For Immediate Release: 3/23/06
Bet Havarim's next Shabbat worship service will be held on Friday evening, April 21st beginning at 7:30 p.m. The service will be conducted at St. David's Church located on Jamar Drive in Dewitt. Conducting the service and singing the liturgy will be Bet Havarim's Cantorial Soloist, Hanita Margulies Blair. Readers assisting Mrs. Blair are members of Bet Havarim's Shabbat committee chaired by Mel Shindler. An Oneg Shabbat follows the service.
"At our March Shabbat service we inaugurated the use of our new Shabbat siddur, Kol Haneshama: Shabbat Vehagim, from the Reconstructionist Press, and it was very well received," said Shindler, adding, "we will be exploring the Siddur taking advantage of the numerous readings, poems, and prayers."
At the March service a Purim reading was given by Helen Marcum and Marty Morganstein. After the service a discussion of the Purim story was facilitated by Don Kates assisted by Mel Shindler. "We discussed the very important role played by Queen Vashti and the fact that both she and Esther were, possibly, both heroines for the Purim tale would never have gone forth without the separate actions of both women. The discussion was lively and spirited and was, like our discussions of the weekly Torah portion, enjoyed by all the participants," said Kates."
Plans are underway for the second annual Community Passover Seder, Wednesday evening, April 12th, at 5:00 p.m. The Seder will be conducted at Traditions at the Links, 5900 No. Burdick Street in East Syracuse. According to committee co-chairs, Anita and Bob Burrows, "This year the Seder will be held 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. Our Seder will feature a traditional Passover meal catered by Yankel and Co. We are planning the Seder so that everyone who wishes to will be able to participate."
For reservations and information contact Helen Marcum at (315) 637-4647 or by e-mail at hrm4910 -at- aol.com. There is a cost and prepaid reservations are requested by April 5th.
David Kapell, a BH member announced a planned trip to visit the "Safe Haven" Museum in Oswego. The tour will take place on Saturday, May 20th.
In August 1944 with the permission of President Franklin Roosevelt, 982 refugees from the war in Europe were brought to the United States and housed at Fort Ontario in Oswego. In order to be allowed to come to the United States the refugees were brought here as "guests" and had to sign an agreement stating that they would return to their native countries at war's end.
The "Safe Haven" Museum chronicles their stay at Fort Ontario from August 1944 until February 1946, their lives, the interaction with the people of Oswego and how the President's decision changed the lives of the 982 men, women and children of Fort Ontario. At the end of World War II, while some chose to return to Europe, the remaining residents were taken to Canada and allowed to legally re-enter the United States.
Keppel stated, "Our tour group will meet at Wegman's parking lot on Saturday, May 20th at 9:00AM and travel together to Oswego in rental vans with return to Syracuse later on Saturday. We will be greeted by former camp resident, Walter Greenberg, who will speak to us about his Fort Ontario experiences." There will be a small charge for the transportation and entry to the "Safe Haven" Museum. Reservations have been made for lunch at "Coleman's Restaurant" in Oswego where tour members will pay for their own lunches. For a small additional fee those who wish may also visit Fort Ontario and the "H.L.White" Museum in Oswego. "We are looking forward to an extremely interesting, informative and enjoyable day and encourage those interested to join us on May 20th," said Kapell. Information and reservations about the May 20th trip may be obtained from Helen Marcum at (315) 637-4647 or email: 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.