safety of your own home. Sign up at www.bethelnr.org/UJACircles. For information, please contact Julie Rockowitz, 914.235.2700, ext. 256, JRockowitz@bethelnr.org, or Tali Strom at stromt@ujafedny.org. *A collaboration of the following organizational partners: Beth El Synagogue Center, DOROT, Jewish Community Center of Mid-Westchester, Harold and Elaine Shames Jewish Community Center on the Hudson, The Jewish Agency for Israel, Westchester Board of Rabbis, Westchester Jewish Community Services, Westchester Jewish Council.

Sisterhood Scene

There are four New Years in the Jewish calendar: the ground where I grew up. It wasn’t until I was a young adult and first of the Hebrew month of Tishrei (Rosh Hashanah) spent a year in Israel as a teacher that I saw the Olive trees blooming the birthday of the world; first of the month of Elul and knew that the holiday was for real. when the animal tithes were set in the ancient world; On Tu B'Shvat we measure when trees can be harvested in Israel, first of the month of Nisan near Pesach which set the reign of Jewish and today we focus on ecology and the environment. Even though it kings; and the 15th of the month of Shevat, the birthday of the trees. is not spring yet in New York, you can be sure that the olive trees and This year Tu B'Shvat will be on Thursday, January 28th. other early bloomers are in flower and the air is becoming warmer.

When I was a child in religious school in Philadelphia, at this Let’s keep in mind that spring is on its way and hopefully we time of the year we always collected dimes (then quarters) to plant can celebrate more and more holidays together, and the pandemic trees in Israel. We knew that Tu B'Shvat was the holiday of trees will be over at last. Let Tu B'Shvat be your conduit to spring! and Jewish National Fund (JNF). Also, on Tu B'Shvat, we were Womens League for Conservative Jewry will have a Tu B'Shvat given bags of fruits which grew in Israel to eat. No one, except one seder online earlier in the month of January. If you are interested, boy, ever ate the carob. just go to their website (WLCJ.org) to sign up.

Tu B'Shvat was the beginning of spring in the Holy Land. I Sandy Gruenberg, Sisterhood President remember thinking, how could it be spring when there was snow on

TORAH FUND

Good news! Our 2020–21 Torah Fund pins are finally on the way, but we know that it’s all about the “Jewry,” not the jewelry. Our Beth El community continues to be actively engaged, supported and nurtured through these challenging pandemic times, thanks to the relentless dedication, creativity, and hard work of our own clergy and lay leaders. Let’s support the education and training of future rabbis, cantors, Jewish educators and other Jewish professional and lay leaders by continuing to donate to Torah Fund, which provides scholarships and programming at all five seminaries. Making a contribution to Torah Fund, in any amount, is one way to acknowledge the value of our own exceptional Beth El clergy and lay leaders.

Supporting students at JTS and the four other Conservative/ Masorti seminaries is more important than ever now, as they contend with challenging scenarios while preparing for a bright and sustainable future—not only for JTS students and teachers, but for the strength of our communities and the perpetuity of the Jewish people. Please join us in continuing this important work!

Every Torah Fund donation of $180 or more will be recognized with this year’s B’Yachad pin. To donate online, visit https://secure2.convio.net/jts/site/Donation2?df_id=1481&1481.donation=form1.

When you make an online donation, please email us as well. If you prefer to donate by phone or to mail a check, please call/email us. Sheila Cohen, Chilly321@aol.com, 914- 576- 1078 Janis DeMartini, Jdemartini37@gmail.com, 917- 836-6892

Save the date . . . February 8th

Dr. Kenneth Pollack from the American Enterprise Institute will speak on a current topic.

Sisterhood and The Israel Affairs Committee will co-sponsor this event.

SISTERHOOD PRESENTS

BAGELS & BOOKS Monday, January 11th 9:30 am We will discuss Kaddish.Com, by Nathan Englanders Questions? Contact Arlene Salman, 914-235-2485, aesalman@aol.com

EVENING BOOK CLUB invites you to discuss its next book

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, by Lori Gottlieb February 3rd, at 7:30 pm

Questions? Contact Erica at mmleepstein@gmail.com or Cynthia at cynglickman@gmail.com.

NURSERY SCHOOL NEWS Nursery School Receives Grant from the Jewish Education Project (JEP)

Ronnie Becher, director of Beth El's award-winning Nursery School, is proud to share the below letter received recently from the JEP.

Dear Ronnie Becher, Congratulations! Thank you for submitting your proposal for a 2020-2021 Microgrant from The Jewish Education Project. Over 45 applications for Microgrants were submitted from Day Schools and Yeshivas, Early Childhood and Family Engagement, and Part-Time Jewish Education; of those applications, we funded only 57%. We are confident these innovative experiences will nurture, support and act as catalysts to promote Thriving in Jewish education. We are pleased to award Beth El Nursery School a Microgrant of $2,000 for your proposed project, Synthesizing Kindergarten Learning Standards with a Jewish Reggio Philosophy of Learning. We will require the completion of post-project survey and updated budget with actuals by June 30, 2021. (The survey will be sent to recipients in late May/early June 2021). Submission of photos, videos, anecdotes, and other documentation that captures your learning experience. We hope to be able to share these with a wider audience. Please email these to microgrants@JewishEdProject.org at any time during the duration of the grant cycle. Attendance at the virtual Microgrant Celebration on Thursday, June 17, 2021. Completion of check-ins with your liaison/coach from The Jewish Education Project and participation in two group coaching sessions. You will receive more specific information within the next few weeks. In addition, all grant recipients should adhere to the following: All promotional material should include the logos of The Jewish Education Project and UJA Federation of New York. The Jewish Education Project is the only organization that works across the New York Jewish community across denominations and institutional settings, to help educators develop new, innovative ways to engage and educate Jewish kids, teens and families. Please save the date of Thursday, June 17th, from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, for a virtual celebration and reflection for all grant winners. We look forward to sharing the successes and impact of our work. More information to follow. Congratulations on being chosen as a grant recipient. We look forward to seeing and hearing about the impact this innovative experience has on your community! L’Shalom, Bess Adler and the Microgrant Team, The Jewish Education Project