TheThe MonthlyMonthly NewsletterNewsletter ofof BethBeth ElEl SynagogueSynagogue BETHBETHBETHBETH EL ELELEL SHALOM SHALOMSHALOMSHALOM FEBRUARYFEBRUARY 20212021 SHEVAT/ADAR 5781 As I write this article, it ed. I hope that the process of hits me that with the upcom- administering the vaccinations ing holiday of Purim we will will be accelerated so that we can begin to return to some PULL OUT CALENDAR have gone through an entire Candle Lighting Times, Service Times, & cycle of Jewish holidays semblance of life as it was during the Covid-19 pan- before Covid-19 entered our Events all in one place, pp 18–19! demic. Almost a week after lives. Rabbi Nover’s Message Purim last year, we went on One of the Mitzvot of See Page 2 lockdown. At that time the Purim is Mishloach Manot President’s Message hope was that maybe by the (giving gifts). We learn this See Pages 3, 4 summer the pandemic would from Megillat (scroll of) Good & Welfare be behind us. Esther, in which it is written See Page 4 Sadly, that has not been that those who live in the unwalled places “make the Virtual Scholar in Residence the case. Covid-19 continues See Pages 4, 7 to be part of our lives, but we fourteenth day of the month do know that there is a light at the end of the of Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and Donations tunnel as people are starting to be vaccinat- a holiday, and of sending portions to one See Pages 6, 17 another.” This has been interpreted to mean Adult Education that each of us is commanded to give at least See Pages 4, 7. 8, 22, 28, 31 two items from two different food categories Men’s Club to at least one person on Purim. See Page 10 For many years, including this year, Beth El has given each of us the opportunity to Women’s League give Mishloach Manot to as many people as See Pages 11, 13, 35 possible by checking off names on a list and Seniors paying a small fee for each name. Each mem- See Pages 13, 20 ber then receives a card with all those who Israel Affairs / AJC / Mercaz See Pages 14, 15, 24 Sunday, Feb. 7 continued on p. 2 See p. 10 for information Purim 2021! • Purim Drive Through—Sun Feb 14 • Purim Carnival—Sun Feb 21 • Ta’anit Esther—Thurs Feb 25 • Hooray for Holidays, Thurs Feb 25 • Maariv and Megillah Reading— Thurs Feb 25 • Purim Service—Fri Feb 26 Please Join Us for Beth El Synagogue’s • USY Virtual Purim Dress Up and "Love YourVirtual Neighbor Spring Fundraiser As Yourself": Hamantaschen Bake (Zoom)— Sun Feb 28 What"Love Are Your We Neighbor Really Being As Yourself": Asked For? Rabbi Shai Held–theologian, scholar, and educator–is President, Dean, and Chair in What Are WeAn OnlineReally Celebration Being in Honor of Asked For? Jewish"Love Thought a t YourHadar, wh eNeighborre he also directs t hAse Ce nYourself":ter for Jewish Leade r ship and Ideas. Rabbi Held Drs.has b Dannaeen nam &ed Michael multiple t iLivstonemes to Newsweek’s list of the 50 Rabbi Shai Held–theologian, scholar, and educator–is President, Dean, and Chair in most influential rabbis within Am Specialerica. Recognition of Beth El’s JewWhatish Though tAre atSecurity Had aWer, w Committeehe reReally he al sando d iRe-Openingr eBeingcts the Ce Taskn teAskedr fForceor Jewish LFor?eadershi p and Ideas. Rabbi Held has been named multiple times to Newsweek’s list of the 50 Saturday Evening, 7:30 PM | February 27, 2021 | 16 Adar, 5781 RmToaobsb tparticipate,i iSnhflaui eHnetiladl– rtahbeboils oplease ginia Anm, secrhico alvisit:a. r, and educator–is President, Dean, and Chair in Jewish TFeaturinghought a tthe Ha extraordinarydar, where he also directs the Center for Jewish Leadership • 50 Maple Stream Rd., East Windsor,https://tinyurl.com/BEScholarinResidence2021 New JerseyListen 08520 Up! • Jewish(609) 443-4454 Vocal • BandFax: (609) 443-2887 • www.bethel.net • aTond Idparticipate,eas. Rabbi Held hpleaseas been n visit:amed multiple times to Newsweek’s list of the 50 mMeetingost influ• eReception/Socialnt iID:al ra b897bis iHourn 003Am eri c3588a. https://tinyurl.com/BEScholarinResidence2021(make & enjoy some Signature Gala Cocktails!) Event tickets: $54 per person Password:• Optional 1234Catered Boxed Meal Optional catered boxed meal (pick up on Friday, 2/26 - 10am - 1 pm) ToMeeting participate, ID: 897 please 003 3588 visit: (includes wine or sparking juice) • Pre-Gala Online Art Auction, Open to the Community $32 per person Cost: Free!with Donations Special Selection to the Scholarof Israeli Artin Residence Fund are always welcome and can be https://tinyurl.com/BEScholarinResidence2021Password:(bidders get1234 a chance to win a $50 gift card) Open to the Public. Call 609-443-4454, MeetingOpenmade in honor• to Live ID:the Auction of special897 Community & More! people003 3588or occasions or inor visitmemory BethEl.net of forloved more ones. information. Password:Cost: Free! Donations 1234 to the Scholar in Residence Fund are always welcome and can be made in honor of special people or occasions or in memory of loved ones. Open to the Community Cost: Free! Donations to the Scholar in Residence Fund are always welcome and can be made in honor of special people or occasions or in memory of loved ones. RSVP by February 12, 2021 Purchase tickets & ads online at BethEl.net BETH EL SHALOM Rabbi Nover Rabbi Kornsgold Continued from p. 1 DEADLINE FOR MARCHF contributed in their honor as well as a bag SHALOM (written & e-mail): of goodies. This is a nice way to raise some needed funds for Beth El and enables all of Mon., FEB. 15 us to fulfill this important Mitzvah. Please E-MAIL ADDRESS: participate in this Mitzvah by following the [email protected] instructions in the email that will be sent to All handwritten and typed materials you or by calling the Synagogue Office to should be submitted or faxed to the have a paper copy mailed to you. Let’s make Beth El office at 609-443-2887 no this a successful project. later than the 1st of the month (except This year I also encourage you to prepare as noted above). E-mailed materials Mishloach Manot for at least one person must also be received by the 1st of (or as many as you like) and to drop off the the month. Please e-mail to: Purim is coming to Beth El Mishloach Manot. I think that this is a real- [email protected]. It’s a holiday that’s so swell ly good way to connect with people in our Thank you all for your cooperation. We wear our costumes community, especially those who are feeling Go to breakout rooms isolated and alone. Receiving Mishloach And play at the carnival till the bell. Manot can brighten one’s spirits and give you SYNAGOGUESYNAGOGUE Happy Purim everyone! I hope that you the opportunity to connect with someone in honor of the holiday of Purim. It is also nice OFFICEOFFICE HOURS:HOURS: can join us, in person or on livestream, for MondayMonday throughthrough Thursday—Thursday— our Purim services, and of course our Zoom to see how creative we can be in preparing 99 a.m.a.m. toto 55 p.m.p.m. carnival. The Purim committee has been do- Mishloach Manot for friends and family WednesdayWednesday (when(when ReligiousReligious ing amazing work, and I’m looking forward members. This may lead to a continuation of SchoolSchool isis inin session)—9:30session)—9:30 a.m.a.m. to everything that we have going on. giving Mishloach Manot in person in future toto 6:306:30 p.m.p.m. In Religious School news, this past years in addition to participating in the Beth Friday—9Friday—9 a.m.a.m. toto 22 p.m.p.m. El Mishloach Manot project. SundaySunday (when(when ReligiousReligious SchoolSchool month, we had our first Prayer Showcase isis inin session)—9session)—9 a.m.a.m. toto 1212 noonnoon (which replace class services for the 5781 On Sunday, Feb. 14, from 1–2:30 p.m., school year.) We’re so proud of our Vav we will have a Purim Drive Through at Beth class, and look forward to seeing the rest of El. Rabbi Nover and I look forward to see- Contact Beth El by email! the grades show off what they have learned. ing you and to giving you a bag of goodies Rabbi Kornsgold: [email protected] in honor of Purim. I have enjoyed seeing Bonus Challenge: President: [email protected] everyone who has participated in past drive Office: [email protected] Write a song to participate in our Masked throughs and look forward to greeting you Religious School: [email protected] Singer Purim Spiel. (500 points) again in honor of Purim. Bookkeeper: [email protected] Special Dates: In-person services for Purim will take Seniors: [email protected] 2/4 – Junior Congregation Online place on Thursday, Feb. 25, at 6:30 p.m., and Men’s Club: [email protected] Friday, Feb. 26, at 9 a.m.. We will also have Women’s League: [email protected] 2/4 -BJC Online Publicity: [email protected] 2/6 – No JC our services on Live Stream. I encourage Shalom: [email protected] 2/7 – Vav Virtual (BM Class) you to dress in costume, though we will not 2/8 – Gesher Outreach (8th and 9th be able to have our costume parade this year Virtual) due to Covid-19 restrictions. Hamantashen 2/13 – NO JC will be available after evening and morning PPPLEASE JOIN US! 2/14 – No RS – President’s Day services.