Beth Israel is a warm, inclusive, traditional and egalitarian community that is affiliated with the Conservative movement. At Beth Israel, community is a core value. Congregants lead services, read from the Torah and participate actively in all aspects of Jewish life. All are welcome to join us for Shabbat services for every or any week, Fridays at 5:45 pm preceeded by schmoozing beginning at 5:00 pm; and Saturdays starting at 9:15 am, always followed by a kiddush lunch. We offer age-appropriate Shabbat programming for children, ages from 0 to 13 during the academic year and on select Shabbatot during school vacation times.
Beth Israel Center is a joyful and intellectuarlly stimulating community, offering a wide array of learning opportunities for adults of all knowledge levels with the goal of challenging the mind and soul while helping people feel comfortable in prayer and study. Over the years many have enjoyed our programs: the women’s Seder, yoga and study groups – reading Hebrew, speaking Yiddish, exploring Talmud, learning more about the Amidah and how we understand who is a Jew. Our Tikkun Leil Shavuot brings together members of Beth Israel, the University and the Jewish community to discuss everything from Shavuot menu choices to objective morality, and our visiting lecturers have included professors, philosophers and musicians. We set our Adult Education schedule in September, so contact the Beth Israel office at 256-7763 or office@bethisraelcenter.org or go to our website, www.bethisraelcenter.org, to see what we have planned.
We understand that the education of our children is a primary mission of our Kehila Kedosha, holy congregation, and have a wonderful Talmud Torah for kindergarten through grade 7. Our eighth graders and high schoolers have a number of options, from our youth groups Kadima and MOUSY to the community based Midrasha (which we house for one semester each year), to learning along with adults. We especially encourage our young adults to return to the bimah after b’nei mitzvah, and our Jake Heifetz award recognizes those post-b’nai mitzvah students who are active in leyning and davening. We are committed to working for the betterment of the world and have a wide variety of social action projects. There are many social opportunities at Beth Israel as well, from lectures and dinners (like the fabulous Supper Quiz) to our joyous communal celebration of the Jewish Festivals.
The Beth Israel Talmud Torah teaches Hebrew and Jewish Studies to students in grades K through 7. Grades 3-7 meet three times per week, on Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays and Grades K-2 attend school two days per week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Age appropriate services are also offered every Saturday morning during the school year for all children up to age 13--Talmud Torah students, visitors and pre-schoolers. For more information about Talmud Torah please contact Beth Copelovitch at education@bethisraelcenter.org.
The Women’s League of Beth Israel Center contributes to food pantries and various neighborhood centers and supports the synagogue youth groups, congregation and library.
Beth Israel provides volunteers for Meals on Wheels and Porchlight. The Social Action Committee is involved in a variety of programs, working with local and national organizations.
Beth Israel Center’s AJ and Celia Rosenberg Library is open to the public and has a substantial collection of fiction, non-fiction, children’s and reference books. The library also has liturgical learning audio tapes, audio books, music CDs and a large collection of videos of Jewish interest. The library also holds an extensive collection of videos of Jewish content. For more information, contact the librarian at 256-7763 ext. 15 or library@bethisraelcenter.org.
Beth Israel has kosher kitchen facilities, including separate work spaces, ranges and ovens for meat and dairy preparation. Anyone who wishes to host a kosher function may arrange for rental and use of the kitchen under supervision. Beth Israel maintains a list (available from the office, 256-7763) of caterers currently active and allowed to work in the kitchens without supervision. Anyone else may work in the Beth Israel kitchen, so long as a mashgiach attends to oversee compliance with kashrut. (Conservative: meat and dairy.)
Please give us a call; we would love to help you get to know Beth Israel better.