Mission Statement

Congregation Beth Israel

Congregation Beth Israel is a warm,

welcoming egalitarian community

affiliated with The United Synagogue of

 Conservative Judaism.  Our synagogue

focuses on Jewish core values: studying

 Torah, joining in communal prayer, and

 engaging in acts of loving kindness.  We

 encourage life long learning and seek to

 strengthen our connection to the Jewish

people and to the State of Israel.

 

 

Rabbi Joel Pitkowsky

Cantor Marina Shemesh

Judy Moseley, Executive Director

Me'ir Sherer, Director of Congregational Learning

Alan Harris, President

 

We are delighted you are interested in Congregation Beth Israel!  There are many ways to meet people and get involved in our community.  We welcome your  participation and look forward to getting to know you.

Membership is open to any Jewish person and his or her partner and children.  Congregation Beth Israel has Family, Single and Associate dues.  We make every effort not to turn anyone away due to financial circumstances.  Non-members are welcome to join us for services, adult education, and some of our Synagogue activities.  Our members come from many different backgrounds, and we pride ourselves on being a welcoming community.

Our Judaica Shop is open by appointment.

We publish a quarterly bulletin for our members, which is also available to non-members.  The bulletin contains  monthly calendars, information about Synagogue activities and regional Jewish happenings, and more.  The bulletin is also available on our website.  We also publish "Shabbat Shalom," a weekly email   distributed on Thursdays.  The email is available free to both members and non-members, and includes information on the week's Torah portion as well as details of upcoming events.

 

 

Worship Services

Worship Services at Congregation Beth Israel are best characterized by the knowledgeable, highly qualified, and dedicated leadership of the Rabbi and Cantor, and the enthusiastic participation of congregants in a warm and friendly atmosphere.  The Synagogue offers a        traditional Conservative service with a modern approach.  Men and women participate equally in the ritual honors, being counted in the minyan and in the service, reading the Torah, and chanting the Haftarah.

Daily morning and evening minyanim are held in the Kulin Chapel.  Kabbalat Shabbat Services are held each Friday evening.  Exact times are available in our monthly calendar and weekly Shabbat message.  We encourage all members to attend minyan for a few reasons:  to experience  the important commandment of daily prayer, to be spiritually uplifted, to strengthen our sense of community and to emphasize that Judaism is not only a Shabbat activity.  Judaism is for every day of the week. 

Shabbat Morning Services are held every Saturday, beginning at 9:00 a.m.  Frequently, members of the congregation, both youth and adults, conduct all or parts of the worship and Torah Service, assisted by the Rabbi and the Cantor.  A Kiddush follows the   Saturday morning service.  Saturday evening services are always held at sunset.