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Through a roster of cutting edge programs and projects we provide for the spiritual and cultural needs of thousands annually in Southern California, the USA and Israel. Your contribution will help us expand and reach even more.

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  • Creating Jewish Families

    Creating Jewish Families

  • Pico Shul

    Pico Shul

About

About

We undertakes a wide variety of activities and projects ranging from providing classes and an afternoon minyan to the local area, to sending rabbis to isolated communities and organizing youth gatherings.
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Activities

Activities

Beth El supports SoCal Jewish Student Services, Shabbat Tent, Pico Shul, JConnect LA, Campus Outreach, Rabbi-in-Residence at USC and Long Beach State Hillels.
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Tradition

Tradition

We believe in the eternal beauty of Jewish tradition. In order to serve Jews of all backgrounds we ensure that we keep true to the spirit of Torah.
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Staff

Staff

Beth El features some of the country's most talented community leaders and organizers. With over 50 years of community building experience, our talented professionals are amazing!
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Building Jewish Community Family by Family

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The Pico Shul recently celebrated the marriage, in Florida, of the 25th couple to marry thanks to the Pico Shul. This couple met at one of the Pico Shul programs two years ago. She was from Florida and had come to LA to visit. They dated long distance for a year before getting engaged. They will settle in South Florida.

Building Jewish families is one of the keys to sustaining and growing the Jewish community. The Pico Shul’s unique role as both a spiritual and cultural center for Jews in their 20s and 30s, makes it especially conducive to matchmaking.

Guided by the Booksteins, these couples develop life-long commitments to Judaism and the Jewish People.

Pico Shul Opens New Venue

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Pico Shul, which attracts hundreds of young adults and families each month, has now opened a dedicated center for Jewish life and learning. The Center, located at 9116 W. Pico Blvd, will host classes, services, and office space in collaboration with Community Shul.

The first exciting Shabbat was standing-room only and we expect great participation at this great new venue.

Classes start on Tuesday, June 7th and will be held 3-4 a week during our first month.

We are grateful to the many families that have stepped up to make this all possible and to the Community Shul for their help!

Providing Education and Energy for the Holidays in Long Beach and Beyond

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Torah on Tap for Beach Hillel at CSULB about the Holidays

Torah on Tap for Beach Hillel at CSULB about the Holidays

Through SoCal Jewish Student Services and SoCal Jewish Young Adult Enrichment’s Rabbi Drew Kaplan, students and young adults in the greater Long Beach area were recently enriched through the holidays season. Beginning with a pre-Rosh HaShanah “Torah on Tap” discussion for Beach Hillel, Rabbi Drew led a discussion on the holidays of the Jewish calendar for students at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB).

In addition to leading Rosh HaShanah dinner for Beach Hillel, Rabbi Drew taught a class about shofar-blasting, then blasted shofar on the first day of Rosh HaShanah

In addition to leading Rosh HaShanah dinner for Beach Hillel, Rabbi Drew taught a class about shofar-blasting, then blasted shofar on the first day of Rosh HaShanah

For Rosh HaShanah, prior to Beach Hillel’s Rosh HaShanah dinner on the second night, while it was still day, Rabbi Drew led students in text study on shofar-blasting, which was appropriately followed by a blasting of the shofar, which was especially useful for those who had not heard it that day. Following the shofar-blasting, there was a dinner for the second night of Rosh HaShanah, at which Rabbi Drew MC’ed.  Read More

Pico Shul Celebrates Jewish Life This Summer – Mazal Tov!

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This summer we have seen amazing celebrations at the Pico Shul, a sign that the shul is helping in a serious way to contribute to Jewish continuity.

In the last two weeks we have seen 2 Aufrufs, 3 weddings, 2 baby girls born.

The Aufruf last Shabbat filled the room to over-capacity with 120 gets seated for a huge kiddush lunch.

We have also celebrated multiple birthdays during kiddush lunch – a new tradition that is a great way to have a birthday party with friends and a great shabbat lunch all together!  Read More

Rabbi Drew Kaplan Led Monthly Discussions for Students at CSULB

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Rabbi Drew Kaplan speaking with Long Beach Hillel students at a "Torah on Tap" discussion this past academic year

Rabbi Drew Kaplan speaking with Long Beach Hillel students at a “Torah on Tap” discussion this past academic year

Over the course of this past academic year, Southern California Jewish Student Service’s rabbi, Rabbi Drew Kaplan, led monthly discussions with students at California State University, Long Beach. Collaborating with Long Beach Hillel, Rabbi Drew led three monthly discussions in the fall semester and a further three monthly discussions in the spring semester.  The fall semester featured discussions on judging, demons, and conduct of war, while the spring semester featured discussions on sex, kosher food, and Leviticus 19.

Music and Prayer in the Park

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Circle of Neshamas is Pico Shul’s monthly musical Kiddush Levana in the park. This transformative evening of drumming, music & connection in Cheviot Hills Park for Kiddush Levanah, sanctifying the moon, started in the winter and has proved a great success.

Participants bring instruments embark on a journey by singing niggunim (wordless melodies) and other Jewish songs beneath the canopy of the night sky… all are welcome!

We conclude with worlds of Torah, kiddush levana ceremony, and a collective evening services lead by Rabbi Yonah.

Shabbat With Pico Shul

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Shabbat is a time to connect spiritually and with community. At Pico Shul we strive to make Shabbat services as meaningful, enjoyable, and welcoming as possible. For many who are turned off from synagogues, or have not found a spiritual home, Pico Shul provides an alternative space for personal spiritual exploration.

Begin your Shabbat morning with coffee, tea and cake. Enjoy our user-friendly morning services at 9:45. We break at 10:20 for L’chaim and Leanring and then read from the Torah and have Musaf services. Every week you can find powerful life lessons and inspiration from Rabbi Yonah’s sermon. After services taste the delicious kiddush, make a l’chaim and mingle.

got-cholent
Pico Shul serves the best cholent in town – both carnivorous and vegetarian options.
We have a running commentary in English so you always know where you are in the siddur. We pause at transitions in the service for inspirational “kavanot” and have a Torah commentary offered before Torah reading.

User-Friendly
No previous Shabbat Morning experience is necessary, all prayer books are in Hebrew and English, and our non-judgmental atmosphere means that you can come as you are!

Pico Shul Shabbat programming is as enjoyable for the experienced and inexperienced alike!

* No prior Shabbat Morning experience necessary
* Traditionally inspired services with separate seating
* All levels and backgrounds welcome
* Hebrew reading skills not required
* Delicious Kiddush following services

Passover is Here

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Rabbi Yonah will be leading an interactive, inspiring, and transformative Seder for young professionals on Tuesday Night , April 15th at 7pm at the Pico Shul, 9041 W. Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035.

We begin with appetizers and the seder begins at 8pm.

We hope that you will join us for four cups of wine and bring your friends that might not otherwise be at a Seder! No one should get left in Egypt!

Early RSVP for $40 until April 6th at PicoShule.org/RSVP
RSVP $50
Space is very limited.
Ages 21-35

Sponsors are needed!
There will be no children program.

Rabbis Yonah and Drew at Jewlicious Festival, Feb 28-Mar 2, 2014

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Beth El Synagogue’s Rabbi Yonah and Rabbi Drew are among the organizers and presenters at this year’s Jewlicious Festival. The Weekend features speakers, workshops and music for young adults 18-36 from around Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Southern California. The event takes place February 28 – March 2, 2014, aboard the historic Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA.

Weekend packages with hotel from $121

PARKING: $5 per night per room

Or book your own room:

HOTEL: Ask for JEWLICIOUS RATE
Queen Mary (562) 435-3511

Glatt Kosher food, Shabbat Friendly

Click Here for Tickets!

Info line: 310-277-5544

Twitter: @jewliciousfest
Facebook: fb.com/jewliciousfestivals

LA Campus, Pico Shul, Opens for Rosh Hashanah

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After renovations

After renovations

Beth El is proud to announce the opening of our Los Angeles Campus, a synagogue geared towards young professionals. We are calling the campus “Pico Shul” because it is on Pico Blvd. Extensive renovations were donated to make the synagogue  functional and attractive, including repairing the walls, floor, ceiling, and AC. Rabbi Yonah Bookstein will be leading services and holiday celebrations there each week.

High Holiday services were packed. Over one hundred attended  for the New Year, and Yom Kippur was even more packed with one hundred and forty attendees. The worshipers were not regular synagogue goers, but young professionals who have become distanced from Judaism.

Highlights include the reading from a hundreds of years old Torah from Lodz, Poland, the amazing Hazan, Tuli Skaist, and teachings by Batsheva Frankel, Lauren Brown, Cheston Mizel, Shlomo Seidenfeld, and Danny Kaufman.

Meals were served after each day of Rosh Hashanah and a huge breakfast hosted one hundred people.

The Pico Shul’s mission is to reach out to the thousands of unaffiliated young adults in Los Angels with social, educational, cultural and religious programming.

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