Month: April 2020

by Bill Welch, board member I discovered ironically that last week’s Torah portion, Tazria/Metzora, contains among other things a detailed description about how the community deals with what was perceived to be a highly contagious disease (sound familiar?). It discusses in graphic detail certain disfigurative conditions known as “Tzara’at” on peoples‘ skin, clothing, and even … Read more

by Rabbi Jared H. Saks As I write this, it’s the end of April and I was supposed to have completed this piece weeks ago, but I’ve found myself unable to find the words or even the message I want to convey to you. I am, I imagine like you, struggling to find meaning in … Read more

by Rachel Lefkowitz, Synagogue Administrator Two months ago, my biggest concern was about bringing food for onegs on plates rather than in containers. Well, the world certainly has changed since then.  I am grateful to everyone at Bet Ha’am who has stepped up, despite the anxiety and stress we all are feeling, to help keep … Read more

by Lynn Urbach, President Dear Friends,I want to give you an update on our response at Bet Ha’am to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rabbi Saks, Sam Spinrad, Rachel Lefkowitz, and I are in frequent contact with each other and are regularly discussing the most recent recommendations from the national and state Centers for Disease Control (CDCs), … Read more

with Rabbi Jared H. Saks In February, Rabbi Saks led a thoughtful discussion of Bryan Stevenson’s Just Mercy. At the time, we anticipated a scholar-in-residence weekend with Marc Dollinger, author of Black Power, Jewish Politics: Reinventing the Alliance in the 1960s. That visit has been postponed, but even in the midst of the current crisis, Congregation Bet … Read more

by Lynn Urbach, President Dear friends, Things have been changing so fast as we all respond to COVID-19. We hope that most of you are slowly getting used to this new normal and are doing what you can to stay safe. Rabbi Saks, the board of trustees, and our amazing staff and volunteers are working … Read more