G-H8YTEDZGWP

 

Welcome to Temple Beth-El!


           We are a warm and welcoming Reform Jewish congregation that has been serving the greater Rockford region for over 100 years.  It is a place in which Jewish values are lived and practiced.  We are a small congregation whose members are dedicated to maintaining a strong Jewish presence in their lives.  Our membership spans a broad spectrum of ages, professions, interests, and backgrounds.  We offer a wide variety of religious, educational and social opportunities for our members.  We join together through prayer, tzedakah, learning and celebration.  We welcome participation at all levels.  Our goal is for you to feel like part of our family and to be involved in the Temple Beth-El community.

       Mission Statement: Temple Beth-El is a congregation of Jews and their families building a community committed to participation in all aspects of Jewish life.  By community, we mean a group of diverse people who share a strong connection fostered by Temple Beth-El.  By participation, we mean that all members will partake in and support the spiritual, cultural, educational and social life of Temple Beth-El. 

Temple Beth-El, Rockford IL

From the Union For Reform Judaism / Reform Movement

The Brutalist: A Jewish Immigrant Saga for the Ages

The Brutalist: A Jewish Immigrant Saga for the Ages jemerman

Arts and Culture
Photo of Adrien Brody in a scene from the movie "The Brutalist"
Brady Corbet's "The Brutalist" opens with Hungarian architect, Jewish Holocaust survivor, and soon-to-be freshly minted U.S. immigrant László Toth in the shadowy depths of a ship headed into New York Harbor.

Proud JEWS

Proud JEWS jemerman

Modern Day Issues in Antisemitism
Photo of the words "Proud Jews" written in chalk on the sidewalk
Right before Sukkot, I noticed the word "JEW" carved into my sidewalk. I began to grind out the word, but rather decided to replace the space by adding "Proud JEWs" to the sidewalk.

Broadcasting the Miracle of Fat Liberation

Broadcasting the Miracle of Fat Liberation jemerman

Hanukkah
Photo of a menorah with 7 candles lite
At Fat Torah, Hanukkah is our favorite holiday. Hanukkah in particular is a holiday that celebrates fat. On Hanukkah, we remember that miraculous oil that was meant to only last for one day and ended up lighting the rededicated Temple in Jerusalem for eight days. Eating foods fried in oil, in fat, is a key part of this commemoration.

Winterfaith

Winterfaith jemerman

Secular Holidays
Photo of two kids sitting on a snow board surrounded by a lot of snow and trees
"Winterfaith" seems a much more apt description for me than "interfaith." We're not observing two religions; I was raised Jewish, and my partner was not. Together, we are raising our children as Jewish campers, and even after 15+ years of our relationship, 11 of which with at least one child, the winter holidays are when our "interfaith" background proves to be the most challenging.