For Immediate Release: 3/10/06
Bet Havarim's March Shabbat service will be conducted on Friday evening,
March 17th, beginning at 7:30PM. Services are held at St.David's Church in
Dewitt. Bet Havarim's Cantorial Soloist, Hanita Margulies Blair, will conduct
the service and sing the liturgy and members of Bet Havarim's Shabbat committee
assist as readers of the service.
Mel Shindler, Chairman of Bet Havarim's Shabbat committee, coordinates the
services.
"We are excited about the March 17th service," said Shindler, continuing, "this Shabbat services inaugurates the use of our new Shabbat siddur, 'Shabbat Vehagim' from the Kol Haneshamah Prayerbook Series of the Reconstructionist Press; one of the reasons we chose this siddur was not only the fact that it contains the entire liturgy for Kabbalat Shabbat, Shabbat morning and afternoon, and the pilgrimage festivals, extensive sections of readings, poems and music, but extensive notes and commentaries as well." "The English text is gender-neutral, and contains transliteration of all communally spoken prayers and in selecting this Siddur we found it extremely accessible to those finding their way into Judaism and, at the same time, inspiring for those familiar with the liturgy," added Shindler.
March 17th's Shabbat service will also honor the celebration of Purim with selected commentaries, readings and poems. In addition a discussion period will follow the service led by Bet Havarim member Don Kates. "Don has been leading our discussions of the Saturday Torah portion for a number of months and he has done an excellent job of preparation and presentation as well as leading the discussions which are well attended and received," said Shindler, continuing, "our February service featured an extremely interesting presentation and discussion of Jewish burial practices led by Don Zinner of Baltimore who is a member of a Jewish Burial Society in that city and it proved to be an extremely interesting and informative presentation."
Bet Havarim is planning its second annual Community Passover Seder which will take place on Wednesday evening, April 12th, starting at 5:00PM. The Seder is being conducted at Traditions at the Links, 5900 No. Burdick Street in East Syracuse.
Bet Havarim's Seder Committee Co-Chairs, Anita and Bob Burrows, announced the Seder, which will be conducted on the first night of Passover. "We know that many of our members, as well as those in our Central New York Jewish Community, are not able to be with family on that wonderful night; we felt that conducting our Seder on the first night of Passover would be a wonderful way to gather as a community," said the Burrows, adding, "our Seder will feature a traditional Passover meal catered by Yankel and Co. and we are planning the Seder service so that everyone who wishes to will be able to participate."
The cost of the Seder is $25.00 for adults, while children, ages 11-13 years, will be charged $15.00 and for ages 5-10 years the cost will be $10.00. Prepaid reservations are requested by April 5th. For reservations and information contact Helen Marcum at (315) 637-4647 or by e-mail at hrm4910 -at- aol.com.
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.