As we end the Hebrew month of Tevet and prepare for the month of Shevat (including the holiday of Tu BiShvat), we are excited for so many of our January events! We want to specially emphasize our mitzvah day on Monday. MLK Day is a federal holiday because it is supposed to be a day of community service. We'd love for you to join us in that effort!
Additionally, we are collecting used shoes in any condition as part of our MLK Mitzvah Day. The shoes will be sorted, organized and donated to Soles4Souls, and you'll reclaim closet space! We have a donation bin in the lobby, and we're collecting until Mitzvah Day ends.
After MLK Mitzvah Day, we also have some programs for families with 5th, 6th and 7th graders. We can't wait to see you there!
Thanks, Alyssa
Highlights:
Monday, January 15: MLK Mitzvah Day from 11 am- 1 pm. Register here.
Saturday, January 20: Family Havdallah for 5th, 6th & 7th grade families from 6:15-7:30 pm. Register here.
Sunday, January 21: Taste of Creativity Camp for 2nd-6th graders at 12 pm.Register here.
Sunday, January 28: 6th & 7th grade field trip to the Museum of Jewish Heritage from 9 am-2 pm. Register here.
Tuesday, January 30: 5th grade Hebrew reading with Cantor Gaby from 6-7 pm.Sign up here.
Sunday, February 4: World Wide Wrap & BE Mitzvah session for 6th grade, 8:15-10:30 am.Register here.
We hope you can join us this month!
Thanks, Alyssa
Upcoming Events
Family Havdallah for 5th, 6th & 7th grade Saturday, January 20 from 6:15-7:30 pm open to all families with a 5th, 6th or 7th grader
We'd love for our families with 5th, 6th and 7th graders to join us for a special Saturday night program! We will enjoy Havdallah, games, dinner, fire pit and s'mores. Of course, siblings are invited to join.
Taste of Creativity Camp Sunday, January 21 from 12-2 pm for 2nd-6th graders
We’re cooking up a delicious summer! Interested in learning more about Creativity Camp? Join Beth El Day Camp and the Youth and Family Department for an afternoon of creativity and summer fun. We will begin with a yummy pizza lunch followed by a cooking and craft project.
6th & 7th Grade Field Trip: Museum of Jewish Heritage Sunday, January 28 from 9 am-2 pm for 6th & 7th graders
We are having a field trip to the Museum of Jewish Heritage for our middle schoolers! We will be taking a bus to the museum. We'll meet at Beth El at 9 am, returning around 2 pm.
Parents are also invited to chaperone, although we may have a limited number available.
Cost: $36 per person for ticket and bus; lunch tbd Register here.
5th Grade Hebrew Reading Check In Tuesday, January 30 from 6-7 pm (10 minute slots) for 5th graders; at Beth El
Cantor Gaby does Hebrew reading check-ins with all of our 5th graders. These check-ins take less than 10 minutes, and are part of our b'nei mitzvah prep here at Beth El.
If you are unable to make this date, please email Cantor Gaby.
World Wide Wrap & BE Mitzvah Sunday, February 4 from 8:15-10:30 am for our 6th grade BE Mitzvah Cohort
World Wide Wrap is a global initiative to teach emerging Jewish adolescents about the mitzvah of putting on tefillin. We invite you to join us for morning minyan and an opportunity to try on tefillin. We will have breakfast together after minyan. After breakfast we will make our way into the boardroom as we learn more about the mitzvah of tefillin, tzitzit, and take a walking tour of the Torah.
As we end the Hebrew month of Tevet and prepare for the month of Shevat (including the holiday of Tu BiShvat), we are excited for so many of our January events! We want to specially emphasize our mitzvah day on Monday. MLK Day is a federal holiday because it is supposed to be a day of community service. We'd love for you to join us in that effort!
As part of MLK Mitzvah Day, we are collecting used shoes in any condition! The shoes will be sorted, organized and donated to Soles4Souls, and you'll reclaim closet space! We have a donation bin in the lobby, and we're collecting until Mitzvah Day ends.
Here are our January events:
Monday, January 15: MLK Mitzvah Day from 11 am- 1 pm.Register here.
Saturday, January 20: Family Havdallah for 5th, 6th & 7th grade families from 6:15-7:30 pm. Register here.
Sunday, January 21: Taste of Creativity Camp for 2nd-6th graders at 12 pm. Register here.
Sunday, January 28: 6th & 7th grade field trip to the Museum of Jewish Heritage from 9 am-2 pm.Register here.
Sunday, January 28: Youth & Family Ice Skating from 1:30-3 pm at Hommocks Park Ice Rink. Register here.
Friday & Saturday, February 9 and 10: Youth & Family Shabbat
Here is our Religious School calendar:
Thursday, January 11: Regular RS
Sunday, January 14: NO RS- MLK Weekend
Thursday, January 18: Regular RS
Sunday, January 21: Regular RS & Moadon
Thursday, January 25: Regular RS
Sunday, January 28: Regular RS & Moadon (6th & 7th field trip)
Thursday, February 1: Regular RS
Sunday, February 4: Regular RS & Moadon
World Wide Wrap & BE Mitzvah session for 6th grade, 8:15-10:30 am
World Wide Wrap & early dismissal for 7th grade; 8:15-11 am
MLK Mitzvah Day Monday, January 15 from 11 am-1 pm open to the public & for all ages
Join your Beth El community to give back in honor of MLK Day! We’ll have a variety of projects suitable for the whole family. Come any time between 11 am-1 pm to make the world a better place!
Don't forget to bring your used shoes to donate!
Please park in the "back" parking lots by the playground and pool.
Family Havdallah for 5th, 6th & 7th grade Saturday, January 20 from 6:15-7:30 pm open to all families with a 5th, 6th or 7th grader
We'd love for our families with 5th, 6th and 7th graders to join us for a special Saturday night program at Beth El! We will enjoy Havdallah, games, a light dinner, bonfire and s'mores. Of course, siblings are invited to join!
Taste of Creativity Camp Sunday, January 21 from 12-2 pm for 2nd-6th graders
We’re cooking up a delicious summer! Interested in learning more about Creativity Camp? Join Beth El Day Camp and the Youth and Family Department for an afternoon of creativity and summer fun. We will begin with a yummy pizza lunch followed by a cooking and craft project.
Join us for "A Taste of Creativity Camp" on Sunday, January 21st at 12:00 pm. See more details on the flyer below. Register heretoday! Registration closes next Wednesday, January 17th.
Rebecca Guralnik, Day Camp Director Zoe Schein, Assistant Director daycamp@bethelnr.org 914-235-2700, ext. 256
Join us for a soul-lifting concert with Rabbi Yosef Goldman and the premiere of a new song commissioned for Shabbat Shira as part of our Shirei Neshama series, Songs of the Spirit. Stay for drinks and desserts!
This program is organized by Shoresh Halev Center for Jewish Music at Beth El.
Saturday, February 3, 8:00 pm Join us for Casino Night— win big prizes at our Vegas-style tables, enter the poker tournament, shop our silent auction, and L’chaim at the open bar! It’s an evening of games and cocktails for a good cause, our beloved Nursery School. Hosted by comedian Ben Asher. Adults only.
Tuesdays: 2/6, 2/13, 3/5, 3/12, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9 at 7:30 pm 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.
Monday, January 15, 11 am-1 pm Join us to give back on MLK Day!
We have projects for the whole community, such as: shoe donation | making blankets | seed balls | cookie baking & more!
We are hosting a shoe drive this week through Monday to collect new and gently used shoes to create opportunities for women in developing nations to start and sustain a small business. Please bring your new and gently used shoes to the bin in the lobby! All shoes will be donated to the nonprofit organization Soles4Souls.
Monday, January 15, 11:00 am Join us for a screening of Breakfast at Ina’s. Ina Pinkney is a Chicago legend of the tastiest kind. Known around town as the “Breakfast Queen", she has been feeding Chicagoans for the past 33 years – first, out of a small bakery and, most recently, from her beloved breakfast nook in the West Loop. Ina, who survived polio as an infant, now suffers the effects of post-polio syndrome, and has decided to close the doors of her celebrated establishment. An undeniably outstanding chef and businesswoman, Ina is so much more. She’s a community leader, a pioneer, a television personality, but most importantly, she’s the rare sort of person who’s found a way to transform her passion into a joy that extends an entire city, and beyond.
$10 advance registration $15 at the door by cash or check made payable to Beth El Sisterhood Register Here.
Tuesday, January 30, 7:30 pm One of the most fascinating features of the Talmud is its rich tapestry of narratives. If storytelling is an art form, then the Talmud is an artistic masterpiece. Please join us as Dr. Jeffrey Rubenstein guides us through a close reading of three different Talmudic stories and teaches us how the Talmud weaves them together to form an interesting and cohesive literary unit.
This program is sponsored by Dorothy Fox, in memory of Herb Fox z"l.
Dr. Jeffrey L. Rubenstein is the Skirball Professor of Talmud and Rabbinic Literature in the Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies of New York University.
To sponsor an Open Beit Midrash Scholar Series, click here. The Open Beit Midrash Scholar Series is underwritten by the Yvette and Herman Gordon Century Fund for Adult Teaching and Learning. To ensure we can continue to offer high level adult educational programming please consider contributing to that fund here.
Last chance to get your 2024 Mah Jongg Cards! Please order your Mah Jongg cards on the form below & let your friends & relatives know that they can order their cards from us as well. This is a great fundraiser for Beth El Sisterhood as we get a donation from the National Mah Jongg League for every card we sell.
*Any day not listed has no scheduled programming (besides minyan). **Unless otherwise indicated, all programs are in person only.
Tuesday, January 9th
10:00 am – Silver Sneakers for Seniors 1:00 pm – Mah Jongg 7:30 pm – Textual Magic:The Jewish Wisdom and Themes That Ignited My Love for Judaism with Rabbi David Schuck (In Person & Zoom). Join online here. 7:30 pm – Shul Shenanigans Rehearsal
Wednesday January 10th 6:30 pm – Teen Board Meeting 7:30 pm – Evening Book Club (Zoom Only). Join online here. 7:30 pm – Shul Shenanigans Rehearsal
Thursday, January 11th 1:30 pm – Parashat HaShavua (In Person & Zoom). Join online here. 6:30 pm – Teen Learning Collab (Offsite) 7:00 pm – Prayer Team
Friday, January 12th 4:30 pm – Kabbalat Shabbat
Saturday, January 13th
9:00 am – Shabbat Services (In Person & Livestream) 10:30 am – Mini Minyan 10:30 am – Tot Shabbat 10:30 am – Teen Service 12:45 pm – Daf Shevui 4:30 pm – Mincha/Maariv (In Person & Livestream) Sunday, January 14th Religious School Closed 10:00 am – Shul Shenanigans Rehearsal Monday, January 15th 11:00 am – MLK Mitzvah Day. Register here. 11:00 am – Sisterhood’s Annual Cinema Brunch. Register here.
Tuesday, January 16th
10:00 am – Silver Sneakers 1:00 pm – Mah Jongg 7:30 pm – Textual Magic: The Jewish Wisdom and Themes That Ignited My Love for Judaism with Rabbi David Schuck (In Person & Zoom). Join online here. 7:30 pm – Shul Shenanigans Rehearsal
100 Days in Captivity Demonstration this Friday, January 12, 9:00 am at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza in New York City: Marking the 100th day that the Israeli hostages have been held in captivity, the Hostage and Missing Families Forum of New York will be leading a large rally in front of the United Nations building.
The demonstration will include speeches from hostages’ family members, who have flown in from Israel to participate. In solidarity with the Hostage and Missing Families Forum in Israel, the rally will feature a large “The Time is Running Out” hourglass, similar to the one placed in Habima Square in Tel Aviv.
Please save the date for Casino Night on Saturday, February 3 at 8pm. Casino Night is not only the most fun night on the Nursery School calendar; but also the main fundraiser to support our school.
We are seeking contributions for our online and silent auctions, as well as for our live raffle. Possible items include a weekend at a vacation home, tickets to a sports game, memorabilia, or other goods and services. If you have something you'd be willing to contribute, please send a note to Meryl Goldstein, meryl.goldstein@gmail.com. Click here to RSVP today!
And, keep your eyes out! The link to the online auction will be shared in the coming days!
We hope to see you all on February 3! Andrea, Kara, Meryl and Simcha
We also know that these last three months have been particularly challenging and are here to support you. We will continue to share our updates on Instagram @bethelnr_teens. Beth El has also curated Israel resources for the community here.
Some other resources curated particularly for teens around what's going on in Israel today can be found here:
The Teen Leadership Board with Bekkah, Alyssa, and Rabbi Zisser
Addressing Antisemitism in Colleges Thursday, January 11, 6:45-8:00 pm at the Mid-Westchester JCC open to all teens, in partnership with the Westchester Teen Collab
Join the Westchester Teen Collab to hear directly about college antisemitism from Hillel experts and current college students, including some from Beth El!
Register here (if you aren't in the Westchester Teen Collab). We highly encourage 11th and 12th graders to join.
MLK Mitzvah Day Monday, January 15 11:00 am-1:00 pm (Tech Time from 11:00 am-12:00 pm) open to the community at Beth El
Join us to give back to the community on MLK Day with our own day of service. You can help Seniors with basic tech needs (updating apps, increasing font sizes, adjusting volume, updating email accounts, etc.), and also join us for the other volunteer projects.
Community service hours are available for your time!
January Lounge Night - Challah Making Wednesday, January 24, 6:30-8:00 pm for 8th-12th graders; in the Youth Lounge at Beth El
Let's make challah together! Join us for pizza, learn how to make challah and fulfill the mitzvah of hafrashat challah, or separating the challah. We will come together and bless the challah, pray for healing of the wounded and peace for the souls lost since October 7, and pray for the safe and rapid return of the hostages still held in Gaza by Hamas.
Bring yourselves, your homework, and/or your Beth El friends. Pizza provided.
Register atwww.bethelnr.org/teenloungenights.
Lounge Nights happen monthly on the following Wednesdays all year long: Feb. 28, Mar. 13, April 17, and May 8. Mark your calendars!
Questions? Want to help plan? Contact teens@bethelnr.org.
Teen Collab: Now Registering Module 2! Thursdays, 6:30-8:00 pm at the JCC Mid-Westchester for 8th-12th graders
The Teen Collab is a joint project of six Conservative Synagogues in Southern Westchester. Teens from all six synagogues meet weekly to connect, socialize and learn. We offer three modules, and each module has options for two courses.
We meet on Thursdays from 6:30-8:00 pm at the JCC Mid-Westchester, and each module is about 8 sessions. We are now enrolling for Module 2, which begins in January!
Module 2: January to early March (you can still sign up!)
The Ethical Life: Jewish Values in an Age of Choice
Israeli TV: Checkout
Module 3: mid-March to May (you can still sign up!)
Happy 2024! I hope that you had a nice Winter Break and had a chance to drink lots of hot chocolate and relax.
We have a very special Mitzvah Day on Monday, January 15 (MLK Day) between 11 am and 1 pm! We have a variety of projects that are great for all ages, and we hope you can join us in making the world better!
Thanks, Alyssa
MLK Mitzvah Day Monday, January 15 from 11 am-1 pm open to the public & for all ages
Join your Beth El community to give back in honor of MLK Day! We’ll have a variety of projects suitable for the whole family. Come any time between 11 am-1 pm to make the world a better place!
