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K'hilah Kedoshah
Members of our sacred community reach out to support and nurture one another -
Tikkun Olam
When we take even the smallest of steps to repair the world, we are helping to complete God’s work -
Avodah
Observing tradition in a relevant and meaningful way -
Kavanah v’Ahavah
Our Congregational Shema: Inspire through purpose. Be known by love. -
Torah
Torah, the foundation of our faith, is taught with joy and enthusiasm -
Beit T'filah
Beth-El has served as a house of prayer for progressive Judaism since 1928 -
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During this unprecedented time, many temple programs have moved online to connect our community virtually. Our TBE family has come together on Facebook Live, YouTube and Zoom to gather for prayer, meetings, master classes and more. View upcoming offerings here and on Week Ahead and Shabbat.
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Support Our Holy Community and Our Annual Fund Through a Donation to the Eternal Light Initiative: Our Annual Campaign here.

WELCOME
Temple Beth-El is home to more than 2,300 men, women and children. It is a place where people come to pray, celebrate and learn. In our holy community, minds are open, friends are made, tradition is honored and change is welcome. It’s a place of solace and sanctuary, reflection and rejoicing, song and study. As we seek to meet the spiritual and educational needs of a diverse Jewish community in a caring, innovative Reform temple, we encourage participation and respect individual choices. We welcome you to learn more about us.
HOT LINKS INTO OUR COMMUNITY
This Week at Beth-El
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Wed 27
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To plan a virtual event, please complete this form.
To plan an event at Temple Beth-El, please complete this form.
Remote Programming for the Week
Find a list of TBE’s extensive offerings here.
Morning Minyan
Mondays and Thursdays | 7:15 a.m.
Rabbi Meir Feldman will hold Morning Minyan on Mondays and Thursdays at 7:15 a.m., with Torah reading at about 7:40 a.m. and Kaddish at around 8:10 a.m. at https://tinyurl.com/TBEZoomRoom. Don’t Zoom? Call in by phone at 646-558-8656; Meeting ID: 930 9298 7872, Password: 862992.
Lunch and Learn: Exploring Race & Racism as an American Jew
Tuesdays, January 26, February 9, February 23 | 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
In this time when issues of race and racism divide our nation and weigh heavily upon our hearts, we have been given the opportunity and the moral imperative to examine, more deeply, issues of race as they relate to us in our personal lives and as they impact our communities and the soul of our nation.
Join Rabbi Tara for a 10-session Lunch & Learn Zoom class exploring issues of race from a Jewish perspective. Class discussions will draw upon biblical texts, rabbinic commentary, modern-day Jewish responses, guest speakers and two books: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson (in November and December) and Caste by Isabel Wilkerson (in January and February).
Reading these books is suggested but not required in order to participate in the class. To register, RSVP to dweintraub@tbegreatneck.org or 516-487 0900, ext. 116. For questions, email rabbitara@gmail.com. Lunch & Learn will meet on alternate Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89700287492?pwd=Y29saFlLN3doazNtNGdpeXJ4UzAzdz09.Prior to the first class, please watch Rabbi Angela Warnick Buchdahl’s Yom Kippur sermon at https://youtu.be/FNhG8aW6gbI or read it at https://globaljews.org/articles/identity/we-jews-are-not-a-race-a-rabbi-of-color-speaks-personally-on-yom-kippur/.
TriBE Quarantine Affinity Group
Tuesdays
As we face the new reality of our changing world, join others in the TBE community facing the same challenges in our new TriBE Quarantine Affinity group.
• Quarantining Alone every other Tuesday from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Register at https://tbegn.wufoo.com/forms/z57br8718wbotz/, and you will receive a Zoom link.
Mourner’s Support Group
Wednesdays | 10 to 11 a.m.
Join our weekly Zoom grief support group for TBE members who lost a loved one in recent months. Our Mourner’s Support Group began early this past spring as a way to pierce some of the isolation for those in mourning during the pandemic. Each meeting starts with a check in; then we share our experiences of the past week. Meetings close with the study of a brief passage related to grief and healing. No extended commitment is necessary to participate; come for a single session or join us each week. To receive the Zoom link, RSVP to Dafna Weintraub at dweintraub@tbegreatneck.org or 516-487-0900, ext. 116.
Adult Ed: Hebrew Grammar—a Continuation of Conversational Hebrew
Wednesday, January 27 | 8 to 8:45 p.m.
In this class taught by educator David Woolfe, expect less talk and more understanding. During these 45-minute classes, students will use modern Hebrew to understand basic Hebrew grammar, including the construction of present, past and future tense; definite article; and more on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89319767448?pwd=YXFtamRvOFRwR2lkdjl0SS8rM2FoUT09; Meeting ID: 893 1976 7448, Passcode: Grammar.
Torah Trope/Yad Squad
Thursdays, January 21, January 28, February 4, February 11 | 7 to 8:15 p.m.Have you ever thought about learning to chant Torah or wondered why we sing “V’Ahavta” the way we do? Maybe you learned to read Torah by memorizing but would like to learn what all those funny squiggly marks mean above and below the Hebrew letters. Discover the rich tradition of Ta’amei Mikra, the flavor of the writing, with Cantor Adam. Class size is limited to facilitate attention to learners of all ages on Zoom at http://bit.ly/CantorAdamZoom. RSVP to dweintraub@tbegreatneck.org, so we have enough yadayim.
Watch TBE’s Erev Shabbat Services on TV!
Fridays | 6:30 p.m.
Know a congregant who doesn’t have access to a computer? A previously recorded Erev Shabbat service can be viewed on NSTV on Optimum Channel 20 (in Great Neck and Manhasset) and on Verizon Fios Channel 37 (in Nassau County).
Erev Shabbat Services
Fridays | 7 p.m.
Erev Shabbat Services are held on Fridays at 7 p.m. on Zoom at https://tinyurl.com/TBEZoomRoom, Facebook Live at https://www.facebook.com/TBEGreatNeck/ and livestreamed on YouTube at https://tinyurl.com/TBELivestream. Don’t Zoom? Call in by phone at 646-558-8656; Meeting ID: 930 9298 7872, Password: 862992.
• To have the name of a loved one read, add it at https://tinyurl.com/YahrzeitRead.
• To make a tribute, go to https://tinyurl.com/TBETribute.
• Follow along (for free) on another device with a digital prayer book at https://tinyurl.com/MishkanT-filah or email Dafna at dweintraub@tbegreatneck.org to have a siddur delivered to your home by a TBE congregant.• Send us photos and a sentence expressing your simchas, celebrations and good news for Modim Moments, so we can share hoda’ah(gratitude) with our TBE family each month during the Amidah. Slideshows will be shown during Erev Shabbat Services on Fridays, February 5, March 5, April 2, May 7, and June 4. Email photos with “Modim Moments” in the subject line by the Wednesday prior to each Modim Moment Friday to Jaqui Wadsworth at jwadsworth@tbegreatneck.org.
• After services, join the Temple Beth-El Erev Shabbat Oneg every Friday from 8 to 9:30 p.m. in the same Zoom Room.
Torah Study
Saturdays | 9 a.m.
Torah Study will begin at 9 a.m. at https://zoom.us/j/94128642472?pwd=U1hNL3pKWlFVSmVCZlpXNWYzME5iZz09, Meeting ID: 941 2864 2472, Passcode: Torah1; or by phone at 929-436-2866, Meeting ID: 941 2864 2472, Passcode: 262943.
Shabbat Morning Service
Saturdays | 10:30 a.m.
Come for a lay-led Shabbat Morning Service at 10:30 a.m. and stay for a short chat. Bring your own challah and grape juice or wine and join in on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87493110146?pwd=WjNxVExQZUY4MTZXOVcvNVBxTTBJZz09; Meeting ID: 874 9311 0146, Password: challah.
Havdalah Services
Saturday Evenings | 6:15 p.m. through February
Havdalah Services will be held on Facebook Live at https://www.facebook.com/TBEGreatNeck/.
An inclusion-themed Zoom Havdalah service will be held with Community Synagogue and a special speaker on February 13 from 5 to 6 p.m. See below for details.
Tu B’shvat: The Birthday of the Trees
A Yoga and Meditation Event
Sunday, January 24 | 10 to 11:15 a.m.Rise from Rest to Balance and Blossom with Sharon, Elanit and Rabbi Tara Feldman, presented by Lev Shalem Health & Wellness and Temple Beth-El of Great Neck, on Zoom. No previous yoga experience is necessary. Come with an open heart and mind. The fee is $18; FREE for Temple Beth-El members. The Zoom link will be sent with your completed registration. RSVP by Saturday, January 23, at 9 p.m. at https://tbegn.wufoo.com/forms/mi2mryn1qgf09e/.
Special Shabbat with Daniel Zarin
Climate Chaos: Why the Next Decade—and Our Choices—Matter More Than EverSaturday, February 6 | 10 a.m.Join us for a special Shabbat with guest speaker Daniel Zarin, senior director of programs for the Climate and Land Use Alliances since its inception in 2010. Previously, he was senior advisor to the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.
From 1995 to 2009, he was a professor at the University of New Hampshire and subsequently at the University of Florida. He has a BA in History, a Master’s of Forest Science from Yale University and a PhD in Geology from the University of Pennsylvania.
He has published widely on forest ecology, management and policy, as well as the interface between deforestation and climate change.
The event will be held on Zoom at https://tinyurl.com/TBEZoomRoom.
Sisterhood Book Discussion
Monday, February 8 | 7:30 pm.Need a relaxing evening with Sisterhood? Think we’re all serious, all the time? For February’s book club we will loosen up and discuss (or maybe argue) as Jenn Still-Schiff leads a book discussion of The 100 Most Jewish Foods: A Highly Debatable List by Alana Newhouse.The book is not just about the food—it’s essays, centered around different traditions in Jewish kitchens. In addition to debating recipes, the book’s narratives—contributed by a number of well-known experts—touch on the diversity of Jewish lives and palates.Come with your own traditional Top 10, or try out a new recipe to “bring” to the meeting.Sisterhood has six library copies circulating, thanks to Arlene Nevens. If you’d like to be put on the list to borrow a copy, email sisterhoodtbegn@gmail.com with “Book Request” in the subject. We’ll let you know when a copy is available for you to pick up at a member’s house. Books will be quarantined for three days after being returned.Inclusion Havdalah with Jeannette Perutz Elsner
February 13 | 5 to 6 p.m.An inclusion-themed Zoom Havdalah service will be held with UJA and Community Synagogue. Be inspired to become more resilient by special speaker Jeannette Perutz Elsner, an author and activist who rose to national prominence in 2020 through her podcast Living at the Mercy of the Moment, in which she discusses traumas and triumphs, losses and lessons. Register at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwuc-mhpzIoE9BXgTK0VdfJcVcLfaO4BL1P.
Join ADL in Fighting Hate for Good
Sunday, February 21 | 10 a.m.This Purim holiday, join our Temple Beth-El community for an important discussion regarding how we can all embody the courage of Queen Esther to protect those who are most vulnerable. Amy Feinman, ADL’s Northeast Area Civil Rights Counsel, will lead a discussion regarding ADL’s ongoing work to combat anti-Semitism and secure justice and fair treatment for all, with a particular focus on tangible next steps we all can take to help fight hate for good. Join at tinyurl.com/TBEZoomRoom.
Purim Shpiel PrepThursday, February 25Why is this night different from all other nights? Because like the world around us, everything is nahafoch hu—turned upside down! Help Cantor Adam prepare for a weird, wacky, wild Purim Shpiel unlike anything we’ve seen—on Zoom. Email Cantor Adam to contribute an idea for a sketch, song or to participate.PURim Parking Lot Experience
Saturday, February 27 | 5:15 p.m.
Join us for a Saturday night Purim celebration in the TBE parking lot. Individuals and families in costumes and decorated cars, along with those at “home-ntaschen” will be featured in our “Zoom-asquerade.”
Arrive masked (of course), prepared to show off your wildest costume in your headlights, as you munch on hamantaschen and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate.
In-person attendees will be invited to “car-ticipate” in a Purim shpiel by the dashboard lights on Zoom, led by Rabbi Meir and Cantor Adam. “Home-ntaschen” attendees may also participate on Zoom. Our evening and Purim will end with Havdalah.
Bring canned goods and nonperishable food items (check expiration dates!) for contribution to Great Neck’s Interfaith Food Pantry to fulfill the Purim custom of Matanot L’evyonim (gifts to the needy).
Preregistration is required at https://tbegn.wufoo.com/forms/m1d5ak1612lw4xm/.
TBE Annual Comedy Night 2021
Saturday, March 13
Get ready for a night of laughter at TBE’s annual Comedy Night, featuring comedian Dan Naturman.
Dan began performing stand-up comedy several years ago—believe it or not—in law school. After graduation, he decided to devote himself to stand-up full time. He discovered that comedy was his true passion. Besides, he says his grades were bad and nobody would hire him. Dan’s charming combination of self-deprecation and outright grouchiness has audiences howling from coast to coast, earning him four appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, The Tonight Show and Late Night with Conan O’Brien. He also had his own Comedy Central Presents… special and a starring run on NBC’s America’s Got Talent. Dan is known to his fans as the “real winner” of NBC’s Last Comic Standing 2a few years back, where he was the favorite of celebrity judges Drew Carey and Brett Butler. Recently, he had a recurring role on HBO’s Crashing, multiple appearances on Comedy Central’s This Week at The Comedy Cellarand made a splash in 2020 on America’s Got Talent—The Champions,where he received a standing ovation from the adoring crowd in one of the most talked-about sets of the season. Warm up your funny bone by watching Dan at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-sWBZSsT3s.
TBE Gives Back
Sunday, March 21 | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Details will follow with opportunities for giving back to the community.To plan a virtual event, please complete this form.
To plan an event at Temple Beth-El, please complete this form.
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Welcome to the Gershwind Family Religious School.
Our 2019–2020 Religious School program offers:
Grade K-6: Welcome to Tosefet!
Tosefet means “more” in Hebrew. Tosefet builds on the success of Merkaz Ivrit. We know that we can consistently show stronger decoding skills, prayer proficiency, Hebrew skills, and synagogue literacy and connections with a second day of classes.
Tosefet offers more conversational Hebrew, more learning of Hebrew songs, playing more Hebrew games, gaining more prayer proficiency, gaining more leadership experience, creating personal relationships with our rabbis and cantor, and engaging with me in the classroom.
As in the past, school is held every Tuesday from 4 to 6:15 p.m. Families may choose their second day, Monday or Thursday. The Monday or Thursday session is held from 4 to 6 p.m. Attending the full two-hour second day program will offer maximum results. We understand that due to scheduling and transportation the two hours on a second day may be a challenge, so families may choose to only attend one hour if needed. Be in touch to discuss your needs, we will do our best for you!
Tosefet is the K-6 program of the Gershwind Family Religious School at Temple Beth-El of Great Neck
Tuesdays, 4 to 6:15 p.m.
Mondays or Thursdays, 4 to 6 p.m.
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Hebrew High Students
7th Grade
Classes are held on Tuesdays from 6:15 to 8:30 p.m. and include a pizza dinner.
Instructors: David Woolfe and Morah Orit
The 7th grade will incorporate a 10-10-10 structure. The first ten sessions of the year will be devoted to the Jewish Teen Funders Network philanthropy curriculum. The second ten sessions of the year will be focused on devising individual philanthropic/mitzvah projects and the final ten sessions will be a Biblical exploration of the mitzvah of giving—of oneself, of one’s wealth and of one’s time.
Hebrew and prayer proficiency will continue to be a significant part of the 7th grade year.
The 7th grade will also be part of the High School Rosh Chodesh programming.8th to 12th Grade
Classes are held from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Grades 8 & 9
Rabbi Muhlbaum is delighted to be teaching 8th and 9th grade again this year. In her class, students will use a wide range of learning modalities, like debate, mixed media arts, persuasive speaking, and creative writing. They’ll explore different issues and build their Jewish literacy. With Rabbi Muhlbaum, they’ll strengthen their bonds with each other and the Jewish people.
10th Grade: Confirmation
Rabbi Tara creates the opportunity for our Confirmation class to explore how Jewish themes and identity enriches this pivotal year in their lives. The year culminates in a beautiful Confirmation Service at Shavuot.
11th Grade
Our 11th graders will be engaged in the Jewish Teen Funders Network philanthropy curriculum. In addition to exploring what philanthropy means and, specifically, what Jewish philanthropy means we will focus on the skill of fundraising to support philanthropic efforts. (Part of the curriculum requires our students to explore and research organizations to which they will give a substantial charitable gift.)
12th Grade
Our Graduating seniors will have the opportunity to truly “wrestle” with the questions and content that Judaism presents. Rabbi Meir will guide these explorations with our students and looks forward to greeting them on our bimah as graduates!
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Makom-TBE Special-Needs Program
Classes are held on Mondays from 4 to 6 p.m.
As Temple Beth-El is committed to creating an inclusive community, Makom is a program for students who have special needs or require accommodations beyond a typical classroom setting. We welcome you to contact us for more information.*****************************************
For questions, more info or to register, call 516-487-0900 or email David Woolfe, Religious School Director, at
dwoolfe@tbegreatneck.org or Joy Allen, Religious School Administrator, at jallen@tbegreatneck.org.
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Click here to log into you TBE Member Chaverweb account.
ChaverWeb Sign In
ChaverWeb is a secure way for Temple Beth-El members to update personal and family information, view account information online, make dues payments and monetary donations to a variety of Temple funds.
How to use ChaverWeb
There are several important things you can do on the ChaverWeb site: update your information, view your account, make payments and donations, and register students for Religious School.
Manage Your Membership Profile
If you have recently moved, changed jobs, or changed your email address or phone number, we would appreciate it if you would let us know by clicking the “Manage Profile” button. We want to be able to keep in touch and the best way for us to do this is to have up-to-date information for all of our congregants.
View Your Bill
If you would like to see a list of entries and recent transactions on your account, click the “Account Status” button. Note that you can check the box to show only open items or all items. You can also click on the “Payments” tab to see recent payments we have received.
Register Students for Religious School
Click on the School Registration icon and follow the steps for the registration. You will first be asked to confirm contact information. Each child is registered separately to ensure that all information about the student is correct.
Don’t forget to hit “Save” at the bottom of each page as you update!
If the changes you are sharing with us involve a major life event, we hope you will also email us at Temple Beth-El so that the rabbis can reach out to you.
Signing in to ChaverWeb for the first time
If you’ve never signed in, contact us and we can send you an email that will contain a temporary password to allow you to log into ChaverWeb.
Please contact Cari Horn, TBE Controller at 516-487-0900 with the email address you want us to use.
- Click the ChaverWeb logo above to to open ChaverWeb in a new window. You can also click the logo found in the footer on every page of this website.
- Enter your email address (email address for family account is Adult 1 — our default is adult male, if you are unsure please contact the office) and temporary password from the email.
- The next screen will allow you to set a new password. Enter the temporary password in “Current Password” and enter a new password where it says “Choose a New Password” and “Confirm Your New Password.” NOTE: Password must contain at least seven characters, including at least one symbol (i.e.,!@#$%^&*).
- Click “Change Password.” You will be taken to a web page confirming your password has been changed.
- Click “Continue.”
- You will see a new web page with several options for interacting with your Temple Sinai account:
- Manage Profile;
- Change Password;
- Account Status;
- School Registration.
Trouble logging in:
If you are having trouble logging in, please try the following:
On the log-in page, click “Forgot your username or password?”
Your username is the email address of the person listed as Adult 1 in our records — our default is ‘adult male’ which may not match your account data. Please contact the Temple Beth-El office (516-487-0900) if you are unsure whose name is in the Adult 1 position.
If you cannot remember your password, enter your email into the box marked “Enter your username to receive your password”. You will receive an email with a new temporary password. Follow the instructions above to reset your password to something you can remember.
If you have tried all this and are still having trouble logging in, please call the Temple Beth-El office (516-487-0900).
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Temple Beth-El is pleased to present our services to congregants and friends via live streaming. All Erev Shabbat, Shabbat morning, holiday, and festival services that take place in the Rabbi Jacob Philip Rudin Chapel and Main Sanctuary will be live streamed. View Here
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We want to welcome you! Temple Beth -El has been a pillar of the Great Neck community for the past 90 years. In recognition of this anniversary, we invite you to share in the richness, the warmth and the community of our Temple Beth-El family by becoming a member with our Gift Membership Program. Learn more about it here and check your eligibility or call us directly at 516-487-0900. -
Great-Full is Temple Beth-El’s new Social Action program. Its mission is to feed, clothe and support all of Great Neck so that our neighbors are never without basic human needs. We offer monthly meal preparation programs for those in need. Want to get involved? Donate Online, call or email us to get involved in this initiative or for access to our resources for you or someone you know.
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For online registration, click here.
Watch as Rabbi Tara Feldman and Registered Yoga Teacher Sharon Epstein describe the meaningful connections between prayer, Torah and Yoga. The Jewish Yoga School at Temple Beth-El offers weekly classes in addition to selective Shabbat Morning Yoga Prayer.