- 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
…ncrease. It then goes on to describe the end of the seventh year, at which time we are commanded to make a release. We are told that at this time we are to release our neighbors and brethren from any debts they may owe us due to their own misfortunes — and that we are not to be hardhearted or stingy to those that need us if they happen to ask us for a loan in year six — knowing that the next year all will be forgiven. We are also told that in the…
…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…
…ous financial situation, I will not appeal for money tonight. Tonight is a time to celebrate what we have accomplished together by passing the Torah from hand to hand. It’s time to kvell about what we’ve doneÿugnot what I’ve done, because I haven’t done any of this on my own. On other occasions, I’ve spoken about the physical improvements we’ve made to the building and grounds. Although I’m endlessly pleased with the new parking lot, the disappear…
…s. We can see now how the practice of saying mourner’s qaddish two or more times in a row evolved. First only one person said only one qaddish, then one person at a time said one of a succession of qaddishes separated by a Psalm, then everyone said several qaddishes together. There is no logical reason to say more than one qaddish in a congregation where all mourners recite it together. The practice of saying multiple qaddishes is a remnant of an…
…re to include everyone. As it is, if such a family may pick only a limited number of people to honor, everyone who does not receive an honor understands that the family was limited. However, if the family is essentially unlimited, by being able to call up more than one person at a time for an aliya, then anyone who is not called up has greater grounds to feel slighted. A second reason for wanting joint aliya is that one of the proposed honorees do…
…r, www.newhavenindependent.org, April 15, 2019 In one hand he had his cell phone, with mom on the line for shopping advice. In the other hand was a handout with a Westville rabbi’s admonition against crossing a picket line to buy food for the Feast of Freedom. His basket was empty. There David stood amid walls of macaroons, white fish, and grape juice in Aisle 13 of the Amity Stop & Shop, pondering the fifth question added to this year’s tradition…
…el invisible anymore. One day I was speaking with my brother-in-law on the phone. I was talking about BEKI (which by this time I had joined) and the feeling that I have here. And I confided in him that one day I’d like to get up on the bima and read from the Torah. And as I said these words I began to tremble. The very thought was overpowering to me. To even think of myself as playing such an honored role among Jews seemed so bold. Who was I to ge…
…d on a full stomach, you’ll throw up.” Everyone knows that laughter is the best medicine, though, come to think of it, Penicillin is probably the best medicine, or Prozac, or Botox. And people say, “That’s funny” when it’s not, and say “That’s not funny” when it is. And people say, “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry” which reminds me of some of our Temple board meetings, our Capital Campaign, the Rabbi singing ‘O Canada’ and the length of this…
…replaced by “Adonai” (“my Lord”) when reading or praying aloud, and is sometimes replaced with “HaShem” (“The Name”). It is sometimes symbolized as a hei apostrophe or as a double yud in Hebrew. Another sacred name is the Hebrew equivalent of “Allah” and its variations. This name begins with the letters alef lamed and ends with a consonantal hei, or, in the most common variations, ends with the im or enu suffix. This name is most often translated…
…s. His wisdom and warmth certainly help light the way to BEKI. At the same time, we also admire and love the fact that a sizeable number of congregants can daven and read Torah! The unrestrained excitement of little ones further adds to the pleasure in feeling that Am Yisrael Chai! Tom Goldenberg & Jessica Holzer and Ainsley Tom is a New Haven Mayoral candidate and was previously a public sector consultant. Jess is the chair-elect of the Universit…
