CBE Exec Director: Your Beth Emeth Year

This article first appeared in our October '26 edition of The Bulletin

Earlier this month, we completed what I hope was a joyful and meaningful High Holy Day season for you and your family. For many in our community, the High Holy Days represent the peak of their involvement at CBE each year. What does the rest of the year look like for you?

Being a member, completing your paperwork (thank you to everyone who returned those pink forms!), and sending in your annual commitment are all important ways of supporting CBE. But belonging is about something deeper. It is about knowing that you are part of something beyond yourself, that your presence and efforts matter to others, and that there is a place for you here - whatever that looks like for you.

At Congregation Beth Emeth, we want to be more than a place you attend. We want to be a community where you belong.

Our synagogue is strongest when people move from simply being participants to becoming connected members of the community - when we share our time, our talents, our ideas, and our stories with one another. As we begin this new year, I invite you to consider not only what CBE can offer you, but what kind of community we can create together.

So, as you think about your Beth Emeth year, consider some of the many ways you might find connection and belonging here:

Learn with us. Have you considered joining us for Torah Study on Saturday mornings? Weekly study is led by members of our clergy and other knowledgeable members of the congregation. And if Saturday mornings in person don’t work for you, you can join us via Zoom.

Connect with others. Does membership in Brotherhood or Sisterhood appeal to you? We are fortunate to have active affiliate organizations that provide regular opportunities for friendship, social connection, and service to CBE.

Give back. Looking for a way to make a difference? Our Reyut and Social Action programs offer many opportunities to support members of our congregation and the broader community. Volunteers are always welcome, and there are many different ways to participate.

Try something new. Is there a program you’ve been meaning to attend? We have some exciting events coming up, including a performance by a trio from the Israeli Symphony Orchestra on October 22 and a performance by the Albany Area Senior Orchestra on November 3. We hope you’ll join us!

Reach out. Sometimes belonging means knowing that you don’t have to navigate life’s challenges alone. If you or someone you know could benefit from pastoral support, please contact Siobhan to arrange a time to talk. And if you know someone in our community who may be in need of support, please let us know so that we can reach out.

There is no single way to belong at Beth Emeth. For some, it may be attending services every week. For others, it may be coming to an occasional program, volunteering, studying Torah, joining an affiliate, helping with a social action project, or simply getting to know someone new.

Whatever your Beth Emeth year looks like, we hope it includes finding a place where you feel connected, valued, and at home.

Thank you for being part of Congregation Beth Emeth. Whether you have been here for generations or are just beginning to find your place, you belong here.

Please explore our website and reach out to me or a member of the team if you’re looking for direction or connection. We’re here to help. We look forward to seeing you - and, more importantly, to being part of your Beth Emeth year.

Jill Rafferty-Weinisch, Executive Director