PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Dear Beth El Family, From my apartment window, if I look at just the right angle, I can see Beth El. In fact, I can see Beth El’s iconic façade in all its glory facing Quaker Ridge Road. Sometimes during the past year, this view of Beth El has been calming and reassuring. Other times, it has been a bit more emotional. But today, the view from the distance of our largely vacant building provoked deeper thought. Perhaps this was because I was running tight on my deadline for this Bulletin article. But more likely it was because of Rabbi Schuck’s words at our Wonderful Kabbalat Shabbat last Friday. (We really should rebrand it “Wonderful Kabbalat Shabbat” rather than “Virtual Kabbalat Shabbat.”) Rabbi Schuck was speaking about the connection between the episode of the golden calf and the commandment to construct the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. Rashi’s view was that the the MIshkan was God’s response to B’nei Yisrael constructing the golden calf. Worshipping such an idol might be seen as reflecting a human need to associate a physical presence with the Divine. So, in contrast, the Mishkan was to be a physical presence, but one where God could dwell among and be worshipped by our people. For us, 1324 North Avenue is such a physical presence. Indeed, our very name, “Beth El,” means “House of God.” And yet, for the past year, many of us—most of us—have been unable to spend
much time, if any, in our building. On the one hand, this experience demonstrated that, for us, the physical presence of Beth El’s building was not essential as we participated in a year replete with spiritual, educational, musical, cultural, and communal on-line programming. Some of these programs were emotional, some intellectual, some entertaining, and most a mixture of all three. The Beth El spirit triumphed over the physical constraints to enable us to remain a vibrant Mark Silver community. But, on the other hand, so many of us did miss the building and, most of all, being with each other in person. There is something about being in one another’s physical presence that being online cannot replace. No doubt, post-pandemic our newfound capacity for delivering high quality and diverse virtual programming will stand us in good stead as we endeavor to continue to enrich our members’ lives. But we all long for the time—hopefully, very soon—when we can return together to the Beth El building as in days of old. Ken yehi ratzon. May it be the Divine will. Mark
PASSOVER LATER DAYS
THE B'YACHAD CAMPAIGN
Friday, April 2 5:45 pm Modified Kabbalat Shabbat and Yizkor—festive holiday singing and words of Torah with our clergy. We will conclude with Yizkor. Saturday, April 3 and Sunday, April 4 9:30 am Yom Tov Services—in the Sanctuary and on Livestream. 9:45 am Tot Services 10:45 am Family Kehillah
Thank You to our Additional B'Yachad Donor CONTRIBUTOR $360 - $539 Barbara and Marc Lazarus
SAVE THE DATE . . .
Thursday, April 15th • 7:00 - 8:00 pm Beth El Synagogue Center Cemetery and Funeral Policies
WESTCHESTER CELEBRATES ISRAEL @73—ISRAEL INDEPENDENCE DAY
Cemetery plots are only for sale to members in good standing. To purchase cemetery plots, please contact Alise Liquorie in the front office, 914-235-2700, ext. 223, or aliquorie@ bethelnr.org.
Join Westchester Jewish Council virtually for this annual program which will feature a Music Talks concert, “Broadway Corner of Ben Gurion.” This exciting concert will include a celebration of Israel's Independence Day starring singers from Broadway’s “The Band's Visit” and “Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish.” As Broadway theaters have been closed for over a year, this concert will pay tribute to some of the most beloved Broadway tunes sung in Hebrew, which connect to the story of Israel paired with Israel’s most famous musicals such as Kazablan. The evening will also include greetings from synagogues, schools and organizations, as well as the Acting Consul General of Israel.
Funerals right now are graveside. Please contact the rabbi's office for assistance (ext. 228). The following three funeral homes are the only approved funeral homes at Beth El—Plaza Jewish Community Chapel (NYC), Riverside Memorial Chapel (Mt. Vernon), Weinstein Memorial Chapel (Yonkers). If you have questions about end-of-life planning, our clergy are available to speak with you.
This event is free and open to all. 5
