Beth El Announces Momentous Vote at Annual Meeting
05/01/2018 03:13:01 PM
On March 1st, 2017, the General Assembly of Kehillot of the United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism (USCJ), the umbrella organization to which Beth El belongs, began to allow synagogues to expand membership to include non-Jews. Also, USCJ permits each synagogue to interpret that ruling in a way that is appropriate for their...Read more...
Hiddur Mitzvah: Beth El's Omer Counter
04/27/2018 05:23:15 PM
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Hiddur Mitzvah is the Jewish concept of beautifying the commandment by appealing to the senses. Ornate ritual objects engage our feelings with their sounds, fragrances, tastes, textures, colors, and artistry. These aesthetically pleasing objects enhance our observation of Jewish practice and expand the enjoyment of...Read more...
Beth El's Guide to Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha'Atzmaut
04/17/2018 04:35:59 PM
A siren pierces the air.
Bustling traffic comes to a standstill. Drivers park their cars on streets or in the middle of the highway, then stand silently next to their vehicles. The busyness of everyday life comes to a halt.
It's Yom HaZikaron in Israel.
In 1963, the Knesset (Israeli...Read more...
The Midlife Crisis Myth: 7 Questions with Barbara Hagerty
04/10/2018 04:24:49 PM
There's no such thing as an inevitable midlife crisis and New York Times best-selling author Barbara Hagerty will prove that to you during her talk at the Soul Center on Tuesday, May 8th at 7:00 pm. In advance of her appearance, Ms. Hagerty discussed how to use midlife as an opportunity renegotiate your life's purpose, reemphasize...Read more...
Beth El's Passover Guide
03/27/2018 02:59:38 PM
Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is one of the three major pilgrimage festivals of ancient Israel and commemorates the Jews' Exodus from Egypt. Its name comes from the miracle in which God “passed over” the houses of the Israelites during the tenth plague. Centered on the family or communal celebration of the Seder (ritual meal),...Read more...
Beth El Congregation Appoints Amanda Max Beitman as Next Director of Development
03/23/2018 05:04:21 PM
BALTIMORE, MD. (March 23, 2018) " Beth El Congregation of Baltimore announced today that its Search Committee, led by First Vice-President Ed Mishner, has appointed Amanda Max Beitman as Director of Development, following a six-month search that included dozens of applications and six official interviews. “Beth El is in debt...Read more...
Kabbalah: A Judaism That Can Surprise Us
03/13/2018 05:42:25 PM
Rabbi Benjamin Shalva is a rabbi, writer, yoga instructor, meditation teacher, and musician. Rabbi Shalva's Experiential Kabbalah class at the Soul Center will help you find inspiration in everyday life. In advance of his final Experiential Kabbalah class (happening on March 20th), Rabbi Shalva shared some insights about Kabbalah, its...Read more...
3 Things You Didn't Know About Beth El's Megillot
02/27/2018 03:53:10 PM
By: Ben Kreshtool, Ritual Director
At Beth El, we are fortunate to have many beautiful ritual objects that enhance our spiritual experiences. In the spirit of the upcoming holiday of Purim, I thought it would be neat to share just a few of the Megillot that Beth El owns. The Book of Esther is...Read more...
Discover the Purim Story's Message to Secular Jews
02/23/2018 06:35:53 PM
The Book of Esther, called in Hebrew Megillat Esther, contains one of the best known and most beloved stories in the entire Bible. From the time we are children we can recite the narrative's major plot points and characters. We know of Mordecai...Read more...
