- 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
…dream, it says that the angels are “ascending and descending.” This has caused controversy because it says specifically ascending first and then descending. Since angels reside in heaven, why are they not descending and then ascending? I agree with Rashi’s explanation. He believes that the angels were already with Jacob. But these angels can only travel so far with him, to the border of Canaan. Now that he is leaving Canaan, new angels with a new…
…im, and to elevate Man above the level of the beasts. Speech should not be used to curse God, and the blasphemer abused this privilege. I do think Moses knew that the punishment for the blasphemer was death, but he wanted to check with God, to make sure he was doing the right thing. Moses did not want to be accused of taking an innocent life. As a bat mitzva, I recognize that I am now responsible for the mitzvot, which Heschel calls “the antidote…
…sparency and accountability as we are today. Who gave what, and how was it used. And that’s how it should be. Donations should be used as promised, records should be kept, and there should be public accounting. Some members of the BEKI Board may feel burdened by the monthly financial reports that we review at every meeting, but it’s our obligation. All of the information is open to every member, should you be interested. You don’t have to be on th…
…include announcement and publication of sponsorship, kashrut supervision, use of the kitchen by an approved kosher caterer, wine & grape juice, set-up and clean-up of the room, trash removal and standard custodial services. Fee for 250 Guests or Less: $350 Fee for More than 250 Guests: $600 Additional per hour beyond 2: $75 2. Baby Events NOT on Shabbat Small Chapel* (no food allowed): $100 *or downstairs sanctuary space during renovation Main S…
…wels are often lengthened (changed into “long” vowels) when they are “in pause,” i.e. at the end of a phrase or verse, and final vowels are often dropped when the phrase or verse ends in a open syllable. This is for phonetic reasons. Thus, the sheva (English: Shewa) represented by “e” in “lekha” becomes a long vowel, the qamatz represented by “a” in “lakh,” and the long vowel “a” at the end of “lekha” drops off altogether. “Lakh” and “otakh” are t…
…g?” she asks. I think that God finds it amusing in some way…his children amuse him. And I think He’s smiling because he knows it’s not time, for them or for me, and that I have to wander a bit more. When I planned this date for my Bat Torah, I had no idea what the Torah portion would be. Maybe it was destiny that on this day I would sing the Song of the Sea because the sea is such a fitting metaphor for what has separated my Jewish soul from my Je…
…by tradition. For candle lighting times for the New Haven Area, enter ZIP Code 06515 at Candlelighting Times Guide. For candle lighting times and additional time parameters, see MyZmanim for New Haven and adjust elevation to 21 meters where applicable. The bottom left of the screen provides a date menu. For a Hebrew Calendar Add-on with candle lighting times for Mozilla Firefox, see https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1379. Want to kno…
…l Revenue Service as described in section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code; see our Letter of Determination from the IRS. Donate Online – To make a donation online by credit card, complete this form. Contributions of any amount are appreciated. Bill My Account – Donate now and have our office bill you. Members and Supporters may call or email office@beki.org requesting the BEKI office to bill your account. If you’re paying by check, make the…
…here, we are still waiting for someone else to take care of us. I know because my yovel year has clued me in to my own feelings about this. It may have taken 50 years plus or minus a few to realize it, but we’re the adults now! Coming of age in Samoa? Early teens. Coming of age in the second half of the 20th century in America? Well, hopefully before we start collecting Social Security! I do not mean by this that we have to or should stop feeling…
…okhi lo yada`ti Surely the Lord is in this place, and I, I did not know. I use the double “I” in translation to follow Rabbi Lawrence Kushner in his book by that name. Ya`aqov continues, Ma-nora ha-maqom haze, ein ze ki im-beit Elohim ve-ze sha`ar ha-shamaim. How awesome is this place! This is the house of God, and this is the gate of Heaven. There we have it. Ya’aqov, no longer able to stay home, leaves. Night falls in barren terrain. He puts his…
