Date change due to inclement weather! New Date: This Thursday, February 15th at 7:30 p.m Join us as our very own, Dr. Marvin Chinitz discusses his acclaimed Chinitz Zion Haggadah. This haggadah modernizes Pesach by integrating traditional text with insights on modern Israel , bringing in current events, and how to combat antisemitism.
Register Here. This program is sponsored by Dr. Marvin and Shari Chinitz in memory of Shari's mother יהודית ברינדל בת רחל ויצחק ז''ל and in honor of presenting The Chinitz Zion Haggadah.
Please join us as we warmly welcome Rabbi Sirner and Lenore back to Beth El for this Shabbat (February 16 and February 17). Rabbi Sirner will be leading services starting with Kabbalat Shabbat at 5:20 pm in the Den.
Saturday, March 9, 8:00 pm Join us for "SHUL SHENANIGANS" – an uproarious variety show featuring hilarious song parodies about Beth El, performed by our talented members and staff. Don't miss out on the laughter and camaraderie!
This Thursday, February 15th, 1:30 pm Tracy Wright, who has been the Director of Eastchester Library since 2007, will be sharing her expertise on Jewish authors. She will be reviewing new authors and their books, as well as discussing established authors.
Register Here. This program is sponsored by Beth El Sisterhood and Hadassah Westchester.
Join us on Shabbat, February 24th, after kiddush to hear from a panel of our members who recently returned from the Beth El Volunteer Mission to Israel. Israel 360 organized a group of 20 people, including Rabbi Schuck, to travel to Israel and help Israelis on the ground at this critical time in whatever ways were needed. They'll report on their volunteer efforts and interactions with those directly impacted by October 7th, and reflect on their meaningful experience, followed by Q&A.
Saturday, February 24, 7:30 pm Join us for a special evening of music and song, as we gather in a beautiful, casual, intimate setting. A Melaveh Malkah or "escorting the Shabbat bride," is a Saturday night of music and community, and of course, a nosh too!
This will be a wonderful evening at the home of Lynn Buckvar-Keltz and Marty Keltz. Address will be provided once you RSVP and may also be found in our membership directory.
Thursday, February 29, 7:00 pm "Positive change can happen at any time. Let’s start this journey together.”
Dr. Ryger's practice is focused on helping people of all ages develop strategies to thrive at all stages of their personal and professional lives.
Register Here. Dr. Ryger earned her Master of Science, Master of Philosophy, and Doctorate from Columbia University. She consults, is a featured keynote, panels, and podcasts speaker, and conducts workshops with many leading corporations and educational institutions worldwide.
The 2024 Susan Morris Memorial Shiva Fundraiser Begins!
$28 minimum contribution Checks to be made out to Torah Fund
D‘var Torah: Rabbi Jessica Fisher
This event is sponsored by Beth El Sisterhood & Women's League for Conservative Judaism. If you cannot attend, please consider making a donation herein honor of Sheila.
Tuesdays: 3/12, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9 at 7:30 pm In Person & on Zoom A fundamental reality of being human is learning to grapple with our own mortality. No one escapes this world without encountering the death of friends and loved ones, nor are we immune from sickness. In this class we will explore rabbinic teachings that enrich the ways we think about the process of death and dying, as well as the rituals we've inherited that guide us through some of the most difficult moments in our lives.
Get Your Mahj-on(gg) on with us! Join in the fun with an intergenerational group for a Mah-Jongg Jamboree. Meet new friends, enjoy mahjitas and great snacks while we play and learn Mah-Jongg together.
All Profits go to Beth El Sisterhood then to Beth El Note: We can only accept checks and cash!
*Any day not listed has no scheduled programming (besides minyan). **Unless otherwise indicated, all programs are in person only.
Tuesday, February 13th
CANCELLED - 10:00 am – Silver Sneakers for Seniors CANCELLED - 1:00 pm – Mah Jongg
CANCELLED - 7:30 pm – Open Beit Midrash Scholar Series: The Chinitz Zion Haggadah with Dr. Marvin Chinitz.
Wednesday, February 14th 7:30 pm – Board of Trustees Meeting
Thursday, February 15th 10:00 am – Mainstream Series: Historic Properties and Landmarks in Westchester County. Register here. 1:30 pm – Current Jewish Authors: A Review of Current Jewish Titles. Register here.
1:30 pm – Parashat HaShavua (In Person & Zoom). Join online here. 6:30 pm – Teen Learning Collab (Offsite) 7:30 pm – Open Beit Midrash Scholar Series: The Chinitz Zion Haggadah with Dr. Marvin Chinitz. Register here.
Friday, February 16th 5:20 pm – Kabbalat Shabbat Services with Rabbi Sirner (In Person & Livestream)
Saturday, February 17th
9:00 am – Shabbat Services with Rabbi Sirner (In Person & Livestream) 10:30 am – Mini Minyan 10:30 am – Tot Shabbat 12:45 pm – Daf Shevui 5:20 pm – Mincha/Maariv (In Person & Livestream) Monday, February 19th
Presidents' Day
Tuesday, February 20th
10:00 am – Silver Sneakers for Seniors 11:30 am – Lunch & Learn. Register here. 1:00 pm – Mah Jongg
We have been invited to join a special live snow day music class this morning at 10AM on Zoom with Mr. Amichai Margolis. The program will also include some songs for the upcoming holiday of Purim.
Families can register here for the Zoom and receive a reminder right before class begins today at 10:00 a.m.: https://www.leffellschool.org/leffell-school-snow-day
Here is the Zoom link for the class. Meeting ID: 957 9585 4893 Passcode: lions5784
As much as we'd love to all be in school tomorrow, the weather has other plans. New Rochelle public schools have announced a closure for school tomorrow, so we are going to be closed as well.
Weather permitting, perhaps your children will have the opportunity to build some snow people, make snow angels, and warm up on hot chocolate. And when we return on Wednesday, please send your child in with all of their gear: snow pants, gloves/mittens and snow boots so that we can enjoy the snow in school to its fullest, weather permitting.
We can't wait for our Youth & Family Shabbat this weekend! While registration for dinner is closed, you are still more than welcome to join us for services!
We are soon off for February Break, but we have a lot of upcoming events in March. Mark your calendars and get excited!
Thanks, Alyssa
Here is our calendar:
Thursday, February 8: Regular RS
We Belong Together: Neurodiversity in the Synagogue Zoom webinar at 7:30 pm. Register here.
Friday & Saturday, February 9 and 10: Youth & Family Shabbat
Friday night services & Shirateinu performance at 6 pm
Saturday morning services (led by Teens); kids' services begin at 10:30 am
Sunday, February 11: Regular RS & Moadon
Thursday, February 15: Regular RS
Sunday, February 18: NO RS: February Break
Thursday, February 22: NO RS: February Break
Sunday, February 25: NO RS: February Break
Thursday, February 29: Regular RS resumes
Sunday, March 3: Regular RS & Moadon
Family Mitzvah program: Visit to Willow Towers from 2:15-3 pm. Register here.
Thursday, March 7: Regular RS
Friday, March 8: Save-the-Date for 5th grade family Shabbat dinner
Saturday, March 9: Save-the-Date for K/1st Family Havdallah
Sunday, March 10: Regular RS & Moadon
Thursday, March 14: Regular RS
Sunday, March 17: Regular RS until 11 am; no Moadon; PURIM CARNIVAL
UPDATED Religious School Calendar:click here
Upcoming Events
We Belong Together: Neurodiversity in the Synagogue Thursday, February 8 at 7:30 pm on Zoom
Beth El Synagogue Center is offering a webinar by Matan to help our community understand the needs of neurodiverse individuals, potential barriers to Jewish life, and how each member of our community can help overcome those barriers to enhance inclusion. Matan guides, trains, and supports Jewish community leaders and educators to provide purposeful, enriching, and inclusive opportunities for people with disabilities and their families.
BINGO at Willow Towers Assisted Living Sunday, March 3 from 2:15-3 pm Meet at Willow Towers (355 Pelham Road)
Join us for a visit to Willow Towers Assisted Living! We will spend a few minutes getting to know the residents, as well as lead and play several rounds of Bingo with them. This event is fun for all ages, and we hope you join us!
Starting tonight! Tuesdays: 2/6, 3/12, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9 at 7:30 pm In Person & on Zoom A fundamental reality of being human is learning to grapple with our own mortality. No one escapes this world without encountering the death of friends and loved ones, nor are we immune from sickness. In this class we will explore rabbinic teachings that enrich the ways we think about the process of death and dying, as well as the rituals we've inherited that guide us through some of the most difficult moments in our lives.
This Thursday, February 8, 7:30 pm on Zoom For Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM), Beth El Synagogue Center is offering a webinar by Matan to help our community understand the needs of neurodiverse individuals, potential barriers to Jewish life, and how each member of our community can help overcome those barriers to enhance inclusion. Matan guides, trains, and supports Jewish community leaders and educators to provide purposeful, enriching, and inclusive opportunities for people with disabilities and their families.
Join us for Youth and Family Shabbat on Feb. 9th-10th! Join us for a special family dinner starting with a Kabbalat Shabbat Service at 6 pm. Registration for the 7 pm dinner is now closed. Then on Saturday, join us for a special Shabbat where the teens will take over morning services! Pastries & hot chocolate available at the start of services. After Kiddush, Rabbi Sitkin and Dr. Michael Kay will be in conversation about the state of Jewish/Israel education and how that has shifted after October 7th.
Tuesday, February 13, 7:30 pm We are so fortunate to have our very own member Dr. Marvin Chinitz discuss his highly acclaimed haggadah, The Chinitz Zion Haggadah, which will transform the meaning of Pesach from an ancient holiday to the most relevant modern Jewish/Israeli/Zionist holiday on the Jewish calendar. This Haggadah is the most-timely Haggadah for our current times, as it includes not only the traditional text, but a treatise on teaching and defending modern Israel and Judaism. The commentaries of the Haggadah are related to modern Israel, "modern" antisemitism issues, and the essays included are the core of Zionist/Israeli education that needs to be passed from one generation to the next for years to come. Do you want to know how to explain current events to your college children, friends and extended family? All of this is included in The Chinitz Zion Haggadah.
This program is sponsored by Dr. Marvin and Shari Chinitz in memory of Shari's mother יהודית ברינדל בת רחל ויצחק ז''ל and in honor of presenting The Chinitz Zion Haggadah.
Thursday February 15th, at 1:30 pm In Person Tracy Wright, who has been the Director of Eastchester Library since 2007, will be sharing her expertise on Jewish authors. She will be reviewing new authors and their books, as well as discussing established authors.
Register Here. This program is sponsored by Beth El Sisterhood and Hadassah Westchester.
Saturday, February 24, 7:30 pm Join us for a special evening of music and song, as we gather in a beautiful, casual, intimate setting. A Melaveh Malkah or "escorting the Shabbat bride," is a Saturday night of music and community, and of course, a nosh too!
This will be a wonderful evening at the home of Lynn Buckvar-Keltz and Marty Keltz. Address will be provided once you RSVP and may also be found in our membership directory.
Sunday, March 3, 11 am
$28 minimum contribution Checks to be made out to Torah Fund
This event is sponsored by Beth El Sisterhood & Women's League for Conservative Judaism
Get Your Mahj-on(gg) on with us on March 7 at 7:30. Join in the fun with an intergenerational group for a Mah-Jongg Jamboree. Meet new friends, enjoy cocktails, mocktails and great snacks while we play and learn Mah-Jongg together.
For planning purposes please and registration fill out this Google Form.
Saturday, March 9, 8:00 pm
Join us for "SHUL SHENANIGANS" – an uproarious variety show featuring hilarious song parodies about Beth El, performed by our talented members and staff. Don't miss out on the laughter and camaraderie!
All Profits go to Beth El Sisterhood then to Beth El Note: We can only accept checks and cash!
*Any day not listed has no scheduled programming (besides minyan). **Unless otherwise indicated, all programs are in person only.
Tuesday, February 6th
10:00 am – Silver Sneakers for Seniors 1:00 pm – Mah Jongg
7:30 pm – Open Beit Midrash Intensive: The Centrality of Mourning in Jewish Life with Rabbi Zach Sitkin (In Person & Zoom). Register here. Join online here.
Thursday, February 8th 10:00 am – Mainstream Series: Historic Properties and Landmarks in Westchester County. Register here.
1:30 pm – Parashat HaShavua (In Person & Zoom). Join online here. 6:30 pm – Teen Learning Collab (Offsite) 7:30 pm – We Belong Together: Neruodiversity in the Synagogue (Zoom). Register here. Join online here.
Friday, February 9th 6:00 pm – Friday night services with songs and prayers by Shirateinu (In Person & Livestream) 7:00 pm – Community Shabbat Dinner. Registration is now closed.
Saturday, February 10th
9:00 am –Teens take over Shabbat services. Pastries & hot chocolate available at the start of services (In Person & Livestream) 10:30 am – Mini Minyan 10:30 am – Tot Shabbat 12:30 pm – A conversation between Rabbi Zach Sitkin and Dr. Michael Kay, Head of School at The Leffell School 12:45 pm – Daf Shevui 5:10 pm – Mincha/Maariv (In Person & Livestream) Monday, February 12th
11:00 am – SMART Zoom (Zoom). Join online here. 11:00 am – Schmooze About the News 1:00 pm – Canasta
Tuesday, February 13th
10:00 am – Silver Sneakers for Seniors 1:00 pm – Mah Jongg
7:30 pm – Open Beit Midrash Scholar Series: The Chinitz Zion Haggadah with Dr. Marvin Chinitz. Register here.
A gigantic thank you to our fabulous Casino Night Co-Chairs: Simcha Bergman, Andrea Fleishaker, Meryl Goldstein and Kara Kalman, and also to the parents who served on the committee, and those of you who attended the event to make the evening such a huge success!! It was a fabulous night!
The beautiful spiritualChallah Bake, led by Shoresh Aleph's Morah Eden, is tomorrow night, Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 7:15PM. Further details for this meaningful event may be found on the flyer below. Register here.
On Friday, February 9th, there will be a special Community Dinner where a new caterer will be serving Shabbat dinner. An "extra-kid-friendly" Kabbalat Shabbat experience will precede the meal, and then on Shabbat morning, February 10, the teens take over Shabbat services. Celebrate Youth and Family Shabbat! Register here.
There is a Staff Meeting tomorrow soAfter Care on February 7 will end at 2:30pm. Please be sure to mark your calendar.
Registration is under way for the Winter/Spring session of Toddler Time which begins on Monday, February 26, after we return from our President's Week break. Register here.
Registration for the 2024-2025 school year continues and classes are filling up. If you haven't done so already, we encourage you register as soon as possible. Register here.
Enjoy the rest of your week, Ronnie and Shery
Highlights:
Nursery School Registration for the '24-'25 School Year. Register here.
Anaf parents are invited to the Youth Lounge to celebrate Havdallah onMondays at 9AM
Wednesday, February 7:Challah Bake with Morah Eden at 7:15PM.Register here.
Wednesday, February 7: NS Staff Meeting - After Care ends at 2:30PM.
Friday, February 9: Community Shabbat Dinner Register here.
Monday, February 26: Winter-Spring Session of Toddler Time begins. Register here.
We are sorry to report that another one of our Gezah Bet friends tested positive this morning for COVID-19.. This child was last in school yesterday. As a result, out of an abundance of caution and in an effort to ensure the health of the rest of the Gezah Bet community, we are asking that you please test your child each morning for the remainder of this week before coming to school. If you can send in the test results to nursery@bethelnr.org by 8:30am each morning, it would be greatly appreciated. We apologize for the inconvenience caused, yet we feel this is necessary to ensure the wellbeing of our Gezah Bet class.
As a reminder, anyone who has had close contact within 48 hours of someone testing positive is considered to have been exposed.
Please find our updated Covid policy below:
Positive Case of Covid: Isolate for 5 days. After 5 days, a child/adult can return back to school if they have no symptoms and no fever for 24 hours. Child/Adult will wear a mask for 5 days upon return OR Child/Adult has two sequential negative tests 48 hours apart starting on day 5 after 5:00 p.m. (ie. test negative on Day 5 and negative on Day 7), then the mask can come off on day 7. If a child is unable to wear a mask effectively they will need to remain at home for 10 days or until they test negative 48 hours apart, as explained above.
Exposure to Covid: Wearing masks is not mandated. Of course if any family wants their child to wear a mask, we will support the child and family.
For easy reference, we have listed the Covid symptoms below, but we are asking at this time that all children are tested for the rest of the week, even if they are not presenting any symptoms:
Congestion or runny nose Fever or chills Cough Fatigue Headache New loss of taste or smell Muscle or body aches Sore throat Nausea or vomiting Diarrhea Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation, and wish our unwell Gezah Bet friends and Morah Maralyn a refuah shlema.
