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BETH EL COMMUNITY
Beth El Synagogue Center is pleased to announce the establishment of The Yvette and Herman Gordon Century Fund for Adult Teaching and Learning. This fund was established in honor of Yvette’s 100th birthday by her three sons and three daughters-in-law.
Yvette and Herman Gordon joined Beth El Synagogue Center almost 70 years ago. Their three sons attended the Hebrew School and became b’nei mitzvah at Beth El and together with their parents regularly attended Shabbat and holiday services. The family celebrated many milestones with the Beth El congregation, including, most recently, Yvette’s 100th birthday.
Both Yvette and Herman were lifelong learners. They had a great curiosity about all types of cultures and people, and that interest led them to travel widely. They visited a large number of both developing and developed countries. They made many trips to Israel where they spent time with their extended family and supported various Zionist programs.
In the 1990s they began their first experiences with home studies, including meetings with esteemed rabbis and peers from Beth El and the Westchester community. After Herman’s death, Yvette continued participating in learning groups, and became an expert at holding discussions over Zoom. She also combined her love of Jewish culture and skill as a sculptress in creating a series of 16 bronze Women of the Bible, each one a midrash of the woman’s life.
In establishing this fund in honor of Yvette and Herman Gordon, their family emphasized the value of continuous learning, from childhood through all stages of adulthood. They believe that Yvette and Herman demonstrated the importance of engaging in the educational community at Beth El and elsewhere in the entirety of a person’s life. This Fund will allow others to experience the same intellectual engagement by supporting Beth El’s Open Beit Midrash program, with weekly teaching by Beth El clergy and monthly visits from scholars, such as those associated with the Jewish Theological Seminary.
We welcome contributions from Beth El congregants and the public. Please refer to the Beth El website or Bulletin to make a donation (see www.bethelnr. org/donation).
Green Team Graduates Our Congregation!
In celebration of Earth Month (April), the Green Team has excitedly “graduated” our entire congregation on May 1, 2022 as being self-reliant at Shabbat kiddushim to deposit their lunch items after eating into the proper bins: either “compost”, “recycle” or “trash.” Our Green Team members have worked tirelessly to teach congregants by standing alongside the bins to guide everyone in need of direction. After 6+ months of this education, it is time to let you all choose freely and wisely, as we know you will. Please remember to look at the pictures at each bin for clarity. The beauty of our system is that 80% of everything we use goes into compost which ultimately creates new soil to be used for growing plants! We have had fantastic response to this effort and would like to thank each and every congregant for the “can do” spirit! Alan Greenberg and Jayne Peister, the Green Team Co-Chairs, would like to thank our many members for helping at each and every Shabbat: Nina Luban, Marianne Mani, Ellen Hollander, Carole Graham, Laura Lewis, Vicki Fisher, Shayna Klopott, Rita and David Kaufman, Deb Olstein, Rabbi Barry and Judy Kenter, Lynn Hirsh, Darren Peister, Hank Zupnick and Elliot Hollander. Please forgive us if we left anyone out! We are forever grateful for your help.
Please feel free to ask us during Shabbat kiddush if you are unsure in which bin a particular item belongs. And since Beth El uses these same plates, cups, utensils, etc. at other events, why not seek out the compost and recycle bins at other times too?
MAZAL TOV, dear congregants, and thank you for staying vigilant and remembering to clear your place after kiddush! Together, we have created this wonderful culture change at Beth El!
Warmly,
Jayne Peister
Co-Chair, Beth El Green Team
