Community

Taus Lecture Series

Provocative and stimulating presentations on subjects of general and Jewish interest by distinguished scholars from colleges and universities throughout Southern California.

The Taus Lecture Series is now in its 39th season. The original creation of Esther Taus, Ph.D., z’l, this series brings noted scholars and academics to Temple Beth El for an afternoon or evening of thought-provoking learning and dialogue. 

Each session offers a thorough exploration of a subject of Jewish interest presented by a distinguished Rabbi, educator, speaker, or faculty member from a Southern California college or university.

Havurot

The word “havurah” comes from the Hebrew word “haver,” meaning friend. Its primary purpose is to promote Jewish fellowship. Each havurah is a small community of congregants who gather together to socialize, learn more about Jewish subjects, celebrate Jewish holidays, or may take any focus that the group chooses. Some groups are formed for religious study, some are purely social, and many are a combination. While a havurah may form to fulfill one need, ideally all the other expressions of Jewish life will be experienced within this self-selected Jewish community.

Each havurah defines its own goals and means for growth and self-expression. Some havurot will meet many times throughout the year, such as monthly, while others will meet less frequently. The havurah may meet in members’ homes or at a chosen place such as a museum, park, restaurant or theater. Typical activities may include:

• creating family holiday celebrations
• joining together for Shabbat meals
• working on a volunteer project
• attending temple activities together or meeting afterwards
• arranging a group outing to a local museum, amusement park, etc.

The group is encouraged to create programs that celebrate Jewish life and build community. A havurah may consist of singles, couples, families or any combination of the above. Typically, a havurah has about 20 members or 8-10 families.

Why join a Havurah?

Being part of a havurah provides temple members with an opportunity to develop and strengthen friendships with others who share similar interests. Whether you’re a new member looking to meet other congregants or an existing member seeking new friendships, a havurah is a great way to create an extended family within the Temple Beth El community.

Yaldei Shalom—Middle School Youth Group

Yaldei Shalom, Temple Beth El’s middle school youth group, is a vibrant community made of 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th graders. Our Youth Group Leader plans gatherings outside of TBE where we can hang out and have fun. In past years, we’ve held chocolate seders, gone ice skating and bowling, and joined NFTY 678 for color wars. Yaldei Shalom serves the TBE community by assisting SPeTY with the Yom Kippur canned food drive, serving dinner at Sisterhood’s Annual Latke dinner, and running the Purim Carnival. Come join us!

As a URJ congregation, we are part of the North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY). In the Southern California region, NFTY 678 events occur three times a year. These one-day events are designed to give middle schoolers a taste of NFTY fun. On alternate years, the “West Coast Party Jr.” weekend retreat draws middle schoolers to a wider regional gathering in Northern California.

The following scholarships are available to help defray the cost of the West Coast Party Jr. attendance:

• Burt & Elaine Margulis Teen Scholarship Fund
• Peachy and Mark Levy Scholarship  
• TBE Sisterhood Scholarship forms are here
• Bill Gren Campership Fund – contact Linda Gren

For more information regarding Yaldei Shalom, contact youth@bethelsp.org. 

SPeTY—High School Youth Group

At Temple Beth El, the San Pedro Temple Youth group (SPeTY) is run by our teens for our teens. Teen leaders plan events and activities throughout the school year, ranging from parties to “bond-fires,” mitzvah service projects to concerts, and overnights to field trips. SPeTY creates fun and engaging events to create fellowship, empowerment, and leadership among our youth community. We always welcome new members, as well as input on new events.

SPeTY is not solely for our local community – we are formally affiliated with the North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY). Through NFTY, we are connected with Jewish youth across the nation. NFTY SoCal regional events occur approximately 5 times a year, with most weekend retreats in Malibu. Each retreat, called a kallah, focuses on social justice, community engagement, and building a strong Jewish identity – with a healthy dose of fun mixed in!

Scholarships are available to help defray the cost of NFTY kallah attendance.

• Burt & Elaine Margulis Teen Scholarship Fund
• Peachy and Mark Levy Scholarship
• NFTY SoCal Scholarship
• TBE Sisterhood Scholarship forms are here  
• Bill Gren Campership Fund – contact Linda Gren

For the current SPeTY calendar of activities, contact youth@bethelsp.org. 

“ROMEO’s” (and Jewliettes)

The last Wednesday of each month at 12:30 p.m. at Think Café, 302 W. 5th Street, San Pedro

For many years, a group of senior TBE men and others have been meeting monthly for lunch to break bread together and to share experiences and opinions. You know that group as the ROMEO’s – Retired Old Men Eating Out.

The group has expanded to include wives and other women who, logically, have been dubbed the Jewliettes.

The purpose behind the group has been to help establish new friendships and to strengthen old ones. It’s a simple formula – and it works. The ROMEOs and Jewliettes meet on the last Wednesday of each month at the Think Café on Fifth Street in San Pedro and are always welcoming to new recruits.

So, take this as an open invitation: “Let’s Do Lunch.”

Oh, by the way, ROMEO’s or Jewliettes don’t have to be restricted to Temple Beth El members, nor do they have to all be Jewish. So if you’re interested, invite a neighbor or a friend to join with you. There are no dues, just the opportunity to meet and eat regularly with a group of like-minded fellows seeking to fill an empty space in their lives.

If you’re older than 60, retired or semi-retired, TBE ROMEO’s are meant for you. We’re a group of men of a certain age and life experience who meet monthly for lunch, for vigorous discussion, but mostly out of the desire for friendship. (If you haven’t noticed, our ladies have spun wonderful webs of friendship among themselves over the years. Our time has come.) From time to time, we also have programs — a speaker of interest or a video for fun.

Adult Choir

Meets seasonally

Under the direction of Cantor Ilan Davidson, the TBE Adult Choir is intended for all who love to sing, even those who have never been in a choir before.

The Adult Choir helps lead the beautiful music of the High Holy Days. If you are interested in learning more, contact Cantor Davidson at cantor@bethelsp.org.

Youth Choir

For children and teenagers in grades 3-12
Meets Sundays from noon-1:00 pm

The Youth Choir practices weekly in preparation for a number of performances throughout the year, including the annual Hanukkah Latke Dinner, selected First Friday Family Shabbat Services, and guest appearances at other congregations. In addition to singing, the members of the youth choir gather for social events, host an annual fundraiser concert, and take an annual trip to an out of town synagogue for concerts and fun. The Youth Choir is featured on the debut album, “In a Hanukkah Mood” recorded by Temple Beth El’s very own band, The Moody Jews.