Congregation Beth Ahm

Reprinted with permission from the Jewish Ledger August 6, 2003

Congregation Beth Ahm

By: Carolyn Mostel Weiser August 6, 2003

362 Palisado Ave.

Windsor, CT 06095

(860) 688-9989

Website www.bethahm-windsorct.com

Email congregationbethahm@juno.com

Affiliation: United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

Families: 105

Congregants: Windsor, Windsor Locks, Bloomfield, Enfield, Suffield, South Windsor, Granby, East Granby

Professional Staff:

Rabbi Alan Lefkowitz

History:

Created by a group of 16 families in 1951, the congregation was originally known as the Jewish Community of Greater Windsor and met weekly in members' homes. The congregation built its current facility on Palisado Avenue, and opened its doors on September 11, 1960.

Building:

The sanctuary was added to the facility ten years after the original structure was built. A major exterior beautification and interior redesign was done in 2002. Congregation Beth Ahm is also home to a new Tree of Life a display of 200-plus brass leaves commemorating simchas. The synagogue also features a large mural done in acrylic and pastels and gold leaf, depicting the Jerusalem cityscape. The mural was created by member Heather Groenstein and presented in honor of the synagogue's recent rededication.

Officers:

President: Laura Soll-Broxterman

Vice President: Marcy Stabile

Treasurer: Lita Wieter

Financial Secretary: Karen Groenstein

Secretary: Lynne Bower

Past Rabbis: Rabbi Barukh Schectman, Rabbi Aaron Gottesman, Rabbi Baruch Katz, Rabbi Nathan Wise, Rabbi Gerald Kaplan, Rabbi Kenneth Green, Rabbi Mark Rafael, Rabbi Gary Creditor, Rabbi Larry Kaplan, Rabbi Miriam Spitzer

Education and Youth: Sunday School for children in grades pre-K through 7; Hebrew School on Wednesdays for children in grades 3-7; bar and bat mitzvah preparation taught by Rabbi Lefkowitz

Camps: Camp Ramah in New England

Shabbat Services: Fridays, 7:30 p.m. (September n June)

Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.

Monthly Shabbat service in members' homes, 7:30 p.m.

Programs: Congregational Shabbat dinners, adult education classes, adult bar and bat mitzvah program, coffee with the Rabbi monthly discussion group, annual beat-the-clock auction, annual tag sale, day trips, gift shop, complimentary High Holiday tickets for non-members (call the office for information)

Interview with Rabbi Alan Lefkowitz

Rabbi Alan Lefkowitz, a native of Albany, N.Y., has been the rabbi at Congregation Beth Ahm since September 1999. He also serves as chaplain at the Connecticut Valley Hospital. Previously, Rabbi Lefkowitz was cantor and education director of Beth Jacob Synagogue in Norwich for 10 years. He also served as the spiritual leader for United Brethren Congregation of Hebron and at Beth El Synagogue in Torrington, and as cantor /educator at Beth Hillel Synagogue in Bloomfield. Before coming to Connecticut, he was cantor at synagogues in Amherst, NY; Sun Valley, Calif.; and Akron, Ohio. He also served as a teacher in a yearlong volunteer program in Israel.

Rabbi Lefkowitz received his ordination as rabbi from Tifereth Yisrael Rabbinical Yeshiva in New York City in 1999. He also did rabbinical coursework at the Academy for Jewish Religion in New York. During the past few years, Rabbi Lefkowitz has taken family education and education leadership courses at the Hebrew College in West Hartford, and received a masters degree in pastoral counseling from St. Joseph's College in West Hartford, as well as cantorial certification from Hebrew Union College in New York City. He was awarded an honorary fellowship by the Cantorial School of the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1998. In 2002, he was awarded the Doctor of Music, honoris causa, from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.

Rabbi Lefkowitz has published "A Haggadah for Non-Jews" to explain the rituals and meaning of the Passover service, and wrote a musical play for Hanukah using the music of the 1960s; a Purim play, Consecration Service and a Hanukkah story, all published by the Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education (CAJE).

Q: What makes Congregation Beth Ahm unique?

A. We provide a path on the journey toward spirituality with innovation mixing Jewish traditions from around the globe. While affiliated with the Conservative movement, we are a community almost independent of the established denominations. We provide an alternative to the traditions and customs of the mainstream movements. We are transdenominational or multidenominational.

Q: What type of spiritual environment do you strive to create for your congregants?

A. In creating a spiritual moment, we encourage a personalized approach to Judaism. We have a friendly community, becoming a reliable group of friends to replace families who often live elsewhere. We are a synagogue that wants to stimulate other synagogues to ask how they could create more of a sense of community. We are very God-focused as we look at our actions and language as connection with our creator.

A key element is our ruach, spirited worship, with lots of singings and interactive readings. This is a place where kids can participate and look forward to sharing with all.

Q: What do you see in your synagogue's future?

A. I see a chance for us all to explore life as human beings and as Jews. To connect deeply with our Creator. We are on a journey and a partnership with each other in relationship to God.

Cap:

Rabbi Alan Lefkowitz

Upcoming events:

Friday, September 12, Friday evening service, installation of officers, and prospective member open house. 7:30 p.m.