Dear Friends,
Rabbi’s Message
When I reflect on our response to the COVID pandemic, the most impactful thing we did was develop our livestream capabilities. Many described our virtual offerings as a life saver that helped them stay connected to people during a lonely and often painful time. It was also a vehicle for delivering spiritual nourishment in many different forms.
Some synagogues have adapted their primary services to better cater to the livestream community, increasingly prioritizing their virtual presence as their main community space for the future. This model offers clear economic advantages, assuming that removing geographical barriers will indeed expand their membership globally.
However, when it comes to the spiritual, social, and intellectual aspects of communal life, nothing can replace physical presence. Reciting kaddish on Zoom turns an experience meant to be deeply communal—designed to draw people out of their solitude of grief and into a loving community— into something entirely different. The warmth of a hug, a smile, or a post-service conversation are irreplaceable. Beyond the personal benefits of attending in person, the concept of a minyan is that others in the community need you to help them say kaddish. Each time someone joins our minyan on Zoom we must actively seek someone else to come to the shul to ensure that ten people are physically present.
However, in my view, even if those assumptions are correct, the loss of fostering a strong in-person community far outweighs the financial benefit of a massive virtual one.
The beating heart of Jewish communal life requires presence. We cook for the soup kitchen together. We pray together. We study together. We build social bonds together (usually over food and wine, but not necessarily, but it does help…). We show up for one another. The Talmud goes so far as to suggest that when ten people gather together God’s presence dwells among them. Coming together is powerful.
Due to health reasons, there are members of our community who are unable to join us in person, and they feel the weight of that absence deeply. Many have shared how difficult their absence feels; they are grieving a real loss. I am grateful that we can offer them a virtual way to participate from the safety of their homes because every single member of our community is important.
As a reflection of our values, we want to ensure that all members can join our synagogue offerings. As such, our virtual offerings are grounded in the value of inclusion, not convenience.
I know. I know. It’s hard to resist the allure of convenience. Who wants to get in a car to drive to a class in the frigid December weather when you can join from the comfort of your home in your UGGs and a glass of wine? I get it. And, we have hosted world renowned scholars to deliver a lecture at Beth El to a room of 15 people with 75 more on Zoom. It’s deflating. Our Shabbat morning attendance is still not the same as it was before COVID with many people joining via the livestream.
Our intention in setting up virtual access to communal life was not to dismantle the thrill of gathering together to learn or sing or pray.
I understand the pull of convenience, especially in 2024, when so much of our lives is tailored to meet our individual needs. You can order coffee from your phone and the app will tell you the exact time it will be ready. I even ordered a kittel belt for Yom Kippur on Amazon and it arrived within 24 hours! These conveniences have become so routine that they no longer feel like luxuries—they’re simply the norm.
The study of Torah is also not meant to be a solitary act. We study b’chevruta, in partnership. Joining from home when one could join in person impoverishes the experience for everyone else. It’s one less voice in the mix. One less perspective shared. One less question offered for exploration. There is also something energizing when we walk into a room for study and its brimming with others who are also interested in intellectual and spiritual engagement. It makes a massive difference in the quality of the learning to have a room full of engaged people.
Our virtual offerings are grounded in the value of inclusion, not convenience.
I know how hard it is to give up conveniences to which we are accustomed. It’s a big ask. I truly understand that. And, I am confident that once you readjust and make the effort to engage in person, your personal experience will deepen and it will transform the communal one. It’s just a matter of restarting the habit.
As I wrote in an appeal two years ago:
If you fell out of the habit of coming to Beth El in person and you have enjoyed the conveniences of joining through the livestream, please, come back to your communal home. We miss you and we are incomplete without you. Every single one of you. It’s easy to think, “I am just one person, so joining from home does not impact anyone.” But I want you to know that this is not true.
To those who really cannot attend communal life in person, I want you to know that you are missed. You have not been forgotten. If you feel disconnected from us, please call us to set up a Zoom coffee. Maybe I will even order a coffee to be delivered to your home from my phone so we can do a coffee l’chaim! But know that we miss you.
And for those who can attend in person, please make the effort. You will not regret it.
L’Shalom,
Rabbi David A. Schuck
President’s Message
On Kol Nidrei, I spoke about the ways that Beth El offers so many different spiritual, ritual, social and educational experiences to the members of our community, to enable everyone to find one (or many) things that speak to them. My mother, reading through the Beth El communications, noted to me just how many sukkot events Beth El had, and in reflecting on that comment and speaking with the Beth El professional staff and lay leadership, it struck me that Beth El’s approach to Sukkot in many ways is a microcosm of the broad and diverse array of our programming more broadly.
I want to start with the holiday of Sukkot itself. Beth El has two sukkahs at the shul, the Nursery School sukkah decorated with what made by our youngest Beth El members from our nursery school and the “main” sukkah decorated with creative ornaments made by the Religious School and sustainable decorations many of them donated by Sisterhood and Men’s Club. Over the course of the holiday, those two sukkot hosted, among other things:
● Kiddush on Shabbat & Sukkot
And, that is just the events based at Beth El itself! I have no idea how many sukkot are at the homes of members of our community, but I know there are a lot! I know that among those are the 9 Beth El sukkahs that the shul rents out to members who do not own one, but would like to have one. Alan Greenberg’s organization of this program each year shows how we encourage and facilitate families’ participation in ritual. The list above also does not include our annual sukkah walk, where we have the opportunity to visit the sukkot of several community members, and spend social time together in those spaces, or, the time that members of our community spend in the sukkot of one another, admiring the unique nature of each family’s sukkah, the traditions they uniquely bring to their sukkot, and building or reaffirming connections.
● Visits from the Nursery School and from the Religious School
● Supper in the Sukkah for Nursery School Families
● The saying of kiddush following [evening] minyan
● Sisterhood Luncheon in the sukkah
● Teens in the sukkah for sushi
As I think about Beth El and as the holidays end and the fall programming begins, this list really captures for me the many facets of Beth El. We have an array of scheduled programming for all ages; we have purely social activities and we have religious and spiritual ones. And, throughout we are forging multigenerational connections which transcend the synagogue building itself.
● A gathering of local elected officials and other civic leaders and multifaith leaders to spend time at Beth El and to learn about the holiday
Lauren Freeman-Bosworth President
From Left to Right: Rabbi David Schuck with Minister Mark McLean at the Annual Sukkot Gathering with Civic Community Leaders; Author Talia Carner at Beth El Sisterhood’s Sukkah Luncheon; Beth El Nursery School in the sukkah.
Teen Shabbat Services
Saturdays at 10:00am on 12/14 2/8 3/15 4/5 5/17
Explore your Jewish identity, engage in discussions, deepen your understanding of Jewish traditions in a warm, inclusive environment led by teens for teens, with adult guidance
Questions? Please email Alyssa Berman at aberman@bethelnr.org
Q&A with Rabbi Bedo
As Fall and Winter Limmud Classes get underway, we sat down with Rabbi Viki Bedo to hear more about what drives her in her rabbinical work and structuring of adult learning at Beth El—from her Budapest roots to a trust in our community’s ability to deeply learn. This interview has been edited for brevity and flow.
Can you share your journey to becoming a rabbi and what inspired you to choose this path?
I grew up in Budapest, Hungary, in a family that’s not particularly observant of any religion. My parents are “assimilated” Catholics and not very religious, although we did enjoy some rituals, culture, food, and holidays. Since I was a young girl, I’ve always been interested and curious about spirituality. I was the type of elementary school child that wanted to know everything about death and about what happens after we die; and was curious about who God is. I was really trying to understand the purpose and meaning of life at an early age. So, I’ve always had a proclivity for religion and spirituality, but I did not find my place in the religion that I grew up with. I was exposed to Judaism as a teenager, because I spent a year as an exchange
student in the United States, living in Seattle with a Jewish family, who took me to a Conservative synagogue. I got involved in the Hebrew High School program for students—I was the only nonJewish member. I would go to events, engage in learning, attend synagogue regularly. I loved going to shul and seeing everybody mouthing the words, even though they didn’t always know what the words meant. But then it was so powerful to see people come together in song; the communal aspect of singing really spoke to me. I’ve never experienced anything like that back home in Hungary.
I also had a chance to go on a trip to New York with the local modern Orthodox youth group, which was a transformative experience. When I returned to Seattle, I decided that I wanted to join the Jewish people. Learning was also a big part of my journey. I’ve always been intellectually curious and interested in texts and stories and narratives. Through the Hebrew High School Program, I got exposed to not just Torah, but learning Torah in a Jewish way. Questioning each verse a word at a time was a radically new way of learning text for me. This whole world opened up to me as I learned to dig deep, to ask questions, and also to be okay with not always knowing the answers—or accepting that there might be a multitude of answers. This was the most intellectually stimulating thing that I’d ever experienced.
Growing up in post-communist Hungary, the communal structures of the society were extremely weak. It was a very, very isolated, individualistic, and alienated culture. There weren’t many communal institutions. Actually, the church was one of the few, and because we weren’t involved in it, I think I’d always felt as a young person that I didn’t have community, but I didn’t even have language for that. I didn’t know it was possible to live in a place where people bring you food when you’re sick, show up when you have a baby, and go to a Shiva house or a funeral for somebody they don’t even know, just because this is what people do for each other. And so when I got exposed to that in the Jewish community, I saw that this was a way that I could live my life—a way to structure my life going forward.
After I finished high school in Hungary, I really wanted to learn more Jewish texts, but the learning opportunities were very limited, especially for women. I ended up going to Israel to study at the Conservative Yeshiva for two years, and when I came to America to go to college, where I studied Jewish Studies, a lot of people at that point were telling me I should be a rabbi. The truth is that I could never have imagined, as somebody who grew up in a non-Jewish home and learned Hebrew as an adult, that it was even a possibility for me to be a leader within a community that I did not grow up in. So it took me a lot of jumping over those inner-obstacles and hurdles to be able to even see myself as a rabbi one day. For most of college, I thought that I wanted to get a PhD and teach Jewish studies. But then, when I was working on my thesis as an undergraduate, I realized that I did not enjoy
being in the library all day. I love to learn, I love to read, but I had this realization that I most enjoyed the research when I got to talk to people about it. The moment the material got too detailed or too in the weeds, people lost interest—and so did I! I wanted something more big-picture, and I really wanted to be learning with people. And so this—my interest in learning and studying, my love of Torah, combined with my extroversion, and my love of people—is ultimately what led me to the rabbinate.
Can you speak on how your Hungarian background colors how you approach community work?
I’ve been in the United States now for 13 years, and became an American citizen in March. At this point, I have integrated into not just American culture, but also, of course, American Jewish culture and the Conservative movement, which is where I was ordained as a rabbi.
That being said, I bring with me from my Hungarian background a few important pieces. Jewish literacy in Hungary is extremely low, and although it is different in the United Staets, ther is still,a large chunk of the Jewish population that feels that they don’t know enough about Judaism. They report that when they walk into synagogue, they don’t know what’s happening. That is probably not true for many Beth El community members, but maybe even here, there are people who come Shabbat morning and might not be able to follow everything, or don’t read Hebrew fluently. Having come to this from the outside and having learned quite a bit without ever having grown up in a Jewish community, I know how hard it is, and I know all the walls and barriers of entry that the Jewish community have set up, often for our own protection. I’m very committed to ensuring that people who don’t have that background can feel comfortable and at home, because I remember being in different Jewish environments and feeling like I didn’t belong there. I also know that if people have the dedication, perseverance, willingness, and the interest to learn, then they can tap into so much Torah and Judaism. This is all of our yerusha, our inheritance, and that means that my job as a rabbinic leader is to ensure that we have access to this inheritance—that it’s not kept away in a museum behind glass doors, but that it is something that people can take and use and
make their own, as many different Jewish communities around the world have done.
What role do you see Jewish learning playing in our community? And how are you approaching adult learning?
A big role! One of the reasons I came to Beth El is that I was told, and I was told correctly, that this community loves to learn, and there’s a lot of what I consider high-level learning. Every chance we have, the rabbis share Torah and people are genuinely curious and interested. I’ve been amazed at how many times people come up to me after minyan to engage me on the two minutes of Torah I shared. It gives me a lot of inspiration and hope that building adult education at Beth El is building on what is already here. Learning Torah is a lifelong engagement that does not stop when you become b’nei mitzvah.
When it comes to limmud, I think we need to balance two different things that are often considered contradictory. On the one hand, I want people to feel at home, comfortable, and understand what’s going on—I don’t want them to feel, “this is totally over my head. I will never understand this.” On the other hand, we want to ensure that adult education provides our congregants with the necessary intellectual stimulation to meet them where they are.
This includes teaching texts in their original language, since our tradition is one that is based in the Lashon Hakodesh, the holy tongue that is Hebrew, and to certain extent Aramaic. I’ve been inspired at Beth El by the other rabbis from Day 1, that they both often teach texts in Hebrew, and not just in translation. As someone who grew up in a multilingual home, I’m a really strong believer that language is a very big part of connection to culture and peoplehood. At the same time, I recognize that the vast majority of American Jews do not speak Hebrew and so it is essential that we explain and translate when we teach.
Besides an emphasis on learning, what else drew you to Beth El?
Jonah (my husband) and I had a very positive experience when we visited for the first time a year ago. The community was (and continues to be!) warm, welcoming, vibrant. Full of little kids on the bima. There was just a good feeling in the sanctuary and the whole building.
I think what Rabbi Schuck, Rabbi Sitkin, Cantor Gaby and Jack have built here with the music is phenomenal. It’s something that I’ve been craving for years, and didn’t think was really possible, to have traditional spirited prayer—even without instruments. It really is one of a kind. I’ve been to synagogues where there are instruments and where that adds a lot to the vibrancy. For me, our davening is the most moving combination—to have music and singing, but for it to be fundamentally about the community
and not about performance or the instruments. When I came to interview, I was really moved by that.
And Rabbi Schuck has been an incredible teacher and mentor to me, both at JTS, and also since I graduated. You don’t become a rabbi by going to school—I mean, it helps. You have to go to school, but, one becomes a rabbi, a good rabbi, through practicing and through constant thoughtful reflection on that work. Rabbi Schuck models what good rabbis do—just watching him do what he does in itself has been very useful for my own growth. But he also helps me and other people on his staff process the work of synagogue life, which allows us to become much better at our jobs.
And the last part is a personal piece, which is that Jonah’s family is in New York, and we love this area. Despite being an immigrant and somebody who is not from here, New York has been the closest that I felt to home in the US, and so to be back here has been a really important piece for our personal life and for our kids to be near their grandparents.
And in your personal life what do you do when you’re not being a rabbi?
The truth is that in terms of the young age of our children (Lev, 4 and Laila, 2), when I’m not being a rabbi I’m being a mom. That being said, if I’m not at shul and I’m not with my family, then I enjoy cooking and I like to go on runs. I also love theater, though not musicals! I’m realizing increasingly that the thing I love most about cooking is planning a menu and perusing cookbooks, and less the actual execution. I hate dicing onions for example. With running, I like to run long distances, when I have time. In a previous life, before children, I’ve run a couple marathons. I still have a dream of running the New York Marathon one day— I’ve been playing the lottery for several years! Who knows, maybe my time will soon come.
Teen Program Religious School
We have been off to the races with our Teen programming this year! We have an active Teen Leadership Board, led by our new Teen Advisor, Vered Ben-Gideon, who is working hard to plan monthly lounge night events, as well as additional programming. We had a wonderful opening event with our annual Sushi in the Sukkah event, hosted by Rabbi Sitkin. Twenty Beth El teens came together to enjoy Sukkot, sushi, pizza (of course), candy sushi, and community.
In addition to our social programming, we have also started our Religious School year with six teens acting as madrichim–classroom assistants and role models. Our Teens are also continuing their Jewish learning through the Westchester Teen Collab, a community-wide Teen learning initiative hosted by the JCC. We have the largest group of Teens participating from any synagogue!
We are excited for all that is to come this year, including our Teen Services, and we hope your Teens will join us!
Don’t miss Beth El’s College-Age Reunion at the Starbucks around the corner on November 27th at 4:00pm.
Meet Vered, New Teen Advisor
I’m so excited to be working with the teens at Beth El! I’ve heard great things about this group, and look forward to building strong relationships and community in the coming year. My name is Vered Ben-Gideon. I graduated from Brandeis and studied politics, philosophy, and economics. One cool part of my college experience was spending a year studying abroad at Oxford University in England. Back on campus, I also helped lead the Conservative minyan. Besides working at Beth El, I am spending this year studying Talmud. I love watching baseball (Go Red Sox) and hockey (Go Penguins). I also love to bake, crochet, do yoga, and read. Want to learn more about our Teen programming? Email Vered at teens@bethelnr.org.
We have had an amazing start to our Religious School year, and can’t believe that we’re already in November. We started the year with a big focus on the High Holidays–all of our classes explored Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in their own ways, through crafting personal shofarot, exploring the various simanim (symbolic foods) of Rosh Hashanah, experiencing tashlich, learning in chevrutah (partner), developing modern Ashamnu prayer, and more. We then undertook the project of decorating the Beth El sukkah, which we beautified with a variety of art projects—we then got to enjoy it when we shook lulav and etrog and ate snacks in the sukkah. Our younger grades took “Torah Tours” to get close-up views of the inside (and outside) of the Torah for Simchat Torah, and their smiles and joy as they saw our Etz Chaim (Tree of Life) were inspiring.
November brings deep exploration of Torah stories, Tefillah (prayer), Israel, Jewish life, Hebrew, and for our older grades, Jewish History, including the Holocaust. As we roll into December, we will be focusing a lot on Chanukah, even though the holiday occurs over December Break.
Bishul Ba’Olam: Cooking Around the World
We are offering a new program this year, focused around cooking and exploring Jewish communities around the world!
Our K-7th graders are divided into two groups, and they have explored Jewish life in Mexico and in the American South, and look forward to learning about Hungarian Jews (with Rabbi Bedo), Iraqi Jews, Bukharan Jews, and more in 2025!
We hope you can join us on Sundays, January 12, March 23, April 27, and May 4. Our K-2nd graders meet at 11:15 am, and our 3rd-5th graders meet at 12:15 pm.
If you’d like to learn more or sign up, email Alyssa at aberman@bethelnr.org.
This program is generously sponsored by a microgrant from The Jewish Education Project.
Alyssa Berman Director of Beth El Religious School
Project Chesed
Sunday, November 24, 2024 • 10:00–11:30 am Beth El Synagogue Center 1324 North Avenue, New Rochelle, New York
Join the New Rochelle, Scarsdale, and White Plains communities as we come together to do a mitzvah. We’ll pack 300 welcome kits for women and children seeking refuge at domestic violence shelters run by UJA partner Jewish Board of Family and Children Services, while also learning how UJA is supporting victims of domestic violence.
Register at ujafedny.org/event/view/project-chesed
Featuring Cantor Gaby Schvartz!
Beth El Nursery School
This past month, chock full of holidays, afforded the Nursery School children an expansive opportunity for deep learning. Shofarot, luluvim, etrogim and Torahs were in all of our classrooms. There was intense blowing, shaking, smelling, exploring and comparing.
We decorated our outdoor school sukkah with murals, wall hangings and many artistic creations. Classes were also able to enjoy snack/and or lunch in the many Sukkot of Beth El. We even had an “off site” excursion. Our 4 year old Anaf classes went on a fall walk and visited Rabbi Bedo’s sukkah.
During Sukkot, our families were invited to join us for “Supper in the Sukkah.” The meal was bookended by two parts: The children had an opportunity to watch a puppet presentation and after our pizza meal, we enjoyed singing and parading with stuffed Torahs, lulavim and etrogim and musical instruments. The turnout to this event was huge and the feedback was, “a great time was had by all!”
Before Simchat Torah, many of our classes went on a Torah Walk and counted all of the Torahs in Beth El Synagogue. While we were in the Levenson Chapel, we opened the Ark and took out a real Torah. We discussed the many parts of the Torah and we verbalized many new Hebrew vocabulary words:
Kenesset
Our gathering culminated in singing and dancing with the Torahs, Subsequently, each class is creating their own Aron Kodesh, an ark to house their class sefer torah. What a rich month October was!
Ronnie Becher & Shery Rosenstein
Beth El Nursery School
Shoresh Halev
Center for Jewish Music at Beth El
Album Release
October 15th
October 15th
Download at borschtbeat.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-city-of-god
Download at borschtbeat.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-city-of-god
Frank London’s album, In the City of God, a collection of 8 new Hakafot dancing songs for Simchat Torah.
New
Frank London’s album, In the City of God, a collection of 8 new Hakafot dancing songs for Simchat Torah.
Album Release
Recorded May 22, 2024 at Shoresh Halev Center for Jewish Music at Beth El.
Recorded May 22, 2024 at Shoresh Halev Center for Jewish Music at Beth El.
October 15th
Album Coming Soon —IN THE CITY OF GOD— 8 New Songs for Simchat Torah
BY FRANK LONDON
Download at borschtbeat.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-city-of-god
Frank London’s album, In the City of God, a collection of 8 new Hakafot dancing songs for Simchat Torah.
Download the full album & liner notes and watch music videos by scanning this code or typing the above url.
Recorded May 22, 2024 at Shoresh Halev Center for Jewish Music at Beth El.
Kallah 5785
Friday, January 31st-
Sunday, February 2nd, 2025
(Formal program ends Saturday night)
Heritage Hotel in Southbury, CT
What to Expect
1. A Shabbat of Connection and Joy
Our Shabbat services are relaxed, informal, and largely lay-led, which creates an atmosphere of warmth over the course of the weekend.
2. Building Bonds with Families in Our Shul
Imagine a weekend where you get to relax, share meals, and participate in activities with the people you see every week in shul— but now, there’s time to actually connect and get to know them.
3. Meaningful Intergenerational Experiences
The entire weekend is designed to foster meaningful intergenerational experiences, where children and adults alike can learn, pray, and play together.
4. Nourishing Meals Shared as a Community
This year’s hotel venue will offer 4 delicious kosher meals throughout the weekend.
5. A Break from the Craziness of Life
Whether you’re sitting in solitude reading a book, or spending time by the pool with your kids, Kallah offers a space where you can breathe, reflect, and recharge.
6. Engaging Torah Study and Mindfulness Practices
Our rabbis will be offering Torah study sessions and mindfulness practices throughout the weekend, an enriching way to connect more deeply with Jewish tradition and practice and leave feeling spiritually renewed and intellectually stimulated.
7. Fun for the Whole Family
With supervised programs for kids, parents can enjoy their own time to relax and participate in adult-oriented programs, knowing that their kids are having a blast.
8. We Need You!
We hope you’ll join us for this truly special weekend of spiritual growth, family bonding, and fun. We are looking for volunteers to assist with planning. Please contact Stephanie Lederman at slederman@bethelnr.org.
Keruv | Accessibility & Diversity @ Beth El
Discover Sigd: An Ethiopian Jewish Holiday
Yom Kippur ends with the service called “Neilah”, which is derived from the Hebrew word for “lock” and refers to the closing and locking of the gates of repentance. However, did you know that there is yet another Jewish holiday dedicated to repentance and renewal that follows Yom Kippur? It’s called Sigd, celebrated by Ethiopian Jews 50 days after Yom Kippur on the 29th of Cheshvan. This year, it will be celebrated on November 29-30th.
Sigd, which means “prostration” in Ge’ez, is a day of fasting, prayer, and introspection, honoring both the acceptance of the Torah and the community’s ancient longing for Jerusalem. Historically, Ethiopian Jews—known as Beta Israel—would ascend mountains to pray towards Jerusalem, emulating the experience of receiving divine revelation on Mount Sinai. After the fast, the day concludes with festive meals, dance, and music. Sigd encourages both individual and communal renewal, reinforcing the values of faith, repentance, and unity. Now recognized as a national holiday in Israel, Sigd offers an opportunity to celebrate the vibrant culture of Ethiopian Jews and the rich diversity of the Jewish people.
The Keruv Committee is working on planning an event for Sigd, but we do not have details to share as of the time of writing this article so stay tuned. In the meantime, you can learn more about Sigd and its significance at myjewishlearning.com/article/what-is-sigd.
If you would like to join the Keruv Committee or have ideas about how to foster diversity and inclusion among the Beth El community, please reach out to Carrie at csfox99@gmail.com or join a committee meeting. Our meetings are publicized in Beth El emails and on the website, and all are welcome!
Do you have any special needs for the high holidays such as wheelchair seating? Please let us know! Please email info@bethelnr.org or call our main office.
Carrie Fox and Joyce Goldklang Keruv Committee
Calling All Volunteers!
Beth El is looking for volunteers to help lead our efforts to expand Beth El’s involvement in the following areas: social action, chesed, and community building/social programming.
If you are someone who is looking to get more involved, please contact Beth El’s Director of Programming Stephanie Lederman at slederman@bethelnr.org
Israel 360
Staying Connected with our Israeli Family
Beth El’s October 7th commemoration service gathered our community in a poignant tribute to honor those lost on this day and in ensuing events. Through heartfelt prayers, reflections, and soulful music, members joined clergy and community leaders in solidarity, drawing strength from one another and reaffirming our collective resilience in these challenging times.
IDF Soldier Sam Fried’s talk this month captivated participants, offering powerful insights from his frontline experiences and inspiring a renewed sense of pride, identity, and advocacy among the community.
On December 5th at 7:30 pm Israel 360 will host Yardena Schwartz, an award-winning freelance journalist and Emmy-nominated producer. Born and raised in NJ, Yardena lived in Israel from 2013 – 2023, report ing for various publications, including The New York Times, Wall Street Jour nal, TIME, The Economist, Foreign Policy, and National Geographic. She previously worked at NBC News.
Yardena will speak about her recently released book, Ghosts of a Holy War: The 1929 Massacre in Palestine that Ignited the Arab-Israeli Conflict. Yossi Klein Halevi, senior fellow, Shalom Hartman Institute, and author of the New York Times bestseller Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor has said, “If you are going to read one book to help you understand the current Middle East tragedy, this [Ghosts of a Holy War] is it.”
Through the never-before-told story of a young Amer ican who moved to what was then Palestine in 1928, Yardena weaves 100 years of history in the Holy Land to demonstrate how the issues today cannot be ful ly understood without the context of ground zero of this century-old war. We hope you’ll join us for this special discussion! Books will be available for purchase and autographs by the author.
Mark your calendars for February: Israel Bonds is coming to Beth El February 6th with Jonathan Schanzer.
Israel 360 Committee
Beth El Sisterhood
It’s hard to believe this year is drawing to a close, a year of heartbreak and hope for Jews around the world.
Sisterhood was very busy this past year delivering high quality programs for the Beth El community: book talks, lectures, film programs, and more. We are not finished yet, there’s much more to come before we close out the year. Visit bethelnr.org for all upcoming programs.
Sisterhood Happenings
● Mark your calendars for Sisterhood’s Fall Craft Fair and Boutique the afternoon of November 10th featuring art, crafts, clothing, Judaica and home goods. Get a jump start on your holiday shopping. The boutique is open to all - tell your friends, family and neighbors. And don’t forget to sign up for the Paid Up Membership Brunch at 11:00am on November 10th, the morning of the boutique.
● In addition to Evening Book Club, our popular Bagels & Books series continues. November 25th will feature The
● Sisterhood will again partner with The Symphony of Westchester. A portion of every ticket sold for an all Beethoven program the evening of November 9th benefits Sisterhood when you add the letters “BE” to your names when you purchase tickets at thesymphonyofwestchester.org.
● Beth El will be hosting UJA’s Project Chesed on Sunday, November 24th from 10:00-11:30am. We’ll be packing “welcome kits” for women and children in domestic violence shelters run by the Jewish Board, a UJA partner. Thanksgiving is nearly here. Find an opportunity to express gratitude to family and friends for the happiness and comfort you have received this past year. And continue to pray for the safety and security of all in Eretz Yisrael.
Marcia Assor Sisterhood President
Beth El Lifelong Learners
Join Our Twice-Monthly “Shmooze” Discussions
Our Shmooze with the News discussion series is now under way for its second season. All seniors are invited to our twice-monthly discussion group on Monday mornings.
In one-hour meetings, topics of local, national, and global interest are discussed in an open manner – with particular emphasis on Jewish and Israeli issues. All attendees can take their turns speaking to the topics on the table. Group members determine topics for discussion. Sessions are led by long-time Beth-El member Bob Kattan, who along with Senior Programs Coordinator Julie Rockowitz, revived the program, which had been inactive for several years.
This “shmooze” takes the form of a lively back-and-forth discussion group, with members expressing their personal points of view – creating a lively debate-like atmosphere. All points of view are fair game.
Rousing discussions often expose stark differences of opinion –- but our tone is always friendly and agreeable.
Adding to the enjoyment, fresh coffee is always available along with cookies, muffins, and/or fresh fruit salad.
Rave Reviews for the Shmooze
To date, we have developed an enthusiastic shmooze group. Here are rave reviews from some regular attendees:
Debbie Kaplan: For me, it is the most interesting hour I spend every two weeks, discussing issues with intelligent and fun people.
Lita Gottesman: Mondays have become a joy! To meet with people of knowledge pertaining to life as a Jew.
Bob Sussman: The idea of coming is to put your mind to work. You don’t have to change the world or even change the person next to you, but to put your thoughts into words is exercise for the brain.
Bob Kattan: I have been happy to spearhead the revival of a Beth El group to discuss current events in the world and our local community. It has been rewarding -- just civil, respectful discourse among congregants and neighbors!
So, join us on the first and third Mondays each month from 11:00 a.m. to noon. You’ll be happy you did.
For further information, contact Seniors Coordinator Julie Rockowitz at: (914) 235-2700, x340, or jrockowitz@bethelnr.org/
Lew Koflowitz Shmooze Group Member
Beth El Community News
Mazal tov to:
Mazal tov to Gary & Donna Levy in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary.
Mazal tov to Susan & David Schlecker on the birth of their granddaughter, Belle Ruby Schlecker, and mazal tov also to parents, Kaye Kirschner & Mark Schlecker.
Mazal tov to Sima & Mitchell Littman on the upcoming marriage of their daughter, Hannah Littman to Joshua Oynick, son of Flora Oynick & Guillermo Oynick z’l.
Mazal tov to Tami & Michael Novoseller on the bat mitzvah of their daughter, Mia Novoseller.
Mazal tov to Linda Fang and Daniel Dickman on the bat mitzvah of their daughter, Olivia Dickman.
Mazal tov to Barbara Simon on the birth of her first great grandchild, Ashton Matthew Lemberger. Mazal tov also to parents, Brett & Dana Lemberger, and grandparents, Alex & Amy Lemberger and Jerry & Debbie Powder.
Mazal tov to Laurie Hirsh & Stephen Goldstein on the bat mitzvah of their daughter, Casey Goldstein. Mazal tov also to grandparents, David & Ruth Hirsh and Hannah Goldstein.
Mazal tov to Paul & Hanita Schneiderman on the birth of their granddaughter, Sunny Rowe on August 8th. Mazal tov to parents, David and Marley Schneiderman and also to grandparents, Gary and Laura Glabman.
Mazal tov to Lori & Steve Schwartz on the Aufruf on October 5th and marriage of their son, Joseph Schwartz to Emily Gaines, daughter of Andrew & Monica Gaines.
Mazal tov to Bernie Katz on the birth of a greatgranddaughter, born to his grandchildren Tova & Alex Katz of Jerusalem. Mazal tov to big sister Samara, grandparents Gila & Richie Katz and the entire family.
Mazal tov to Vicki and Nate Fisher in honor of their 60th wedding anniversary.
Mazal tov to Esther and Mark Mildner on the engagement of their daughter, Carrie, to Greg Silverstein, son of Sheri Kagan and Geoff Silverstein.
Mazal tov to Beth El’s Music Director, Jack Klebanow & Marcela Hoffer on the birth of their grandson, and mazal tov also to parents, Jed & Tali Meer Klebanow.
Mazal tov to Ellen Teplitz Warhit & Barry Warhit on the baby naming of their granddaughter, Lucy Eden
Abramowicz. Mazal tov to Lucy’s parents Margot Warhit & Mark Abramowicz, and Lucy’s other grandparents, Elisabeth Abramowicz and Andrei Savin.
Mazal tov and happy birthday to Harvey Jay on his 80th birthday.
Mazal tov to Robert Kattan and Julie Kattan & Milton Kreppel on the birth of their grandson Joshua Nathan Michelson and to parents Amy and Danny Michelson and grandparents Ellen and Dave Michelson.
Mazal tov to Beth El’s Programming Director, Stephanie Lederman & Harvey Lederman on the birth of their first granddaughter, Layla. Mazal tov also to parents, Sam & Emily Kanter on the birth of their daughter.
Mazal tov to Laura Lewis, who received the Yitzhak Rabin Award from the Inter-Religious Coalition of New Rochelle at their awards gala on Sunday, October 27.
Mazel tov to Barbara and Robert Cohen on the aufruf and upcoming marriage of their daughter Haley Cohen to Jason Cohen, son of Ron Cohen and Caren Lustig.
Beth El Community News
Mazal tov to Stacey & Oren Popovsky on the bat mitzvah of their daughter, Maya Popovsky.
Mazal tov to Dean Solomon and Rebecca Blake on the B’nei Mitzvah of their children, Jacob and Shirah Solomon.
Mazal tov to Jacqueline & Avi Einzig on the engagement of their son Zachary to Tanya, daughter of Yelena & Mark Mestechkina ( Brooklyn).
A warm Beth El mazal tov to one and all!
Condolences to:
Condolences to Sanjiv & Nancy Chhahira on the loss of Sanjiv’s father, Dinanath Chhahira z”l, and to Simona, Dean and Adi on the loss of their grandfather.
Condolences to our member Donald (Barbara) Kotler on the loss of his brother Stuart Kotler z”l.
Condolences to our member Joy (Steve) Rotker and Glenn (Sheli) Rosenberg on the loss of their mother Harriet Rosenberg z”l, and to their entire extended family on the loss of their grandmother and great grandmother.
Condolences to Barbara (Lawrence) Orans on the loss of her mother Vivian Gorode z”l, and to Mark (Alix Samuel) Orans and Neil (Ilana) Orans on the loss of their grandmother.
Condolences to Mark Shteingart on the loss of his wife Emma Shteingart z”l, to Sam (Ella) Shteingart and David (Michelle) Shteingart on the loss of their mother, and to Jacob, Simone, Misha, Danny, Erin, Sean and Ashley on the loss of their grandmother.
Condolences to Frances Blumenfeld on the loss of her husband, Rabbi David L. Blumenfeld Ph.D z”l; to Hal (Michelle Brody) Blumenfeld and Laura (Baruch Weiss) Blumenfeld on the loss of their father; to Barak (Helena Smigoc) Pearlmutter and Nili (Todd Bearson) Pearlmutter on the loss of their stepfather; to Eva, Jesse and Lev Blumenfeld, Daniel, Rebecca and Benjamin Weiss on the loss of their grandfather; and to Asher and Aviva Pearlmutter-Bearson and Soča and Živa Pearlmutter on the loss of their step-grandfather.
Condolences to Jonathan & Debbie Rieber on the loss of Jonathan’s mother, Sonia Rieber z”l, and to Eden and Jacob on the loss of their grandmother.
Condolences to Nina (Rabbi Eugene) Katz on the loss of her
brother Prof. Walter Dubler z”l.
Condolences to Sy Gruza on the loss of his mother, Ruth Gruza z”l.
Condolences to Erica (Larry) Epstein on the loss of her mother, Laura Penn z”l, and to Marc (Sarah) Epstein and Mollie Epstein on the loss of their grandmother.
We record the losses suffered by our members and friends and extend to them our deepest sympathies.
Share your milestone events with us
If you experience a milestone or a loss in your family contact Zoe at zraynes@bethelnr.org or (914) 235-2700, ext. 223
The Kiddush of September 7th was sponsored by Linda Fang and Daniel Dickman in honor of their daughter Olivia’s bat mitzvah.
The Kiddush of September 21st was sponsored by Laurie Hirsh & Stephen Goldstein in honor of their daughter Casey’s bat mitzvah.
The Kiddush of October 17th in the sukkah was sponsored by Beth El Sisterhood.
The Kiddush of October 18th was sponsored by Vicki and Nate Fisher in honor of their 60th wedding anniversary.
The Kiddush of October 25th was a Beth El Kiddush in Honor of Simchat Torah Honorees.
The Kiddush of October 26th was sponsored by Ellen Teplitz Warhit & Barry Warhit in honor of their granddaughter, Lucy Abramowicz’s babynaming, and by Laura & Keith Rosenbloom in honor of their father and father-in-law, Harvey Jay’s 80th birthday.
Kiddush Sponsors THANK YOU!
The Kiddush of November 2nd was sponsored by Stacey and Oren Popovsky in honor of their daughter Maya Popovsky’s bat mitzvah and by Barbara and Bob Cohen in honor of the Aufruf and upcoming marriage of their daughter Haley Cohen to Jason Cohen.
Beth El Gives
We will list the B’Yachad donations in the January Bulletin. If you have not yet made your contribution to the B’Yachad campaign , you can still donate here: bethelnr.org/byachad5785
General Fund
Carole Strum; Sarah Tucker and Neel Chugh; Peter Mongillo;
For the recovery of Avraham ben Asher, Andy Farenci, from Lisa & Perry Jacobs.
For the recovery of Barbara Margolin, from Arthur & Barbara Margolin.
For the recovery of Eliazor ben Hana, from Perry & Lisa Jacobs.
For the recovery of Chava bat Sarah, from Perry & Lisa Jacobs.
Thank you for hosting us for the high holidays at a time when we are displaced from our home in Asheville, NC because of a devastating storm, from Richard Chess.
In Honor of:
Marianne & Bob Sussman on their 60th wedding anniversary, from Sondra Goldenberg, Mindell Patchen and Jason & Louise Silverman.
The 50th wedding anniversary of Donna & Gary Levy, from Rochelle Chaiken, David & Debby Glasser and Mark & Harriet Kalish.
The birth of a grandchild to Esther & Mark Mildner, from Ellen & Jacob Hollander.
The birth of Barbara Simon’s great grandson, from Eunice Kaplan.
For peace in Israel and as a tribute to our grandson, Eli Leaderman whose Bar Mitzvah is in November, from Robert & Roberta Sacks.
Rita & David Kaufman, from Richard Levine.
Vicki & Nate Fisher’s 60th wedding anniversary, from Tom & Pearl Sullivan, Rochelle Chaiken, Martin Levy and Janis Demartini.
In Memory of:
Blanche Wager z”l, beloved mother of Marc Wager, from Jenny & Randy Longman.
Henry Rakhmanchik z”l, beloved father of Ella Shteingart, from Jenny & Randy Longman and Lois Kohn Claar & Gary Claar.
Howard’s father, Samuel Goldstein z”l, upon his yahrzeit, from Howard & Helene Goldstein.
Donald Fleishaker z”l, beloved father and grandfather, from Lawrence & Barbara Orans, and Robin & Robert Singer.
Lida Traum Keltz z”l, beloved mother of Ted Keltz, Elise Richman, Martin Keltz and Miriam Pomeranz, from Lawrence & Barbara Orans and Bruce & Rita Gilbert.
Gladys Orans z”l, on the occasion of her yahrzeit, from Lawrence & Barbara Orans.
Marvin Gorode z”l, beloved father of Barbara Orans, on the occasion of his yahrzeit, from Lawrence & Barbara Orans.
Naomi Schepp z”l, beloved mother of Bob Schepp, from Ellen & Jacob Hollander.
Helene Wolloch z”l, beloved mother of Norbert and Richard Wolloch, from Ellen & Jacob Hollander.
Mila Greenberg z”l, beloved wife of Michael Greenberg, from Ellen & Jacob Hollander.
Rabbi Blumenfeld z”l, beloved husband of Frances Blumenfeld, father, step-father and grandfather, from Anne Pass, Sheila Tanenbaum and Rabbi Sylvan & Rhoda Kamens.
Vivian Gorode z”l, beloved mother of Barbara Orans, from Liz & Jim Weingast and Debbie & Steven Young.
Our Son, Lev Katz z”l, from Sarah & Andrew Katz. Joseph Buchsbaum z”l, Lily Buchsbaum z”l and Elsie Hulnick z”l, from Irving Buchsbaum.
Emma Shteingart z”l, beloved mother of Sam Shteingart, from Lois Kohn Claar & Gary Claar.
Prof. Walter Dubler z”l, beloved brother of Nina Katz, from Mindy Patchen.
Marshall, Sylvia, and Ross Gottlieb z”l, from Randye Murnane.
Dorothy Fleishaker Religious School Enrichment Fund
In Memory of:
Donald Fleishaker z”l, beloved father and grandfather, from David & Virginia Garmizo, Lois Kohn Claar & Gary Claar, Susan Goodman, Bruce & Rita Gilbert, Miriam Garmizo, Jason & Jennifer Lichtenstein, Maria & Steven Kessler, Phyllis & Harvey Jay, Lori & Steve Schwartz, Judy & Edward Schwartz, Iris Workman, Adam & Ilene Workman, Andrew Workman, Eric & Linda Workman, Jenny Winik, Mark & Karen Greene and Beth Siegel.
Lida Traum Keltz, z’’l, beloved mother of Ted Keltz, Elise Richman, Martin Keltz and Miriam Pomeranz, from Geralynn & David Reifer.
The Robert Matthew Klein Fund for Inclusion and Special Needs
In Honor of:
Laura Lewis on the occasion of her being awarded the Yitzchak Rabin Peacemaker Award at the IRC of New Rochelle, from Phyllis & Harvey Jay.
In Memory of:
Lida Traum Keltz, z’’l, beloved mother of Ted Keltz, Elise Richman, Martin Keltz and Miriam Pomeranz, from Phyllis & Harvey Jay and Lori & Steve Schwartz.
Dinanath Chhahira z”l, father of Sanjiv (Nancy) and grandfather of Simona, Dean, and Adi, from Susan & Michael Meisler.
The Yvette and Herman Gordon Century Fund for Adult Teaching and Learning
In Honor of:
Donna and Gary Levy’s 50th wedding anniversary, from Nora Klion Wolloch.
In Memory of:
Lida Traum Keltz z”l, beloved mother of Ted Keltz, Elise Richman, Martin Keltz and Miriam Pomeranz, from Dorothy Fox.
Youth Activities Fund
In Honor of:
The 50th wedding Anniversary of Nathan & Marcia Assor, from Kim Hayden.
In Memory of:
The Yahrzeit of Ruth Lapin z”l, from Susan & Elliot Lesser. The Yahrzeit of Nathan Lesser z”l, from Susan & Elliot Lesser.
Mila Greenberg z”l, our sincerest condolences on her loss, from Sondra Goldenberg & family.
Emma Shteingart z”l, beloved mother of Sam Shteingart, from Debbie & Steven Young.
Shoresh Halev Center for Jewish Music Fund
In Honor of:
In support of the new Frank London songs, from Ruth & Eric Treiber.
Carrie Fox and David Shechter, for organizing and leading the North End Tashlich on Rosh Hashanah, from Debbie & Steven Young.
In Memory of:
Prof. Walter Dubler z”l, beloved brother of Nina Katz, from Phyllis & Harvey Jay.
Jeremy Scheinfeld Memorial Fund
In Memory of:
Blanche Wager z”l, beloved mother of Dr Marc & Teresa Wager, from Robin Kaphan and Family.
All those senselessly and brutally tortured then murdered by Hamas. May their memories live on in our minds and hearts for eternity, from Robin Kaphan and Family.
Vivian Gorode, z”l, beloved mother and grandmother from Susan and Elliot Hollander and Geralynn & David Reifer.
The Sylvia and Robert Scher Chesed Community Fund
Jeff & Susan Mittleman;
In Honor of:
The 50th wedding anniversary of Donna and Gary Levy, from Phyllis & Harvey Jay and Laura Lewis.
In Memory of:
Lida Traum Keltz, z’’l, beloved mother of Ted Keltz, Elise Richman, Martin Keltz and Miriam Pomeranz, from Candace Silver.
Vivian Gorode z”l, beloved mother of Barbara Orans, from Susan & Jeff Mittleman.
Yahrzeit Donations
Roslyn Barnett; Steven & Jane Berkowitz; Howard E. Berman; Judy & Fred Bomback; Phyllis & Jerome Brown; Irwin Cohen; Noel & Leah Edelson; Ruth Esses; Ella & Russell Fayer; Marvin Feldman; Helen Geffner; Ellen & Moshe Gelboim; Eli Glanz & Penny Shima Glanz; Jay Howard Goldstein; Aaron Greenwald; Patricia Greenwel; Phoebe Gross; Penny Resnick-Graulich; Greta Gross; Judith Harary;Jill Barnett Hastings and family; Aaron Hodes; Arthur Holland; Stanley Krieg; Lynn Kuszel and Judith Szabo; Gary & Micki Joseph; Ira & Andrea Lippel; Jonathan Lopatin; Arthur & Barbara Margolin and family; Lois Morgenstern; Robert Preminger & Pamela Friedman; George & Sharon Rozansky; Barry & Evelyn Salter;
Henrietta Sanford; Judith & Elliot Schwartz; Robin Seltzer; Raymond Shemer; Joyce Silver; Leslie Snyder; Steven & Rachelle Stern; Rick & Anne Weisbrod.
Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund
Miriam Pomeranz in memory of her beloved mother Lida Traum Keltz z”l and in appreciation of Rabbi Schuck for officiating at the funeral and for all the clergy help with shiva minyans and the daily minyans; Janet Seligman in memory of her mother Hannah Kenler z”l; Fred & Judy Bomback in memory of Lida Traum Keltz z”l; Esther Winik in memory of her wonderful mother Pola Alexander z”l; Elise & Barry Richman in memory of Elise’s beloved mother Lida Traum Keltz z”l; Marc Wager in memory of his beloved mother, Blanche Wager z”l with grateful appreciation for Rabbi Sitkin’s officiating at her funeral; Elise & Bob Schepp in honor of Donna and Gary Levy’s 50th wedding anniversary; Lynn Chinitz & Steven Gruenstein in honor of the birth of their granddaughter, Adi Elaine Gruenstein, daughter of Alexander & Margot Gruenstein; Aaron & Sheryl Fleishaker in memory of Donald Fleishaker z”l and with thanks to the Beth El Clergy for their support; Martin Levitin in memory of Rabbi Blumenfeld; Vona Herz; Karen Hogan in honor of the wonderful doctors at Beth El on Saturday, September 14th who took care of her at Beth El, including Doctor Larry Epstein and Doctor Bob Wolloch, among others; Karen Hogan in memory of her beloved mother, Rose Hanovice z”l, and in appreciation of Rabbi Schuck for leading a beautiful and meaningful service to commemorate the end of Shloshim; Jason & Louise Silverman in memory of Rabbi David Blumenfeld z”l; Mark Walfish in memory of his mother Ann Walfish z”l; Debbie & Steven Young in memory of Rabbi David Blumenfeld z”l; Elizabeth Clain in memory of Donald Flesihaker z”l; Robert & Nadine Jacobson in memory of Donald Fleishaker z”l; Beth Siegel in memory of Tanya Burres Miller z”l, beloved mother of Elissa Glickman; Susan & Elliot Hollander in memory of Rabbi David L; Blumenfeld, Ph; D, z”l, beloved husband, father, step-father, grandfather, and step-grandfather; Lawrence & Barbara Orans with thanks to Rabbi Sitkin for delivering a meaningful eulogy for Vivian Gorode z”l, beloved mother of Barbara (Lawrence) Orans; Carla & Lawrence Stein in honor of Shirin & Steven Stein, Thank you for hosting while we are on our rumspringa; Merle & Steve Brenner in honor of the 95th birthday of Leon Protass; Sheila and Stephen Freeman Charitable Gift Fund; Elise & Bob Schepp in honor of Vicki & Nate Fisher’s 60th wedding anniversary; Debbie & Jonathan Rieber in memory of Sylvia Rieber z”l and with thanks to Rabbi Schuck, Rabbi Sitkin, Rabbi Bedo & Cantor Gaby for your support; Sima Littman in honor of Anne Trachtman and Giselle Lee Littman.
Cantor’s Discretionary Fund
Ken Honig with thanks to Cantor Gaby for the shacharit lessons; Karen Hogan in memory of Rose Hanovice z”l, and with thanks for Cantor Gaby’s beautiful prayers and singing at my mom’s shloshim service; Debra Malki in memory of her beloved husband, Elliott z”l, and in gratitude for Cantor Gaby’s kindness at minyan; Jay & Barbara Lerman.
To Make a Donation
Contact Zoe Raynes zraynes@bethelnr.org (914) 235-2700 ext 228 Minimum donation is $18.
Mail your payment to Beth El Synagogue Center Attn: Zoe Raynes 1324 North Avenue New Rochelle, NY 10804
Sisterhood Donations
In Honor of:
Dov Hyman, your 70th birthday from Joyce & Michael Wechsler
Lynn & Steve Gruenstein, the birth of your new grandchild from Erica & Larry Epstein
Marianne & Bob Sussman, your 60th wedding anniversary from Joyce & Michael Wechsler, Sandy & Jack Gruenberg
Donna & Gary Levy, your 50th wedding anniversary from Joyce & Michael Wechsler
Jack Renick, the birth of your granddaughter from Sandy & Jack Gruenberg
Lynn Chinitz & Steve Gruenstein, the birth of your granddaughter from Sandy & Jack Gruenberg
Vicki & Nate Fisher, your 60th wedding anniversary from Sandy & Jack Gruenberg
Barbara Horowitz, in your honor from Barbara Rajchgot
Barbara Simon, the birth of your first great-grandchild from Goldie Newman
Lori & Steve Schwartz on the upcoming wedding of your son, Joseph to Emily. Mazal tov from Janis Demartini, Erica & Larry Epstein, Elise & Bob Schepp
In Memory of:
Henry Rakhmanchik, beloved father and grandfather of the Shteingart Family from Erica & Larry Epstein, Ellen & Jack Hollander,
Donald Fleishaker, beloved father, grandfather and greatgrandfather of the Fleishaker Family from Joyce & Michael Wechsler, Barbara & Mark Goldman
Lida Traum Keltz, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother of the Keltz/Richman Family from Joyce & Michael Wechsler, Barbara & Mark Goldman, Gaby & George Newfield, Erica & Larry Epstein, Ellen & Jack Hollander, Sandy & Jack Gruenberg, Leslie & Dick Ruttenberg
Elaine Robbins, beloved mother of Richard Ruttenberg from Ellen & Jack Hollander
Melvin Lerman, beloved brother of Jay Lerman from Ellen & Jack Hollander
Estelle Solotoff, beloved mother of Lori Weber from Ellen & Jack Hollander
Lenore Hanau, beloved mother of Larry Hanau from Ellen & Jack Hollander
Omana Zachariah, beloved mother of Marianne Mani from Ellen & Jack Hollander
Stanley Koflowitz, beloved brother of Lew Koflowitz from
Ellen & Jack Hollander
Lida Traum Keltz, beloved mother of Elise Richman from Ellen & Jack Hollander
Blanche Wager, beloved mother of Marc Wager from Ellen & Jack Hollander, Sandy & Jack Gruenberg
The yahrzeit of Irving Wasson, beloved father of Barbara Horowitz from Barbara & David Horowiz
Donald Fleishaker, beloved father of Aaron Fleishaker from Sandy & Jack Gruenberg
Vivian Gorode, beloved mother of Barbara Orans from Phoebe & Peter Gross, Erica & Larry Epstein, Joyce & Michael Wechsler
David Blumenfeld, beloved husband of Frances Blumenfeld from Erica & Larry Epstein, Joyce & Michael Wechsler
Emma Shteingart, beloved mother of Sam Shteingart from Erica & Larry Epstein
Annette Flisser, beloved sister of Barbara Simon from Goldie Newman
To Debbie & Jon Rieber in loving memory of Sonia Rieber from Andrea & Craig Kaiser
Synagogue Guide
We hope this guide makes it easier to figure out who on staff to contact for all your needs.
To see all upcoming services and events, visit bethelnr.org/calendar/ For a list of this week’s events with registration and Zoom links, visit bethelnr.org/this-week/ To sign up to read Torah or Haftorah, visit bethelnr.org/readhaftorah
Ronnie Becher (Nursery School Director) ext 250 nursery@bethelnr.org
Viki Bedo (Rabbi) ext 427 vbedo@bethelnr.org
Clive Benmor (Administrative Coordinator) ext 223 cbenmor@bethelnr.org
Alyssa Berman (Youth & Family Director) ext 221 aberman@bethelnr.org
Naiza Cintron (Executive Assistant) ext 227 ncintron@bethelnr.org
Elizabeth Clain (Executive Director) ext 225 eclain@bethelnr.org
Rebecca Guralnik (Camp Director) ext 256 daycamp@bethelnr.org
Jack Klebanow (Music Director) ext 252 jklebanow@bethelnr.org
Margarita Korol (Director of Marketing) ext 291 mkorol@bethelnr.org
Stephanie Lederman (Director of Programming ext 246 slederman@bethelnr.org
Who to Call If You...
Want to make a donation?
Zoe Raynes ext 228
Had a baby, know someone in the hospital, had a death in the family, or need Rabbinic counsel?
Zoe Raynes ext 228
Zoe Raynes (Clergy Assistant) ext 228 zraynes@bethelnr.org
Julie Rockowitz (Senior Programming Coordinator) ext 340 jrockowitz@bethelnr.org
Shery Rosenstein (Nursery School Assistant Director) ext 235 nursery@bethelnr.org
Marilyn Russell (Facilities Director) ext 226 mrussell@bethelnr.org
David Schuck (Rabbi) ext 230 dschuck@bethelnr.org
Gaby Schvartz (Cantor) ext 326 gschvartz@bethelnr.org
Zoe Schein (Assistant Camp Director) ext 338 daycamp@bethelnr.org
Zachary Sitkin (Rabbi) ext 338 zsitkin@bethelnr.org
Olivier Vogel (Controller) ext 231 ovogel@bethelnr.org
Are you celebrating a milestone or achievement at Beth El?
Have a question about catering or celebrating a simcha at Beth El?
Stephanie Lederman or Naiza Cintron ext 227
Need to set up a Bar/Bat/B’nei Mitzvah date?
Zoe Raynes ext 228
Need to purchase a cemetery plot or need information about our cemeteries?
Elizabeth Clain ext 225
Have a question about a Yahrzeit date?
Zoe Raynes ext 228
Need to know the time of services? bethelnr.org/calendar or Clive Benmor ext 223
Have a question about events?
Stephanie Lederman ext 246
Interested in joining one of our many clubs?
Stephanie Lederman ext 246
Want to volunteer?
Stephanie Lederman ext 246
Need information about membership?
Elizabeth Clain ext 225
Have a question about your statement?
Olivier Vogel ovogel@bethelnr.org
Interested in our Religious School?
Alyssa Berman ext 221
Interested in our day camp?
Rebecca Guralnik ext 256
Want to join Sisterhood or Men’s Club?
Clive Benmor ext 223
Interested in Nursery School?
Ronnie Becher or Shery Rosenstein ext 250
Interested in Youth & Family events?
Alyssa Berman ext 221
Conquer the Market With Glorianne
Forest Heights | 109 Forest
SOLD
Wykagyl Estates | 48 Skyview Lane
Bonnie Crest | 120 Lord Kitchener Rd
Sold for $1,200,000 | $155,000 over list! SOLD
Glorianne Mattesi
Licensed Associate R.E. Broker M 914.393.6990
Glorianne.Mattesi@elliman.com
Bonnie Crest | 28 Indian Trail
Paine Heights | 304 Lyncroft Road Sold for $1,100,000 | $101,000 over list!
Sold for $1,158,500 | $93,500 over list! SOLD
Wykagyl Park | 230 Oxford Road
Sold for $1,225,000 | $175,000 over list!
Leading the Way in New Rochelle
Glorianne and her team of professionals have been laser-focused on New Rochelle real estate for over 25 years. Not only does her market knowledge help her clients achieve TOP SALES PRICES, but she also helps take the stress out of selling your home.
Whether you need a permit, repair advice, or fresh staging, Glorianne attends to every detail to drive value upward. Experience the advantage of working with a true market master. SOLD
ROCHELLE PROPERTIES
| jburton@houlihanlawrence.com jocelynburton.houlihanlawrence.com
