About CBS
About CBS:
Congregation Bet Shalom “CBS” was founded around 1982 as a do-it-yourself congregation. Through most of the years of our existence, we did not employ a rabbi or hazzan. Members of the congregation took turns leading the prayers 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 almost quadrupled in size since 2012 and we are continuing to grow Baruch Hashem. Though we now have a rabbi and dedicated 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 tefillah services are very traditional, 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. We also have a farm at CBS called “The Midbar Project" 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
Office phone: (520) 233-7814
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.
