Beth El Women's League
The Women’s League of Beth El is comprised of a group of dedicated, vibrant, and energetic women. We are women of all ages and professions who believe in supporting our synagogue through the works of Women’s League. We do not just support our synagogue, but our Jewish community at large, the Jewish Theological Seminary, HomeFront and Israel. Please join us as we continue to bring programs to Beth El.
If you would like to subscribe to our email list so you can hear about all of our events, please send an email to our president Shira Benson at WomensLeague@bethel.net. And for all of you who like to shop, please continue to support our fundraising efforts by purchasing gift cards and shopping at our wonderful Beth El Boutique gift shop. We have gift cards for Barnes & Noble, Bath & Body Works, Bed Bath & Beyond, iTunes, Lands End, Lord & Taylor, Macy’s, Target, and more.
We are always looking for more volunteers and committee members so feel free to contact our President, Shari Benson at WomensLeague@bethel.net with suggestions or questions.
Click here for the 2020 Women’s League Application
Loyalty Rewards Program
All supermarket and non-supermarket gift card purchases by Women’s League members, plus other Women’s League fundraising programs, qualify for the Women’s League Loyalty Rewards Money Back plan. For example, if you buy $100 in Barnes & Noble gift cards, you will receive $8 in loyalty rewards in your Women’s League account. The loyalty rewards year runs from June to May, and rewards checks are issued after the end of the rewards year, usually in June. At least $30.00 in loyalty rewards must be earned in order to receive a rewards check. The reward will be a third of everything earned from $30.00 and up, so that the minimum amount a Women’s League member can receive is $10.00. For example, if a member earns $66.00, the rewards check will be in the amount of $22.00! That’s better than any credit card money-back offer!
Gift Card Program / Synagogue Dues Surcharge
Several years ago the Synagogue imposed a dues surcharge of $55.00 per person in members’ households. That surcharge was raised to $65.00 effective July 1, 2017. Rather than paying it outright, members have the option of purchasing supermarket gift cards for Shoprite, Stop and Shop, and/or McCaffrey’s from Women’s League—when paid for by cash or check, Women’s League turns over 5% of the gift card purchase to the Synagogue, which is credited to the dues surcharge. That means for every $1,300.00 in supermarket gift cards purchased by cash or check, members’ accounts are credited with $65.00.
The back cover of the Shalom lists the Women’s League members who sell supermarket gift cards. In addition, gift cards for Shoprite and McCaffrey’s are available in the Synagogue Office during its normal business hours, and in the Beth El Boutique on Sundays when Religious School is in session, from 9 AM to Noon. Gift card purchases in the Boutique can be charged, but the percentage applied to the surcharge is much lower, due to the fees charged to Women’s League by the bank that processes our credit card charges.
Women’s League encourages all members to continue buying supermarket gift cards after they have met their surcharge obligation. The percentage earned by these purchases stays with Women’s League, enabling it to continue to support the Synagogue when the need arises. In addition, Women’s League members receive a portion of the post-obligation percentage back as part of the Loyalty Rewards Cash Back program—see the Loyalty Rewards page for details. That is a win-win for everyone!!
Non Supermarket Gift Card Program
Do you shop online at stores like Macy’s, Target, Barnes & Noble, or Itunes? If yes, before you touch that “Add to my cart” button, check us out. Beth El Women’s League can offer you gift cards that are no more difficult to use than your credit card. Sure, you may lose a few airplane or reward miles, but think of how much your purchase will mean to the Synagogue. Women’s League uses all of the money it earns to provide programs for the Synagogue, and to purchase and maintain equipment for the kitchens. Every dollar is appreciated and provides much needed funds for our Synagogue.
Non-Supermarket gift cards can be purchased by cash or check only (sorry, no credit cards). To purchase a gift card, or to inquire about adding a store to our gift card list, please contact our Women’s League representative at cbardin768@gmail.com.
Here is a list of currently available cards (subject to change), all at $25 each unless otherwise noted.
- Amazon ($10/$25)
- Banana Republic/Gap/Old Navy
- Barnes & Noble (great teacher gifts) ($10/$25)
- Bath & Body Works ($10/$25)
- Bed, Bath & Beyond
- CVS (use them for your prescription co-pays) ($10/$25/$100)
- Crate & Barrel
- Dick’s Sporting Goods
- Dress Barn
- Dunkin Donuts (great teacher gifts) ($10/$25)
- Eddie Bauer
- Gymboree
- iTunes (use for all those apps your children want) ($15)
- Kohl’s
- LL Bean
- Lands’ End (order online and return to Sears – no shipping, no tax)
- Lord & Taylor
- Lowe’s (home improvement store)
- Macy’s
- JC Penney
- Pottery Barn/Willams-Sonoma (great wedding gifts)
- Starbucks ($10 only)
- Staples (for all those office needs)
- T J Maxx/Marshalls/Homegoods (great stores for great savings) ($10/$25/$100)
- Target (everyone loves Target!) ($10/$25/$50)
- WalMart ($25/$100)
- Whole Foods
Greeting Cards
Do you receive the Chain of Life e-mails from the synagogue, and want to wish a fellow congregant a mazel tov or send condolences? Do you have relatives celebrating special birthdays or anniversaries, who don’t need any more tchotchkes? Are any of your friends or neighbors celebrating engagements, weddings, new babies, or other mazeldik events, or are unfortunately suffering a loss? If your answer to any of the above is yes, and you need an appropriate greeting card, you need look no further than to Women’s League.
The Women’s League Good and Welfare program has beautiful mazel tov, condolence and get well cards that can be sent to anyone for almost any occasion or reason, including, in addition to the above, new homes, new jobs, election to societies, selection for awards-almost anything a person can think of. It is in our tradition to honor, to wish good health, or to remember with tzedakah, and sending Women’s League cards fulfills that mitzvah. Card recipients do not have to be members of Beth El Synagogue – they can be sent to anyone, Jewish or not, and they are oh-so-easy to send!
Cards cost $3.00 each, including the stamp. Some members pay for cards one at a time, others pay a lump sum in advance and work down a credit balance, and others run a tab for which Tamara periodically bills. You can let Tamara know which method of payment works for you!
Simply e-mail Tamara Ostrowsky at ostrowsky4@aol.com to order a card. If you wish to send a card as a result of a Chain of Life e-mail, you can forward that email to Tamara with a request to send a card, and she will take care of it for you. If you wish to send a card unrelated to a chain of life event, or to someone who is not a member of Beth El, please e-mail Tamara with the subject line “card request” and include detailed information concerning the card you would like (name of recipient, address of recipient, and type of occasion), and she will take care of sending the card for you. Tamara responds to every e-mail, so you will know that your card request has been received.
Beth El Boutique
Beth El Synagogue is lucky to have a space dedicated to a Judaica Shop, called the Beth El Boutique.
Located right off the main lobby, this quaint little room boasts beautiful items for the home, gifts for Bar/Bat Mitzvah, new babies and weddings as well as holiday ritual items.
If you are planning a special event, the Beth El Boutique can help you by providing custom invitations, kippot, tallitot and more. We carry pieces by Gary Rosenthal, Susan Kay and Sara Beames.
In addition, you can also purchase gift cards for Shop Rite and McCaffrey’s supermarkets.
Best of all, shopping at the Beth El Boutique helps Beth El Synagogue.
Beth El Boutique is your one-stop shop for all your Judaica and gift-giving needs. So, come in, browse around, buy something for yourself or for someone else, or just stop in to say “hello”. You’ll always be welcomed with a smile.
Boutique hours are Sundays 9:00-12:00 when Religious School is in session and by appointment at other times.
The Boutique offers fine Judaica, including:
- Sabbath ritual items such as kiddush cups, candlesticks and Havdalah sets
- Mezuzahs
- Seasonal holiday items, such as menorahs, seder plates and shofars
- Jewelry
- Children’s toys and books
- Jewish giftware
Please consider purchasing your gift for a Beth El Bar or Bat Mitzvah at the Beth El Boutique.
For more information or special requests, contact Rebecca Harris at rebjharris@optonline.net or Jennifer Gertsman at jfgertsman@yahoo.com.