For Immediate Release: Bet Havarim 9/28/05
Bet Havarim's October service will take place on Friday evening, October 21st, at St.David's Episcopal Church in Dewitt. Services begin at 7:30PM and are conducted by members of Bet Havarim's Shabbat Committee. Liturgy is sung and led by Cantorial Soloist Hanita Blair. An Oneg Shabbat follows the service.
Bet Havarim's High Holiday services will continue to be led by Rabbi Deborah Waxman, of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Philadelphia. Kol Nidre will be conducted Wednesday, October 12th. Yom Kippur service begin October 13th, at 9:30 AM, with the Memorial Service at 12:00 Noon. "We are looking forward to our study session led by Rabbi Waxman at 5:00 PM with our concluding Shofar Service beginning at 6:15 PM," said Bet Havarim's High Holy Day Committee Chair, Toni Meltzer. Following the concluding service the High Holiday Committee has prepared a "Break-the-Fast" reception which will be held in the Social Hall of St. David's.
Bet Havarim conducted a day-long retreat on Saturday, September 10th, which focused on Bet Havarim's future direction. Retreat Committee Chairperson, Harriet Tetley, said, "the retreat was a success in terms of the numbers of our members attending and the results of our discussions as well." The retreat was facilitated by Bill Redfield. "As a result of our retreat a steering committee was formed and recently held its first meeting," said Tetley.
Following Bet Havarim's September Shabbat service a program was conducted and led by Shabbat Committee member, Don Kates. Essays selected from the book, "I AM Jewish", were read by Bet Havarim Shabbat Committee members, Delia Temes, Martin Levine and Mel Shindler. The book is a collection of essays written as answers to the question, "What does being Jewish mean to you?" These responses were written by Jewish people from around the world—from artists to entertainers, government leaders, religious leaders, scholars, authors, and others from media personalities to community organizers—all responding to this one question. The collection of responses was inspired by the last words of journalist Daniel Pearl before his death in Pakistan in 2002 while on assignment there. The essays selected were chosen from the "Identity" and "Heritage" sections of the book. Following the readings of the essays, a discussion of the answers was held and facilitated by Kates. "We plan to continue these programs as well as reading and discussion of various weekly Torah portions," said Kates.
Bet Havarim's services are conducted at St. David's Episcopal Church, located on Jamar Drive, in Dewitt. At the intersection of East Genesee St. and Maple Drive, across from Wegman's, proceed on Maple Drive to the 4th intersection at Jamar Drive, turn right and proceed to the church at the end of Jamar Drive. Off street parking is available and the church is handicapped accessible.
The public is cordially invited to attend Bet Havarim's Shabbat service on October 21st beginning at 7:30PM.
Services at Bet Havarim's are open to the public. For information about Bet Havarim, service schedules, D'vrei Torah, etc., visit Bet Havarim's web site at http://www.BetHavarimSyr.org, send email to info@BetHavarim Syr.org, or phone Marty Morganstein at 637-5390 or Mel Shindler at 478-6856.
St. David's Church is located on Jamar Drive. From the intersection off Maple Drive and E. Genesee St. in Dewitt (across from Wegman's) drive south on Maple Drive and take the third right turn on to Jamar Drive. The Church is located at the end of Jamar Drive with off-street parking available. St. David's is handicapped accessible.