- 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
Dear Rabbi, Regular family membership dues at BEKI are are $770. Habad [Lubavitch] Headquarters is at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. Is there a connection? Signed, Code Seeker Dear Code Seeker, Yes, there is a connection. The Habad Lubavitch have adopted the Biblical verse-cum-folksong “ufaratsta — You shall spread out West, East, North and South” Continue Reading »
Dear Rabbi, When Hanuka is on a Friday night, which lights do we light first, the Shabbat or the Hanuka? Signed, Light Right Dear Light Right, Light the Hanuka candles first, then the Shabbat candles. Once Shabbat candles are lighted and the blessing recited, one should not kindle any lights until after the conclusion of Continue Reading »
Dear Rabbi, What determines which sefer Torah [Torah scroll] is taken from the ark? Sincerely, Better Sefer than Sorry Dear Safer, It is common to have more than one sefer Torah in the ark, which is the case at BEKI. All of the Torah scrolls are identical inside, with respect to the letters, words and Continue Reading »
Dear Rabbi, I know that the Conservative movement said it is okay to drive on shabbat, but I for one don’t want to. Yet, the synagogue is a bit too far to walk. Can I ride a bike and still keep the rules of the sabbath? Signed, At the limit Dear Limit, The problem you Continue Reading »
Dear Rabbi, Can say I say mourners’ qaddish at a Shiva Minyan if I’m observing a yahrzeit but not one of the mourners during shiva? Signed, Still Mourning Dear Still, Yes, you may. “Mourners’ Qaddish” is specifically for anyone who is mourning and needs to say qaddish. Dear Rabbi, Why do people use the back Continue Reading »
Dear Rabbi, I like to brush my teeth after every meal. Do I need separate toothbrushes for meat and dairy? Signed, Choppers Dear Compulsive Cavity Curber, The rules of kashrut (keeping kosher) require the strict separation of meat and milk. To answer your question, we must ask two more. Do actual meat or dairy pieces Continue Reading »
From Winograd to Wisconsin Hirshel “Harry” Teplitszky (Tsvi Hirsh, Yiddish for “Little Deer”; aka Hershel, Herschel, Haim Tsvi) was born between 1856 and 1862. His father’s name was Shemuel (according to Hirshel’s tombstone, but “Moses” according to his death certificate). One family tradition says he was a hotelier in their village in the southern Kiev Continue Reading »
