2007 - United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

Recitals, Concerts, Movie Premiers, Holidays and Life Cycle Events. Programs are created for different age groups and
are a joy for the entire family.
Highlights of past Exhibitions: “Israel: the Art and Vision,” “A Soldier’s Story,” “350 Years of American
Jewry,” Holiness Becometh Thy House- Painting of Psalms and Meditation,” “Tikkun Olam.”
SILVER
BETH SHALOM CONGREGATION
100-250 Jacksonville, FL
Submitted by Martin Kaufman 904-268-0404
Beth Shalom Congregation of Jacksonville, Florida presented its ongoing exhibits in their Gallery of Jewish Culture for
the year 2006-2007.
This popular gallery is not only available to the Congregation but is open for viewing to the entire Jacksonville
community.
Crossing the spectrum of events and experiences in Jewish life, it has brought a better understanding of the
contributions Jews have played throughout history. Even though the Jewish population is small, the impact which
certain individuals have made reinforces our importance and prominence upon the world.
The exhibits range from “Experiencing Israel through the eye of the camera,” Jewish Pulitzer Prize Winners,
Jewish Nobel Prize Winners, and Jewish members of the United States Congress.
The students of our school have been made aware of the reason why we are so proud of our Jewish heritage by being
exposed to these exhibits.
KADIMA AND USY
GOLD
NORTH SUBURBAN SYNAGOGUE BETH EL
Over 900
Highland Park, IL
Submitted by Ali Schlamowitz 847-432-8900
The past two years in BEANS USY have been outstanding. In the 2004- 2005 school year, our membership number was
at 116, but in the last two years we’ve had 133 and 132 members. This is the result of a tremendous effort on the part of
the USYers, running up to 4 membership drives a year and spending hours on the phone and updating the database. Last
year we contributed over $12,000 in tzedakah to Tikun Olam, and this year we divided that money with our new
endeavor, the 1.5 Million Penny Project.
Our USY chapter has two independent tzedakah funds running simultaneously. We fill them through events
like our Schach Car Wash, Hamentashen baking, Coat Checks, Purim Tax, selling “No Bread” shirts for Passover, and
running our own Thrift Store. We have also continued a BEANS tradition known as the Kosher Kandy Korner. We sell
snacks to Hebrew school children twice a week, and collect a significant portion of our total TO money from it. Little
by little, we achieve more... in tzedakah and in membership.
Our religious and educational life has far exceeded expectations. Our “Virtual Israel-ity” program was a total
immersion in Israeli culture: we danced Israeli dances, ate Israeli food, and assembled packages for Israeli soldiers.
Aside from our typical Saturday Morning Teen Minyans, we had a Teen Minyan Sukkah walk, a Teen Minyan Tashlich,
afternoon Teen Minyans, and a Super Teen Minyan Shabbaton. We added to our repertoire this year by writing and
performing a Purim Shpiel for Beth El’s Purim seudah. The skit included musical numbers and a creative telling of the
Purim story.
There is something else that BEANS has accomplished this year that transcends mere numbers and statistics.
We held more USYer-led programs, where our very own members planned an entire program all the way from the
brainstorming to the evaluation of it. We learned these skills from LTI this year, and truly put them to use. The