Beth El – Keser Israel Events for June 2024

Doron Wolf Gallery Talk

Doron Wolf will speak on Saturday, June 1 about his exhibition of paintings and landscape etchings, which is on display at BEKI from June 1 through the summer.

An Israeli artist residing in Hamden, Wolf hails from Nahalal, Israel. He received a B.E.D. from Oranim College Art Institute and his M.F.A. from Haifa University. He has participated in group exhibitions at the Haifa Museum of Art, The Negev Museum of Art, the Jezreel Valley Museum, and the Janco Dada Museum at Ein Hod, among others, as well as solo exhibitions, including one forthcoming at Petach Tikva Museum of Art. Details at beki.org.

Pride Shabbat June 8

BEKI’s annual Pride Shabbat, honoring the diversity of gender identity and sexual orientation of the community, will be celebrated Saturday, June 8. A festive meal will follow. Details at beki.org.

Yale Professors Discuss Israel Trip

Some of the 25 participants in the March Israel Yale mission in support of fellow academics--Roya Hakakian, Daniel Prober, Steven Schiff, and Amit Oren--will speak at BEKI on Saturday, June 8. 

Hakakian is a writer whose work often deals with the topics of exile, displacement, political and religious persecution, and the struggle of people, especially women, against authoritarianism. Prober is a Professor of Applied Physics and of Electrical Engineering and of Physics. Schiff is Harvey and Kate Cushing Professor of Neurosurgery. Oren, who has had a private practice in New Haven for over thirty years, serves as a clinical supervisor for the Yale Department of Psychiatry.

The group visited Ben Gurion University of the Negev, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, the Weizmann Institute of Science, Tel Aviv University, and hospitals associated with three of these universities. Details at beki.org.

Music Concert for JCARR

BEKI will host a concert to support JCARR, the local Jewish Community Alliance for Resettlement, on Sunday, June 23. The concert will feature BEKI members showcasing their musical talents. The lineup will include klezmer, doo-wop, Beatles favorites, and an a cappella sing-along. The event is free, but donations will be accepted for JCARR. Details at beki.org.

Two Tracks of Learning at Tikkun Leyl Shavuot

BEKI’s Erev Shavuot tradition is a late night of study—with breaks for creamy (dairy and non-dairy) desserts. No background knowledge required, just an interest in Jewish learning. 

Sessions will have two tracks, one for traditional text study and one about Jewish art & culture. BEKI and Congregation B’nai Jacob teachers will lead sessions on a variety of topics: contemporary artists’ interpretations of ritual, the legacy of Nazi art theft, Chapter 1 of Ezekiel, how to Hagbah, Jewish Meditation, origins of Israeli dancing, music for the soul, Israeli songs of the moment. Details at beki.org.

Shavuot Services

Services for Shavuot will be Wednesday and Thursday, June 12 and 13. Thursday’s service will include Yizkor prayers and the chanting of the Book of Ruth. Details at beki.org.

Learn with the Rabbi

Rabbi Eric Woodward leads a discussion of the weekly Torah portion on Thursdays. Details at beki.org.

Children’s Programs

Children's Havura, K-2 Kehila, and Junior Congregation, all led by parent or grandparent volunteers, meet each Saturday, including during the summer. For more information, consult Education Director Annie Norman-Schiff at anormanschiff@beki.org.

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