About Bet Shalom

Congregation Bet Shalom was founded around 1982 as a do-it-yourself congregation. Our founders envisioned Bet Shalom as a shul that would facilitate proficiency in our traditions. Our informal setting goes hand in hand with the grass-roots effort we continue to see at CBS. Men, women, and children take turns leading the prayers and chanting from the Torah. Bet Shalomers join our rabbis sharing words of Torah and teaching classes throughout the year. Our amazing people shop, prepare food, and make an amazing kiddush lunch each week for Shabbat. We take turns cleaning up and taking care of our campus.

We have always utilized a lot of volunteers, and under Rabbi Avi’s leadership we continue on that beautiful path. Since he arrived in 2012 we have grown in numbers and in participation, almost quadrupling in size. As we grow our rabbis and dedicated staff continue to encourage and empower lay leadership, volunteerism, and an inviting atmosphere. The essence of Bet Shalom has been captured in the book Ring the Bell.

We are independent; meaning we are not formally connected to a denomination or movement in Judaism. CBS has its own flavor of Jewish living and miraculously many from Reform, Renewal, Reconstructionist, Conservative, Sephardic, and Orthodox backgrounds somehow feel deeply at home at CBS. Different from many American synagogues, we raise our money through voluntary contributions. "Bet Shalomers" are able to donate from the heart the amount of tzedakah that they deem appropriate, usually on a monthly basis.

Come be a part of our Positive Jewish Experiences.