Beth El – Keser Israel Events for December 2024

Study with the Rabbi

Rabbi Eric Woodward leads a discussion of the weekly Torah portion most Thursdays. Talmud class meets Sundays Dec. 8 & 15 and other select Sundays. Other upcoming classes include “Making Sense of Jewish Prayer” and learning Torah trope. Consult office@beki.org for details.

Book Talk

Benjamin Resnick, rabbi of the Pelham Jewish Center in New York, will talk about his new novel, Next Stop, on Sunday, Dec. 8. Next Stop explores the precariousness of Jewish American life after a black hole consumes the State of Israel and similar strange events occur in major cities around the world, ushering in a time of chaos as well as miracles. Signed copies of the book will be available for purchase. Details at beki.org.

Moth Storytelling Evening 

Storytelling is back by popular demand after BEKI’s spring Moth Night. The theme on Saturday, Dec. 14 will be "Holy Places/Holy Spaces.” Details at beki.org.

Menorah Lighting Each Night at 5:45 pm 

The lighting of the Hanukkah menorah will be every evening (except Friday/Saturday) just before Maariv prayers in the chapel, starting Wednesday, Dec. 25. Details at beki.org.

Children’s Events

Children's Havura, K-2 Kehila, and Junior Congregation, all led by parent or grandparent volunteers, meet each Saturday. For more information about Saturday programs or the children’s pre-Hanukkah Party, consult Education Director Annie Norman-Schiff at anormanschiff@beki.org.

Exhibition Celebrates BEKI History

The BEKI Art Gallery is celebrating the history of the congregation through an exhibition of historic photographs, copies of newspaper clippings, portraits of past leaders and members, and related materials. Images in the collection show the groundbreaking and construction of the synagogue in 1960-1961 for Congregation Beth El, and the dedication when Keser Israel and Beth El merged in 1968.

<span class="fineprint">BEKI is located at 85 Harrison Street (corner of Whalley Avenue - Route 63 - in Westville)</span>