Beth El is a small conservative congregation located in Woodbury, Connecticut. We are a welcoming and supportive community. We believe in constant dialogue, growth and celebration.
Our Rabbi
Jessica Belasco
Jess Belasco is a senior rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary, where she is focusing on midrash and pastoral care, and is a Wexner Graduate Fellow. On her path to rabbinical school, Jess studied in Jerusalem for three years, as well as at Yeshivat Hadar in New York. Her interests include using Jewish sources to facilitate honest conversations about human and spiritual experience and developing disability-informed readings of Jewish text. Jess is the founder and director of the Disability Justice Torah Circle, a project hosted by SVARA: A Traditionally Radical Yeshiva.
Our Rabbi
Jessica Belasco
Jess Belasco is a senior rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary, where she is focusing on midrash and pastoral care, and is a Wexner Graduate Fellow. On her path to rabbinical school, Jess studied in Jerusalem for three years, as well as at Yeshivat Hadar in New York. Her interests include using Jewish sources to facilitate honest conversations about human and spiritual experience and developing disability-informed readings of Jewish text. Jess is the founder and director of the Disability Justice Torah Circle, a project hosted by SVARA: A Traditionally Radical Yeshiva.
Our President
Susan Sieber
I joined Beth El in 2010 as I was looking for a Conservative synagogue, and had moved to Woodbury in 2006. I became a board member in 2010 and president in 2012. My daughter, Gwen, had her Bat Mitzvah in our new sanctuary in 2014. My life is focused on my family, my horses and my other 4 legged family members.
I attended religious school at Beth El, a Conservative synagogue in Stamford, Connecticut where I became bat mitzvah and was also confirmed. I have known Cantor Citrin Goldstein for more than ten years, and she prepared my older daughter, Lindsey, for her bat mitzvah. The Cantor was one of the main reasons I became a member of Beth El. With her guidance and that of many others I am very involved in improving my Hebrew reading and learning to lead services and I also sing in the choir.
One of my goals is to develop the resources within our congregation by encouraging every member to become more involved, and give of their time, energy and knowledge to make our synagogue even more wonderful and meaningful a place than it is already. We all need to work together to achieve this.
I experienced first hand the warmth and caring of Beth El and have seen how our congregation extends itself to reach out to our new members so that they feel welcome and feel part of our congregation. I, personally, invite anyone to visit and get to know us.
Our President
Susan Sieber
I joined Beth El in 2010 as I was looking for a Conservative synagogue, and had moved to Woodbury in 2006. I became a board member in 2010 and president in 2012. My daughter, Gwen, had her Bat Mitzvah in our new sanctuary in 2014. My life is focused on my family, my horses and my other 4 legged family members.
I attended religious school at Beth El, a Conservative synagogue in Stamford, Connecticut where I became bat mitzvah and was also confirmed. I have known Cantor Citrin Goldstein for more than ten years, and she prepared my older daughter, Lindsey, for her bat mitzvah. The Cantor was one of the main reasons I became a member of Beth El. With her guidance and that of many others I am very involved in improving my Hebrew reading and learning to lead services and I also sing in the choir.
One of my goals is to develop the resources within our congregation by encouraging every member to become more involved, and give of their time, energy and knowledge to make our synagogue even more wonderful and meaningful a place than it is already. We all need to work together to achieve this.
I experienced first hand the warmth and caring of Beth El and have seen how our congregation extends itself to reach out to our new members so that they feel welcome and feel part of our congregation. I, personally, invite anyone to visit and get to know us.
Officers and Committee Chairs
Executive Committee
President – Susan Sieber
Vice Presidents – Mark Fromowitz, Merle Arcovio
Treasurer – David Isaacs
Communications and Membership – Lenore Sturm
Recording Secretary – Tara Goldman
Standing Committees
Dues and Revisions – David Isaacs
Ritual – David Isaacs
Personnel – Alan Hertzmark
Men’s Club – Lou Kugell
Officers and Committee Chairs
Executive Committee
President – Susan Sieber
Vice Presidents – Mark Fromowitz & Merle Arcovio
Treasurer – David Isaacs
Membership and Communication – Lenore Sturm
Recording Secretary – Tara Goldman
Standing Committees
Dues and Revisions – David Isaacs
House – Gloria Aronheim
Sisterhood – Chicky Kuhn
Ritual – David Isaacs
Personnel – Alan Hertzmark
Men’s Club – Lou Kugell