Welcome to Beth Shalom!
Serving Southern Saratoga County for the last 50 years, we are so excited to welcome you into our building, services, and synagogue family. While our unique membership comes from all branches of Judaism, we lean towards liberal Conservative practices and embrace interfaith, LGBTQA, and all our diverse friends and families. Have a question? Our Board and members are here to help. Poke around our website to learn more about us and contact us today so we can learn more about you! We are so glad you are here and can’t wait to greet you in person! We have several different membership options and one may be perfect for you. Please contact our Membership VP for additional information.
A Message from Rabbi Shara Siegfeld
At the conclusion of the Sukkot Holiday, there are two additional stand alone holidays added onto the Jewish calendar; Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.
Shemini Atzeret – a rather obscure holy day is connected with Sukkot, but actually considered a holy day of its own. During this chag, the Lulav and Etrog are not shaken and the prayer for sitting in the Sukkah is not said, though meals are still enjoyed in the Sukkah. And while the rabbis discuss various explanations for this added 8th day, the best understanding that I was taught explains Shemini Atzeret as like the Friday after Thanksgiving. No, this one is not about shopping sales, but the day after Thanksgiving, when guests have gone home and we are really just in the company of our immediate family to enjoy the quiet and delicious leftovers. It is a relaxing, catch our breath after all the holidays kind of day off. Among the practices for Shemini Atzeret, we add the Yizkor memorial service and begin adding the prayer for rain in the Amidah service hoping for a enhanced growing year in Israel.
Simchat Torah – “The joy of Torah” is a festive celebration of Torah, marking the completion of the annual Torah reading cycle. We parade around the sanctuary with the Torahs, often accompanied by singing and dancing followed by the chanting of the end of Deuteronomy, immediately blended into the beginning of Genesis.
We are looking forward to celebrating these two holidays together as a community on Tuesday at 6:30pm. Our service will begin with a brief Shemini Atzeret service including a Yizkor memorial service to honor and remember our departed loved ones followed by our celebration of Torah, with Rabbi Shara chanting Torah. Rabbi Shara
Donate
If you would like to make a donation to Beth Shalom, please click on the “Donate” button at the top of this page. We have several categories available: General Congregational Fund, Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund, Cemetery Fund, High Holiday Appeal, Reyut, or Security.
After you select the category and the amount, you can write a specific note. For example, if you donate to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund in memory of a loved one, you can include a note which will say, “In memory of _____________.”
If you would like to purchase a lovely Tree of Life Plaque or a Yahrzeit Plague, please click on the links below, complete the appropriate form and mail to or drop off at the Synagogue office with your remittance:
Kabbalat Shabbat - Fridays at 6:30 pm
Weekly, in-person and over Zoom. Oneg will follow.
Please see the Beth Shalom weekly email announcements for all worship details including Zoom information. Please note that the service schedule is subject to change. Check Thursday’s Beth Shalom email announcements for the most current information.
Beth Shalom Hadassah Book Club
Mitzvah Opportunities
We have a chance for volunteers to participate in a mitzvah by helping a refugee family who have settled in our area. Rabbi Beverly Magidson has forwarded this request to us.
The United States Committee on Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) is looking for volunteers to assist with a small Afghan refugee family located in Ballston Spa. The family consists of two older adults and two adult children. Most of what they need is daytime transportation to doctor appointments. They are living with family; their English is pretty good. USCRI would like to run background checks for volunteers (at their expense) but will not require it in this case.
Please contact Margaret Slotnick at mslotnick@uscri-albany.org
