Generated by All in One SEO v5.0.0.1, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Beth El Hebrew Congregation Reform Temple Alexandria, VA ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Rabbi Rachel Saphire Named First Female Rabbi to Lead Beth El Hebrew Congregation](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/news/rabbi-rachel-saphire-named-first-female-rabbi-to-lead-beth-el-hebrew-congregation/) - Historic Alexandria congregation continues 167-year legacy of vibrant Jewish life with appointment of accomplished rabbi as new spiritual leader ## Pages - [Home](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/) - Welcome to Beth El Hebrew Congregation, a sacred Jewish community and Reform temple in Alexandria, VA, for all who seek connection, meaning and healing. - [High Holidays](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/pray/high-holidays/) - We are excited to welcome you to Beth El for the High Holidays. On this page you’ll find the full 2026 High Holiday Guide Bulletin, with everything you need to know about services, schedules, and celebrations for the season.How to view the bulletin online:Use the arrow buttons (or scroll/swipe) to move through the pages.Click the - [Special Funds](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/support/special-funds/) - General Funds Beth El General Fund Unrestricted donations that may be used to provide or enhance any Beth El program or service.Click here to make a donation. Permanent Endowment Fund Beth El Hebrew Congregation’s Permanent Endowment Fund (PEF) was established in 1981 by 13 visionary families. The mission of the PEF is to ensure the long-term - [Service Schedule & Descriptions](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/pray/service-schedule-descriptions/) - Shabbat at Beth ElWhether you’re new to our community or have been with us for years, you’ll find a welcoming space to celebrate Shabbat with us each week. Our services blend Hebrew and English, meaningful worship, music, and genuine community connection. Services are typically held in our synagogue’s sanctuary, and on occasion in our beautiful - [Clergy & Staff](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/about/clergy-staff/) - RabbiRabbi Rachel Saphirersaphire@bethelhebrew.orgRabbi Rachel Saphire is honored and thrilled to be serving Beth El Hebrew Congregation. Born and raised in Springfield, Ohio, she earned her undergraduate degree magna cum laude from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) in 2004, majoring in Family Studies and Social Work. While at Miami, Rabbi Saphire immersed herself in campus Jewish life - [Our Rich History](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/about/our-rich-history/) - Introduction Beth El Hebrew Congregation has a long and storied past. From its inception during the middle of the 19th century in the port city of Alexandria, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from the nation’s capital, to its present 21st century vibrancy, it has borne witness to the events of town, country, and world, - [Leadership](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/about/leadership/) - 2026-2027 Board of DirectorsOur Board of Directors serves as the governing body of our congregation, working in partnership with our clergy and staff to strengthen the legacy of Beth El. Executive Committee PresidentCarly Rubenstein Executive Vice PresidentJill Spivey Vice PresidentJesse Reisman Vice PresidentStacy Weiner SecretaryTodd Bolick TreasurerJamie Taber Immediate Past PresidentDorrit Lowsen Dan Bernstein Meet - [Newsletter](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/resources/newsletter/) - 2026 January/February 2026March/April 2026May/June 2026July/August 2026 2025 January 2025February 2025March/April 2025May/June 2025July/August 2025September/October 2025 2024 January/February 2024March/April 2024May/June 2024July/August 2024September/October 2024November/December 2024 2023 January/February 2023March/April 2023May/June 2023July/August 2023September/October 2023November/December 2023 2022 January/February 2022March/April 2022May/June 2022July/August 2022September/October 2022November/December 2022 2021 January 2021February 2021March 2021April 2021May 2021June 2021July 2021August/September 2021October 2021November/December 2021 2020 January 2020February 2020March 2020April - [Brotherhood](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/connect/affinity-groups/brotherhood/) - Our MissionThe Brotherhood of Beth El Hebrew Congregation was founded to unite the men of the Congregation for all purposes conducive to the well-being and progress of both Beth El Hebrew Congregation and the cause of Reform Judaism. Our mission is to create a sense of community among the members of the Brotherhood, their families, - [Women of Reform Judaism](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/connect/affinity-groups/women-of-reform-judaism/) - Beth El's Women of Reform Judaism is committed to women, our Congregation and to Judaism. We serve our synagogue, the community, and the Jewish world. Members of Beth El's Women of Reform Judaism gain: New and lasting friendships New personal and professional growth and development An opportunity to learn more about Judaism A renewed sense of - [About Us](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/about/about-us/) - B’ruchim HaBaim – Welcome to Beth El Hebrew Congregation!Beth El is a warm, inclusive Reform Jewish community in Alexandria, Virginia, where Jewish values come to life every day. Whether you’re seeking spiritual growth, Jewish education for your children, social justice engagement, or simply community connection, we believe you’ll find a home here.Since 1859, we’ve been - [Beth El Rhoda Goldman Memorial Giant Annual Book Sale](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/booksale/) - Named for its founder, the Rhoda Goldman Memorial Giant Annual Book sale is one of Beth El’s most important annual events. It serves as a major fundraiser that also strengthens the bonds within our congregation and deepens our ties to the Alexandria community and beyond. Every year, members come together to sort donations and staff - [Upcoming Events](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/connect/upcoming-events/) - August 2026 30 Aug Beth El's First Annual Mah Jongg Tournament & Fundraiser August 30, 2026 9:30 am - 2:00 pm More Info - [Registration](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/learn/religious-school/registration/) - Curriculum Overview Calendar Families With Young Children B'nei Mitzvah Registration Click here to register for 2026-2027 To learn more about Beth El’s Religious School program, please reach out to our Education Director Dan Swartz at (703)370-9400 or dswartz@bethelhebrew.org.Registration 2026-2027Registration happens through your ShulCloud Account (details below) and helps us prepare for the upcoming school year. The - [Learn](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/learn/) - [Resources](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/resources/) - [Campus Information](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/about/campus-information/) - Our campus sits in the heart of Alexandria’s Seminary Road area, minutes from the nation’s capital, offering comprehensive facilities designed for worship, education, and meaningful community gatherings. The building welcomes visitors during our community programs and events – check our calendar to see what’s happening. To ensure we can provide you with dedicated attention, we - [Post B’nei Mitzvah Programming](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/learn/post-bnei-mitzvah-programming/) - Lead, create, and make your mark on the Beth El and Jewish community.Questions? Reach out to Education Director, Dan Swartz. Netzer & Confirmation Sunday Mornings and/or Wednesday Evenings Build on what you already know to explore big questions about identity, the world, and what it means to be Jewish today. It’s less about memorizing and - [Streaming Services](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/pray/streaming-services/) - [Adult Education](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/learn/adult-education/) - Adult Learning at Beth ElAt Beth El, learning isn’t just about gaining knowledge, it’s about connection, curiosity, and community. Whether you’re diving into Jewish text for the first time, picking up a new skill, or simply looking for meaningful ways to engage, there’s something here for you.Our adult education programs are designed to be welcoming, - [Families with Young Children](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/learn/families-with-young-children/) - Curriculum Overview Calendar Families With Young children B'nei Mitzvah Registration Shalom Chaverim: A Monthly Pre‑K Family ProgramWelcome to Shalom Chaverim, a joyful, monthly gathering designed especially for Pre‑Kindergarten children and their parents at Beth El Hebrew Congregation.Join us on Sunday mornings once a month to connect, learn, and grow together in a warm, welcoming Jewish community.Membership not - [Brick Campaign](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/support/brick-campaign/) - [News](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/resources/news/) - Rabbi Rachel Saphire Named First Female Rabbi to Lead Beth El Hebrew Congregation April 16, 2026 Historic Alexandria congregation continues 167-year legacy of vibrant Jewish life with appointment of accomplished rabbi as new spiritual leader Read More No posts found - [Endowment & Legacy Circle](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/support/endowment-legacy-circle/) - L'Dor V'Dor Legacy Circle L'Dor V'Dor — "from generation to generation" in Hebrew — is Beth El Hebrew Congregation's planned giving program, allowing members to leave a lasting gift to Beth El through a will, trust, or beneficiary designation on a life insurance or retirement account. This "tomorrow" gift complements your current support of the - [Make a Donation](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/support/make-a-donation/) - Beyond membership, Beth El offers a variety of ways to contribute to and financially support the community. Donation or sponsorship is one way to show your love for the community and to maintain a connection and support.Donations may be made online via the form below. We provide some ideas about areas for donation and amounts. These - [Find Your People](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/connect/affinity-groups/) - Affinity groups are small communities within a larger organization that bring together people with shared identities, interests, or life experiences. They provide a space for connection, support, and mutual learning, while strengthening a sense of belonging. At Beth El, affinity groups also foster engagement by allowing members to build relationships around common bonds in a - [Plan Your Private Event](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/resources/plan-your-private-event/) - When you choose to host an event in our beautiful ballroom, we grant you full access to our kitchen facility that includes double convection ovens, double pizza ovens, gas cooktop, microwave oven, plenty of counter space for prep work, and an ice machine. You and up to 290 of your closest friends and family will - [Membership](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/connect/membership/) - At Beth El Hebrew Congregation, membership is a meaningful partnership that connects you to a vibrant, supportive Jewish community. We believe every member is an essential stakeholder in our congregation’s mission and future. Our Community Partnership ModelOur innovative membership approach is built on four core principles: Flexibility We understand that every family’s financial situation is - [Judaica Shop](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/resources/judaica-shop/) - To help make the holidays memorable for you and your family, the Judaica Shop has holiday greeting cards, honey, honey drippers, serving pieces for your apples and honey, and festive candlesticks and candles to make your holiday tables shine. Need a challah cover or a holiday challah board? We have those too! We have a - [Disability Inclusion Committee](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/connect/affinity-groups/disability-inclusion-committee/) - In 2008, Beth El's Disability Inclusion Committee was created with the following goals: To remove or mitigate physical barriers in our building and grounds; To educate our congregation and, in particular, our religious school students on the inclusion of those with disabilities and other challenges To welcome all who come through our doors so that - [B'nei Mitzvah](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/learn/bnei-mitzvah/) - The celebration of a child becoming a B’nei Mitzvah is one of the proudest moments in the life cycle of a Jewish family and congregation.When your child becomes a B’nei Mitzvah, not only do we celebrate their becoming a Jewish adult; we also find joy and are strengthened by the choice you made to raise - [Introducing Rabbi Rachel Saphire](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/introducing-rabbi-rachel-saphire/) - Dear Beth El Community,With great joy and excitement, I am thrilled to share that Rabbi Rachel Saphire has officially signed her contract and will begin serving as Beth El’s Rabbi on July 1.This is a truly special moment for our congregation. Rabbi Saphire joins us after 17 years at Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, Massachusetts, - [Curriculum Overview](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/learn/religious-school/curriculum-overview/) - Curriculum Overview Calendar Families With Young children B'nei Mitzvah Registration A Journey of Connection, Meaning, and HealingOur curriculum nurtures each child’s Jewish identity by weaving together Torah, tradition, values, and community. Through developmentally appropriate exploration of Jewish stories, holidays, mitzvot, history, Israel, and sacred relationships, students build a lifelong foundation of living proud Jewish lives. - [Religious School](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/learn/religious-school/) - Curriculum Overview Calendar Families With Young children B'nei Mitzvah Registration Expression of the Beth El Hebrew Congregation MissionAt Beth El Hebrew Congregation, we partner with families to nurture and build the foundation of our childrens’ Jewish identity.We challenge each student to welcome the diversity of the Jewish experience and discovery their own path to authentic - [Nex Gen](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/connect/affinity-groups/nex-gen/) - Nex Gen PrinciplesThe purpose of this group is to bring the Jewish community, their families, and those actively in the conversion process closer together. Together, we are the next generation of congregants and board members of Beth El Hebrew Congregation. It is important for us to stay engaged and active in our spiritual home. Please, - [Climate Working Group](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/connect/affinity-groups/climate-working-group/) - The Beth El Climate Working Group began meeting last winter. We are working on various projects to make the congregation more sustainable and promote greenhouse gas reductions. Some of our efforts are below. Zero-Waste Seder - We used Veteran Compost DC to manage all food scraps and other compostable waste from the event and compost - [Chapel in the Woods](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/connect/affinity-groups/chapel-in-the-woods/) - A Place for All of UsBeth El members are proud of the strides we have made in rehabilitating our two-acre acidic oak-hickory forest that lies behind our synagogue. Housing a “Chapel in the Woods,” this retreat serves as a place of quiet meditation, services, and prayer–and a site for teaching children about nature, playing, taking - [Support](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/support/) - [Pray](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/pray/) - [Connect](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/connect/) - [About](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/about/) - [Get Involved](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/connect/get-involved/) - Committees are vital working groups that help guide and strengthen synagogue life. Each committee is led by a chair who holds a seat on the Board of Directors, serving as a liaison between the committee and the Board. In this role, committee chairs represent the voices and needs of the greater community, ensuring that a - [Library Catalog Online](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/learn/library-catalog-online/) - The Media Center contains more than 2,000 books, DVDs, and videotapes. The Beth El library catalog is available online through “Library Search,” an online library resource. If you are looking for a specific title, or researching a topic, search the Beth El online catalog to determine if that title is part of the Beth El - [Caring Community](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/connect/affinity-groups/caring-community/) - Deeds of Loving Kindness Beth El is a kehilat chesed (loving community) - a congregation of people who care about each other and stand ready to help one another through the physical and emotional storms that punctuate our lives. At some time almost every family faces a difficult situation that can be overwhelming. When this happens, the - [Hebrew Benevolent Society](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/resources/hebrew-benevolent-society/) - The Hebrew Benevolent Society was formed in 1857/8, some two years before Beth El Hebrew Congregation, and it operates the Home of Peace Cemetery in Old Town Alexandria on South Payne and Franklin Streets. In 1860, the Society made its original purchase of land from the Washington Street Methodist Church for use as a Jewish - [Memorial Board Plaque & Simcha Tree of Life Leaf Orders](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/support/memorial-board-plaque-simcha-tree-of-life-leaf-orders/) - [Events](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/events/) - CONTENTS ## Events - [Tot Shabbat](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/events/tot-shabbat-4/) - [Tot Shabbat](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/events/tot-shabbat-3/) - [Tot Shabbat](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/events/tot-shabbat-2/) - [Beth El's First Annual Mah Jongg Tournament & Fundraiser](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/events/beth-els-first-annual-mah-jongg-tournament-fundraiser/) - [Havdalah with Rabbi Saphire](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/events/havdalah-with-rabbi-saphire/) - [Funny Girl - Summer Movie Series with optional lunch](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/events/funny-girl-summer-movie-series-with-optional-lunch/) - [Aging Well Series: Advanced Care Planning](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/events/aging-well-series-advanced-care-planning/) - [Holding Liat - Movie Screening](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/events/holding-liat-movie-screening/) - [Aging Well Series](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/events/aging-well-series/) - [2nd Annual Volunteer Recognition Breakfast](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/events/2nd-annual-volunteer-recognition-breakfast/) - [A CULTURAL MOSAIC: Israel’s Diverse Communities](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/events/a-cultural-mosaic-israels-diverse-communities/) - [Family Havdalah](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/events/family-havdalah/) - [Interfaith Dinner](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/events/interfaith-dinner/) - [Daytime at Beth El: A Kickoff Luncheon & Discussion](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/events/daytime-at-beth-el-a-kickoff-luncheon-discussion/) - [Fourth Grade Student-led Service](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/events/fourth-grade-student-led-service/) - [Tot Shabbat](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/events/tot-shabbat/) - [Erev Shabbat Service Led by Confirmation Class of 5786](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/events/erev-shabbat-service-led-by-confirmation-class-of-5786/) - [Last Day of Religious School Picnic](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/events/last-day-of-religious-school-picnic/) - [Preserving Our Story - A Conversation with Jonathan Edelman, Collections Curator at the Capital Jewish Museum](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/events/preserving-our-story-a-conversation-with-jonathan-edelman-collections-curator-at-the-capital-jewish-museum/) - [Gaza and the West Bank - Where Does Israel Go From Here?](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/events/gaza-and-the-west-bank-where-does-israel-go-from-here/) - [Shabbat B'Yachad](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/events/shabbat-byachad/) - [Celebrate Earth Day in Our Chapel in the Woods](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/events/celebrate-earth-day-in-our-chapel-in-the-woods/) - [Counting the Omer](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/events/counting-the-omer-2/) - The 49-day Omer period between Passover and Shavuot offers an opportunity for personal and spiritual growth. In this special one-night class, Rabbi Weiner and Gilah Goldsmith join forces to explore the origins of the Omer and how we can make this ancient tradition meaningful in our daily lives. - [Artist in Residence Weekend - Songs of Ascent](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/events/artist-in-residence-weekend-songs-of-ascent/) ## Categories - [News](https://www.bethelhebrew.org/category/news/)