Announcements

May 17, 2022
16 Iyyar 5782

Dear Teens: 

We are so excited to get ready for Beth El Teen Leadership Board 2022-2023 Elections!!! We have SUCH an amazing group of teen leaders here at Beth El and we want everyone to have the opportunity to learn about the Teen Leadership Board and run for a position.

The Beth El Teen Leadership Board is here to plan programs, listen to the needs of our teens, create fun times for you at Beth El, and more!  We have continued to cultivate our own very special teen community here at Beth El, made up of excited teen leaders who can't wait to keep making this place special for you!

Interested in running for a board position? Board positions are open to incoming 9th-12th graders (current 8th-11th graders)!!

To run for a board position, do the following by Sunday, May 22:
1 - Go to bethelnr.org/teenboard.
2 - If you're not sure about what position to run for, contact Bekkah and she can put you in touch with this year's vice president(s) so that you can learn about the different positions!
3 - Read and fill out the Teen Board Guidelines and send them to Bekkah: usy@bethelnr.org.
4 - Fill out the Google application.
5 - Write a short speech! You do not have to film yourself giving the speech by May 20 if you can join us in person. You do have to send the words of the speech to Bekkah by May 20.

Then, everyone 8th-12th grade is invited to join us in person Thursday, May 26, 6:00-8:00 pm for in-person elections at Beth El, including a barbecue! Flyer below.

Questions? Contact Bekkah: usy@bethelnr.org.

We can't wait to see you soon!

All the best,

Bekkah Gold
Teen Advisor
usy@bethelnr.org ​

Questions? Contact Bekkah Gold, Director of Youth and Family Engagement at rgold@bethelnr.org or 914-235-2700, ext. 221 for more information.

Dear Religious School Families:

Sunday, May 22nd is the last day of Religious School (9 - 11am)! Our celebration will begin in the main sanctuary for a special family Kehillah service beginning at 9am. We cannot wait celebrate together!

Join us this Thursday, May 19th, for a Lag B'omer bonfire and smores with music and an outdoor playground. Come join your children between 5 - 6pm. Religious School classes will come outside at 5:30pm.  

I hope you will also join us this Friday night for our Youth & Family Kabbalat Shabbat Service at 5:30pm.  A delicious Carlos & Gabby's dinner will follow at 6
pm. Registration closes tomorrow at 5 pm! Register today here.

Important Upcoming Dates:
Thursday May 19th - RS open 4 - 6pm 
Thursday May 19th - Lag B'Omer celebration. Register here. 5 - 6pm
Friday May 20th - Youth Service/Shabbat Dinner- 5:30 pm, followed by Libeinu. Register here.
Sunday May 22nd - Last day of RS - Kehillah celebration 9:00am - 11:00am 
Sunday May 22nd - Israel Day parade in Manhattan. Register here.

Sunday, May 22nd - Rabbi Josh Warshawsky Launch Concert. Register here.
Friday June 10th - Cantor Gaby Schvartz's Installation. Register here.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS TODAY:

• Thursday June 9th -  Please save the date for a Shinshinim farewell sponsored by the Jewish Agency in the evening, details coming soon.  ​​​​​​
• Friday - Saturday June 11-12 - Youth & Family Engagement Shabbat - An opportunity for all youth & families to participate in Shabbat services.
•  Friday - Sunday June 17-18 - Kallah at Ramah - Join us for a fun filled Shabbat away in the Berkshires. Register here.

• Saturday June 25 - In person Pride Shabbat services - we are looking for participants for aliyot and leading prayers.
  
  Religious School registration for 2022-2023 is open! Click here to register. 
  
  Order your cheesecake too - Deadline is this Wednesday, May 18! - Click here
  
  Stephanie Lederman
  Intermin Director of Youth & Family Engagement
  slederman@bethelnr.org

Dear Religious School Families:

We had a fantastic time at the the Yom Ha'atzmaut event last Thursday. The end of the year is almost here - Sunday May 22nd! Our celebration will begin in the main sanctuary for a special family Kehillah service. Following the Kehillah celebration we will have time outdoors with an ice cream treat and community art project. I cannot wait to see you all on Sunday! I am looking forward for us all to spend some time together before the Summer begins.  

On Thursday May 19th for Lag B'omer we encourage you all to join us for some smores and music between 5pm - 6pm. I hope to see you there. Let's hope the weather cooperates!


Important Upcoming Dates:
Thursday May 12th - RS open 4:00 - 6:00pm
Sunday May 15th - RS open  K-2 (9:00am - 11am) *3-7 (9am - 12pm)
*Kitah Vav - 7:30 am - 10:15am - BE Mitzvah experience - Register here .
Thursday May 19th - RS open 4:00 - 6:00pm 
Thursday May 19th - Lag B'omer celebration. Register here. 5:00-6:00pm
Friday May 20th - Youth Service/Shabbat Dinner-5:30 pm followed by Libeinu. Register here.
Sunday May 22nd - Last day of RS - Kehillah celebration 9:00am - 11:00am 
Sunday May 22nd - Israel Day parade in Manhattan. Register here.
Friday June 10th - Cantor Gaby Schvartz's Installation. Register here.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS TODAY:

• Thursday June 9th -  Please save the date for a Shinshinim farewell sponsored by the Jewish Agency in the evening, details coming soon.  ​​​​​​
• Friday - Saturday June 11-12 - Youth & Family Engagement Shabbat - An opportunity for all youth & families to participate in Shabbat services.

•  Friday - Sunday June 17-18 - Kallah at Ramah - Join us for a fun filled Shabbat away in the Berkshires. Register here .

Please join us on Thursday, May 12th at 6:30 pm, as we welcome Rabbi Jan Uhrbach, Interim Dean at the Jewish Theological Seminary, to lead us in an evening of learning about our special new siddur Lev Shalem.* Rabbi Uhrbach was on the committee that edited the siddur and was also the rabbi who installed Rabbi Fisher earlier this year. We are honored to have the opportunity to learn from her.

The evening will begin with a delicious sushi dinner.

​​​​​​​Register Here to Attend In Person.

*You can dedicate a siddur in honor or memory of someone special. You can purchase one siddur for $72.00 or three siddurim for $180. A bookplate will be placed inside the siddur cover with your selected dedication. We hope that all 720 siddurim will be dedicated to someone. Your participation will enhance the religious, spiritual and educational experience at Beth El.

You can purchase your siddurim here.

Thursday, May 26 at 7:30 Via Zoom

The clergy will face-off in a cook-off with Jack Klebanow as our host. Their dishes will be awarded to the highest bidder in the audience.

What They're Cooking:
Rabbi David Schuck: Whole Wheat Sour Dough Bread

Rabbi Zach Sitkin: Bourekas

Rabbi Jessica Fisher: Labneh

Cantor Gaby Schvartz: Cheese Blintzes

Register Here.

All proceeds will go to HOPE's Food Pantry & Community Kitchen. 
This program is sponsored by Beth El Sisterhood.

To enhance your Shavuot chag, we are launching our annual cheesecake sale!

Purchase Your Cheesecake(s) Here.

All proceeds will benefit the Youth & Family department programming.

Join us for the Sisterhood's Spring Gala honoring Risë Stern
on Monday, May 23rd at 6 pm!

Good food, music, and friends! Don't miss out!

Register Here.

Sunday, May 22, 7 pm 
Join us on Sunday, May 22 at 7 pm, for an uplifting concert with Rabbi Josh Warshawsky and the release of his new album Chaverai Navarech Vol. III and the world premiere of a new song for Shoresh Halev.

Register Here.

Watch the above video of the Chinitz family inviting you to join us on June 2nd for our Annual Gala!

We're so excited to see you there!

​​​​​​​
Get your tickets and place a journal ad today here.

Join us this Sunday, May 15th at 8:15 am, for our Annual Minyan Breakfast. We will learn Torah with our clergy and honor Michael Wechsler. 

Register Here.

Join Rabbi Sitkin and Cantor Gaby Schvartz this Saturday, May 14th, at 11 am for Kavannah, an hour of mindfulness, meditation, intentional study, silence, singing, and prayer. This time is a gift for yourself.

Register Here.

This program is in person only. 

June 11th is Youth & Family Engagement Shabbat! Join us for a special edition of Shabbat and Shabbat Services, led by and dedicated to our Youth and Family Department.

If you want to participate, contact Cantor Gaby gschvartz@bethelnr.org.

Head to bethelnr.org/upcomingevents  for the links to all of our upcoming events! 

Tuesday, May 10th
1 pm - Mah Jongg (In Person).
7 pm - Together & Apart: The Future of Jewish Peoplehood (In Person). 
Register here.

Wednesday, May 11th
8 pm - IAC Meeting (Zoom).
Join online here.

Thursday, May 12th
1:30 pm - Parashat Hashavua (Zoom). Join online here.
6:30 pm - Teen Learning (In Person)

6:30 pm - A Night of Siddur Learning (In Person)
Register here. Join online here.

Friday, May 13th
6:30 pm - Kabbalat Shabbat (In Person). Register here.

Saturday, May 14th
9:30 am - Shabbat Services (In Person & Livestream).
Register here.
9:45 am - Tot Shabbat (In Person)
10:45 am - Family Kehillah (In Person)
11 am - Kavannah: Mindfulness & Contemplation (In Person). Register here.
7:50 pm - Mincha/Maariv

Sunday, May 15th
7:30 am - BE Mitzvah Experience (In Person). 

9 am - Annual Minyan Breakfast (In Person). Register here.
10:30 am - Daf Shevui (Zoom). Join online here.

Monday, May 16th
11 am - Smart Zoom (Zoom). Join online here.
1 pm - Canasta (In Person)

Tuesday, May 17th
1 pm - Mah Jongg (In Person)
7 pm - Together & Apart: The Future of Jewish Peoplehood (In Person). Register here. 

You can now browse our Judaica Gift Shop online here. Contact Carole Graham: 914-576-6617 or carolegraham@optonline.net or Ellen Hollander: 914-632-4658 or ellenarts@optonline.net for more information!

As a service to our members, Beth El includes in this section outside events that may be of interest to members of our community. Listing an event does not constitute endorsement of the event by Beth El.

The Family Room is a unique virtual space where grandparents can find experiences, activities, and resources to infuse their family relationships with Jewish culture, values, and traditions. Whether together in person or miles apart, grandparents, grandchildren, and family members can learn, explore, and play together using activities in the Family Room. Nine different destinations (Arts, Calendar, Celebrations & Holidays, Cooking & Food, Gardening & the Earth, Family Stories, Health & Wellbeing, Play, and Reading Room) are filled with creative activities and diverse resources for families to do when it best suits them. Learn more here. 

Hope Community Service's Kosher Food Program where anyone who lives, works or goes to school in Westchester County is able to access free kosher food. There is a delivery option for those that are homebound and those who reside in Northern Westchester. If you have any specific questions or want to enroll a family and/or an individual, you can do so by contacting Anya, Hope’s Pantry Manager, at pantry@hope-cs.org  or (914) 636-4010 ex. 2.

Join the DOROT Intergenerational Chess Program This virtual/Zoom program is for ages 60 and older. You do not need to know how to play chess. All you need is to be interested in learning and playing with high school students. If you're interested in joining, call Jodi Becker: 914-230-2418 or email: JBecker@DorotUSA.org.

Westchester Jewish Council Calendar The WJC has compiled the virtual opportunities from synagogues throughout Westchester (and the country) on their  calendar so you can take advantage of the rich programming being offered.

Back at Beth El We are so excited to continue welcoming our community back into Beth El! Please click here for more information on this process. Please Note:  until further notice, appointments or advanced RSVPs are required to visit the synagogue. 

Connect with us! Want to stay connected with us on social media or add our events directly to your Google Calendar? Head to www.bethelnr.org/social for all of the links to make sure you don't miss a thing!

Useful Links & Resources Click here for a list of Beth El and Westchester resources that may be helpful during this challenging time.

Head to bethelnr.org/upcomingevents for access links!

This Monday, May 9th
7-7:45 pm: Teens Only

Jewish and Arab Israelis getting along? How is that possible? It’s not only possible, but it’s happening in communities all across Israel through the efforts of Dror Israel – the largest network of informal educators in Israel.

Come join other Beth El teens on Monday, May 9th, at 7 pm for a dialogue with Gary Levy, International Relations Ambassador, about the incredible work Dror Israel’s 1,500 educators are doing in 16 communities on the social and economic periphery to foster a shared society.