Before the Watch Party, at 1:30 pm... Volunteer at Westchester's Kites of Hope event with Westchester's Shlicha, Shachar! Community service hours provided. Email Shachar to sign up!
Kites of Hope: A Westchester-Wide Hanukkah Community Service Program Sunday, December 10, 1:30-3:30 pm open to all, at Westchester Day School: 856 Orienta Avenue in Mamaroneck
Join the Westchester community as we make Kites of Hope and other projects for Kfar Azza, a community deeply impacted by October 7th. There will be booths to run, things to purchase, food to eat, and packages to make. Community service hours available. If you're interested in volunteering, please register here or email Westchester's Shlicha, Shachar Liran-Hanan, to inquire. Flyer above.
Followed by... Big Tent / One Light Watch Party - a RootOne Hanukkah Virtual Experience Sunday, December 10, 4:00-5:00 pm
After Westchester's community service program, stick around to come together as a community and celebrate Hanukkah with teens around the country (and world!). Join our Westchester Watch Party where we can hear from influencers on being Jewish on social media today, listen to an alumni college panel, see musical performances by top Israeli artists, light candles with peers in Israel, and of course, win some prizes!Nissim Blackand other surprise guests will be there!
Register for the virtual program today and let us know your interested in the Westchester Watch Party, which will be held in lower Westchester, between Mamaroneck and New Rochelle! Location details coming soon. Flyer below.
Questions? Contact teens@bethelnr.org.
December Hanukkah Lounge Night Wednesday, December 13, 6:30-8:00 pm for 8th-12th graders; in the Youth Lounge at Beth El
Join us as we celebrate Hanukkah! Bring yourselves, your homework, and/or your Beth El friends! Pizza, latkes, donuts, and gelt provided.
Register atwww.bethelnr.org/teenloungenights.
Lounge Nights happen monthly on the following Wednesdays all year long: Jan. 24, Feb. 28, Mar. 13, April 17, and May 8. Mark your calendars!
Questions? Want to help plan? Contact teens@bethelnr.org.
Stay tuned for even more Teen programming!
Beth El Synagogue Center 1324 North Avenue New Rochelle, NY 10804
Happy Hanukkah (one day early)! We will be lighting the first candle at the end of Religious School as a community, and your children will come home with a box of candles and some gelt to celebrate. Enjoy!
We have been working hard to prepare for Hanukkah for the last several weeks. Click here to enjoy a great video from Kehillah of Al HaNissim, traditional Hanukkah liturgy. The lyrics are here.
As a reminder, we are still collecting Gold Bond (or similar) and board games! Feel free to drop off on Thursdays or Sundays, or let us know if you want to come by another day.
Don't forget that we have Hanukkah programming, Family Havdallah, a Hanukkah field trip and volunteering at Hope Community Services this month! Here's our calendar:
Thursday, December 7: Regular RS & 1st night of Hanukkah
RS will light the first candle together at 5:50 pm; carpool line will run normally.
Saturday, December 9: Hanukkah Events
Tot Hanukkah from 10:30-11:15 am (during services).
Tot Hanukkah Saturday, December 9 at 10:30 am for families with young children
Join us for a Hanukkah-themed Tot Shabbat! We'll sing and celebrate Hanukkah and Shabbat, and we'll end with a special Hanukkah-themed snack!
Maccabee Madness Saturday, December 9, 6-7:15 pm for children in K-5th grade; 6th & 7th graders can be leaders and helpers and earn service hours
Join us in blue and white for Havdallah, Hanukkah candle lighting, a light nosh with latkes, and lots of Hanukkah-themed activities such as dreidel spin art, relay races, Hanukkah Bingo and more!
Please note: We're providing a "light nosh" of latkes & toppings, fruit and cookies.
Family Havdallah for 2nd, 3rd & 4th Grade Families Saturday, December 16 at 6 pm for families with 2nd, 3rd & 4th graders
We are kicking off our Family Havdallah programming with our 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade families. We'd love for you to join us! We will meet at Rabbi Sitkin's home, although Beth El will be a backup location in case of inclement weather. We will enjoy Havdallah, games, fire pit and s'mores. Of course, siblings are invited to join!
Fostering Resilience and Well-Being Amid October 7th Attacks, Israel's War, and Antisemitism Sunday, December 15 at 5:30 pm
During this time of war and antisemitism, many of us are experiencing the effects of increased stress and anxiety. Join an enlightening panel discussion moderated by Rabbi David Schuck as experts delve into the profound effects of vicarious trauma and stress on our physical and mental well-being, as well as that of our children. This session will offer coping strategies and a supportive space to process our feelings during these exceptionally challenging times.
This program is organized by the Beth El Mental Health Initiative. This program is underwritten by the Robert Matthew Klein for Inclusion & Special Needs.
Save the Date: Chaverim goes BOWLING! for Parents of School-Age Children
Happy Hanukkah (one day early)! Don't forget that we have Hanukkah programming and Family Havdallah this month, as well as a Chaverim event for parents at the beginning of January!
Highlight in this email include:
Saturday, December 9:
Tot Hanukkah at 10:30 am during Shabbat services.
Sunday, December 10: Kites for Hope with JAFI at Westchester Day School at 1:30 pm. Register here.
Saturday, December 16: Family Havdallah for 2nd, 3rd & 4th grades at 6 pm. Register here.
Sunday, December 17: Mental Health Initiative event about fostering resilience and well-being as related to Israel and antisemitism at 5:30 pm. Register here.
Save the Date for Saturday, January 6: Chaverim Parent Bowling at 8 pm. Register here.
Thanks, Alyssa
Upcoming Events
Tot Hanukkah Saturday, December 9 at 10:30 am for families with young children
Join us for a Hanukkah-themed Tot Shabbat! We'll sing and celebrate Hanukkah and Shabbat, and we'll end with a special Hanukkah-themed snack!
Maccabee Madness Saturday, December 9, 6-7:15 pm for children in K-5th grade; 6th & 7th graders can be leaders and helpers and earn community service hours
Join us in blue and white for Havdallah, Hanukkah candle lighting, a light dinner with latkes, and lots of Hanukkah-themed activities such as dreidel spin art, relay races, Hanukkah Bingo and more! Register Here.
Family Havdallah for 2nd, 3rd & 4th grade Families Saturday, December 16 at 6 pm for families with 2nd, 3rd & 4th graders
We are kicking off our Family Havdallah programming with our 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade families. We'd love for you to join us! We will meet at Rabbi Sitkin's home, although Beth El will be a backup location in case of inclement weather. We will enjoy Havdallah, games, fire pit and s'mores. Of course, siblings are invited to join!
Fostering Resilience and Well-Being Amid October 7th Attacks, Israel's War, and Antisemitism Sunday, December 15 at 5:30 pm
During this time of war and antisemitism, many of us are experiencing the effects of increased stress and anxiety. Join an enlightening panel discussion moderated by Rabbi David Schuck as experts delve into the profound effects of vicarious trauma and stress on our physical and mental well-being, as well as that of our children. This session will offer coping strategies and a supportive space to process our feelings during these exceptionally challenging times.
This program is organized by the Beth El Mental Health Initiative. This program is underwritten by the Robert Matthew Klein for Inclusion & Special Needs.
Save the Date: Chaverim goes BOWLING! for Parents of School-Age Children
Dear {{first_name}}: We are very excited to announce that Rabbi Viki Bedo has accepted our offer to join Beth El’s clergy team. Rabbi Bedo, her husband Jonah Fisher, and their two children will be moving to New Rochelle this summer upon the completion of her contract term at her current shul.
We would like to thank the entire Beth El community for your participation in the search process and for all of your valuable feedback. Rabbi Bedo told us that she was extremely impressed with the vibrancy of our communal prayer, your warm personal interactions with her and Jonah, your intellectual engagement and curiosity, and your dedication to the community as reflected in your coming out to the dinner on Friday night, and again at services on Shabbat morning. No doubt these impressions had great bearing on her decision to join us. We would also like to thank the members of the search committee, who spent time meeting with candidates, both in advance of and during the Shabbat visits.
For those of you who did not have an opportunity to get to meet Rabbi Bedo during her Shabbat visit, a copy of her bio can be found by clicking HERE. We are all looking forward to getting to know her when she arrives here during the summer and to benefit from her immeasurable gifts, and I know she is equally excited about not only becoming one of our Rabbis, but about being, along with her family, a part of the Beth El community.
It was so great to see so many of you at our Trivia Lounge Night this past Wednesday AND on Shabbat this past weekend! With Hanukkah starting this week, we are excited to celebrate with you on Wednesday, December 13th - details below. There are also two exciting programs on Sunday, December 10th to celebrate Hanukkah in a way that gives back to our friends in Israel and also celebrates our community here. Check it out!
Coming soon, we'll share our plans for January to June 2024 as well, including our typical Shabbat experiences and lounge nights, as well as some new programming, like a college-age panel about Jewish life on college campuses, a trip to NYC, bowling, and more!
We also know that these last two months have been particularly challenging and are here to support you. We will continue to share our updates on Instagram @bethelnr_teens, but understand some of you may choose not to log into Instagram at this time. If you do choose to log into social media, please try not to click on photos and videos, as they are incredibly hard to see (and unsee). Beth El has also curated Israel resources for the community here.
Bekkah, Alyssa, Rabbi Zisser and The Teen Leadership Board
Kites of Hope: A Westchester-Wide Hanukkah Community Service Program Sunday, December 10, 1:30-3:30 pm open to all, at Westchester Day School: 856 Orienta Avenue in Mamaroneck
Join the Westchester community as we make Kites of Hope and other projects for Kfar Azza, a community deeply impacted by October 7th. There will be booths to run, things to purchase, food to eat, and packages to make. Community service hours available. If you're interested in volunteering, please register here or email Westchester's Shlicha, Shachar Liran-Hanan, to inquire. Flyer above.
Followed by... Big Tent / One Light Watch Party - a RootOne Hanukkah Virtual Experience Sunday, December 10, 4:00-5:00 pm
After Westchester's community service program, stick around to come together as a community and celebrate Hanukkah with teens around the country (and world!). Join our Westchester Watch Party where we can hear from influencers on being Jewish on social media today, listen to an alumni college panel, see musical performances by top Israeli artists, light candles with peers in Israel, and of course, win some prizes!Nissim Blackand other surprise guests will be there!
Register for the virtual program today and let us know your interested in the Westchester Watch Party, which will be held in lower Westchester, between Mamaroneck and New Rochelle! Location details coming soon. Flyer below.
Questions? Contact teens@bethelnr.org.
December Hanukkah Lounge Night Wednesday, December 13, 6:30-8:00 pm for 8th-12th graders; in the Youth Lounge at Beth El
Join us as we celebrate Hanukkah! Bring yourselves, your homework, and/or your Beth El friends! Pizza, latkes, donuts, and gelt provided.
Register atwww.bethelnr.org/teenloungenights.
Lounge Nights happen monthly on the following Wednesdays all year long: Jan. 24, 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!)
Join our adult-only Hanukkah bash! DJ beats (including a set by DJ Rabbi Schuck), dance floor thrills, delicious latke bar, signature cocktails, and a dazzling candle lighting ceremony. It's the ultimate celebration – don't miss out!
Now, more than ever, we recognize the importance of being a part of our special Jewish community. Please contribute to the B'Yachad Campaign by supporting Beth El—we can continue to act as one, together for the good of all.
If you have not yet made your B'Yachad contribution, please take a moment to do so today.
Many in the Beth El community have wondered how they can best support Israel during the ongoing crisis and deliver help where it’s needed the most. In addition to giving financial support, some have also expressed interest in providing more hands-on help, by giving to Israel – in Israel. In response, the Israel 360 Committee, in consultation with the clergy, is planning a Beth El Volunteer Mission to Israel from January 22-25, 2024. Kenes Tours, the operator of UJA's and JNF's wonderful missions to Israel, will be handling our trip. The itinerary, cost and further details can be found here. It's less than 50 days to the scheduled trip, so we need to finalize committed participants quickly. Please go here to register by Wednesday, December 13th.
Every person who has visited Israel since October 7th has commented how each Israeli they met expressed deep gratitude for them coming and being there to show their support. If you are able to roll up your sleeves and help our brothers and sisters in Israel, we would love for you to join us!
Tuesday, December 12
Come for the morning exercise or just the discussion and lunch!
10:00 am: Coffee 10:30 am: Silver Sneakers FLEX 11:30 am: Jewish Comedians from the Catskill era until now presented by Aytan Adler, RTR 12:30 pm: Latkes & Lunch
Sunday, December 17, 5:30 pm During this time of war and antisemitism, many of us are experiencing the effects of increased stress and anxiety. Join an enlightening panel discussion moderated by Rabbi David Schuck as experts delve into the profound effects of vicarious trauma and stress on our physical and mental well-being, as well as that of our children. This session will offer coping strategies and a supportive space to process our feelings during these exceptionally challenging times.
Register Here. This program is organized by the Beth El Mental Health Initiative. This program is underwritten by the Robert Matthew Klein for Inclusion & Special Needs.
Click herefor events, ways to help, and resources.
Tuesday, December 19, 7:30 pm The horrors of October 7th and its repercussions in Israel and North America have been described as a Jewish Peoplehood moment. Last year’s election of the most right-wing government in Israel’s history, however, strained the bonds between North American, liberal Jews and Israel. Further, preexisting fissures in Israeli society and tensions within the North American Jewish community around Israel raise important questions around boundaries, solidarity, values, and identity. The Jewish tradition -- stretching from ancient texts to modern thought -- uses an array of models and metaphors to describe the project of Jewish peoplehood and collectivity. In this session, we will analyze these models along with their contemporary implications and explore a model of Jewish peoplehood that can meet the profound challenges of the moment.
Register Here. 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.
*Any day not listed has no scheduled programming (besides minyan).
Tuesday, December 5th 10:00 am – SilverSneakers for Seniors (In Person). Register here. 1:00 pm – Mah Jongg (In Person) 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.
Wednesday, December 6th 6:30 pm – Teen Board Meeting (In Person) Thursday, December 7th 1:30 pm – Parashat HaShavua (In Person & Zoom). Join online here. 6:30 pm – Teen Collab Learning (In Person) (Offsite)
Friday, December 8th 4:10 pm – Kabbalat Shabbat (In Person)
Saturday, December 9th
9:00 am – Shabbat Services (In Person & Livestream) 10:30 am – Mini Minyan (In Person) 10:30 am – Tot Shabbat (In Person) 11:00 am – Kavannah Service (In Person) 11:15 am – Parsha Club (In Person) 12:45 pm – Daf Shevui (In Person) 4:10 pm – Mincha/Maariv (In Person & Livestream) 6:00 pm – Maccabee Madness (In Person). Register here. 8:00 pm – Hanukkah Glow Party (In Person). Register here. Sunday, December 10th 10:30 am – Bar Mitzvah of Maxwell Sherman (In Person, Private service)
Monday, December 11th 11:00 am – SMART Zoom (Zoom). Join online here. 1:00 pm – Canasta (In Person)
Tuesday, December 12th 10:00 am – SilverSneakers for Seniors (In Person). Register here. 11:30 am – Lunch & Learn (In Person). Register here. 1:00 pm – Mah Jongg (In Person) 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.
Kites of Hope on Sunday, December 10, 1:30-3:00 pm at Westchester Day School in Mamaroneck, NY. Registerhere.
In sorrow we inform you of the passing of our longime member
Helene Wolloch z"l,
Mother of Norbert (Claudia) Wolloch, Richard Wolloch, Michael (Beth) Wolloch, Daniel (Valerie Bilder Wolloch) Wolloch and mother-in-law of Nora Klion Wolloch.
Grandmother of Samuel, Jonathan, Adam, Deena and her husband, Eliran, Elana, Zachary, Hannah, Alison and Charles.
Great grandmother of Neetai and Meitar.
The funeral will be held on Friday, December 1st at 11:00 AM at Sharon Gardens, Valhalla, NY.
The shiva will be according to the following schedule:
Friday, December 1 - Following the burial until 2:30 PM at the home of Helene Wolloch z"l (13 Overlook Rd Scarsdale, NY 10583)
Sunday, December 3rd - 3:00 - 8:00 PM with minyan at 4:10 PM at the home of Daniel Wolloch and Valerie Bilder Wolloch (8 East 83rd Street, Apt. 10G, New York, NY 10028)
Monday, December 4th - 1:00 - 5:00 PM with minyan at 4:10 PM and 7:00 - 9:00 PM at the home of Helene Wolloch z"l (13 Overlook Rd Scarsdale, NY 10583)
Tuesday, December 5th - 1:00 - 5:00 PM with minyan at 4:10 PM and 7:00 - 9:00 PM at the home of Helene Wolloch z"l (13 Overlook Rd Scarsdale, NY 10583)
Wednesday, December 6th - 1:00 - 5:00 PM with minyan at 4:10 PM and 7:00 - 9:00 PM at the home of Helene Wolloch z"l (13 Overlook Rd Scarsdale, NY 10583)
May the Wolloch family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים
Lauren Freeman-Bosworth Beth El President
Members of our community who have suffered the loss of a loved one have been comforted by the generosity of donations made in the memory of those they have lost.
If you would like to make a donation to Beth El Synagogue Center, please click here.
Join us in blue and white for Havdalah, Hanukkah candle lighting, a light dinner with latkes, and lots of Hanukkah-themed activities such as dreidel spin art, relay races, Hanukkah Bingo, and more! This event is geared towards K-5th grade. Middle Schoolers are invited to be team leaders and helpers!
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Semi-Annual Meeting of the Membership will take place at Beth El Synagogue Center on Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at 7:45 pm. All members in good standing are eligible to attend and vote upon all matters duly presented at said meeting. The meeting will be in person with the option to attend via zoom.
We invite you to join us for a pre-meeting dinner and shmooze at 7 pm. The meeting will begin promptly at 7:45 pm. Please register today if you want to join us for the pre-meeting dinner.
Register Hereto Join Us In Person for the Semi-Annual Meeting and Pre-Meeting Dinner. Join us via Zoom here. Agenda 1. Torah learning with Rabbi Schuck 2. Approval of minutes of May 17, 2023 Congregational Meeting. You can read the minutes here. 3. Good and Welfare 4. President's Report by Lauren Freeman-Bosworth 5. Treasurer's Report by David Reifer 6. Presentation of Chai Awards, acknowledging our members of 18 years 7. Election of 3 Non-Trustees and 1 Alternate to the 2023-2024 Nominating Committee. *If you will be nominating someone to serve on the nominating committee please check with them and make sure they are willing to serve.
