As Yom HaShoah approaches, we once again pause to remember the six million Jews – including one and a half million children – who were murdered in the Holocaust. This solemn day demands that we reflect on the atrocities committed against our people to ensure that “Never Again” is not just a phrase, but a lived responsibility.
Each year, we return to this painful history not only because it’s our duty to remember, but because remembering is a holy act in and of itself. In recalling the horrors of the Shoah, we honor the lives that were lost, the resilience of those who survived, and the legacy we all carry forward. Remembering the Shoah also reaffirms the duty we have to confront the hatred of Jews, especially in this moment of such heightened antisemitism, with Israel still at war, and Israeli hostages still being held captive.
Our sacred obligation to remember is at the heart of a beautiful poem written by Aharon Bas, which serves as a meditation on remembering the Shoah, especially in a post-October 7th world:
“Remember what Amalek did to you on your journey, after you left Egypt how he surprised you on the march and when you were on European soil in the gas chambers and incinerators in ghettos that are crying in pain and while sitting in the envelope towns how he pursued and captured and tortured and murdered from youth to the elderly from toddler to old children and women in one day Remember Remember and never forget”
As the number of Holocaust survivors continues to dwindle, our obligation to hear and preserve their stories becomes ever more urgent. Their testimonies remain a bridge between past and future – reminders of the fragility of life, and the strength of the human spirit. We must listen, record, and share their words so that they are never forgotten.
We invite you to join us for this year’s Yom HaShoah tekes (ceremony) this Thursday evening, April 24th at 6:30pm. The evening will include prayer, music, candle lighting, and memory, as we gather to hear the survival story of our congregant Paul Diament, as shared by his son Benjamin. We will then continue our sacred responsibility to remember the following week, on Yom HaZikaron, April 30th, 2025 beginning at 7:00pm. We will gather together for a powerful Yom HaZikaron tekes, honoring Israel’s fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism, before transitioning to a beautiful and uplifting Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration with Hallel and an Israeli pop-music dance party. Please join us.
L'Shalom,
Rabbi David A. Schuck Rabbi Zachary Sitkin Rabbi Viki Bedo Cantor Gaby Schvartz
5 Upcoming Opportunities to Connect with Israel at Beth El
We hope you had a meaningful Pesach and Spring Break! We have multiple opportunities to volunteer for service hours coming up, as well as a special Teen Shabbat Dinner with the Clergy in May, as well as some "save-the-dates" for the end of the year.
Speaking of service hours...we have regular chesed (community service) on Shabbat mornings for 9th-12th graders. Please see details below.
Upcoming events:
Every Saturday, 11 am-12 pm: Volunteer for Shabbat Childcare (9th-12th). See information below. Earn community service hours.
Sunday, April 27: Volunteer at the Park Clean Up from 10 am-12 pm at Ward Acres Park. Earn 2 community service hours!Register here.
Sunday, May 4: Volunteer to help with the community-wide Yom Ha'Atzmaut program, here at Beth El! Earn 2 (or more) community service hours.Register here.
Sunday, May 18: Join us to learn about joining our Teen Board in 2025-2026 and to help us plan for next year. This is a great opportunity to share your ideas! We will meet in the evening, time tbd.
Sunday, June 1 at 4:30 pm: Teen Board Elections & BBQ
Interested in learning more about our Teen offerings at Beth El, or getting more involved? Reach out to Vered (teens@bethelnr.org) or Alyssa (aberman@bethelnr.org). We're happy to connect!
All the best, Vered and Alyssa
Shabbat Childcare: Saturdays from 11 am-12 pm
We have launched a new supervised play space on the playground/in the Kasakove for kids on Shabbat morning, and we need your help! We need our high schoolers (9th grade and up) to volunteer for this program on Saturdays from 11 am-12 pm! We are happy to offer service hours.Teen responsibilities include:
Pick up the children from their services (Den or Levenson Chapel).
Walk with them to the Kasakove or to the playground.
Play with them and supervise them, making sure that everyone is safe, respectful, and behaving appropriately.
Bring the children back to the Sanctuary at the end of the service (or for b’nei mitzvah candy).
Clean up the Kasakove or playground during the end of the service, before you go to Kiddush.
Kumi: Foundations Fellowship: Application due Friday, May 9 For 10th-12th graders
Kumi is a unique opportunity for Jewish teens to interrupt racism, antisemitism, and other manifestations of oppression. This teen leadership experience imparts knowledge and skills for exploring justice and equity from a Jewish lens.
Participants will be prepared for bold changemaking on college campuses, in social justice spaces, and wherever else their passions take them. Together, they will contribute to the building of more inclusive communities and movements for justice as Jews. Through their experience in Kumi, participants will be challenged to explore their connection to their own Jewish identity and build the skills to turn their values into action.
We hope you all enjoyed your Passover holiday. Beth El is partnering with UJA in a Post-Pesach food drive. Rising food prices are making it even harder for famiies with little means to put food on the table. We can do something to help those in our community who are struggling with food insecurity. If you can please donate everyday nonperishable food and unopened Passover groceries (no matzah), toiletries, and cleaning supplies to help stock the food pantry of our grantee HOPE Community Services, it would be tremendously appreciated. Please bring in your donations by Thursday morning at drop-off and place in the collection box by the front door. We thank you in advance.
Our annual Tile Wall Fundraiser will be happening next week for all children, including those in Toddler Time who will be making red hand prints! Even if they have made a tile in the past, each age group has its own color, so they can do it year after year and see how much their hands have grown! Please see details on the flyer below and click here to register today.
Attention After Care families, next Tuesday, April 29, will be a staff meeting.
After care will be ending at 3:00PM on that day. Please be sure to note your calendars accordingly.
Don't forget to scroll down so you don't miss out on anything happening in the Nursery School or greater Beth El community.
Enjoy the beautiful day, Ronnie and Shery
Highlights:
Post-Pesach Food Drive - Donations due by Thursday morning.
Tuesday, April 29 - Staff Meeting, After Care ends at 3:00PM.
Monday mornings at approximately 9:15AM, our Anaf and Gesher parents/caretakers/grandparents are invited to the Youth Lounge to celebrate Havdalah together.
Wonderful Parenting Workshops from Project SEED facilitated by Julie Schnur, our Project SEED Consultant
Mabel's Label's Fundraising We are continuing our fundraising through Mabel's Labels. With every order we will earn 20% commission for our school. If you are not familiar with Mabel's Labels, they offer personalized waterproof name labels for your children's items. This is the perfect time to get your orders in before the school year begins. Visit campaigns.mabelslabels.com and choose Beth El Nursery School (New Rochelle) from the organization list. Click here to order.
I want to thank those of you who filled out our recent Nursery School survey. We are grateful for your thoughtful feedback and your ongoing partnership in making Beth El Nursery School a nurturing and enriching place for your children. I am excited to share the results with you.
We are thrilled that the majority of families expressed high satisfaction with their experience at the school. Over 80% of respondents said they are very satisfied with their child’s experience at Nursery School, and more than 97% would be likely to recommend the school to others. Parents described Beth El as a “kind and nurturing school with exceptional Jewish education”—a sentiment that truly reflects the warmth and dedication of our teachers and staff.
Across the board, we saw particularly strong appreciation for our teaching staff and classroom environments. Every respondent expressed satisfaction with our teachers' ability to create nurturing spaces, and more than 90% gave high marks to the quality of teaching, the integration of Jewish values, and the balance of creative and physical activities.
At the same time, your feedback helped us identify areas for growth. Many families expressed a desire for clearer, more consolidated communication, especially around our Reggio educational philosophy. While our teachers use Remini thoughtfully and consistently, we know that many parents don’t always have time to engage deeply with the platform. In response, we’re introducing a few new strategies. We will:
Host a “Reggio & Ruach” evening in the fall to highlight our educational approach and how Jewish values show up in daily learning.
Provide monthly updates on how the principles of Reggio are reflected in classroom curriculum and activities.
The most prominent concern raised in the survey was about school closures and the perception that our program doesn’t fully meet the needs of working families. We hear you. We understand that when school is closed, it can place a real strain, especially for those who rely on more consistent care coverage.
While Beth El Nursery School is not a day care center, we recognize how important this issue is, and we are committed to exploring ways to address this challenge. To that point, we have made a number of calendar adjustments for the 2025-26 school year. In addition, we want to engage our community in an open conversation about how we can best support the needs of our families. We invite you to participate in a dialogue to explore these topics together. Our goal is not only to hear your voices, but to ensure that any decisions we make are thoughtful, transparent, and grounded in our shared values. Please sign up for one of the sessions at this link.
Beth El Nursery School is essential, not only to the families it serves, but to the overall vitality of our synagogue. Your input will help us strengthen our community and support the needs of all our families. We look forward to continuing this important conversation with you.
WATCH CONGREGANT SALO ALZENBERG ON EYLON LEVY'S PODCAST What is Israel’s strategy to combat Hamas’ global propaganda machine? In this exclusive interview, Salo Aizenberg, an independent scholar and leading voice in exposing misinformation, gives an inside look at how the Israeli government counters Hamas’ disinformation war. Watch the interview on Youtube.
Mazal tov to Stephan Loewentheil on the birth of his grandson, Judah Avner Bayefsky Loewentheil, and mazal tov to parents, Nate Loewentheil & Michelle Bayefsky. Mazal tov also to Leonora Loewentheil on the birth of her 6th great grandchild.
Those marking a simcha, observing the loss of a loved one, or someone who is sick or recovering from an illness have delighted/comforted that their lifecycle event has inspired generosity. If you would like to make a donation to Beth El in honor or in memory, please click here. MISHEBERACH LIST If you would like to add a name to the Misheberach list, please email Rabbi Sitkin at zsitkin@bethelnr.org.
As a service to our members, Beth El includes in this section outside events that may be of interest to members of our community. Listing an event does not constitute endorsement of the event by Beth El. RETIRED TEACHERS, EXPERIENCED VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CHILDREN IN WHITE PLAINS A recently arrived Afghan family has 2 young sons who are unable to register for school because they are not yet in permanent housing. Volunteers will use a 1st and 2nd grade homeschooling curriculum. If interested, please contact Jane Dixon at lilrhodie@gmail.com. SYNAGOGUE MEMBERS BACK AFGHAN REFUGEE FAMILY Beth El members have committed to supporting a refugee family from Afghanistan that arrived in New York on April 3rd. Beth El has partnered with Westchester Reform Temple to help this family, sharing the financial and volunteer commitment between the two congregations. The group needs volunteers to ensure the family’s smooth transition. To join this effort, please contact blairselber@gmail.com. Here are ways you can provide immediate assistance:
If you would like to provide a gently used or new item for the family’s new home, please provide your information here. We will be happy to pick up your items.
To sign up to tutor them in English, please provide your information here.
Rides are needed to take the family to English lessons and back three times a week. Classes are 10am-12pm, and sign-up is here.
SIP YOUR WINE, SEND HEROES TO DINE, STRENGTHEN ISRAEL Want to say thank you to an exhausted reserve soldier and equally exhausted "single-parent" spouse? Send them on a date! Perfect for a Passover gift! Learn more on our Israel 360 page.
RUN 4 THEIR LIVES is an opportunity to create community while supporting the releease of the hostages in Gaza. You can read more information about our 'why' at http://Run4lives.org. The group meets weekly on Sunday mornings. Participants can walk or run as much as they would like. Learn more about the upcoming November Israel trip, as well as weekly announcements about meetup locations in the WhatsApp Group, which you can join here.
VOLUNTEER AT JCCMW Do you want to make a difference in our community? Every act of volunteering—big or small—makes an impact. Visit jccmw.org/volunteering for more information on how to get involved.
DO A MITZVAH Beth El Synagogue and UJA-Federation are co-sponsoring the annual post-Pesach food drive on Monday, April 21-Wednesday, April 23 to benefit the food pantries (kosher and non-kosher) at HOPE Community Services, a UJA grantee. Bring your everyday non-perishable groceries and unopened leftover Pesach groceries (no matzah), along with cleaning supplies and toiletries in bags or boxes to the lobby. Beth El is joining with other local synagogues to fight hunger. For any questions,
Mazal tov to Laura Jane Lewis on the birth of her first granddaughter, Ava Rose Elhai, and mazal tov also to parents, Michelle (Moseley) and Shaun Elhai.
Those marking a simcha, observing the loss of a loved one, or someone who is sick or recovering from an illness have delighted/comforted that their lifecycle event has inspired generosity. If you would like to make a donation to Beth El in honor or in memory, please click here. MISHEBERACH LIST If you would like to add a name to the Misheberach list, please email Rabbi Sitkin at zsitkin@bethelnr.org.
As a service to our members, Beth El includes in this section outside events that may be of interest to members of our community. Listing an event does not constitute endorsement of the event by Beth El.
SYNAGOGUE MEMBERS BACK AFGHAN REFUGEE FAMILY Beth El members have committed to supporting a refugee family from Afghanistan that arrived in New York on April 3rd. Beth El has partnered with Westchester Reform Temple to help this family, sharing the financial and volunteer commitment between the two congregations. The group needs volunteers to ensure the family’s smooth transition. To join this effort, please contact blairselber@gmail.com. Here are ways you can provide immediate assistance:
If you would like to provide a gently used or new item for the family’s new home, please provide your information here. We will be happy to pick up your items.
To sign up to tutor them in English, please provide your information here.
Rides are needed to take the family to English lessons and back three times a week. Classes are 10am-12pm, and sign-up is here.
DO A MITZVAH Beth El Synagogue and UJA-Federation are co-sponsoring the annual post-Pesach food drive on Monday, April 21-Wednesday, April 23 to benefit the food pantries (kosher and non-kosher) at HOPE Community Services, a UJA grantee. Bring your everyday non-perishable groceries and unopened leftover Pesach groceries (no matzah), along with cleaning supplies and toiletries in bags or boxes to the lobby. Beth El is joining with other local synagogues to fight hunger. For any questions, please reach out to the Beth El food drive chair Sue Meisler.
SIP YOUR WINE, SEND HEROES TO DINE, STRENGTHEN ISRAEL Want to say thank you to an exhausted reserve soldier and equally exhausted "single-parent" spouse? Send them on a date! Perfect for a Passover gift! Learn more on our Israel 360 page.
RUN 4 THEIR LIVES is an opportunity to create community while supporting the releease of the hostages in Gaza. You can read more information about our 'why' at http://Run4lives.org. The group meets weekly on Sunday mornings. Participants can walk or run as much as they would like. Learn more about the upcoming November Israel trip, as well as weekly announcements about meetup locations in the WhatsApp Group, which you can join here.
VOLUNTEER AT JCCMW Do you want to make a difference in our community? Every act of volunteering—big or small—makes an impact. Visit jccmw.org/volunteering for more information on how to get involved.
This Yom Ha’atzmaut arrives at a time of deep pain for the Jewish people. The war continues, hostages are still held in Gaza, and the number of lives that have been lost—soldiers and civilians alike—continues to rise. At times, it feels like our grief is too large to hold.
And yet, this moment calls us to come together—not only to mourn, but to remember what we are holding onto and why, and to celebrate the enduring miracle of Jewish independence in the Land of Israel.
On Wednesday, April 30th at 7:00pm, we will mark Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha'atzmaut as a community. We will begin with a commemoration for Yom Hazikaron, honoring those who have fallen defending the State of Israel and those who were taken by acts of terror. This year, heartbreakingly, we add far too many names to that list. This is an opportunity for us to carve out much needed space to mourn and remember. But then, as we do every year, we will turn the page. We will transition into Yom Ha'atzmaut, the celebration of Israel’s independence—something made possible only by the sacrifices of those we remember in the moments before.
With hearts full of emotion, and loud voices blended in harmony, we will recite Hallel with the help of a full band and special musical guests, led by Rabbi Schuck, Cantor Gaby and our Prayer Team, as we give thanks for the miracle of the Jewish state. After Ma'ariv, we will come together for delicious Israeli food and a raucous dance party led by DJ Chaim.
This year we choose to dance, not as an act of denial, but as an act of affirmation. And even though our grief remains, and our many losses are still present with us, we nonetheless seize opportunities for joy and the many blessings we experience that honor life.
We will dance for those who can’t. We will dance with relentless hope that the hostages will come home.
We Will Dance Again. Join us!
Wishing you a zissen Pesach— Rabbi David Schuck, Rabbi Viki Bedo, Rabbi Zach Sitkin, and Cantor Gaby Schvartz
Looking ahead to tomorrow's model sederim, we are reminding those of you who order hot lunch that there will beno pasta lunch. Also, regarding the snacks and lunches that will be sent in tomorrow, we ask that you please NOT include any chametz(i.e. crackers, pretzels, bread, bagels, chips, rice, rice cakes, cookies, granola bars, etc.). Rather, if you can please send in fruits, vegetables, cheese and yogurt instead, it would be greatly appreciated. The children will be enjoying the foods of the seder, including lots of matzah, hard boiled eggs, matzah ball soup, and charoset, and some will also have matzah pizza, so coupled with the foods you send in, all of the children should be well fed.
For our after care families, tomorrow will be a regular day of after care.
Our annual Tile Wall Fundraiser is back! It's time to sign up for your child to place their handprint on the walls of our school! Even if they have done it in the past, each age group has its own color, so they can do it year after year and see how much their hands have grown! Please see details on the flyer below and click here to register today.
School photo orders are due tomorrow, Wednesday, April 9th.By now you should have received your child's proof sheet from school photo day. Please be sure to submit your photo orders online by Wednesday, April 9.
Are you interested in joining the Beth El softball team? The Beth El Softball Team is looking to continue its winning ways. They are about to begin their 30th (or so) season in the Westchester Hebrew Softball League (WHSL), which is a very competitive fast-pitch league that includes various other temples and Jewish organizations in Westchester. The games all take place on Sunday mornings, starting in April, and run into the fall (depending on how far into the playoffs they get!!). If you would like to be a part of the team, please call or text Dan Portnoy at (914) 498-0537 or Marc Sininsky at 914-740-3165. Note: Anyone 18 or over may participate (and 15+ if the child of a member). Though playing time is not guaranteed, they have never not played a teammate who came to the game. Please see the flyer below for more details.
Please remember to scroll down so you don't miss out on anything happening in the Nursery School or the greater Beth El community.
We hope you all enjoy your Passover holiday. Wishing everyone a chag kasher v'sameach, Ronnie and Shery
Monday mornings at approximately 9:15AM, our Anaf and Gesher parents/caretakers/grandparents are invited to the Youth Lounge to celebrate Havdalah together.
Wonderful Parenting Workshops from Project SEED facilitated by Julie Schnur, our Project SEED Consultant
Mabel's Label's Fundraising We are continuing our fundraising through Mabel's Labels. With every order we will earn 20% commission for our school. If you are not familiar with Mabel's Labels, they offer personalized waterproof name labels for your children's items. This is the perfect time to get your orders in before the school year begins. Visit campaigns.mabelslabels.com and choose Beth El Nursery School (New Rochelle) from the organization list. Click here to order.
We are sorry to share that one of our Shoresh friends has tested positive for both strep throat and COVID. This child was last in school on Thursday, April 3, and tested positive for COVID on Friday. Common COVID symptoms include:
Fever or chills Muscle or body aches Cough Sore throat Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Nausea or vomiting Fatigue Diarrhea Headache Congestion or runny nose New loss of taste or smell
Common symptoms of strep throat include the following:
Throat pain that usually comes on quickly Painful swallowing Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus Tiny red spots on the area at the back of the roof of the mouth (soft or hard palate) Swollen, tender lymph nodes in your neck Fever Headache Rash Nausea If your child experiences any of the above symptoms, we would recommend a visit to the doctor to be tested for both strep and COVID.
Please let us know if any other cases develop and we wish a refuah shlema to our Shoresh friend.
We are sorry to share that one of our Anaf Bet friends has tested positive for both strep throat and COVID. This child was last in school on Friday, April 4 and tested positive for COVID on Sunday. Common COVID symptoms include:
Fever or chills Muscle or body aches Cough Sore throat Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Nausea or vomiting Fatigue Diarrhea Headache Congestion or runny nose New loss of taste or smell
Common symptoms of strep throat include the following:
Throat pain that usually comes on quickly Painful swallowing Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus Tiny red spots on the area at the back of the roof of the mouth (soft or hard palate) Swollen, tender lymph nodes in your neck Fever Headache Rash Nausea If your child experiences any of the above symptoms, we would recommend a visit to the doctor to be tested for both strep and COVID.
Please let us know if any other cases develop and we wish a refuah shlema to our Anaf Bet friend.
