Congregation Beth Sholom - Chevra Shas

Welcome to Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas, an egalitarian Conservative congregation affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, committed to creating a warm and welcoming environment to all people seeking to enhance their Jewish life.

As the Rabbi of this congregation, I am honored to be the first to welcome you to our congregation, even virtually. At CBS-CS, we are all committed to learning, growing, and connecting with our Jewish tradition. So, in that vein, allow me to share some texts from our tradition that are the cornerstones of our values and help us create the community that we strive for.

The first text is from Genesis where we are taught that both male and female were created in the image of God. This is so important as it reminds us that each person is inherently sacred, has much to give, and much to learn. At CBS-CS we value the individual contribution of each member, knowing that everyone has certain skills, talents, and gifts that they can bring to strengthen our community. With that comes another text. That is the text from Pirke avot where we are taught that the world stands on three things: Torah (jewish learning and law), avodah (worship and ritual), and gemilut hasadim (acts of loving kindness and a pursuit of social justice). I believe that this text reflects the essence of a Jewish community, certainly a synagogue. Just as we recognize the individuality and sacred nature of each person we also have traditions that help us create a sacred community and it is buy strengthening these three pillars that we will become even stronger.

So what does our community look like? First, I believe that our synagogue is a tapestry of the American Jewish community. Just as our ancestors, Abraham and Sarah, had an open tent, where they welcomed all those seeking a Jewish life, so too we have many different types of individuals and families who live in our community. We take pride in our diversity because we are committed and bound to the values that hold us together.

Second, our community is committed to the commandment vishanatam l'vanecha v'dibarta bam, the idea that we should teach our children (and ourselves) and talk about the laws and narratives that are essential to our tradition. We have a plethora of educational offerings for all ages, and we encourage anyone to take part in our programs that take place on Shabbat, in the evenings, on Sundays, and during the day.

Third, we are a community that is always striving for greatness. So, as you begin to learn more about CBS-CS, please know that we are a community that strives to support each other during all aspects of life, encourages Jewish education and growth, places a value on observance of Jewish rites and rituals, is committed to the local, nation, and global community, and has an efficient, engaged, and excited volunteer corp.

Finally, we are a congregation filled with spirit and a drive to live a Jewish life. So, as the Rabbi of this congregation, I have the honor and privilege of working in collaboration with members to continue to open our tent, advocate for others, educate ourselves, and find a way to connect to our tradition, as we are guided on our path to cementing our relationship with God and the Jewish community.