WELCOME TO TEMPLE BETH HILLEL-BETH EL
HISTORY OF TEMPLE BETH HILLEL-BETH EL
SYNAGOGUE LIFE TODAY
SCHEDULE OF DAILY SERVICES
EDUCATION AT TEMPLE BETH HILLEL-BETH EL
GROUPS AND COMMITTEES
MEMBERSHIP & FEES
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
STAFF, OFFICERS & COMMITTEES
 

Returning & New Member Form & Fees  (Adobe PDF File) (to save file, right click and choose Save Target As)

School Tuition & Fees Worksheet   (Adobe PDF file)    (to save file, right click and choose Save Target As)

New Member Campaign 2007

New Member Welcome Letter   (Adobe PDF file) 

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WELCOME TO TEMPLE BETH HILLEL-BETH EL

Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El is dedicated to advancing Conservative Judaism and to strengthening the Jewish way of life and values. It emphasizes both traditional and innovative forms of worship and meaningful spiritual pursuits. It seeks to promote warm fellowship among its members by sponsoring stimulating family and cultural programs, progressive educational programs for all ages, and a wide variety of social functions.

Our vibrant, talented and diverse Synagogue family invites you to experience the “ruach” (spirit) and warmth that makes our Congregation so special.

We all look forward to an exciting and inspiring year. We invite you to join the Officers, the Staff, and Board of Directors, as well as the families of Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El as we work to preserve our Jewish past, enrich our Jewish present and secure our Jewish future.

HISTORY OF TEMPLE BETH HILLEL-BETH EL

Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El was founded in 1958 by a group of 18 dedicated Main Line families who advocated Conservative Judaism as an expression of their Jewish ideals and values. They sought to embrace Tradition while recognizing change and experimentation.

The new congregation chose Temple Beth Hillel as its name, after the legendary Rabbi Hillel, whose life exemplified the very traits that the founders hoped would characterize their congregation. The new congregation quickly grew as word spread of this new undertaking.

In the beginning, services were held in the converted greenhouse on the former Clothier Estate in Wynnewood, which the congregation had leased with an option to purchase.

Then, in 1960, 50 additional families from the West Philadelphia Jewish Community Center merged with the new congregation, and with these added members, Temple Beth Hillel had now become a viable congregation.

In 1961, the congregation chose Rabbi Marshall J. Maltzman to be its first full-time Rabbi and spiritual leader. That same year, the congregation bought the 8 acre Wynnewood property to be a permanent site on which to build its synagogue.

In 1962, architect Norman Rice unveiled his plans for a new sanctuary building. He envisioned a building symbolic of the tents of the Israelites in the desert, using bricks and glass to create light-filled spaces. In the Sanctuary, the congregation chose a Sephardic seating arrangement based on a central open space and Torah reading table, creating a participatory and friendly setting for prayer and study. The new building was dedicated in the Spring of 1967.

As the congregation grew, so did its school enrollment. Temple Beth Hillel merged with Temple Beth El in 1970 and Rabbi Maltzman again became the Rabbi for families formerly at Temple Beth El, 58^th and Walnut Streets, Philadelphia, Pa., for whom he had served as Rabbi from 1957-1959.

By 1983, the congregation numbered over 600 families and the need for expanded and refurbished facilities was once again identified. This resulted in the design and development of the Jack and Sylvia Erlbaum Education Campus which included the then newly built Ruth N. Maltzman Memorial School Building housing the Sylvia F. Lodish Religious School and the Coslov-Freudenheim Auditorium, all of which were dedicated in 1990.

Rabbi Maltzman retired in 1991, having served the congregation for 30 years. He was succeeded as spiritual leader by our present Rabbi, Neil S. Cooper, who joined Hazzan Eugene Rosner, who had become synagogue Cantor a year earlier.

Over the years, we have been privileged to see the continued growth of our programs, staff, schools and synagogue membership. Second, third and even fourth generation family members now attend our schools and participate in many aspects of synagogue life.

In June, 2001 we broke ground once again to expand and renovate our facilities to meet the needs of our ever-growing synagogue community. In May, 2002 we dedicated our new and fully handicapped accessible Link Building, Holocaust Memorial Chapel, Mikveh, classrooms, offices, lobby, and main entrance as well as our renovated Sanctuary, Cherry Auditorium, Youth Activity Center, kitchen, gift shop and public spaces.

SYNAGOGUE LIFE TODAY

Under the spiritual leadership of Rabbi Neil Cooper and Hazzan Eugene Rosner, Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El has continued to grow and excel becoming one of the most vibrant and dynamic Conservative Synagogues in the Metropolitan Philadelphia area.

Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El is very people and family focused. Our Early Childhood Center (Nursery, Kindergarten, etc), Parenting Center, Religious School, Hebrew High School, Youth, Family Education and Adult Learning programs are extensive and recognized for their quality and excellence. These programs permit our members to not only learn, but also form strong bonds of friendship, as well.

Prayer is a keystone of Synagogue life. Hazzan Eugene Rosner emphasizes congregational participation in the chanting of the liturgy. In our sanctuary we follow a democratic seating arrangement. On no occasion – including High Holidays – do we assign seats to individual synagogue members. All of our services are egalitarian, with women granted Aliyot and equality in all aspects of prayers, participation and leadership. Four separate Youth Services, beginning with Tot Shabbat and continuing through the Bar/Bat Mitzvah year, are held each Shabbat. Our Havurah, consisting of more than ninety member-families, conducts alternative religious services twice a month on Shabbat mornings.

The Congregation is governed both by a Board of Directors who have been elected by the general membership, and an Executive Committee of elected officers, all of whom are very active in all phases of Synagogue life. Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El is proud of its affiliation with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Our Congregation is also a strong supporter of the Perelman Jewish Day School, a Solomon Schechter affiliate, Akiba Hebrew Academy and Camp Ramah. Our Sisterhood is affiliated with Women’s League for Conservative Judaism and our Mens’ Club is associated with The National Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs.

SCHEDULE OF DAILY SERVICES HELD YEAR ROUND

 

Weekdays            Morning Services:

                        Monday, 6:45 A.M.

                        Tuesday and Wednesday, 7:45 A.M.

                        Thursday, 7:30 A.M.

                        Friday, 7:45 A.M.

                        Sunday, 9:00 A.M.

                        Evening Services:

                        Monday through Thursday, 7:45 P.M.

Shabbat:            Fridays, 6:00 P.M.

                        Saturdays, 9:30 A.M.

                        Youth Services (see descriptions below)

YOUTH RELIGIOUS SERVICES

The Youth Religious Services Committee offers a number of special Shabbat services for young people that begin at 11:00 A.M., and end at 12:15 P.M., on Shabbat mornings when religious school is in session.  All children from 3^rd to 7^th grades are required to attend ten Shabbat morning services each year in order to become Bar/Bat Mitzvah. They may attend adult services with their parents or attend one of the following:

TOT SHABBAT (Ages 2-5) This is a cooperative, parent-led service for our youngest-aged group. Parents remain with their children. Everyone is welcome to participate and to eventually learn how to lead the group. Instructional tapes and booklets are available.

JUNIOR CONGREGATION (Kindergarten – 2^nd grades) This service is led by a teacher, with songs, stories and an age-appropriate service. Parents are invited to attend, but are not required to do so.

LEARNER’S SERVICE (3^rdand 4^thgrades) This is a service for beginners who are not yet familiar with the prayers and whose Hebrew reading skills are still new. This service will go slowly, teaching melodies and key prayers. A discussion of the Torah portion of the week will also take place. Parents are welcome to attend this service with their children.

YOUTH SERVICES (5^th – 7^th grades) This service includes parts of the Shacharit and Torah services. Time is spent learning melodies and meanings of key prayers. Students are given the opportunity to lead prayers for this service. Parents are welcome to participate and sit with their children.

TORAH READING ACADEMY (5^th - 7^th grades) meets weekly at 10:15 - 11:00 A.M. Students learn the skills to read Torah with cantillations. Students will be able to read more than one aliyah of Torah at Bar/Bat Mitzvah by participation in this progam.

HOLIDAY SERVICES

Evening and daytime services are held on the 1^st and 2^nd days of Rosh Hashanah, Kol Nidre, Yom Kippur and on all Festivals and Holidays throughout the year. Tickets are required on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur for admission of all congregants 13 years of age and older, and must be presented to the door attendants. Tickets are not transferable.

Included in the membership rate: Single adults receive one adult ticket and all families with two adults receive two adult tickets to High Holiday Services. Tickets are also included for single dependent children from 13-25 years of age.

Following return of the completed ticket form, all members in good standing will receive High Holiday tickets. This means that all Synagogue obligations must be up-to-date, or an alternative satisfactory arrangement must be approved.

Guest Ticket Policy

Out-of-town relatives who can show proof of current Synagogue membership elsewhere will receive reciprocal tickets at no charge. A courtesy contribution is recommended.

Members may purchase tickets for guests who are non-residents of the Greater Philadelphia area and unaffiliated with a synagogue for $200 per ticket.

New Residents in the Area

Individuals who have recently moved into the area may purchase a ticket for $200.00 each and apply the amount paid against their membership if they join Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El before October 31^st of the same year.

Current Area Residents

Due to limited seating during the High Holidays, tickets cannot be issued to local residents who are not affiliated with the Synagogue.

Yizkor – Book of Life

The Yizkor booklet is distributed on Yom Kippur and contains the names of those departed who are to be remembered at the Yom Kippur Memorial Service. Please complete and return the  form to our Synagogue Office by mid-August.

High Holiday Prayerbooks

A new High Holiday Mahzor prayer book with a personalized nameplate inside is given with membership. Single adults receive one copy and all couples receive two copies. The books will be ready to be picked up in the Synagogue Office prior to the High Holidays. Additional prayer books may be purchased through the Synagogue Office .

EDUCATION AT TEMPLE BETH HILLEL-BETH EL

 

TBHBE Early Childhood Center (Nursery School, Kindergarten and more)

Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El is very proud of its Early Childhood Center. Founded over 40 years ago, it has earned a reputation throughout the Philadelphia area for excellence in Jewish early childhood programming. Guided by our creative and experienced School Director, Ann Altus, and a staff of over thirty highly qualified and dedicated teachers and school personnel, a wide range of classes are offered. Our program begins with TWO BY TWO for young two year olds. Nursery classes are offered for toddlers, and three and four year olds. Five year olds can begin their more formal education in our full-day Kindergarten program. Additional services include an Enrichment class, Lunch Bunch, extended care and summer camp programs. BRIGHT HORIZONS, our class for preschoolers with special needs, provides invaluable early educational intervention for these children. This unique program started at Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El and has proven to be a great success. Ann Altus, our Early Childhood Center Director at Beth Hillel-Beth El for over 35 years, brings her love and devotion for the children and their families and her high standards of quality preschool education to foster a happy learning environment of warmth and positive growth.

Religious School

The Sylvia F. Lodish Religious School is recognized in the Jewish community as a premier Religious School. Our students begin their Jewish studies at the kindergarten level in the Gan and Prozdor program, increasing to a full two-day program by second grade, and continuing through seventh grade. Upon completion of the Hey class, children continue their Jewish studies at our own Midrasha Hebrew High School and/or the Gratz Jewish Community High School. The faculty of the Religious School boasts of some of the most qualified teachers in the city, some of whom have received city-wide recognition for their excellence in teaching. Our classes strive to help the children not only understand their Jewish heritage, but also to be fluent and at ease with synagogue skills so that they can fully and competently participate in Jewish rituals and services.

Hebrew High School

Midrasha Hebrew High School is held on Monday evenings from 6:00 – 9:00 P.M. Our program boasts continuity and coordination between our Religious School program, informal youth programming and the High School curriculum. Our eighth through twelfth grade program offers a core ethics and issues curriculum as well as courses in classical Jewish texts. Electives in a variety of subjects are offered. Each student must also complete community service projects each year. Following completion of the 11^th grade, students are eligible for Confirmation.  The twelfth grade year offers a teacher training program, complete with pedagogy classes and an on-site practicum. We have an outstanding, experienced faculty.

Youth Groups

Informal education during the teen years has been shown to have a profound effect on the formation of Jewish identity. With this as a goal, Beth Hillel-Beth El offers a full scale Youth Program. Our Youth Department actively provides United Synagogue recognized youth groups. We begin with BOATNIM for grades one and two, PORTZIM for grades three and four and CHAVERIM for grades five through seven. These groups have programs at least once each month. Our USY (United Synagogue Youth) group serves children in eighth through twelfth grades and has a wide range of educational, social and social action activities. LTF (Leaders Training Fellowship) is an additional program for students in grades eight through twelve, which meets monthly on Shabbat for scholarly discussions.

Adult Learning

If you are eager to stretch your Jewish intellectual horizons in a welcoming and challenging atmosphere, Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El has much to offer. Networking with various groups within the Beth Hillel-Beth El family, the Adult Learning Committee organizes a virtual rainbow of offerings for adults at all levels and backgrounds. The curriculum has included classes in Jewish texts and ideas, workshops on major Jewish celebrations, Kiddush luncheons and Scholar’s Weekends on vital Jewish issues, book reviews, Hebrew, Yiddish, Shabbat and Jewish Literacy classes, Israeli Dancing, Jewish Arts and Music and our annual TORATHON.

Jewish Family Education

The Jewish Family Education Committee works together with the Jewish Educational professionals to provide opportunities for parents, grandparents and children to enrich their knowledge of Jewish rituals, to learn new skills and to increase meaningful Jewish observance in the home. There is an array of programs offered to meet the needs of our population.

Jewish Parenting Center

The Jewish Parenting Center is an outgrowth of our Jewish Family Education program and our Early Childhood Center programs. Through our MAGIC MOMENTS classes, we provide programs for parents and young children to explore their Jewish heritage together. We offer a number of parent-child classes enabling parents as well as grandparents to spend time in a Jewish atmosphere. We also offer a number of Jewish parenting classes exploring parenting issues and Jewish values for all age groups. All of our programs are open to our members as well as the greater Jewish Community.

Library

The Library, housed in a beautifully restored room in the Mansion Building has an excellent collection of Judaic references, texts, history and learning materials. The selection of adult and young readers fiction and non-fiction covers a multitude of topics and interest areas. Periodicals are also available.

AFFILIATE GROUPS AND COMMITTEES

Sisterhood

Sisterhood invites all of our women members to join and participate in the many programs and services it provides. The main purpose of these dedicated women is to foster and promote the educational, religious, cultural and social welfare of the congregation through its projects and monthly programs. Programs and services include: weekly and Holiday Kiddush, Bimah flowers, New Members Baskets, Kipot and wine for B’nai Mitzvah/Weddings, Rosh Hodesh study groups, Wednesday AM Minyan, Shabbat Dinner, Social Action Projects, Hanukkah Boutique, Shalach Manot Baskets, Book Club, Golden Books, Leagrams, New Year’s Greetings Booklet, New Year’s Cards, Passover Candy, Supermarket Certificates, and support and participation in Women’s League for Conservative Judaism. The Sisterhood Gift Shop carries a beautiful selection of Judaica and gifts for children and adults.

Men’s Club

The Beth Hillel-Beth El Men’s Club has an extensive calendar of activities. Through the efforts of a group of dedicated men, a number of activities have been planned to assist the synagogue in its mission to serve its congregants in social and service areas. 

The Men’s Club is responsible for constructing the synagogue sukkah each fall and sponsors the Sunday morning minyan throughout the year. In the winter they assist with the annual Torathon. Each spring they have family activities, speakers, sporting events and topical programs which are part of the Men’s Club program. The Men’s Club sponsored Tzedakathon is an annual wonderful family event that includes a walk, run, and bike race for charity. The Men’s Club also participates in the Main Line Synagogues Softball League each spring and basketball league each winter. The Men's Club Investment Club welcomes new members.

We invite all synagogue men to join us in our varied activities during the upcoming year.

L’Chaim

A social, cultural and educational group focusing on the “empty-nesters” of our membership. L’Chaim meets throughout the year for dinners, speakers, day trips and programs with an emphasis on comraderie and fun. L’Chaim activities are open to members and guests.

College Outreach

The College Outreach Committee maintains contact with Beth Hillel-Beth El’s college and post-graduate students throughout the year by sending Shalach Manot at Purim, Hanukkah and Passover gifts and goodies; The Pharisee; and other correspondences. The Committee consists of parents of the students, and new members are welcome. To add your child to the Outreach list, contact the office with your child’s name, school name, mailing address and e-mail.

Havurah

The Beth Hillel-Beth El Havurah consists of a group of Synagogue members and families who have Shabbat services together three times a month and on holidays. The services begin at 9:45 A.M. Shabbat morning. They are traditional, egalitarian, highly participatory and rather informal. Everyone is welcome to attend. The Havurah also sponsors the Cook-for-a-Friend program at the Synagogue and holds services and celebrations on a number of holidays.

Home and School Association of the Early Childhood Center

The primary function of this organization is to enrich the educational experiences of the children enrolled in the Early Childhood Center. Many school-wide events such as the Purim Carnival, School Picnic and Oneg Shabbat are planned and executed by HSA officers and committee volunteers. Weekly Challah sales, Pizza Lunch, Borders Benefit Days, Schoolpop.com and Box Tops for Education provide additional resources for playground and gym equipment, special school programs and audio-visual equipment. The Social Action arm of the HSA is actively involved in Intergenerational Programming, Food Drive for the Needy, and our Tikkun Olam Shabbat Program. A warm welcome is extended to all parents to participate in the many activities and events sponsored by the HSA throughout the year.

Parent Association of the Religious School

The role of the Beth Hillel-Beth El Religious School Parent Association is to enhance the school budget and programs through fund raising activities. In the past, money has been used for guest speakers, audio visual equipment, a glass display case, gifts and awards for our children and staff. Our fund-raising vehicles have included paper wrapping sales, Sunday morning muffin sales, Purim Carnival and Pesach candy sale. We look forward to seeing you at our events. Please join us in our important work. We look forward to a profitable and fun-filled year.

Religious School Education Committee

The purpose of the Religious School Education Committee is to work in partnership with the Educational Director to promote the highest standard of formal Jewish learning for the children of this Congregation in a manner that strives to enrich and strengthen the entire family and to ensure the realization of the stated mission of the Religious School. The group is responsible for setting school policies, discussing curriculum and programming. It is a very active committee that meets once a month. The committee serves as a sounding board and the eyes and ears of the school. We meet on the second Tuesday evening of every month during the school year. We seek our members from interested people within our congregation. Our members need not have a child currently in the Religious School. We encourage all interested congregants to contact the committee chairperson to be invited to join the committee.

MEMBERSHIP & FEES   (See More Information and Forms about Membership)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: 

Our Staff and Officers look forward to greeting you. If you have any questions, please call the synagogue or school offices for assistance. The synagogue office can be reached at (610) 649-5300. The office for the schools can be reached at (610) 649-2277. 

PROFESSIONAL STAFF

Neil S. Cooper, Rabbi

Marshall J. Maltzman, Rabbi Emeritus

Eugene D. Rosner, Hazzan

Sharon G. Stumacher, Executive Director

Rabbi Leah Richman, Educational Director

Ann Altus, Director, Early Childhood Center

OFFICERS OF THE CONGREGATION 2007 - 2008/5767 - 5768

President                                    Robert Kitchenoff

Vice President                            Mitchell Benson

Vice President                            Pamela Feld-Randel

Vice President                            Sara Minkoff

Treasurer                                   Caryn Becker

Financial Secretary                     Stuart Hosansky

Recording Secretary                   Lenard Cohen

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT             2nd PAST PRESIDENT

Sara Crimm                                                    Ellen Moscow

PAST PRESIDENTS

 

                                  BOARD OF DIRECTORS   2007 - 2008/5767 - 5768

Michael Adler	Lewis Gantman	Matthew Rose
Rosalie Alexander	Amy Goldman	Beth Rothschild
Sharon Alloy	Bruce Goldstein	Shana Schwartz-Denenberg
Danny Benau	Phyllis Haas	Roberta Shaked
Lee Bender	Matthew Hirsch	Adam Soll
John Cohn	David Horowitz	Barbara Spector
Sara Crimm	Elliot Kaplan	Ellen Spector
Caren Dash	Mitchell Klevan	David Weinstein
Josh Davison	Toby Mallin	Jonathan Weiss
Jeffrey Epstein	Ellen Moscow	Rochelle Wolf
Scott Feuer	Norman Nelson	Joseph Wolfson
Paul Fires	Mindy Oppenheimer	Morrie Zacher
Lenore Forsted	Jonathan Parmet	Mitchel Zoler
Joel Freedman	David Rittenberg	Howard Zwick
Donald Friedman	Josie Rook

 

SISTERHOOD PRESIDENT                          MEN’S CLUB CO-PRESIDENTS

                     Debi G. Rubin                                      Richard Stutman  and  Mitchell Clair