Beth El Brotherhood
[ Main | Leadership | Plans | Catering | Chapel-In-The-Woods | Softball ]

Brotherhood's Chapel-in-the Woods

A major activity of Beth El's Brotherhood is the Chapel-in-the-Woods located south of the Beth El parking lot. Brotherhood continues to provide a base amount of annual funding for maintenance, beautification, and improvements. It was a long time dream of the late Rabbi Arnold G. Fink, our Emeritus senior rabbi, to create a chapel in the wooded area on Beth El's property. This secluded, shaded area would serve as a place for reflection, meditation and informal worship as well as, weather permitting, an outdoor classroom.

This dream has come a long way to fruition, thanks to the work of many volunteers and the support of the Beth El community. The site includes an outdoor chapel area with bench seating and an outdoor ark, which will hold a Torah during outdoor services. The ark includes a solar-powered Ner Tamid, and the ark doors will be made from wood recovered from a large oak tree that was felled in the wooded area by a storm. A loop trail around the property is partially completed and a large wooden footbridge has been constructed over a stream and ravine. Inspired by the beauty of this site, volunteers have given their time to remove invasive vines, install plantings, maintain the trail system, establish erosion control, develop outdoor goldfish ponds and provide general cleanup and beautification efforts on a monthly basis.

The site is managed by the Chapel-in-the-Woods Brotherhood Committee. If you have questions, or if you would like to volunteer to help or make a contribution to the Chapel in the Woods, please send an e-mail to woodschapel@bethelhebrew.org.