For Immediate Release: May 25, 2006
By Mel Shindler & Marlene Holstein
On June 20, 2003 Bet Havarim conducted its first Shabbat service and has continued to hold monthly Shabbat worship services at St. David's Church in Dewitt. At Bet Havarim's first organizational meeting held on April 29, 2003, the philosophy of "creating a welcoming, sacred community that celebrates Jewish life through worship, assembly, mitzvot and study" was adopted. "We have honored our philosophy and will continue to do so in the future," said Marty Morganstein, BH president. Shabbat Committee Chair and Vice President, Mel Shindler, added, "At Bet Havarim we have continuously attempted to provide a warm, welcoming spiritual community for all Jews in Central New York regardless of affiliation."
In its organizational announcement to the Central New York community Delia Temes, Shabbat Committee member, said, "We are looking to examine the way we practice our faith and to transform it. We are looking ahead, hoping to provide another option, a niche for others like us to re-connect with spirituality, community and education." In a recent interview Temes said, "Then and now our common strength is through communal worship, celebration, study and a commitment to Israel and its people."
In celebration of its third anniversary Bet Havarim will hold a "pot-luck" dinner preceding the service on June 17, beginning at 6:00 PM. The dinner will be held in the Social Hall of the church and is being co-chaired by Delia Temes and Toni Meltzer with Marty Morganstein and Mel Shindler assisting. Reservations are requested and may be made by contacting Delia Temes at stemes1 -at- twcny.rr.com (please replace the -at- with the commercial at sign). "We are asking everyone to make reservations and, at the same time, indicate if you would like to provide a salad, side dish, or entrée", said Temes. Temes added, "We are organizing our third anniversary celebration dinner in the same spirit of community as we organized Bet Havarim and know the celebration will be a wonderful event as we enter our Havurah's fourth year." The monthly Shabbat worship service will follow the potluck dinner at 7:30 PM at St. David's Episcopal Church located on Jamar Drive in Dewitt.
Oswego, New York was the site of a group trip of Bet Havarim members on Saturday, May 20th, as the group visited the Safe Haven Museum and Education Center located on the grounds of Fort Ontario at 2 East Seventh Street. The trip was organized by Bet Havarim member, David Kapell and included lunch at Coleman's Pub and a visit to the H.Lee White Maritime Museum complex located in the Maritime District of Oswego. The group was welcomed by Safe Haven President, Carol Rosenberg and Vice President, Judy Rappaport. Before touring the museum the Bet Havarim group was treated to a history of Fort Ontario and the events that led to the decision to house the 982 European refugees there in 1944 by Oswego City Historian, Rosemary Nesbett. Mrs. Nesbett is also a founding Board Member of the H. Lee White Maritime Museum in Oswego and a retired faculty member of SUNY Oswego. Unlike the United States Holocaust Museum the Safe Haven Museum commemorates the stories of the survival of these 982 Holocaust refugees, their transition from the terror of World War II and the wonderful stories of their life at Fort Ontario as they struggled to adjust to their lives in the United States and the extremely important role that the people of Oswego played throughout their stay at Fort Ontario and beyond as the overwhelming majority remained in the United States and became proud and productive citizens of this nation.
"We are indebted to David Kapell for organizing this wonderful day and certainly the efforts of Carol Rosenberg and Judy Rappaport in guiding us through the museum as we learned and to a great extent re-lived the stories of these people," stated Morganstein, a tour member. He continued, "Few of the members of the Central New York Jewish community and the community at large know of the story of Fort Ontario." The museum's website is www.OswegoHaven.org, phone (315) 342-3003, and summer hours of operation are: Tuesday through Sunday, 11:00AM to 5:00 PM, closed Mondays. Shindler who also toured the site added, "I urge every member of our Central New York Jewish Community to visit Safe Haven at least once. This is an experience that should be shared by both teenagers and adults."
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.