Congregation Beth-El presents: “BE A BARTENDER FOR AN EVENING” on Saturday, February 25, 2012 from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The evening will include assisting a bartender behind the bar with making, shaking, and pouring different drinks. Dairy for D’oeuvres and dessert will be served to complete this fun and exciting evening. The cost is $30 per person due by February 17th. Space is limited! This event will take place at 2233 Route 110, Farmingdale, NY 11735 (1.800.BARTEND).

Please click here to view the Bartending flyer

Senior Aerobic Dancercise: Designed for seniors, includes movements for increased flexibility and improvement of the cardiac system, with lively music accompaniment. Tuesdays from 10:00-11:00 am, March 6- April 3, 2012.

Zumba: Exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness that’s moving millions of people toward joy and health. Classes will be from 8:30-9:30 pm on Thursday, March 1 & 8; Thursday March 22 & 29; and Wednesday, April 4.

Cost – $50.00 per set of classes
Each class is 5 weeks- no make-up classes. Pre-payment is required. You may register for one or both classes. Maximum number of participants is 25 per class. Please complete form below and return to Congregation Beth-El, 99 Jerusalem Avenue, Massapequa, NY 11758. Classes are open to the general public. Please wear sneakers & comfortable clothing. For more information call the synagogue office @ 516.541.0740.

Please click here to view the Exercise flyer

Congregation Beth-El will once again be participating in Shabbat Across America. Please join us on Friday, March 2, 2012 at 6:30pm for Shabbat dinner ($18.00 per person or $40.00 for a family of 3 or more). Dinner will be followed by services led by Rabbi Stephen Listfield and guest Cantor Stacy Sokol. Cantor Sokol will also be with us on Saturday, March 3. Please RSVP for the dinner by February 24, 2012 to Congregation Beth-El 99 Jerusalem Avenue, Massapequa NY 11758 (516) 541-0740.

Please click here to view the Shabbat Across America flyer

Congregation Beth-El is offering the opportunity to train and become certified in the life-saving techniques of CPR and AED. The training course will be offered on Sunday, March 4, 2012 from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Participants will receive an American Red Cross Certificate. The cost is $75 per person. There is maximum of 12 people in the class, so please get your reservations in quickly.

Please click here to view the CPR flyer

Join us Wednesday, March 7 at 7 p.m. for our annual Purim megillah reading and the festivities that surround this joyous holiday.

Lorraine Nachbar is leading the Purim shpiel this year.  You’ll recall that last year, the shpiel ended with Mordechai and Esther triumphant while Haman was led off to be hanged. The Jews of Persia were saved!  We’re guessing that this year’s presentation might have a similar denouement.  But, you may recall, last year all this drama was brought to life by Beth-El players who were in the anachronistic and unexpected guise of Beverly Hillbillies.

So who will be the modern-day characters in this year’s shpiel — Newt Gingrich?  Mitt Romney?  Is there a role in Shushan’s palace for Anthony Wiener?  We’ll just have to wait until Purim to find out for ourselves.

As a bonus, the first 300 people to show up will be given a gragger!  True, you have to give it back at the end of the Megillah reading.  But for the half-hour you hold it you will have so very much fun!!

Click here to view the Purim Schpiel flyer

Please join us as the ladies of our Sisterhood celebrate the joy of Shabbat by leading our congregation in the Friday evening prayer service on March 9, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. An oneg will follow services sponsored by Congregation Beth-El Sisterhood.

Please click here to view the Sisterhood Shabbat flyer

Congregation Beth-El Hebrew School presents Gimel Shabbat. Please support our Hebrew School children by joining us on Friday, March 16, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. for Shabbat Dinner followed by services at 8:00 p.m. led by the Gimel Class.  The cost for dinner is $18 for adults and $12 for kids 13 and under. Please RSVP by Monday, March 12, 2012 by returning flyer tear-off strip, calling the synagogue office at 516.541.0740 or by sending an email to office@beth-el-massapequa.org.

Please click here to view the Gimel Shabbat flyer

Wilder grew up in Milwaukee. His family joined a Conservative synagogue. Young Gene went away to school, but he was back home for the Jewish holidays. He said, “I went to the service and I heard the ignorant rabbi giving his views on the Vietnam War, and I wanted to get up and start hollering at him. That’s the last time I went to a synagogue.”

Wow! A college student didn’t like the political views of an “ignorant” rabbi, as expressed in one sermon, and so he decided that he would never go to a synagogue again. (One has to wonder whom Mr. Wilder is punishing — the rabbi, the Jewish people, or maybe himself.)  Does this sound to you like a good reason to abandon your house of religion forever?

I’ve seen Gene Wilder in a couple of movies and I find him to be quite funny. The Frisco Kid shows wonderful Jewish values, and I feel a frisson of disappointment to learn that the star of that movie has so little feeling for his own Jewishness. But that is neither here nor there. This is not a movie review.

The point that I wish to make is that it is terribly sad that someone leaves the synagogue because — so he says — he was offended by one particular sermon. My dear friends, Judaism is not about one sermon. Judaism, in fact, is not about the totality of all the sermons in America. Judaism is not about a rabbi in Milwaukee, even if you disagree with him.

Judaism is an intellectual and spiritual tradition that prizes the idea of thinking for oneself, and of arguing with God and with man. You don’t like a sermon, tell the rabbi. Explain to him or her your point of view. Know that the Talmud on every page says, e.g., Hillel said this while Shammai said that. Rav Huna said this while Rav Chisda said that. I invite the Jerry Silbermans of our faith to discuss their opinions with me because I am interested in what they have to say. Our ancient sages said that we learn from our teachers but we learn most of all from our students. Yes, the posing of questions and the willingness to honestly disagree are powerful aspects of our religion.

Judaism belongs to Gene Wilder. I feel bad that he is so negative about it. Maybe he’s not the type to go to synagogue anyway. Maybe the rabbi really did give an offensive sermon. Maybe Wilder shouldn’t have gone to shul in Milwaukee altogether but should have tried the more congenial air of Massapequa.

Judaism represents, as Norman Podhoretz said, a very great idea in the history of humanity. Judaism belongs to Gene Wilder. It’s a shame that he gives it the proverbial back of his hand. If you are a Jew, remember that Judaism belongs to you. Question it, argue about it, fight with it if you wish. But don’t walk away from it. It’s too good for that, and so, I suggest, are you.

http://www.beth-el-massapequa.org/category/events/

Sisterhood would like to remind you of a lovely custom associated with Purim, known as Misloah Manot or Shalach Mones, which means “sending gifts”. This is an expression of joy over the victory of Esther who frustrated the plot of Haman to annihilate the Jews of Persia in the 5th century B.C.E.

Sisterhood is offering you the opportunity to participate in this joyous tradition. For a donation of $8 per box, Sisterhood will provide Purim baskets to congregation members and immediate family only. The gift boxes will be ready for pick up beginning Wednesday afternoon, March 7, 2012 in Rand Hall. Please note: Boxes will not be home-delivered.

For your convenience, a congregation list is attached. Please put a check mark to the left of the congregant to whom you would like to send a basket. Please fill out the order blank below with the name of those who are non-congregant family members and return all papers to the temple office with your check made payable to Sisterhood by February 22, 2012.

Make Check payable to CBE Sisterhood and send with forms by Feb. 22 to:

Congregation Beth-El Sisterhood, 99 Jerusalem Avenue, Massapequa, NY 11758 For further information call the synagogue office at (516) 541-0740.

Please click here to view the Shalach Mones flyer