Beth El Schools in Baltimore, MD

06/01/2026

Please join us in congratulating Rabbi Saroken on this incredible accomplishment!

We are proud and excited to officially congratulate Rabbi Dana Saroken as she begins her tenure as Beth El Congregation’s Senior Rabbi.

For nearly two decades, Rabbi Saroken has been a beloved member of our clergy team, inspiring our community through her wisdom, compassion, leadership, and unwavering commitment to Jewish life. She has guided countless individuals and families through moments of celebration, reflection, learning, and growth - helping to shape the vibrant Beth El community we know today.

As Rabbi Saroken assumes this new role, she becomes the fourth Senior Rabbi in Beth El’s distinguished history and the first woman to serve in this position. This milestone reflects both the strength of our congregation’s traditions and our commitment to embracing the future.

We are deeply grateful to Rabbi Steven Schwartz for his remarkable leadership and partnership throughout this transition. As Rabbi Schwartz concludes his tenure as Senior Rabbi after many years of dedicated service, we look forward to his continued presence on our rabbinic team and the opportunity for our community to benefit from the wisdom and experience he brings.

We are also delighted to officially welcome Rabbi Zevi Lowenberg to Beth El as the newest member of our clergy team. Rabbi Lowenberg brings a background of rabbinic leadership, pastoral care, and military service, along with a deep commitment to Jewish learning and community building. We were honored to introduce him to the congregation during yesterday’s Annual Meeting and look forward to the wisdom, energy, and perspective he will bring to Beth El in the years ahead.

Rabbi Saroken’s vision, energy, and love for Beth El will help guide us into an exciting new chapter. Together, we will continue to build a community rooted in Jewish values, meaningful relationships, lifelong learning, spiritual growth, and service to others.

Please join us in congratulating Rabbi Saroken on this well-deserved achievement and in wishing her every success as she leads Beth El Congregation into the future.

05/27/2026

The Beth El teens enjoyed an action-packed day trip to New York, touring the Jewish Heritage Museum, watching the Broadway hit Hadestown, and indulging in kosher pizza and knishes, creating a memorable experience of education and connection!

05/20/2026

We want to make you aware that several suspicious emails have recently been sent that appear to come from members of our Beth El staff. These messages are spam and are not legitimate communications from Beth El.

Please remember:

Beth El clergy and staff will never ask you to purchase gift cards, send money, or provide sensitive personal information by email or text message.

Always double-check the sender’s email address carefully, as scammers often use addresses that look very similar to legitimate ones.

Do not click on suspicious links or open unexpected attachments.

If you receive a message that seems unusual or suspicious, please contact the synagogue office directly to verify its authenticity.

Unfortunately, these types of scams continue to impact organizations and congregations across the country. While there is no indication that Beth El’s systems have been compromised, scammers can “spoof” email addresses to make messages appear legitimate.

Thank you for your continued vigilance and partnership in helping keep our Beth El community safe and informed.

05/20/2026

Mazel Tov, Moreh Erez! This is going to be an unforgettable summer☀️

We are thrilled to announce that Erez Haluf will be joining the early childhood administration as Director of Summer Program.

Erez Haluf has been part of Beth El for the past 3 years as an early childhood educator, bringing 14 years of experience working with young children and families. With a background in Child Development and Early Childhood Education, Erez loves creating hands-on experiences where children can learn through play, movement, art, nature, music, and of course a little bit of joyful mess. To all families, do not worry, Erez will still be in the classroom!

Erez was honored to receive the JES Educator Award and has presented at the JES Congregational School Conference. This summer, he is excited to help support the Beth El Summer Program and bring a fun, creative, and meaningful summer vibe for the children, families, and staff.

05/20/2026

In observance of the Shavuot, Beth El Congregation's school will close at 12 p.m. And offices will closed at 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 21st.

Additionally, Beth El Congregation's school and offices will close on Friday, May 22, 2026.

You can find a list of all service times on our website:
https://bethelbalto.com/jewish-life/our-services

05/04/2026

Our 7th grade religious school class took a field trip to Sol Levinson and Beth El Memorial Park, to complete their study of the Jewish life cycle. They learned about the customs surrounding burial and mourning. Students participated in burying retired holy texts in geniza and placing stones that they decorated on the headstones of loved ones.

04/29/2026

Earlier today Cantor Emily Ellentuck spoke at the Beth El Congregation of Baltimore Sisterhood’s afternoon tea. She discussed the weekly parsha and thanked the sisterhood for their continued support of our Religious School and community programming.

04/24/2026

Ahoy, mates & royal friends!👑⚓️

Our Epic Jr. Pirates & Princesses Shabbat is sailing in on Saturday, April 25, 10:00–11:30 a.m.

Preschoolers and parents are invited for a joyful Shabbat morning filled with songs, snacks, stories, and dress‑up magic.

Costumes encouraged — smiles guaranteed!

04/23/2026

Please join us in congratulating Amanda on this well-deserved appointment!

We are pleased to share exciting news about the future of Beth El Congregation of Baltimore.

Following a thoughtful and thorough process, we are proud to announce that Amanda Beitman has been selected as the next Executive Director of Beth El Congregation.

Amanda has been an integral part of our leadership team, serving as Chief Advancement Officer and Director of Development. Through her work, she has strengthened our culture of giving, built meaningful connections throughout our community, and helped position Beth El for continued growth and success.

Rebecca Fruman, President of Beth El, shared:
“Amanda has already demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to Beth El and an understanding of what makes our community so special. Her leadership, vision, and collaborative spirit make her the right person to guide our congregation forward.”

Rabbi Steven Schwartz added:
“Amanda brings both professionalism and heart to her work. She understands the rhythm of synagogue life and the importance of building meaningful relationships. I am confident she will help ensure Beth El continues to thrive.”

Rabbi Dana Saroken shared:
“As we look ahead to the future of Beth El, Amanda’s leadership will play an important role in ensuring our continued growth and evolution as a congregation. She has a special ability to bring people together, think creatively, and approaches both opportunities and challenges with a can-do spirit and determination. Amanda’s energy, vision, and deep commitment to our community will help ensure that Beth El remains a vibrant, welcoming, and forward-thinking place for all who walk through our doors and I am very much looking forward to her partnership as our congregation begins its next chapter.”

Amanda Beitman shared:
“It is an honor to step into the role of Executive Director at Beth El—a community that has been an important part of my life for many years and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving in a new capacity. We are fortunate to have extraordinary clergy, dedicated staff, and passionate lay leaders whose commitment to Jewish life inspires me each and every day. I am excited to build on this strong foundation and to help ensure that Beth El remains a vibrant and welcoming home for our entire community, now and for generations to come.”

We look forward to sharing more opportunities for you to connect with Amanda as she steps into this position.

Please join us in congratulating Amanda on this well-deserved appointment.

04/22/2026