Category: News

Dear Friends,

Wishing all a HAPPY 2024. For more than a decade, (two decades?) it has been my privilege to represent the Board of Directors and Trustees of Congregation Temple Beth-El, present an organizational update and ask for your continued support of our historic and singularly unique synagogue. I am confident that the significance of maintaining a Traditional Egalitarian house of worship and cemetery in town is understood by the members of our Congregation, as well as the realization that if it is allowed to disappear, as did so many of the other historic institutions of the Borscht Belt, it would not be recoverable. Folks have returned to the Town of Bethel looking for their old bungalows, hotels, delicatessens, drug store, and general stores only to find that Congregation Temple Beth-El was the only existing building they recognized! We thank you for your continued support as we enter our second hundred years of service to the community.

Despite the many uncertainties in our world these days, I am happy to report that our Congregation will, for the 101st year, hold services at our landmark synagogue for the Summer and High Holidays. Last summer, as the pandemic waned, services continued to return to a state of normalcy, with Shabbat Services Fri nights and Saturdays, complete with our fabulous lunch and learns. Rabbi Neal Loevinger and Cantor Lenny Zimmerman, (along with his daughters Rebecca and Leah), again provided traditional High Holiday services that were warm, inviting, and a most enjoyable way to mark the end of the season and those solemn occasions. A centennial-worthy ‘break the fast’ and mid-season ‘centennial luncheon’ at the synagogue were well attended, and topped off with presentation of a NYS Legislative Proclamation noting the historic contributions and significance of our Congregation by our area’s legislative Representative, the Honorable Aileen Gunther. A landmark Centennial Journal was well supported and received, thanks to our committee members Mike Kossove, Elaine Lieberman, Mary-Ellen Seitelman, & Larry Seitelman.

As our historic synagogue and Congregation enters our 101st year, it remains the last operating Conservative Shul in the ‘Borscht Belt’. Like all institutions, it requires continual funding to survive. As we await another lovely summer in the Catskills, the synagogue and Rabbinical apartment are undergoing extensive repairs (including roofing and structural) resulting from 100 years of service to the community. We hope you will continue your generous support and participation so that we can maintain and upgrade this wonderful temple and cemetery for future generations.

DUES have been increased slightly to 180.00/ FAMILY. It is your dues and donations that sustain our historic synagogue. (Includes cemetery privileges as specified in the bylaws).

Please call Mary-Ellen (518) 339-3219, or e-mail meseitel (at) aol.com with any questions.

Please return your $180.00 check to:

CONGREGATION TEMPLE BETH-EL
c/o Mary-Ellen Seitelman
9798 Harbour Lake Circle
Boynton Beach, FL 33437

After May 1, 2024, send checks to:
CONGREGATION TEMPLE BETH-EL
P.O. BOX 645 (NOTE THIS NEW P.O. BOX Number)
Kauneonga Lake, NY 12749

Very sincerely,
Larry Seitelman, President

Ira Shechter, Vice Pres.
Mary-Ellen Seitelman, Treasurer
Henne Altman, Secretary

P.S. Please let us know of any changes to your address(es), phone numbers, e-mail, etc.

Dear Friends of Congregation Temple Beth-El,

Cantor Lenny Zimmerman, and Rabbi Neal Loevinger have asked me to invite you, as our members, to be part of the leadership of the services,(Shacharit, Torah Service, and Musaf) read Torah or Haftorah, have an Aliyah for a special event (with a Mesheberach) such as a birthday, anniversary, return from a trip, or any other reason to have an Aliyah and blessing; and/or a D’var Torah. You might also be interested in sponsoring a fabulous Kiddush in honor of a joyous event, or in memory of someone or something.

We could especially use help on July 29th and 30th when the Rabbi will be away, and August 12th when Lenny will be away.

Please give us the dates you would like to participate and how you can help make this 100th anniversary year even more special.

To assist with services, contact Lenny (bigdocz at aol.com) or Rabbi (rabbineal at gmail.com).

To sponsor a Kiddush, contact Mary-Ellen (meseitel at aol.com)

Thank you,
Larry Seitelman
For the Board
Congregation Temple Beth-El

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the 100th YEAR of continuous services at Congregation Temple Beth-El. We hope everyone had a wonderful healthy winter. We are very excited to welcome everyone back. This year Rabbi Neal Loevinger will be returning as will Cantor Lenny Zimmerman.

In honor of our 100th year we are planning a celebration at the end of the summer, tentatively September 10th, with details to follow. Details will follow. We are also creating an anniversary journal to commemorate the occasion. You are encouraged to be part of the journal by creating a page or a portion of a page. We will have a section for In Memorial and In Honor of at a cost of just 25.00 for a listing. More information to follow. If you would like to solicit advertisements for the journal, contact Mike Kossove 718-938-0467.

Also, note that our annual meeting of the general membership is scheduled for Sunday July 30th, 2023 @ 10:30 AM at the synagogue. Officers will be elected.

New windows and a door have been installed in the downstairs making it possible to once again hold our lunch and learn sessions with Rabbi Neal, along with our fabulous kiddush. The construction labor was donated by Mickelson and Sons builders. We thank them for their generosity.

Services will begin on Friday June 30 at 8;00pm. Saturday services will be at 9:30. The first kiddush is being sponsored by Lenny and Susan Zimmerman in honor of their 60th anniversary. Mazel tov!

Everyone is invited to attend services and the lunch and learn sessions and to volunteer. We can always use help setting up and cleaning up for kiddush. If you can help organize the anniversary party let us know. If you would like to lead a portion of the shabbat service or the High Holdiay services, contact Lenny Zimmerman or Rabbi Neal.

Please note that the address of the synagogue is now PO BOX 645, Kauneonga Lake, NY 12749. For those who mail checks be sure to change this in your bank accounts. Help welcome Rabbi Neal back by attending services on June 30 and July 1.

For the Board of Directors,

Larry Seitelman – President

Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. ET on Zoom

As Israel’s 75th anniversary approaches, join Ido Aharoni, Global Distinguished Professor for International Relations at NYU’s Graduate School of Arts and Science, for a look back at influential leaders, and a peek at what may lie ahead.

Click here for more information and the program schedule: Israel @ 75! | Lappin Foundation

Dear Friends;

When I wrote to you last winter, we were unsure of the impact that the vaccines and new anti-viral treatments would have. With the utmost safety of our congregants in mind, and cooperative efforts of our Rabbi, Neal Loevinger, Cantor Len Zimmerman, and others, Congregation Temple Beth-El was able to safely reopen last summer for Shabbat services and the High Holidays. Seating was limited, with open windows and forced ventilation, but we got it done. As the virus wanes, we look forward to the summer of 2022, and a return to normalcy.

As our historic synagogue and Congregation approaches our centennial year (2023), it remains the last operating Conservative Shul in the ‘Borscht Belt’. Like all institutions, it requires continual funding to survive. We hope you will continue your generous support and participation so that we can maintain and upgrade this wonderful temple and cemetery for future generations.

This summer, we will be forming committees to plan and assist in our 2023 centennial celebration. If you would like to help, be sure to contact an officer or Board member.

DUES REMAIN AT 150.00/ FAMILY. It is your dues and donations that sustain our historic synagogue. (Includes cemetery privileges as specified in the bylaws).

Please call Mary-Ellen (518) 339-3219, or e-mail meseitel (at) aol.com with any questions.
Dear Friends;

When I wrote to you last winter, we were unsure of the impact that the vaccines and new anti-viral treatments would have. With the utmost safety of our congregants in mind, and cooperative efforts of our Rabbi, Neal Loevinger, Cantor Len Zimmerman, and others, Congregation Temple Beth-El was able to safely reopen last summer for Shabbat services and the High Holidays. Seating was limited, with open windows and forced ventilation, but we got it done. As the virus wanes, we look forward to the summer of 2022, and a return to normalcy.

As our historic synagogue and Congregation approaches our centennial year (2023), it remains the last operating Conservative Shul in the ‘Borscht Belt’. Like all institutions, it requires continual funding to survive. We hope you will continue your generous support and participation so that we can maintain and upgrade this wonderful temple and cemetery for future generations.

This summer, we will be forming committees to plan and assist in our 2023 centennial celebration. If you would like to help, be sure to contact an officer or Board member.

DUES REMAIN AT 150.00/ FAMILY. It is your dues and donations that sustain our historic synagogue. (Includes cemetery privileges as specified in the bylaws).

Please call Mary-Ellen (518) 339-3219, or e-mail meseitel (at) aol.com with any questions.

Please return your $150.00 check to:

CONGREGATION TEMPLE BETH-EL
c/o Mary-Ellen Seitelman
9798 Harbour Lake Circle
Boynton Beach, FL 33437

After May 1, 2022 –

CONGREGATION TEMPLE BETH-EL
P.O. BOX 539
Kauneonga Lake, NY 12749

Very sincerely,
Larry Seitelman, President

Ira Shechter, Vice Pres. Mary-Ellen Seitelman, Treasurer Henne Altman, Secretary

Directors: Stephen Altman, Janice (Liff) Gray, Norman Needleman, Marc Lerner Aaron Lieberman, Cindy Shechter, Len and Sue Zimmerman

P.S. Please let us know of any changes to your address(es), phone numbers, e-mail, etc.

Dear Friends;

We hope you can see light at the end of this past year’s darkness. The new years (both the Hebrew and the English versions) present opportunities to ‘turn the page’, and look forward to better times, and better selves. With multiple vaccines becoming widely available, we can anticipate the day when Congregation Temple Beth-El will open its doors again for services and events. Rest assured that we will do so only when the medical experts and civil authorities advise it is safe, and provide guidelines as to how best to protect our attendees. But I write you with the great hope that we will be able to do so sometime this summer.

It was not an easy decision to keep the doors closed this past summer, but I believe that it was the most prudent decision for our community. We were most fortunate that our Rabbi, Neal Loevinger, was willing to assist in any way possible to keep our congregation connected, and did so by continuing his popular educational series on Jewish law and ethics on Zoom Meeting with many of us, and continuing to offer his services. We are grateful for his dedication to the spirit of our congregation, and look forward to seeing him again soon.

As our historic synagogue and Congregation approaches our centennial year (2023), it remains the last operating Conservative Shul in the ‘Borscht Belt’. Like all institutions, it requires continual funding to survive. We hope you will continue your generous support and participation so that we can maintain and upgrade this wonderful facility (and cemetery) for future generations.

This summer, we will be forming committees to plan and assist in our 2023 centennial celebration. If you would like to help, be sure to contact a Board member.

DUES REMAIN AT 150.00/ FAMILY. It is your dues and donations that sustain our historic synagogue. (Includes cemetery privileges as specified in the bylaws).

Please call Mary-Ellen (518) 339-3219, or e-mail meseitel@aol.com with any questions.

Please return your $150.00 check to: CONGREGATION TEMPLE BETH-EL
c/o Mary-Ellen Seitelman
9798 Harbour Lake Circle
Boynton Beach, FL 33437

After April 1, 2021:

CONGREGATION TEMPLE BETH-EL
P.O. BOX 539
Kauneonga Lake, NY 12749

Very sincerely,
Larry Seitelman, President

Very sincerely,
Larry Seitelman, President