Congregation Beth El

Shalom and welcome to Congregation Beth El.
These are exciting times to be at Beth El!

We are beginning our third year of Synaplex Shabbatot highlighted by five Beth El Friday Night Live! services over the course of the year. These special musical services attempt to engage our congregants in a new, vibrant approach to song and prayer. Meditations as well as fresh, contemporary melodies accompanied by instrumental ensemble highlight the service. Last year we released a CD of many of our Beth El Friday Night Live! melodies which we hope will help familiarize the community with the music of this service, and encourage all to experience Shabbat with us.

On other Friday night services, once a month we have a service called ‘Shirrei Shabbat’, where members of our Youth Chorale join me on the bimah in song and prayer.

In addition to our youth chorale, I conduct an adult and teen chorale which leads services on special occasions during the year.

I also encourage Beth El members to learn to chant of Torah, Haftorot, and M'gillot as well as other parts of the service. For our Adult Ed program this fall, I am teaching four sessions entitled "How to be a Gabbai". It is open to those who currently are Torah readers and wish to serve the community in this important synagogue role. This year we will also be forming a Beth El Chevra Kaddisha as we learn the spiritual and hands on guidelines to ' Kibud HaMet' --honor the memory of our loved ones.

I am in my seventeenth year at Congregation Beth El. I grew up in Baltimore where I sang in Jewish choirs for over 20 years. I am a graduate of Towson University and the University of Michigan and received a Masters of Sacred Music and Investiture as Hazzan from the Jewish Theological Seminary where I have served on the faculty for the past twelve years.

I am also one of the co-founders of Voices in Harmony (VIH), a community interfaith vocal ensemble now celebrating its eighth year. Voices in Harmony performs for the four major community events: the Thanksgiving service, the Martin Luther King Commemoration, the Interfaith Holocaust Service, and the Fourth of July. VIH also prepares special concerts -- last May performing Elijah with orchestra, choir and yours truly in the title role. This year on February 28 we will be presenting a 'Freedom' Concert featuring the music of various musical traditions. Please contact me if you interested in joining the group.

My wife, Miki, a teacher in the Metrowest community, leads Advanced Hebrew in the spring and the Teen Experience on Shabbat mornings. I can be reached in my study at 973-763-6447 or through the Beth El office at 973-763-0111.

Who We Are History of Beth El Membership Information Our Clergy Rabbi Francine Roston Sermons, Divrei Torah Cantor Perry Fine Rabbi Jehiel Orenstein, Emeritus Education Directors Executive Director & Staff Congregational Nurse Our Board		Cantor Perry Fine Shalom and welcome to Congregation Beth El. These are exciting times to be at Beth El! We are beginning our third year of Synaplex Shabbatot highlighted by five Beth El Friday Night Live! services over the course of the year. These special musical services attempt to engage our congregants in a new, vibrant approach to song and prayer. Meditations as well as fresh, contemporary melodies accompanied by instrumental ensemble highlight the service. Last year we released a CD of many of our Beth El Friday Night Live! melodies which we hope will help familiarize the community with the music of this service, and encourage all to experience Shabbat with us. On other Friday night services, once a month we have a service called ‘Shirrei Shabbat’, where members of our Youth Chorale join me on the bimah in song and prayer. In addition to our youth chorale, I conduct an adult and teen chorale which leads services on special occasions during the year. I also encourage Beth El members to learn to chant of Torah, Haftorot, and M'gillot as well as other parts of the service. For our Adult Ed program this fall, I am teaching four sessions entitled "How to be a Gabbai". It is open to those who currently are Torah readers and wish to serve the community in this important synagogue role. This year we will also be forming a Beth El Chevra Kaddisha as we learn the spiritual and hands on guidelines to ' Kibud HaMet' --honor the memory of our loved ones. I am in my seventeenth year at Congregation Beth El. I grew up in Baltimore where I sang in Jewish choirs for over 20 years. I am a graduate of Towson University and the University of Michigan and received a Masters of Sacred Music and Investiture as Hazzan from the Jewish Theological Seminary where I have served on the faculty for the past twelve years. I am also one of the co-founders of Voices in Harmony (VIH), a community interfaith vocal ensemble now celebrating its eighth year. Voices in Harmony performs for the four major community events: the Thanksgiving service, the Martin Luther King Commemoration, the Interfaith Holocaust Service, and the Fourth of July. VIH also prepares special concerts -- last May performing Elijah with orchestra, choir and yours truly in the title role. This year on February 28 we will be presenting a 'Freedom' Concert featuring the music of various musical traditions. Please contact me if you interested in joining the group. My wife, Miki, a teacher in the Metrowest community, leads Advanced Hebrew in the spring and the Teen Experience on Shabbat mornings. I can be reached in my study at 973-763-6447 or through the Beth El office at 973-763-0111.