Regina Keller Gil, founder and executive director of the Gold Coast Arts Center, will discuss Art & Soul: Jewish Tradition as Reflected Through the Lens of Cultural Arts as Temple Beth-El of Great Neck’s guest speaker at the Erev Shabbat Service on Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.

The community is welcome at this special service that will include shofar blowing by the T’kiah Team, followed by an apple-themed Oneg in celebration of the upcoming new year.

Hear the accomplished artist and community leader outline the shared vision for the partnership between Temple Beth-El, the peninsula’s oldest synagogue, and Gold Coast Arts Center, which has presented high-quality programs for more than 20 years. This effort will inspire and enrich Great Neck’s Jewish community through cultural arts, sparking creativity and deepening the appreciation of Jewish and Israeli heritage.

“When Rabbi Stoller reached out to discuss Temple Beth-El’s new cultural initiative, he asked me if the Gold Coast Arts Center would be interested in developing cultural programs throughout the year,” Gil said. “That began a months long brainstorming and creative visioning process that led to the formal partnership between our two entities.”

The partnership was made possible through the generous support of the Stumer family in memory of Susan Stumer, a longtime Temple Beth-El member and choir singer who was passionate about music and art. The Susan Stumer Cultural Arts Fund was established to ensure that her love for the arts would continue at Temple Beth-El for many years.

“In 2024, Temple Beth-El and the Gold Coast Arts Center will present events, concerts, a docent-led art tour of Temple Beth-El’s own collection by Jewish artists, programs about Israeli food and cookbooks, films and much more,” Gil said. “These events will lead to social connections among the membership and an opportunity for Gold Coast Arts Center to share our resources. The community will always be welcome, because we want this cultural arts series to lead to greater interaction among all the residents throughout our community.”

Temple Beth-El, a leader in shaping the future of pluralistic Judaism on the western North Shore, has served the community for more than 95 years at 5 Old Mill Road. Learn more at www.tbegreatneck.org, 516-487-0900 or info@tbegreatneck.org.