As we celebrate and thank Rabbi Fisher for her leadership over these past four years, we are also diligently managing our search for a new rabbi to join our clergy team beginning in July 2024. Our search committee has begun the process of receiving applications and conducting interviews. We are delighted to announce that the committee has met with a promising candidate, Rabbi Viki Bedo, and extended an invitation to Rabbi Bedo to spend the weekend of October 13th -15th with the Beth El Community. The full schedule for the weekend and Rabbi Bedo’s bio is at the bottom of this email.
We would have preferred more time to pass between Rabbi Fisher’s departure and this invitation to Rabbi Bedo. However, finding a suitable Shabbat weekend requires careful coordination that considers our candidate’s existing congregational responsibilities and our own Shabbat schedule.
We have organized a weekend schedule filled with numerous opportunities for you to connect with Rabbi Bedo. Your presence and active engagement will play a significant role in helping us make an informed decision about the next rabbi who will join our clergy team. We are excited to welcome Rabbi Bedo to our synagogue so that she can experience the vibrancy and warmth of our community.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Search Committee Rob Patchen - Chair of the Search Committee Rochelle Chaiken Alana Chill Andrea Fleishaker Lois Kohn-Claar David Shechter Mark Seidenfeld Joyce Wechsler Lauren Freeman-Bosworth (ex-officio)
Schedule for Rabbi Bedo’s Visit to Beth El Synagogue Center October 13th - October 15th, 2023
Friday, October 13th:
6:00 p.m. - Shabbat Services Join us for Kabbalat Shabbat and a d’var torah from Rabbi Bedo.
7:00 p.m. - Community Dinner Click here to register for the dinner. This will be an opportunity to gather with friends and shmooze with Rabbi Bedo.
Saturday, October 14th:
9:00 a.m. - Shabbat Services Please join us for Shabbat Services and a sermon delivered by Rabbi Bedo. Rabbi Bedo will visit the Tot Shabbat service and the Teen Service. Join us for Kiddush for another chance to get to know Rabbi Bedo.
12:45 p.m. -1:30 p.m.- Rabbi Bedo will teach a class.
Sunday, October 15th
8:15 a.m. - Morning Minyan Rabbi Bedo will join us for morning minyan in the Den.
9:15 a.m - Religious School Rabbi Bedo will participate in the Kehillah Service.
Moadim L'Simcha! We hope you are having a joyous Sukkot and that everyone affected is drying out from the flooding!
We have the final holiday programming this weekend, including celebrating Rabbi Fisher and Julie Rockowitz. We also jump right into our October programming, including our Bourbon & Booze night tomorrow, plus tie dye! Highlights:
Bourbon & Booze Social in the Sukkah with Chaverim ("Friends"): for Parents of School-Aged Children on Thursday, October 5 at 8 pm.Register here.
Rabbi Fisher's Aufrauf: Saturday, October 7 during Shabbat services.
Mini Hakafot: Saturday, October 7 at 5:30 pm. Register here.
Simchat Torah Community Hakafot: Saturday, October 7 at 7 pm.
Simchat Torah Children's Torah reading: Sunday, October 8 around 10:30 am (during services).
Moadon Sign Up: Sundays from 11 am-12 pm; begins on October 15. Register here.
Youth & Family Tie Dye event (preschool-2nd grade): Sunday, October 22 from 12:30-1:30 pm. Register here.
Youth & Family Tie Dye event (3rd-7th grade): Sunday, October 29 from 12:30-1:30 pm. Register here.
Matan: conversations to determine what Jewish programming needs are for children with disabilities in the Westchester area. Sign up here for a conversation.
Shababa Concert at The Leffell School: Sunday, October 22 at 3:30 pm. Register here.
Upcoming Religious School Dates:
Thursday, October 5: Regular RS + Chaverim Bourbon & Booze Social
Sunday, October 8: NO RS; YES Simchat Torah!
Thursday, October 12: Regular RS
Sunday, October 15: Opening Sunday of RS!
Family Kehillah & Welcome Assembly at 9 am (hopefully in the tent). Please plan on staying until 9:45-10 am.
Bourbon & Booze in the Sukkah with Chaverim ("Friends"): for Parents of School-Age Children Thursday, October 5 at 8:00 pm for adults only
Join us for an adults-only gathering in the Beth El Sukkah! Reconnect with old friends and make new friends! We'll be offering a bourbon and wine (or beer) tasting, light snacks/food and an opportunity to meet and socialize.
Cost: $20/person with discount code RS2324
(Add it on the PAYMENT screen, after you've submitted the form). We will apply the discount to RS families who registered without it. Please note that this discount is available because RS families paid dues which are supporting the event.
Rabbi Fisher's Aufrauf Saturday, October 7, 9 am Tots/Mini Minyan may start a few minutes late
Join us on for the aufrauf of Rabbi Jessica Fisher and Rabbi Geoffrey Claussen. In lieu of gifts, the couple would most appreciate donations to Beth El. Click here to make a donation in their honor.
Mini Hakafot with Dinner Saturday, October 7, 5:30 pm for families with children ages 0-6
Come join us for a Tot-sized Simchat Torah experience! Tot families will dance with (stuffed) Torahs as we sing and celebrate Simchat Torah together at a bedtime-friendly time. Light dairy dinner included! Big(ger) kids and adults are invited to join the community for our communal Simchat Torah celebration at 7 pm!
Join the larger Beth El community for Simchat Torah! We will sing, dance and pray—with prizes for children who participate!
Kids Torah Reading on Simchat Torah Sunday, October 8, 10:30 am
We are going to continue our new tradition of a kids Torah reading on Simchat Torah morning! We are so excited to once again have kids reading a pasuk (verse) each from a real Torah as a way of celebrating our Torah-reading cycle and helping kids love to learn Torah reading!
Youth & Family Tie Dye Sunday, October 22 (for preschool-2nd grade) Sunday, October 29 (for 3rd-7th grade) from 12:30-1:30 pm (RS kids will have lunch from 12-12:30 pm)
In honor of Parshat Noach's rainbow, join us for TIE DYE! T-shirt for tie dying will be provided for the children. While the children will be wearing smocks, please dress them in clothing that can get messy! If adults volunteer, they can tie dye, too (bring your own shirt)!
Community News Matan Conversations for families of children with disabilities
My colleagues at Matan are working with the JCC of Mid Westchester to determine what the Jewish programming needs are for children with disabilities in the Westchester area. If you or someone else might have information to share with them please sign up for a brief/confidential interview (under 30 min).
Shababa Family Concert & Dinner at The Leffell School Sunday, October 22, 3:30 pm for families with children under 6
Calling all families with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers! Rebecca Schoffer of the Shababa community at 92Y will be coming to White Plains for a family concert, followed by a kosher kid-friendly dinner at The Leffell School.
Beth El is a special community that nurtures each of us in so many ways. Let us demonstrate our unwavering support of Beth El by contributing to the B’Yachad Campaign. We act as one, together, for the good of all.
In this course, we will study some of the texts that made me fall in love with the Jewish intellectual canon. We will study selections from the Hebrew Bible, Mishnah, Gemarrah (Talmud), Midrash, Halacha (Law), Philosophy, History, Poetry, and Hasidut. We'll also explore diverse topics such as time, love, loss, joy, spirituality, friendship, community, subversive texts, Israel, and the permissibility of Tattoos, among others. This class is taught by Rabbi David Schuck.
Tracing concepts of the body and soul from biblical times to the present. We will use the insights found in the mythical-erotic language of Tony Bennet, Amy Winehouse, Frankie Valli, and the Zohar as refracted through the lens of Professor Melila Hellner-Eshed’s A River Flows From Eden: The Language of Mystical Experience in the Zohar. This class is taught by Rabbi Barry Kenter.
Please bring in non-perishable, un-opened, and NON-EXPIRED food items for this year's High Holiday food drive. Collection bins are located outside the front office and food can be delivered during Beth El open hours through this Sunday, October 8th.
Join Sisterhood so you can come to the Paid Up Membership Dinner on Thursday, October 12th!
Beth El Sisterhood is for women of all ages and interests. We are planning a calendar filled with exciting programs and events for you to enjoy. Renew old friendships and make new ones. Beth El Sisterhood is here for you. One of the many perks of Sisterhood membership is free attendance at our annual Paid Up Membership Dinner on Thursday, October 12 at 6:00 pm.
Please remember to pay your annual Sisterhood dues as soon as possible, if you haven’t already done so. If you’re not sure if you have, please contact Olivier Vogel at ovogel@bethelnr.org. Pay Your Sisterhood dues here.
Once you have paid your dues, you can register for the Paid Up Membership dinner here.
Tuesday, October 17, 7:30 pm
Yuval Donio-Gideon, the Consul for Public Diplomacy at the Consulate General of Israel in New York, will provide an overview of the challenges of and developments in Israel’s struggle for security, covering issues ranging from Palestinian terrorist groups to the long-range missiles of Iran and Iraq.
*Any day not listed has no scheduled programming (besides minyan).
Tuesday, October 3rd 1:00 pm – Mah Jongg (In Person) 5:00 pm – Nursery School Supper in the Sukkah. Register here.
Thursday, October 5th 1:30 pm – Parashat HaShavua (In Person & Zoom). Join online here. 6:00 pm – Teen Sushi in the Sukkah (In Person) (Offsite). Register here. 8:00 pm – Chaverim (Friends): for Parents of School-Aged Children hosts Bourbon & Booze in the Sukkah (In Person). Register here.
Friday, October 6th 6:10 pm – Kabbalat Shabbat (In Person & Livestream)
Saturday, October 7th 9:00 am – Shemini Atzeret and Shabbat Services and the Aufruf of Rabbi Jessica Fisher & Rabbi Geoffrey Claussen (In Person & Livestream) 10:30 am – Tot Shabbat (In Person) 10:30 am – Mini Minyan (In Person) 5:30 pm – Mini Hakafot (In Person) 6:00 pm – Mincha (In Person & Livestream) 7:00 pm – Ma’ariv and Community Hakafot (In Person & Livestream) Sunday, October 8th
9:00 am – Simchat Torah Services Honoring Rabbi Jessica Fisher and Julie Rockowitz (In Person & Livestream) 6:00 pm – Mincha/Maariv (In Person & Livestream) 7:08 pm – Havdalah Monday, October 9th 1:00 pm – Canasta (In Person)
Tuesday, October 10th 1:00 pm – Mah Jongg (In Person)
It was so great to see so many of you for the beginning of Sukkot! We are so excited for our next big event--Sushi in the Sukkah at Rabbi Fisher's home this Thursday, October 5, 6:30-8:00 pm. While we are sad to be sending Rabbi Fisher off, we can't wait to spend the evening with her - and your last chance to register is tomorrow! Make sure to register ASAP here. The flyer is listed below.
We also have a lot of other programming going on, including:
Westchester Teen Collab
Hadracha (assistants in the Religious School and/or on Shabbat morning)
Teen Shabbat Services
Lounge Nights every month on a Wednesday
AND MORE!
Plus, the Beth El Teen Calendar is here! Check out the dates on the flyer below and add the QR codes to get them in your calendar, get regular updates through GroupMe, and follow our Instagram! You'll receive a PDF that has a clearer image ASAP.
Please see below for more information! At the end of the email, you'll find details USY's Fall Conventions, as well as about a program in Westchester called Tzelem for Trans, Nonbinary, Gender Expansive, and LGBTQ+ Jewish teens in Westchester, NY too!
And look out for something that includes all dates for the year to make it easy to include in your calendars!
Sushi in the Sukkah Thursday, October 5, 6:30-8:00 pm at Rabbi Fisher's Home for 8th-12th graders Save the date for our annual Sushi in the Sukkah event at Rabbi Fisher’s home. We’ll also be saying farewell to her as she finishes her time here at Beth El, so you don’t want to miss out!
Select your sushi choices when you register. Address provided once you register.
$36 per teen.
-- Hakafot: Earn Community Service Hours! Saturday, October 7 at 7 pm for 8th-12th graders
Help at our community-wide Hakafot! You'll get to give out stickers to participating kids, celebrate with the community, and earn community service hours.
Teen Collab: begins Thursday, October 12 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.
Module 1: October to December
Jewish Spirituality
A Taste of World Jewry
Module 2: January to early March
The Ethical Life: Jewish Values in an Age of Choice
Israeli TV: Checkout
Module 3: mid-March to May
Jewish and Israeli Art & Artists
Jewish Youth Climate Movement
Cost: Each module is $300, or you can sign up for all 3 for $750.
Hadracha: Assisting in the Religious School & on Shabbat Sundays, Thursdays and/or Saturdays for 8th-12th graders Do you enjoy giving back to the Beth El community? Want to have fun and gain experience working with kids? We are looking for Teen assistants in the Religious School (Sundays and/or Thursdays), as well as with leading our Tot and Mini Minyan Shabbat services. If you are interested, even in only part of the year, let us know! This is a great way to earn community service hours!
In addition to working directly with our kids, we are also adding a training component this year! We will meet monthly for one hour on Sundays during Religious School and will focus on exploring child development, classroom opportunities, classroom management, activity planning and implementing, and more. This is an excellent change to learn more about working with kids if you have interest in anything like working at summer camp, tutoring, youth sports, teaching, etc. It's also lots of fun!
To apply to join Hadracha, email Alyssa. --
-- October Lounge Night Wednesday, October 18, 6:30-8:00 pm for 8th-12th graders; in the Youth Lounge at Beth El Join us for pizza, video games, friends, and a dessert bar! Bring yourselves, your homework, and/or your Beth El friends! Register atwww.bethelnr.org/teenloungenights. Lounge Nights happen monthly on the following Wednesdays all year long: Nov. 29, Dec. 13, Jan. 24, Feb. 28, Mar. 13, April 17, and May 8. Mark your calendars! Questions? Want to help plan? Contact teens@bethelnr.org.
Other Community Events & Programs
USY Fall Convention: USY2K November 17-19 on the Jersey Shore for all 8th-12th graders
Join NY and Hagalil for their Fall Convention! The hotel is the Days Inn Hotel by Wyndham in Toms River, and transportation is available from Queens, Livingston and Highland Park.
Cost: $349 (early bird registration), $374 (until November 3) -- Tzelem for Trans, Nonbinary, Gender Expansive, and LGBTQ+ Jewish Teens in Westchester, NY Located at Congregation Kol Ami, 252 Soundview Ave., White Plains, NY 10606
Moving Traditions and Keshet are excited to partner and bring you Tzelem for Trans, Nonbinary, Gender Expansive, and LGBTQ+ Jewish teens in Westchester, NY. Tzelem offers a safe, supportive space to make new friends and explore issues like: Life transitions; Healthy Relationships; Body Positivity; Self-Compassion; Mental Health; Jewish Identity; And much more!
All sessions run from 11 am – 12:30 pm on the following Sundays: 10/22, 11/19, 12/10, 1/28, 2/11, 3/10, 4/7, 5/19.
Group Leader: Eliana Rubin Eliana Rubin (she/they) is a queer and trans artist and educator. She recently moved back to NYC from her hometown of Los Angeles. She serves as the Inclusive Education Consultant at The Jewish Education Project. Eliana received her Master of Educational Leadership from HUC-JIR. They are the creator of Jewsicals (Jewish musicals), short musical numbers based around our sacred texts. This will be Eliana’s second time leading Tzelem and she couldn’t be more excited! When Eliana is not working in education, she is songwriting, exploring the Big Apple, and eating copious amounts of movie theater popcorn.
Fun Fact: Eliana and Bekkah work together, so feel free to reach out to Bekkah to learn more!
Stay tuned for even more Teen programming!
More information coming soon!
Beth El Synagogue Center 1324 North Avenue New Rochelle, NY 10804
L'shanah Tovah! Whether you celebrated the High Holidays with us, or you were elsewhere, we hope you had a wonderful start to 5784!
We have lots of Sukkot and Simchat Torah programming, as well as events in October! More information about each event or opportunity is below.
Sukkah Hop: Saturday, September 30 after Shabbat services. Register here.
Farewell Open House at Rabbi Fisher's: Sunday, October 1, 3:30 pm.
Chaverim Booze & Bourbon Social: Thursday, October 5 at 8 pm. Register here.
Rabbi Fisher's Aufrauf: Saturday, October 7 during Shabbat services.
Mini Hakafot: Saturday, October 7 at 5:30 pm. Register here.
Youth & Family Tie Dye event (preschool-2nd grade): Sunday, October 22 from 12:30-1:30 pm. Register here.
Matan: conversations to determine what Jewish programming needs are for children with disabilities in the Westchester area. Sign up here for a conversation.
Please reach out if you have any questions, and we look forward to see you a lot in the next few weeks!
Upcoming Events: Community Sukkah Hop
Saturday, September 30, 12:00 pm (ish)
Join Beth El members after Shabbat morning services (and Parsha Club!) for our annual Sukkah Hop. We will enjoy appetizers, lunch, and dessert in different locations, all of which are within walking distance to the shul. Register Here.
Farewell Open House at Rabbi Fisher's
Sunday, October 1, 3:30 pm
Spend some time with Rabbi Fisher. There will be treats and tea!
Bourbon & Booze in the Sukkah with Chaverim ("Friends"): for Parents of School-Age Children Thursday, October 5 at 8:00 pm for adults only
Join us for an adults-only gathering in the Beth El Sukkah! Reconnect with old friends and make new friends! We'll be offering a bourbon and wine (or beer) tasting, light snacks/food and an opportunity to meet and socialize.
Rabbi Fisher's Aufrauf Saturday, October 7, 9 am Tots/Mini Minyan may start a few minutes late Join us on for the aufrauf of Rabbi Jessica Fisher and Rabbi Geoffrey Claussen. In lieu of gifts, the couple would most appreciate donations to Beth El. Please use this link to make a donation in their honor here.
Mini Hakafot with Dinner
Saturday, October 7, 5:30 pm for families with children ages 0-6 Come join us for a Tot-sized Simchat Torah experience! Tot families will dance with (stuffed) Torahs as we sing and celebrate Simchat Torah together at a bedtime-friendly time. Light dairy dinner included! Big(ger) kids and adults are invited to join the community for our communal Simchat Torah celebration at 7 pm!
Youth & Family Tie Dye Sunday, October 22 (for preschool-2nd grade) from 12:30-1:30 pm
In honor of Parshat Noach's rainbow, join us for TIE DYE! Shirts provided for the children--please dress them in clothing that can get messy! If adults volunteer, they can tie dye, too (bring your own shirt)!
Community News Matan Conversations for families of children with disabilities
My colleagues at Matan are working with the JCC of Mid Westchester to determine what the Jewish programming needs are for children with disabilities in the Westchester area. If you or someone else might have information to share with them please sign up for a brief/confidential interview (under 30 min).
