Young Families
Teens
20s and 30s
Singles
Seniors
LGBTQ
Young Families and Friends
A Kid-Friendly Dinner and Shabbat Service! The evening includes a Young Children’s Service with songs, stories, and prayers, followed by a sitdown, age-appropriate Shabbat dinner, complete with Shabbat blessings. We welcome children of all ages, though this service is best suited for children in preschool through third grade. The cost for the dinner is $8 for adults and $5 for children. It’s a casual atmosphere that is perfect for the family with young children to share a Jewish experience with their temple community and socialize with other families. Young Families and Friends typically meets on the third Friday of the month.
Contact: Gayle Wintjen, moc.liamgnull@niwelyag
WHTY
Teens
Our wonderfully energetic teen organization (West Hartford Temple Youth – WHTY) organizes numerous social and socially conscious events throughout the year. Because Beth Israel fully appreciates its young members and realizes the critical importance of nurturing their Jewish identities and leadership potential, the WHTY President holds a seat on the Temple’s Board of Trustees.
Contact: Abby Schneider, gro.tcibcnull@learsihteb
20s and 30s
Torah on Tap
Jews in their 20s and 30s meet each week at a local restaurant with Rabbi Dena Shaffer to discuss a relevant topic. Sometimes it’s the weekly Torah portion, other times it’s Israel, spirituality, or leadership. The group is diverse, comprised of teachers and lawyers, school guidance counselors and graduate students, engineers and educators, young interfaith couples and conversion students. Some are Jewish, some non-Jewish, some Orthodox and others staunchly Reform, some have a day school background and others who are encountering Judaism for the first time. Both men and women attend. This is open to the community. We value young adult participation in Judaism…come and engage in the conversation! Read more.
Contact: Rabbi Dena Shaffer, moc.liamgnull@reffahsibbar, 860-233-2815 x226.
Moving Forward
Singles
Greater Hartford Jewish Singles Groups,
Ages 35-55 and Ages 55-70
Sponsored by Congregation Beth Israel, The Emanuel Synagogue, and the Mandell JCC, Beth Sholom B’nai Israel, and Jewish Family Services. our two separate Singles Groups for older adults are a great way to meet new people and explore new interests!
Contact: Cantor Pamela Siskin, moc.loanull@niksisrp, 860-233-8215 x234.
SAGE
Seniors
Dr. Robert A. Kramer Fund/Seniors for Arts, Growth & Education (S.A.G.E.)
A very popular weekly program held from late morning through mid-day that provides great companionship through stimulating activities. S.A.G.E. events include guest speakers from all walks of life, luncheons, yoga classes, films, musical presentations, discussion groups, computer classes, a monthly Forum with the Rabbi, and medical programs.
Contact: Libby and Julian Adler, gro.tcibcnull@learsihteb, 860-233-8215
THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN’
Do you drive? Can you offer to drive members of our community to the Temple for our programs either on a regular or one-time basis? Do you have an interesting profession? Do you have new and exciting things to say?
Do you want to share your talents with friends?
S.A.G.E. (Seniors for Arts Growth and Education) meets every Tuesday. For the past eleven years, it has offered gentle exercise, lively and topical discussions, good, fresh food, and stimulating programs. We look forward to many more engaging meetings. Of late it has become apparent, though, that the times they are a changin’. We need some help from you. Our members are finding it more and more difficult to attend our S.A.G.E. meetings because they can no longer drive, or if they do drive, it is becoming too difficult to get into the building, especially if the car is parked some distance from our Temple.
Can you help? Our programs start at 10:30am and end at 2pm. Sometimes our members only wish to come for the latter part of the day and so the time commitment is flexible. We are looking for drivers who could commit to one session per month; or once per three months; or whatever you can do! We would not expect you to stay for the entire day but we will give you free lunch if you do stay!
We are also looking for new ideas for our main programs which begin at 1pm. In the past, our speakers have offered a wide variety of topics, from politics to medicine to education. Our musical concerts are of high caliber, and our musicians have included flautists, singers, pianists, cellists, and choral groups. We are constantly looking for new suggestions, speakers, and entertainers, and if you know of anyone, including yourself, who would make an interesting speaker, please let us know!
Indeed our times they are a changin.’ Could you be part of our forward thinking? Could you be part of our change? Please contact Cantor Pamela Siskin, moc.loanull@niksisrp, 860-233-8215 x234.
LGBTQ
We welcome individuals of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. We embrace our commonalities, as together we pray, learn, connect, and work to make the world a better place.
Currently we do not have a special group for this segment of our community. If you have interest in working to create one, please contact Toni, our Temple Administrator.
Contact: Toni Robinson, gro.tcibcnull@nosnibort