Over the last
fifty years, we have evolved from a congregation with a rabbi, religious
school, and dues to a free, member-run havurah, where adults and
children together participate in services and activities.
We meet monthly in members' homes for Friday night Shabbat services,
preceded by a pot-luck meal. The services are participatory and
informal, combining traditional, Reform and new-age prayers and
melodies. Our user-friendly, trans-denominational prayerbook, Siddur
Chaverim Kol Yisrael, was compiled by our teacher and advisor Mark
Frydenberg, and offers prayers transliterated (for those who don’t read
Hebrew), as well as the original Hebrew, English translations, and
supplemental poems. We sing a lot, sometimes with guitar accompaniment!
Our Jewish New Year begins with a catered Erev Rosh Hashanah dinner, and
brief service. After Rosh Hashanah morning services, which we attend at
Hillel, we have a pot-luck lunch and tashlich ceremony, when we cast
our sins (disguised as breadcrumbs) into a nearby body of water. Yom
Kippur services conclude with a reading of the Book of Jonah, Havdalah,
and a post-holiday break-fast. We have an annual Hanukkah latke party in
conjunction with B'nai Israel of Willimantic, Connecticut. Other
holidays like Sukkot and Lag B'Omer are celebrated at members' homes,
the latter complete with bonfire. This year, we held a Passover seder
with our members participating through Zoom.
Throughout the academic year, we offer a series of adult study sessions
led by local rabbis and members. These lively discussions show us how
ancient texts remain relevant today. A bagels and lox brunch follows the
study sessions, with more discussion and schmoozing. We also offer a
book club, an annual picnic, and a movie/pizza night series featuring
Israeli films.
We welcome newcomers warmly! For further information or to put
yourself on our e-mail list, please send a message with name, address,
phone, and e-mail contact to BethElMansfield
Board
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Officers
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Jane Knox (WAIM)
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President-------------------------
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Janis Franklin
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Mark
Naigles |
Secretary------------------------- |
Jonathan Hufstader |
Michael Palmer (Webmaster)
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Treasurer-------------------------
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Stuart Sidney
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Michele Palmer
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| Stuart
Sidney
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Mona Teitlebaum (Social)
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| Susan Zito
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