I greet you on behalf of Congregation Beth El in New London, Connecticut. Our congregation belongs to the Conservative movement which means that we believe in a commitment to, as well as openness to change. The congregation is over seventy years old and has members of all ages and backgrounds. It is a warm and caring synagogue in which new members feel comfortable and welcome. We have a very diverse membership, including many mixed marriages. It is our mission to make everyone feel part of the Beth El family.

We have many activities taking place at Beth El. Every morning we have our daily minyan service. On Shabbat we have a Friday evening service at 6:00 p.m. (8:15 p.m. during daylight savings time). The first Friday of each month is usually a “Family Shabbat” where the students in our religious school help lead the service, and I tell a story to the kids instead of a sermon. There is usually a family Shabbat dinner following the services. Notices of these dinners are in the monthly Bulletin and are also announced in separate mailings. On Saturday morning, we have our main service at 9:30 a.m. Junior congregation is held fifteen times a year for grades 3 through 6 at 10:00 a.m. and includes games and Torah study. Tze’Irim is held for children in grades kindergarten through 2 at 10:30 a.m. and Tot Shabbat is held for preschoolers at 11:00 a.m.. The Saturday morning services are a very exciting time. Congregants participate in leading the service and there is an interactive Torah study session after the Torah reading. This is a freewheeling, lively and topical discussion based on the weekly Parasha.

We have adult education classes in Bible, Hebrew lessons, lessons in Torah and Haftarah reading, Sisterhood Rosh Hodesh group, and even aerobics and karate classes each week. Just about any time you come around, there is something going on. We have enough members so that you will be able to find someone with similar interests and values, but we are small enough to be friendly. 

What is most important to me at Beth El is that the members, the leadership and the staff are made up of wonderful, fine, and caring people. This is why I have been here for over twenty years. I simply like the congregation and cannot imagine a more supportive group of people with whom to be working and living. I hope you will consider joining our congregation and I hope to see you soon.

 Sincerely,

 Rabbi Carl Astor