- 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
…care about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not yet know their right hand from their left, and many beasts as well!” (Jonah 4:10-11) The Book of Jonah ends there, with God’s question to Jonah hanging. I’d like to begin an examination of the book not with that question but with a related theme, that of talking (or failing to talk) to God. This issue recurs frequently in the Torah. For human characters,…
…ch a thing was unthinkable, and it ended up being successful; not a single person sold their house, and the property’s value actually went up. This was the first private integrated housing project in the U.S. Another example from my family is the work of my grandmother, Evelyn Benson. She did research and wrote a book on a category of heroines that are for the most part ignored — Jewish nurses. Jewish women are not expected by most Americans to be…
…othersʼ drug abuse. As we approach the end of December, we are reminded of this danger. The qiddush cup is fine; beware of the “New Yearʼs Toast.” A person must stay away from things that harm the body. Maimonides, Deot 4:1…
…the Congregation’s Distinguished Service Award. George served as the Chairperson of BEKI’s House & Maintenance Committee and has overseen major repairs of the building along with many major and minor areas of caring for our building. In addition, George has provided gifts for all of the children of BEKI’s Religious School at Graduation and Promotion exercises for many years. Known for his intelligence, frugality and warm personality, George was h…
…n and related topics. It is an opportunity to meet a mohel or mohelet (the person who performs the circumcision) who will discuss the process of mila and answer questions. LaMaazel is a safe space for adults to explore questions they may face: Will the child have a brit mila/simhat bat? What happens if parents or grandparents have differing religious traditions? Can or should the baby be brought up with no religious tradition, one tradition or two…
…loor off the main lobby; it can accommodate an assistant. It is for use by persons of any gender. An infant changing table is located in the adjacent nursing room. The original accessible washroom, which the current room replaces, was provided through the generosity of Tina Rose and of Phillip Rao. The washrooms in the school wing of the first floor are not yet accessible: the entry doorways are very narrow and other accommodations have not been m…
…ses, programs and services are open to all without respect to age, gender, personal status or synagogue affiliation. Classes & Programs Discussion of the Week’s Parashah with Rabbi Eric Woodward is each Thursday 9-9:45a in the library, following 8:15a Shacharit. Talmud class with Rabbi Eric Woodward meets on select Sundays at 10a, following 9a Shacharit. Prayer and Liturgy with Rabbi Carl Astor meets one Wednesday evening each month on Zoom. Hebr…
…ty, like his son’s name, Enoch.” Enoch, in the Torah’s account, is the 5th person alive: Adam, Eve, Cain, his wife, then Enoch. So who came to live in that city? A whole city. I don’t think Adam and Eve were going to come live with the murderous exiled son, but even if that was the plan, we’re talking a city with a maximum population of 5. Maybe this was a Field of Dreams moment: “if I build it they will come.” But where were they going to come fr…
…s that pronouncing the name in public is much more serious, because if one person says the name, it begins religious breakdown of others. Not only does disrespect injure the spirituality of Jews, but it misrepresents God to members of other nations. Rabbi Heschel says human wisdom is taken for granted. Humans forget that God gave us wisdom, and God can take it away from us. Rabbi Telushkin says that our ability to demonstrate ethical behavior and…
…hen he saw a building in flames. “Is it possible that the building lacks a person to look after it?” he wondered. The owner of the building looked out and said, “I am the owner of the building.” This is as Abraham our father said, “Is it conceivable that the world is without a guide?” The Holy One, blessed be He, looked out and said to him, “I am the guide, Sovereign of the Universe.” This gives insight as to how Abraham comes to fully accept and…
