I am writing this annual “dues” letter following a year unlike any other. More than ever, Beth El has provided all of us comfort, connection, and hope as we navigated the aftermath of October 7th. We have gathered to provide each other solace, to sing, and to hear words of Torah as we have grappled with the events in our beloved Israel and the anti-semitism in our own country. And, we have continued to celebrate each other's simchas, joined in inspiring Shabbat and Holiday services and participated in community social events, SMART activities, and education for tot, youth and adults.
Beth El is a vibrant community and I am excited about the rich spiritual programming and dynamic educational opportunities that await us in the coming year, under the leadership of Rabbi Schuck, Rabbi Sitkin, and Cantor Gaby, as well as Rabbi Bedo who will be joining our community later this summer. The synagogue’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30. Our professional staff, our Audit and Finance Committee and the Beth El Board of Trustees carefully review and consider the budget each year, including a review of the existing dues. For the 2024-25 year Beth El’s dues are increasing by only 3%, a rate well below the current rate of inflation. Due to ongoing security needs following recent events, we have found it necessary to increase our security contribution. The security fee will be increased to $385 from the previous amount of $350. This adjustment is crucial in light of the increased security we have put in place in the past year and this fee remains well below the actual costs of providing security to our community. In the coming week, you will receive your annual dues bill. Please note that in addition to standard membership, every bill includes the enhanced membership option, which provides reserved seating for the High Holidays. If you are not interested in enhanced membership please indicate this when paying. Below is an outline of the fees you will see on your bill.
We require payment for membership prior to the High Holidays. Please make every effort to pay as soon as possible. Your prompt payment is very helpful to the synagogue’s cash flow, financial planning and secures your High Holiday seats. If you wish to establish a payment plan to pay your bill monthly (or some other time frame), please contact accounting@bethelnr.org.
We never want finances to be a barrier to membership and Beth El prides itself on working with each individual family who is experiencing financial hardship to adjust their dues accordingly. If you are experiencing hardship, please reach out to Elizabeth Clain, Executive Director, at (914) 235-2700, ext. 225 or eclain@bethelnr.org.
The clergy team and lay leaders are already working on the high holidays, and designing services intended to bring opportunities for reflection, singing, and learning. We’ll be in touch later in the summer with more information regarding the high holidays.
Finally, I want to thank you for your commitment to our synagogue. It is more important than ever that we stand together.
