The loftiest word in Hebrew is "rahamanut"; mercy, compassion, literally the word means "mother love".  An old Jewish saying goes "G-d could not be everywhere, so he created mothers."  In this case, "women" and in particular Beth Julie.

Beth and her husband Ed, a cardiologist, are celebrating their 25th year as members of Shomrei Torah where she graduated from "just" being a member to a member of the Ritual committee, Board of Trustees, and to Gabai and Chazanit.

She looks upon the Shul as family; a comeraderie, a group of people not related by blood, but rather by a connection to other Jews who feel like family because they are caring and promote a spirtual feeling which they share.

Beth recalls the sadness of her father's passing away and how the community rallied around her; how Rabbi Mark brought a Torah to her house so that she could have morning and evening minyanim.

Receiving an undergraduate degree from what was then Trenton State College, she continued to pursue two masters degrees; from Penn State in genetics and from Columbia University in biostatistics.  She workd for Ortho Pharmaceuticals in the imminobiology department as a scientific technician on their monoclonal antibody project and taught basic statistics and algebra at Columbia University.  She presently works in Ed's office.

Beth is the proud mother of 22 year old Ben, a student at Brandeis University, Jacquelyn, 25, a copy and content editor for the blog TribeVibe, as well as a freelance writer, and 26 year old Cory, a PhD candidate in International Affairs at Georgetown University.

Being a mother and working does not preclude Beth's hobbies and interests.  She works out, is an avid reader, enjoys cooking and entertaining and has been studying conversational Hebrew for the past two years.  She is involved in raising money for Israel Sports Center for the Disabled, is a past member of the board of Federation and a past president of Solomon Schechter Day School of North Jersey (now The Gerrard Berman Day School.)  She and Ed have made countless trips to Israel and love traveling all over the world.

In an animated voice, Beth speaks of Shomrei Torah with love, and of Judaism with a feeling of spirtuality.  She says that those who don't avail themselves of what Shomrei Torah has to offer are missing the familial milieu that is pervasive.  Shomrei Torah has connected her to other Jews who now feel like family.  It has enlightened her and encouraged her to grow spiritually; to feel so comfortable within her "Shul family" that she is willing to take on new responsibilities, challenges and risks within the Shomrei Torah community.

Beth is an inspiration to us all.  There is a saying "The wisdom of women buildeth the home."  Beth (which her name implies) continues to build the home of Shomrei Torah, your home, our home.  Come to services on Shabbat, in the morning and evening and feel the spirtuality that Beth feels and conveys when we daven. It would make her so happy to connect with you and your family.

Thank you Beth Julie for your participation, your inspiration, your warmth and generous spirit.