- 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
…uld we be? Sincere effort is made to be kind and respectful to extended non-Jewish family members at life-cycle events. Indeed, many non-Jewish people participate happily in most aspects of our synagogue community. Even more so at other Jewish institutions such as the Jewish Community Center or Jewish Family Service; everyone is most welcome. And more importantly, many non-Jewish people have achieved great success in raising Jewish children. It’s…
…rs of Judaic education I have learned VaYiqra three times so far and every time I learned something new. The first time I was four years old and in studying VaYiqra I learned how to read Hebrew, Rashi script, and I learned what the sacrifices were. The second time I was eight years old and I learned more about why there are sacrifices. Most recently, I learned VaYiqra again over the past year and studied the te`amim – the symbols for the tune used…
…ared for us. They have served us loyally and well. They have helped at all times to carry on the traditions of our congregation, and therefore we single them out for our appreciation: Samuel Halperin, our permanent volunteer-reader, Simon Millen, our Honorary Gabbai, Samuel Hershderfer, Morris Beloff, Harry Massey, Charles Golden, Joe Kugler, Harry Kimel, Max Zimmerman, David Mansfield, Joseph Orchowsky, Isaac Press, Morris Simon, Isadore Kruger,…
…by their religious beliefs stands against the values of Judaism. The Board does not take such a statement lightly and does so with the understanding that this is a complex issue with many points of view and may not be speaking for its membership as a whole. That diversity of opinion and respect for each other’s beliefs is part of what makes the BEKI community a strong and vibrant one. In that regard, this is also a time when we can come together i…
…ibute money, or in other words, give give give. It is no surpise that from time to time active members experience “burn-out” or what we might call “mitzva indigestion.” For many dedicated and caring BEKI members it is hard to say “no” to an invitation to do a mitzva. And so, for the benefit of the many new members who might not yet know what to expect, and for those already suffering mitzva indigestion, I want suggest the following perspective. At…
…s, the difficulty of finding time to be with their families in these stress-filled ’90s. They put their time in at the shul, but it’s in mixed forums, which, after all, mirror their work-places. They may simply be from a different line, men of a different line of thought, a different world-view. And if there are no sons, to whom does the inheritance pass? I turn to Numbers Chapter 27, from parshat Pinchas. “The daughters of Zeloph’chad, of Manassi…
…g different, too. Things we’re rightly proud of and grateful for. Aleinu le-shabeah la-adon hakol… shelo asanu ke-goyei ha’aratzot… We praise the Lord of all, who did not make us like the other nations of the world. To the cynic who (parodied British historian Arnold Toynbee and) said, “How odd of God to choose the Jews,” we respond, (in the spirit of Maurice Samuel,) “It’s not so odd: the Jews chose God.” Listen to what Mark Twain wrote at the ve…
…someone has a right to broadcast and a business has a right to sponsor hate-radio does not mean it is a smart thing to do. Surely listeners have a right to tell station managers that they are tuning out and inform sponsors that they will not support businesses whose revenues support hate-radio. Ken Hamblin regularly uses racist epithets to describe people and belittles those who disagree with him. Recently he attacked people who receive welfare us…
…ompanion to Bnai Mitzvah Guide – updated 2023 Revised 31 May 2023 B- or Bar- or Bat-Mitzvah A young Jew, upon reaching the age of 12 or 13, is considered responsible to God and answerable to humanity for their own deeds. In Hebrew such a person is termed a bat- or bar-mitzvah, literally a woman or man “subject to the mitzvot” (commandments). At BEKI, we also use the gender-neutral option of b’mitzvah. We celebrate the young person’s status as a b’…
…information on the Ḥavura, or to receive weekly email and monthly mailings on synagogue activities, contact the coordinator at 20s30s@beki.org or our office at office@beki.org 203.389.2108 x14….
