Congregation B'nai Israel

08/30/2026

The Spirit of the High Holidays at CBI
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We pride ourselves on being a warm and welcoming congregational community. During the High Holidays, when so many people join together to celebrate the New Year, we have a special opportunity and responsibility to nurture this feeling of warmth and be an accepting community.
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We look forward to this time to gather together at CBI for our traditional services and are excited to welcome the new year together. We are continuing our innovative ways to gather both in person (using both indoor and outdoor venues) and online. However you choose to join us, we look forward to sharing a meaningful, spiritual and holy holiday season. With that in mind, please use the link below for information about the many opportunities that CBI has planned, starting with the beginning of the month of Elul through that last Shofar blast on Yom Kippur.
👉 https://cbi-nj.org/prayer/high-holidays/

08/16/2026

Participating in all aspects of Jewish communal life should not have to be acts of great courage requiring risk assessments. Alas, we find ourselves now living with dual realities: we live in the period of a “ness” (Hebrew for miracle), living at a time when world Jewry has regained sovereignty in our homeland, something our ancestors could only dream of and pray for. These are truly miraculous times for our people. Yet, we also live with the heavy burden of confronting the worst wave of Jew hatred in decades. This is scary, unsettling, and for younger generations a completely new experience.

This weekend’s incident at Central Synagogue in Manhattan reminds us of this latter reality. To endure the wave, we must be vigilant, prepared, trained, and ready. Security volunteers and staff were ready in seconds to deal with the threat. For our congregation, this is a call to continue our greeter/usher security training, to perfect our protocols, and to collectively be aware and on guard when we gather together. It’s a difficult but necessary burden. We always need more ushers and greeters and safety support. If this is an area of interest to you, reach out.

Yes, we’re weighed down by the latter reality. But this month of Elul reminds us of the former reality as well. We blow the shofar every morning this month as a reminder of our task as the Jewish people: we must choose blessing, we must choose life, we must choose love. Our task is to build and grow and find sanctity in our daily routine and lives, and to contribute to our world. No wonder we’ve rebuilt Israel as quickly as we have. No wonder we are ever-closer to being back to our pre-Holocaust population size. This is what we do, and what a miraculous time to be alive.

Let’s pray for peace over Jerusalem (Psalm 122) — for Jerusalem itself, and for us, Jerusalem’s adherents the world over.

Rabbi Ari Isenberg

08/13/2026

08/04/2026

New decor alert.

08/04/2026

Coming Next Week!!!
Our favorite event of the summer!
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CBI Annual BBQ
Join us on Thursday, August 13 at 5:30 p.m. for a fun early evening filled with food and drink … PLUS kids' activities (including a big bubble show sponsored by PJ Library at 6:00 p.m.)! 🫧 We'll supply the hamburgers, hot dogs, and some veggie/vegan food too, along with sweet treats. We're also trying to 'go green' this year, and ask everyone to please bring their own reusable water bottle. All ages welcome! Rain or shine … indoor seating will be available.
👉 Register Today — https://cbi-nj.shulcloud.com/form/cbi-annual-bbq-2026.html

07/26/2026

Summer vibes at CBI!
😃 ⏱️ Holy Happy Hour returns … this Friday, July 31!!!
6:00 p.m. — Refreshments and mingling
7:00 p.m. — Kabbalat Shabbat in person and also available on Zoom.

07/16/2026

Join Rabbi Isenberg and Cantor Wallach as we observe Tisha B’Av together with local synagogues at Temple Beth Shalom in Livingston.

07/14/2026

Rabbi Isenberg and Morah Aliza were out in support of PJ Library and One Happy Camper. Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ works hard to make Jewish camping within reach for as many families as possible, and PJ library helps to bring Jewish content home.

07/10/2026

SHABBAT IS HERE!!!!
Join us Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. for Kabbalat Shabbat Services in the sanctuary for the entire congregation.

PLUS!!!
Bim Bam and Young Family Dinner
Young families are invited for a pleasant dinner and activities ideal for infants, toddlers, and kindergarteners (and their families).
5:30 p.m.: Bim Bam Shabbat Activities
6:00 p.m.: Young Family Dinner