Temple Beth El has always prided itself on being a leading synagogue at the forefront of social issues, support of Israel and of building community. Our affiliate groups, the Sisterhood, the Men’s Club and the Minyan Society continue to thrive offering social programs and activities, social action and religious activities for all. Throughout all of these years, the dynamics of the community have changed with large growth in the Orthodox community and shrinkage in the non-Orthodox community. Nevertheless, we still maintain a strong congregation with morning and evening minyanim, vibrant Shabbat and Holiday services, an active Sisterhood and Men’s Club, and a whole host of speakers, classes, musical and cultural programs. Some of these programs are undertaken on a collaborative basis with our neighboring Conservative congregations.
Our majestic Main Sanctuary stands tall at the corner of Broadway and Locust Avenue. A marker in front notes that our 102 year old building is on the registry of historic buildings.
But more than anything else, our members have created a warm, loving and caring community where people really watch out for one another and enjoy being together regardless of the program or event!
Welcome to our website! Temple Beth El has been a prominent presence in the Five Towns for over 100 years. We have much that makes us a wonderful and unique community. We are egalitarian, encouraging participation in Jewish life from all our members. As a part of the Conservative movement, we are dedicated to serving Jewish communal life. We have daily minyan (evening is on Zoom), Shabbat services led beautifully by our creative and knowledgeable Cantor Ethan Leifer and very skilled Torah reader, Jay Stern, and meaningful holiday services and programs.
One of the many exciting aspects of our community are the classes and programs we do. Whether it’s bingo at our Sukkah dinner, a concert to celebrate Hanukkah or our annual Scholar in Residence Shabbat, there is always something happening at Temple Beth El. In addition to one of our members offering stimulating classes on learning Hebrew and the siddur/prayerbook, I teach a weekly class on Shabbat afternoons on Pirke Avot and a monthly Monday evening class entitled “Five Things You Always Wanted to Know About Judaism.” There are also guest lectures (on Zoom) that occur throughout the year.
Hillel, the great sage of the Talmud taught, “al tifrosh min ha-tzibur-do not separate yourself from the community.” We invite everyone to become a part of our community, whether in person or on Zoom. You are truly welcome here at Temple Beth El! Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or if I can be of help.
– Rabbi Steven Kane
It’s said that wine ages well. It gets better with time. The same might be said for Temple Beth El of Cedarhurst. After almost 104 years from the planting of the temple’s seeds, we continue to enhance the Jewish experience for our members and their guests. This website is merely the latest of many upgrades and updates to Temple Beth El. In the last year, we’ve introduced a new rabbi to complement our existing clergy, and completed major repairs to the infrastructure of our Main Sanctuary. Our affiliates – Sisterhood and Men’s Club – as well as the temple office and clergy, continue to offer the successful programs of recent years while delivering new ones as well.
But try as we might to lead the way with innovation, you can’t take the tradition and history out of Temple Beth El. Whether it’s our traditional Shabbos and yom tov services and daily minyan, the decades of membership of much of the congregation, or merely the comfort of our beautiful building, there’s much to be said for the continuity and familiarity of the Beth El way. Visitors tell us they feel the warmth and family-atmosphere in their very first visit to us.
We invite guests to get to know us via this website and our members to know their temple even better. But nothing beats being with us up close and personal, live or by Zoom, at our services and events. Check the schedules on the website and join us for a meaningful experience.
