Youth Programs Baskets are here

If you have ever been to a Bar/Bat Mitzvah at Temple, then you have likely seen baskets of books on the front of the Bimah. These baskets are donated by the families of the Bar/Bat Mitzvah in honor of their family's celebration, and to fulfill the mitzvah of tzedakah that we practice whenever we celebrate a simcha.

Now there is a new and very practical way in which our Bar/Bat Mitzvah families, their friends, and the rest of the congregation can help support the youth of our Temple. You can purchase a gift basket that will be tastefully displayed on the Bimah, with all of the proceeds benefiting Temple Beth El's youth programs. Over the last couple of years, LIBERTY (our Temple's senior youth group) has become one of the largest youth groups among Reform congregations in the Southeast. We are very proud of all that our young students have accomplished, and we want to encourage them to continue to nurture their Jewish identities with us as they grow older and prepare for their college years. In order to accomplish this task and provide our youth with all the opportunities that are available, we need to make sure our funds are constantly replenished.

Recently our Anshei Mitzvah class became the first group to take advantage of this mitzvah. By sponsoring a gift basket for our youth, they helped pave the way for one more child to go to a Jewish camp this summer. These gift baskets, on the surface, allow you to fulfill the mitzvah of tzedakah, which is wonderful. But it also allows you to fulfill the mitzvah of providing lasting Jewish experiences for our youth.

If your family is celebrating a Bar/Bat Mitzvah or any other type of simcha soon, and you would like to purchase a Temple Beth El Youth Programs basket, please get in touch with Arthur Kramer at 704-366-1948 or info@beth-el.com. If you would simply like to contribute to our youth group, please contact me at 704-366-1948 or jbarras@beth-el.com. And please remember, if we want our kids to act Jewish, then we have to give them opportunities to be Jewish!

L’Shalom,
Jeremy Barras