There's just a few weeks left before the school year begins and we have so much to share with you! Please see important information below regarding our upcoming Communal Shabbat Dinner, our Parent Guide and much, much more...
The first day of school will be mildly abbreviated for all classes. In addition, our Shoresh (2s) classes will follow a slightly shortened schedule during their first few sessions to support a smooth and gentle transition into the school environment. This Staggered Scheduleis designed to help all children ease into their new routines with confidence. We will have coffee, tea and bagels available in the Youth Lounge for our Shoresh parents those first couple of days. For some children, the adjustment may take a little more time. If your child is having a particularly hard day, you may receive a call from their teacher asking you to pick them up earlier than planned. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we support each child’s individual needs during this important transition period.
Additionally we are sharing our 2025-2026 Parent Guide. This document contains essential information and will answer many of your questions regarding school procedures, supplies needed, snack/lunch prep, etc. This is a helpful document to reference throughout the school year. Please review it in its entirety and be sure to print out, sign and return the final page to your child's teachers.
Our Nursery School Communal Shabbat Dinner is on Friday, September 5. Details may be found below. Click here to register.
Communication with our parent body is essential. Parents often wonder: What is my child doing? How is the day going? Is he/she eating her snack/lunch? Is my child crying? These are just a few questions that could occupy your mind each day.
How can we help you navigate this aspect of school? We are excited to once again be using REMINI, our daily communication platform. REMINI is a secure application for the iPhone, Android, or web browser that helps both teachers and parents document a child’s school experience.
● It enables teachers to upload photos, messages and daily reflections in a friendly and convenient way. ● It provides busy parents an organized way of privately sharing memories with family and friends in a secure space. ● It is completely secure and private. ● It allows for you to receive timely messages from the Nursery School office.
Please look for an email invitation to join your child’s REMINI page prior to the first day of school, as well as additional information regarding this terrific platform. When you receive your REMINI invite, you will notice your child's class name. Please note that our classes have Hebrew names, according to the parts of a tree: Shoresh (Roots - 2 year olds), Gezah (Trunk - 3 year olds), Anaf (Branches - 4 year olds) and Gesher (Bridge - 5 year olds). We hope you will quickly adapt to this symbolic nomenclature which speaks to the growth of your children throughout their years at Beth El.
Before and After Carewill begin the week of September 15.REMINDER: If you indicated on the registration form that you were interested in this program and there has been a change, or you have yet to communicate your needs for this program, please let us know as soon as possible (i.e. Before and/or After Care and which days) so that we may plan accordingly.
Are you looking for name labels for your child? Please scroll all the way down for a wonderful resource.
Finally, in the event that you have not had a chance to fill/download/print them out yet, we have included the previously sent documentation once again below:
Teachers will be reaching out to you next week to schedule your home visits. If you have any questions, please call the Nursery School office at (914) 235-2700 x250. We look forward to greeting you and your child in September, and will be in touch again as the first day of school approaches. Please see below for detailed information of important upcoming events...
Enjoy the rest of your summer! Ronnie and Shery
Parent Orientation and Curriculum Presentation Thursday, September 5 at 7:15pm
Mark your calendars forthis important evening when you will hear essential information regarding your child's school year. Following the general meeting, parents will be dismissed to their children's respective classrooms for a presentation by the teachers. They will share an overview of the program and discuss specific learning experiences, goals and important logistics for your child's class. At least one parent must attend, so please be sure to mark your calendars for Thursday, Sept. 5 at 7:15pm for our Parent Orientation and Curriculum Presentation.
Beginning to Connect: Classroom Peek and Communal Shabbat Dinner Friday, September 6
Teachers will be reaching out to schedule a time slot between 4:00 PM and 4:45 PM for you to come into the school building for a Classroom Peek on Friday, September 6. You and your child will be able to visit the classroom, select a cubby and gain some familiarity with the environment. These visits will be brief and in small groups.
After the Classroom Peek, families have the option to join us for a fabulous communal building evening--a musical Shabbat experience followed by a delicious Shabbat dinner in the outdoor tent from 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM. Children will have the opportunity to play on the playground between the Classroom Peek and the Shabbat event. This night is always a big hit and we hope you'll join us. Details may be found on the flier below. Click here to register.
Sign Up for Toddler Time - Now Twice A Week!
Registration is now open for our Fall Session of Toddler Time, which begins on Tuesday, October 21. New this year - Toddler Time will now be twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays! Please see details on the flyer below and click here to register:
Mabel's Label's Fundraising
We are continuing our fundraising throughMabel'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.
The 2025-2026 School Calendar
Please click herefor a printable copy of our school calendar for the upcoming year. Dates and times are subject to change.Your text goes here!
The 2025-2026 Parent Guide
Pleaseclick herefor a printable copy of our Parent Guide.
Upcoming Events
Thursday, September 4 at 7:15 PM -- Nursery School Parent Orientation and Curriculum Presentation
Friday, September 5 - Beginning to Connect:Classroom Peek will take place between 4:00 PM and 4:45 PM, with each family being give a time slot; Communal Shabbat - 5:00pm - 6:30 PM.
Hi families, Sorry for two emails in one week! We hope you've taken the time to join the WhatsApp groups (and signed up for the Welcome Back BBQ), but we have important information to share in advance of Shabbat, as well as other exciting Teen opportunities for you.
In this email, you'll find:
Information about a fire drill on Saturday, August 23.
Teen Collab: meets on Thursdays from 6:30-8:30 pm. Register here.
The information from the last email about upcoming events, the WhatsApp groups, and the 1 minute survey.
Thanks, Alyssa Berman Director of Youth & Family Engagement
Fire Drill: Saturday, August 23
Dear Community,
In response to congregant interest and because it is best practice, we will be conducting a fire drill this Saturday, August 23rd at 11:45 am (services will end at that time).
To ensure everyone’s safety and participation, please make sure that your children are with you. After we say Hamotzi in the sanctuary, the fire alarm will go off and we will exit the building for a couple of minutes and we will return to enjoy Kiddush.
We would like everyone to gather in the sanctuary for the start of the drill but if you are elsewhere in the on the premises please follow these directions:
Downstairs — Exit through the Nursery School door and gather at the back of parking lot #2. Return when you receive the all clear signal.
Main floor (security desk level) — Exit through the front doors and walk across the street until the alarm is turned off.
Playground — Move towards the back of parking lot #2 and when you receive the all clear signal you can return to play and/or kiddush!
Thank you for helping us practice this important safety measure together.
SIncerely, The Safety Team
Teen Trip: Washington, D.C.
We are also happy to launch our application for our Teen Trip to Washington, D.C. in November! We are partnering with Generations Church, a local church in downtown New Rochelle, in which we will take ten 9th-12th graders from each community to explore our shared histories. We will spend two days/three nights visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, plus some other fun activities. Oh, did we also mention that it's free?! Thanks to a generous grant through the UJA Federation, we are able to offer this amazing opportunity to our communities at no cost.
Do you enjoy working with kids? Do you need service hours? Volunteer as a teacher's assistant in the Religious School!
Our K-7th Grade Religious School has a broad spectrum of opportunities for teens to get involved supporting teachers and kids in the classrooms. This opportunity is for teens in grades 9-12 and can take place on Thursdays, Sundays, or both. You do not have to make a full year committment! We offer monthly training on Sundays.
Teen Kickoff: Beth El’s Welcome Back BBQ – Sunday, September 7, 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.RSVP here!
Teens should all meet at Parking Lot #2 (the side lot near the pirate ship playground) at 5:00 p.m. We will have teen-only programming, a yummy barbecue, and activities to kick off the year! Rain location TBD.
This event is BYOF (Bring Your Own Friend). Every teen who brings a friend (member or non-member) will get something special. Please make sure every teen who is coming (including non-members) fills out the RSVP link above.
Teen Services:High Holidays at Beth El – Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
More detailed information will be coming soon about teen-specific High Holiday programming at Beth El. Please be on the lookout!
Sushi in the Sukkah – Sunday, October 12, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. RSVP here!
Come hang out in Rabbi Schuck’s Sukkah! We’ll make sushi, play some games, and Rabbi Schuck will lead a text study/discussion around his fire pit once it gets dark (with s’mores, of course!).
Information about upcoming social events (including football Sundays!), chesed (volunteering) trips, learning opportunities, Shabbat dinners, and more will be shared in a more detailed email soon!
WhatsApp Groups
As we kick off the year, I want to highlight that our main source of communication will be through WhatsApp, so please download it both on your (parent/caregiver) phones as well as your teens’ phones (if you are comfortable with them communicating over this platform). We will have two WhatsApp groups – one for parents/caregivers and one for the teens – both of which will be managed by me, and both of which will have the same announcements and information. Please remind your teens of appropriate online behavior, and that inappropriate messages or language in the chat will not be tolerated.
Please join your respective WhatsApp Group using the following QR Codes:
Hi families, I hope you’ve had a wonderful summer! I’m writing to (re)introduce myself to many of you – I am Lisa Mendler, and I will be the Teen Engagement Coordinator at Beth El Synagogue Center this year!
In the email below, you’ll find 3 important things:
Information about upcoming teen events, with links to RSVP.
QR codes to join the teen WhatsApp group and the parent WhatsApp group.
A Google Formfor your teen to fill out (should only take them 1 minute!) to collect demographic and contact information.
A little bit about me… I’m both a social worker and teacher by training, and during the day, I serve as the 8th Grade Dean at The Leffell School, a Jewish day school in Hartsdale, NY. At Leffell, I’m a point person, counselor, mentor, “mom,” and confidant to our students—and I absolutely love it (after all, who wouldn’t want to spend their day hanging out with teenagers??).
I live in New Rochelle with my husband, Rabbi Zach Sitkin, and our two children, Avi (8), a rising third grader, and Noam (5), a rising kindergartener—both of whom attend The Leffell Lower School. Our household is full of noise, die-hard Phillies fans, and passionate sports enthusiasts.
When I’m not at school (or at Beth El!), you’ll likely find me cooking, watching reality TV, playing mahjongg, traveling to Israel, reading, going to a Broadway show, riding my Peloton, happily wandering the aisles of Costco, or hanging out with my family:
This letter is chock-full of information, so please read carefully.
Teen Kickoff: Beth El’s Welcome Back BBQ – Sunday, September 7, 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.RSVP here!
Teens should all meet at Parking Lot #2 (the side lot near the pirate ship playground) at 5:00 p.m. We will have teen-only programming, a yummy barbecue, and activities to kick off the year! Rain location TBD.
This event is BYOF (Bring Your Own Friend). Every teen who brings a friend (member or non-member) will get something special. Please make sure every teen who is coming (including non-members) fills out the RSVP link above.
Teen Services:High Holidays at Beth El – Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
More detailed information will be coming soon about teen-specific High Holiday programming at Beth El. Please be on the lookout!
Sushi in the Sukkah – Sunday, October 12, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. RSVP here!
Come hang out in Rabbi Schuck’s Sukkah! We’ll make sushi, play some games, and Rabbi Schuck will lead a text study/discussion around his fire pit once it gets dark (with s’mores, of course!).
Information about upcoming social events (including football Sundays!), chesed (volunteering) trips, learning opportunities, Shabbat dinners, and more will be shared in a more detailed email soon!
WhatsApp
As we kick off the year, I want to highlight that our main source of communication will be through WhatsApp, so please download it both on your (parent/caregiver) phones as well as your teens’ phones (if you are comfortable with them communicating over this platform). We will have two WhatsApp groups – one for parents/caregivers and one for the teens – both of which will be managed by me, and both of which will have the same announcements and information. Please remind your teens of appropriate online behavior, and that inappropriate messages or language in the chat will not be tolerated.
Please join your respective WhatsApp Group using the following QR Codes:
Please fill out the linked Google Form so we can collect some demographic information about your teen.
Thank You!
I consider it an absolute privilege to be a part of your child’s journey – laughing with them, listening to them, planning programs with them, and being a presence for them as they navigate this time of life, in all of its ups, downs, and complexities. Thank you for letting me be a part of it! Looking forward to the year ahead.
For event accessibility needs, please be in touch so we can address them.
Friday, August 15th 6:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat 7:36pm Candle Lighting
Saturday, August 16th Parashat Eikev 9:00am Shabbat Morning Services 10:30am Mini Minyan & Tot Shabbat This week's kiddush is sponsored by Revekka & Alexander Babayev in honor of the bar mitzvah of their son, Matthew, and by Erica and Larry Epstein in honor of their 40th wedding anniversary. 12:45pm Daf Shevui 7:30pm Mincha/Maariv 8:35pm Havdalah
Practice Beth El's Safety Procedure Saturday, August 23rd at 11:45am Many of you have shared that you would like a chance to practice our safety procedure—just like a school fire drill. On Saturday, August 23, 2025, we will end services at 11:45am for a short drill. We will walk through the drill together in a calm, organized way, and then head to kiddush.
Join Rabbi David Schuck for An Evening of Reflection and Conversation This Sunday, August 17th at 7:00pm Rabbi Schuck will speak about Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas and the many layers of pain, fear, and complexity it continues to generate. This will be followed by Q&A and small group discussions.
The first batch of High Holiday tickets were mailed today! If you do not receive your tickets next week, it could be because a) you have not registered for High Holiday tickets yet, or b) you have not paid 50% of your dues.
and Getting Ready for the Holidays! Do you have children, grandchildren, nieces, or nephews in college? We are renewing our effort to send meaningful packages connected with Jewish holidays that connect your college kid with home and Beth El. For $72 per college student, sign up to send greetings from the clergy and a meaningful package to your family away at college for Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah and Purim/Pesach.
Join the Chesed Committee! You can help provide kosher food for our community in their times of need. In the past, the committee has run special seders, provided shiva meals for those in need, and also those whose health was failing.
Check out the Beth El Baum Judaica Shop for New Items Contact Carole at or Ellen to make an appointment. Cash or check.
Mazal tov to Revekka & Alexander Babayev on the bar mitzvah of their son, Matthew.
Mazal tov to Erica & Larry Epstein on their 40th wedding anniversary.
Mazal tov to Elissa Baum on the birth of her great granddaughter, Flora Low born on August 8th. Mazal tov also to parents Sabrina Baum Low & Charlie Low, and grandparents Simeon & Duffie Baum and Amanda & Peter Low.
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.
Volunteers Needed at HOPE Community Kitchen Volunteers are needed to help sort clothing and set up for our Back to School Essentials Event. Please help us prepare for this important event. Please come to our office at 50 Washington Avenue, New Rochelle. Our parking lot is entered via Union Ave - please ring the bell outside the double gray doors next to the mailboxes (to your left as you face Washington Ave). Please sign up on our Volunteer Portal. Thank you for volunteering at Hope!
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 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.
We are excited to share that beginning this September, Beth El will be home to a new early childhood program. The JCC of Westchester will rent space in our building to operate Toward Tomorrow, a preschool that serves children ages 2.9 to 5 who benefit from additional support in communication, motor skills, and social development. The Toward Tomorrow Program has been in existence since 1991, it serves over 160 preschoolers and has three sites, and Beth El is now one of those sites!
Toward Tomorrow is widely respected for its warm, child-centered approach and its commitment to individualized learning. While this program will operate independently from Beth El Nursery School, its presence here reflects our shared belief in creating welcoming, supportive spaces where every child can thrive.
The program will be located in the Religious School wing, with staff and students using a separate side entrance (the door closest to Northfield Avenue) and their own security personnel. We do not anticipate any impact to the Nursery School, Religious School, or synagogue's daily operations and programming.
The partnership with the JCC was carefully considered by synagogue leadership and aligns with our broader commitment to make thoughtful use of our building while upholding the integrity and excellence of our Nursery School. With clear coordination to ensure smooth day-to-day functioning, we are confident this new relationship will be mutually beneficial.
Hosting Toward Tomorrow at Beth El gives us the opportunity to model what it means to be a welcoming, inclusive, and mission-aligned community. We will share more updates as September approaches. In the meantime, please feel free to reach out with any questions.
I write to invite you to join us for a powerful evening of community, music, and deep prayer at our upcoming Selichot service on Saturday, September 13, starting at 8:15pm. This year, we have a special guest—musical and prayer leader Chana Raskin, who grew up in the Hasidic section of Crown Heights, Brooklyn, as part of the Chabad-Lubavitch community. I encourage you to listen to Chana’s new ground-breaking album of women singing Chasidic nigunim, Kapelya.
In a reflection about her roots and musical output, Chana writes,
From a young age, I was deeply moved by and connected to the songs—nigunim, as we called them—and musical traditions of my community. I imbibed these melodies, I absorbed them, I integrated them into the bones of my being. I breathed them, I dreamed them, I lived them out in my own way. And they, in turn, offered me solace, connection, and a sense of Home as I charted my own path.
We are excited to share that beginning this September, Beth El will be home to a new early childhood program. The JCC of Westchester will rent space in our building to operate Toward Tomorrow, a preschool that serves children ages 2.9 to 5 who benefit from additional support in communication, motor skills, and social development. The Toward Tomorrow Program has been in existence since 1991, it serves over 160 preschoolers and has three sites, and Beth El is now one of those sites!
Toward Tomorrow is a well-regarded program with a strong reputation for providing thoughtful, individualized support to young learners. Their approach is warm, child-centered, and rooted in developmental best practices. While this program will run independently from Beth El Nursery School, the presence of another high-quality early childhood program in our building reflects our shared belief in the importance of creating welcoming, supportive spaces for children and families.
We want to reassure you that while Toward Tomorrow will be housed in our building, our Nursery School program remains unchanged and continues to thrive. We do not anticipate any disruption to our day-to-day routines. For the most part, the two programs will run separately while coexisting side-by-side.
This new partnership was carefully considered by synagogue leadership and aligns with our broader commitment to make thoughtful use of our building while upholding the integrity and excellence of our Nursery School. With clear coordination to ensure smooth day-to-day functioning we are confident this new relationship will be mutually beneficial.
Here are some key details:
Classroom Use: Toward Tomorrow will occupy 11 classrooms in the Religious School wing, with a total of approximately 70 students attending classes. No Nursery School classrooms will be used.
Drop-Off and Pick-Up: Toward Tomorrow students will arrive by bus at 8:25am and will dismiss at 2:30pm. They will enter the building through the side entrance closest to Northfield Avenue. We do not expect that the Nursery School arrival and dismissal will be impacted by the Toward Tomorrow program, but we do understand that as the year gets underway, we may need to work out some kinks. We ask you for your patience as we work through these early days.
Play Space: A dedicated outdoor play area is being created for Toward Tomorrow at the Northfield entrance. The Nursery School playgrounds will remain solely for Beth El Nursery School children.
Security: Toward Tomorrow staff and students will have their own security personnel on site during school hours.
Offering Toward Tomorrow a home at Beth El is an opportunity to model what it means to be a welcoming, inclusive, and mission-aligned community. We are proud to offer space to a program that helps young children learn and grow in a supportive environment, just as we do in our Nursery School.
We will keep you updated as we get closer to the start of the school year. In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Wish your Beth El Friends a Shanah Tovah! Complete a simple form, and for a small contribution, your name will be added to the list of names wishing everyone in our community a happy, healthy, and sweet New Year!
The form must be completed by Friday, September 5th.
For event accessibility needs, please be in touch so we can address them.
Friday, August 8th 6:30pm Kabbalat Shabbat 7:45pm Candle Lighting
Saturday, August 9th Parashat Vaetchanan (Dvar Torah by Andrea Fleishaker) 9:00am Shabbat Morning Services 10:30am Mini Minyan & Tot Shabbat This week's kiddush is sponsored by Barbara and David Horowitz in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary. 12:45pm Daf Shevui 7:40pm Mincha/Maariv 8:44pm Havdalah
Join Rabbi David Schuck for An Evening of Reflection and Conversation Sunday, August 17th at 7:00pm Rabbi Schuck will speak about Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas and the many layers of pain, fear, and complexity it continues to generate. This will be followed by Q&A and small group discussions.
Join the Chesed Committee! You can help provide kosher food for our community in their times of need. In the past, the committee has run special seders, provided shiva meals for those in need, and also those whose health was failing.
Mazal tov to Barbara & David Horowitz on their 50th wedding anniversary.
Mazal tov to all of our Beth El members and their families who graduated in the class of 2025.
Condolences to Michael (Joyce) Wechsler on the loss of his brother, Robert Wechsler z"l.
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.
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 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.
