Kesher
Welcome to Kesher (Connection) at BAI!
Welcome to Kesher (Connection) at BAI!This is Beth Am’s community connections and social committee. Kesher aims to bring members together for activities such as art, exercise, games, potlucks and more! See some of our planned activities and how to get involved below.
Fridays at 9:30a
Walking Group
Kesher Walking Group
Fridays at 9:30 am, Haverford College (Meet at the Haverford College Visitor Parking Lot)
This will be an all-inclusive group open to anyone able to walk about 2 miles in an hour and interested in making connections with other BAI members. The weekly walks will be at 9:30 am on Friday mornings at Haverford College. (Meet at the Haverford College Visitor Parking Lot.)
Baby carriages are welcome, but please leave the dog at home for the safety of our members. We will discuss with the group whether there is interest in walking more often and/or at different venues. The goal of this group is getting fit and having fun together!
Questions?
Contact Rita Harris and Cindy Rozenberg.
Bi-monthly at BAI
Artists and Artistans Collaborative
Artists and Artisans Collaborative
Monthly on Tuesday or Thursday evenings
If you enjoy drawing, painting, crocheting, knitting, creating mosaics, macrame, weaving, have another creative hobby, or are interested in pursuing a new creative endeavor, then our new Kesher Artist and Artisans Collaborative is for you. We will be gathering once a month at BAI. Bring your artwork and we’ll use the shared space to work on our pieces together.
Don’t have an artistic hobby and would love to see what others are doing to be inspired? Join us!
Looking for a mentor for your artistic idea or perhaps you are looking to mentor others? Come!
The BAI Artists and Artisans Collaborative is open to everyone in the BAI community.
Questions?
Contact Sharon Richman and Barbie Henig.
Starting in the Fall
Yoga and Qigong
Yoga and Qigong
First and Third Wednesdays of each month at 11am
Taught by our very own Nicole Levin and Beth Berman, we will have regular Yoga and Qigong (similar to Tai Chi) instruction at BAI. First and third Wednesdays of each month at 11a, alternating between Yoga and Qigong based on instructor availability.
Qigong
Beth Berman, Psy.D. is a Beth Am member, psychologist, and a Certified Integral Qigong and Tai Chi Instructor, who offers a unique holistic approach to mind-body healing, self-cultivation and integrating the wisdom and practices of both modern and ancient healing arts. We will be practicing Qigong together to cultivate and refine our vitality and life force. The Qigong classes will focus on mindful movements, synchronized with breath to help us achieve a flow state and relax the nervous system. We will also engage in guided meditation, visualization and breath practices, as well as self-applied massage to bolster our immune system and improve circulation and energy flow. Qigong postures are generally done standing, but can easily be modified while seated. No experience is necessary. I look forward to practicing with you!
Yoga
Nicole Levin LCSW CYT is a Beth Am member, psychotherapist and yoga teacher. She integrates body, mind and spirit in all of her work. In this yoga class, students will be invited and guided in gentle movement, stretching, breathing exercises and relaxation. Modifications will be offered based on each person’s individual needs. Bring your own mat if you have one. Chairs will be provided if preferred. Everyone is welcome. No experience is necessary.
Questions?
Contact Contact Nicole Levin or Beth Berman.
Mondays at 9:30
Pickleball Lessons
Pickleball Lessons
Starting Monday, October 9th at 9:30a
Want to learn how to play pickleball? Join Kesher for a four week session of beginner pickleball lessons. Sign up here.
Questions?
Contact Sue Schwartz
Monthly on Sundays at 10:15a
BAI Book Group
BAI Book Group
Monthly on Sundays at 10:15 am
A group of BAI members meet once a month to discuss a Jewish book of the group’s choosing. Recent books have included:
- The Lost Shtetl by Max Gross
- The Light of Days: The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters in Hitler’s Ghettos by Judy Batalion
- The Last Kings of Shanghai by Jonathan Kaufman
- “Kaddish” by Allen Ginsburg
- People Love Dead Jews by Dara Horn
- Love, Anarchy and Emma Goldman: A Biography by Candace Falk
Sundays at 9a
Hoop Heads
Hoop Heads
Sundays, 9a-11a
BAI Hoop Heads: Casual basketball pickup games
Hoop Heads meet Sunday mornings. During the fall/winter season (October through May), Hoop Heads play at AFC Fitness in Bala Cynwyd from 8:30-10am. There is a fee for gym rental. During the spring/summer (June through September), Hoop Heads play from 9-11am at the outdoor courts in Belmont Hills, behind the Belmont Hills Library. There is no fee for outdoor play.
Anyone is welcome to participate. We play for fun and to have a good workout. For more information or to be added to the weekly email invites, please contact Gary Scheiner
Bi-Monthly on Wednesdays at 11a
Dance in Balance
Dance in Balance
Bi-Weekly on Wednesdays at 11a
Beth Am member, Dr. Joy Friedlander, a dance artist educator of over 45 years will offer adults the opportunity to heighten their knowledge about movement. Through dance improvisation, she’ll help people to connect to the physicality of life; in so doing, one becomes centered, increases mobility, stamina, and coordination, and will be more balanced. Her approach incorporates embodied anatomy with soul-lifting movement passages. Joy’s classes are for everyone at every level – a real sense of community connectedness describes the experience.
We will meet at Beth Am on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 11 am. Dress in clothing you can move in and don’t mind getting on the floor with!
Questions: Contact Joy Friedlander
Women of the Bible: Food and Conversation
Women of the Bible: Food and Conversations
Women of the Bible: Food and Conversation
Upcoming Dates:
Monday, November 6, 6:30p
Tuesday, December 5, 6:30p
Food and conversation get-togethers and potluck dinners occurring monthly at a member’s home. Using the book “Feeding Women of the Bible, Feeding Ourselves” as our guide, we will gather, study, share stories, and discuss midrash about a biblical heroine. We will also enjoy plant-based recipes from the book inspired by our heroine alongside a pot-luck plant-based meal together.
Questions: Contact Tracy Katz
A little more about the book:
“Feeding Women of the Bible, Feeding Ourselves” is a community cookbook co-created by female professional and home chefs, children and great-grandmothers as a guide to explore and discuss the stories, themes, and questions around theverses and midrash honoring 20 Biblical heroines. Each chapter tells the story of a biblical heroine and then pairs those stories with simple recipes inspired by the character’s experience.
We recommend picking up the book ahead of our gathering though it’s not necessary to have the book to join the group.
Various Fridays at 7:15p
Shabbat Potluck and Game Night
Shabbat Potluck and Game Night
Various Fridays beginning 9/8
Pot-luck shabbat dinners followed by game night. People will bring their food contributions and games (such as Canasta, Mahjong, Bridge, Codename, Scrabble, etc.) to play after Friday night services.
Timing TBD
Art and Culture Group
Arts and Culture Group
The Kesher Arts and Culture Group is planning at least three programs [open to all] between September and May. In May we are planning a Mural Arts Trolley tour. In the winter we will consider going to a concert or theater production. We hope that interested members will help us plan additional arts/cultural events that we can attend together. Questions?
Contact Rala Stone; Judy Wortman; and Cyndee Wishkovsky.
Sundays at 9a
Softball
Softball
Sundays at 9a (games start at 9:45a)
Join BAI’rs Softball Team! NEW: Women (above B’nai Mitzvah age) are invited to join this formerly all-male league to play against local reform and conservative shuls! All games are Sunday mornings at various ball fields across the township. Game time is 9:45a (ending by noon, warm up at 9a). The regular season starts the first weekend in April and runs to mid-July. Email Coach Rob if you’re interested in joining!