For Immediate Release: May 20, 2008
Sunday, May 4th, saw members of Bet Havarim's Social Action Committee gathered at "Sarah House" to honor Earth Day by assisting Sarah House's Maintenance Director in an outdoor cleanup project. Organized by Bet Havarim member, Bernie Marcus, the afternoon saw Social Action Committee members raking leaves and sprucing up the property surrounding Sarah House. (Tikkun Olam, repairing the world, is the Hebrew term for the concept of social action.)
"We were so glad that the weather held for us and that we were able to join together to perform this mitzvah project for a wonderful and deserving organization," said Marcus. After the project was completed Sarah House's Executive Director, Mary Keough, joined the group for refreshments, conversation and a tour of the facility located on the corner of Roberts and Bellevue Avenues. Syracuse's only "Adult Hospital Hospitality House", Sarah House provides living accommodations and meals for family members and loved ones of adults from outside the Syracuse area who are hospitalized in area hospitals. In addition to guests from New York State, Sarah House has welcomed guests from 49 states as well as 5 foreign countries.
On Friday evening, June 20th, Cantorial Soloist, Hanita Margulies Blair, will conduct Bet Havarim's next Shabbat Worship Service assisted by members of Bet Havarim's Shabbat Committee. Beginning at 7:30 PM the service will be held in the social hall of St. David's Episcopal Church in Dewitt.
A meeting to discuss certain "End of Life Issues" was held on Monday evening, May 5th, for Bet Havarim members at Trinity Church in Fayetteville, organized and chaired by Marty Morganstein and Mel Shindler. "We had received inquiries from some of our members regarding availability of clergy and others who would be available to officiate at burial services for members and families of our Chavurah as well as availability of burial spaces in area cemeteries," said the event organizers, adding, "we were quite surprised by the numbers of our members who attended and who wanted us to pursue the issue further." While the meeting was originally scheduled for Bet Havarim members only it was decided that, upon the completion of the research, the information gathered would be presented to non-members as well. "We realize that there are those in our Central New York Jewish community who are not affiliated with a congregation and for whom the information and options we will be presented may be of interest," said the meeting leaders, "we hope to be presenting information to the community in the very near future."
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.