Beth Israel Congregation - Programs Department

The Programs Department provides high quality, experiential, and informal Jewish learning opportunities for all youth, adults, and families. Programming embraces the full spectrum of Jewish life: cultural, educational, social, religious, and spiritual. All events are meant to reinforce and complement Jewish experiences in the home and beyond. To best achieve these objectives, weekly, monthly, and annual events are offered. These include family education programs, intergenerational programs, adult programming, adult Jewish Journey groups, Shabbat and holiday programming, youth groups, and other teen programs. Participation of all congregants is encouraged. Most events are also open to the public.

Highlights of the Year

Outdoor Activities

At the Beth Israel Congregation Fun Fair on September 6th at Beth Israel, a variety of great activities for young and old will be offered including a bounce house, musical entertainment, performers, Israeli dancing, a hot dog lunch, snow cones, soccer skills competition, Texas Hold ‘um, special program and story time for incoming K – first graders, bingo, and lots of old fashioned fun (for adults too). Other events such as Shabbat in the Park, Pet Shabbat, Musical Kabbalat Shabbat, ice skating and the celebration of Tu B’shvat, all take place in the out of doors.

Beth Israel Flower and Vegetable Garden

The Beth Israel garden at County Farm Park is part of Project Grow which provides produce to local food banks, as well as for summer kiddushes. Congregants volunteer their time to plan, water, and weed the garden.

New Member Dinner

Staff, lay leaders and fellow congregants look forward to this opportunity to welcome new members to our community, share what our congregation has to offer and to get to know each other.

Latkapaloosa

A latke and hot dog dinner with games, crafts, stories, songs, and the lighting of the Hanukkiot.

Quiz Night

A highlight of the programming year is the annual multi-media Beth Israel Quiz Night. Adults of all ages compete as teams to answer trivia questions, audio and video clues, and other puzzles in a fun filled, social evening. The Quiz Night takes place in January.

Interfaith Concert Marking Black History Month

This year Beth Israel will host a special concert featuring Detroit School of Arts "Vision - DSA Male Ensemble,” in honor of Black History Month. This group is a premier male African-American Choral Group, from the prestigious magnet performing arts high school in Detroit.

Purim Celebration

The entire congregation gets into the act by dressing up in costumes (adults as well as children) and participating in a themed Purim Megilla Reading which changes each year. Past events included A Harry Potter Purim, A Star Wars Purim, The Pirates of Purim and Batman vs. Haman: Will Purim Survive?

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