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The Conservative Congregation B’nai Tzedek and the
Reform Congregation Beit Chaverim seek to provide a full
array of religious, educational, and social services to
their respective membership. Because of their close
collaboration, heightened by their presence in the same
building, each congregation is stronger. This provides
a unique opportunity for individuals to sample both Jewish
traditions, or for two individuals from different Jewish
backgrounds to participate in both traditions, or the
tradition of their choice, all conveniently housed within
the same building.
The B’nai Tzedek and Beit Chaverim collaboration allows both congregations to
meet the religious needs of their own members and their own Jewish tradition, be
they Conservative or Reform, while benefiting from exposure to a broader
sampling of Jewish perspectives. While each congregation maintains its own
religious identity, both congregations benefit from a variety of joint social
and educational activities. The educational programming of each congregation is
available to members of the other congregation and many social functions are
joint undertakings. Additionally, the presence of both Conservative and Reform
services in the same building, for example on the High Holy Days, makes it
convenient for members 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. New
and continuing members of our joint community can move seamlessly between events
of the individual congregations without worrying about bureaucratic obstacles.
The presence of congregations practicing both the Conservative and Reform Jewish
traditions under the same roof is totally unique to Cincinnati, and exceedingly
rare throughout the United States.
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