Candle lighting: 5:57 pm | PARASHAT KI TISA| Havdalah (42 min): 6:58 pm   
Quick Links for the Week's Announcements:
Services                                       
Community Announcements (a listing of all community activities)
Upcoming Events Listing               
B'nai Mitzvah
Get to know Ilana Wittle
Hello, my name is Ilana Wittle and my Bat Mitzvah is right around the corner, on March 7, 2015. March 6 is my actual 13th birthday and I am excited to have a combined birthday and Bat Miztvah celebration. Some of my favorite things
are (in no particular order):
 Chocolate, especially DARK chocolate
 Accessories (hats, purses, shoes, etc.)
 My cats, Bambi and Suzie
 Playing the piano, drums, accessory percussion, and mallets
 Playing ultimate Frisbee, especially with my Phillips Middle School team-mates
 READING! My favorite genres are realistic and historical fiction.
 Art, especially my sculpture class and making crazy chairs.
 The Lerner School! An amazing place to grow from pre-school through 5th grade.
 Hanging out with my friends and family.
Thank you for this opportunity to share a little bit about my self.
Time Change
Don't forget that this weekend we spring forward! We turn our clocks ahead by one hour on Saturday night. Please make sure that you have the correct time for all of the fun and exciting activities that we have planned for Sunday morning. 
Strategic Planning Update and Discussions with the ArchitectsStrategicUpdate
Beth El is moving forward on its strategic planning.   President, Rachel Galanter, sent out an update earlier this week.  To view this update, visit Strategic Planning Update and Meet the Architects

Within this update, there is a schedule of discussions with the architects opportunities.  To view the schedule, visit Meet the Architects
Megillah Reading ScheduleMegillahReadingSchedule
Main Sanctuary:
Wednesday, March 4th, at 7:00 pm. Check out more info below about our Erev Purim festivities.
Thursday, March 5th, at 8:00 am.

The Orthodox Kehillah has the following schedule for Purim:

Wednesday evening, March 4, at 7:00 PM:  
Maariv and Megillat Esther
Thursday morning,    March 5, at 7:00 AM:   
Shachrit and at 7:30 AM Megillat Esther, followed by a special breakfast
Purim Idol* Costume Contest!
Can you believe it's almost time for Purim again?  This year, in addition to Beth El's unparalleled Megillah reading and Watts St Band, we're doing things a bit differently, starting with a Purim Idol* Costume Contest with PRIZES.  There will be two separate divisions: one for kids and one for adults.  The contest will be held in between chapters of the Megillah reading and there's no preregistering, so make sure you're on time!  Winners will be determined by our panel of judges based on creativity, execution (of style --not Haman), and channeling your inner De Niro and becoming your character.  Prizes have been generously donated by The Mad Popper herself, Andrea Ginsberg.
Festivities start in the sanctuary at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, March 4th!  Contact Margueritte Cox with any questions.
*Must be present to win. Golden calves need not apply.        

Passover Candy Orders
Did you forget to submit your Passover Candy order? Don't fret! Lauri Klein will be collecting Passover Candy orders at the Megillah Reading on Wednesday, March 4th at 7:00 PM.  This will be the last opportunity to place an order for this year. To order online visit www.misschocolate.com and enter our school code: 704944.
Simchat Tot
Sunday, March 8th @ 9:45 am in the Freedman Center
Simchat Tot is a special program for families with children ages 4 and under. Join us for this fun introduction to Jewish education with music, arts & crafts, hands-on projects, stories, and more!
Living Will WorkshopLivingWill
Sunday, March 8th @ 9:30 AM in the Social Hall
Beth El and Jewish Family Services are pleased to offer a hands-on, interactive workshop to help congregants think about issues related to end-of-life planning. The workshop will introduce the Five Wishes living will, an easy-to-use legal document designed to help you and your family discuss, decide and describe the kind of care and support you wish in the event you become seriously ill and cannot speak for yourself. In addition to dedicated time to discuss and complete the Five Wishes document, the workshop will include brief presentations from guest speakers on the topics of palliative care, hospice and Jewish burial practices. Each participant will receive a copy of the Five Wishes living will, and a notary will be available should you want to notarize your document. 
For more information and to register, visit Living Will Workshop
Social Action Sunday
March 15th @ 10:15 am in the Social Hall
Part of your Social Action Committee's ongoing  three-year study-and-action focus on Child Poverty and Hunger.
Join us for a talk and discussion with Duke University Professor Robert A. Murphy, Executive Director of the Center for Child & Family Health, on "Psychological Poverty Through the Eyes of the Child"
We primarily see the effect of poverty on children in terms of physical hunger.
Learn more about the impact of a different kind of malnutrition on children raised in poverty - impact harder to confront but at least as serious in effect. Dr. Murphy will help us understand this critical side of life in poverty and suggest avenues for action.
Refreshments will be served
"Study leads to action" (BT Kiddushin 40b)
Passover Wine Tasting
Monday, March 9th, 7:30 pmPassoverWineTasting
Jared Resnick will lead this unique wine tasting experience with a delightful assemblage of red and white wines that will bless your table and palate throughout your special Seder or any time of the year. The MoB sampled and gave thumbs up to wines from Argentina, Chile, Italy (Tuscany), U.S. and Israel.
Please join us for this presentation and discussion of Kosher for Pesach wines. You will have the opportunity to order the wines at a discounted price for Beth El members, ranging from $9 to $15. 
Included will be light snacks, crackers and cheese.
Donations are $18 per person. All funds beyond the costs will go to the Talmud Torah and the Rabbi's Discretionary Fund.
To RSVP, visit Passover Wine Tasting
Pesach Packages
Due by March 10, 2015
The Synagogue Life Committee will be sending out Pesach gift packages to our young folks in their first year after high school.   If you would like your college sophomore, junior or senior to receive a package,too, send a check for $25.00 to Beth El Synagogue or pay via PayPal. Tell us the name and address of the college student, and specify "Pesach package" in the check's memo line. 
Zumba
March 10th @ 7:00PM
Join Pilar Rocha-Goldberg and the Synagogue Life Committee for our monthly Zumba class in the Freedman Center. This program is open to everyone for no charge. 
Donations to Beth El in honor of your workout are welcome & appreciated.
No prior experience needed. Be sure to wear your gym shoes & comfortable clothes.
FIDFFriends of the Israel Defense Forces Program
Thursday, March 12th @ 7:00 PM
Please join us for an exclusive reception & program with Lt. Nir Tsur, Medical Officer, Nachal Brigade, as he presents an inside look at last summer's Operation Protective Edge, as well as the unique contributions that Israel and the IDF bring to trauma medicine around the globe.
For more information, visit Friends of the Israel Defense Force
Uscj Community ConversationsUSCJ
We had a very productive first conversation about Beth El's membership in USCJ. We will have three more conversations during March to further explore and give our community a chance to share their thoughts about this very important issue. On March 11th, Jo-Anne Tucker Zemlak, the USCJ for our area, will attend the board meeting from 7:30-9:00pm to talk with our board and lay leaders. Board meetings are held in the library open and all are invited to attend.
On Sunday, March 15th from 10:00 am-11:30 am, Pat Fischer will facilitate a conversation focused on the concerns of parents, teens, and those who work with young people about how USCJ membership impacts our youth activities. And from 12 pm- 1:30 pm, Pat will facilitate a conversation focused on how our USCJ membership impacts our ritual lay leaders--Torah readers, haftarah readers, gabbaim, and shlichai tziburim (service leaders). Both meetings will take place in the Freedman Center Lounge.
On March 29th from 3:30 pm-5:00 pmwe will have another open meeting where Pat will report back what she has heard and give the congregation an opportunity to share again before she reports to the board at the April meeting. 
Save the Date! Got Shabbat?GotShabbat
Friday, March 20, 2015
This Synagogue Life initiative to promote friendship in our community through Shabbat dinners started with a very successful event in October.  Think about who you would like to invite, and please consider inviting at least one person you'd like to know better!
For more information, please visit Got Shabbat?
New Siddurim at Beth El
Beth El wants everyone to be able to participate in weekly Shabbat services. Beth El has purchased siddurim (prayer books) for Friday night and Saturday morning that have extensive transliteration.  These siddurim are being kept on the Gift Shop counter for now.  Inside of the siddurim, is a sticker that matches the page number in Sim Shalom (standard Siddur) with the transliterated siddurim.  If you have any feedback on using these transliterated siddurim or have wanted a siddur and they were all already in use please contact the Ritual Committee. 
Purim Carnival Thank you!
We wanted to send a note sharing our sincerest thanks for all of the work that was done to help make this year's Purim Carnival a reality and a huge success!  Some bought supplies, some sent out publicity, some worked on set up and/or clean up, welcomed guests, organized, ran games, took tickets, and shared your smiles with the community. The  time and work is so greatly appreciated by everyone at Beth El.  We truly could not have done this without your help. ESPECIALLY given the crazy weather from the last two weeks and the last minute change to the timing of the carnival, we are particularly grateful to all of you who trekked out early, stayed late and adjusted your schedules in order to help out. Once again, thank you for your commitment to Beth El--we hope you had fun too! We look forward to seeing many of you in your best costumes tomorrow night, Wednesday, March 4th, in the main sanctuary at 7PM for Megillah reading, costume contest and the official screening of our Purim Video!
Todah Rabah,
Elisabeth Albert (EYD) & Eric Lipp (Chair of the Va'ad HaChinuch)
Community Caf�
Help your neighbors, help yourself 

Our Beth El community made a commitment to provide servers for dinner on the fourth Sunday of each month at the Durham Community Caf�. The guests whom the servers meet there are Durham neighbors who, for whatever reason, need a hand at this point in their lives. The tuna noodle casseroles are already there, ready for final preparation, heating, and serving. 
Here is a link to some thoughts from our fellow congregant, Mindy Oshrain, about her own experience of participating at the Kitchen, and her reflection on what the privilege of performing this mitzvah meant to her.
To sign up for a turn at the Kitchen, please be in touch with fellow congregant Erica Gringle!
Summer Hosting Opportunity
Would you be interested in hosting a French Jewish teen for three weeks this summer? If your family is interested in hosting her, please contact David or JoAnn for more information or visit Summer Opportunity.
Apartment for Rent
Assistance Sought

An older woman in our community is seeking a renter for a one-bedroom, furnished apartment, all utilities included, attached to her townhouse in the Pickett Road area of Durham. Caged pets are allowed.  Ideally the occupant would be a middle-aged woman able to occasionally help rentor with various tasks including errands (as she has poor vision & is unable to drive). 
Also sought, part-time in-home clerical assistance, mainly reading & help with organizing paper work (could be renter or another person).
Please email: [email protected]
ServicesServices
Shabbat Morning
Shabbat Mishnah Study in the Freedman Center, 8:45am-9:30am 
Orthodox Kehillah, 9:00am
Main Sanctuary, 9:30am, Bat Mitzvah of Ilana Wittle
 Gabbaim will also try to accommodate requests made in person on Shabbat morning   (by 10:15am, before the Torah service), but please understand that all honors may be previously claimed.

Kiddush Lunch is hosted by: Eric & Tal Lewin Wittle in honor of their daughter Ilana becoming a Bat Mitzvah

 

Weekly Minyanim
Sunday morning at 9:30am
Wednesday morning at 8:00a.m. followed by a text study
Upcoming EventsUpcomingEvents
To access the full calendar of Beth El events, click here.

To view a calendar of events in our greater Jewish community, click here.

Have an announcement?  
Please email the text to [email protected]
SHABBAT SHALOM!

Beth El Synagogue
1004 Watts Street, Durham NC 27701
(919)682-1238 * Email Us