For the fourth consecutive year, members of Beth El enjoyed another beautiful summer Sunday at the beach with the annual Schmooze at the Shore by playing in the sand, swimming in the bay, eating a tasty dinner, spending time with friends and meeting new people. It was an especially great opportunity to meet and welcome Cantor Wendi Fried, her husband Gigi and their three young boys.
At the bay, attendees “walked on water” with an amazing sandbar, caught-up on each other’s summer adventures, built sand forts and some children tried riding the waves on a surf board.
“Sandbars, the sand castles, the sand in my youngest child’s diaper. We had it all,” says David Ashe, who attended with his family.
Shawn Lemke, the event chair, and his crew prepared the evening’s feast at a pavilion near the trails. The Beth El crowd swelled around the picnic tables as new arrivals joined the beach-goers for the cookout dinner. After all the swimming, playing, feasting, tree climbing, playground activities, prizes and chatting, the evening ended with mincha and ma’ariv in the park.
This event ranks high among Beth El events for many members who return each year. Bethany Prince and her family (including two dogs) attended and says, “the Prince Family always looks forward to the annual tradition of a beach day for the congregation. Each year, the attendance has increased. Beth El is working to become more then just shul—but a place where you can make connections.”
Jody Wagner says, “The Schmooze at the Shore event was fabulous—the picnic site was filled with Beth El children and babies! The shore was definitely the place to be that Sunday!”