Office hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
About CBS
About CBS:
Congregation Bet Shalom “CBS” was founded around 1982 as a do-it-yourself בית כנסת. Through most of the years of our existence, we did not employ a rabbi or hazzan. Members of the congregation took turns leading the תפילות and teaching Torah to the congregation. Also our “Bet Shalomers” prepare food each week for Shabbat lunch and clean up, taking care of our own campus. Basically, we have always utilized a lot of volunteers. We have tripled in size since 2012 and we are continuing to grow ברוך ה׳. Though we now have a rabbi and increasing staff, the congregation continues to utilize the same style of lay leadership and volunteerism.
We are independent; meaning we are not formally connected to a denomination or movement in Judaism. CBS has its own flavor of Jewish living. People from Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox backgrounds somehow feel comfortable at CBS. Different from many American synagogues, we raise our money through voluntary contributions. Bet Shalomers typically donate whatever amount of money they feel is appropriate, usually on a monthly basis.
Our תפילות have become very traditional, similar to an Orthodox service, without the use of microphones or musical instruments on Shabbat. At the same time, men and women sit together and women and girls are free to be leaders. We also encourage youngsters to read from the Torah and lead our services. Recently we launched a farm at CBS called “The Midbar Project.” We will be planting crops, raising chickens and involving people of all ages in the process. We refer to CBS as “Positive Jewish Experiences.”
Meet our Staff
Our Spiritual Leader
Rabbi Avi Alpert rabbi@cbsaz.org
A native Arizonan, Rabbi Avi has been the spiritual leader of Congregation Bet Shalom since 2012. After serving as a traditional cantor for more than eighteen years in Arizona, Nevada, and Northern California, Avi received ordination הסמכה from The Academy for Jewish Religion in Los Angeles. He is busy in Tucson connecting people, building community, and helping to make Torah accessible.
Rabbi Avi was invested and commissioned as a cantor or חזן through the CA. He studied intensively, for five years, with Cantor Ivor Lichterman, who in turn received the tradition from his father, Cantor Jakub Lichterman of the Great Nozyk Shul, in Poland. In Israel, Avi was a student of Maestro Elli Jaffe, the director and conductor of the Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir. Avi Alpert also holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the Herberger College of Arizona State University.
Avi Alpert is known for his fervor and commitment to Hashem, to Torah, and to our people, עם ישראל. Rabbi Avi can be found officiating at a full range of life cycle events, counseling those in need, training students of all ages, coordinating lay-leaders, developing innovative programs, and teaching creative classes. Rabbi Avi is close to many leaders of various traditions building bridges in the larger community. He is a dear friend of Pastor Victor Styrsky who wrote about their bond in his book Honest to God.
Rabbi Avi’s wife and partner Kam is known for her unique ability to make people feel welcome and satiated with her delicacies. Together, Kam and Avi’s most important roles though are as parents to their children.
Congregational Director
Office Administrator
Mon, April 19 2021
7 Iyyar 5781
Today's Sefirah Count Is 22
היום שנים ועשרים יום שהם שלשה שבועות ויום אחד לעמר |
Today's Calendar
Shachrit : 8:15a |
Community Share : 10:00a |
Thinking Jewishly : 1:00p |
Yoga with Shell : 4:30p |
Minha and Ma`ariv : 5:00p |
Jewish Recovery : 6:30p |
Tomorrow's Calendar
Shachrit : 8:15a |
Iyún Ayin : 10:30a |
Mussar : 12:45p |
Tanakh Study : 2:00p |
Talmud Study Group : 3:00p |
Minha and Ma`ariv : 5:00p |
Friday Night
Kabbalat Shabbat : 5:30p |
Outdoor In-Person Erev Shabbat Services : 6:00p |
Candle Lighting : 6:45p |
Shabbat Day
Shabbat Shaharit : 9:00a |
Havdalah : 7:49p |
Upcoming Programs & Events
Apr 23 Outdoor In-Person Erev Shabbat Services Friday, Apr 23 6:00p |
This week's Torah portion is Parshat Achrei Mot-Kedoshim
Shabbat, Apr 24 |
Candle Lighting
Friday, Apr 23, 6:45p |
Havdalah
Motzei Shabbat, Apr 24, 7:49p |
Pesach Sheni
Monday, Apr 26 |
Alot Hashachar | 4:34a |
Earliest Tallit | 5:04a |
Netz (Sunrise) | 5:46a |
Latest Shema | 9:04a |
Zman Tefillah | 10:11a |
Chatzot (Midday) | 12:23p |
Mincha Gedola | 12:56p |
Mincha Ketana | 4:15p |
Plag HaMincha | 5:37p |
Shkiah (Sunset) | 7:00p |
Tzeit Hakochavim | 7:16p |
More >> |
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