The heart of Jewish life on the Monterey Peninsula, at least of the non-Orthodox variety, is this warm, intimate Reform synagogue at the bottom of a hill in the Carmel Valley
Nestled against beautiful evergreen trees, which are visible through the windows of its small yet lovely sanctuary, Congregation Beth Israel has been a humble yet thriving center for Jewish religion and culture since 1954. Currently presided over by the funny, fatherly Rabbi Bruce Greenbaum, along with the sweet-voiced Cantor Alisa Fineman and a strong staff of educators and trustees, this synagogue offers a friendly accessible atmosphere for people of all ages, with interfaith families and visitors of all faiths fully welcome.
Shabbat services are held every Friday evening at 7:30 PM, with Torah study at 10:00 AM each Saturday morning. The first Saturday morning of every month features a traditional Slichot service at 9:30 AM, while on the last Friday of every month, the evening service is preceded by a Community Shabbat Dinner, open to members and non-members alike.
Religious school for children grades K-5 meets on Sunday mornings from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM, while 6th and 7th graders meet on Saturday mornings at the same time. Hebrew school, for children ages 9 and up, meets on Wednesday afternoons from 4:30 to 6:00 PM, with classes at 4:00 PM on the same day for B'nai Mitzvah students. After religious school classes, extracurricular activities (arts and crafts, board games, field trips, etc) are offered for older children: the Katanim program for grades 3-5 and the Jewniors program for grades 6-7.
The synagogue also offers a teen program called "Aleynu" ("It Is Upon Us") for grades 8-12, with Wednesday evening classes that involve leadership training, Jewish cultural history, cooking, social justice discussions, field trips, and other building blocks for a vibrant Jewish adulthood. College scholarships are offered each May, with applications available from January onward.
Adult education thrives here as well. Besides the weekly Torah study, there are classes devoted to the Hebrew language and to the history and development of the Jewish liturgy. There is also a monthly Jewish Book Group, a monthly Lunch with the Rabbi discussion session, two to three Scholar-in-Residence Weekends per year, and the Best Years program for seniors that offers trips, films, lectures, and other educational events.
The synagogue is also home to committees devoted to bettering peoples' lives throughout the Monterey Peninsula, such as the Caring Community, which recruits volunteers to aid the sick and the bereaved, and the Interfaith Welcoming Program.
At every Jewish holiday, this congregation is guaranteed to host meaningful services and vibrant celebrations. Each year, members and visitors can look forward to (among others) the annual Chanukah Shabbat potluck dinner, a grin-inducing pop culture Purim spiel (themes in recent years have included Mickey Mouse, Star Wars and Fiddler on the Roof), a beautiful outdoor Shavuot potluck and nighttime Torah study, and perhaps the celebratory highlight of the whole year, the joyous annual Community Passover Seder.
Nor should visitors forget that this synagogue hosts Carmel's sumptuous Jewish Food Festival every summer, or that it serves as the epicenter for the Carmel Jewish Film Festival every March.
Both for Jewish residents of the Monterey Peninsula and for those interested in exploring Jewish religion and culture, CBI is the place to go.
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