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Welcome to the Temple Beth El Web Site
Today is

What's Hot!!!!!

News (information that is of short term, immediate interest),
Features (more general information and regular columns)
Administration (information that is longer term, often repeated month after month). 
As always, News or Features that are too long to include on the home page, will have a short blurb here with a link to the full article (for an example, see the Keruv Committee below).
 

I welcome comments and suggestions.  Just send your comments and suggestions to Webmaster

 

News

Men's Club

Upcoming Activities:

September 19 – Brunch and putting up of the Sukkah.

October 3 – Brunch, Take down Sukkah and family trip to Hawk Mountain. Bring your kids and your binoculars for a spectacular view of local raptors.

October 10 – Meet the candidates- co-sponsored with the Jewish Federation

November 7 – Pigskin and Poker 4:00 PM

Visit the Men's Club Page for more information.

If you haven't already, make sure to return the Membership form that you received in the mail.  If you've misplaced it, you can download it here.

Shop Amazon.com and Earn Money For Temple Beth El!

Need books, movies, electronics, or just about anything else?
Shop and help raise money for the Temple with just one click! It's easy, quick and completely private. 

Just Click Here to be transported to the Fundraising Page and there you will find the link to Amazon.com.

The Temple earns up to 8% of every purchase, at no cost to you! You must place your order through the link for Temple Beth El to get the credit. Please help us raise funds for our Temple. Your assistance is greatly appreciated!

You can also support Temple Beth El with your Magazine purchases.  Along with Amazon.com, you will find a link to QSP for your magazine, books and music purchases.  All this can now be found on our Fundraising Page.  Just click here and help support Temple Beth El.

Also available on this page is information about SCRIP, a great way to fundraise for Temple Beth El while you're shopping at local merchants.

P.S. If you have any questions please call Lori @ 610.398.8669 or send an email: inkred@aol.com.

Youth Programming

USY

The Allentown chapter of EPA/USY is proud to announce that we have a great group of officers for the year:

Shai Re’em President
V.P. Israel Affairs (“IA”) - Mark Fisher
V.P. Membership/Kadima (“MemKad”) - Molly Diamondstein
V.P. Religious Education (“RelEd”) - Noah Ehrich
V.P. Communications (“Com”) - Amy Glaser

We have two positions open, V.P. Social Action/Tikun Olam (“SATO”), and 8th Grade Representative, and we’re sure to get some qualified candidates for those positions early on in the year.

A few of our Upcoming Event Dates!

Sunday, September 12th: 9:45-Noon CAR WASH Fundraiser at TBE (Opening program/BRUNCH to follow!)
“Pizza with the Padre” – Date to be announced
October 15th – 17th at Temple Beth Israel, Chester County: EPA Leadership Training Institute
Saturday Night, October 30th - Corn Maze/Haunted Hayride
November 12th-14th: EPA Fall Convention, Temple Beth El and Chisuk Emuna, Harrisburg
December 23-30: International Convention in Orlando, Florida!!
Sunday, January 9th, 1PM; PIG PEN – Bowling, Arcade, etc.
February 4-6: EPA Winter Convention
April 15-17: EPA Spring Convention: The Inn at Chester Springs, Exton, PA.

Many more events to be posted – Questions/Info? Facebook account under “Allentown USY Group!”

Kadima

B’ruchim ha’ba’im, Welcome, to all new and returning Kadima members! We have much to be excited about in the upcoming year, with great events already in the works like another overnight shul-in and tzedakah bowling with Jewish Family Education, and many opportunities for other great programs.

Kadima is the middle school age affiliate of United Synagogue Youthand The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.Kadima is Hebrew for "forward." Kadima is open to youth in 4th through 7th grade; registration forms are available from the Synagogue office. Dues for the year are $36 per youth.

I would like to offer an invitation to any Kadima member registered for 2010-2011 who is interested in joining the Kadima board to help plan events, and assist with spreading the word in order to shape YOUR youth group to please contact me as soon as possible. I would like to schedule the first meeting of the Kadima board for Sunday, September 19 immediately after religious school.

The success of our events lies in the interest and participation of Kadimaniks, as well as the support of their parents. Thank you in advance to all the parents who are willing to help by proving food, transportation, chaperoning and support for Kadima at Temple Beth El.

Please join me in making 2010-2011 one of the BEST years of Kadima at Temple Beth El!

L’hitraot,

Moreh Ben Davis
Kadima Advisor
email Shalshelet

Jewish Family Service Programs

Fabulous Birds of the Lehigh Valley. Slide show and talk. Wednesday, Sept. 29. Brunch at 9:45 a.m. Presentation at 10:00 a.m. Jewish Family Service, 2004 Allen Street, Allentown. A donation of $3 per person is requested. Call 610-821-8722 by Sept. 27.

Living Beyond the Third Chapter of Life. Rabbi Moshe Re’em of Temple Beth El will explore life from ages 75 and up, as seen from Biblical and modern social science points of view. Monday, Oct. 25. Brunch at 9:45 a.m. Presentation at 10:00 a.m. Jewish Family Service, 2004 Allen Street, Allentown. A donation of $3 per person is requested. Call 610-821-8722 by Oct. 22.

Chavurat Torah Celebrating Three Years Of Study

An Open Invitation to the Temple Beth El Family,

Each Saturday after our convivial Kiddush Luncheon, a small group of us meet in the Library to discuss the Parasha of the week. The discussion is masterfully guided by Shari Spark who brings illuminating insights to the familiar material. Shari's research and sources aid us in examining the Torah portion with a fresh and often stimulating approach.

Each Saturday as I sit with my colleagues, I wish more of the Beth El family would join us to share in this rare and fortunate experience, an in-depth study of the Parasha, led by Shari in her gentle but knowledgeable manner, a manner which encourages participation and questions.

We are a fortunate congregation to have this weekly engaging and intellectually exciting study session. Thank you, Shari and Temple Beth El,

Lolly Siegel

Lolly and the entire Chavurat Torah study group look forward to welcoming the congregation each and every Shabbat following Kiddush lunch. Our study group is completely user friendly, topical and lay-led; we never know week-to-week where our discussions will lead!

This year celebrates the start of our fourth year studying. As Temple Beth El reads the Torah on a triennial cycle, this means that we have completed a full cycle of Torah. When one has completed a course of study it is traditional to host a ‘siyyum’, a formal recognition and celebration of an outstanding achievement.

In Pirke Avot Ben Bag Bag said: “Turn the Torah over and over for everything is in it. Look into it, grow old and gray over it, and never move away from it, for you will find no better portion than it." Chavurat Torah study group invites the congregation on Shabbat Bereishit, October 2, for a siyyum Kiddush lunch in honor of our accomplishment of completing studying the Torah through the triennial cycle, and continuing our studies all over again – anew!

Mah Jongg News

Beginning our 9th year…
Our Mah Jongg Club dates are all Monday evenings at the Temple.
We will begin to play promptly at 6:45 pm.
Please be there by 6:30 pm to register. We play for about 3 hours.

Please mark these club playing dates on your 2010 – 2011 calendars:

September 20
November 15
January 10, 2011
March 14
May 10

$10 per player donation to Sisterhood

NEW FACES ALWAYS WELCOME TO PLAY !

Don’t miss out on another year of sisterhood, laughter, and a great bunch of fun!

Looking forward to playing Mah Jongg with YOU !!!

Call with questions and your RSVP to Ilene Rubel
Phone 610-776-1577 or email Ilene either at her office address or irubel@aol.com

Features

IT’S A SIMCHA MAZEL TOV

Joseph Bass on his 80th birthday.
Ellie & Charlie Brooks on the birth of their granddaughter, Maryn Rachel Brooks, daughter of Melissa & Steven Brooks.
Elizabeth & David Lischner on their 40th wedding anniversary.
Jean & Jerry Mandel on the college graduation of their granddaughter, Amelia Sarah Viney, from Cambridge University.
Beverly Bloch on her “special” birthday.
Marilyn & Nathan Braunstein on their 60th wedding anniversary.
Mollie Tope, daughter of Enid & Alan Tope, on her engagement to Eric Small.
Alex Kier, son of Ellen & Lionel Kier, on his engagement to Elana Stiefel.
Marilyn & Murray Bonfeld on their 45th wedding anniversary.
Toby Schonfeld, Ph.D., daughter of Jill & Ivan Schonfeld, being named Director of the Master of Arts Bioethics Program and Associate Professor at Emory University in Atlanta, GA.
Todd Garber on his 40th birthday.
Betty Mendelson on her “special” birthday.
Anne Warschauer on her 90th birthday.
Sydney Schultz on his “special” birthday.
Ben Davis on his new position at the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley.

 

Temple Office Hours

Monday - Thursday:  9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
         Friday :            9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

The Temple office closes at 3:00 p.m. for Shabbat now that Daylight Standard Time is in effect.

Tree of Life

The mosaic Tree of Life has found a beautiful new home in the hallway adjacent to the Social Hall. Leaves on the Tree commemorate happy occasions in the lives of our congregants and memorialize loved ones. The rates for leaves on the tree are $600 for those leaves in the center on the trunk of the tree, and $500 for those on the branches.

Pew Seats

A limited number of pew seats are still available. If you made a pledge of $10,000 or more ($5000 for single members) to the capital campaign, you may become a pew seat holder by committing to an additional $125 per seat per year over annual dues. Please contact the synagogue office for more details.

Keruv

Keruv means “Bringing Closer.” Another word from the same Hebrew root (krv) is kerovim, family.

The Temple Beth El Keruv Committee was formed in the fall of 2005 with Henry Luftman as Chair in order to better address the needs of our interfaith families.  Click here for more detailed information about this very important Temple effort.

The Keruv Committee warmly welcomes new members, programming suggestions and feedback on its efforts. We invite you to contact Henry or Pat Luftman (610-966-0167) or luftman@ptd.net to become involved in this program.

Please Let us Know! 

We Need Your Help

The synagogue is not always notified when congregants are admitted to the hospital. HIPAA laws prevent hospitals from releasing the names of patients.  If you know of a friend or relative in the hospital, please E-mail or phone the Temple so that the Rabbi and Cantor will know.

Another way of notifying the Rabbi or Cantor is to give the hospital our code which is 017. A member of the Temple staff phones the local hospitals every day to check if any of our members are in.

Our Rabbi and Cantor also make many visits to members who are in hospitals, rehabilitation centers or nursing homes.  Please notify the temple office when you or someone you love is in one of these facilities (or is ill and homebound.)

If you have lost a relative, please notify the Temple office so you will receive Yahrzeit notification.

High Holiday Schedule

Click here for the service times for the High Holidays

Simchat Torah Honorees

Simchat Torah begins on Thursday evening September 20th and continues on Friday morning October 1st. Traditionally on Simchat Torah morning, congregations honor two members who have enriched our congregational life by giving them the last aliyah in the concluding Torah cycle and the first aliyah in the beginning Torah cycle. These two honorees are called Hatan/Kallah Torah and Hatan/Kallah B'reishit. This year Temple Beth El has chosen two Hatans, Neil Dicker and Glenn Ehrich. The presence of both men is pervasive in our Temple. Please join us on Simchat Torah morning as we celebrate Neil and Glenn.
Sisterhood

Wed., Sept. 1 -  Rosh Hashanah Wine Pick-up

Wed. Sept. 15 - Opening Meeting/ Wine & Cheese Reception

Mon., Sept. 20 - 1st Mah Jongg Club Night

Wed., Oct 13 - Paid-Up Membership Event

Thurs., Oct. 14 - Trip to Meseum of Jewish Heritage

More info and Miriam's Memos/Alison's Axioms can be found on the Sisterhood main page!

College Connection

It’s back! Temple Beth El Sisterhood's College Connection: The way for students to keep linked to their synagogue during the school year. After celebrating Rosh Hashanah, a special Sukkot package will be the first to arrive at your son or daughter’s dorm or apartment. All you have to do is send their name and college address to Sandy at pen1311@aol.com as soon as it is available or by September 1 to be included in this special gift from Sisterhood. Keep connected!

CHAI SOCIETY ENTERS IT'S 2ND YEAR

After a successful launch year, we have embarked on our 2nd year. Temple Beth El Chai'ly appreciates the support of our Chai Society Members for 2010- 2011:

Chai'er Level
             Bonnie & Bobby Hammel
L'Chaim Level
             Jean Weiner
Double Chai Level
              Donna & Alan Black
              Ilene & Michael Prokup
              Alan Steinberg

Your generosity and participation in this program subsidizes school scholarships and programs, adult education programs, and Jewish Family Life Education programs.
THEY’RE HOT! HOT! HOT!!

The Best of Beth El Raffle tickets are going fast!

Get them while the getting is good… Our raffle tickets are the best deal in town.

Where else could you win a year and a half’s (that’s 18 months) membership dues for a single purchase of $25?(Or quadruple your chances and purchase 4 for $100).

This is really a once in a lifetime offer because we are changing our calendar and billing cycle this year to reflect the true calendar (January – December) and are forced to give away an extra six months of membership dues – just this once! Our other great prizes include a leaf on the beautiful Tree of Life in the Synagogue lobby, two tickets for the 2011 Dinner Dance (and who would want to miss that?), two reserved Pew/Chapel seats for 2011 High Holidays or a $50 Gift Certificate to our fabulous Gift Shop (the best selection in the Valley).

We are only selling 300 tickets this year, once they’re gone, they’re gone…

We have a limited number of tickets left and we’re hoping you’ll consider purchasing one (or several) to help our fundraising efforts this year. The dollars we raise from the raffle will be used toward Educational and Membership scholarships.

Thank you for your anticipated participation!

Lori Wiener and Jill Steigerwald
Fundraising Vice Presidents

Sponsor a Kiddush or Oneg Shabbat

Please support our Congregation by sponsoring a Saturday Kiddush luncheon or Friday night Oneg Shabbat. This is a wonderful way to honor a family or friend’s birthday, anniversary or other life cycle event, commemorate the Yahrzeit of a loved one or even just to make our Shabbat experience more enjoyable. The following dates are currently available for your sponsorship: September 4, 24, October 1, 2, 8, 9, 29, 30 and November 5, 6, 19, 20. We always welcome contributions to the Kiddush Fund. Please contact Melanie May, Life Cycle Event Coordinator for more information at (610) 435-3521 or email Melanie.

We would like to thank the following congregants for their sponsorships and generous contributions made in May, June and July: Bea and Abraham Kuller, the Taylor family, the Knafo family, the Confirmation class and their families, Enid and Bruce Reich, Amy and Mark Holtz, Jan and Yossi Bensimhon, the Botzum family, the Zager family, Sandy Newman, Ann and Gene Ginsberg, Neil Dicker, and Bob and Lota Post.
Jewish Healing Service

We will hold a healing service on Thursday Sept 2, 7-8pm, in the Temple Beth El Chapel. We will be creating a safe space to bring our pain and our questions and our yearning. This one-hour service will include music, silent meditation, traditional prayers and Torah study. For more information, please contact Rabbi Re’em or Cantor Wartell at (610-435-3521).

Prayer Book Drive

The Hammel Family Chapel is in need of prayer books. We still need Siddur Sim Shalom for Weekdays, Siddur Sim Shalom for Shabbat and Festivals, and The Five Megillot and Jonah. The price is $36.00 per book. This is a limited drive. Please complete the form enclosed in your bulletin. Thank you for your continuing support!

Calling All Parents

The PTO needs you! The PTO’s main function is to help enrich our children’s educational experience by providing additional programming, such as baking hamentashen and preparing the model seder. This year we also hope to finance a field trip to the new National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia. I need a committee of parents to help make decisions regarding use of PTO funds, to create more enrichment opportunities, and to participate in various activities. Most communications will be via email and we will only have 2-3 meetings. The time commitment will be small, but the rewards are great! If interested in helping please call Brenda Walsh (610) 530-0228 or email b.walsh@rcn.com.

SHOP TALK

We've shopped til we dropped to bring new and exciting religious items and giftware to our Sisterhood Gift Shop. Stop in and see our brand new selection of children's books featuring the "Sammy the Spider" series. The shop is open on Tuesday's from 4:00- 6:00PM, and on Friday's and Sunday's from 10:00AM to 12:00 noon. We are also available by appointment. If you are interested in volunteering in our Gift Shop, please let us know.

L'Shana Tova
Andy & Jill

 
Social Action

Read more about the Social Action Committee.

Dr. Phil Stein
socialaction@templebethelallentown.org
610-653-5231

Minyan

The daily minyan is one of the foundations of our congregation. At morning minyan men and women gather to pray, to hear Torah read and to recite Kaddish on the Yahrzeit of a beloved one or while they are in mourning. Friendships grow out of the minyan.

We need 10 people each day to make the minyan. If you can commit to coming one day a week, more or less often, you will be performing an important mitzvah.

Minyan meets on weekdays and holidays at 7:45 a.m. and on Sundays at 9:00 a.m. Come daven with the Rabbi. He’ll be very happy to see you there.

Administration

Provide-a-Ride

We are organizing a "Provide-a-Ride" service to help congregants who wish to attend services on Friday evenings but cannot drive at night. Many of our older congregants who wish to observe a yahrzeit, or to just enjoy sharing Shabbat services with their Beth El family, can no longer drive at night. We are in the process of compiling a roster of congregants who attend Friday evening services, even if only occasionally, and would be willing to make it possible for a fellow congregant to attend with them. Please call the Temple office at 610-435-3521 to register as a driver if you can provide this valuable service.

Endow a Tree at Beth El Memorial Park

Honor or memorialize our loved ones by endowing a tree for $1000 at Beth El Memorial Park.  A permanent marker will be erected by the tree chosen.

Contact Ivan Schonfeld at 610-395-8770.  Other items also available to endow.

Sanctuary Renderings

Back by popular demand…printed renderings of our sanctuary at 17th Street are available again. The price is $136 each whether matte or gloss finish.

Contact Amy Holtz or the synagogue office to purchase your keepsake picture.

Interfaith Policies

As an egalitarian conservative synagogue, Temple Beth El warmly welcomes interfaith families.  Click here for more information about our current policies.


As your Webmaster, I know how frustrating the web surfing experience can be.  I found a prayer that you may find comforting, or at least amusing.  Take a look, enjoy, and perhaps you may want to print it out and post it above your computer.

Send your feedback to Fred Eisenberg at Webmaster

 

 

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