JUNE 2016 • Vol. 98, No. 11 IYAR ~ SIVAN 5776 www.bethelnr.org
Rabbi Zachary Sitkin TO JOIN BETH EL JUNE 1st Rabbi Zachary Sitkin is so excited to be joining the talented and dedicated Beth El clergy team and to become a part of this warm and welcoming community. Rabbi Sitkin is currently serving as rabbi at Congregation Eitz Chaim in Monroe, N.Y., and will continue there part-time next year, while also participating in a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Rabbi Sitkin’s love for Judaism was sparked by his participation in his local and regional USY chapters in high school, and was further cultivated when he left for Israel on the Nativ gap-year program, where he studied at Hebrew University, in Jerusalem, and worked on a Kibbutz in the south. Rabbi Sitkin attended the University of Pittsburgh, and received dual bachelor degrees in both psychology and religious studies. While at Pitt, Rabbi Sitkin co-founded a Beit Midrash, led the conservative minyan on Shabbat, and beat-boxed in Hillel’s a cappella group, the VoKols, where he met his wife, Lisa. Just a few weeks ago, Rabbi Sitkin earned his Rabbinic Ordination and a Master of Arts degree in
62nd Annual Gala,
sunday, june 5th • 5:30pm Though the date is late, don’t hesitate!
There is still time to honor the Richmans and the Rosensteins. Your ad will appear on our website until next year’s Gala. Have a vendor you use? Ask him or her to advertise with us too. We can link right to their website for a full year of advertising! Tickets are also available for our 50/50 cash raffle. The will winner receive 50% of raffle proceeds. And, check out our Silent Auction! Items for bid include beautiful jewelry, tickets to events, and merchandise. The bidding will continue on the evening of the Gala. Visit www.bethelnr.org/Gala2016. Need help? No problem! Call Linda at 914-235-2700, ext. 246.
We appreciate your support. Funds raised help Beth El Synagogue Center maintain its high level of programming.
Visit bethelnr.org/Gala2016
Talmud and Rabbinic Literature from the Jewish Theological Seminary, in New York City. Throughout his time at JTS, Rabbi Sitkin served as the rabbinic intern at the Pelham Jewish Center, in Pelham Manor, N.Y., and as the Robert Kraft Rabbinic Fellow at the Columbia/Barnard Hillel, in Rabbi Zachary Sitkin Manhattan. When not learning Torah, you can almost always find Rabbi Sitkin shooting hoops on the basketball court, watching movies, or singing a tune of one of many niggunim. Rabbi Sitkin and his wife, Lisa, are grateful for this opportunity and look forward to meeting all of you! Rabbi Sitkin can be reached at zsitkin@bethelnr.org. His office hours are Tuesdays to Thursdays, 9:00 am -6:00 pm; Fridays, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm; and Sundays, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. He will be available in the evenings as needed. Stop by to say hello. His office is on the lower level, in the clergy area.
Shavuot Festival Services Saturday Evening, June 11th
Mincha, 7:30 pm, followed by a Big Dinner and
Tikkun Leil Shavuot Program Details, page 2.
Sunday, June 12th
Festival Services........................................................9:00 am Shabbat Space............................................................9:30 am Youth Services.........................................................10:45 am Stand-Up Kiddush Lunch..................................... 12:00 pm Mindfulness and Judaism (see pgs. 3, 6)........4:00 pm Dairy Dinner (free with R.S.V.P. by June 9th).....6:00 pm
Monday, June 13th
Early morning services, with Yizkor..................6:30 am Festival Services........................................................9:00 am Shabbat Space............................................................9:30 am Yizkor, following Sermon.....................approx. 10:30 am Youth Services.........................................................10:45 am Sit-Down Kiddush Lunch..................................... 12:00 pm
Shavuot Programming.................pages 2, 3 Shahar Sadeh Presentation............... page 9 Sing Out Shabbat.............................. page 7 SMART People.................................page 11
Spring Film Festival........................ page 14 Youth & Family Engagement........... page 15