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
There are stories of the Holocaust that many of us know well. And then there are stories that have remained largely untold, stories that challenge what we think we know about America’s response during one of history’s darkest chapters.
This Sunday, Congregation Beth Shalom, in partnership with Temple Sinai and the Saratoga Jewish Cultural Festival, is honored to host “Where the Holocaust Came to America,” a fascinating presentation by Clifton Park native, historian, and historical archaeologist Paul Lear.
Together, we will explore the remarkable history of Haven, the Fort Ontario Emergency Refugee Shelter in Oswego, New York, the only refugee camp established by the United States for Holocaust
refugees during World War II. Nearly 1,000 refugees, most of them Jewish, found temporary safety there in 1944, yet their journey was far more complex than many realize. Their story is one of hope, uncertainty, resilience, and the difficult moral questions that continue to resonate today.
Paul Lear brings decades of experience as the former Historic Site Manager of Fort Ontario and as President of the Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Shelter Museum. His deep knowledge and engaging storytelling make this a program not to be missed.
I hope you will join us on Sunday, July 26, at 11:00 a.m. A light reception will precede the program, and a suggested $10 donation will help support this important event. Please remember that pre-registration is required at the link below.
As Jews, remembering is one of our greatest responsibilities. Opportunities like this allow us not only to preserve history, but to deepen our understanding of the choices individuals and nations make in times of crisis. I look forward to learning alongside you Sunday morning.
Shabbat Shalom, With love, 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 7:00 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
