Founded in 1991, this congregacion has 80 families. Community activities include religious services, bar and bat mitzvah training, conversion classes, adult groups and cultural activities.

INFORMATION

The renewal of the agreement between the Orthodox and our Congregation took place at the beginning of 2009.
This agreement was initially signed in June 2003 between Bet El and the Orthodox Community of Madrid (C.J.M.).
The agreement signed with C.J.M. allows all members of the congregation who have converted through the European Beit Din to be accepted as active members of C.J.M.
All of the conversions, marriages, Bnei Mitzva and Brith Mila that should take place at Bet El are registered by the C.J.M.
The C.J.M. was one of the founders of the Federation of Spanish Jewish Communities (F.C.J.E.) and is the current Bet El ‘s designated speaker on behalf of all local and national entities.

C.J.M. as full member of F.C.J.E. represents Bet-El and all the others five
orthodox  synagogues  settled in Madrid.

Bet El continues to be actively involved in the main activities organized by the Israeli Embassy – Yom HaShoa, Yom HaZikaron, Yom Yerushalayim, Yom HaAtzmaut …
Cultural activities are promoted between Casa Sefarad and Bet El on a regular basis (www.casasefarad.es).
Some 60 families belonging to Bet El participate on Sunday at the sports events organized by Maccabi Madrid.
Women from our congregation are active members of C.E.M.I. (Spanish Council of Israeli Women, attached to the Jewish Women World Council).

WEEKLY ACTIVITIES AT BET EL

Ulpan: Hebrew Lessons
Beginner and intermediate levels are currently available for congregation members.
Classes are taught by Israeli native Morah Adi Barguera.
We have currently 15 children attending Ulpan.
Our immediate plan is to hire a second Moreh to teach additional lessons on Judaism and Hebrew.

Bar and Bat Mitzva preparatory lessons
These lessons are taught by Mario Stofenmacher, Director of Education and Religious Affairs.
A total of 5 children are currently studying for their Bar Mitzva.

Talmud Torah
Since february 2009, Talmud Torah has been held at Bet El on a weekly basis.
We have currently 15 children attending Talmud Torah and expect to have between 30 and 35 children the next academic year.

Kabbalat Shabbat
Every Friday afternoon a religious service is held at Bet El. After the religious service, Kiddush and a plenty meal is served to all attendants.
Food and drinks are entirely provided and catered by volunteers.
Members from other Masorti communities from all over the world join us on a regular basis for Shabatot.
Between 50 and 70 people attend Kabbalat Shabbat Services every week.
 

2009 NEWS

 
January 17th 2009
Ariel Blufstein visited Bet El and participated in our Kabbalat Shabbath.
On Monday January 20th he held a meeting with Bet El Directive Board.
Ariel is Executive Director of the Federation of Conservative Communities of the Masorti Movement in Argentina (F.E.D.E.C.C.) and of A.M.L.A.T (Latin American Masorti).

February 9th 2009
Tu B´Shvat was celebrated at Bet El with great affluence of both adults and children.

February 22nd 2009
First Masorti Summit in Alicante.
Bet El was represented by:
Dr. Silvio Jazanovich – President of Masorti Spain
Mario Stofenmacher – Masorti Spain VP
Dr. Jazanovich was designated as the Spain Representative at the European Masorti Executive Board.
The creation of the new website for Masorti Spain was approved (www.masortispain.org) as well as a new e-mail address (masorti@masortispain.org) - all subsequent work was both planned and executed as an entirely voluntary work from one of the members of the congregation.

March 6th 2009
Rabbi Jules Harlow and his wife Navah visited Bet El. They participated in the Ulpan and Talmud Torah activities with the children of our congregation and joined us for Shabbat where he gave a Shiur on “Esther, the secret Jew”.
Rabbi Harlow is Editor of the American Rabbinic Assembly.

March 9th 2009
Purim was celebrated at Bet El. More than 50 adults and 20 children attended this joyous occasion. A costume contest was held, children and adults enjoyed a festive meal and the Megilah was explained to the members of the congregation.

March 24th 2009
Eduardo Pollak, the Keren HaYessod Representative for Spain and Portugal, visited Bet El to lecture on “What is left of Zionism in the actual State of Israel”. Mr. Alejandro Baer, Sociology Teacher at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, and member of Bet-El, presented this event.
Over 60 people attended this lecture.

April 6th 2009
Cinema Club - “The Exodus Decoded”

April 8th 2009 – Pesach 5769
A communal Seder was held at Bet El.
A team of volunteers pulled together an outstanding effort to refurbish our facilities in order to fit over 80 people – the audience consisted not only of members of our congregation but also visitors from the US and Israel.
The traditional Pesach meal was entirely organized and catered by a group of volunteers from our congregation.

April 17th 2009
Alan Isachar Glotzer´s Bar Mitzva took place at Bet El.
Over 170 people attended this festive occasion that Alan´s family shared with our congregation. Both Kabbalat Shabbat and the reading of the Torah were held at the Foxa Hotel M30.

May 22nd 2009
General Extraordinary Assembly and Election of the new Executive Board.
President: Alberto Stisin
Vice President: Arnoldo Geszten
Secretary: Dr. Jacobo Akselrad
Treasury Manager: Sergio Glotzer

Committee Representatives:
Brian Levinson – Institutional Relations
Nuria Stisin – Cultural Events
Luis Wiznia – Memberships
Sol Alutiz – Library and Video Library
Esperanza  Garrote – Events and Catering
Dr. Silvio Jazanovich – International Relations

May 24th 2009
Over 500 people from all the Jewish institutions as well as the Israeli Embassy celebrated Yom HaAtzmaut at the Jewish School in Madrid. Israeli singer, David Broza, joined us on this festive occasion.
 Bet El members took active part in the organization of this joyful event.

May 29th 2009
Our team of volunteers organized the traditional Shavuoth dairy Meal. A special service was held at Bet El for over 75 people who celebrated together the Feast of Tabernacle.


HaYamim HaNoraim 5770 (September 2009)
Over 450 people attended Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur services which took place at Hotel Foxa. They were intense moments, full of excitement. The services were led by Mario Stofenmacher, with musical accompaniment by Chazan Raul and piano-organ by David Shlomo, both volunteers of our congregation.
On Friday 18 September, Rosh HaShanah, 260 people attended the service, the highlight of which was when more than 50 children came to the bimah for Kiddush.
On Yom Kippur before Kol Nidrei, we prepared a remembrance corner with the names of those who have died, to keep in mind the memory of relatives or friends that influence our lives even when they are no longer with us.
On Yom Kippur, Israel’s Ambassador to Spain, Rafi Schutz, joined us during Yizkor, along with several IDF soldiers who prayed for those who have died in defence of Israel.
Children & Youngster's tfillah
For the first time, a special seperate tfillah was held for 70 children and youngsters led by Chazanit Lilaj Feiguin’s guidance, with 6 madrichim. The children joined the rest of the congregation at the beginning of Neilah with a message of Freedom, Meeting and Forgiveness they prayed and sang giving us the strength to face the last hour of fasting.
After Havdala and the sound of the Shofar over 380 people ended the service with the singing of Hatikvah

For a gallery of pictures (taken before Rosh HaShanah started or after Yom Kippur ended) click here