Congregation Beth Israel

Resources for parents, teachers, small congregations and the unaffiliated

If you live in central Pennsylvania (and even if you don't), Beth Israel welcomes you to join our Congregation and use our educational and ritual resources. Whether or not you are a member of our Congregation, feel free to call or email our Rabbi, concerning educational and ritual matters.

But we know many people in rural areas (like parts of central Pennsylvania) have no local synagogue or rabbi to turn to. Yet they do have access to the Internet. This page provides some resources to get started.

Teaching Your Children's Classmates

A detailed guide to making short presentations about Jewish holidays to elementary school students. It currently includes sample scripts. In the future, simple recipes and simple models will be added. There will be instructions for making Barbie's sukkah as well as "quick and easy" charoset from chunky applesauce.

Bar / Bat Mitzvah "without a local minyan"

So you don't live near a synagogue, or you're unaffiliated with the local shuls -- you can still be bar or bat mitzvahed in Israel. Connect with your Jewish roots -- yet avoid the catering. There are many packaged bar and bat mitzvah tours of Israel that are truly inspiring. The ceremonies of becoming an adult Jew are held in a variety of ancient holy places in our homeland. And even if you are affiliated with a synagogue, consider a bar or bat mitzvah in Israel as a unique way to pass on your heritage to a child.

Learning to Chant Torah without a Cantor

So you've lost your cantor, and your rabbi can't sing. Or maybe you want to learn a parsha and the cantor is too busy to teach you. You can find a well-designed online tutor provided by ORT at http://bible.ort.org/. You can also find many fine CDs that provide self-tutoring.

For the more ambitious, the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism provides summer retreats for lay persons to learn to lead services.

Life-cycle events and the unaffiliated

Need a rabbi to get married? or just to talk to? Need a moel for a bris? If you're unaffiliated or don't live near a synagogue, you might not know where to start looking. Send an email to our Rabbi and we'll try to help.

Studying Torah online

Religion is popular on the Internet -- from chat rooms to prayer chains. Most Jewish denominations promote online study as do many non-sectarian websites. For example, the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism has instituted a "chapter a day" Bible reading (Perek Yomi) with online study guides and discussion groups.

Please send us your questions, comments and suggestions. Help us identify resources that we can create or link to. Just send an email to Congregation Beth Israel by clicking here.