- 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
…ses Maimonides, the Rambam, broke the mold with the publication of his law code Mishne Torah. In his concise Hebrew, the Rambam systematized much of the known body of practical Jewish law into a law code that could serve as a quick reference guide to any student or judge. But unlike previous law books, this book did not include minority opinions, did not quote passages from the Talmud as its source of authority, did not present compelling argument…
…y transferring full legal title to the State.41 In these ways antagonisms between Jews and Arabs — which continue to a great degree to center on the issue of land — were exacerbated. The Ottoman Land Codes and Laws of 1858 and 1859, then, were issued in order to assure state control over the lands of Palestine and to increase state revenues from those lands. For a variety of reasons much of the cultivated or occupied land was never registered or…
…brother and two precious sons,” and most recently “The Leah E. Posener and Betty D. Zelen Memorial Fund for the Benefit of Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel Sisterhood.” After establishing these funds, George made significant additional contributions. These funds will support our community and memorialize the Posener name in perpetuity. Whatismore, George has named the Congregation and its religious school as a major beneficiary in his estate plan…
…ba was a revolutionary document. It fundamentally changed the relationship between Jewish men and women. Marriage would now become an agreement between equals and no longer a purchase. Invented by Shimon ben Shetah, the ketuba was a contract which guaranteed women the right to own property, the enforceable right to financial support, and most of all, the right to a payment agreed to before marriage in case of divorce. The ketuba was a contract. Bu…
…God. So who or what do we mean when we say, “our God”? I think it’s a safe bet that every one of us here in the sanctuary today conceives of God in a somewhat different way. My own beliefs have evolved over the years, beginning when I was a little girl with God as a wise, gray-bearded grandfather-in-the-sky, to the idea that God is Nature, to a version of the Reconstructionist concept of God as the power that makes for good in the world; in times…
…ook out a third scroll this morning because today is the first day of Adar Bet, the month that gives us Purim (quoting Ina: “Purim Baskets!”). Mi-she-nicknas Adar, marbin be-simha once Adar starts, celebration increases (Eruvin 29a). Tonight’s auction will be a great kick-off to the month ahead. I hope to see every one of you here, with friends, beginning at 7:30. Bring your credit cards and some cash, too, for the raffles. Bring your sense of fun…
…osephus and Philo. Bilde, for example, writes: “In my opinion this tension between realistic glimpses of a dangerous situation, and a pacifist interpretation of the Jewish opposition can best be explained as an expression of a contradiction between redactional tendency and historical tradition.”27 Bilde is essentially suggesting that both Josephus and Philo tried to paint pacifist pictures for polemical purposes but the violent truth slips out in…
…ay of our story of Ya`aqov. Who knows how many other places the connection between prayer and Torah text is hidden in the structure of the prayer rather than in its explicit content. Ma-nora! How awesome! The Hidden Personal Connection In a sense, I have spoken my word of Torah, but something is missing. I have not yet told you how I picked this Parasha and this aliya to lein, to study, and to teach. Here is the answer. Last year, I missed being i…
…torical societies and the like. He is survived by his his wife Louise Elizabeth “Betty” Holden Stutz, brother Robert, daughter Eleanor, son-in-law Jeffrey Lowell and grandson Galen Frederick Lowell. In making this contribution, Eleanor explained that she wanted to express her gratitude for the blessings of life, love and wisdom that she received through her father, in recognition of God as the ultimate source of blessing. “I wanted to give somethi…
…ithout prior 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 s…
