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A PERSONAL WELCOME TO BETH CHAIM, YOUR REFORM CONGREGATION IN THE EAST BAY

The traditional words of welcome in the Jewish tradition are “Baruch Habah B’Shem Adonai” which is usually translated as, “Blessed Are You in the Name of God.”  We prefer the translation, “It is a blessing that you have come, to make us all aware that it is through relationship that we are brought into the presence of God.”  Our people have always known that one of the most vital spiritual avenues – ways we can experience the mystery that is God -- is through relationship.

At Beth Chaim, we try to create as many possibilities for people in our community to get to know one another and to experience meaningful connections. These connections of meaning encourage our members to be there for one another in times of celebration and in times of need. This is what Jewish spiritual community has always been about and it is a core value here at Beth Chaim.

We believe that Beth Chaim is probably unlike any other synagogue you may have belonged to or attended in the past. We are proud of our approach to renewing Judaism in a joyful and vital way. Our goal is to be a dynamic and caring spiritual home for our incredibly diverse members who come from every walk of Jewish life and many who are part of interfaith families. Our aim is to help everyone in our community find their pathway into a deeper and more meaningful relationship with Judaism, be it through Jewish learning for adults and children, social justice concerns, prayer and sacred music, or simply experiencing God through caring relationships that help us feel a part of something larger than ourselves.

A Welcome Note from the Rabbi

As rabbi of Beth Chaim I look forward to getting to know you. If you are joining as a family, I welcome the opportunity to meet and get to know everyone in the family. I believe one of the most significant challenges of spiritual community is to create as many opportunities as possible for people to be able to tell their stories. When people speak their truths about who they are, where they come from and what is most important to them in communal settings, it encourages more genuine connections with others and enables us to move beyond normative, superficial relationships into relationships of greater meaning.


Baruch Habah B’Shem Adonai –
It is a blessing that you have come, to make us all aware that it is through relationship that we are brought into the presence of God.