Beth David Synagogue is a member of the Orthodox Union and the only Orthodox congregation in the area. Beth David can trace its history to 1905 when the informal “minyan” was incorporated as the Hebrew Brothers Association. Outgrowing their facility in a house on Susquehanna Street, members purchased a building on Carroll Street in 1930 and changed their name to United Hebrew Brothers Congregation. The “little shul” became Beth David Synagogue in 1956 and the revitalized Orthodox congregation became more active and saw its membership grow sizably. Having outgrown its facility, Beth David Synagogue purchased the property on Riverside Drive in 1962 and formally relocated to its present location in 1964.

Beth David is known throughout the community for its activity and involvement in all community functions, events and organizations. Its members occupy leadership roles in communal organizations and its rabbis are involved in community planning and events. All services and activities at Beth David are always open to any member of the community, regardless of synagogue affiliation. Its members seek to make everyone and anyone comfortable, and welcome all with open arms. Its services, traditionally chanted in Hebrew, are made easy to follow. Many parts of the service are sung to traditional tunes, which help make them accessible to the novice and experienced alike. The veteran participants can always be counted upon to guide visitors through the service, helping one feel at ease as a participant.

Youth activities are an integral part of Beth David. Members are proud of the award winning youth program, affiliated with NCSY, the National Council of Synagogue Youth. Both junior (pre-bar/bat mitzvah) and senior (post-bar/bat mitzvah) win yearly awards within the upstate New York Har Sinai region. NCSY is open to all youth irrespective of synagogue affiliation. Youth participate in Shabbatonim both in the local community and in other cities. They have been fortunate to have the leadership of expert advisors, many of them graduates of NCSY themselves. For the youngest participants, monthly Junior services and Shabbat groups are held throughout the school year.

Social activities abound at Beth David. A weekly Shabbat kiddush after services reverts into a Shabbat luncheon once a month, free and open to the public. Sisterhood sponsors many special kiddushim and luncheons for various holidays, and all can celebrate Purim together at the communal festive meal. The Sisterhood also sponsors many social activities throughout the year, both at the synagogue and at other locations. The Beth David sukkah is available for the community to use and is the cornerstone of the community Sukkah Hop.

Judaism flourishes through the study of Torah. Beth David strives to offer a full array of educational opportunities. There are regular classes, special learning sessions, guest speakers and video presentations. The active Sisterhood regularly hosts speakers who are experts in their fields. The beit midrash, study hall, located in the synagogue, is filled with English and Hebrew books and is always open.

Judaism addresses every aspect of religious life and these can be observed at the shul. In addition to daily services both morning and night, Beth David can be helpful in those who wish to observe Judaism in accordance with tradition. Anyone observing a yahrzeit can comfortably come to say Kaddish for a loved one. The synagogue maintains the local eruv (Sabbath boundary) and mikvah (ritual bath), and provides kashrut supervision at Wagner’s Bakery.

Beth David is also a resource for life cycle events; feel free to call for assistance in arranging for a kiddush to celebration a happy occasion; a brit and/or pidyon haben upon the birth of a son; a wedding ceremony; or, when needed, a funeral.

Beth David Synagogue is the main address when seeking a Jewish religious and social experience. If you have any questions, call Beth David’s office at 607-722-1793. Regular office hours are Tuesdays 8 am-4 pm, Wednesdays 8 am-noon and Fridays 8 am-4 pm.

Established in 2001, Hillel at Binghamton sponsors social, educational, religious and cultural programs for the 3000-plus Jewish students at Binghamton University. Its office is located in the basement of the Old Student Union and the student lounge is on the third floor of the New Student Union. Executive Director Gary Coleman leads the organization. Joining him on the staff are Assistant Director Ellen Rosenshein, JCSC Jackie Farber, Program Associate Rachel Petroff and Office Manager Sandy MacDuffee. They provide the students of Binghamton University with a pluralistic Jewish atmosphere that encompasses students from all backgrounds.

The real leaders of Hillel at Binghamton are the students. Seven student leaders are elected to the executive board and additional students lead more than 15 program areas. These include Arts, Community Service, Israel, Social, Sports and Religious (Reform, Conservative and Orthodox). The student leaders work with the Hillel staff to plan programs that cater to all the Jewish students on campus.

Hillel at Binghamton has just completed its fifth year of programming and is continuing to grow. It reaches more than 1,600 different students each semester, 500 of whom are active and participate on a regular basis. Here are the highlights of the 2005-06 academic year:

• 1,100 students who participated in the Israel block party celebrating Yom Ha’atzmaut. During the year Hillel also hosted a concert performance of the Israeli band Fools of Prophecy, sponsored an Israeli Film Festival and sent students to Israel on birthright, missions and through MASA.
• Friday Night Shabbat dinners averaged 175 students each week in the Food Court of the Union and included a special Light Up The Night Shabbat right after Passover where more than 300 students participated in smaller dinners at 14 different locations. Hillel also hosted many guests on Shabbat to enrich the atmosphere including Reform and Conservative rabbinical students, Orthodox women scholars, the head of Ayecha and Israeli educators.
• Social justice and making the world a better place (tzedek and tikkun olam) are very important values to Hillel’s students as they both give charity and do something. Groups of students went to Mississippi both during winter and spring break to help rebuild after the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina. Hillel at Binghamton also sent two buses of students to Washington for the rally about Darfur on April 30. Students are taking a lead role in the organization of a new student group called S.A.G.E. (Students Against Genocide Everywhere). And the Mitzvah Marathon that Hillel co-sponsors with Chabad enabled over 1,000 students to do something positive in memory of those who perished in the tragedy of 9/11.
• Kaskeset, Hillel’s a capella group, produced a new CD, students organized a theater group and performed the play “I Never Saw Another Butterfly,” and the Arts group sponsored a coffee house arts festival each semester. Hillel’s student newspaper went through a change and is now called KosherStyle.
• Hillel at Binghamton also had regular social programming, including an opening weekend welcome back barbecue, a semi-formal dance each semester, a Chinese kosher dinner and outings to roller skating, ice skating and skiing, among others.

Hillel at Binghamton sponsors many programs every week in order to ensure a wide variety of options for Jewish students on campus. Some of the other innovations this year included strengthening the programming it sponsors in the residential communities by developing a community building committee. While Hillel’s JCSC Fellow regularly programs in each of the dorm communities, she also supervised students who hosted programs. These events normally centered around celebrating and learning about the different Jewish holidays. Many students who do not come to Hillel’s regular programs participated in these.

Some of Hillel’s other innovations included:

• Sponsoring a Media Summit with the Career Development Center. This brought alumni back to campus to talk about their careers. Students were able to network with the guests and found it very valuable.
• During Homecoming Week, Hillel sponsored one of the student events, Double Dare, based on the TV which fit the theme of Back to the Eighties.
• Hillel students worked with the University Program Board to bring the rock group O.A.R. to campus in the spring. This was the first time Hillel co-sponsored a major concert on campus.

During the 2006-07 academic year Hillel at Binghamton will be celebrating its fifth year and honoring the rich history of the JSU on campus. At least two special events are being planned.

With the help of many co-sponsors, Hillel plans to bring Paul Rusesabagina, the hotel manager in “Hotel Rwanda,” to campus on Thursday, October 12. He will speak at the Events Center at 7:30 pm. During Homecoming weekend, October 13-15, Hillel will also have a reception and join Chabad in celebrating Simchat Torah on Saturday night, October 14.

Hillel is planning a celebration in New York City during the spring of 2007. This is a chance to honor those who have played an important role in BU’s Hillel and inform others of its story.

All Hillel at Binghamton events are open to the community. Those interested can reach the Hillel at Binghamton office by calling 777-3424 or e-mailing gcoleman@binghamton.edu.

Temple Israel's mission, building on a foundation begun in 1886, is to meet the needs of those who desire a Conservative Jewish affiliation in the Southern Tier for a spiritual, educational and social experience in a friendly and caring environment. Daily minyan services are held at 7:45 AM and at 5:30 PM every day except Sunday. Shabbat Service begins at 9:30 AM. High Holiday services begin at 8:45AM. The synagogue fosters a Jewish community that consistently grows spiritually, educationally, culturally and socially.

Temple Israel Hebrew School provides a Jewish education for children, ages 5 through 15. It meets on Sunday mornings, and on Monday and Wednesday afternoons. Children receive a strong background in Jewish history, Israel and current events. The study of Hebrew, prayer, rituals and traditions prepares our students to eventually take their places among the adults in the congregation, while developing relationships with other Jewish children. Some additional Hebrew School activities include: Junior Congregation for Shabbat and holiday services; the Midrashah confirmation class; the annual Purim service at which students read from the Megilah; the annual community- wide Sukkah Hop at Beth David Synagogue; the Chanukah celebration at the Jewish Community Center; and Simchat Torah services organized to include students in the celebration.

The Shabbat Dinner Circle provides regularly scheduled Shabbat dinners at members' homes for those wishing to participate. Changing groups of members are matched with rotating volunteer hosts to share Shabbat evening dinners and traditions with varying fellow congregants.

The Family Shabbat Service and Dinner program provides a traditional Shabbat dinner prepared and served at the Temple for members of all ages. The Friday evening service that welcomes Shabbat follows the meal.

The Mitzvah Corps provides meals of consolation after funerals, if needed, while the Ken Harf Caring Community assists individuals and families with a variety of needs and problems. New volunteers for these vital committees are always welcome and appreciated to insure that the work of these committees carries on.

Temple Israel operates the Riverside Cemetery in the town of Conklin to provide traditional Jewish Cemetery for congregants. The Chevra Kadisha (Jewish Burial Society) prepares each deceased member of our community according to the laws of Jewish burial practice.

Those wishing further information about Temple Israel are encouraged to call 607-723-7461, or e-mail titammy@stny.rr.com.

Temple Concord_____________________