For Immediate Release: March 1, 2007
Bet Havarim's next Shabbat worship will be conducted on Friday evening, March 16th, beginning at 7:30PM. Bet Havarim's Shabbat services are conducted in the Social Hall of St. David's Episcopal Church, located on Jamar Drive, in Dewitt. An Oneg Shabbat reception follows the service.
Leading the Shabbat service and singing the liturgy is Bet Havarim's Cantorial Soloist, Hanita Margulies Blair, who is assisted by members of Bet Havarim's Shabbat Committee chaired by Mel Shindler.
Toni Meltzer, one of Bet Havarim's founding members, has been selected to be one of the 10 men and women to be honored as recipients of the Syracuse Post Standard's 2007 annual Achievement Awards. The Achievement Awards, which originated in 1949, annually honors those people who, according to the Post Standard, "have made life more fun, more worthwhile, healthier, safer, and more interesting for people in their community and beyond." In addition to her involvement at Bet Havarim, Toni Meltzer is a board member of Hospice of Central New York and founded and organized "Camp Healing Hearts" for children suffering bereavement and is the managing director of the summer camp. In addition to her Hospice activities, Meltzer served as producer of the movie, "Prisoners of Freedom" which documented the story of the 982 refugees from the war in Europe who, in 1944, were brought to the United States and housed at Fort Ontario in Oswego. She serves on the board of the "Syracuse International Film and Video Festival. The "Kosher Meals on Wheels" program and the "Russian Refugee Resettlement" program coordinated by the Syracuse Jewish Family Service are two of the activities in which Toni Meltzer has been actively involved. In 2003 Meltzer was one of the founders of Bet Havarim. "I know that every member of Bet Havarim is very proud of Toni Meltzer and applauds her selection to be a recipient of this prestigious award", said Shindler, "and her devotion to and involvement in Bet Havarim is but another example of her commitment to our community."
The luncheon honoring the nominees for the 2007 "Post Standard's Achievement Awards" will be held on April 26th, at the Holiday Inn Syracuse located on Electronics Parkway in Liverpool, beginning at noon. Information and reservations for the April 26th luncheon may be obtained by contacting Helen Marcum at 637-4647 or by email at hrm4910--at--aol.com.
Details for Bet Havarim's 3rd annual Passover Seder, to be conducted on Monday evening April 2nd, will be announced shortly. "Our committee is currently organizing and preparing for our Seder and we know that this will be a Seder that will be enjoyed by all attending," said committee member Jeff Fuchs.
Bet Havarim's April 20th Shabbat service will feature an appearance as guest speaker by local author, Jack Edgerton. "His book, 'My Time, Thousands went to Broadway—Millions went to Auschwitz', is an interesting visit to Syracuse of the 1960's and what is even more compelling is how he came to write about the Holocaust," said Shindler. "I urge everyone to plan on attending our April 20th service to meet Jack Edgerton."
March 10th will be the date of Bet Havarim's next Torah Discussion group. The study/discussion will be hosted by Bet Havarim members; Wendy and Don Kates at their home located at home and will begin at 10:00 AM. "We will be discussing the Torah portion from the Book of Exodus, Chapters 30 through 34, 'Ki Tissa', and welcome all new and returning members," said member, Mel Shindler. For information please phone Shindler at 478-6856.
Bet Havarim is organized to promote and cultivate a love and understanding of our Jewish heritage, teachings, and values, and to ensure the continuation of the Jewish people. Our common strength is through communal worship, celebration, study, a commitment to Israel and its people, and the practice of mitzvoth by applying the principles of Judaism to the values and conduct of the individual, family and the society in which we live for the betterment of humanity.
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 -at- BetHavarimSyr.org (please make the obvious change in the address), 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.