History of Beth Am: click here                                                

What is Reconstructionist Judaism?
Reconstructionist Judaism is a progressive, contemporary approach to Jewish life which integrates a deep respect for traditional Judaism with insights and ideas of contemporary social, intellectual and spiritual life. (Click Here for more information)

Membership

Congregation Beth Am is an inclusive congregation valuing all members, and recognizing that we are all made b'tzelem (in the image of God). We strongly encourage the membership and participation of singles, families, non-Jewish partners, the military and those new to the community.  

Are You a Potential Leader?

If you'd like to help run the congregation, there are roles you can fulfill such as: read Torah, Haftarah (in English or Hebrew), deliver a D'var Torah - contact Nancy Oseasohn if you would like to participate.  

Food at Beth Am

Many folks wonder why Beth Am has a policy of holding “veggie-dairy” events.

By keeping to ovo-lacto vegetarian menus, Beth Am is able to insure most aspects of kashrut (keeping kosher). When Beth Am began, we had several vegetarian members and wanted to make all feel welcome. Some people find it easier and less expensive to keep kosher when they need only one set of dishes, silverware, and cookware.

Fish (but NO shellfish) are permitted with dairy meals, so we enjoy lox, tuna salad and herring.

Where we differ from Orthodox practice falls in three areas:
(1)    Cheese which contains rennet is not considered kosher, but we accept all cheese.
(2)    Gelatin which comes from animals is not kosher and is often found in foods like candy.
(3)    Grape juice, often found in other beverages and in jellies, is only kosher with a hechsher (kosher certification).

For those who keep strict kashrut, we try to provide sufficient kosher items at our onegs and kiddushes and to let them know which articles are certified.