For Immediate Release: April 25, 2008
Announcing its next Shabbat Worship service Bet Havarim also announced that it will be conducting a meeting to discuss "End-of-Life" Issues. Members of the community are cordially invited to attend this meeting.
Hanita Margulies Blair will be conducting Bet Havarims next Shabbat Service on Friday evening, May 16th, beginning at 7:30 PM. Services are conducted in the social hall of St. Davids Episcopal Church in Dewitt. Blair will be assisted by members of Bet Havarims Shabbat committee, Zarita Hack, Helen Marcum, April Rando and Delia Temes. An Oneg Shabbat reception follows the service to which the public is cordially invited.
On Monday evening, May 5th, beginning at 7:00 PM, Bet Havarim will be conducting a meeting at which "End-of-Life" issues will be discussed. The meeting will be held in the library of Trinity Episcopal Church in Fayetteville. Trinity Episcopal Church is located on the corner of Chapel and East Genesee Streets across from Hullars Restaurant. The library area can be accessed from the side entrance at 106 Chapel Street. Parking is available in the public parking lot across from the church entrance. "We have had inquiries from a number of Bet Havarim members regarding 'End-of-Life' issues and it seemed apparent to us that there may, indeed, be other members of the Chavurah with similar concerns," said Marty Morganstein & Mel Shindler, organizers of the May 5th meeting, adding, "We also realized that there may be those in the Central New York community who are unaffiliated with a congregation and who may also have similar concerns and we decided it would be prudent to invite all those interested to this meeting."
Topics to be discussed at the meeting include the availability of those who will officiate at funeral services as well as "final resting place" options. "We have gathered sufficient information to warrant conducting this meeting so that the various options may be discussed," said Morganstein & Shindler, and ask that everyone interested give serious consideration to attending this May 5th meeting. Members of Bet Havarim and the general community who are interested in attending are asked to RSVP by Email to Morganstein at kmm@twcny.rr.com or to Shindler at mels912@gmail.com.
Members of Bet Havarim will be gathering at Sarah House on Sunday afternoon, May 4th, at 1:00 PM to honor "Earth Day" by performing outdoor cleanup projects at the facility, Syracuse's only Adult Hospital Hospitality Facility. Sarah House is located at 100 Roberts Avenue, corner of Bellevue Avenue. Chairing the event is Bet Havarim member, Bernie Marcus. "We realize that Sarah House depends upon volunteers and voluntary donations to carry out its most important mission and this provides our members with the opportunity to not only assist Sarah House but help beautify the grounds as we honor 'Earth Day'," said Marcus, adding, "We ask those participating to bring a rake and work gloves for this very worthy Social Action project."
On Sunday, March 16th, members of Bet Havarim Social Actions committee met at Trinity Church in Fayetteville to prepare foods for the guests of Sarah House. The event was chaired by Cathy Dutch, Toni Meltzer and Delia Temes. Participating in the project were members, Anita Burrows, Cathy Dutch, Eleanore Feitler, Joan & Bernie Marcus, Toni & Jeff Meltzer, Marty Morganstein, Mel Shindler and Delia Temes.
"We wish to express our gratitude to Rev. Bill Redfield and Trinity Church for allowing us the use of their wonderful kitchen," said the co-chairs of the event, "the foods we prepared were well received and appreciated by Mary Keough, Executive Director of Sarah House and her staff on behalf of the guests of Sarah House." Guests of Sarah House are families of hospitalized adults who are from out-of-town and in need of accommodations.
Seventeen members of Bet Havarim visited Trinity Church in Fayetteville on April 3rd in order to join with members of the church and Trinitys Rector, Rev. Bill Redfield. The purpose of the visit was to experience "walking the labyrinth." A discussion, led by Rev. Redfield, preceded the actual experience of the labyrinth and afterwards people shared their feelings and thoughts as they "walked the labyrinth." "We all had different feelings as we experienced this meditative journey but it was an experience that most will definitely want to repeat," said Bet Havarim member Mel Shindler, "We are most grateful for the opportunity presented by Rev. Redfield and members of the Labyrinth Guild of Trinity church who joined with us."
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.