- Congregation Beth El–Keser Israel
85 Harrison Street, New Haven, CT 06515-1724 | P: 203.389.2108 | office@beki.org
85 Harrison Street, New Haven, CT 06515-1724 | P: 203.389.2108 | office@beki.org
…that historically Judaism has in all times and places upheld the “right of free speech” and valued open inquiry. I am simply observing that the core philosophical outlook and values that support the notion of free speech and open inquiry are deeply imbedded in Jewish religious culture, and that we rightly draw from this well of thought and wisdom in implementing Judaism in our day. The very structure of the Mishna, the Talmud, and even the law cod…
…man is clean of sin, the water tests his wife. At a time when a man is not free of sin, the water does not test his wife. Therefore, when adulterers increased in their numbers, the sota’s bitter waters ceased. This reading by the Gemara has answered both our questions while demonstrating for us the evolutionary nature of the halakha, the laws by which the mitzvot are applied. Verse 31 refers to the sota and her male partner assuming the ceremony h…
…KI? Signed, Questioning Couple Dear Couple, Numerous references in the law codes and in case history governing Torah reading practice indicate that only one person at a time may read the Torah, and by extension, recite the Torah blessings, in public worship. The codes, based on the Talmud (and in this case also the Jerusalem Talmud), apply the halakhic rule of “trei qalei la mishtamei — two voices are unintelligible” to the issue of joint aliya. A…
…ent backup generators, the array is busily and quietly producing pollution-free electricity for the grid. Photovoltaic generation can be a direct replacement for the most expensive and dirtiest power plants. Major funding for the array was provided by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, and funding for the associated educational activities by the Legacy Heritage Innovation Project of the Legacy Heritage Fund. Additional funding was provided by over…
…er, fear, or guilt. This does not mean that I went through it 100% anxiety-free. I felt my will assert itself, however, from a level deeper than any anxiety. When my best medical alternative quickly became clear, my deeper energies turned foremost to communicating with those around me. In service of this powerful need, I found within me an unusual calm and lucidity. These helped me to reach out to those close to me in special ways both before and…
…vely small financial contribution is reasonable, since anyone can pray for free on the High Holy Days (just not at our shul), and that anyone can come to BEKI “for free” the rest of the year. (If a reader would like to make that case, we’ll print it.) But the old formulas for synagogue financing are not working well enough, and the level of community participation in synagogues is radically lower than it was generations ago. The world has changed,…
…sen at 203.389-2108 or jjtilsen@beki.org for information. UHS Graduation & Promotion The United Hebrew School is concluding another wonderfully successful year of study. The Graduation & Promotion will take place at the Westville Synagogue on Sunday 8 June. Breakfast will be served beginning at 9:30a followed by Graduation and Promotion at 10:30a. All are welcomed to share in this joy. Ramah New England Alumni Sought If you attended Camp Ramah in…
…authorization from the synagogue office and our rabbi. Peanut-free and nut-free snacks are provided for all children’s and youth programs. Peanuts and nuts are generally not permitted in the building for public or school functions. Kiddush presentations for the general congregation and sukkah meals should not contain peanuts or nuts. However, BEKI does not guarantee the facility to be nut-free. Those carrying items such as candy and snacks for per…
…s and our traditions. The times we live in right now are very good. We are free and privileged. We are welcome in mainstream society. More than that: we have considerable impact on it. The danger is that we might intermarry and assimilate until there’s nothing left of Judaism to preserve. In the century just past, an extraordinary percentage of Nobel prizes were awarded to Jews, and Jews earned distinctions way out of line with our numbers — in re…
…is is one of the few times — maybe the only — where one is asked to give a free will offering, as much or as little as one is able. It was much like this in our group. We came from varying levels of readiness for this experience. Two of us did not know how to read Hebrew at all when we started. The rest of us varied widely in how well we could read and how much Judaic education we had received. There were moments, especially at the beginning, when…
