In keeping with our tradition of Tzedakah, gift opportunities at Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El are varied and designed to meet the philanthropic interest and abilities of all members and friends of our congregation.

Listed below are the many ways in which an individual or family may contribute to support the mission of Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El and our Jewish traditions. You may contact the Synagogue Office for specific information.

When sending in your contribution: Please specify to which of the following funds you wish to donate. Please note: Contributions may not be taken over the phone. Thank you for your cooperation.

Please Note: If you do not wish to have your name included in The Pharisee listing, which is then placed on our web site, please notify the office.

Opportunities are available to underwrite partial or full sponsorship of congregation-wide programs throughout the year. Opportunities include, but are not limited to the following.

Shabbat Youth Services

LTF – Shabbat Teen Lunch and Learn

New Baby Shabbat

High Holiday Youth Services

Neilah – Havdalah Service

Simchat Torah Celebrations

Tu B'Shevat Seders - Schools

Purim Celebrations and Children's Programming and Carnivals

Siyyum – Ta'anit Bekhorim (First Born Breakfast – Passover)

Adult Learning Lectures, Scholar's Weekends and Luncheons

"HaSharah" – Hebrew Enrichment Program

Confirmation

Scholarships: Jewish Education, Jewish Camping and Israel Programs

Bus Transportation for Youth Field Trips

TBH-BE Website

Pharisee Newsletter

Our "Simcha Tree," a beautiful sculpture of walnut and brass, designed and constructed by artist John Acorn, was dedicated in May 1976 and serves to commemorate significant happy milestones, "simchas," in the lives of our families. It has always been the Jewish custom to mark a happy event with an act of Tzedakah.

Many congregants have purchased a leaf of this Tree of Life to honor these special occasions. Every time you, your family and your friends are in the synagogue, you and they will be reminded of this simcha.

Each brass leaf is engraved with the name, events and date. A certificate is sent to the honoree in your name. Cost per leaf: $250.00.

Every family has been tragically touched by the loss of a loved one. It has always been a revered tradition in Judaism to remember a loved one with an act of Tzedakah, an act of kindness and charity. Many families choose to commemorate the passing of a loved one with an engraved memorial plaque in our Chapel. The plaques are illuminated and each is lit on the Yahrzeit date. In every generation, families are drawn to the synagogue for important lifecycle events – some joyous, others sad. What better way to remember than with a permanent dedication in the synagogue. Each Pesach there is a dedication service for those plaques purchased during the past year. Cost per Chapel plaque: $500.00.

The Holocaust Torah of Kisvarda, Hungary, was a gift to Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El from Juliet Irene Spitzer and Philip Wachs. In the name of this Torah, Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El, has created an Endowment Fund dedicated to teaching Torah by funding Jewish education programs at the synagogue. In recognition of the generosity of Dr. Jack and Caryn Becker and in memory of Jack Becker’s parents, this fund has been named The Charlotte and Nathan Becker Holocaust Torah Renewal Fund. Hundreds of other members and friends of Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El donated funds to this Endowment through gifts associated with the restoration of portions of the text of the Torah.

Through a campaign to "Observe and Remember," Shamor V'Zahor, the Holocaust Torah of Kisvarda has been given a new life in our community. By teaching Torah in its name, and reading from this Torah at all B'nai Mitzvah, we have established a living memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, an honor to survivors and a celebration of Jewish life.

Contributions to The Charlotte and Nathan Becker Holocaust Torah Renewal Endowment Fund are a wonderful way to commemorate a Birth, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Wedding, Hanukkah, etc.

Opportunities for symbolic dedication include:

Sefer Torah - $10,000 Special Parshot - $3,600

available: Shemot (Exodus) available: Yitro (Ten Commandments)

Devarim (Deuteronomy) #9; #9; #9; Noah (The Flood)

Atzei Chaim (Scrolls and Handles) - $5,845

Weekly Parsha - $1,800

Torah Dressings - $5,845 (call the Synagogue Office for a list)

available: 2 Rimonim

Breastplate Maftir - $613

Yad (call the Synagogue Office for a list)

Aliya - $360 (unspecified)

Verse - $180 (unspecified)

Word $18 (unspecified)

"Kehillah – Build, Renew, Sustain" – is a campaign to support our newest expansion and restoration project. The renovation, upgrading and bringing together of our existing buildings with the construction of a new Chapel, classrooms, Rabbi's study, Cantor's study,synagogue offices, Judaica shop and Mikveh, all handicapped accessible, are the result of years of hard work and enormous generosity from so many of our congregants and staff.

Contributions, at all levels, are welcomed and greatly appreciated and will be acknowledged in a Commemorative Book to be displayed in the synagogue. All donors with gifts of $3,600 or more will be recognized on a Donor Wall. Donors with gifts of $10,000 or more will have the opportunity to honor or pay tribute to the memory of loved ones in a meaningful and enduring way by dedicating a part of our new and renewed facility. The dedication opportunities still available can be obtained by calling the Synagogue Office.

The following list of funds provides wonderful opportunities to honor or memorialize family and friends throughout the year.

To provide funds for educational programs relating to Jewish Renewal

To provide scholarships for TBH-BE Religious School

For Hey student programs on Jewish ethical behavior

To provide scholarships for religious education

To provide scholarships for members’ children to attend Camp Ramah

To provide scholarship assistance for a member's child to attend Camp Ramah

To provide scholarships for TBH-BE Religious School and Hebrew High students

To provide funds for future operational needs

For the purchase of items for the Bright Horizons program for special needs children

To augment Family Education Programs

To provide for music programs, concerts and music educational needs

To reach out to members’ children at college with gifts and communications

To augment General Synagogue Operation

To augment the general L'Chaim Fund

PROGRAMS (cont'd.)

To augment the general Men's Club Fund

For special uses as designated by the Rabbi

To augment Adult Education programs

To augment the general Sisterhood Fund

To provide funds and scholarships for Youth Department programs

To provide support for Jews in the Former Soviet Union

For Facility and Ground Improvements

For New Construction and Renovations

For perpetual maintenance of the Cherry Auditorium

For perpetual maintenance of Garden and Pond areas

For the purchase and restorations of Fine Arts

For the purchase of books and periodicals

For the purchase of special Nursery School items

For the purchase of Chumashim and Siddurim prayer books

Bookplate dedications available

For the purchase of Kippot and Tallesim

For the purchase of special Religious School items

Gifts can be paid in cash, stocks and other assets, including Israel Bonds. Gifts of appreciated stocks offer the opportunity to alleviate capital gains taxes.

After providing for their own needs and those of loved ones, many donors can make a larger future gift by including the synagogue in their will.

Charitable Remainder Trusts

This trust provides opportunities to alleviate capital gains taxes of appreciated property, creates an immediate charitable tax deduction, and provides an income for the donor or beneficiary. The remainder of the trust benefits Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El at the end of the beneficiary's lifetime. This gift may also be created on a testamentary basis through a donor's will.

Life Insurance

Gifts of life insurance offer a variety of ways to make significant gifts to Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El while benefiting from applicable charitable deductions.