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Pirkei Avot, Ethics of our Ancestors, teaches us that the universe depends on three things: on Torah (law), on Avodah (service to God), and on g'milut chasadim (acts of lovingkindness). Beth El offers many opportunities to provide acts of lovingkindness to the greater Hartford community and to members in our Beth El community. In addition to those listed below, our Men’s Club, Women’s Network and SULAM Beth El each engage in mitzvah projects as part of their programming. Feel free to contact these groups directly for information. The Beth El office, at (860) 233-9696, can help answer additional questions.

Caring Committee (Preparing meals for members in need)
Food Pantry
Hineni (Support at the death of a loved one)
Jessie’s Garden
KNITzvah
Serve a Meal
Yedid Nefesh (Friendly visitors)

Thu, April 2 2020
8 Nisan 5780

Mitzvot

Upcoming Events

All Events

Thursday ,
AprApril 2 , 2020

Cancelled: Updates from Israel: Latest Developments in Cancer Research, Revitalizing the Land and Robotics
Thursday, Apr 2nd 7:00p to 8:30p
**This event has been cancelled out of an abundance of caution.** Enjoy learning about these latest developments while sampling delicious Israeli wines and kosher cheeses. Our guest speakers are: Dr. Mark Israel, National Executive Director of the Israel Cancer Research Fund. Dar Nadler of the Jewish National Fund Haim Dribin and his Roboner students from the Misgav Regional High School
Register Now

MORE INFO
Friday ,
AprApril 3 , 2020

Postponed: Direct from NY: a Spirited B’nai Jeshurun-style Shabbat Service
Friday, Apr 3rd 7:00p to 9:00p
**This special service is being postponed out of an abundance of caution. We look forward to rescheduling this event when guidance from health officials suggests it is wise to do so. Come to an evening of singing, with guitar, clarinet, and accordion. This Erev Shabbat Service with virtuoso instrumental accompaniment will be in the style of the B'nai Jeshurun Synagogue in Manhattan. Music that hopefully brings us closer to God, to each another, and to our spiritual yearnings.
MORE INFO
Monday ,
AprApril 6 , 2020

Serve a Meal with Loaves & Fishes Ministries
Monday, Apr 6th 10:00a to 12:45p
On the first Monday of each month, a group from Beth El helps prepare and serve a meal in conjunction with the Loaves and Fishes Ministries Soup Kitchen. It’s a chance to share our bounty and spend time with our Hartford neighbors, and a chance to catch up with each other. We welcome new participants. For more information, contact Ellen Solomon at (860) 648-0300 or email at Gingy81434@hotmail.com.
MORE INFO
Wednesday ,
AprApril 8 , 2020

Fast of the First Born Breakfast
Wednesday, Apr 8th 8:00a to 9:00a
From MyJewishLearning.com: The sunrise to sunset ta’anit (fast) bekhorim (of the firstborn) is the only fast that applies to just a segment of the community: all males who are the firstborn children in their families (if the firstborn child is female, the first son born after her is not obligated). The father of a child too young to fast fasts for him, and if he himself is bekhor, the mother fasts for the child on the day of Erev Pesach [the day in which Passover begins at nightfall]. Since it is forbidden to abstain from eating on Shabbat (except for Yom Kippur), when Erev Pesach falls on Saturday night, the fast takes place on Thursday. There is a widely practiced exemption: On the principle that fasting is prohibited on a joyous occasion, Judaism allows for anyone who attends a religious feast to forego fasting. It is customary to hold a celebratory meal on the completion of study of a tractate of Talmud, called a siyyum (conclusion). So rabbis initiated the practice of studying a portion of a Talmud tractate after morning services, held especially early on Erev Pesach. All the firstborn are invited to be present for the conclusion and share cake and schnapps afterward, considered a seudat (meal) mitzvah (in honor of a commandment; in this case, studying the Torah).
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Saturday ,
AprApril 11 , 2020

Shabbat of Gathering
Shabbat, Apr 11th 9:30a to 1:00p
Beth El’s first Shabbat of Gathering (SoG) was a great success. Our community came together and, with a big leap of faith, we sat with people we did not know. And while we munched on bagels, blintzes, and more, we shared, we listened, we put names and stories with faces. Even when the last notes of Birkat Hamazon were sung, many of us stayed at our tables, talking. The on-line survey reviews proved what we had seen: the vast majority loved the experience and wanted more! “Our table could have used more time. Can you push the mincha service even later?” “I loved the questions.” “The random seating led to great mixing.” “Even if you knew people, you came away with something about them you didn’t know.” We will be hosting another Shabbat of Gathering on Saturday, April 11. It’s during Pesach. If you attended our launch program, we hope you’ll come back for a festive Passover lunch and some wonderful conversation. And if you’re not a regular at Shabbat services, think about joining in. You never know who you’ll meet, what new friends you’ll make!
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Thu, April 2 2020 8 Nisan 5780

Contact Us

Beth El Temple
2626 Albany Avenue
West Hartford, CT 06117

(860) 233-9696
(860) 233-9892

Office Hours:
Saturday & Sunday: Closed
Monday-Thursday: 8:30am - 5pm
Friday: 8:30am - 2:30pm

SULAM Beth El Educational Program:
(860) 233-9891

DIRECTIONS

Upcoming Events

All Events

Thursday ,
AprApril 2 , 2020

Cancelled: Updates from Israel: Latest Developments in Cancer Research, Revitalizing the Land and Robotics
Thursday, Apr 2nd 7:00p to 8:30p
**This event has been cancelled out of an abundance of caution.** Enjoy learning about these latest developments while sampling delicious Israeli wines and kosher cheeses. Our guest speakers are: Dr. Mark Israel, National Executive Director of the Israel Cancer Research Fund. Dar Nadler of the Jewish National Fund Haim Dribin and his Roboner students from the Misgav Regional High School
Register Now

MORE INFO
Friday ,
AprApril 3 , 2020

Postponed: Direct from NY: a Spirited B’nai Jeshurun-style Shabbat Service
Friday, Apr 3rd 7:00p to 9:00p
**This special service is being postponed out of an abundance of caution. We look forward to rescheduling this event when guidance from health officials suggests it is wise to do so. Come to an evening of singing, with guitar, clarinet, and accordion. This Erev Shabbat Service with virtuoso instrumental accompaniment will be in the style of the B'nai Jeshurun Synagogue in Manhattan. Music that hopefully brings us closer to God, to each another, and to our spiritual yearnings.
MORE INFO
Monday ,
AprApril 6 , 2020

Serve a Meal with Loaves & Fishes Ministries
Monday, Apr 6th 10:00a to 12:45p
On the first Monday of each month, a group from Beth El helps prepare and serve a meal in conjunction with the Loaves and Fishes Ministries Soup Kitchen. It’s a chance to share our bounty and spend time with our Hartford neighbors, and a chance to catch up with each other. We welcome new participants. For more information, contact Ellen Solomon at (860) 648-0300 or email at Gingy81434@hotmail.com.
MORE INFO
Wednesday ,
AprApril 8 , 2020

Fast of the First Born Breakfast
Wednesday, Apr 8th 8:00a to 9:00a
From MyJewishLearning.com: The sunrise to sunset ta’anit (fast) bekhorim (of the firstborn) is the only fast that applies to just a segment of the community: all males who are the firstborn children in their families (if the firstborn child is female, the first son born after her is not obligated). The father of a child too young to fast fasts for him, and if he himself is bekhor, the mother fasts for the child on the day of Erev Pesach [the day in which Passover begins at nightfall]. Since it is forbidden to abstain from eating on Shabbat (except for Yom Kippur), when Erev Pesach falls on Saturday night, the fast takes place on Thursday. There is a widely practiced exemption: On the principle that fasting is prohibited on a joyous occasion, Judaism allows for anyone who attends a religious feast to forego fasting. It is customary to hold a celebratory meal on the completion of study of a tractate of Talmud, called a siyyum (conclusion). So rabbis initiated the practice of studying a portion of a Talmud tractate after morning services, held especially early on Erev Pesach. All the firstborn are invited to be present for the conclusion and share cake and schnapps afterward, considered a seudat (meal) mitzvah (in honor of a commandment; in this case, studying the Torah).
MORE INFO

Sponsored by: Community You Can Believe In

Sponsored by: Community You Can Believe In

Community You Can Believe In

Mitzvot & Tikkun Olam