Beth+Israel+(Charlottesville)-+Handout

Congregation Beth Israel, Charlottesville, Virginia
 * Shabbat Connections**

Rabbi Dan Alexander Rabbi Tom Gutherz Ellen Dietrick

Shabbat Connections will deepen the engagement of famillies in Shabbat observance by bringing families with similar backgrounds together into small havurot. Working with a Jewish educator, families will identify goals for broadening their home and communal Shabbat experience. Families will celebrate Shabbat together through monthly gatherings in each other’s homes and monthly attendance at the Shabbat service most appropriate to their needs. Young families are a particular target group for this year.
 * The Program**

Charlottesville, Virigina is a small, university town. As the only synagogue, Congregation Beth Israel functions as the center of Jewish life and includes members with a wide range of backgrounds and Jewish practice.
 * The Setting**


 * How might our approach be made more systemic?**
 * Building community
 * Raising the next generation of synagogue leadership
 * Creating a model that can be used by other families at CBI
 * Target various consituencies of membership not previous involved in CBI programming


 * What are the major challenges?**
 * Busy people who are pulled in many directions
 * Adults who may be uncomfortable with their lack of knowledge of Jewish observance
 * A perception that the program is elist or that we are putting too many resources into the program

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