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
It is hard to believe, but exactly one month from today, we will gather to welcome Rosh Hashanah and the beginning of the High Holy Days! As I look at the calendar, I find myself feeling more and more excited, and I’ll admit, more than a little awed, as I prepare to lead our community through the High Holy Days for the first time.
There is so much that I love about this season: the familiar melodies, the sound of the shofar, the traditions we carry from year to year, and especially the opportunity to be together as a community.
This year, we are also adding a few new opportunities to make the season even more meaningful and joyful. We will begin even before Rosh Hashanah, as Ohav Shalom and Agudat Achim have warmly invited our community to join them for Selichot at Ohav Shalom on Saturday evening, September 5 at 8:00 p.m. The evening will include music, food, community, and a fairly short Selichot service, a beautiful way to begin turning our hearts toward the season ahead.
On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, we’ll quite literally sweeten the New Year together with a Rosh Hashanah dessert potluck following services. Everyone is invited to bring something delicious to share! On the second day, we will gather for a Rosh Hashanah discussion group, offering another way to reflect, learn, and connect.
One other change: this year, our annual High Holy Day pledge appeal will not be distributed during services. Instead, it will arrive in the mail in the next two weeks, along with a complete schedule of holiday events and service times.
I can’t wait to experience these sacred days together, honoring beloved traditions, trying a few new things, and beginning 5787 surrounded by the warmth of our CBS family.
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
