Toward a Strong Reform Jewish Future for Baton Rouge
We are excited to announce that Beth Shalom Synagogue and Congregation B’nai Israel have overwhelmingly agreed, by vote of both congregations, to unify.
This is an amazing moment of transition for the Baton Rouge Jewish community, and now the hard work really begins.
The unification of the two congregations will become effective January 1, 2022, We will continue to have shared worship and programs, in addition to the joint religious school, as the new congregation is created.
Latest News
- Rabbi’s Blog | A Shehecheyanu Moment!
August 26, 2021
Mazel Tov! to the members of Beth Shalom Synagogue and Congregation B’nai Israel for the overwhelming decision to consolidate the two congregations. May we all go forward from strength to strength. At such a joyous occasion as this, a Shehecheyanu blessing is appropriate: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה. Baruch - Joint Selichot service | Aug. 28
August 13, 2021
Join us for a Joint Selichot service | 7 pm | Saturday, August 28 | in-person @ Congregation B’nai Israel & CBI Zoom. Selichot is a time of preparation in advance of the High Holidays. The word Selichot refers to penitential prayers, and the Selichot service is quiet and beautiful as it prepares us for - Preparing for Elul
August 13, 2021
Ways to prepare for a more meaningful Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are literally at your finger tips! Here is a quick review of Rabbi Teri’s suggestions for using Elul 5781 to help you find more meaning and fulfillment in 5782. Get on Jewish time by importing the Jewish calendar on your smart phone at HebCal so you - Jewish Book Club | Aug. 15
August 13, 2021
The Jewish Book Club will meet this Sunday, August 15, at 3 p.m. on Zoom to discuss Bari Weiss’ book, How to Fight Anti-Semitism. The book, which was published in 2019, explores the history of antisemitism, its current manifestations, and attempts to provide strategies to combat it. The Jewish Book Club will not meet in - Jewish Book Club to meet July 25 & Aug. 15
July 15, 2021
The Jewish Book Club will meet on Sunday, July 25, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. on Zoom to discuss The Conversion, by Aharon Appelfeld. The novel takes place two generations before the Holocaust in Austria. In the city where the story takes place, must of the Jews have converted to Christianity to improve career opportunities. Karl has converted, but - Rabbi’s Blog | Tisha B’Av: A Time to Mourn and to Re-Build
July 15, 2021
On this holy and solemn day, we remember and mourn the destruction of the First and Second Temples (586 B.C.E. and 70 C.E., respectively). It is also a time to experience communal grief for other Jewish tragedies and to reflect on our own personal losses and grief. Although we may not feel in physical exile,
