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FAQ
- What if I’m not Jewish? (or... what if my girlfriend/boyfriend/ partner/wife/husband/child/pet chihuahua isn’t Jewish?)
- What if I don't believe in God?
- What if I want to raise my kids Jewish but am not sure how?
- What if I don’t know the prayers? What if I don’t know Hebrew!?!
- What if I eat pork?
- What food can I bring into BHA?
- What if I’m interested in something Jewish but BHA isn’t doing it?
- What if I want to check out BHA to see if its right for me but I'm not ready to commit to anything?
- What type of synagogue is BHA? Does it belong to a denomination?
- What if I have a different question?
- How do I get to BHA?
What if I’m not Jewish? (or... what if my girlfriend/boyfriend/ partner/wife/husband/child/pet chihuahua isn’t Jewish?) There are some instances in which it does matter whether or not someone is Jewish, usually regarding formal roles in prayer services and formal leadership of the congregation. By and large though, there is no need to get hung up on who is “technically” Jewish and who isn’t. What really matters is if you want to do Jewish stuff. Let’s put it this way - you can be a direct descendent of Moses, but if you aren’t interested in trying anything Jewish, the ride is pretty much over. By the same token, you could be Santa Claus himself, and if you want to jump on the Jewish train and see where it takes you, then this is for you.
What if I don’t believe in God? A-ok with us. if you want talk about what you mean by “believe” and “God,” that’s cool, and if you don’t, that’s cool too. You might find it intersting to check out I (don't) believe in God by Rabbi Brent.
What if I want to raise my kids Jewish but am not sure how? Good news and bad news here. The bad news is that you can’t lead someone to a place you haven’t been yourself. You can’t raise your kids Jewish if you don’t raise yourself Jewish. The good news is that you can do both at the same time.
What if I don’t know the prayers? What if I don’t know Hebrew!?! The prayers you need are written in your heart. The prayers in the prayer book are amazing resources to help you access what is locked on the inside. If you want to use traditional prayers, give it some time and keep an eye out for an intro to the siddur (prayerbook) course, and you can pick up some skills there. Then the real work can begin.
What if I eat pork? Best to leave it at home. Unless otherwise mentioned, everything we do is strictly vegetarian.
Speaking of, what food can I bring to BHA? Here's the quick answer:
- We accept strictly vegetarian food prepared in any kitchen, including yours.
- Any prepared dishes brought into BHA should have a little card listing all ingredients so people can make informed choices regarding their own food commitments.
- Packaged foods should have a hechsher.
- For more details, see our full food policy here.
What if I’m interested in something Jewish but BHA isn’t doing it? Give us a ring! If you have the energy to make something Jewish happen, let us know - we are eager to get new and creative programs up and running.
How do I get to BHA? We're at 331 Verplanck Avenue, Beacon, NY. Most people coming by car pull up the driveway which opens on Verplanck Avenue and drive all the way to the back. You can see a map here.
many thanks to R. Noa Kushner at Nita from whom we totally ripped off with whom we creatively synergized the idea for this page. Thanks, Noa!
Tue, January 31 2023
9 Shevat 5783
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Wednesday ,
FebFebruary 1 , 2023Morning Minyan at BHA and on Zoom
Wednesday, Feb 1st 8:45a to 10:00a
Whether you have been davvening with tallis and tefillin for years or you don’t know how to say those words you just read, come and be part of this most intimate of Jewish liturgical moments! BHA Members will lead services at BHA and on Zoom -
Friday ,
FebFebruary 3 , 2023Masa Jewish Journeys: 4th-6th Grade
Friday, Feb 3rd 4:00p to 6:00p
Masa will be filled with Joyful Jewish experiences, including song, dance, art, food, field trips, and more! We will proudly offer the Shalom Learning program, which includes a Values Curriculum and a Hebrew Curriculum. The values-based curriculum explores various Jewish values and their relevance in our everyday lives. -
Friday ,
FebFebruary 3 , 2023Friday Torah Study
Friday, Feb 3rd 5:00p to 6:00p
Join us on Friday nights at BHA for a soulful exploration of the weekly Torah portion. We will be meeting in person at the BHA. -
Friday ,
FebFebruary 3 , 2023Mini Minyan
Friday, Feb 3rd 5:30p to 6:00p
Mini Minyan (for ages 2-12) is a service for welcoming Shabbat with song and dance that is led by our 4th-6th grade Masa students & Luke Wygodny of the Heartstring Kids. -
Friday ,
FebFebruary 3 , 2023Potluck Shabbat Dinner & Kabbalat Shabbat at BHA
Friday, Feb 3rd 6:00p to 8:00p
Please join us for a pot-luck Shabbat dinner in the BHA common room. To be sure we have enough food for everyone, please bring enough for your family and others to share, ideally a main dish or the equivalent., vegetarian or vegan only. See BHA Food Policy. We will communally clean our space in anticipation of lighting the Shabbat candles followed by Kabbalat Shabbat services.