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Reform Judaism is thriving at Beth Hillel Temple, where the spiritual needs of Jews living in Southeastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois are met. We are a warm and caring community that comes together to celebrate Jewish life and culture.

 

Meaningful services, innovative programming, and quality education are offered for all ages. The size of our small but growing membership of 137 families enables us to have rich intergenerational experiences, involved members, and a community that feels like an extended family. We welcome all who wish to celebrate Jewish life: families, singles and couples, gay and lesbian Jews, interfaith couples, and Jews by choice.

 

Beth Hillel is a member of the Union for Reform Judaism. The congregation was founded in 1924/25, and our building was erected in 1927. We are proud to have just completed a project to remodel our building and make it accessible to all.

August 24, 2020

We know that you are concerned about the situation in Kenosha after the police shooting of a Black man in Kenosha on August 23 and the resulting peaceful protest in the heart of Kenosha’s civic center that was followed by acts of destruction and violence.  

The Wisconsin Department of Justice will be conducting a full investigation of the shooting incident. Although we do not have all the facts yet, we are concerned about the optics of the incident as shown in the media, including this incident having occurred in the presence of children. 
 
As we go through a period of self-reckoning concerning systemic racism in America, we call upon local law enforcement to take an account of its policies and procedures.  
 
Rabbi Feingold was slated to speak at a press conference at the Kenosha County Public Safety Building on August 24 to share a message from the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Milwaukee.  The event became tense before Rabbi Feingold could make her statement, and she and a number of speakers chose to leave. The statement included these words that we, as a synagogue community, affirm:  “Today and every day, we stand with the Black community to fight hate and injustice.  The toxic effects of racism and violence are felt most acutely by our Black community, and its insidious effects harms all of us.”
 
We also strongly condemn the acts of vandalism that damaged public buildings and private property and businesses in Kenosha. These events occurred not far from the Temple.  
 
This month of Elul, preceding the High Holy Days is a time of soul-searching and self-reckoning. In last week’s Torah portion, we read the words: “ Tzedek Tzedek tirdof.”  “Justice justice shall you pursue.”  (Deut 16:20). Let us use the coming days to turn toward a pursuit of justice, and pray that the quest for justice not be derailed by those who choose destructive behavior.

Rabbi Dena A. Feingold
Sandi Fugate, LC President