About Us
Congregation Beth Shalom began in 1952, when fourteen families gathered for Shabbat in a rented storefront on Main Street. They wanted a place where their children could learn Torah and where neighbors could pray, celebrate, and mourn together. Seventy years later, that purpose has not changed.
Our Story
In 1964 the congregation built its home at 418 Orchard Lane. The sanctuary was renovated in 2015, with new accessible seating, a ramp to the bimah, and large windows that face the garden. Our social hall hosts everything from Kiddush lunches to wedding receptions, and our classrooms fill with students twice a week.
What We Believe
We are part of the Conservative movement. We hold to Jewish tradition and law while engaging honestly with the world we live in. Our services are egalitarian, and men and women share equally in leading prayer and reading Torah.
Three values guide our work:
Torah
lifelong study for every age
Avodah
prayer that is heartfelt and participatory
Gemilut chasadim
acts of loving kindness, inside and beyond our walls
Our Clergy and Leadership
Rabbi Miriam Kessler has served Beth Shalom since 2014. She teaches the Tuesday Torah study, officiates at life-cycle events, and keeps an open door for anyone who wants to talk.
Cantor David Abramov joined us in 2008. He leads our music, trains our b'nai mitzvah students, and directs the volunteer choir.
Leah Feldstein, our Education Director, oversees the Hebrew school and family learning programs.
Jonathan Weiss serves as president of our board, which is made up entirely of volunteer members.
Interfaith Families
Many of our households include a partner from another faith tradition. Rabbi Kessler meets regularly with interfaith couples, and our programs are designed so every family member can take part.
Rabbi Kessler made time for us before we had even joined. That told us everything.
Meet our rabbi
call (555) 014-2290 to schedule a coffee with Rabbi Kessler.