Congregation Beth Israel

Mission

Beth Israel’s mission is to create an accessible spiritual home, where all Jews are warmly embraced, regardless of affiliation or background. We also strive to create a community of spiritual and intellectual character in accordance with Modern Orthodox values, tradition, and practice.

We are proud of our multi-generational heritage, and are building toward the future by fostering a larger sense of family among our long -time members and the more recent newcomers to our community. Beth Israel also continues to serve as a spiritual home-away-from-home for Jewish business travelers and tourists who visit our city. Finally, we strive to operate our new synagogue as a community center, providing educational, cultural, and social opportunities open to our entire neighborhood community.

Our services and programming at Beth Israel are guided by the following set of core values, inspired by the mission of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School and the principles of the Orthodox Union. We are deeply committed to:

Talmud Torah - Inspiring a passionate commitment to the study of Torah in all of its rich forms and the scrupulous observance of Halacha.

Ruchniyut - Cultivating spirituality - God-consciousness, soulful music, piety, and ethical sensitivity, - and integrating it into all learning, religious practice, and worldly pursuits.

Avodat HaShem - Encouraging intellectual openness, questioning, and critical thinking as essential components of one's full service to God.

Ahavat Yisrael - Affirming the shared covenantal bond between all Jews. Promoting love of all Jews and actively pursuing the positive and respectful interaction of all Jewish movements.

Medinat Yisrael - Recognizing Eretz Yisrael as our homeland and affirming the religious and historical significance of the State of Israel for all Jews in Israel and the Diaspora.

Tikkun Olam - Affirming the shared divine image (Tzelem Elohim) of all people, and recognizing our responsibility to improve the world and our capacity to be enriched by it.

Furthermore...

We strive to enhance and expand the role of women in Talmud Torah, religious life, and communal leadership within the bounds of halacha.

We affirm our commitment to the government of the United States of America and our respect for the servicemen and women of our country who seek liberty and justice for all. In particular we honor our Jewish War Veterans for their duty to our country and the honor they bring to our people.

We recognize our bond with our brothers and sisters around the world who face distress and offer a prayer that they know comfort, security, and peace.

And we pray for the well-being of the members of Israel's Defense Forces and, in particular, to bring awareness to the plight of those Israeli soldiers who are still missing in action.