Thank you to all who attended YONINA at Beth El last night for Yom Hazikaron/ Yom Ha’atzmaut. Powerful, emotional and uplifting. Watch a highlights reel below!
Upcoming Beth El Events
Join the Annual Meeting by Zoom here. Your phones will be needed to vote on constitutional amendments.
Tuesday, May 14th 7:50pm Mincha/Maariv Wednesday, May 15th 7:00am Shacharit 6:30pm Youth Events Teen Lounge Night 7:00pm Annual Meeting and Dinner (Register Here) 7:50pm Mincha/Maariv Thursday, May 16th 7:00am Shacharit 1:30pm Parashat Hashavua (Zoom) 6:30pm Teen Collab Learning (offsite) 7:50pm Mincha/Maariv
Friday, May 17th 7:00am Shacharit 6:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat 7:51pm Candle Lighting Saturday, May 18th 9:00am Shabbat Morning Services 10:30am Mini Minyan 10:30am Tot Shabbat 12:45pm Daf Shevui 7:50pm Mincha/Maariv 8:52pm Havdalah 9:00pm Chaverim Backyard Bash offsite (Register Here)
Sunday, May 19th 8:15am Shacharit 6:30pm Teens Elections and BBQ 8:00pm Keruv Committee Meeting (Zoom) 8:00pm Mincha/Maariv Monday, May 20th 7:00pm Shacharit 9:30am Bagels And Books (In person and viaZoom) 11:00am SMART ZOOM (Zoom) 11:00am Schmooze About the News (Den) 8:00pm Mincha/Maariv
Tuesday, May 21st 7:00am Shacharit 10:00am Silver Sneakers for Seniors (Register Here) 1:00pm Mah Jongg 7:00pm Board Meeting 7:30PM OBM Scholar Series with light dinner (Register Here) 8:00pm Mincha/Maariv
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.
NOVA FESTIVAL DISPLAY IN NEW YORK The Nova Music Festival Exhibition is an in-depth remembrance of the brutal October 7th attack. Bringing the events of October 7th and the “Tribe of Nova” festival in southern Israel to New York City. The installation sets out to recreate an event dedicated to peace and love that was brutally cut short by Hamas’s attack on Israel from Gaza on that fateful day. This groundbreaking installation will be open to the public through May 23rd. To learn more, click here.
ISRAEL CONNECTION Tackling Antisemitism in Today’s College Environment –Danny Schultz interviews Israeli Professor at Columbia Business School, Shai Davidai. Ever since October 7, Shai has been devoting his time and energy to battle support for terrorism and the rise in antisemitism at Columbia University and colleges all across the country. Listen in onWednesday, May 15 at noon over Zoom. Register here.
HARTMAN SCHOLARS OFFICE HOURS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS An invitation for college students to speak with top Harman scholars. Register Hereto speak with faculty who will answer your questions and be in conversation with you about the issues emerging on campus right now. May 15 3:00-3:45 pm with Yehuda Kurtzer; May 16 12:00-12:45 pm with Masua Sagiv; May 22 2:30-3:15 pm with Tal Becker.
BLOOD DRIVE There continues to be a blood shortage. Please help save lives by registering to donate blood at our joint Blood Drive with Temple Israel of New Rochelle. Sunday May 19th - 9:00am - 1:30pm at Temple Israel of New Rochelle (1000 Pinebrook Boulevard). Register at bethelnr.org/blooddrive.
As the year winds down, we hope to see you at Beth El this month, with some programs that we've been waiting for all year.
Plus, we want to hear from you as we begin to think about the next school year!We're looking for your input and your leadership in the planning and, with that in mind, we ask you to fill outthis survey by May 19 and on Sunday, May 19 at 6:30 pm, join us at Beth El for an end of the year BBQ and Teen Town Hall to celebrate the year and plan for the future. Two teens who fill out the survey will win a raffle prize!
CHECK OUT BELOW FOR DETAILS ABOUT OUR BETH EL PROGRAMS:
*Please note: there will be no lounge night this month because of these other important programs.
Please also check out these special opportunities from the Shalom Hartman Institute that provide knowledge and support to our Teens during this historic and difficult time for Israel and Jews around the world:
More information on the flyers below, or you can click the links above to register. Questions? Contact Bekkah at teens@bethelnr.org.
* make sure to add .html to the end of the event registration!
We hope to see you this month as we wrap up the year together.
We know these are challenging times, so please don't hesitate to reach out if you would like to talk or see any resources around Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha'atzmaut.
See you soon,
The Teen Leadership Board with Bekkah, Alyssa, and Rabbi Zisser
Commemorate Yom Hazikaron and Celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut with the Beth El Community OPEN TO ALL
3-PART VIRTUAL SERIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS All sessions 8:00-9:00 pm ET Join Hartman faculty for a 3-part series that will provide clear and concise explanations of this difficult moment. No matter what your knowledge level or background, this series is for you!
Weds, May 15 | How Did We Get Here? A brief history of Israel and the conflict with Palestinians, with Sara Labaton, Hartman Director of Teaching and Learning.
Mon, May 20 | Where Are We Right Now? A survey of the current crisis including the internal visions within Israeli society, with Masua Sagiv, Hartman Scholar in Residence.
Weds, May 29 | Where Might We Go? A look ahead as to the possible futures for Israel and Palestine, with Michael Koplow, Hartman Senior Research Fellow and Chief Policy Officer, Israel Policy Forum.
VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE: TUESDAY, MAY 21 AT 8:00 PM If you are currently in 9th-11th grade, join the virtual open house to learn more about our outstanding Teen Fellowship from our faculty, staff, and current Fellows.
Jewish teens have big questions, face challenging dilemmas, and are searching for a place to explore new ideas.
The Hartman Teen Fellowship is an extraordinary opportunity for North American students in grades 10-12 to cultivate their Jewish identities, values, and relationship to Israel. Our pluralistic community is a place where thoughtful, motivated Jewish teens can bring their big ideas, hear new perspectives, and develop new insights. Applications now open for 2024-2025.
There is still time for a RootOne Voucher to go to Israel this Summer! Available for Teens entering 10th-12th Grade RootOne resources can be found at rootone.org/resources.
Are you going to Israel or Camp Ramah this summer? LET US KNOW! Email Alyssa at aberman@bethelnr.org!
Beth El Synagogue Center 1324 North Avenue New Rochelle, NY 10804
Celebrating our 50 + Years Members BE Mitzvah Shabbat
9:00am Shabbat Morning Services (Guest Speaker Gila Rockman) 10:30am Mini Minyan 10:30am Tot Shabbat The kiddush is sponsored by Beth Siegel in honor of the 12th anniversary of Brent Siegel's Bar Mitzvah, and also by Beth El Synagogue Center in honor of our members of 50 years + for their dedication to the Beth El Synagogue community. 12:30pm Prayer Team (Crystal) 12:45pm Daf Shevui 7:50pm Mincha/Maariv 8:45pm Havdalah
Upcoming Beth El Events
6:30 Yom Hazikaron Tekes followed by a special Hallel service and Yonina's performance at 7:45pm. $25 at the door for adults; $15 at the door for kids.
Mazal Tov to Brent Siegel celebrating his 12th anniversary of his bar mitzvah.
Mazal tov to our members of 50+ years, who are being honored with a special kiddush on shabbat this week for their dedication to the Beth El Synagogue community.
Mazal tov to Esther Winik on the Bar Mitzvah of her grandson, Max Winik on May 4. Mazal tov also to Max's parents, Adam Winik and Jen Joseph.
Mazal tov to Barbara and Arthur Margolin on the engagement of their daughter, Carolyn Leigh Margolin to Mark Estes.
Mazal tov to Marsha and Arthur Goldstein on the birth of their grandson, Ari Jack Behling, born on April 27, 2024. Mazal tov also to Parents, Michelle (Goldstein) Behling and Ethan Behling and to Ari's other grandparents, Lori and John Behling.
Mazal tov to Andrea and Lee Stein on the birth of their daughter, Madeline, and mazal tov also to big brother, Nat.
Mazal tov to Lois Kohn-Claar, who is being honored at the UJA Westchester Celebration 2024 for her involvement and work with the Neshamot Impact Philanthropy Fund.
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.
NOVA FESTIVAL DISPLAY IN NEW YORK The Nova Music Festival Exhibition is an in-depth remembrance of the brutal October 7th attack. Bringing the events of October 7th and the “Tribe of Nova” festival in southern Israel to New York City. The installation sets out to recreate an event dedicated to peace and love that was brutally cut short by Hamas’s attack on Israel from Gaza on that fateful day. This groundbreaking installation will be open to the public through May 23rd. To learn more, click here.
Performances by Beth El's Cantor Gaby Schvartz and Jack Klebanow!
ISRAEL CONNECTION Tackling Antisemitism in Today’s College Environment –Danny Schultz interviews Israeli Professor at Columbia Business School, Shai Davidai. Davidai moved to the United States in 2010 to pursue a PhD in Social Psychology from Cornell University and has worked at Princeton University and The New School for Social Research. Ever since October 7, Shai has been devoting his time and energy to battle support for terrorism and the rise in antisemitism at Columbia University and colleges all across the country. Listen in onWednesday, May 15 at noon over Zoom. Register here.
ISRAEL CONNECTION Tackling Antisemitism in Today’s College Environment –Danny Schultz interviews Israeli Professor at Columbia Business School, Shai Davidai. Davidai moved to the United States in 2010 to pursue a PhD in Social Psychology from Cornell University and has worked at Princeton University and The New School for Social Research. Ever since October 7, Shai has been devoting his time and energy to battle support for terrorism and the rise in antisemitism at Columbia University and colleges all across the country. Listen in onWednesday, May 15 at noon over Zoom. Register here.
COMMUNITY YOM HA'ATZMAUT CELEBRATION Join Beth El as we table a fun mosaic activity alongside our community partners in Westchester. May 19th 3:00-5:00pm. Register for more details here.
BLOOD DRIVE There continues to be a blood shortage. Please help save lives by registering to donate blood at our joint Blood Drive with Temple Israel of New Rochelle. Sunday May 19th - 9:00am - 1:30pm at Temple Israel of New Rochelle (1000 Pinebrook Boulevard). Register at bethelnr.org/blooddrive.
Beth El Spring Film Festival Dinner-Theatre Series has been postponed to 2025. We are sorry for the inconveniece. Check out other programs at Beth El at bethelnr.org.
Beth El Synagogue Center 1324 North Avenue New Rochelle, NY 10804
Spring is here as we happily welcome the warmer weather. Our teachers are feeling truly appreciated as we have all enjoyed a beautiful and most thoughtful Teacher Appreciation Week. We thank you all for your generous gifts and were truly touched by the Tribute video that you and your children worked so hard to create! Please click here to see the video in its entirety.
With Israel in our hearts, we look ahead to the upcoming week as the synagougue readies itself to remember those who have fallen as well as celebrate Israel's 76th birthday. Please see below information relating to this as well as other notable items:
1. If you or your family have traveled to Israel in the past, please email us a photo from you visit to nursery@bethelnr.org.
2. Our second annual Field Day will be on Sunday, May 19 at 1PM. Nursery School families are invited for a fun afternoon of relay races, yummy snacks and shmoozing on Gan Teva, the lower field. Cost is $25 per family. Register here.
3. We will be offering Mini Camp for the weeks between the end of school and the beginning of Beth El Day Camp. Please see program details on the flyer below. We will be sending home the registration flyer (2-sided) with your child tomorrow. Please fill it out and return the form with payment to your child's teacher. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions.
4. Special Visitors Day for the Gezah classes will be on Friday, May 17, and the Anaf classes will have Special Visitors Day on Monday, May 20. Further details should be provided by your child's teachers.
5. Singing in Their Memory: Westchester's Yom Hazikaron Ceremony in memory of Israel's fallen soldiers and victims of terror, with a special nonoring of the October 7th victims. Sunday, May 12, 7:30-9PM. Location in Central Westchester to be shared upon registration. Register here.
6. Dedication of Westchester's October 7th Memorial on Monday, May 13th, 12-1PM. Register here.
7. Celebrate Israel's Independence Day, Yom Ha'atzmaut at Beth El, with a concert featuring Yonina on Monday, May 13 at 6:30PM. Come at 6PM and enjoy Israeli food! Register here.
8. We are happy to announce that we are now 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 camp and the new school year. Visit campaigns.mabelslabels.com and choose Beth El Nursery School (New Rochelle) from the organization list. Click here to order.
Enjoy the beautiful day, Ronnie and Shery
Highlights:
Nursery School Registration for the '24-'25 School Year continues: Classes are filling up. Register here.
Anaf parents are invited to celebrate Havdallah on Monday mornings in the Youth Lounge beginning at 9AM.
Singing in Their Memory: Westchester's Yom Hazikaron Ceremony Sunday, May 12, 7:30-9PM. Register here.
Dedication of Westchester's October 7th Memorial on Monday, May 13th, 12-1PM. Register here.
Celebrate Israel's Independence Day, Yom Ha'atzmaut at Beth El on Monday, May 13 at 6:30PM. Register here .
Sunday, May 19 at 1PM: Our second annualField Day!Register here.
Thank you again for all of your support regarding the bussing changes. Thanks to your advocacy (and I'm sure that of many others), the schedule remains the same for next year!
It's unbelievable to realize this, but we have four sessions left of Religious School! In this time, we have special events including...
Thursday, May 9: Mikvah Field Trip for Middle School
Sunday, May 12: Israeli dancing with Camp Ramah
Thursday, May 16: Final Thursday!
Saturday, May 18: Chaverim Backyard Bash at 8 pm. Register here.
Sunday, May 19: Final Sunday (no Moadon)! Please join us for our end-of-year programming. You are invited to the classes at 10:45 am, and then to Kehillah at 11 am! This program is a celebration for the end of the year, including our Gesher graduation.
Sunday, June 9: Taste of Religious School for prospective families! We have both a sample Gan/K and Kitah Gimel/3rd class. Tell your friends! RSVP to Alyssa.
As a reminder, if your current K-4th grader will be taking the bus from NR schools to Beth El on Thursdays in 2024-2025,PLEASE FILL OUT THIS FORM ASAP. Please email it to transportation@nredlearn.org and please copy me. Feel free to mention that despite the deadline being April 1, you never recieved this form from the schools.
Note: We have not finalized the start of our school year for 2024-2025 yet, but I wrote September 12 just in case. We may be starting later!!!!!!
Thanks, Alyssa
Coming Up at Beth El
Beth El Synagogue Center 1324 North Avenue New Rochelle, NY 10804
Show gratitude for Beth El Synagogue Center community and your family's or company's place in it. The funds raised help Beth El Synagogue Center balance its budget, while providing programming and care for all generations of members—from ages 0 to 100+.
Get Your Tickets
Purchase tickets now at the early bird pricing of $218 per person (deadline extended through May 17). We'll honor Lisa and Rob Patchen and President's Ne'emanim Award Recipients Lisa and Larry Mandelker for their leadership of our community. Dine and schmooze the night away with friends in the Beth El community.
Beth El Synagogue Center 1324 North Avenue New Rochelle, NY 10804
6:30 Yom Hazikaron Tekes followed by a special Hallel service and Yonina's performance at 7:45pm. $25 at the door for adults; $15 at the door for kids.
Wednesday, May 8th 7:00am Shacharit 6:30pm Teen Monthly Lounge Night 7:50pm Mincha/Maariv
Thursday, May 9th 7:00am Shacharit 9:30am-12:00pm The Health for Life Program (HELP) (Board Room) 1:30pm Parashat Hashavua Zoom (Join Online Here) 6:30pm Teen Collab Learning (offsite) 7:00pm-8:00pm Prayer Team (Crystal) 7:00pm Spring Film Festival Series (Register Here) 7:50pm Mincha/Maariv
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.
NOVA FESTIVAL DISPLAY IN NEW YORK The Nova Music Festival Exhibition is an in-depth remembrance of the brutal October 7th attack. Bringing the events of October 7th and the “Tribe of Nova” festival in southern Israel to New York City. The installation sets out to recreate an event dedicated to peace and love that was brutally cut short by Hamas’s attack on Israel from Gaza on that fateful day. This groundbreaking installation will be open to the public through May 23rd. To learn more, click here.
ISRAEL CONNECTION Tackling Antisemitism in Today’s College Environment –Danny Schultz interviews Israeli Professor at Columbia Business School, Shai Davidai. Davidai moved to the United States in 2010 to pursue a PhD in Social Psychology from Cornell University and has worked at Princeton University and The New School for Social Research. Ever since October 7, Shai has been devoting his time and energy to battle support for terrorism and the rise in antisemitism at Columbia University and colleges all across the country. Listen in onWednesday, May 15 at noon over Zoom. Register here.
ISRAEL CONNECTION Tackling Antisemitism in Today’s College Environment –Danny Schultz interviews Israeli Professor at Columbia Business School, Shai Davidai. Davidai moved to the United States in 2010 to pursue a PhD in Social Psychology from Cornell University and has worked at Princeton University and The New School for Social Research. Ever since October 7, Shai has been devoting his time and energy to battle support for terrorism and the rise in antisemitism at Columbia University and colleges all across the country. Listen in onWednesday, May 15 at noon over Zoom. Register here.
COMMUNITY YOM HA'ATZMAUT CELEBRATION Join Beth El as we table a fun mosaic activity alongside our community partners in Westchester. May 19th 3:00-5:00pm. Register for more details here.
BLOOD DRIVE There continues to be a blood shortage. Please help save lives by registering to donate blood at our joint Blood Drive with Temple Israel of New Rochelle. Sunday May 19th - 9:00am - 1:30pm at Temple Israel of New Rochelle (1000 Pinebrook Boulevard). Register at bethelnr.org/blooddrive.
Please join us Monday, May 13 at 6:30pm, or come a little early and have Israeli falafel dinner with us at 6pm!Sign up now! We will celebrate Israel Independence Day as a community, standing together, hearts as one.
The evening will be special! We will sing, we will pray, we will cry, we will dance, we will laugh, and we will share a special concert from Yoni and Nina Tokayer, the wonderful Israeli musical duo known as YONINA.
Co-sponsors of this event include many other area synagogues and Jewish organizations. Please don’t miss this!
Am Yisrael Chai!
Jack Jack Klebanow Music Director Shoresh Halev Center for Jewish Music at Beth El
Beth El Synagogue Center 1324 North Avenue New Rochelle, NY 10804
New Rochelle School District is (apparently) implenting MAJOR scheduling and bussing changes that will affect you and Beth El for 2024-2025.
I saw this posted on Facebook today—you can see the post here(posted by Jenn Scherz, Kitah Alef mom) and another one herethat describe the schedule changes and Superintendent Reynold's responses.
New Rochelle has decided to adjust the start and end times of the elementary schools for 2024-2025 to allow the busses to handle elementary school transportation for two schools instead of one. Based on an email sent by Superintendent Reynolds, some schools will begin 25-30 minutes earlier and end about 30 minutes later, whereas other schools will begin 15-20 minutes later and end 15-20 minutes later. In addition to how this affects your families' childcare plans, this could result in children arriving at Beth El on Thursdays both as early as as early as 3:10 pm, or as late as after 4 pm. This would require us to change (or at least adjust) our Thursday Religious School programming, possibly at an increased expense to you, to handle this change in timing for potential early and late arrivals.
Superintendent Reynolds seems to be taking the stance that this plan is finalized and that parents/residents have no input in this decision, but people are organizing to attend the New Rochelle School District's board meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, May 7, at the Remington Boys & Girls Club (116 Guion Place). The "Regular Meeting" begins at 6 pm, and the "Public Hearing on the 2024-2025 Proposed School Budget" begins at 7 pm.
People are also emailing the Superintendent and the School Board members to voice their concerns. You can find the email addresses for the School Board members here. You can email Superintendent Corey Reynolds here.
Thanks, and I hope to see you at the meeting tomorrow!
