As noted in our message to the community, the Beth El building is closed as of March 15, 2020. Based on the CDC’s and state and local health agencies’ recommendations to encourage social distancing, we at Beth El intend to put that principle into practice.
We will be using Zoom, a videoconferencing platform, for many of our online offerings. Click here for a short tutorial on how to access a Zoom meeting.
Pray with us!
Would you like to follow along with your own copy of the Siddurim? Click here to download a PDF.
Shabbat Morning Services: Saturdays at 10:00 am, join Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81116018491 or view live on our website.
Minyan
Join us via Zoom for Wednesday minyan and shiur at 8:00 am by simply clicking https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89378189779, view live on our website, or call 1-646-558-8656 and enter the meeting ID when asked (Meeting ID: 893 7818 9779).
(Abridged Siddur can be found here.)
Classes & Opportunities for Online Gatherings
Shabbat Morning D’var Torah by Rabbi Salem Pearce, Executive Director of Carolina Jews for Justice
Saturday, July 25, 2020 (During 10:00 am services)
Click here to join.
The book of Deuteronomy is in the voice of Moses (instead of the anonymous narrator of the first four books of the Torah), and in his speech, Moses re-tells many previous events. What does it mean to re-iterate and re-member the past at this point in our people’s story?
Rabbi Salem Pearce is executive director of Carolina Jews for Justice. She was formerly director of organizing at T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, where she organized T’ruah’s network of 2,000 rabbis and cantors in North America. Before she went to rabbinical school at Hebrew College in Boston, she worked as a nonprofit fundraiser for 10 years in Washington, D.C. Rabbi Salem lives in Durham with her two cats.
Community Shabbat Dinners-to-Go
Friday, July 31 and Friday, August 21
To view the July 31 menu and place an order, click here. Order by July 26!
To view the August 21 menu and place an order, click here.
“Torah From Heaven, Heaven From Torah”
Monday, July 27, 7:30 pm
Continuing Every other MondayJoin Rabbi Sager every other Monday evening beginning July 13 at 7:30 for a class called “Torah From Heaven, Heaven From Torah” on Zoom. Through Midrash and Poetry we will explore the nature of Torah given to all and Torah given to each.
Thursday, July 30, 7:30 pm
Click here to join.We know, we know. Everyone and their mama has started a quarantine book club, but trust us when we say you don’t want to miss this one. The inaugural read of the Not Your Bubbie’s Book Club will be Marra Gad’s “The Color of Love: A Story of a Mixed-Race Jewish Girl.” In her memoir, Gad shares about her experiences growing up in her adopted white family and the racism she experienced, both within her own family and within the Jewish community. We have broken down the book into three convenient, but meaty chunks for discussion. Join us on Zoom several Thursdays in July and August at 7:30 pm.
You can get the book anywhere you get books, but please support independent stores when possible. Here is a link to purchase at Bookshop.com. If cost is a barrier, please allow the Lifelong Learning Committee, proud sponsor of this program, to give you a copy. If you are taking them up on the offer, or have other questions, please contact Beth Belford (beth.belford@gmail.com). Requests for books must be made by July 22nd!
July 30: Session 1, meet the group and discuss the Prologue
August 13: Session 2, discuss Part 1
August 20: Session 3, discuss Part 2 and final thoughts
Saturday, August 1, 9:45 am
Take time for yourself and join the Beth El Healing Yoga class, offered online. We’ll breathe, stretch, strengthen, and give thanks for the many benefits of yoga during challenging times. Shortly before the class begins, click on this link so you are ready to start at 9:45. Please be sure to mute your device.Please let instructor Margie Satinsky know if you plan to participate in the class and if you have any questions or injuries that need special attention.
First Fridays Virtual Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, August 7, 2020, 6:30 pm
Join us via Zoom for a virtual Kabbalat Shabbat for and by the young-ish and the Jew-ish of Durham and its outer boroughs (Raleigh and Chapel Hill).
