Sister congregations Congregation B’nai Tzedek and Beit Chaverim provide welcoming communities for those who follow the Conservative tradition and Reform tradition, respectively.  Both lay-led communities offer a wide variety of opportunities for worship, learning, leadership, and participation. The presence of both Conservative and Reform services in the same building, for example on the High Holy Days, makes it convenient for participants to sample both traditions, or for families with members from different backgrounds to each attend the services of their choice, yet be physically near and share portions of the both services if they so choose.

As small congregations, we pay attention to the individual and each person’s needs, ranging from providing learning and growth opportunities, to rides to events and ensuring shivah minyans.  Visitors are provided opportunities to actively participate in services if they desire and are welcomed at the social time following services. The Jewish community at large is always welcome to our services and other events. 

All religious services emphasize egalitarian participation and are organized and led by congregation members, from prayer, to Torah reading, to sermonizing.  Everyone is invited to participate at her or his own level of comfort. Both congregations have a commitment to lifelong Jewish learning through program offerings ranging from ritual traditions such as sukkah-building and seders, interactive programs on topics as diverse as Jewish film and women in history, and traditional text and prayer study on weekends throughout the year.   Our specialty is interactive programming – learning through engagement.  Our motto is that we grow learners and leaders. 

Did you ever wonder .... what is the origin of our various prayers?  Why are they structured in a particular manner?
Unpacking Prayer, a popular discussion of the structure and significance of the Shabbat morning prayers, is scheduled for January 21, February 25, March 25 & April 21. This discussion starts at 9:30am and leads into the traditional morning service. Candy Kwiatek provides a guiding sequence of texts and facilitates our discussion. 
Torah on Tuesdays is scheduled on Tuesday evenings (Jan. 10, 17, 24, 31; Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28). The stimulating discussions are from 7-8:15pm. Contact Candy, through the BTZ office, with questions.
Unique events this month:

Lettuce Entertain You! - Cabaret with dinner & desserts  - Saturday evening, January 14, after Havdalah. Cover charge of $10. RSVP to the office - 984-3393 or bnai.tzedek@gmail.com

Fulfilling Mitzvot through the Practice of Lovingkindness & Wisdom - Program facilitated by David Gilner, Sunday, Jan. 21, at 10am. Follow this link for more details.
Storytelling Shabbat (facilitated by Rabbi Lewis) after a (dairy - vegetarian) pot luck dinner at 6:30pm on Friday evening, January 27th. Contact the office for more details.