Congregation B'nai Israel, Abundance Farm, and Gan Keshet Preschool

Our CBI Community Values

Ours is a community that champions:

• A common future rooted in Jewish education, culture, text, values, and history;
• Diversity of practice, tradition, and spiritual path;
• Reverence for Torah, for each other, for our community, for all people, and for our planet.

Our CBI Community Vision

Connection

• Offering opportunities to engage together in many and varied opportunities to socialize, pray, and learn as part of a

kehila kedosha (holy community).

• Conveying a feeling of homecoming and a sense of being held, surrounded, and supported during times of joy and times of sorrow.
• Welcoming all to experience lifecycle events and Jewish holidays as a community.
• Reaching out to our community, the State of Israel, and Jews around the world.

Tradition

• Encouraging joy for, and knowledge of, the riches of Jewish culture, prayer, learning, and Hebrew.
• Fostering each member’s deep and rich experience of prayer and spirituality.

Inclusion

• Embracing all who are interested in creating a Jewish life for themselves and their families by fostering an atmosphere of joyful Jewish observance and culture.
• Inviting diversity of practice, tradition, and spiritual path.

Education

• Supporting the development and implementation of curricula and learning models that spark or rekindle a lifelong passion for Jewish learning.
• Integrating the Jewish learning experience with all other facets of this vision.

Participation

• Encouraging and empowering congregants to become involved in all aspects of synagogue life from participation in ritual, to volunteering, to leading.

Growth

• We envision a common future as the heart of the Northampton Jewish community, brimming with joyful spirituality and meaningful Jewish learning. We will continue to explore how best, as American Jews, to cherish the future of Israel and to create meaningful ways for our members to fulfill the responsibilities of tikkun olam.