For over 30 years, Beth-El Zedeck congregants have volunteered to cook and serve meals on Christmas Day. Volunteers prepare a full turkey dinner in their homes and spend Christmas Day at the Cathedral Soup Kitchen feeding those in need, allowing the regular staff to enjoy the priceless gift of family time on a special holiday.

You can help by cooking dishes such as turkey, mashed potatoes, and dessert in advance; donating needed supplies; and/or preparing and distributing boxed meals on Dec. 25. If you prefer not to sign up online, call the synagogue office at (317) 253-3441. This is a wonderful opportunity to do a mitzvah!

Every year, we are honored to work alongside Habitat for Humanity and other congregations on their interfaith build project. This initiative brings together people from different faiths and backgrounds to work towards a common goal – building safe and affordable housing for families in need. We believe that everyone deserves a stable and secure place to call home, and we are committed to helping make that a reality. By working together with our neighbors of different faiths, we are able to bridge divides and build meaningful connections while making a positive impact on our community.

We offer meals Mondays and Wednesdays to homebound members of the Jewish community. If you know of someone in need of this service or if you can volunteer to deliver meals monthly, please contact the synagogue office at (317) 253-3441. This program is made possible through the Sidney Maurer Memorial Fund to Feed the Hungry.

At our synagogue, we believe in celebrating diversity and welcoming everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. We understand that everyone has their own unique journey, and we want to create a safe and inclusive space where people can be their true selves. We are committed to promoting acceptance, tolerance, and understanding, and we strive to create a community where everyone feels valued and respected. We believe that love is love, and we stand with the LGBTQ+ community to support their rights and fight for equality.

Our synagogue is proud to participate in the JCC’s Earth Day celebration every year. We host a table where visitors can engage in hands-on crafts and educational activities related to sustainability and environmentalism. Our goal is to raise awareness about the importance of protecting our planet and inspire others to take action in their daily lives. It’s a joy to see people of all ages come together and learn about the ways we can make a positive impact on our environment.

At our synagogue, we believe in the importance of giving back to our community and taking care of our environment. That’s why we organize a unique event every year called Reverse Tashlich, where students from our Religious School help clean up a local park. Tashlich is a Jewish tradition where we symbolically cast away our sins into a body of water, but with Reverse Tashlich, we do the opposite – we collect trash and debris from a park to symbolize our commitment to taking care of the earth. This event not only helps to beautify our community but also teaches our students the value of environmental stewardship and how small actions can make a big impact. We are proud of our students and their dedication to making the world a better place.