Congregation Beth Israel

05/06/2026

05/05/2026

Loved our evening with .events last week, making resin challah boards!

05/04/2026

CBI had a great day at the field for the Yankees vs. Orioles game!

04/22/2026

"Our sanctuary was filled with beautiful music, our hearts with tremendous joy..."

We had an absolute blast at Sunday's concert, Bimah to Broadway! Thank you to the many talented performers and the concert committee for putting together such a special event.

04/14/2026

The Second/Third Generation sponsored its Yom HaShoah program on Sunday afternoon at CBI.
Mark Schonwetter was the guest speaker, who shared his story of surviving the Holocaust with his mother and younger sister. He inspired all of us with his resilience, messages about his past, and how to be our best in the present time.
His daughter, Isabella Fiske, was at his side, moderating the program.
Their family founded The Mark Schonwetter Holocaust Education Foundation, which supports schools around the country, providing grants to give students the opportunities to learn about the Holocaust.
https://mshefoundation.org/about-us/

04/01/2026

As of 10:30am, Rev. Dr. Stacy Smith of Fanwood Presbyterian Church took ownership of our community's Chametz so we can all be ready to celebrate Passover.

Wishing everyone a Chag Sameach and Happy Passover!

03/26/2026

Happy Opening Day! Join us on the field for these upcoming games!

03/03/2026

02/08/2026

This morning, members of our community, the CBI Men’s Club, and our religious school students gathered for the World Wide Wrap to learn about and experience the mitzvah of tefillin. It’s always a meaningful and energizing morning for our students, their families, and our whole community.

12/14/2025

Dear Friends,

Hanukkah is a time of celebration and gratitude. It’s the Festival of Lights, when we light candles to shine against the darkness of the season. It’s a time to gather with family and friends, exchange gifts, and express our appreciation for one another. And it’s a time to recognize the miracles, both big and small, that shape our lives.

Each night of Hanukkah, we light the candles to remember the miracles that took place in the days of the Maccabees and the miracles that continue to take place in our own time. The specific mitzvah, as the Talmud teaches, is pirsumei nissa, publicizing the miracle. We place the Hanukkiah in a window or another visible place as a public statement that these miracles happened, and that we are still here to celebrate them.

That message feels especially powerful, and especially painful today, following news of the horrific terrorist attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia. As of this writing, 11 people were killed in the attack, including Rabbi Eli Schlanger, Assistant Rabbi of Chabad of Bondi and a key organizer of the event. We have spoken often about the rise in antisemitism and the growing challenges faced by Jewish communities worldwide. This attack is a tragic reminder of how antisemitic language and hatred can fuel antisemitic violence.

We stand in full solidarity with the Jewish community of Australia, and especially with the families and loved ones of those who were murdered while gathering to celebrate Hanukkah. May the memories of all those who were killed be for a blessing and an inspiration.

I know it may feel difficult to place a Hanukkiah in the window this evening or to attend a community Hanukkah celebration. And yet, that is precisely what Hanukkah calls upon us to do. It urges us to share our identity openly, to let our light shine outward, and to continue living proudly and visibly as Jews - even, and especially, in moments of fear and uncertainty.

This is not how any of us wanted to begin our Hanukkah celebrations this year. Still, I hope this Hanukkah is filled with light, resilience, and a deep sense of Jewish pride for us all.

Happy Hanukkah.