- 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
…23 Sep Deadline to Purchase High Holiday Tickets September 23, 2022 2:00 pm More Info…
…10 Sep Deadline to Order Lulav & Etrog/High Holiday Tickets September 10, 2023 12:00 pm More Info…
…ake sure he’s dead.” There is a silence, then a shot is heard. Back on the phone, the guy says: “OK, now what?” Even if you follow all the directions geschribben in the Shulhan Arukh strictly, letter by letter, you are not performing the mitzvot as our sages intended unless you understand what you are doing and why you are doing it. Our sages have taught that in order to perform a mitzva optimally, in most cases, one must do so conscientiously, th…
…On a typical Shabbat, that might not be a problem. But on high-attendance days, like the High Holy Days, we may need that area for seating. Why are steps necessary? Why not have everyone use the ramps? Some people prefer steps; some prefer ramps. Including both accommodates both preferences. Why have steps and ramps at all? Why not have the ark at floor level, like the reader’s table? The committee gave serious consideration to this possibility,…
…ldings. Beth El-Keser Israel easily contained both groups for the High Holidays. The Orange group really wanted a synagogue in their own backyard and contemplated ultimate sale of the BEKI building and new construction in Orange. The “marriage” never occurred. Rabbi Elliot B. Gertel came to BEKI in the spring of 1982, as Dr. Alan Gelbert was concluding his term as president. With typical thoroughness he had surveyed the area and was convinced that…
…rom 7:30a to 8:45a. On the morning before each of the Festivals (High Holy Days, Sukkot, Pesah and Shavuot) Jewish men and boys of the BEKI Men’s Club go together to the New Haven Mikvah for private individual immersion. (Fathers may enter with their sons.) The miqve (“ritual bath”) is a hygienic and warm setting for a “rebirth” experience. The miqve immersion is one way to help us enter a heightened state of purity and spiritual awareness as we p…
…ade a point of contributing to support the needy at each of the Jewish holidays. Her charitable giving in her estate was directed almost entirely to Jewish and Israeli organizations. Mrs. Hamburger chose to establish an endowment at The Jewish Foundation of Greater New Haven because she wanted to insure that her bequest would receive professional management and strict accounting, and to insure that her tsedaqa would support the work of the Congreg…
…did not experience antisemitism in India and, in fact, helped to rescue a number of Jews fleeing Europe in World War II. Conversation with Mark Oppenheimer, jewishledger.com, Nov 25, 2019 Mark Oppenheimer describes himself as a writer, talker, father, husband, dog-owner, and challah baker. Though not necessarily in order of importance. Challah baking aside, the talker in Oppenheimer will get to do just that on Sunday, Dec. 15, 10 a.m., at Congreg…
…acknowledge the feelings and let them pass. But let me return to the first days and tell you what else helped me with my feelings – this Congregation. From so many of you we received an immediate outpouring of expressions and acts of lovingkindness. My family and I felt surrounded with love and support. Thank you all. Please help us again, this time by passing along our thanks to the number of congregants who are away this weekend of Thanksgiving,…
…g to do is to praise a righteous person, because the language of praise is cheap and formulaic. Suffice it to say that if the best way to teach is by example, Ruthie is the greatest teacher I know of emuna, of hesed, and of avoda — of faith, of steadfast love, of the holy work of worship. Without any irony, I can say that she is truly a giant. Which brings us back to the place we started, the theme of sacrifice. When our ancestors gave the first f…
