Have you ever wondered why we use a shamash to light the candles on the chanukiah? We could just as easily use the same match to light all of the lights each night, so why do we need a shamash? Just think of all the candles we could save! We need the shamash because it Continue Reading »
When you enter the Temple Beth-El lobby, you will see a large poster that asks, “Why Vote?” You may wonder which election is approaching. The New Jersey primaries do not occur until June. The presidential election is in November. The World Zionist Congress (WZC) elections start on January 21, 2020. The WZC is a representative Continue Reading »
It’s just another average training weekend for Yaniv Yarkoni….a 50-mile bike ride on Saturday, followed by a 10-mile run on Sunday. Once in a while, he adds on a 45-minute lap session in the pool. If that sounds grueling, it is, but competing in triathlons is what Yaniv loves to do. “I enjoy the sense Continue Reading »
Every so often, I think about some of the big mysteries of Judaism that have intrigued me since my Hebrew school days long ago. Did the Red Sea really part, allowing our ancestors to escape 40 years of brutal slavery and an evil dictator? Did Moses hear the voice of God coming from a burning Continue Reading »
As I reflect upon our recent High Holiday worship, I continue to return to thoughts on the impact that Temple Beth-El has had in my life, both as a long-time congregant and a relatively new president still getting my feet wet in this role. And much of what I wish to accomplish during these next Continue Reading »
On Yom Kippur, I urged us to remember that we Jews are family. We are bound to one another by history and destiny, so what happens to any one of us should matter to each and every one of us. At the same time, we are also extremely diverse. We are Reform and Ultra-Orthodox, religious Continue Reading »
In July, I had the opportunity to spend a week participating in the Beit T’Shuvah Immersion Program for Clergy and Educators in Los Angeles. Beit T’Shuvah is a Jewish residential addiction treatment center that focuses on recovery and spiritual wholeness through a comprehensive program of Jewish spirituality, psychotherapy, and the 12 steps in a caring, Continue Reading »
In our faculty handbook, we offer the following framework for the work of our Religious School: In everything we do at Temple Beth-El, we aim to guide our students in developing a greater awareness that their Judaism is an integral and valuable part of who they are. We strive to educate the whole child — Continue Reading »
Temple security is a longstanding priority at Temple Beth-El. It is an issue for which we continue to stay abreast of techniques and technologies to keep our congregants safe. To that end, we have implemented the Standard Response Protocol for emergency preparedness, upgraded parking lighting, put phones in the classrooms, and established door-locking protocols. In Continue Reading »
As many of you know, this month ushers in not only a return to school and to shul, but also the debut of our new cantor, Emily Simkin. Student Cantor Simkin is thrilled to be part of the Temple Beth-El community, and is looking forward to helping our congregation continue to grow musically and spiritually Continue Reading »
