» Check out the trip brochure to learn more!

A little Pesah learning paired with a little wine education. Light hors d’oeuvres and dessert (dairy) will also be served.

Featuring Star Tribune Wine Columnist, Bill Ward, and Rabbi Avi Olitzky

Download the form and bring it with you to Noodles!

Sing-Along Purim!

Have you been coming to Erev Purim at Beth El all these years wishing you could be part of the show? Well, this year, you’re it! We’ll sing the Purim story together in songs from Motown, pop music, and Beth El’s own “Vashti Was Right”! And to make sure you know the songs and can belt them out, we’ve got the songs from “Vashti Was Right” available below:
The Whole Megillah
Vashti Was Right
No Jew is an Island
Bigthan and Teresh

Don’t forget your costumes and bring a box of mac ‘n cheese for your grogger to drown out Haman’s (boooooo!) name and then donate to STEP. Shpilke Options: Children’s programs/activities available for antsy preschool through 4th graders.

Come back on Sunday, February 28, 2010 (14 Adar 5770) at 9: 00 a.m. for Shaharit Services and our 3rd annual “Pretty Good Jokes” Megillah reading. Then, top it all off with Beth El’s Infamous USY Purim Carnival from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. Bring your friends & family for fun, food games, bingo and a silent auction.

Don’t miss this WILD & CRAZY weekend of Purim Madness at Beth El!

» View the Purim flyer for more information

Local rabbis and other teachers will lead a choice of sessions at 7:00 pm, repeated at 8:00 pm and followed by traditional Purim refreshments for all. The sessions are:

• “The R-Rated Megillah: An Adult Text Study of Megillat Esther”—with Rabbi Avi Olitzky of Beth El Synagogue
• “Esther and Vashti: Imperfect Choices for an Imperfect World”—with Sara Lynn Newberger of the Talmud Torah of St. Paul
• “There Was a Jewish Man in Shushan the Capitol: How the Jews Lived in Ancient Iran through Today”—with Rabbi Charni Flame Selch of Bnai Emet Synagogue
• “Purim Pop-Up Paper Art: Create a Masterpiece Using Origami, Kirigami and Megillah Quotes (no experience necessary”)—with Rabbi Lilly Kaufman of Adath Jeshurun Congregation

Registration begins at 6:30 pm. There is no charge for this event, which is open to the community. In the Purim tradition of matanot l’evyonim, giving food gifts to the needy, cash donations are requested at the door. All proceeds will be given to STEP food shelf and Second Harvest, and cash donations will be matched by rabbis of the sponsoring congregations.

For further information call 651.698.8874 or contact any of the sponsoring congregations: Adath Jeshurun, Beth El, Beth Jacob, Bnai Emet or Temple of Aaron.

You don’t want to miss this next chapter of exciting programs for Beth El’s Young Families!

For more information, please contact Jenny Ajsenberg at 763.208.0944 or via e-mail or Liz Rappaport at 612.816.0378 or via e-mail. You can also join the Young Families Group on Facebook to keep up to date with our latest activities!

We can’t wait to see you there!!

Rabbis Davis and Olitzky attended the meeting, offering valuable ideas and support. Among the areas for practical action discussed were hunger, homelessness, state health-care legislation, and weaving environmental sustainability into Beth El’s forthcoming expansion/remodeling.

The Twin Cities-wide interfaith Joint Legal Religious Committee—on which Rabbi Olitzky serves—holds its annual “Day on the Hill” at the State Capitol on Thursday, March 25. Lobbying to promote equitable public policy, its immediate focus will be on urging lawmakers to reverse the more detrimental effects of funding unallotments announced last year. To learn how to participate, go to www.JRLC.org, or e-mail Rabbi Olitzky.

The Social Justice Committee encourages congregants interested in discussing Jane Goodall’s new book, A Reason for Hope, as a catalyst for social action to attend next month’s meeting, Sunday, March 7, at 9:30 a.m. Read the book, and come prepared to engage in a lively conversation.

Always let the good times continue…Crave at the West End is located at 1603 West End Blvd.

» Print and return this form to register today!

Tickets are no longer available online. You may still still purchase tickets at the door for $25 per person or $18 for students.

For more information about Adam Han-Gorski and his music, visit http://hangorski.com.

Q: What do you get when you have 11 meetings with 65 people over the course of 2 days with 2 incredible architects?

A: A plan to renew and reinvigorate our Beth El building!
You know that we have been raising money to renew and reinvigorate our Beth El building.  But did you know that the Building Project Committee has been meeting with volunteers and staff for the last month to capture critical programming information to help design the facility that will be our home for generations to come?

Q: We have heard about this project for years. When will construction start?

A: NOW! The process is currently underway! Three groups are hard at work.
An aggressive timeline has been developed by our architectural firm, Miller Dunwiddie.  Working in collaboration with our Building Project Committee* – Chaired by Ruth Usem, and our Construction Committee** – chaired by Mike Blehert, the coming weeks will bring the review of architectural drawings, and the selection of a general contractor.

Q: When will we break ground?

A: Summer 2010!

Q: What can we expect in our new building?

A: We will…

• SERVE the next generation of Aleph School parents with updated classrooms, a unified school on one floor, a new school entrance, and renovated bathrooms.
• ACCOMMODATE the multitude of social activities with accessible social spaces that allow us to operate multiple events and programs simultaneously.
• TRANSFORM our library into a multi-media center that supports lifelong interactive learning with room to house our outstanding collections.
• CONSERVE energy and be “up-to-code” with updated existing utilities and new fire and security systems.
• WARMLY WELCOME all who come to Beth El through entrances and hallways that are inviting and easy to navigate. New elevator and accessibility to all!

Q: WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?

A:  Help us complete the campaign and achieve our goals!  If you have not yet made a pledge (payable over 5 years), please contact Linda Goldberg at 952-920-3512, ext. 108. Every gift COUNTS!

Stay tuned for more exciting updates!
TOGETHER, WE ARE BUILDING EXCITEMENT!

*Building Project Committee
Ruth Usem (Chair), Rabbi Alexander Davis, Amy Rotenberg, Anne Hope, Rabbi Avi Olitzky, Art Glassman, Cantor Audrey Abrams, Bonnie Heller, Barbara Parks, Daniel Spiegel, Donna Leviton, Gail Jordani, Gil Mann, Kathy Rendleman, Karen Brodsky, Linda Goldberg, Mary Baumgarten, Mike Blehert, Marilyn Weisberg, Peggy Kerska, Penny Glassman, Ron Ungerman, Sally Forbes Friedman

**Construction Committee
Mike Blehert (Chair), Mark Gittleman, Ron Ungerman, Allen Bernard, Daniel Spiegel, Richard Ozer, Craig Kupritz, Gary Goldish, Ruth Usem

Stay tuned for more Building Excitement ahead. To get the most up-to-date information, check the Beth El website and sign up for Beth El’s Kesher email updates.

» View more information and register

• Intergenerational Games & Activities
• Build Your Ideal Synagogue at Lego Land
• Dance to a Klezmer Band
• Build Your Own Sundaes
• And more!

For football fans – Don’t worry! Score updates will be provided every half hour!

See you there!