Announcements

Kabbalat Shabbat will be at 4PM TODAY, and times will begin to change to coincide with sunset. Not able to join us live? You can re-watch this service on our Facebook page every week!

Friday Feb. 12, 2021 | 30 Shevat 5781
4pm Kabbalat Shabbat
5:08pm Candle Lighting

Saturday Feb. 13, 2021 | 1 Adar 5781
Mishpatim | Shekalim | Rosh Chodesh Adar
Torah #1: Exodus 21:1 - 24:18, pp. 456-480
Torah #2: Numbers 28:9-15, pp. 930-931
Torah #3: Exodus 30:11-16, pp. 523-524
Haftarah: 2 Kings 12:1–17, pp. 1276-1279
9:30am Shabbat Services - Livestream or sign up for next week.
9:45am Tot Shabbat (sign up here)
10:45am Family Kehillah (sign up here)
5:10pm Shabbat Mincha
6:15pm Virtual Havdalah

Visit our Livestream Page for the links: www.bethelnr.org/livestream

Those marking a simcha, observing the loss of a loved one, or someone who is sick or recovering from an illness have delighted/comforted that their lifecycle event has inspired generosity. If you would like to make a donation to Beth El in honor or in memory, please click here.

Condolences to the Rabin family on the passing of our member, Miriam Rabin z"l.

Condolences to the Ward family on the passing of our member, Bernice Ward z"l.

Mazal tov to Aaron Hodes and Brittany Sanford on the birth of their daughter, Talia Estelle Hodes.

In keeping with our effort to maintain as safe an environment as possible inside the Beth El building, we are introducing an online questionnaire which each person entering the building will need to fill out. The questionnaire is very simple, consisting of 3 yes/no questions asking about COVID symptoms, possible contact with COVID-positive people, and out-of-state travel history.

If you are signed up to attend minyan or have an appointment to visit the synagogue, you will need to fill out the form, which will be available on the website at  www.bethelnr.org/form/covid, no more than 12 hours before the time when you are due to arrive (or if you are scheduled to come to Beth El on Shabbat, within 18 hours of the beginning of Shabbat). A link to the form will also be included in the confirmation and reminder emails sent to those attending daily minyan and Shabbat services.

While we strongly encourage you to fill the form out at home, there will be a QR Code posted outside the lobby (except for Shabbat) which you can scan with your smartphone and which will allow you to answer the questionnaire on your phone after having your temperature checked by the attendant. Thank you for your cooperation with this new system, which will help us in our effort to have as COVID-free an environment as possible. Please direct any questions to covidquestions@bethelnr.org.

Purim Events - Come celebrate with us! We have a full schedule of amazing programs in store for you this year, starting on February 21st. Head to www.bethelnr.org/purim2021 for all of the most up-to-date details!

Purim Campaign - We are excited to invite you to join us for our annual Matanot L'Evyonim Purim Campaign! Beth El’s Department of Youth and Family Engagement invites you to join us in fulfilling the mitzvah of Matanot L'Evyonim by participating in our Purim Campaign. Not only will you be helping Beth El, but a portion of the funds raised will support the Masorti Foundation and Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger. Click here for more information! All orders must be placed by Monday, February 15.

Purim marks one year since the COVID-19 pandemic changed our lives, bringing to mind the words of Megillat Esther, “Venahafoch Hu” - “and it was turned upside down.” On the day before Purim, the Fast of Esther marks a time when the Jewish people faced imminent danger by fasting, praying, and preparing for Esther to change their fates.

Join us for a day of learning, prayer, service, and ritual at A Year of Life Turned Upside Down: Ta’anit Esther with Hadar on Thursday, February 25th from 12-6pm. View the full schedule and register at www.hadar.org/taanit-esther.

Registration is now open for both Beth El Nursery School and Beth El Day Camp! We're so excited for your family to join us this year!

   Nursery School - Please click here for more information on our Nursery School.
   Day Camp - Please click here for all of the details on our Day Camp.

Minyan attendees are needed throughout the week - view available time slots and sign up at www.bethelnr.org/minyansignup. We have plenty of open slots each day so please feel free to sign up without worrying that you are taking the spot of someone who needs to say Kaddish. Evening minyan times change each week to coincide with sunset. You can also attend virtually - link on our Livestream Page. The password, if prompted, is bethel.

Join us for a 10-minute Mishnah study with our Rabbis at 8:15am Monday-Friday and 9am on Sunday at the same link as minyan - click here.This is a ten-minute study of Mishnah as a way to memorialize our loved ones (which is as old a method of honoring our deceased as the recitation of the Mourner’s Kaddish). We begin by dedicating that morning Mishnah’s to the memory of the people we are remembering and we conclude with the Edelstein prayer, which is recited with the names of those for whom we would be saying kaddish. The password for this, if prompted, is bethel.

"Who is honored? One who honors others." Pirkei Avot 4:1 - This teaching from Pirkei Avot reminds us that our tradition has an ethic of honoring our loved ones. One way we do this is through teaching and studying Torah in their honor or in their memory. If you would like to celebrate someone marking a simcha or elevate the name and memory of a loved one, consider honoring them with your Beth El community by sponsoring an OBM session or a weekly Shabbat sermon (now being sent out in our Tuesday Ride the El emails). Please note: you must click the corresponding link and fill out the sponsorship form in order to sponsor an OBM or sermon.

See below for just some of our featured upcoming events!
View our full schedule and get all access links at bethelnr.org/livestream!

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A TRUSTEE OR AN OFFICER? The Beth El Nominating Committee is accepting nominations for officers and trustees. Please contact Howard Rosenstein (howard.rosenstein@meredith.com) or Lori Schwartz (oreomets13@yahoo.com) for more information. The Committee will be accepting nominations until Thursday, March 25.

FINDING FRIENDS: YOUTH & SISTERHOOD One of our b'nei mitzvah students, Yael Nagar, is launching a project for youth and Sisterhood. In her mitzvah project, Yael hopes to bring Sisterhood and youth together by giving them some time to talk about life and other stuff. Please sign up at www.bethelnr.org/findingfriends if you are a part of the youth community or email yaeljulianagar@gmail.com if you are a part of Sisterhood and interested in participating. Yael will follow up with you and find you a buddy.

HAMENTASHEN HAPPENING Learn to make hamentashen (and explore a variety of fun fillings!) with our very own baker extraordinaire, Morah Eden Aronoff on Sunday, February 21 at 11am, via Zoom. This event is perfect for the whole family - bring your children! The cost for this fundraising event is $25/family. Head to www.bethelnr.org/Hamentashen to register!

BAGELS AND BOOKS Join us for our morning book club on February 22nd at 9:30am, discussing The Woman Who Defied Kings by Andree A Brooks. See future meeting dates and book list at www.bethelnr.org/bagelsbooks.

THE QUESTION OF THE UPCOMING ISRAELI ELECTION—AN UNEXPECTED ANSWER Presented by Dr. Rani Jaeger of the Shalom Hartman Institute on February 23 at 12pm. This series is free and open to all. Click here for more details. Registration is required for this event - click here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

PROGRAMS FROM THE JEWISH SPIRITUAL HEALING CENTER The WJCS Spiritual Healing Center offers programming, resources, and awareness of opportunities for solace through Jewish traditions. Services are designed to offer an alternative to secular options for individuals who seek a pathway or link to Jewish tradition, Jewish roots, and Jewish spirituality. Click here to view some upcoming events.

*POSTPONED* JOURNEY WITH JTS, A FOUR SESSION LEARNING SERIES The first installment, Meet the new JTS Chancellor Shuly Rubin Schwartz, has been postponed with the date TBA. Chancellor Schwartz will be in dialogue with Rabbi Gordon Tucker, JTS’s Vice Chancellor for Religious Life and Engagement. Click here for registration and more info.

JULIAN Y. BERNSTEIN DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS - Join us Tuesday, March 16th at 7:30pm as we celebrate virtually, our Jewish community's outstanding volunteers - including our very own Dr. Brian Bosworth! Also honored at this year's awards is Beth El's former Executive Director, Irwin Davison! This event is free and open to all. Click here for more information and click here to register.

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!

VACCINE SIGN UP ASSISTANCE As of Monday, January 11, New York State entered Phase 1b of vaccine distribution for COVID-19. To see if you're eligible for the vaccine, click here. We understand that registering for a vaccine can be difficult, and Beth El is here to support you. If you need assistance, please email vaccinehelp@bethelnr.org and someone will be in touch to help you navigate the process.

BETH EL MEMORIAL PAGE We have created a space on our Beth El Website to honor members and loved ones lost during these unprecedented times. Some of those who have experienced a recent loss have posted reflections and photos of their loved ones for our Beth El community to honor and share in their memory. This webpage is password protected, please login to your shulcloud account & visit www.bethelnr.org/virtualmemorial.

TORAH & HAFTARAH READING IS BACK We are reenergizing our initiative to broaden congregational participation in reading Torah as well as chanting the Haftarah on Shabbat morning. Those interested are invited to sign up here. Please reach out to Alan Kellman (alan@twoals.com) for Torah reading questions. For Haftarah questions reach out to Steven Cohen (SCohen@kanekessler.com). Cantor Schvartz (gschvartz@bethelnr.org) can help with preparing or learning how to read. If you'd like to sign up to lead a Virtual Havdalah, click here!

SHABBAT DINNERS FROM PRIDE CATERERS Let Pride Caterers, Beth El's exclusive caterer, cook your Shabbat dinner! Visit www.pridecaterers.net to see their weekly offerings. Delicious challah included with every order!

KOSHER FOOD DELIVERY If you are interested in ordering kosher food options, Tamar Weinberg, a member of Young Israel of New Rochelle, has been arranging delivery to New Rochelle. Click here to join the group via WhatsApp. Please note that you will need to install WhatsApp to join this group.  

MISHEBERACH LIST Any name added to the Misheberach list will be automatically removed after one month. If someone needs it to remain for another month they must reach out again to one of the clergy. 

Want to see your event featured in the Shabbat Announcements? To have your announcement included in the Shabbat Announcement email, please paste it into this Google Document. All submissions must be in by Thursday at noon to make it into the week's announcements.

Beth El's Israel Affairs Committee would like to share interesting and exciting news regarding the week's developments in business, culture, technology, agriculture, sports, and the environment in Israel.

Don’t want to vaccinate? Israel set to limit access to cafes, culture and more

Are our skies ready for drone deliveries? Israel plans first worldwide test

For anyone looking for more coping resources in these challenging times, the Institute for Jewish Spirituality is offering a free daily meditation (12:30 pm). You can access their meditation here.
You can also dial in by phone by calling: 
+1 646-876-9923 or +1 669-900-6833
and entering our meeting code: 880 292 556 
For international call-in numbers, click here.

​​​​​​​We have a list of Mental Health Resources and COVID-19 Resources on our website.

An archive of all of our "El" newsletter and Shabbat Announcements can be found at bethelnr.org/announcements.

Click here ​​​​​for our full calendar of programs.