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
As I mentioned last week, one of the joys of summer camp is being immersed in a vibrant Jewish community from sunrise until well after sunset. And one of the joys of a rare day off is being reminded to appreciate life’s simple blessings. Yesterday, after a few weeks of camp, my dear friend Yona, who lives in Modi’in, Israel, and has been one of my closest friends for the past fourteen summers, came home with me for the day.
We found ourselves delighting in the little things that suddenly felt luxurious: cooking our own meals instead of eating in the dining hall, taking long, proper showers, catching up on laundry, and simply enjoying a slower pace. But the highlight of the day was bringing Yona to see Congregation Beth Shalom.
She was immediately struck by the warmth of our synagogue. She loved the welcoming layout, the homey feeling throughout the building, and the peaceful embrace of our sanctuary. As we drove the nearly two hours back to camp, Yona could hardly stop talking about what she had experienced. She kept telling me how fortunate I am to serve such a genuinely caring congregation and how beautiful it was to see the joy and pride I have in being your rabbi.
Sometimes it takes seeing our community through the eyes of someone visiting from afar to magnify just how special it truly is. Thank you for being the kind of congregation that feels like home, not only to me, but to everyone who walks through our doors.
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 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
