Sponsored by: Community You Can Believe In
Food Pantry
Food Pantry
Beth El has a long history of involvement with and support for the Anja Rosenberg Kosher Food Pantry at Jewish Family Services. You’ll find a bin for food donations at the front entry door and a list of desired items at the end of this page. Hunger is, sadly, ever-present in our communities, including West Hartford and Farmington Valley; the extra can or box of food you buy when you shop will find a welcome home.
Special Food Drive Initiatives
There are many different ways you can help.
A special food drive is held each year during the High Holiday season. Beth El members are encouraged to bring bags of food to the synagogue prior to Yom Kippur. As we fast, we think of those in our community for whom hunger is a part of everyday life.
Every year the religious educational program sponsors a cereal drive. Learners bring one or more boxes of cereal when they come to temple. Congregants are invited to participate as well. Watch Temple Topics and the Shabbat Leaflet for an announcement of this drive and bring your cereal boxes to the educational program.
The Beth El Women's Network created a program for Bat/Bar Mitzvah families to further support the pantry. For $150, Women's Network will decorate food baskets in place of traditional flower arrangements. This is a wonderful mitzvah, for you are feeding the hungry, decorating the Bimah, and sending a powerful message all at the same time! Many families also create food baskets as their table centerpieces at their Simchas and then donate the baskets to the food pantry.
Children are so mindful of hunger in our communities that many request cans of food in lieu of gifts for their birthday parties. As part of the birthday celebration, the children can go to the Pantry or come to Beth El and deliver the food. It’s so heartwarming, and lessons are learned which last a lifetime!
All these Beth El mitzvot are truly helping our neighbors. Let’s try to end hunger right in our own backyard! Now that you know what Beth El is doing for the Food Pantry, you should know why we are doing it.
The Kosher Food Pantry was founded in 2002 when it became apparent there was a need in the community for people who keep kosher to have a place to get food assistance. Over the years, the Food Pantry has extended its reach and now serves people regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender or sexual orientation.
The Kosher Food Pantry distributes thousands of dollars of food each month. Supermarket gift cards, cash and checks in all denominations are gratefully accepted. 100% of your donations are used directly for the pantry items purchased.
Below is a list of foods, cleaning & household products & toiletries that are needed. All food has to be unopened & KOSHER. A large box is located at the entrance of Beth El for the collection of these items. About ¾ of all prepackaged food products are kosher. Look for the hechsher symbol. Some of the popular ones are shown below:
Mon, March 18 2024
8 Adar II 5784
Upcoming Events
-
Wednesday ,
MarMarch 20 , 2024Community Program: The Story of Esther in a Post October 7th World
Wednesday, Mar 20th 6:00p to 7:30p
What do we do when our people’s lives hang in the balance? How do we stand up in the face of persecution? When problems loom large, what can I, a mere individual, do? These questions resound throughout the Book of Esther, just as they have resounded for many of us since October 7th. That is part of the reason why our tradition extended the recognition of the events commemorated in Megillat Esther beyond just one festive day to also include the Fast of Esther in the days before Purim, as a way of commemorating the more somber aspects of the Story of Esther and the ways in which Esther and others risked their lives for our people. Members of B'nai Tikvoh-Sholom and Beth El Temple are invited to join Rabbi Debra Cantor, Rabbi Jim Rosen, and Rabbi Rachel Zerin as we explore passages of the Megillah of Esther alongside writings and stories that have emerged from Israel since October 7th, in anticipation of the Fast of Esther. Mincha and Ma’ariv Services will take place at 5:30, followed by the program at 6:00 in the Levine-Shein Chapel at Beth El Temple and on Livestream. Refreshments to follow. Click in to RSVP. -
Thursday ,
MarMarch 21 , 2024Red Cross Blood Drive
Thursday, Mar 21st 1:00p to 6:00p
You can make a lasting impact with an amazing mitzvot by helping the American Red Cross! Please help us make a difference by donating blood at Beth El Temple. Please call 1.800.733.2767 or visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter: WeHa to schedule your appointment. Volunteers are also needed for registration and snacks, please call the office to sign up to volunteer. You can also save up to 15 minutes on the day of your appointment, by simply visiting www.redcrossblood.org/RapidPass to complete your pre-donation reading and health history questions. Everyday heroes like you can help save up to three lives with just one blood donation. Thank you for giving the gift of life. -
Saturday ,
MarMarch 23 , 2024
Shabbat, Mar 23rd 6:00p to 9:30p
Join the Beth El and B'nai Tikvoh-Sholom families as we celebrate Purim together! Early evening events for families with young children, followed by a festive community dinner, Kahoot! trivia, and the Megillah reading! Click in to register! 6:00-6:30 The Story of Esther: An Interactive Purim Program geared toward 0-5 year olds and their families Come in costume for Purim songs, a costume parade, a fun, interactive telling of the story of Esther and more! All are invited to join us for dinner after. 6:30-7:15 Se’udah Shleesheet - Festive Dinner for All 7:15-7:40 Shabbat Mincha 7:40-9:15 Ma’ariv, Havdalah, and Megillah Reading Put on your costumes and join us for a festive reading of the Megillah of Esther, complete with singing, a costume parade, Kahoot! Trivia, and more! 9:15 Hamantaschen and other Nosh -
Sunday ,
MarMarch 24 , 2024Purim Family Services & Megillah Reading
Sunday, Mar 24th 9:00a to 11:30a
The Purim festivities continue on Sunday morning with a family-friendly, entertaining, interactive megillah reading for all! -
Thursday ,
AprApril 4 , 2024Weaving Together My Father's Story with Mark Schmidek
Thursday, Apr 4th 7:00p to 8:30p
How do seemingly unrelated events string together to tell the story of a lifetime? Join us to hear Beth El's Mark Schmidek share the amazing story of his father's Holocaust survival. Mark's father, Norbert Schmidek, was an 11 year-old child in 1933 in Wuerzberg, Germany. He would walk to school with other Jews and Christians. Things would change that year when Hitler came to power. Refreshments will be served. This program is co-sponsored by the Beth El Men's Club, Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford, and CT Voices of Hope. Click in to register!